I had some e-mail waiting for me when I returned from beautiful Union County this afternoon. It was very polite, but took me to task on what I wrote about Pete Winn's three pointer at the end of the Bowling Green - Warren Central 14th District semifinal on Tuesday night.
Take a look for your "ownself."
When it happened, I would've sworn that Winn not only shot from within the arc but also walked to get there. I can't argue with cameras and video.
I realize when I'm wrong, and I was wrong. Real wrong.
I appreciate when Pick and Roll readers set me straight. After all, if they're reading the Pennyrile Pick and Roll, they are Kentucky's most intelligent and well informed high school basketball fans.
I apologize to the readers, Coach Riley, Pete Winn, the officials, and the fine folks at Warren Central High School. Mea culpa. Mea culpa.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Greenwood 59 - Warren East 56
14th District Semifinal, Warren Central High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky 02-27-08
There are forces in nature like the Coriolis Effect, which cannot be overcome. To achieve flight, an airfoil (wing) must create the Bernoulli Effect (I'm not going to explain them, so click on the links). In Kentucky high school basketball Pick and Roll hypothesizes the "Ballard Effect." The name of this possible law of high school hoops effects, primarily, referees and a lot of casual fans of the game. It's called "Ballard" because I grew up in Louisville where the glittery student body of Ballard High School was full of "school spirit." When other schools replicated their antics, the Louisville Police Department called them "criminal mischief." I've written about the "Ballard Effect" in an earlier post, but I'm not going to take the time to link to it.
I doubt my hypothesis on the "Ballard Effect" ever appears in any science journals or magazines, but a team of sociologists from the tiled hallways of Finley C. Grise Hall on the high academic Hill of WKU needs to get right on it. They could study it very well locally without traveling to Louisvlle to watch the mighty Ballard Bruins.
If I make any Bruins fans mad, well, I've never really liked y'all anyway.
Greenwood High School is playing better than anyone in the Fourth Region right now. They are peaking at the right time. They are getting solid play from every position and exceptional play from guys like Mark Lacy, Austin Reed (Wednesday night's Player of the Game), and Dee Anderson. They are going to be a tough team to beat.
Warren East was one of my picks as a possible dark horse in the Fourth Region tournament, but I knew they had to get past Greenwood in the first round of the district. Wednesday's game was going to send a good team packing no matter the outcome.
East opened strong with good perimeter play from Deangelo Kirk, Shenard Holton, and Demetric Ray. Greenwood responded and made a run back at the Raiders. Actually, it was a game of runs. The two teams surged at one another like crossing currents in an ocean made up of player and fans and cheerleaders and pep bands. I got to see an exciting game Tuesday night, and early in the first quarter I knew I was going to get see another.
East caught the late surge in the quarter and had a 20-15 lead at the end. An East player went "cheerleader hunting" as time expired. He launched a full court shot and nearly hit a cheerleader, who was oblivious that the ball had been thrown, in the head. I've seen it happen so many times.
Note to cheerleaders: you better pay attention at the end of a quarter.
After what felt like a frantic first quarter, both teams settled down in the second and played some good basketball. Demetric Ray opened the quarter with a big basket, and East started opening up an lead on the Gators. The Raiders' center, 6'5" Justin Watson is a great shot blocker. He set the single season shot block record at Warren East with 77 (as of Feb. 26th), and he holds the career record with 191. Wednesday night, it seemed like East was more effective on the defensive end when Watson was in the game. He knew how to use his size to Greenwood's efforts in the paint.
Late in the quarter I thought to myself that Greenwood's Dee Anderson was not having a good game. No sooner than I had the thought, he got a basket followed by a steal. Lacy got a steal for the Gators, too, and late in the quarter I felt the momentum shift to Greenwood's side.
The Raiders took a 33-27 lead to halftime, but it felt precarious, at least to me.
Greenwood stepped up their intensity in the third quarter, and Warren East had trouble dealing with the pressure. They started making stupid mistakes. With the Gators closing in on them, Deangelo Kirk decides to go "I-40" on a rebound, but instead of putting it in the hoop he dropped it in the ocean. I sensed East's high tide ebbing away. Diddle Arena is probably less than a mile away from the gym at Warren Central, but for the Raiders it may as well been on the moon.
It's interesting. Late in the third quarter, the Raiders had six fouls and the Gators had two. I started looking for members of WKU's Sociology Department.
Warren East clung to a two point lead at the end of the third, 41-39.
In the fourth quarter, East played desperate. Greenwood played like champions. Mark Lacy made some huge steals, and Dee Anderson found his way to the basket. Late in the quarter, East made one last run at Greenwood, but the big lizards were too much for them. They tied it at 45 with 5:53 left and soon took a 49-45 lead, and they never looked back.
Greenwood won 59-56 and moves on to meet Bowling Green on Saturday night for the district championship.
OBSERVATIONS
Viva Las Vegas: I noticed that Warren East lists its colors as royal blue and "vegas" gold. The Raiders kind of crapped out on Wednesday night.
Play-by-Play Principal: Rockfield Elementary's principal, Damon Tabor, is doing play-by-play for the ESPN affiliate in Bowling Green. He does a great job, but his show prep needs to include the Pennyrile Pick and Roll. I've tried to convince my daughter, who goes to Rockfield, that Mr. Tabor keeps his electric paddle charging under the broadcast table.
Crowded House: No, not the 1980s New Wave band. It's something so much stronger. Tuesday and Wednesday nights' crowds were huge at the 14th District. It has had a throw-back atmosphere with lots of people in the stands, pep band music, and hot air. Seats are scarce, and there is no canned music thumping in over the PA system. It'll be shorts and t-shirt night at the gym on Saturday if it gets warm like it is supposed to.
Only Hoops Around: Players, coaches, and fans from all over the region were in attendance tonight, no doubt taking notes. I don't think there were any other games going on in the Fourth Region tonight. Fewer teams are left after tonight. The Road to Rupp is paved with a thousand broken hearts.
There are forces in nature like the Coriolis Effect, which cannot be overcome. To achieve flight, an airfoil (wing) must create the Bernoulli Effect (I'm not going to explain them, so click on the links). In Kentucky high school basketball Pick and Roll hypothesizes the "Ballard Effect." The name of this possible law of high school hoops effects, primarily, referees and a lot of casual fans of the game. It's called "Ballard" because I grew up in Louisville where the glittery student body of Ballard High School was full of "school spirit." When other schools replicated their antics, the Louisville Police Department called them "criminal mischief." I've written about the "Ballard Effect" in an earlier post, but I'm not going to take the time to link to it.
I doubt my hypothesis on the "Ballard Effect" ever appears in any science journals or magazines, but a team of sociologists from the tiled hallways of Finley C. Grise Hall on the high academic Hill of WKU needs to get right on it. They could study it very well locally without traveling to Louisvlle to watch the mighty Ballard Bruins.
If I make any Bruins fans mad, well, I've never really liked y'all anyway.
Greenwood High School is playing better than anyone in the Fourth Region right now. They are peaking at the right time. They are getting solid play from every position and exceptional play from guys like Mark Lacy, Austin Reed (Wednesday night's Player of the Game), and Dee Anderson. They are going to be a tough team to beat.
Warren East was one of my picks as a possible dark horse in the Fourth Region tournament, but I knew they had to get past Greenwood in the first round of the district. Wednesday's game was going to send a good team packing no matter the outcome.
East opened strong with good perimeter play from Deangelo Kirk, Shenard Holton, and Demetric Ray. Greenwood responded and made a run back at the Raiders. Actually, it was a game of runs. The two teams surged at one another like crossing currents in an ocean made up of player and fans and cheerleaders and pep bands. I got to see an exciting game Tuesday night, and early in the first quarter I knew I was going to get see another.
East caught the late surge in the quarter and had a 20-15 lead at the end. An East player went "cheerleader hunting" as time expired. He launched a full court shot and nearly hit a cheerleader, who was oblivious that the ball had been thrown, in the head. I've seen it happen so many times.
Note to cheerleaders: you better pay attention at the end of a quarter.
After what felt like a frantic first quarter, both teams settled down in the second and played some good basketball. Demetric Ray opened the quarter with a big basket, and East started opening up an lead on the Gators. The Raiders' center, 6'5" Justin Watson is a great shot blocker. He set the single season shot block record at Warren East with 77 (as of Feb. 26th), and he holds the career record with 191. Wednesday night, it seemed like East was more effective on the defensive end when Watson was in the game. He knew how to use his size to Greenwood's efforts in the paint.
Late in the quarter I thought to myself that Greenwood's Dee Anderson was not having a good game. No sooner than I had the thought, he got a basket followed by a steal. Lacy got a steal for the Gators, too, and late in the quarter I felt the momentum shift to Greenwood's side.
The Raiders took a 33-27 lead to halftime, but it felt precarious, at least to me.
Greenwood stepped up their intensity in the third quarter, and Warren East had trouble dealing with the pressure. They started making stupid mistakes. With the Gators closing in on them, Deangelo Kirk decides to go "I-40" on a rebound, but instead of putting it in the hoop he dropped it in the ocean. I sensed East's high tide ebbing away. Diddle Arena is probably less than a mile away from the gym at Warren Central, but for the Raiders it may as well been on the moon.
It's interesting. Late in the third quarter, the Raiders had six fouls and the Gators had two. I started looking for members of WKU's Sociology Department.
Warren East clung to a two point lead at the end of the third, 41-39.
In the fourth quarter, East played desperate. Greenwood played like champions. Mark Lacy made some huge steals, and Dee Anderson found his way to the basket. Late in the quarter, East made one last run at Greenwood, but the big lizards were too much for them. They tied it at 45 with 5:53 left and soon took a 49-45 lead, and they never looked back.
Greenwood won 59-56 and moves on to meet Bowling Green on Saturday night for the district championship.
OBSERVATIONS
Viva Las Vegas: I noticed that Warren East lists its colors as royal blue and "vegas" gold. The Raiders kind of crapped out on Wednesday night.
Play-by-Play Principal: Rockfield Elementary's principal, Damon Tabor, is doing play-by-play for the ESPN affiliate in Bowling Green. He does a great job, but his show prep needs to include the Pennyrile Pick and Roll. I've tried to convince my daughter, who goes to Rockfield, that Mr. Tabor keeps his electric paddle charging under the broadcast table.
Crowded House: No, not the 1980s New Wave band. It's something so much stronger. Tuesday and Wednesday nights' crowds were huge at the 14th District. It has had a throw-back atmosphere with lots of people in the stands, pep band music, and hot air. Seats are scarce, and there is no canned music thumping in over the PA system. It'll be shorts and t-shirt night at the gym on Saturday if it gets warm like it is supposed to.
Only Hoops Around: Players, coaches, and fans from all over the region were in attendance tonight, no doubt taking notes. I don't think there were any other games going on in the Fourth Region tonight. Fewer teams are left after tonight. The Road to Rupp is paved with a thousand broken hearts.
Larue County 68 - Hart County 36
18th District Semifinal, Green County High School, Greensburg, Kentucky 02-26-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
High school basketball is a game of spurts, ups-and-downs and slumps. Over the past coupls of weeks Larue County has been in a slump, and to tap it all off, last Wednesday, one of their best players decided to leave the team. On Tuesday night, they faced a team they beat down twice this season, but I've always heard that it's hard to beat a team three times in one season. Also, the other two times that Larue played Hart, the Raiders had key players injured. Both times they were without 6'7" Ethan Moore, who could cause match-up problems for Larue.
Once again, I lucked out on a ride to Greensburg. My friend, Justin Craft, picked me up, and another Larue County great, Matt Clifford, was along for the ride. We talked hoops all the way there (Hey! It's Hoopsmas!). When we arrived at Green County's gym, I could tell there was a bigger crowd there than the night before. The girls game was still going on, and, man, it's hard for me to watch girls hoops. It seems there's a whistle every time down the floor. So, to kill time, I wandered around the crowd to talk to some fans. I cam across the parents of a player who told me they enjoyed the website. Thanks, Larue County fans.
We found a seat next to Larue County's locker room. Some players came out early to watch the girls' game. I kept a close eye on them to see if they were getting pumped up for the game. They were. The players were kind of loosey-goosey, and I think that was positive sign. They seemed relaxed. I also noticed that the referees were close to the Hawks' locker room, as well. One of them was Charles Jones, the same Charles Jones that played for UofL and the pride of Scooba, Mississippi. He has been a Fifth Region ref for many years, and I have seen him at many games this year. We are used to him now.
Both teams looked ready to play during warm-ups, and I was curious to see if anyone could step up in the absence of Tyler Hornback, the Larue player who left the team. When the teams made it to the jump circle, I noticed that Hart had the size advantage. Larue's biggest player is 6'3" and the Raiders' Moore is 6'7".
Hart controlled the tap. Hart played a fast pace but couldn't find the basket. On Monday night, I noticed that teams have trouble shooting in Green County's gym. I asked Matt Clifford about it because he played many games there. He told me it was the white walls that are behind the goals. It's hard to pick up the rim when all a shooter looks at is a big white wall and a clear backboard. He said that the rim looks like it's floating in air. Makes sense to me.
The first quarter was back and forth without a lot of scoring. Larue had the early lead, 10-9. Hart County ran subs in-and-out three at a time and were looking to keep the Hawks grounded.
I don't know what was up with the floor on Tuesday night. I think these teams set a record for the most walking calls in one half. We counted four straight trips down the floor that there was a whistle blown for traveling.
Larue County still hung to a small lead, but both teams really didn't shoot that well. Despite the cold shooting, Larue played better than they have the last couple of weeks. They held the lead, 18-15 at the half. It wasn't much of a first half with so many whistles and the cold shooting by both teams.
Again, tonight, no halftime entertainment, but I did hear something that made me chuckle. The PA announcer told the crowd that they were going to raffle off a rifle. Raffle a rifle at a high school game in Kentucky? What's next, try to catch a greased pig during football season. I know schools have trouble raising money these days, so I guess they'll do whatever it takes to get some money. Oh, by the way, I purchased a ticket on the rife.
For the second time this year -- that I've seen -- Coach Childress kept his team in the locker room for the entire halftime. When they came out, they only had 30 seconds to warm up. That's all they needed. They blistered the nets in the third or maybe Childress blistered their hind-ends at halftime. They outscored the Raiders 19-5 in the third and had pushed their lead to 17. I think Larue was coming out of their slump. It was too much for Hart.
Over the past couple of games, Larue had built leads only to panic and loose them. I hoped this wasn't going to happen Tuesday night. They were up 45-21 with 6:28 to go in the game, but Hart County just couldn't get it going tonight. To be honest, I didn't think they fed their big man enough. Larue played better than I had seen in awhile, and they lit up the scoreboard in the last frame for 31 points. They flew away with the victory, 68-36.
OBSERVATIONS
Players Not the Only Ones Stepping It up for the Tournaments: I hope people don't get tired of us writing about high school bands. Tuesday night, the Larue County band went "Old School." I had heard them earlier this season, but I think they were holding back in the regular season. They busted out "Play that Funk Music," "Celebrate, Good Times, C'mon," and "Sweet Home Alabama." SKYNYRD! (Pick and Roll is standing with his lighter aflame for an encore). I even noticed the Hart County band director bobbing his head to the songs. They were equipped with electric guitar, bass, and drum set. Way to step it up Band of Hawks.
Let the Light Shine On Us: I didn't know how Larue would react after losing one of their best players. I have to give it to them. Christian Seymour, Corey Salsman, and senior Alan "A Ray" Vass. Every player who played had good minutes, but these three were got it done with defense, scoring, and deflections. I hope it carries over to Friday night. They will have to play hard again against a good Green County team.
I'll be back at Green County on Friday night to catch the 18th District championship game. Green County has been a good host. The fans are friendly, and, besides, I have to see if I win the rifle.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
High school basketball is a game of spurts, ups-and-downs and slumps. Over the past coupls of weeks Larue County has been in a slump, and to tap it all off, last Wednesday, one of their best players decided to leave the team. On Tuesday night, they faced a team they beat down twice this season, but I've always heard that it's hard to beat a team three times in one season. Also, the other two times that Larue played Hart, the Raiders had key players injured. Both times they were without 6'7" Ethan Moore, who could cause match-up problems for Larue.
Once again, I lucked out on a ride to Greensburg. My friend, Justin Craft, picked me up, and another Larue County great, Matt Clifford, was along for the ride. We talked hoops all the way there (Hey! It's Hoopsmas!). When we arrived at Green County's gym, I could tell there was a bigger crowd there than the night before. The girls game was still going on, and, man, it's hard for me to watch girls hoops. It seems there's a whistle every time down the floor. So, to kill time, I wandered around the crowd to talk to some fans. I cam across the parents of a player who told me they enjoyed the website. Thanks, Larue County fans.
We found a seat next to Larue County's locker room. Some players came out early to watch the girls' game. I kept a close eye on them to see if they were getting pumped up for the game. They were. The players were kind of loosey-goosey, and I think that was positive sign. They seemed relaxed. I also noticed that the referees were close to the Hawks' locker room, as well. One of them was Charles Jones, the same Charles Jones that played for UofL and the pride of Scooba, Mississippi. He has been a Fifth Region ref for many years, and I have seen him at many games this year. We are used to him now.
Both teams looked ready to play during warm-ups, and I was curious to see if anyone could step up in the absence of Tyler Hornback, the Larue player who left the team. When the teams made it to the jump circle, I noticed that Hart had the size advantage. Larue's biggest player is 6'3" and the Raiders' Moore is 6'7".
Hart controlled the tap. Hart played a fast pace but couldn't find the basket. On Monday night, I noticed that teams have trouble shooting in Green County's gym. I asked Matt Clifford about it because he played many games there. He told me it was the white walls that are behind the goals. It's hard to pick up the rim when all a shooter looks at is a big white wall and a clear backboard. He said that the rim looks like it's floating in air. Makes sense to me.
The first quarter was back and forth without a lot of scoring. Larue had the early lead, 10-9. Hart County ran subs in-and-out three at a time and were looking to keep the Hawks grounded.
I don't know what was up with the floor on Tuesday night. I think these teams set a record for the most walking calls in one half. We counted four straight trips down the floor that there was a whistle blown for traveling.
Larue County still hung to a small lead, but both teams really didn't shoot that well. Despite the cold shooting, Larue played better than they have the last couple of weeks. They held the lead, 18-15 at the half. It wasn't much of a first half with so many whistles and the cold shooting by both teams.
Again, tonight, no halftime entertainment, but I did hear something that made me chuckle. The PA announcer told the crowd that they were going to raffle off a rifle. Raffle a rifle at a high school game in Kentucky? What's next, try to catch a greased pig during football season. I know schools have trouble raising money these days, so I guess they'll do whatever it takes to get some money. Oh, by the way, I purchased a ticket on the rife.
For the second time this year -- that I've seen -- Coach Childress kept his team in the locker room for the entire halftime. When they came out, they only had 30 seconds to warm up. That's all they needed. They blistered the nets in the third or maybe Childress blistered their hind-ends at halftime. They outscored the Raiders 19-5 in the third and had pushed their lead to 17. I think Larue was coming out of their slump. It was too much for Hart.
Over the past couple of games, Larue had built leads only to panic and loose them. I hoped this wasn't going to happen Tuesday night. They were up 45-21 with 6:28 to go in the game, but Hart County just couldn't get it going tonight. To be honest, I didn't think they fed their big man enough. Larue played better than I had seen in awhile, and they lit up the scoreboard in the last frame for 31 points. They flew away with the victory, 68-36.
OBSERVATIONS
Players Not the Only Ones Stepping It up for the Tournaments: I hope people don't get tired of us writing about high school bands. Tuesday night, the Larue County band went "Old School." I had heard them earlier this season, but I think they were holding back in the regular season. They busted out "Play that Funk Music," "Celebrate, Good Times, C'mon," and "Sweet Home Alabama." SKYNYRD! (Pick and Roll is standing with his lighter aflame for an encore). I even noticed the Hart County band director bobbing his head to the songs. They were equipped with electric guitar, bass, and drum set. Way to step it up Band of Hawks.
Let the Light Shine On Us: I didn't know how Larue would react after losing one of their best players. I have to give it to them. Christian Seymour, Corey Salsman, and senior Alan "A Ray" Vass. Every player who played had good minutes, but these three were got it done with defense, scoring, and deflections. I hope it carries over to Friday night. They will have to play hard again against a good Green County team.
I'll be back at Green County on Friday night to catch the 18th District championship game. Green County has been a good host. The fans are friendly, and, besides, I have to see if I win the rifle.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Bowling Green 61 - Warren Central 57
14th District Semifinal, Warren Central High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky 02-26-08
It was one for the ages. A person could throw every basketball cliche' at this game, and it would stick. A barn burner, a jim-dandy, a battle, a war. I don't even know where to begin.
Warren Central has dominated the Fourth Region for so long, that my children hardly realize that anyone else has ever won the championship. My little boy thought that Tim Riley was the president of the United States. The Dragons had not lost on the Diddle Arena floor in this millennium, and WKU Coach Darrin Horn would love to have a winning streak at Diddle as impressive at Tim Riley's.
THE RUN IS DONE!
The Purples sent the "Monsters of Morgantown Road" out the exits early this season, and for the first time in six years, a new team will carry the Fourth Region banner into Rupp Arena.
It didn't come easy for the Purples. They struggled in the first half with bad shot selection and constant defensive pressure from the Dragons. They were down 14-10 at the end of the first quarter, and Warren Central exploded for 23 second quarter points to take a commanding lead on Bowling Green. Central hit some big shots in the quarter, and Pete Winn hit some long range jumpers. Winn didn't start tonight's game, but wasn't on the bench for long. I don't know why he didn't start.
The Dragons had a 37-26 lead at halftime, and once again post season play in the Fourth Region seemed like the movie "Groundhog Day." All the coaches in the region probably identified with Phil Connors and wanted to punch Ned Ryerson in the nose during each replay.
I don't know what Bowling Green Coach D.G. Sherrill said to his Purple warriors at halftime, but they came out and played the third quarter like they had a barn on fire with a season's worth of hay in it. They moved the ball up the court against Central's press better than any team I've seen move the ball this season. They could get the ball up the full length of the court without it touching hardwood once. Central's players buckled in the face of the ball crossing the court so many times.
Bowling Green exposed Central's Achilles heel. George Fant, who is a fantastic player for a freshman, is not good at defending the post, especially in a transition game.
The Purples emerged on the other side of the third frame with a 47-45 lead, outscoring the Dragons 21-8.
Bowling Green almost coughed this one up in the fourth quarter by missing way too many free throws.
Also, I nearly witnessed one of the great travesties of the basketball season. Central was desperate to hit shots beyond the arc to catch Bowling Green. Pete Winn, who was hot in the second half, looked for a three point shot late in the game, and on one possession he dribbled along the arc and lunged for the basket and hit a shot. One of his feet was about two feet inside of the stripe, but the referee called it a three point basket. If I remember right, that would've tied the ballgame.
The refs finally changed their call. I'm not sure, but I think Coach Riley signaled three from the sideline, and the officials followed suit. I don't know what made them change their minds, but the Bowling Green fans petitioned in the most fervent manner to get them to change it. I might have even heard some swear words from the Purple faithful.
Bowling Green won, 61-57, putting the Warren Central Dragons in a very unfamiliar position for the Fourth Region Tournament at Diddle Arena. They'll be watching it from the stands.
OBSERVATIONS
The Run is Done: Yep! Fourth Region coaches will be checking to see if the legs of the witch really are sticking out from under the house. Maybe D.G. Sherrill and his Purps slip on the ruby slippers and start down the Yellow Brick Road, which runs through Diddle Arena to Rupp Arena.
Don't Live Here No More: D.G. Sherrill took his Purples to Warren Central's gym for a shoot around the other day. He showed him the photographs of Central's state championship team and their runner-up team, and the teams that dominated the Fourth Region. He told them, "Boys, none of those guys play here anymore." I'm willing to bet that what he told them at halftime of Tuesday's semi-final was a lot less subtle.
Upward and Onward: Fans at Tuesday's game at Warren Central were treated to an exhibition by two teams from a Bowling Green Upward league. For a minute or two I thought it maybe was one of the first round games of the Sunbelt Tournament, but I realized that these kids were too good for that. That game was nearly as exciting as the feature.
Snowy Night in Bowling Green: Snow started falling when I went to the game. Things were icy when I came out. I could barely stand up on the asphalt to scrape the ice off my truck's windows.
The Place To Be: There was a huge crowd at Warren Central tonight, and the atmosphere was electric. It may have been icy outside, but it was about 90 degrees in the gym. I was near the top of the gym, and I was ready to start coming out of some clothes. Finally, people opened the windows at the top of the gym. The cool air felt good.
Two Funny Things: During the fourth quarter of the Bowling Green-Warren Central girls game, a school janitor walked up the sidelines with a big nasty plunger. He got about three quarters of the way up the court, and the referee ran over him. Both guys were alright, but it definitely should have been a charging call.
Also, my group of family and friends had a big pile of coats on the floor in front of one of the bleachers. A little boy sitting beside me starting digging through our coats, which were mixed with his family's. I asked him, "did you lose something." He said that he did, so I started pulling coats back for him. Finally, he found an end of a hot dog lying on top of my parka. "Oh, here it is," the kid exclaimed. Then, he popped it in his mouth. You know, a hot dog tastes a lot better after it has been grunged into some stranger's coat and rolled around on the floor of a bleacher.
Happy Hoopsmas!
It was one for the ages. A person could throw every basketball cliche' at this game, and it would stick. A barn burner, a jim-dandy, a battle, a war. I don't even know where to begin.
Warren Central has dominated the Fourth Region for so long, that my children hardly realize that anyone else has ever won the championship. My little boy thought that Tim Riley was the president of the United States. The Dragons had not lost on the Diddle Arena floor in this millennium, and WKU Coach Darrin Horn would love to have a winning streak at Diddle as impressive at Tim Riley's.
THE RUN IS DONE!
The Purples sent the "Monsters of Morgantown Road" out the exits early this season, and for the first time in six years, a new team will carry the Fourth Region banner into Rupp Arena.
It didn't come easy for the Purples. They struggled in the first half with bad shot selection and constant defensive pressure from the Dragons. They were down 14-10 at the end of the first quarter, and Warren Central exploded for 23 second quarter points to take a commanding lead on Bowling Green. Central hit some big shots in the quarter, and Pete Winn hit some long range jumpers. Winn didn't start tonight's game, but wasn't on the bench for long. I don't know why he didn't start.
The Dragons had a 37-26 lead at halftime, and once again post season play in the Fourth Region seemed like the movie "Groundhog Day." All the coaches in the region probably identified with Phil Connors and wanted to punch Ned Ryerson in the nose during each replay.
I don't know what Bowling Green Coach D.G. Sherrill said to his Purple warriors at halftime, but they came out and played the third quarter like they had a barn on fire with a season's worth of hay in it. They moved the ball up the court against Central's press better than any team I've seen move the ball this season. They could get the ball up the full length of the court without it touching hardwood once. Central's players buckled in the face of the ball crossing the court so many times.
Bowling Green exposed Central's Achilles heel. George Fant, who is a fantastic player for a freshman, is not good at defending the post, especially in a transition game.
The Purples emerged on the other side of the third frame with a 47-45 lead, outscoring the Dragons 21-8.
Bowling Green almost coughed this one up in the fourth quarter by missing way too many free throws.
Also, I nearly witnessed one of the great travesties of the basketball season. Central was desperate to hit shots beyond the arc to catch Bowling Green. Pete Winn, who was hot in the second half, looked for a three point shot late in the game, and on one possession he dribbled along the arc and lunged for the basket and hit a shot. One of his feet was about two feet inside of the stripe, but the referee called it a three point basket. If I remember right, that would've tied the ballgame.
The refs finally changed their call. I'm not sure, but I think Coach Riley signaled three from the sideline, and the officials followed suit. I don't know what made them change their minds, but the Bowling Green fans petitioned in the most fervent manner to get them to change it. I might have even heard some swear words from the Purple faithful.
Bowling Green won, 61-57, putting the Warren Central Dragons in a very unfamiliar position for the Fourth Region Tournament at Diddle Arena. They'll be watching it from the stands.
OBSERVATIONS
The Run is Done: Yep! Fourth Region coaches will be checking to see if the legs of the witch really are sticking out from under the house. Maybe D.G. Sherrill and his Purps slip on the ruby slippers and start down the Yellow Brick Road, which runs through Diddle Arena to Rupp Arena.
Don't Live Here No More: D.G. Sherrill took his Purples to Warren Central's gym for a shoot around the other day. He showed him the photographs of Central's state championship team and their runner-up team, and the teams that dominated the Fourth Region. He told them, "Boys, none of those guys play here anymore." I'm willing to bet that what he told them at halftime of Tuesday's semi-final was a lot less subtle.
Upward and Onward: Fans at Tuesday's game at Warren Central were treated to an exhibition by two teams from a Bowling Green Upward league. For a minute or two I thought it maybe was one of the first round games of the Sunbelt Tournament, but I realized that these kids were too good for that. That game was nearly as exciting as the feature.
Snowy Night in Bowling Green: Snow started falling when I went to the game. Things were icy when I came out. I could barely stand up on the asphalt to scrape the ice off my truck's windows.
The Place To Be: There was a huge crowd at Warren Central tonight, and the atmosphere was electric. It may have been icy outside, but it was about 90 degrees in the gym. I was near the top of the gym, and I was ready to start coming out of some clothes. Finally, people opened the windows at the top of the gym. The cool air felt good.
Two Funny Things: During the fourth quarter of the Bowling Green-Warren Central girls game, a school janitor walked up the sidelines with a big nasty plunger. He got about three quarters of the way up the court, and the referee ran over him. Both guys were alright, but it definitely should have been a charging call.
Also, my group of family and friends had a big pile of coats on the floor in front of one of the bleachers. A little boy sitting beside me starting digging through our coats, which were mixed with his family's. I asked him, "did you lose something." He said that he did, so I started pulling coats back for him. Finally, he found an end of a hot dog lying on top of my parka. "Oh, here it is," the kid exclaimed. Then, he popped it in his mouth. You know, a hot dog tastes a lot better after it has been grunged into some stranger's coat and rolled around on the floor of a bleacher.
Happy Hoopsmas!
Green County 61 - Caverna 58
Green County High School, Greensburg, Kentucky 02-25-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Nathaniel Greene was a Major General in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War and is for whom Green County is named. He emerged from the war with the reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Tuesday night, Green County Coach Toby Curry had to turn to his floor general, Clint Henderson, because they were in a battle with the Caverna Colonels.
Caverna finished the regular season with 4-21 record, or should I say a 0-0 record? It's tournament time and everyone can throw records out the window. I debated on whether or not to go to this game because I thought it might be a walkover. But, at the last minute I decided to go, and I'm glad I did.
Coach Simon Ford from Caverna came out after the teams hit the floor for warm-ups. He had to be thinking "upset" because he was dressed like he was going to do some celebrating after the game. He was decked out in a gray silk suit, light purple shirt, dark purple silk tie, and shoes to match. I didn't know if he was ready to coach or bust out his "groove thang." I wasn't the only one who noticed. Fans around me said the same thing. So, I must give Coach Ford the Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Sharp Dressed Man" Award. Somebody spin that ZZ Top record!
I haven't seen Green County at full strength this year. Their junior wing player, Keaton Druin, was hurt when I saw them in Bardstown in December. I had only heard about Caverna, and I knew they had some talented kids. I hadn't seen them play. They were fun to watch. I thought there were some fast teams in the Fifth Region, but Caverna is very fast. They have a freshman point guard Jordy Rice, who has the quickest first step I've seen this year. He got out of the gate fast, but had trouble finding the goal after beating his man to the basket. He wouldn't be held down long.
Caverna knew what was at stake on Tuesday night. They definitely didn't play like a 4-21 team. They jumped on the Dragons before the big fire breathing lizards had time to turn around. Coach Curry was not amused. He settled his team down for the moment and started pressing Caverna. They didn't stay in it long because of the speed of the Colonels. Caverna missed a lot of shots, so Green had an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter starter and so did Jordy Rice. Man! Fifth Region coaches will be sick of this kid before he graduates. He is listed at 5'6" but plays much taller, and he is not scared to take it hard to the hole. He started to fill it up and Green had no answer. Green County hurt themselves by not playing defense. Caverna was turning the tables on them. They wanted the game bad. It paid off because they held the halftime lead, 29-23.
Cue up the club; I think Coach Ford is ready to dance.
I was a little disappointed at halftime. No cheerleader routines. No fancy dance teams. Not even little kids shooting free throws for a slice of pizza. Nothing! So, I decided to take a trip to the commons area to see what Green County had to offer in the way of food (they don't call me "Pudge" for nothing). I came out empty handed. Nothing caught my eye, so I had to focus my attention back on the game.
Green County made some adjustments and opened up the third in a 2-3 zone, and it got Caverna out of sorts. They made silly turnovers and were out of control. With a timeout, Coach Ford called his team over and simply told them to slow down. It's hard to tell a team to slow down when they've been running wide open all night. At this point, they still had a lead but losing it quick. The game was getting physical, and I could see the Green County players getting frustrated. They weren't supposed to lose this game, but they were in a battle. By this time, Coach Ford had lost his silk jacket. His players responded and held on to a narrow lead, 43-41.
As the fourth frame rolled around, I looked down to see if Coach Ford had gotten out his hat and walking cane. It looked like Caverna was going to stroll in and get a win and cash their ticket to the Fifth Region tournament.
The refs let the teams play all night then, all of sudden, they started calling everything. This hurt Caverna because they had relied on their big man Chad Briggs all night. He was the only size the Colonels had down low. He fouled out with about five minutes to go on a couple of hosed calls. Green County was in the bonus around the four minute mark. Caverna never got in the bonus in the second half.
With the help of Henderson, Druin, and Seth Jones, Green County's big man -- and a blown charge/blocking call against Caverna -- the Dragons got the lead around the 3:30 mark and never looked back. They avoided a scare in Greensburg and won, 61-58
OBSERVATIONS
Graveyard or Gymnasium: Someone forget to tell Green County that it was tournament time. The place was dead. There was a decent crowd there but no noise. Maybe everyone is not as pumped up as me and Pick and Roll are. It's HOOPSMAS!! The fans around me were all from Larue County, and I think they were making as much noise as anyone. I know that Green County loves their football, but show some support for your basketball team. Maybe they are all waiting for next week when Green goes to the regional tournament.
Did He Fire Five Times or Six?: Congratulations to Clint Henderson. He was chosen by the coaches of the Fifth Region to the All Region Team. he deserves it. I've watched the Green three times this year, and he has scored 20+ points every time. Tuesday, he got away with some questionable push offs, but I'm in the stands and not in a striped shirt. He loves to shoot the three and makes several as well. If Green and Taylor meet at some point in the regional tournament, look out for two of the best shooters in the Fifth. Henderson and and for Taylor, Cox, will make it rain threes.
God is My Co-Pilot: A Pick and Roll "thank you" to John Seymour and his co-pilot. I work with John and we talk hoops alot. Tonight, he called me and asked if I was going to this game. I said, "yes," and he said he'd be there in a minute to pick me up. With the salary I get from Pick and Roll it was a big help with the gas on Tuesday night. Thanks again, John. I need to ride with you more often. I love the stories from the "co-pilot." He told me not to mention his name, but people who know John know who I'm talking about.
Editor's Note: Chris, if you keep submitting great stories to me, I'll bump your salary up by 50%. We'll still be making the same amount.
Tuesday night: Hawks vs. Hart.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Nathaniel Greene was a Major General in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War and is for whom Green County is named. He emerged from the war with the reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Tuesday night, Green County Coach Toby Curry had to turn to his floor general, Clint Henderson, because they were in a battle with the Caverna Colonels.
Caverna finished the regular season with 4-21 record, or should I say a 0-0 record? It's tournament time and everyone can throw records out the window. I debated on whether or not to go to this game because I thought it might be a walkover. But, at the last minute I decided to go, and I'm glad I did.
Coach Simon Ford from Caverna came out after the teams hit the floor for warm-ups. He had to be thinking "upset" because he was dressed like he was going to do some celebrating after the game. He was decked out in a gray silk suit, light purple shirt, dark purple silk tie, and shoes to match. I didn't know if he was ready to coach or bust out his "groove thang." I wasn't the only one who noticed. Fans around me said the same thing. So, I must give Coach Ford the Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Sharp Dressed Man" Award. Somebody spin that ZZ Top record!
I haven't seen Green County at full strength this year. Their junior wing player, Keaton Druin, was hurt when I saw them in Bardstown in December. I had only heard about Caverna, and I knew they had some talented kids. I hadn't seen them play. They were fun to watch. I thought there were some fast teams in the Fifth Region, but Caverna is very fast. They have a freshman point guard Jordy Rice, who has the quickest first step I've seen this year. He got out of the gate fast, but had trouble finding the goal after beating his man to the basket. He wouldn't be held down long.
Caverna knew what was at stake on Tuesday night. They definitely didn't play like a 4-21 team. They jumped on the Dragons before the big fire breathing lizards had time to turn around. Coach Curry was not amused. He settled his team down for the moment and started pressing Caverna. They didn't stay in it long because of the speed of the Colonels. Caverna missed a lot of shots, so Green had an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter starter and so did Jordy Rice. Man! Fifth Region coaches will be sick of this kid before he graduates. He is listed at 5'6" but plays much taller, and he is not scared to take it hard to the hole. He started to fill it up and Green had no answer. Green County hurt themselves by not playing defense. Caverna was turning the tables on them. They wanted the game bad. It paid off because they held the halftime lead, 29-23.
Cue up the club; I think Coach Ford is ready to dance.
I was a little disappointed at halftime. No cheerleader routines. No fancy dance teams. Not even little kids shooting free throws for a slice of pizza. Nothing! So, I decided to take a trip to the commons area to see what Green County had to offer in the way of food (they don't call me "Pudge" for nothing). I came out empty handed. Nothing caught my eye, so I had to focus my attention back on the game.
Green County made some adjustments and opened up the third in a 2-3 zone, and it got Caverna out of sorts. They made silly turnovers and were out of control. With a timeout, Coach Ford called his team over and simply told them to slow down. It's hard to tell a team to slow down when they've been running wide open all night. At this point, they still had a lead but losing it quick. The game was getting physical, and I could see the Green County players getting frustrated. They weren't supposed to lose this game, but they were in a battle. By this time, Coach Ford had lost his silk jacket. His players responded and held on to a narrow lead, 43-41.
As the fourth frame rolled around, I looked down to see if Coach Ford had gotten out his hat and walking cane. It looked like Caverna was going to stroll in and get a win and cash their ticket to the Fifth Region tournament.
The refs let the teams play all night then, all of sudden, they started calling everything. This hurt Caverna because they had relied on their big man Chad Briggs all night. He was the only size the Colonels had down low. He fouled out with about five minutes to go on a couple of hosed calls. Green County was in the bonus around the four minute mark. Caverna never got in the bonus in the second half.
With the help of Henderson, Druin, and Seth Jones, Green County's big man -- and a blown charge/blocking call against Caverna -- the Dragons got the lead around the 3:30 mark and never looked back. They avoided a scare in Greensburg and won, 61-58
OBSERVATIONS
Graveyard or Gymnasium: Someone forget to tell Green County that it was tournament time. The place was dead. There was a decent crowd there but no noise. Maybe everyone is not as pumped up as me and Pick and Roll are. It's HOOPSMAS!! The fans around me were all from Larue County, and I think they were making as much noise as anyone. I know that Green County loves their football, but show some support for your basketball team. Maybe they are all waiting for next week when Green goes to the regional tournament.
Did He Fire Five Times or Six?: Congratulations to Clint Henderson. He was chosen by the coaches of the Fifth Region to the All Region Team. he deserves it. I've watched the Green three times this year, and he has scored 20+ points every time. Tuesday, he got away with some questionable push offs, but I'm in the stands and not in a striped shirt. He loves to shoot the three and makes several as well. If Green and Taylor meet at some point in the regional tournament, look out for two of the best shooters in the Fifth. Henderson and and for Taylor, Cox, will make it rain threes.
God is My Co-Pilot: A Pick and Roll "thank you" to John Seymour and his co-pilot. I work with John and we talk hoops alot. Tonight, he called me and asked if I was going to this game. I said, "yes," and he said he'd be there in a minute to pick me up. With the salary I get from Pick and Roll it was a big help with the gas on Tuesday night. Thanks again, John. I need to ride with you more often. I love the stories from the "co-pilot." He told me not to mention his name, but people who know John know who I'm talking about.
Editor's Note: Chris, if you keep submitting great stories to me, I'll bump your salary up by 50%. We'll still be making the same amount.
Tuesday night: Hawks vs. Hart.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Mayfield 62 - Ballard Memorial 55
Third District Semi-finals, Graves County High School, Mayfield, Kentucky 02-25-08
They call Ballard Memorial "The Bombers," which is one of my favorite nicknames in high school basketball. They often use a B-17 in their log, although the forces of political correctness have probably made them use it less and less. I was once told that they picked up the name "Bombers" because so many people in Ballard County worked at the Kentucky Munitions Plant where they made trinitrotolune (TNT) for bombs used in World War II.
On Tuesday night Ballard Memorial were bombers more in the sense of the movie "Ishtar." They weren't bombers. They weren't "da bomb." They were just a bomb.
During warmups, Mayfield went through drills and excercises like they were on a mission. Ballard Memorial's players stood around and chatted and took short shots right around the rim. They reminded me of my cronies and me when we were shooting around at the goal in Lyndon Baptist Church's parking lot. Fans would've never known that their season had the chance to end with this game. The players may have looked upon it as a mercy killing. They last tasted victory on January 5th when they flogged Community Christian (Paducah) 53-42.
Bombers playing Christians. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something humorous about that.
I saw Mayfield play on January 15th when they lost a tight one to Carlisle County, 67-65.
Ballard Memorial opened the game with a 2-3 zone, which appeared to be designed to contain Mayfield's Tony Hockett. Hockett could get around anyone on the Bombers squad, and he is very good around the basket. At first, Mayfield seemed reluctant to attack the zone, and it worked at containing Hockett.
Mayfield, however, started pressing Ballard Memorial and forced some turnovers. The Cardinals woke up after Xavier Shelton, a 6'1" sophomore made the nastiest block I've seen this season. A Bomber moved toward the basket and tried to put up a weak running jumper. Shelton reared back and swatted the ball way out-of-bounds. He sent that Bomber down in flames.
Mayfield had a small lead, 13-9, at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Mayfield got frustrated with Ballard Memorial's persistent zone, and the Cardinals started playing sloppy. Hockett had trouble finding his way into the zone, and at one point the Bombers had pulled within two. That's when Mayfield's Colby Sanderson, a 5'11" junior, decided to bomb the bombers. He nailed back-to-back three pointers, and in a flash, the Cardinals had a 23-15 lead. Sanderson tried to connect with a third long shot, but the ball rimmed off the basket. The Mayfield fans were chanting his name.
Mayfield had a 25-19 lead at halftime.
At halftime Mayfield's Coach Chris Guhy kept the Cardinals in the lockeroom for nearly the entire half. They didn't come back out onto the court until there was 50 seconds left on the clock.
They played the third quarter like Coach Guhy blistered them during the half. I suspect they might have to re-paint one of the lockerooms at Graves County High School this week. Hockett started finding his way into the paint, and the Cardinal's press forced the Bombers to turn the ball over. They also trapped effectively when Ballard tried to set-up their half court offense.
Mayfield outscored Ballard 21-11 in the third quarter to take a commanding 46-30 lead.
I thought the game was over, and in the fourth Mayfield pushed the lead out to 19 points two different times. Ballard Memorial -- this seemingly lowly team with only two victories on the season -- were not going to let Mayfield shoot them down so easily. They made a run at the Cardinals, led by Will "I-40" Mallory, who likes to go coast-to-coast and Brandon Bellamy. Late in the game, the Bombers cut the lead to seven points, but Mayfield was able to hold on to win, 62-55.
Mayfield will take on the winner of the Graves County vs. St. Mary's game on the 26th.
OBSERVATIONS
The Eagles' Nest: Graves County gym is a fantastic facility. I don't know how many fans it seats, but it has a lot seating, including good, steep wooden bleachers in the end zones. I had a second row chair back seat for which I paid $6.00. They had pennants for every team in the First Region hanging from railing at one end of the gym. It's well lighted and looks like a good court. That means that two of the best gyms I've been in this year are in Graves County (the best gym in the state is Mayfield's dome). Who says that the Jackson Purchase is all about football?
Proud Mary: "I left a good job in the city." Mayfield's band flat out rocks, and they are tied with Allen County-Scottsville's band for the best of the season. They whipped out the Ike and Tina Turner version of Proud Mary during warmups. The funniest headline I've seen recently was "Ike beats Tina Turner to Death." Ike Turner died in 2007. Anyway, the Cardinal band is large, loud, and good. There was no canned music piped in tonight, just the Mayfield band. At halftime they played The Commodores' "Brick.....House."
Flash Gordon: Hardly. Greg Gordon, the Ballard Memorial Bombers' 5'9" junior guard has the slowest three point shot in my life. It takes him forever to set up, cock, and fire. He hit one maybe two tonight. I could time him with a sun dial.
Gimme, Oh, Gimme a Redneck Girl: I wonder if Ballard's Brandon Bellamy has a brother and if they prefer girls with their names on the backs of their belts? He's too young to be an "Old Hippie" and probably not a bird on the wing.
Flighty District: The 3rd District features the Graves County Eagles, the Mayfield Cardinals, and the Ballard Memorial Bombers (B-17) variety. St. Mary is the "Vikings." They're the only thing flightless in this district.
They call Ballard Memorial "The Bombers," which is one of my favorite nicknames in high school basketball. They often use a B-17 in their log, although the forces of political correctness have probably made them use it less and less. I was once told that they picked up the name "Bombers" because so many people in Ballard County worked at the Kentucky Munitions Plant where they made trinitrotolune (TNT) for bombs used in World War II.
On Tuesday night Ballard Memorial were bombers more in the sense of the movie "Ishtar." They weren't bombers. They weren't "da bomb." They were just a bomb.
During warmups, Mayfield went through drills and excercises like they were on a mission. Ballard Memorial's players stood around and chatted and took short shots right around the rim. They reminded me of my cronies and me when we were shooting around at the goal in Lyndon Baptist Church's parking lot. Fans would've never known that their season had the chance to end with this game. The players may have looked upon it as a mercy killing. They last tasted victory on January 5th when they flogged Community Christian (Paducah) 53-42.
Bombers playing Christians. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something humorous about that.
I saw Mayfield play on January 15th when they lost a tight one to Carlisle County, 67-65.
Ballard Memorial opened the game with a 2-3 zone, which appeared to be designed to contain Mayfield's Tony Hockett. Hockett could get around anyone on the Bombers squad, and he is very good around the basket. At first, Mayfield seemed reluctant to attack the zone, and it worked at containing Hockett.
Mayfield, however, started pressing Ballard Memorial and forced some turnovers. The Cardinals woke up after Xavier Shelton, a 6'1" sophomore made the nastiest block I've seen this season. A Bomber moved toward the basket and tried to put up a weak running jumper. Shelton reared back and swatted the ball way out-of-bounds. He sent that Bomber down in flames.
Mayfield had a small lead, 13-9, at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Mayfield got frustrated with Ballard Memorial's persistent zone, and the Cardinals started playing sloppy. Hockett had trouble finding his way into the zone, and at one point the Bombers had pulled within two. That's when Mayfield's Colby Sanderson, a 5'11" junior, decided to bomb the bombers. He nailed back-to-back three pointers, and in a flash, the Cardinals had a 23-15 lead. Sanderson tried to connect with a third long shot, but the ball rimmed off the basket. The Mayfield fans were chanting his name.
Mayfield had a 25-19 lead at halftime.
At halftime Mayfield's Coach Chris Guhy kept the Cardinals in the lockeroom for nearly the entire half. They didn't come back out onto the court until there was 50 seconds left on the clock.
They played the third quarter like Coach Guhy blistered them during the half. I suspect they might have to re-paint one of the lockerooms at Graves County High School this week. Hockett started finding his way into the paint, and the Cardinal's press forced the Bombers to turn the ball over. They also trapped effectively when Ballard tried to set-up their half court offense.
Mayfield outscored Ballard 21-11 in the third quarter to take a commanding 46-30 lead.
I thought the game was over, and in the fourth Mayfield pushed the lead out to 19 points two different times. Ballard Memorial -- this seemingly lowly team with only two victories on the season -- were not going to let Mayfield shoot them down so easily. They made a run at the Cardinals, led by Will "I-40" Mallory, who likes to go coast-to-coast and Brandon Bellamy. Late in the game, the Bombers cut the lead to seven points, but Mayfield was able to hold on to win, 62-55.
Mayfield will take on the winner of the Graves County vs. St. Mary's game on the 26th.
OBSERVATIONS
The Eagles' Nest: Graves County gym is a fantastic facility. I don't know how many fans it seats, but it has a lot seating, including good, steep wooden bleachers in the end zones. I had a second row chair back seat for which I paid $6.00. They had pennants for every team in the First Region hanging from railing at one end of the gym. It's well lighted and looks like a good court. That means that two of the best gyms I've been in this year are in Graves County (the best gym in the state is Mayfield's dome). Who says that the Jackson Purchase is all about football?
Proud Mary: "I left a good job in the city." Mayfield's band flat out rocks, and they are tied with Allen County-Scottsville's band for the best of the season. They whipped out the Ike and Tina Turner version of Proud Mary during warmups. The funniest headline I've seen recently was "Ike beats Tina Turner to Death." Ike Turner died in 2007. Anyway, the Cardinal band is large, loud, and good. There was no canned music piped in tonight, just the Mayfield band. At halftime they played The Commodores' "Brick.....House."
Flash Gordon: Hardly. Greg Gordon, the Ballard Memorial Bombers' 5'9" junior guard has the slowest three point shot in my life. It takes him forever to set up, cock, and fire. He hit one maybe two tonight. I could time him with a sun dial.
Gimme, Oh, Gimme a Redneck Girl: I wonder if Ballard's Brandon Bellamy has a brother and if they prefer girls with their names on the backs of their belts? He's too young to be an "Old Hippie" and probably not a bird on the wing.
Flighty District: The 3rd District features the Graves County Eagles, the Mayfield Cardinals, and the Ballard Memorial Bombers (B-17) variety. St. Mary is the "Vikings." They're the only thing flightless in this district.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Franklin-Simpson 63 - Glasgow 36
Franklin-Simpson High School, Franklin, Kentucky 02-22-08
The gym at Franklin-Simpson High School is kind of dark and antiquated, but there's something about it that I like. It's a horseshoe configuration, and the stands are very close to the playing floor. I always like it when the crowd is right on top of the action. The entrances are on the open end of the horseshoe, and the doors are just a few feet from the court. There's gray concrete just beyond the out-of-bounds line. The faded lines of shuffleboard courts are visible on either end. I guess at some point in the history of Franklin-Simpson High School they anticipated either a surge in retirees coming to basketball games or that shuffleboard was the sport of the future instead of soccer.
I don't want to criticize the facility because I'm a big fan of old gyms. They could dress the place up a little. I hope they never scrap the gym because if Wildcat fans packed that place, home court losses would be few and far between.
Franklin-Simspon plays the most sedative National Anthem music I've ever heard. It sounded like it came off of a Christmas album, and it was so mellow that I thought someone might announce that it was "medication time." The public address announcer livened things up, though, when he said, "Now, let's play some basketball." That's cool.
Friday night featured a dog and cat fight at the old gym in Franklin because the Glasgow Scotties trotted into town for a regular season finale with their Fourth Region foe to the south. As it turned out, the Wildcats got the best of the Scotties, who had their "Dawg Pound" in tow.
If anyone is looking for a team with the all around caliber to win the Fourth Region championship, they need to look at the first quarter of Friday's ballgame. Franklin-Simpson, as always, attacked the basket, but they played some of the best defense I've seen this season. They absolutely give opponents no space, especially on the perimeter.
Things got out-of-hand for Glasgow very early, and by the end of the first quarter they were down 23-4.
The two teams played even in the second quarter, each scoring 10 points. Charlie Mudd is one of the best passers I've seen this season. He has a knack at getting the ball to an open teammate, and he is deceptive with his eyes and head motion. For as good as Franklin-Simpson is on the defensive end, Mudd faked them out completely in the second quarter. I should note that Mudd is not the Scottie's point guard. He plays small forward. Craig Moiser for Glasgow had a couple of key steals in the second.
Glasgow's point guard, Jordan Johnson, got a little "chippy" with the Wildcats. He started playing defense with his elbows. I'd like to make a note to Mr. Johnson. Don't ever try that crap with Rayco Bryant because he could turn your elbow to a sack of cracked egg shells.
In the second quarter, Courtney Dalcourt tracked down a loose ball near the end of the court. He went after it, lost his footing, and slid like a baseball player while he tried to pass the ball. The referee called him out of bounds. It was the right call. What made it so impressive was that the referee did the identical slide while make the call. Things were a little dusty on the end of the court.
The halftime score was 33-14. I think what struck me was that Franklin-Simpson had a 19 point lead while having 12 fouls called against them. Glasgow committed only two first half fouls.
In the second half Coach David Clark did a good job of rotating his players in and out of the game, and I felt like the Wildcats were holding back so they wouldn't punish Glasgow too much. I got to see Jim Murphree play some minutes Friday night for Franklin-Simpson. He's a junior and has a wide wing span and plays the post very well. The Wildcats also have Terry Bryant, who is just a sophomore. This Bryant is 6'4" and has a lot of good moves in the post. I don't think he's any relation to Rayco Bryant.
I don't know why, but I've never really written anything about Andre' Gooch. I've gone over what I've posted about Franklin-Simpson and have found very little about him. It's either that he had bad games on the night's I saw them play or that I'm not an astute fan. The latter is most likely the case. Gooch is an excellent basketball player, and on Friday he was 8-10 from the field, including 4-6 from beyond the three point stripe. He scored 20 points.
Another things that makes Franklin-Simpson so good is that they distribute the ball very well. They had 18 assists with Colby Clark leading the way with nine. They had more assists than personal fouls. Glasgow, on the other hand, committed 14 fouls while logging only four assists. They also had 15 turnovers.
Franklin-Simpson won 63-36. They finish the season 22-6 and 18-2 in the region, which is the best record in the Fourth. Glasgow dropped to 15-11 and 5-9.
OBSERVATIONS
What Is That?: I'm not sure what the stuff coating the steel in the roof of Franklin-Simpson's gym is, but I hope they've checked it for asbestos. And, if Fourth Region schools ever put together shuffleboard teams, I know where the regional finals will be held every year.
Mudd Rasslin: I got to see my friend Ricky Mudd tonight. He's Glasgow's Charlie Mudd's father. I can't write anything bad about Charlie or Ricky will give me a whoopin. Mostly, though, I've met a lot of great people this season going to games throughout the region. I'm a transplant to the area but love this part of Kentucky. Following high school hoops this year has tied me even tighter to it.
Bet You Didn't Know: Johnny and June Carter Cash were married at First Methodist Church in downtown Franklin. Apparently, their fever carried them to Franklin and not Jackson. Which one was hiding behind a "Jaypan Fan"? Also, Confederate guerrilla Sue Mundy, whose real name was Jerome Clark, is buried in the cemetery at Franklin. The yankee aggressors hanged him in Louisville as a Confederate spy during the War of Northern Aggression.
Pick and Roll Bad Mojo for Scotty Dogs: Both times I've seen Glasgow play this season they've laid an egg. I've made a sworn statement to Scotty fans that I will not come to the first round of the 15th District tournament.
The gym at Franklin-Simpson High School is kind of dark and antiquated, but there's something about it that I like. It's a horseshoe configuration, and the stands are very close to the playing floor. I always like it when the crowd is right on top of the action. The entrances are on the open end of the horseshoe, and the doors are just a few feet from the court. There's gray concrete just beyond the out-of-bounds line. The faded lines of shuffleboard courts are visible on either end. I guess at some point in the history of Franklin-Simpson High School they anticipated either a surge in retirees coming to basketball games or that shuffleboard was the sport of the future instead of soccer.
I don't want to criticize the facility because I'm a big fan of old gyms. They could dress the place up a little. I hope they never scrap the gym because if Wildcat fans packed that place, home court losses would be few and far between.
Franklin-Simspon plays the most sedative National Anthem music I've ever heard. It sounded like it came off of a Christmas album, and it was so mellow that I thought someone might announce that it was "medication time." The public address announcer livened things up, though, when he said, "Now, let's play some basketball." That's cool.
Friday night featured a dog and cat fight at the old gym in Franklin because the Glasgow Scotties trotted into town for a regular season finale with their Fourth Region foe to the south. As it turned out, the Wildcats got the best of the Scotties, who had their "Dawg Pound" in tow.
If anyone is looking for a team with the all around caliber to win the Fourth Region championship, they need to look at the first quarter of Friday's ballgame. Franklin-Simpson, as always, attacked the basket, but they played some of the best defense I've seen this season. They absolutely give opponents no space, especially on the perimeter.
Things got out-of-hand for Glasgow very early, and by the end of the first quarter they were down 23-4.
The two teams played even in the second quarter, each scoring 10 points. Charlie Mudd is one of the best passers I've seen this season. He has a knack at getting the ball to an open teammate, and he is deceptive with his eyes and head motion. For as good as Franklin-Simpson is on the defensive end, Mudd faked them out completely in the second quarter. I should note that Mudd is not the Scottie's point guard. He plays small forward. Craig Moiser for Glasgow had a couple of key steals in the second.
Glasgow's point guard, Jordan Johnson, got a little "chippy" with the Wildcats. He started playing defense with his elbows. I'd like to make a note to Mr. Johnson. Don't ever try that crap with Rayco Bryant because he could turn your elbow to a sack of cracked egg shells.
In the second quarter, Courtney Dalcourt tracked down a loose ball near the end of the court. He went after it, lost his footing, and slid like a baseball player while he tried to pass the ball. The referee called him out of bounds. It was the right call. What made it so impressive was that the referee did the identical slide while make the call. Things were a little dusty on the end of the court.
The halftime score was 33-14. I think what struck me was that Franklin-Simpson had a 19 point lead while having 12 fouls called against them. Glasgow committed only two first half fouls.
In the second half Coach David Clark did a good job of rotating his players in and out of the game, and I felt like the Wildcats were holding back so they wouldn't punish Glasgow too much. I got to see Jim Murphree play some minutes Friday night for Franklin-Simpson. He's a junior and has a wide wing span and plays the post very well. The Wildcats also have Terry Bryant, who is just a sophomore. This Bryant is 6'4" and has a lot of good moves in the post. I don't think he's any relation to Rayco Bryant.
I don't know why, but I've never really written anything about Andre' Gooch. I've gone over what I've posted about Franklin-Simpson and have found very little about him. It's either that he had bad games on the night's I saw them play or that I'm not an astute fan. The latter is most likely the case. Gooch is an excellent basketball player, and on Friday he was 8-10 from the field, including 4-6 from beyond the three point stripe. He scored 20 points.
Another things that makes Franklin-Simpson so good is that they distribute the ball very well. They had 18 assists with Colby Clark leading the way with nine. They had more assists than personal fouls. Glasgow, on the other hand, committed 14 fouls while logging only four assists. They also had 15 turnovers.
Franklin-Simpson won 63-36. They finish the season 22-6 and 18-2 in the region, which is the best record in the Fourth. Glasgow dropped to 15-11 and 5-9.
OBSERVATIONS
What Is That?: I'm not sure what the stuff coating the steel in the roof of Franklin-Simpson's gym is, but I hope they've checked it for asbestos. And, if Fourth Region schools ever put together shuffleboard teams, I know where the regional finals will be held every year.
Mudd Rasslin: I got to see my friend Ricky Mudd tonight. He's Glasgow's Charlie Mudd's father. I can't write anything bad about Charlie or Ricky will give me a whoopin. Mostly, though, I've met a lot of great people this season going to games throughout the region. I'm a transplant to the area but love this part of Kentucky. Following high school hoops this year has tied me even tighter to it.
Bet You Didn't Know: Johnny and June Carter Cash were married at First Methodist Church in downtown Franklin. Apparently, their fever carried them to Franklin and not Jackson. Which one was hiding behind a "Jaypan Fan"? Also, Confederate guerrilla Sue Mundy, whose real name was Jerome Clark, is buried in the cemetery at Franklin. The yankee aggressors hanged him in Louisville as a Confederate spy during the War of Northern Aggression.
Pick and Roll Bad Mojo for Scotty Dogs: Both times I've seen Glasgow play this season they've laid an egg. I've made a sworn statement to Scotty fans that I will not come to the first round of the 15th District tournament.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Pick and Roll's Best of the Fourth Team
It was Chris Gregory's idea to come up with these teams, and it's a great one. I'm doing my list with the same criteria that Chris used. I'm not going to include a player that I have not seen play. This poses a great big problem for me. I haven't seen every team in the Fourth. I've not been able to catch up with Russellville, Monroe County, Russell County, and Clinton County. The main thing, though, is that when I caught up with Metcalfe County at Warren East, Trey Shirley was out of the lineup due to a pretty serious illness. I still haven't seen him play.
I'm not going to rank mine, and I'm not sure that's what Chris did with his.
Lee Hubbard, Barren County: Hubbard is the type of player any coach wants on his team. First of all, he's good...no he's danged good. He can score and rebound and defend and does all the things that go into making an excellent basketball player. Hubbard's 6'1" and grabs 9.2 rebounds per game while netting a 25.7 points per game average. He shoots 53% from the field. If the Trojans make a good run in the Fourth Region tournament, then I can see Hubbard as tournament MVP. I told my wife that when we watched them play Glasgow on January 4th.
Dee Anderson, Greenwood: Anderson is just a sophomore and suffered a severe knee injury back in the summer, but he demonstrates his prowess each time he steps on the court. I really, really like Anderson's style of play. He makes quick moves to the basket but seems to glide into the lane. I always look forward to seeing him play. I first noticed Anderson in last year's Fourth Region Tournament when the Gators made a run at the championship but came up short to the Dragons. Anderson averages 12.6 points per game and 7.2 rebounds. I'm willing to bet that when Dee graduates in 2010 that Fourth Region coaches will be at Greenwood applauding.
Jay Starks, Allen County-Scottsville: When I saw the Patriots play in November, Starks battled leg cramps, and a trainer had him drink pickle juice to alleviate the problem (my mother's a mountain woman from West Virginia and knows all sorts of home remedies but hasn't heard of this one). I started calling him "Pickle Juice." A lot of coaches would rather gulp a quart of pickle juice than have to figure out how to keep the ball out of Starks hands. He's a heady player and can break down defenses with the dribble.
Will Warf, Metcalfe County: On top of being a fantastic football player (Region 3 Player of the Year), Warf is a hog snout tough basketball player who is unafraid of catching the ball in the paint and challenging bigger players. I won't say stronger because I doubt there's many ballplayers stronger than Warf. When I saw the Hornets play at Warren East, Warf played tough interior defense and was a workhorse on the offensive end. I think he scored 28 points that night. He averages 18.5 points and 8.4 boards per game.
Rayco Bryant, Franklin-Simpson: I like to call him "Sir Rayco." Franklin-Simpson fans and other fans call him "Baby Shaq," but I don't see Shaquille O'Neal when I see him play. I see Charles Barkley. Bryant has a huge frame but is very mobile for his size. He uses his size and strength to score around the basket, and he can move along the baseline very well. I wonder if there's anyone bold enough to try to draw a charge on "Sir Rayco." It could be a painful experience. He seems to be his team's leader on the court, too.
Mark Lacy, Greenwood: Here's a kid that's playing the season like he's hungry for a regional championship. He's a competitor down to his marrow. Lacy doesn't have any gaudy numbers, but he handles the ball better than anyone in the region, and if anyone throws a bad pass along the perimeter, Lacy will make them pay for it.
D.L. Moore, Bowling Green: Moore is a quiet scorer. If I don't get to see a stat sheet after a ballgame, I'll guess that Moore only scored six or seven points. Then, when I see the stats, I'll see that he scored 16 or 17. Moore is 6'6" and has great leaping ability. Moore's sport isn't basketball, however. He will suit up for the Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks in South Carolina this fall.
DeAngelo Kirk, Warren East: To me, Kirk is one of the most exciting ballplayers in the region. He makes things happen on the court, and if he squares up to the basket, he'll knock down the shot almost every time. He can also make moves to the hoop when he needs to. He's good at breaking presses, too.
Courtney Dalcourt, Franklin Simpson: Dalcourt attacks the basket as good as anyone in the region. He has a good jump shot, and he always stays cool in the face of defensive pressure. He is a fantastic athlete.
There are a lot of other players in the region I really like. I guess these guys are my "honorable mentions": Blake Crabtree, Barren County; Matt Riley, Barren County; Charlie Mudd, Glasgow; Jarren Nixon, Bowling Green; Brett Barrick, Greenwood; Brett Sowell, Logan County, and Shenard Holton, Warren East.
OTHERS FROM OTHER REGIONS
Tyshwan Edmondson, University Heights: I can't say enough good things about this player. He's quick, strong, athletic, intelligent, and plays like he's getting ready to drive a nail with his forehead. His teammate, Scotty Hopson, gets all the ink, but Edmondson puts the blaze in the Blazers. He's the best player I've seen play this season. The BEST! I'd like to see him continue his career about 60 miles east of Hoptown.
Aaron Morris, Muhlenberg North: Morris averages nearly 20 points a ballgame and has made 75 three points shots this season. The North Stars have a balanced attack, but Morris is the scoring leader on one of the best teams in the Commonwealth.
Scotty Hopson, University Heights: He's Tyshwan Edmondson's teammate and one of the best players in the nation. He is highly sought after by big name college basketball programs throughout the nation, and Hopson seems to have found some intensity down the stretch of the season. He's big and athletic and can flat jump out of the gym.
Travis Johnston, Grayson County: He may be my favorite this season. Johnston is the type of player that anyone would love to have on his team. He's a good shooter, a good defender, and he has the best sense for the game I've seen since a kid named Sparks played at Muhlenberg North. He shoots 43% from beyond the arc. Did I mention that he's just a sophomore?
Tony Hockett, Mayfield: I took in a Mayfield game back in January, and Hockett caught my eye while I was out there. He's a strong, athletic basketball player. He's averaging 18.2 points a game and gives Mayfield a good inside-out attack. Some of these guys in the First Region are overlooked or forgotten or only matter if they can also play football.
Tyrell Willis, Calloway County: I only saw the Lakers play once this season. Willis is a sophomore but is built like he's ready to step into a college game. He's a little raw, but this kids has a lot of upside. He's starts for a very young Lakers squad. He grabs 9.4 rebounds a game.
James David Strange, Pineville: I saw Pineville play a couple or three games in the Citizens First Holiday Classic at Bowling Green High School in December. Strange, who is Coach J.D. Strange's son, played very solid basketball in the tournament. Over the course of the season, he has averaged 17.3 points a game on a very well balanced basketball team, and he shoots 51.7% and 44.1% behind the three point stripe. I didn't include him when I originally posted this because I'm forgetful.
I'm not going to rank mine, and I'm not sure that's what Chris did with his.
Lee Hubbard, Barren County: Hubbard is the type of player any coach wants on his team. First of all, he's good...no he's danged good. He can score and rebound and defend and does all the things that go into making an excellent basketball player. Hubbard's 6'1" and grabs 9.2 rebounds per game while netting a 25.7 points per game average. He shoots 53% from the field. If the Trojans make a good run in the Fourth Region tournament, then I can see Hubbard as tournament MVP. I told my wife that when we watched them play Glasgow on January 4th.
Dee Anderson, Greenwood: Anderson is just a sophomore and suffered a severe knee injury back in the summer, but he demonstrates his prowess each time he steps on the court. I really, really like Anderson's style of play. He makes quick moves to the basket but seems to glide into the lane. I always look forward to seeing him play. I first noticed Anderson in last year's Fourth Region Tournament when the Gators made a run at the championship but came up short to the Dragons. Anderson averages 12.6 points per game and 7.2 rebounds. I'm willing to bet that when Dee graduates in 2010 that Fourth Region coaches will be at Greenwood applauding.
Jay Starks, Allen County-Scottsville: When I saw the Patriots play in November, Starks battled leg cramps, and a trainer had him drink pickle juice to alleviate the problem (my mother's a mountain woman from West Virginia and knows all sorts of home remedies but hasn't heard of this one). I started calling him "Pickle Juice." A lot of coaches would rather gulp a quart of pickle juice than have to figure out how to keep the ball out of Starks hands. He's a heady player and can break down defenses with the dribble.
Will Warf, Metcalfe County: On top of being a fantastic football player (Region 3 Player of the Year), Warf is a hog snout tough basketball player who is unafraid of catching the ball in the paint and challenging bigger players. I won't say stronger because I doubt there's many ballplayers stronger than Warf. When I saw the Hornets play at Warren East, Warf played tough interior defense and was a workhorse on the offensive end. I think he scored 28 points that night. He averages 18.5 points and 8.4 boards per game.
Rayco Bryant, Franklin-Simpson: I like to call him "Sir Rayco." Franklin-Simpson fans and other fans call him "Baby Shaq," but I don't see Shaquille O'Neal when I see him play. I see Charles Barkley. Bryant has a huge frame but is very mobile for his size. He uses his size and strength to score around the basket, and he can move along the baseline very well. I wonder if there's anyone bold enough to try to draw a charge on "Sir Rayco." It could be a painful experience. He seems to be his team's leader on the court, too.
Mark Lacy, Greenwood: Here's a kid that's playing the season like he's hungry for a regional championship. He's a competitor down to his marrow. Lacy doesn't have any gaudy numbers, but he handles the ball better than anyone in the region, and if anyone throws a bad pass along the perimeter, Lacy will make them pay for it.
D.L. Moore, Bowling Green: Moore is a quiet scorer. If I don't get to see a stat sheet after a ballgame, I'll guess that Moore only scored six or seven points. Then, when I see the stats, I'll see that he scored 16 or 17. Moore is 6'6" and has great leaping ability. Moore's sport isn't basketball, however. He will suit up for the Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks in South Carolina this fall.
DeAngelo Kirk, Warren East: To me, Kirk is one of the most exciting ballplayers in the region. He makes things happen on the court, and if he squares up to the basket, he'll knock down the shot almost every time. He can also make moves to the hoop when he needs to. He's good at breaking presses, too.
Courtney Dalcourt, Franklin Simpson: Dalcourt attacks the basket as good as anyone in the region. He has a good jump shot, and he always stays cool in the face of defensive pressure. He is a fantastic athlete.
There are a lot of other players in the region I really like. I guess these guys are my "honorable mentions": Blake Crabtree, Barren County; Matt Riley, Barren County; Charlie Mudd, Glasgow; Jarren Nixon, Bowling Green; Brett Barrick, Greenwood; Brett Sowell, Logan County, and Shenard Holton, Warren East.
OTHERS FROM OTHER REGIONS
Tyshwan Edmondson, University Heights: I can't say enough good things about this player. He's quick, strong, athletic, intelligent, and plays like he's getting ready to drive a nail with his forehead. His teammate, Scotty Hopson, gets all the ink, but Edmondson puts the blaze in the Blazers. He's the best player I've seen play this season. The BEST! I'd like to see him continue his career about 60 miles east of Hoptown.
Aaron Morris, Muhlenberg North: Morris averages nearly 20 points a ballgame and has made 75 three points shots this season. The North Stars have a balanced attack, but Morris is the scoring leader on one of the best teams in the Commonwealth.
Scotty Hopson, University Heights: He's Tyshwan Edmondson's teammate and one of the best players in the nation. He is highly sought after by big name college basketball programs throughout the nation, and Hopson seems to have found some intensity down the stretch of the season. He's big and athletic and can flat jump out of the gym.
Travis Johnston, Grayson County: He may be my favorite this season. Johnston is the type of player that anyone would love to have on his team. He's a good shooter, a good defender, and he has the best sense for the game I've seen since a kid named Sparks played at Muhlenberg North. He shoots 43% from beyond the arc. Did I mention that he's just a sophomore?
Tony Hockett, Mayfield: I took in a Mayfield game back in January, and Hockett caught my eye while I was out there. He's a strong, athletic basketball player. He's averaging 18.2 points a game and gives Mayfield a good inside-out attack. Some of these guys in the First Region are overlooked or forgotten or only matter if they can also play football.
Tyrell Willis, Calloway County: I only saw the Lakers play once this season. Willis is a sophomore but is built like he's ready to step into a college game. He's a little raw, but this kids has a lot of upside. He's starts for a very young Lakers squad. He grabs 9.4 rebounds a game.
James David Strange, Pineville: I saw Pineville play a couple or three games in the Citizens First Holiday Classic at Bowling Green High School in December. Strange, who is Coach J.D. Strange's son, played very solid basketball in the tournament. Over the course of the season, he has averaged 17.3 points a game on a very well balanced basketball team, and he shoots 51.7% and 44.1% behind the three point stripe. I didn't include him when I originally posted this because I'm forgetful.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pick and Roll's Best of the Fifth Team
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
We are in the last week of regular season games, and once again my work schedule has not permitted me to attend any games this week. That's OK because working this week opens me up for the district tournaments next week.
My list is based solely on players I've seen play. I've seen a lot of players who are having good season, but I'm only going to list the impact players from the games I've seen.
1. Darrion Ballou, Adair County: Ballou is one of the best players in the Fifth Region. In the games I've watched, he has an 18.5 point average and has pulled down 10.3 rebounds. He is only a junior. His recruiting is starting to open up. Some say that he will not make a good D-1 player, but I disagree. If his Indians can make it to the big dance in Rupp again this year, then look for him to start getting some offers.
2. Maurice Gosa, North Hardin: He leads the Trojans on the floor and is as quick as a cat. He can shoot the rock, too. He has a 52% average from three point land in the games I've watched. Even those he gets his fair share of shots, he can dish it out, too. Maurice is a very good passer, and for his size he has great hops.
3. Chase Cox, Taylor County: I have nicknamed him "The Gunner" because this kid will pull the trigger from anywhere. I watched him against Adair County, and fans told me that he looks to shoot as soon as he gets off the bus. Also, they honored him for scoring 2,000 points for his career. He is known to have an "off night," but when that happens he picks it up on defense. Look for Chase to start raining threes next week in Campbellsville.
4. Tyler Hornback, Larue County: Tyler is a workhorse. He has athletic ability running out of his ears. I know this kid personally, and fans can't ask for a better kid anywhere. Tyler has had some good games this season and has a Pick and Roll average of 16 points and 8 rebounds, and to go along with that he has dished out 3.5 assists. This multi-sport athlete does a lot for the Hawks, and in most games he has to defend other teams' best player. He jumps real well and has good speed. He's only a junior.
5. Tony Harding, Central Hardin: Tony really impressed me. At 6'0" he jumps out of the gym and slashes with the best of them. Overall, he has had an up-and-down year, but he put up 23 points the night they dismantled North Hardin to get the school's first ever number one seed in the 17th district. Central has only been to the Fifth Region Tournament twice in school history, so look for Tony and the Bruins to make the most of it. Editor's Note: I saw Harding play in Bowling Green in December, and he is one of my favorites, too.
6. Sean Bouthilette, Elizabethtown: Another workhorse. This "wide body" takes pride in rebounding, and he doesn't look to score as much as other players I listed. He is the type of player every coach wants on his team. Bouthilette has a good crew around him, so don't county out a James Haire coached team. Editor's Note: I was mystified as to how to spell Bouthilette until I saw his name listed on the news the other night, and I see you have it exactly right. I saw him play against Shelby County, and he is one tough ballplayer.
CHRIS'S FIFTH REGION UP-AND-COMERS
1. Bryan Bault, Junior, Larue County: He's a solid scorer and rebounder in his first year to play high school ball. He has really helped his team.
2. Roosevelt Emerson, Sophomore, North Hardin: In one game I watched this year he had 23 points. He is 6'5" and his best ball is ahead of him.
3. Chris White, Junior, John Hardin: Best hands in the 17th District for a big man. He has a soft touch down low and can shoot from out on the floor.
4. Kyle Sandusky, Sophomore, Adair County: He's the best "Sixth Man" in the Fifth. He rains threes and plays good "D" with his long arms.
5. Jordan Hickman, Junior, Bardstown: He takes it to the hole harder than anyone. He's quick, which, I think is a requirement on this team. Look for him to help lead the Tigers in the Fifth Region Tournament.
6. James Berry, Sophomore, North Hardin: He's a 6'3" guard and has a good percentage from three point land. He needs to improve his ball handling, but other than that he's a solid sophomore.
Best Student Section: My vote goes to Adair County. I know some schools will take offense to this, but, hey, they have been there every time I have. They make some noise, too. I can't wait for next week when they all pack into Taylor County's gym.
Don't forget that my list is based on the games I attended, and I mean no disrespect to other players that have had great season. Maybe that just had off nights at the games I attended.
We are in the last week of regular season games, and once again my work schedule has not permitted me to attend any games this week. That's OK because working this week opens me up for the district tournaments next week.
My list is based solely on players I've seen play. I've seen a lot of players who are having good season, but I'm only going to list the impact players from the games I've seen.
1. Darrion Ballou, Adair County: Ballou is one of the best players in the Fifth Region. In the games I've watched, he has an 18.5 point average and has pulled down 10.3 rebounds. He is only a junior. His recruiting is starting to open up. Some say that he will not make a good D-1 player, but I disagree. If his Indians can make it to the big dance in Rupp again this year, then look for him to start getting some offers.
2. Maurice Gosa, North Hardin: He leads the Trojans on the floor and is as quick as a cat. He can shoot the rock, too. He has a 52% average from three point land in the games I've watched. Even those he gets his fair share of shots, he can dish it out, too. Maurice is a very good passer, and for his size he has great hops.
3. Chase Cox, Taylor County: I have nicknamed him "The Gunner" because this kid will pull the trigger from anywhere. I watched him against Adair County, and fans told me that he looks to shoot as soon as he gets off the bus. Also, they honored him for scoring 2,000 points for his career. He is known to have an "off night," but when that happens he picks it up on defense. Look for Chase to start raining threes next week in Campbellsville.
4. Tyler Hornback, Larue County: Tyler is a workhorse. He has athletic ability running out of his ears. I know this kid personally, and fans can't ask for a better kid anywhere. Tyler has had some good games this season and has a Pick and Roll average of 16 points and 8 rebounds, and to go along with that he has dished out 3.5 assists. This multi-sport athlete does a lot for the Hawks, and in most games he has to defend other teams' best player. He jumps real well and has good speed. He's only a junior.
5. Tony Harding, Central Hardin: Tony really impressed me. At 6'0" he jumps out of the gym and slashes with the best of them. Overall, he has had an up-and-down year, but he put up 23 points the night they dismantled North Hardin to get the school's first ever number one seed in the 17th district. Central has only been to the Fifth Region Tournament twice in school history, so look for Tony and the Bruins to make the most of it. Editor's Note: I saw Harding play in Bowling Green in December, and he is one of my favorites, too.
6. Sean Bouthilette, Elizabethtown: Another workhorse. This "wide body" takes pride in rebounding, and he doesn't look to score as much as other players I listed. He is the type of player every coach wants on his team. Bouthilette has a good crew around him, so don't county out a James Haire coached team. Editor's Note: I was mystified as to how to spell Bouthilette until I saw his name listed on the news the other night, and I see you have it exactly right. I saw him play against Shelby County, and he is one tough ballplayer.
CHRIS'S FIFTH REGION UP-AND-COMERS
1. Bryan Bault, Junior, Larue County: He's a solid scorer and rebounder in his first year to play high school ball. He has really helped his team.
2. Roosevelt Emerson, Sophomore, North Hardin: In one game I watched this year he had 23 points. He is 6'5" and his best ball is ahead of him.
3. Chris White, Junior, John Hardin: Best hands in the 17th District for a big man. He has a soft touch down low and can shoot from out on the floor.
4. Kyle Sandusky, Sophomore, Adair County: He's the best "Sixth Man" in the Fifth. He rains threes and plays good "D" with his long arms.
5. Jordan Hickman, Junior, Bardstown: He takes it to the hole harder than anyone. He's quick, which, I think is a requirement on this team. Look for him to help lead the Tigers in the Fifth Region Tournament.
6. James Berry, Sophomore, North Hardin: He's a 6'3" guard and has a good percentage from three point land. He needs to improve his ball handling, but other than that he's a solid sophomore.
Best Student Section: My vote goes to Adair County. I know some schools will take offense to this, but, hey, they have been there every time I have. They make some noise, too. I can't wait for next week when they all pack into Taylor County's gym.
Don't forget that my list is based on the games I attended, and I mean no disrespect to other players that have had great season. Maybe that just had off nights at the games I attended.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
More District Tournaments
As I've stated before, I never intended this blog to be about just the Fourth Region or just the Fifth Region. I want it to be about basketball in all of west Kentucky. I'd love to get to more games in the First, Second, and Third regions, but there is only one of me and only one of Chris. Two things: I thought gas prices would come down this winter, and my 14 year old pickup truck has developed a loud knock in the engine. I don't trust it for road trips anymore. It's the only piece of rolling stock the Pennyrile Pick and Roll owns.
I thought I'd put up district tournament information for the rest of west Kentucky.
FIRST REGION
District 1: Hickman County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
First round pits Fulton City vs. Fulton County and Carlisle County vs. Hickman County.
District 2: Paducah Tilghman High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
Top seeded Tilghman will take on Reidland and Lone Oak and Heath will play in the lower bracket.
District 3: Graves County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 28th.
Mayfield vs. Ballard Memorial in the first game, and Graves County will take on St. Mary in the second one. The championship game will most likely be between Mayfield and Graves, which could prove to be one of the better championship match ups in the state. It will be city vs. county, big school vs. little school, rival vs. rival.
District 4: Marshall County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 28th.
First round has Marshall County vs. Paducah Community Christian and Murray and Calloway County.
SECOND REGION
District 5: Lyon County High School. Feb. 28th and March 1st.
The first round pits Livingston Central vs. Crittenden County and Lyon County vs. Trigg County.
District 6: Webster County High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The 6th District has only three teams. Union County and Webster County will play the first game, and the winner will take on Henderson County, which has already punched its ticket to the Second Region Tournament.
District 7: Madisonville-North Hopkins High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 28th.
The first round features Caldwell County vs. Madisonville-North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central vs. Dawson Springs.
District 8: Hopkinsville High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The first round will feature Hopkinsville vs. University Heights Academy and Fort Campbell vs. Christian County. UHA has two of the best players in the state with Scotty Hopson and Tyshwan Edmondson. The press loves Hopson, but Pick and Roll thinks Edmondson is the real talent for the Blazers. Hoptown and UHA could be one of the best district match ups in the entire Commonwealth.
THIRD REGION
District 9: I'm not sure where this one will be played. The way I see it, Apollo has the best district record and will play Owensboro Catholic, while Owensboro and Daviess County will play in the first round.
District 10: McLean County High School. Feb. 26th, 27th, and 29th.
The first round features top seed Muhlenberg North vs. McLean County and Muhlenberg South vs. Ohio County. Muhlenberg North is one of the best teams in the state.
District 11: Meade County High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The first round has Meade County vs. Frederick Fraize (yeah, yeah, I know they're Cloverport) and Breckinridge County vs. Hancock County.
District 12: Grayson County High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The first round features Edmonson County vs. Trinity (Whitesville) and Grayson County vs. Butler County. I recommend that people spend Leap Day in Grayson County watching the state's most gerrymandered basketball district and eating the best popcorn in high school basketball.
I thought I'd put up district tournament information for the rest of west Kentucky.
FIRST REGION
District 1: Hickman County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
First round pits Fulton City vs. Fulton County and Carlisle County vs. Hickman County.
District 2: Paducah Tilghman High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
Top seeded Tilghman will take on Reidland and Lone Oak and Heath will play in the lower bracket.
District 3: Graves County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 28th.
Mayfield vs. Ballard Memorial in the first game, and Graves County will take on St. Mary in the second one. The championship game will most likely be between Mayfield and Graves, which could prove to be one of the better championship match ups in the state. It will be city vs. county, big school vs. little school, rival vs. rival.
District 4: Marshall County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 28th.
First round has Marshall County vs. Paducah Community Christian and Murray and Calloway County.
SECOND REGION
District 5: Lyon County High School. Feb. 28th and March 1st.
The first round pits Livingston Central vs. Crittenden County and Lyon County vs. Trigg County.
District 6: Webster County High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The 6th District has only three teams. Union County and Webster County will play the first game, and the winner will take on Henderson County, which has already punched its ticket to the Second Region Tournament.
District 7: Madisonville-North Hopkins High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 28th.
The first round features Caldwell County vs. Madisonville-North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central vs. Dawson Springs.
District 8: Hopkinsville High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The first round will feature Hopkinsville vs. University Heights Academy and Fort Campbell vs. Christian County. UHA has two of the best players in the state with Scotty Hopson and Tyshwan Edmondson. The press loves Hopson, but Pick and Roll thinks Edmondson is the real talent for the Blazers. Hoptown and UHA could be one of the best district match ups in the entire Commonwealth.
THIRD REGION
District 9: I'm not sure where this one will be played. The way I see it, Apollo has the best district record and will play Owensboro Catholic, while Owensboro and Daviess County will play in the first round.
District 10: McLean County High School. Feb. 26th, 27th, and 29th.
The first round features top seed Muhlenberg North vs. McLean County and Muhlenberg South vs. Ohio County. Muhlenberg North is one of the best teams in the state.
District 11: Meade County High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The first round has Meade County vs. Frederick Fraize (yeah, yeah, I know they're Cloverport) and Breckinridge County vs. Hancock County.
District 12: Grayson County High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
The first round features Edmonson County vs. Trinity (Whitesville) and Grayson County vs. Butler County. I recommend that people spend Leap Day in Grayson County watching the state's most gerrymandered basketball district and eating the best popcorn in high school basketball.
District Tournaments
It's that time of year folks. We're heading into the holiday season for hoops fans -- March. For high school basketball fans the madness starts in February with the district match ups. Most districts are just four teams these days, which means -- in most cases -- that two teams pack up their gym backs and empty out their lockers before we even flip the calendars over to March. In a couple of weeks only 64 teams will be left to vie for the coveted Sweet Sixteen championship.
Even though it is exciting, the Road to Rupp and the quest for the championship is a rough road paved with a string of broken hearts. I look forward to this time every year, and when a squad of hardwood warriors hoist the trophy in Rupp next month, I start counting the days until everyone tips it up the next season.
I'll be updating this post as I get information:
FOURTH REGION
District 13: Russellville High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th
First round will be Franklin-Simpson vs. Logan County and Russellville vs. Todd County Central.
District 14: Warren Central High School. Feb. 26th, 27th, and March 1st.
First round features Bowling Green against Warren Central and Greenwood against Warren East. Two real good teams will pack up their season after the first round of this one.
District 15: Allen County-Scottsville High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
First round has Barren County vs. Monroe County and Allen County-Scottsville vs. Glasgow. If it's Barren County and Allen County in championship, it will be katey-bar-the-door in Scottsville that night.
District 16: Russell County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
The first round will feature top seed Metcalfe County vs. Clinton County and Russell County vs. Cumberland County.
FIFTH REGION
District 17: Central Hardin High School
I need to apologize to the fine folks at Central Hardin High School because I originally posted that North Hardin was the top seed in the 17th District. It's actually the Bruins. They will play the winner of the John Hardin-Fort Knox game, and Elizabethtown plays North Hardin.
Chris Gregory called and straightened me out on this one.
District 18: Green County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
The first round has Green County vs. Caverna and Larue County vs. Hart County.
District 19: Bardstown High School. Feb. 27th, 28th, and March 1st.
This one will be a triple tilt in the old gym at Bardstown. The first round has Nelson County vs. Bethlehem and Bardstown vs. Washington County.
District 20: Taylor County High School. Feb. 27th, 28th, March 1st.
The first round features one of the state's best with Adair County vs. Campbellsville and Marion County vs. Taylor County. If Adair and Taylor meet in the championship, it'll be a barn burner on March 1st in Campbellsville.
Reminiscence Alert!!
In 2005, Chris Gregory and I were at the 11th District championship game between Breckinridge County and Hancock County. The tournament was played at Cloverport (known as Frederick Fraize to the free world beyond the Breckinridge County). Chris was there for the Tigers, and I was there because my wife, who's a Hancock County alumnus, thought the Hornets might actually put a beat down on some Fightin' Tigers. Breck won.
For anyone who doesn't know, Cloverport's gymnasium is tiny and is a steel building. During the game, a severe thunderstorm rolled into Cloverport. The wind started blowing and the rain poured down. Then, hail started pounding on the roof and sides of the steel building. I thought the Apocalypse was upon us and that I would die at a basketball game in Cloverport, Kentucky.
Young people would say that night was "crunk." It was. There was so much hail on the ground after the game that it looked like it had snowed. Plus, it was about 75 degrees at the start of the game and about 40 at the end.
Folks! That's March Madness in Kentucky. The weather is crazy. The basketball is crazy. The fans are crazy.
I love every single minute of it, and I urge everyone to find the gymnasium of your choice to watch some of the madness.
It's Kentucky's Mardis Gras.
Even though it is exciting, the Road to Rupp and the quest for the championship is a rough road paved with a string of broken hearts. I look forward to this time every year, and when a squad of hardwood warriors hoist the trophy in Rupp next month, I start counting the days until everyone tips it up the next season.
I'll be updating this post as I get information:
FOURTH REGION
District 13: Russellville High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th
First round will be Franklin-Simpson vs. Logan County and Russellville vs. Todd County Central.
District 14: Warren Central High School. Feb. 26th, 27th, and March 1st.
First round features Bowling Green against Warren Central and Greenwood against Warren East. Two real good teams will pack up their season after the first round of this one.
District 15: Allen County-Scottsville High School. Feb. 26th and 29th.
First round has Barren County vs. Monroe County and Allen County-Scottsville vs. Glasgow. If it's Barren County and Allen County in championship, it will be katey-bar-the-door in Scottsville that night.
District 16: Russell County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
The first round will feature top seed Metcalfe County vs. Clinton County and Russell County vs. Cumberland County.
FIFTH REGION
District 17: Central Hardin High School
I need to apologize to the fine folks at Central Hardin High School because I originally posted that North Hardin was the top seed in the 17th District. It's actually the Bruins. They will play the winner of the John Hardin-Fort Knox game, and Elizabethtown plays North Hardin.
Chris Gregory called and straightened me out on this one.
District 18: Green County High School. Feb. 25th, 26th, and 29th.
The first round has Green County vs. Caverna and Larue County vs. Hart County.
District 19: Bardstown High School. Feb. 27th, 28th, and March 1st.
This one will be a triple tilt in the old gym at Bardstown. The first round has Nelson County vs. Bethlehem and Bardstown vs. Washington County.
District 20: Taylor County High School. Feb. 27th, 28th, March 1st.
The first round features one of the state's best with Adair County vs. Campbellsville and Marion County vs. Taylor County. If Adair and Taylor meet in the championship, it'll be a barn burner on March 1st in Campbellsville.
Reminiscence Alert!!
In 2005, Chris Gregory and I were at the 11th District championship game between Breckinridge County and Hancock County. The tournament was played at Cloverport (known as Frederick Fraize to the free world beyond the Breckinridge County). Chris was there for the Tigers, and I was there because my wife, who's a Hancock County alumnus, thought the Hornets might actually put a beat down on some Fightin' Tigers. Breck won.
For anyone who doesn't know, Cloverport's gymnasium is tiny and is a steel building. During the game, a severe thunderstorm rolled into Cloverport. The wind started blowing and the rain poured down. Then, hail started pounding on the roof and sides of the steel building. I thought the Apocalypse was upon us and that I would die at a basketball game in Cloverport, Kentucky.
Young people would say that night was "crunk." It was. There was so much hail on the ground after the game that it looked like it had snowed. Plus, it was about 75 degrees at the start of the game and about 40 at the end.
Folks! That's March Madness in Kentucky. The weather is crazy. The basketball is crazy. The fans are crazy.
I love every single minute of it, and I urge everyone to find the gymnasium of your choice to watch some of the madness.
It's Kentucky's Mardis Gras.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Apollo 57 - Meade County 53
Meade County High School, Brandenburg, Kentucky 02-15-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Friday night I decided to step out of the Fifth Region and catch a game between the Apollo Eagles and the Green Wave of Meade County. Both teams have made some noise in the last season with a couple of bumps here and there. Apollo beat Third Region favorite Muhlenberg North on February 1st, and Meade has won six of their last eight games. Both teams were playing good ball coming into this game.
I got over to Meade County early so I could tour the tornado damage. It hit Meade-Olin Park, which holds a special place in my heart. I can't tell you how many softball games I played there. Good times. I know that Meade's football field also got hit. I'm glad that everyone in that county is O.K. It will take some time to rebuild things over there.
I finally made my way to the gym and was early enough to catch some JV action. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a kid for Apollo who was towering above everyone. I found out from the Apollo stat man that he is 6'9" freshman Taylor Ewing. The kid is huge. He still has to develop, but his future looks bright. Then, the stat man for Apollo told me that the kid's mom is 6'8". Unreal!! She was very easy to pick out of a crowd.
I also got to talk to an old friend of mine, Kevin Robinson. He is an assistant coach for Meade County. I played with Kevin at Breckinridge County, and it's good to see many of the old Breck players going on to help coach or become head coaches themselves. Believe me, there are a lot of them.
When the game started, Meade came out with intensity, but their crowd was quiet. Maybe they are still in shock from the storms last week. Maybe Meade hasn't been in the Third Region long enough to know how important this game really was. Apollo is always at the top of the region, and they have one of the top coaches in the state with Tony Hopper.
Meade County fans! You must get up for this game!
Meade busted out an early lead, but the Eagles were not going to let that bother them. They stepped up their "D" and was able to get Meade to commit some turnovers. Apollo plays very good man-to-man defense, probably the best I've seen all year. They are pretty quick at every position. Meade got into early foul trouble. They had two starters with two early fouls, but Coach Jerry Garris gambled and left one of them on the floor. Apollo had the first quarter lead at 12-10.
Between quarters I wondered when Apollo's Tyler Brown was going to show up. It was like he read my mind because he came out in the second ready to play. He forced a few shots, but he had to get something going for the Eagles. Meade was quick to answer with a guy they like to call "Mr. Stinnett." His name is Nick Stinnett, and I followed his great football season last fall. I knew he was an athlete and strong. It's hard for me to describe how strong he really is. Heck, just go to a Meade County game and see for yourself. He, too, forced a lot of shots and had an off night. He was also in foul trouble.
The Green Wave's Rob Williams took up some slack and helped Meade outscore the Eagles 14-11 in the second and took a 24-23 lead to halftime.
I think Tony Hopper looks like a drill sergeant because he has a shaved head and a deep voice. Sergeant Hopper kept his team in the locker room almost the entire halftime, and I would've liked to have been a fly on the wall in that dressing room. He's really not like a drill sergeant because I noticed when he takes players out of the game he always says something positive to them. Whether they made a mistake or not, he was always positive.
He got his team mad because they came out and used a 12-4 run on Meade, and I thought it might wash up the Green Wave. Meade called a timeout at 4:37 after Apollo built a 35-28 lead. Meade made some adjustments and put together their own 7-2 run.
Meade had to go to a zone to protect their mounting foul trouble, and Apollo went cold. Nick Stinnett capped off a good quarter for Meade with a layup at the buzzer to help get the Wave back in the game. The Eagles had a 44-42 lead at the end of three. The difference in the game, though was the 12-4 run to start the half and Apollo outscoring Meade 21-18 in the third.
The game was back in forth in the fourth. At the 4:01 mark Apollo had the advantage, 49-47. It was shaping up to be a barn burner in Brandenburg. Tyler Brown quietly scored 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Apollo decided to go "stall-ball" with 2:30 left in the game. It broke down Meade County. The Eagles spread the floor and point guard De-Lon Butler found a hole in the Green Wave defense. He got a lay-up and was fouled. He missed the free throw, which was nothing new because both teams shot horribly from the charity stripe. Apollo had a 51-47 lead.
Meade County was not ready to give it up. With 1:25 they hit a huge three to cut it to one, but they made a mistake. They put on the press, and with the clock under a minute the Eagles took flight. They ran off six points under a minute and crashed the Green Wave, 57-53.
OBSERVATIONS
Has This Eagle Landed?: It's rumored that Tyler Brown has either signed or will sign with Morehead State. I guess he likes being an Eagle.
The Apollo Program: This one may be ready to blast off and make a flight for the regional title. They play very tough man-to-man pressure defense, and they have the quickness that can hurt some teams. They must improve at the charity stripe. Friday night they shot 57%. They go nine deep and got 17 points from their bench. They have beaten the top teams in the region, and they have the right coach.I hope they can look at these wins and build on them. Being an old Third Region man myself, I will always root for anyone who represents the region in the Sweet Sixteen. (Editor's Note: Daviess County knocked off Muhlenberg North at Greenville on Friday night).
Tsunami or Lapping Water? The Green Wave fans looked lost tonight. Their team is in the Third Region, and so is Apollo. It was a regional game between two of the top team, and the Meade County folks sat there like they used to when they were the whipping boys of the Fifth. C'mon, folks, Meade's a good team, and the fans should get behind them -- if it's not too much to ask. They get up for two games a year, and that's when they play Breck County.
Old Glory: Meade County takes a different approach to displaying the flag during the National Anthem. In many gyms I feel like an idiot looking around for the flag, and the song is half over before I find it. Meade puts it right out there. It hangs in the rafters in the middle of the gym, and when the band starts playing someone lowers it to about eye level. I thought that was pretty cool. Even my six year old took notice and said, "well, no one has done that before."
A Pick and Roll Thank You: Johnathan Whelan, the student stat man for Meade County supplied me with rosters for the game. I noticed him with his laptop during the JV game and asked him if he could give me the rosters. It was early, and I thought he might forget about me, but he hooked me right up. He even asked me if I wanted halftime stats and end of the game stats. I didn't want to impose, so I just asked for end of the game stats. Also, I can't forget the student stat man for Apollo. He sat next to me, too, and we talked a little during the game. I'm sorry I never asked his name, but he was a good guy and knew his Eagle basketball. Thanks guys.
Editor's Note: Chris in the Third, and I was in the Fifth. I guess Chris is Dan Akroyd, and I'm Eddie Murphy. Trading Places.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Friday night I decided to step out of the Fifth Region and catch a game between the Apollo Eagles and the Green Wave of Meade County. Both teams have made some noise in the last season with a couple of bumps here and there. Apollo beat Third Region favorite Muhlenberg North on February 1st, and Meade has won six of their last eight games. Both teams were playing good ball coming into this game.
I got over to Meade County early so I could tour the tornado damage. It hit Meade-Olin Park, which holds a special place in my heart. I can't tell you how many softball games I played there. Good times. I know that Meade's football field also got hit. I'm glad that everyone in that county is O.K. It will take some time to rebuild things over there.
I finally made my way to the gym and was early enough to catch some JV action. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a kid for Apollo who was towering above everyone. I found out from the Apollo stat man that he is 6'9" freshman Taylor Ewing. The kid is huge. He still has to develop, but his future looks bright. Then, the stat man for Apollo told me that the kid's mom is 6'8". Unreal!! She was very easy to pick out of a crowd.
I also got to talk to an old friend of mine, Kevin Robinson. He is an assistant coach for Meade County. I played with Kevin at Breckinridge County, and it's good to see many of the old Breck players going on to help coach or become head coaches themselves. Believe me, there are a lot of them.
When the game started, Meade came out with intensity, but their crowd was quiet. Maybe they are still in shock from the storms last week. Maybe Meade hasn't been in the Third Region long enough to know how important this game really was. Apollo is always at the top of the region, and they have one of the top coaches in the state with Tony Hopper.
Meade County fans! You must get up for this game!
Meade busted out an early lead, but the Eagles were not going to let that bother them. They stepped up their "D" and was able to get Meade to commit some turnovers. Apollo plays very good man-to-man defense, probably the best I've seen all year. They are pretty quick at every position. Meade got into early foul trouble. They had two starters with two early fouls, but Coach Jerry Garris gambled and left one of them on the floor. Apollo had the first quarter lead at 12-10.
Between quarters I wondered when Apollo's Tyler Brown was going to show up. It was like he read my mind because he came out in the second ready to play. He forced a few shots, but he had to get something going for the Eagles. Meade was quick to answer with a guy they like to call "Mr. Stinnett." His name is Nick Stinnett, and I followed his great football season last fall. I knew he was an athlete and strong. It's hard for me to describe how strong he really is. Heck, just go to a Meade County game and see for yourself. He, too, forced a lot of shots and had an off night. He was also in foul trouble.
The Green Wave's Rob Williams took up some slack and helped Meade outscore the Eagles 14-11 in the second and took a 24-23 lead to halftime.
I think Tony Hopper looks like a drill sergeant because he has a shaved head and a deep voice. Sergeant Hopper kept his team in the locker room almost the entire halftime, and I would've liked to have been a fly on the wall in that dressing room. He's really not like a drill sergeant because I noticed when he takes players out of the game he always says something positive to them. Whether they made a mistake or not, he was always positive.
He got his team mad because they came out and used a 12-4 run on Meade, and I thought it might wash up the Green Wave. Meade called a timeout at 4:37 after Apollo built a 35-28 lead. Meade made some adjustments and put together their own 7-2 run.
Meade had to go to a zone to protect their mounting foul trouble, and Apollo went cold. Nick Stinnett capped off a good quarter for Meade with a layup at the buzzer to help get the Wave back in the game. The Eagles had a 44-42 lead at the end of three. The difference in the game, though was the 12-4 run to start the half and Apollo outscoring Meade 21-18 in the third.
The game was back in forth in the fourth. At the 4:01 mark Apollo had the advantage, 49-47. It was shaping up to be a barn burner in Brandenburg. Tyler Brown quietly scored 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Apollo decided to go "stall-ball" with 2:30 left in the game. It broke down Meade County. The Eagles spread the floor and point guard De-Lon Butler found a hole in the Green Wave defense. He got a lay-up and was fouled. He missed the free throw, which was nothing new because both teams shot horribly from the charity stripe. Apollo had a 51-47 lead.
Meade County was not ready to give it up. With 1:25 they hit a huge three to cut it to one, but they made a mistake. They put on the press, and with the clock under a minute the Eagles took flight. They ran off six points under a minute and crashed the Green Wave, 57-53.
OBSERVATIONS
Has This Eagle Landed?: It's rumored that Tyler Brown has either signed or will sign with Morehead State. I guess he likes being an Eagle.
The Apollo Program: This one may be ready to blast off and make a flight for the regional title. They play very tough man-to-man pressure defense, and they have the quickness that can hurt some teams. They must improve at the charity stripe. Friday night they shot 57%. They go nine deep and got 17 points from their bench. They have beaten the top teams in the region, and they have the right coach.I hope they can look at these wins and build on them. Being an old Third Region man myself, I will always root for anyone who represents the region in the Sweet Sixteen. (Editor's Note: Daviess County knocked off Muhlenberg North at Greenville on Friday night).
Tsunami or Lapping Water? The Green Wave fans looked lost tonight. Their team is in the Third Region, and so is Apollo. It was a regional game between two of the top team, and the Meade County folks sat there like they used to when they were the whipping boys of the Fifth. C'mon, folks, Meade's a good team, and the fans should get behind them -- if it's not too much to ask. They get up for two games a year, and that's when they play Breck County.
Old Glory: Meade County takes a different approach to displaying the flag during the National Anthem. In many gyms I feel like an idiot looking around for the flag, and the song is half over before I find it. Meade puts it right out there. It hangs in the rafters in the middle of the gym, and when the band starts playing someone lowers it to about eye level. I thought that was pretty cool. Even my six year old took notice and said, "well, no one has done that before."
A Pick and Roll Thank You: Johnathan Whelan, the student stat man for Meade County supplied me with rosters for the game. I noticed him with his laptop during the JV game and asked him if he could give me the rosters. It was early, and I thought he might forget about me, but he hooked me right up. He even asked me if I wanted halftime stats and end of the game stats. I didn't want to impose, so I just asked for end of the game stats. Also, I can't forget the student stat man for Apollo. He sat next to me, too, and we talked a little during the game. I'm sorry I never asked his name, but he was a good guy and knew his Eagle basketball. Thanks guys.
Editor's Note: Chris in the Third, and I was in the Fifth. I guess Chris is Dan Akroyd, and I'm Eddie Murphy. Trading Places.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Elizabethtown 52 - Shelby County 43
Elizabethtown High School, Elizabethtown, Kentucky 02-15-08
It was a "throw-back" trip for me on Friday night. I lived in Shelbyville from 1995 to 2002, when I pulled up stakes and moved my family to Bowling Green. I loved Shelbyville and Shelby County. I even learned to pronounce it the correct way "Shebbuhvuhl and Shebby Cyownny." When I saw that the Rockets were venturing down to the Crossroads of Kentucky, I decided I was tired of Fourth Region games and that I would cross into Chris Gregory's turf and watch a match up between teams from the Fifth and Eighth regions.
It brought back some great memories of my days living in the Eighth Region. My first real taste of basketball up there came one morning while I was getting my hair cut in Greg Tipton's barbershop. Greg and his customers got into a heated discussion about Toyota recruiting players for Scott County High School, which had up-ended Shelby County's long reign in that region. It was great to find a great barber and a place where people liked to talk high school hoops, even if they were a little jealous of Scott County. They called them "Team Toyota."
If I had any concept of "blogging," I would've started the Pick and Roll during my days in Shelbyville because I was a regular at Shelby County games and never missed the Eighth Region tournament at Henry County High School. It was a great gym full of a lot of great fans and a lot of great basketball.
I loved seeing the Rockets take the court tonight. It was great to see these two programs, both rich in tradition. Shelby County has two state championships (1966 and 1978), and Elizabethtown won it in 2000. Between them, they have been to 21 Sweet Sixteen Tournaments. Plus, they share the same colors, blue and gold.
During warm ups, Elizabethtown's band played "The Time Warp," and it seemed that way. It could've been 1996 or 1997 all over again, except that a kid like Alex Matthews, who plays for the Rockets, was a just a little boy in those days. Gosh! I was kind of hoping that I could spend Saturday morning in Tipton's barbershop griping about the officiating and whining about Scott County kicking everybody's butts.
Shelby County started the game absolutely ice cold, and they looked more like a fizzy pop than a fire blazing rocket. Elizabethtown's 2-1-2 zone (talk about a "Time Warp.") befuddled the Rockets, and they fell behind 8-1. It seemed like it was forever before Shelby County broke the ice, but they finally did Johnson's free throw. Mike Clark called a timeout and worked a little "Rocket science" and put them on the right trajectory. At the end of the first quarter, Tim Sanford hit a three that put Shelby County within one, 11-10.
Shelby County seemed to take control of things in the second quarter. They moved the ball around the 2-1-2 zone by hitting the high post and letting him distribute the ball back to the perimeter. Alex Matthews also made some sharp interior passes that kept the Panthers' defenders one step behind the ball. The Rockets took a 22-20 lead to the locker room at halftime, and I thought that Shelby County would find their orbit in the second half and splashdown a victory.
I was wrong. It's why I don't pretend to be a pundit, and it's one of many reasons why I don't gamble.
In the second half, E-town showed patience on the offensive end and continued to play a very active zone defense. Sean Bouthelette, which translates to English as "defense destroyer," and Chris "Go-Go" Gohman started hitting shots and making passes to break down Shelby County's defense. It seemed that the Rockets had no answer.
It was in the third quarter that I witnessed the "Nacho Call." An Elizabethtown fan was standing near the end of the court eating nachos, and when a ball bounced out-of-bounds on that end of the court, he signaled that it was E-town's ball. I looked to me that the referee looked to the fan for the call. It was as if the fan said, "that's not-cho call."
The score was tied at 33 at the end of the third.
Shelby County fans should click HERE for my true feelings about the fourth quarter. My brother travels to South Africa on a regular basis, and he tells me that the locals there call zebras "pajama donkeys." Early in the fourth quarter I wondered if these were the same pajama donks Chris Gregory saw in Larue County the other night. In the second half, Shelby County had more than 10 fouls, and the Panthers had two.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm letting my feelings come through, but I've never pretended to be objective on this blog. Behind Male High, Shelby County is my second favorite team because I followed them closely for seven years. Plus, my nephew graduates from SCHS this spring.
Nothing against Elizabethtown because I respect their program, and I cheered for them in 2000 when Antwain Barbour and the Panthers downed Lexington Catholic for the title. I cheered very hard for them.
The Panthers defensive pressure and patient offense frustrated Shelby County, and the home team cruised to a 52-43 victory over one of the leading teams in the Eighth Region.
OBSERVATIONS
The Panthers' Den: What a great place to watch a basketball game. I really liked Charlie Rawlings Memorial Gym. It's a bit of a throwback place, and I liked that the teams sit on the bleachers right along with the fans. That can be very intimidating. They didn't blare loud music before the game or during halftime. I just wish more people were there.
Band on the Fun: I'm giving a Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Three Thumbs Up" nod to the E-town band. They played music at the right time, and they played some old classic rock n'roll numbers. When fans ponied up a buck to shoot a three point shot at halftime, the band played Billy Squier's "The Stroke." That's fantastic! But, they aren't spreadin' ear pollution far and wide, Billy.
Two F's, Two T's, and Two Guns: I noticed a banner for Steffphon Pettigrew hanging in the gym. He was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball last year, and E-town has honored him with a nice banner. I remember when Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live imitated Ugandan dictator Idi Amin he always said, "Two A's, two D's, and one gun." I've seen Mr. Pettigrew play at WKU this season, and I can tell everyone that the young man has a healthy pair of guns. He is put together solid, and opponents are learning that the young Mr. Pettigrew can sling those guns. I'm looking forward to when Steffphon Pettigrew is a Wheel of Fortune puzzle.
Stand Up and Cheer!: I noticed E-town shares its fight song with the Hilltoppers. Being a WKU alumnus and a regular attendee of Hilltopper hoops, it's hard not to sing along with "Stand Up and Cheer," and it may have bothered some of the Shelby County fans I was sitting amongst.
It was a "throw-back" trip for me on Friday night. I lived in Shelbyville from 1995 to 2002, when I pulled up stakes and moved my family to Bowling Green. I loved Shelbyville and Shelby County. I even learned to pronounce it the correct way "Shebbuhvuhl and Shebby Cyownny." When I saw that the Rockets were venturing down to the Crossroads of Kentucky, I decided I was tired of Fourth Region games and that I would cross into Chris Gregory's turf and watch a match up between teams from the Fifth and Eighth regions.
It brought back some great memories of my days living in the Eighth Region. My first real taste of basketball up there came one morning while I was getting my hair cut in Greg Tipton's barbershop. Greg and his customers got into a heated discussion about Toyota recruiting players for Scott County High School, which had up-ended Shelby County's long reign in that region. It was great to find a great barber and a place where people liked to talk high school hoops, even if they were a little jealous of Scott County. They called them "Team Toyota."
If I had any concept of "blogging," I would've started the Pick and Roll during my days in Shelbyville because I was a regular at Shelby County games and never missed the Eighth Region tournament at Henry County High School. It was a great gym full of a lot of great fans and a lot of great basketball.
I loved seeing the Rockets take the court tonight. It was great to see these two programs, both rich in tradition. Shelby County has two state championships (1966 and 1978), and Elizabethtown won it in 2000. Between them, they have been to 21 Sweet Sixteen Tournaments. Plus, they share the same colors, blue and gold.
During warm ups, Elizabethtown's band played "The Time Warp," and it seemed that way. It could've been 1996 or 1997 all over again, except that a kid like Alex Matthews, who plays for the Rockets, was a just a little boy in those days. Gosh! I was kind of hoping that I could spend Saturday morning in Tipton's barbershop griping about the officiating and whining about Scott County kicking everybody's butts.
Shelby County started the game absolutely ice cold, and they looked more like a fizzy pop than a fire blazing rocket. Elizabethtown's 2-1-2 zone (talk about a "Time Warp.") befuddled the Rockets, and they fell behind 8-1. It seemed like it was forever before Shelby County broke the ice, but they finally did Johnson's free throw. Mike Clark called a timeout and worked a little "Rocket science" and put them on the right trajectory. At the end of the first quarter, Tim Sanford hit a three that put Shelby County within one, 11-10.
Shelby County seemed to take control of things in the second quarter. They moved the ball around the 2-1-2 zone by hitting the high post and letting him distribute the ball back to the perimeter. Alex Matthews also made some sharp interior passes that kept the Panthers' defenders one step behind the ball. The Rockets took a 22-20 lead to the locker room at halftime, and I thought that Shelby County would find their orbit in the second half and splashdown a victory.
I was wrong. It's why I don't pretend to be a pundit, and it's one of many reasons why I don't gamble.
In the second half, E-town showed patience on the offensive end and continued to play a very active zone defense. Sean Bouthelette, which translates to English as "defense destroyer," and Chris "Go-Go" Gohman started hitting shots and making passes to break down Shelby County's defense. It seemed that the Rockets had no answer.
It was in the third quarter that I witnessed the "Nacho Call." An Elizabethtown fan was standing near the end of the court eating nachos, and when a ball bounced out-of-bounds on that end of the court, he signaled that it was E-town's ball. I looked to me that the referee looked to the fan for the call. It was as if the fan said, "that's not-cho call."
The score was tied at 33 at the end of the third.
Shelby County fans should click HERE for my true feelings about the fourth quarter. My brother travels to South Africa on a regular basis, and he tells me that the locals there call zebras "pajama donkeys." Early in the fourth quarter I wondered if these were the same pajama donks Chris Gregory saw in Larue County the other night. In the second half, Shelby County had more than 10 fouls, and the Panthers had two.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm letting my feelings come through, but I've never pretended to be objective on this blog. Behind Male High, Shelby County is my second favorite team because I followed them closely for seven years. Plus, my nephew graduates from SCHS this spring.
Nothing against Elizabethtown because I respect their program, and I cheered for them in 2000 when Antwain Barbour and the Panthers downed Lexington Catholic for the title. I cheered very hard for them.
The Panthers defensive pressure and patient offense frustrated Shelby County, and the home team cruised to a 52-43 victory over one of the leading teams in the Eighth Region.
OBSERVATIONS
The Panthers' Den: What a great place to watch a basketball game. I really liked Charlie Rawlings Memorial Gym. It's a bit of a throwback place, and I liked that the teams sit on the bleachers right along with the fans. That can be very intimidating. They didn't blare loud music before the game or during halftime. I just wish more people were there.
Band on the Fun: I'm giving a Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Three Thumbs Up" nod to the E-town band. They played music at the right time, and they played some old classic rock n'roll numbers. When fans ponied up a buck to shoot a three point shot at halftime, the band played Billy Squier's "The Stroke." That's fantastic! But, they aren't spreadin' ear pollution far and wide, Billy.
Two F's, Two T's, and Two Guns: I noticed a banner for Steffphon Pettigrew hanging in the gym. He was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball last year, and E-town has honored him with a nice banner. I remember when Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live imitated Ugandan dictator Idi Amin he always said, "Two A's, two D's, and one gun." I've seen Mr. Pettigrew play at WKU this season, and I can tell everyone that the young man has a healthy pair of guns. He is put together solid, and opponents are learning that the young Mr. Pettigrew can sling those guns. I'm looking forward to when Steffphon Pettigrew is a Wheel of Fortune puzzle.
Stand Up and Cheer!: I noticed E-town shares its fight song with the Hilltoppers. Being a WKU alumnus and a regular attendee of Hilltopper hoops, it's hard not to sing along with "Stand Up and Cheer," and it may have bothered some of the Shelby County fans I was sitting amongst.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
John Hardin @ Bowling Green PPD
I had a couple of plans for tonight. Originally, I was wanting to head up to Greenville for the University Heights at Muhlenberg North tilt, but the threat of bad weather made me chicken out on that one. Then, I decided to stay close to home and go to see the Bulldogs and the Purples tip it up at Bowling Green High. Scott Thompson called me this afternoon and told me that John Hardin would not make it down because of the weather.
I stayed home.
I was going to travel with the Purps to Albany on Friday night, but a flu outbreak has apparently forced Clinton County Schools to shut down for the week.
Everybody in Clinton County be sure to eat your chick soup, get plenty of fluids, take some aspirin and sweat it out. I was in the same boat last week.
Happy Hoops!
I stayed home.
I was going to travel with the Purps to Albany on Friday night, but a flu outbreak has apparently forced Clinton County Schools to shut down for the week.
Everybody in Clinton County be sure to eat your chick soup, get plenty of fluids, take some aspirin and sweat it out. I was in the same boat last week.
Happy Hoops!
Nelson County 43 - Larue County 42
Larue County High School, Hodgenville, Kentucky 02-12-08 (Abraham Lincoln's Birthday)
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Tuesday was a big day in Hodgenville. The whole town was celebrating the 199th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The First Lady, Laura Bush, was supposed to be here but canceled due to the bad weather, so we had to settle for newly elected Governor Steve Beshear. The icy weather made everything a big gamble, but the governor rolled the dice and and brought all his chips to Larue County. The town was buzzing.
School had been out for the last two days, so I wondered if any games would be played on Tuesday night. I made a few calls and sent a few e-mails and found out the games were on. Because the weather was a question mark, I decided to wager that the roads were slick and stayed close to home to watch the Hawks take on the Nelson County Cardinals.
Nelson County came into Tuesday's contest riding a big win against cross town rival Bardstown in an overtime contest on February 8th. Nelson brought a 12-10 record, which might have made the Hawks overlook feathered friends from the neighboring county. When I looked at Nelson County's roster, I realized they were loaded with seniors, seven to be exact. They were not that big, but they were a scrappy bunch.
Nelson came out looking like they were going to stuff the Hawks and put them over their mantel. They got it done on the both ends of the court and jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead. Coach Paul Childress called a timeout at the 5:10 mark. His Larue County squad responded and stepped it up big time by getting into every passing lane. In a sarcastic tone, Nelson County Coach Minor Harmon told his team to try to pass it to a player wearing a red jersey.
Larue Switched defenses every trip down the floor, and they were putting down the hammer. They went on a 10-2 run to close the first quarter. The Hawks led 14-10.
The 1-3-1 zone was working for Larue, and Nelson County went cold in the second quarter. The Hawks were patient on offense, more so than I had seen all year. Tyler Hornback was filling up the basket and was all over the floor. It seemed that Larue had put it on cruise control in the second. Coach Harmon called another timeout and really got into his team. I was close to their bench and could hear him say that if they were going to play like that, then just load up the bus and go home. That's all he said to them; end of timeout. Larue continued to claw the Cardinals and pushed their lead at the half to 28-16.
I have been all over the Fifth Region this year, and I have always watched the refs just to see how consistent they are. Tonight I saw the worst in the region. They must have just been called up from the JV ranks. These two guys were horrible. After the game something was pointed out to me. Someone told me that every time a team builds a lead the refs let the other team back into the game. Then, I got to thinking back to the games I've been to, and it seemed that way. Never was a hand check called, or a hold or anything like that. They only called the obvious ones.
Anyway, Nelson County was getting back into this game with the help of Larue County making some turnovers. Grease the pan and warm the oven because the Hawks were serving them up hot. Turnovers were killing Larue. Nelson County was hot from the field. Despite all of that, Larue still held a 38-28 lead at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter was getting pretty wild in Hodgenville. Nelson County gave it all they had and were knocking on the Larue's door. Their full court press was hurting the Hawks, and not long into the quarter, the Cardinals had cut the lead from ten to four. Despite being out-of-control, Larue started their own press, but it did little good. Nelson County was determined and were not going to give up the game.
Forgive me because I didn't catch the kids name, but a non-starter for the Cardinals nailed a three pointer around the 2:00 mark that gave them the lead. The crowd was so loud that I could not hear the PA announcer. It was a good shot, and it was about 23 feet from the goal. Nelson had a 41-40 lead.
Larue started to foul. Nelson County had not shot many free throws. I guess the refs were worried about the weather and wanted to get the game over with. A Cardinal player missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Larue got a run out with 30.6 seconds left. Nelson fouled senior Alan Vass, who is also Larue County's quarterback, so pressure was no issue for him. He made both and regained the lead. With 19 seconds left, Nelson ran an offense looking for the best possible shot, and they got it with 19 seconds to go. Larue called a timeout.
Larue County lost on February 8th on a last second thirty footer, so I thought this my be a welcomed payback for them. They had to go the length of the floor, but I thought they had plenty of time.
While Larue tried to inbounds the ball to their senior point guard, Christian Seymour, Nelson County appeared to be holding him. The referee must've swallowed his whistle or was looking at the roof checking for leaks or something. Hey, refs! You're at Larue County. You've got to call that for the home crowd. It happened right in front of the Larue fans, and, man, they were hot. I'm sure the ref has a few burnt hairs on his neck, and he wouldn't turn around to face the crowd.
That's the fastest I've ever seen a ref run off the floor.
It was aces and eights for the Hawks. Nelson came in and stole one on Old Abe's birthday.
I think Larue is a better team than their last few games have shown. Maybe when the district tournament comes around they can get back to playing good ball.
Speaking of district tournaments -- or regionals for that matter -- things have gotten pretty interesting over the last few weeks. North Hardin has lost a couple that they shouldn't have. Bardstown has lost two of their last four, and Larue has lost four of five. So, all the tops teams, except for Adair, have lost some games down the stretch, and some of the middle of the pack teams have shocked and upset some of those top teams. The fifth is shaping up to be a good tilt. I can't wait.
This is the best time of the year for us basketball fans.
OBSERVATIONS
Bring Out Your Dead: Coach Minor Harmon looks like a mortician to me. I'm not making fun of the guy, I was just surprised to see him as coach. I had not seen him prior to this season. He is fun to watch, and I can tell he is always thinking. He will walk down to the end of the bench and then all of sudden turn around and call a play or think of a defensive move. It's really a treat to watch. The fans seem to really like him, and his team has put together back-to-back regional wins over some top teams. He has them believing they can play with anyone on any given night.
The Jumping Hawks: Halftime entertainment Friday night was a group of 4th through 6th graders that have formed a jump rope team. These kids were amazing. They do crazy things with jump ropes. They are led by two coaches, and they perform everywhere from parades to festivals to high schools around the state. Keep up the good works kids! It was a treat to watch the show, and it kept me from visiting the concession stand (they don't call me "pudge" for nothing).
Thank You, Mother Harper: I sat in amazement as I watched the refs. It was bad at both ends. I had never seen these guys before and after talking to some Larue County fans after the game, we probably will never see them again (editor's query: should I alert the sheriff? "Never see them again" has double meaning in some of the places I work). I guess some refs have off nights, and I know first hand that it is a hard job. But, I can't stand it when they miss call after call. I know this is not the norm for the Pick and Roll, but I can't help it tonight. I'm blowing off some steam because I'm a Larue County resident and a fan. If these guys were anywhere else tonight, and I was there watching, I would be as equally upset. Sorry, it was that bad.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Tuesday was a big day in Hodgenville. The whole town was celebrating the 199th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The First Lady, Laura Bush, was supposed to be here but canceled due to the bad weather, so we had to settle for newly elected Governor Steve Beshear. The icy weather made everything a big gamble, but the governor rolled the dice and and brought all his chips to Larue County. The town was buzzing.
School had been out for the last two days, so I wondered if any games would be played on Tuesday night. I made a few calls and sent a few e-mails and found out the games were on. Because the weather was a question mark, I decided to wager that the roads were slick and stayed close to home to watch the Hawks take on the Nelson County Cardinals.
Nelson County came into Tuesday's contest riding a big win against cross town rival Bardstown in an overtime contest on February 8th. Nelson brought a 12-10 record, which might have made the Hawks overlook feathered friends from the neighboring county. When I looked at Nelson County's roster, I realized they were loaded with seniors, seven to be exact. They were not that big, but they were a scrappy bunch.
Nelson came out looking like they were going to stuff the Hawks and put them over their mantel. They got it done on the both ends of the court and jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead. Coach Paul Childress called a timeout at the 5:10 mark. His Larue County squad responded and stepped it up big time by getting into every passing lane. In a sarcastic tone, Nelson County Coach Minor Harmon told his team to try to pass it to a player wearing a red jersey.
Larue Switched defenses every trip down the floor, and they were putting down the hammer. They went on a 10-2 run to close the first quarter. The Hawks led 14-10.
The 1-3-1 zone was working for Larue, and Nelson County went cold in the second quarter. The Hawks were patient on offense, more so than I had seen all year. Tyler Hornback was filling up the basket and was all over the floor. It seemed that Larue had put it on cruise control in the second. Coach Harmon called another timeout and really got into his team. I was close to their bench and could hear him say that if they were going to play like that, then just load up the bus and go home. That's all he said to them; end of timeout. Larue continued to claw the Cardinals and pushed their lead at the half to 28-16.
I have been all over the Fifth Region this year, and I have always watched the refs just to see how consistent they are. Tonight I saw the worst in the region. They must have just been called up from the JV ranks. These two guys were horrible. After the game something was pointed out to me. Someone told me that every time a team builds a lead the refs let the other team back into the game. Then, I got to thinking back to the games I've been to, and it seemed that way. Never was a hand check called, or a hold or anything like that. They only called the obvious ones.
Anyway, Nelson County was getting back into this game with the help of Larue County making some turnovers. Grease the pan and warm the oven because the Hawks were serving them up hot. Turnovers were killing Larue. Nelson County was hot from the field. Despite all of that, Larue still held a 38-28 lead at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter was getting pretty wild in Hodgenville. Nelson County gave it all they had and were knocking on the Larue's door. Their full court press was hurting the Hawks, and not long into the quarter, the Cardinals had cut the lead from ten to four. Despite being out-of-control, Larue started their own press, but it did little good. Nelson County was determined and were not going to give up the game.
Forgive me because I didn't catch the kids name, but a non-starter for the Cardinals nailed a three pointer around the 2:00 mark that gave them the lead. The crowd was so loud that I could not hear the PA announcer. It was a good shot, and it was about 23 feet from the goal. Nelson had a 41-40 lead.
Larue started to foul. Nelson County had not shot many free throws. I guess the refs were worried about the weather and wanted to get the game over with. A Cardinal player missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Larue got a run out with 30.6 seconds left. Nelson fouled senior Alan Vass, who is also Larue County's quarterback, so pressure was no issue for him. He made both and regained the lead. With 19 seconds left, Nelson ran an offense looking for the best possible shot, and they got it with 19 seconds to go. Larue called a timeout.
Larue County lost on February 8th on a last second thirty footer, so I thought this my be a welcomed payback for them. They had to go the length of the floor, but I thought they had plenty of time.
While Larue tried to inbounds the ball to their senior point guard, Christian Seymour, Nelson County appeared to be holding him. The referee must've swallowed his whistle or was looking at the roof checking for leaks or something. Hey, refs! You're at Larue County. You've got to call that for the home crowd. It happened right in front of the Larue fans, and, man, they were hot. I'm sure the ref has a few burnt hairs on his neck, and he wouldn't turn around to face the crowd.
That's the fastest I've ever seen a ref run off the floor.
It was aces and eights for the Hawks. Nelson came in and stole one on Old Abe's birthday.
I think Larue is a better team than their last few games have shown. Maybe when the district tournament comes around they can get back to playing good ball.
Speaking of district tournaments -- or regionals for that matter -- things have gotten pretty interesting over the last few weeks. North Hardin has lost a couple that they shouldn't have. Bardstown has lost two of their last four, and Larue has lost four of five. So, all the tops teams, except for Adair, have lost some games down the stretch, and some of the middle of the pack teams have shocked and upset some of those top teams. The fifth is shaping up to be a good tilt. I can't wait.
This is the best time of the year for us basketball fans.
OBSERVATIONS
Bring Out Your Dead: Coach Minor Harmon looks like a mortician to me. I'm not making fun of the guy, I was just surprised to see him as coach. I had not seen him prior to this season. He is fun to watch, and I can tell he is always thinking. He will walk down to the end of the bench and then all of sudden turn around and call a play or think of a defensive move. It's really a treat to watch. The fans seem to really like him, and his team has put together back-to-back regional wins over some top teams. He has them believing they can play with anyone on any given night.
The Jumping Hawks: Halftime entertainment Friday night was a group of 4th through 6th graders that have formed a jump rope team. These kids were amazing. They do crazy things with jump ropes. They are led by two coaches, and they perform everywhere from parades to festivals to high schools around the state. Keep up the good works kids! It was a treat to watch the show, and it kept me from visiting the concession stand (they don't call me "pudge" for nothing).
Thank You, Mother Harper: I sat in amazement as I watched the refs. It was bad at both ends. I had never seen these guys before and after talking to some Larue County fans after the game, we probably will never see them again (editor's query: should I alert the sheriff? "Never see them again" has double meaning in some of the places I work). I guess some refs have off nights, and I know first hand that it is a hard job. But, I can't stand it when they miss call after call. I know this is not the norm for the Pick and Roll, but I can't help it tonight. I'm blowing off some steam because I'm a Larue County resident and a fan. If these guys were anywhere else tonight, and I was there watching, I would be as equally upset. Sorry, it was that bad.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Greenwood 61 - Warren Central 44
Greenwood High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky 02-08-08
Welcome to the Jungle? Prior to tapping the ball, Greenwood sound man cued up some Firearms and Flowers welcoming everyone to the jungle. But, I thought it was "The Swamp." Jungle? Swamp? No matter the venue it was still a big lizard fight on Scottsville Road in Bowling Green tonight. That's right, Dragons and Gators are just big danged lizards when you think about it. One's a toothy swamp lurker that death rolls its prey under water, and the other is a mythological fire breathing creature. Both are dangerous.
Coming into tonight's game Warren Central had beaten Greenwood 24 times in a row. The last Gator victory over the Dragons came in 2001. The latest defeat came on January 4th, when Central sent the Gators packing with a 53-44 defeat at the Dragons' lair on Morgantown Road.
Would the streak ever end?
In the first quarter, it looked like Steve Riley's latest version of Dragons would run the streak into another Clinton administration. At first, it seemed that Thing 1 and Thing 2 (Mark Lacy and Austin Reed) were busting the Central press, and the Dragons couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with their jumpshots to start the game. The clawed back and had a narrow 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
No matter how poorly Central plays on the offensive end in a ballgame they always have their press, and the play it so well. Then, they are good at converting off of the turnovers the press creates.
Things changed in the second quarter, however. Lacy started picking off Central's passes as they tried to move the ball around the perimeter, and he got a couple of easy baskets. He's very good at anticipating the pass, and thrives on other team's bad offensive spacing. Teams cannot make that mistake against Greenwood.
For the first time since in a long time I watched Warren Central lose their composure. They did not handle Greenwood's half-court pressure and continued to turn the ball over. Greenwood took a 29-23 lead into the break, and I felt that the ground below us would tremble and split open because Central's streak was about to be broken. The Gators were controlling this contest.
In the third quarter, Greenwood put some beatdown on Central that I've not seen in a long time. Dee Anderson, Mark Lacy, and other Gators circled the wounded Dragons like they were a team of saints ready to slay another fiery beast.
The Gators outscored their visitors 22-7 in the third frame and took a commanding 51-30 into the break.
Greenwood controlled the fourth quarter, even though Central made a small run at them. I'm sure Coach Blane Embry didn't want to give Warren Central anything to smart about on the eve of district play and backed off the gas. Greenwood broke the streak on Friday night with a 61-44 victory over the Dragons.
OBSERVATIONS
The Ballard Effect: This is not so much an observation as a reminiscence. When I was in high school in Louisville Ballard High School seem to always get preferential treatment from the officials. Ballard was an east end school, and their students drove new cars. Male High was perceived as an inner-city school, so everyone thought we were thugs. When Ballard students did something mischievous it was called "school spirit." When we did something it was called "misdemeanor." Well, that was the Louisville Police Department's description of it. The preferential treatment seemed to find its way onto the basketball court, too. I called it "The Ballard Effect." For the life of me, I can't imagine why I just thought of this.
Fourth Quarter Fracas: I don't know what happened or who was involved, but a couple of Central players got into a dust-up with a couple of Greenwood players in the fourth quarter. It didn't seem like a big deal to me, except that players ended up in the stands. It's interesting to me that when baseball teams clear benches and throw punches, people think its funny and have cutesy names for it like "rhubarb." When basketball players start throwing haymakers then it is treated like a criminal act. It happens. The kids are competitors.
Migraine Maker: Before the game, Greenwood's band was playing something terribly out of key while the sound system was blaring "We Will Rock You." I thought my head was going to explode. One thing at a time, please. Hey, Gators! The next time Warren Central visits try "Dragon Attack" by Queen and let the band practice in the hallway.
District Stuff: Bowling Green will take the one seed, and I guess with the loss tonight Central will be the four seed. I think Greenwood and East are split, so they'll flip a coin to see who wears white in the first round. In the 14th District none of it really matters. It's played at Central, so there's three teams that better beware.
Welcome to the Jungle? Prior to tapping the ball, Greenwood sound man cued up some Firearms and Flowers welcoming everyone to the jungle. But, I thought it was "The Swamp." Jungle? Swamp? No matter the venue it was still a big lizard fight on Scottsville Road in Bowling Green tonight. That's right, Dragons and Gators are just big danged lizards when you think about it. One's a toothy swamp lurker that death rolls its prey under water, and the other is a mythological fire breathing creature. Both are dangerous.
Coming into tonight's game Warren Central had beaten Greenwood 24 times in a row. The last Gator victory over the Dragons came in 2001. The latest defeat came on January 4th, when Central sent the Gators packing with a 53-44 defeat at the Dragons' lair on Morgantown Road.
Would the streak ever end?
In the first quarter, it looked like Steve Riley's latest version of Dragons would run the streak into another Clinton administration. At first, it seemed that Thing 1 and Thing 2 (Mark Lacy and Austin Reed) were busting the Central press, and the Dragons couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with their jumpshots to start the game. The clawed back and had a narrow 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
No matter how poorly Central plays on the offensive end in a ballgame they always have their press, and the play it so well. Then, they are good at converting off of the turnovers the press creates.
Things changed in the second quarter, however. Lacy started picking off Central's passes as they tried to move the ball around the perimeter, and he got a couple of easy baskets. He's very good at anticipating the pass, and thrives on other team's bad offensive spacing. Teams cannot make that mistake against Greenwood.
For the first time since in a long time I watched Warren Central lose their composure. They did not handle Greenwood's half-court pressure and continued to turn the ball over. Greenwood took a 29-23 lead into the break, and I felt that the ground below us would tremble and split open because Central's streak was about to be broken. The Gators were controlling this contest.
In the third quarter, Greenwood put some beatdown on Central that I've not seen in a long time. Dee Anderson, Mark Lacy, and other Gators circled the wounded Dragons like they were a team of saints ready to slay another fiery beast.
The Gators outscored their visitors 22-7 in the third frame and took a commanding 51-30 into the break.
Greenwood controlled the fourth quarter, even though Central made a small run at them. I'm sure Coach Blane Embry didn't want to give Warren Central anything to smart about on the eve of district play and backed off the gas. Greenwood broke the streak on Friday night with a 61-44 victory over the Dragons.
OBSERVATIONS
The Ballard Effect: This is not so much an observation as a reminiscence. When I was in high school in Louisville Ballard High School seem to always get preferential treatment from the officials. Ballard was an east end school, and their students drove new cars. Male High was perceived as an inner-city school, so everyone thought we were thugs. When Ballard students did something mischievous it was called "school spirit." When we did something it was called "misdemeanor." Well, that was the Louisville Police Department's description of it. The preferential treatment seemed to find its way onto the basketball court, too. I called it "The Ballard Effect." For the life of me, I can't imagine why I just thought of this.
Fourth Quarter Fracas: I don't know what happened or who was involved, but a couple of Central players got into a dust-up with a couple of Greenwood players in the fourth quarter. It didn't seem like a big deal to me, except that players ended up in the stands. It's interesting to me that when baseball teams clear benches and throw punches, people think its funny and have cutesy names for it like "rhubarb." When basketball players start throwing haymakers then it is treated like a criminal act. It happens. The kids are competitors.
Migraine Maker: Before the game, Greenwood's band was playing something terribly out of key while the sound system was blaring "We Will Rock You." I thought my head was going to explode. One thing at a time, please. Hey, Gators! The next time Warren Central visits try "Dragon Attack" by Queen and let the band practice in the hallway.
District Stuff: Bowling Green will take the one seed, and I guess with the loss tonight Central will be the four seed. I think Greenwood and East are split, so they'll flip a coin to see who wears white in the first round. In the 14th District none of it really matters. It's played at Central, so there's three teams that better beware.
Franklin-Simpson 53 - Bowling Green 49 (OT)
Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 02-07-08
I suspect that D.G. Sherrill and his Bowling Green Purples felt like fishermen telling stories about the big fish that got away after Thursday night's game with Franklin-Simpson. They just about landed the fish, but the thing slipped right through their hands.
I don't usually go to Thursday night ballgames because it makes me think that it's Friday. I wasn't going to miss another match up between the Purples and the Wildcats. I like the way these two teams play ball -- pressing, tough match up defense, attack the basket, athletic -- and they have some of my favorite players in the region with "Sir" Rayco Bryant, Courtney Dalcourt, D.L. Moore, and Jarren Nixon.
It was a Thursday night crowd, though. The crowd was small and no one seemed to be into the game. I found myself yawning while the two teams went through their warm up drills. Yawning prior to a high school basketball game? Please, forgive me. I just went through three days of flu induced fever and a work day in which I played "beat the deadline and make the boss think I'm on top of everything."
The small crowd allowed me to sit just a few rows behind the Franklin-Simpson bench. This was the third time I've seen the Wildcats, but the two previous times I had to sit near the top of the gym to watch them. When I get to sit behind a team's bench I can see how they handle themselves and how the coach handles various situations. I was so close I could hear David Clark's keys jingle.
Both teams came out cold but played very active man-to-man defense. Good defense made both teams take bad shots, but they continued to attack the basket. They seem to enjoy that style of play. I know I do. However, Franklin-Simpson is very deliberate with their possessions. They attack the basket, but they're in no hurry to do so when they have the ball. The pace of the game was more to the Wildcats' liking, and they had a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Franklin-Simpson extended their lead on Bowling Green, led by Rayco Bryant, who was hitting short jumpers and lay-ins. Like every other time I've seen the Purples play this season, they control the game on the defensive end of the court. They picked up their defensive pressure and stopped Bryant from getting so close to the basket with the ball. They also forced turnovers and made a run at the Wildcats.
My favorite Purple, Lando Calrissian...I mean Billy Williams hit two free throws with 48 seconds left in the half to tie it. Each team hit another basket, and I started looking for Elizabeth Vargas because the score was 20-20 at halftime.
The third quarter demonstrated something I've said about the Purples all season: their defense makes their offense. They opened in a 1-2-2 zone with Eric Smith on top pressuring the perimeter ball movement. I've seen them play this zone before and play it well, but on Thursday night, they weren't active enough when Franklin-Simpson pushed the ball toward the baseline. The Wildcats surged early and had Bowling Green down 29-22.
The Purples ditched the zone and started playing a tough full court defense that forced Franklin-Simpson into a pace they don't really like. Bowling Green started chipping into the lead and pulled within two, 31-29, at the end of the third.
It's too bad the crowd was small because a lot of people missed a very exciting game. Sure, it was a low scoring defensive struggle, but the fourth quarter was exciting. I one point during the game I heard a fan say to another "U-G-L-Y." It was ugly. If a baby was as ugly as this game, Southern women would chorus "Bless its little heart."
Reminiscence Alert
When I was 13 or 14 years old I worked the concession stands at Cardinal Stadium for UofL football games. It was easy money because nobody actually went to their ballgames. A friend of mine and I usually ditched our work in the second or third quarter so we could watch the Louisville gridders spiral into another defeat. One afternoon, the UofL cheerleaders did a cheer "U-G-L-Y! You ain't got no alibi. You ugly, yeah, you ugly, yeah, you is!"
If a cheerleading squad whipped that out on an opponent in today's hyper-sensitive world, the NCAA would launch an inquiry that would make Watergate look like a shoplifting investigation. The long ago Cardinal cheerleaders could've summed up Thursday's game.
In the fourth, Richardson hit a three that put the Purples on top 33-31, and that started a sequence of several big plays by either team. They weren't on consecutive plays, but they were close enough together that they seemed to be connected. D.L. Moore grabbed one of the most impressive rebounds I've seen this season. He misjudged where the bounce was headed, but he was elevated enough that he was able to extend and arm and snag the ball. I believe his head was level with the rim when he made the rebound. I like it when Moore uses his athletic ability because few in the Fourth can match him.
Shortly afterward, Bowling Green was set to expand their narrow lead, and a Purple got the ball on the baseline and made his move toward the basket. Courtney Dalcourt came across the court to block the shot. He swatted the ball so hard and so far that I expected to hear Chris Berman blabbering "back, back, back, back, back."
I felt like it was the turning point in the ballgame. Bowling Green lost their momentum, and Wildcats starting surging. It was near this point when Coach David Clark turned to his team on the bench and shouted, "A one point game against Bowling Green and y'all aren't sayin a word!"
With time running out, Franklin-Simpson had the ball with the score tied at 42. D.L. Moore made the defensive play of the game. He got set in front of a Wildcat and drew a charging call with just six seconds left. Bowling Green had let the lead get away from them, but they had a chance to win it. I don't know what to say about the ending, but it looked like the Purples had a play drawn up but failed to execute it. Maybe Franklin-Simpson's defense disrupted the play, but D.L. Moore ended up taking the last shot from the perimeter. It looked like the Purples were off their rotation.
At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 42.
In the overtime, Bowling Green got behind and couldn't make the surge to catch the Wildcats. the ending turned into the Purples fouling to stay alive, but Cedrick Adams had anti-freeze in his veins and hit knocked down big free throws at the end.
The Wildcats prevailed 53-49. They controlled the tempo through most of the game, and Bowling Green let a win slip right through their hands.
D.L. Moore finished the game with 12 points and 15 rebounds, six of which were offensive boards. Tevin Barksdale had 12 points the Purples. Rayco "Baby Bark" Bryant had 16 points with eight rebounds. Cedrick Adams added eight points and was an icy 6-6 at the free throw line.
OBSERVATIONS
Foot Soldier: Rayco Bryant's game starts with his feet. When he gets the ball in the paint, he knows how to move his feet and legs to get position on the defender and get the ball in the hole. He's very good at it. He's also quick for his size. He surprises people with his ability to move. He's downright agile when he slashes through the lane to get the ball.
BRIIICK?: I looked over the stats for the game, and I couldn't decide what cost Bowling Green the game. They put up 56 shots but only hit 16 for 28.6% shooting. Franklin shot 39.3% but only had one more field goal than the Purps. Bowling Green out-rebounded them and hit four more three point shots (F-S took seven shots from the arc compared to BG's 20). The difference in the game was free throw shooting. Franklin was 18-27, but Bowling Green was 12-20. That's the only advantage I can see.
Back-to-Back: Bowling Green turns around and hosts the Scotties on Friday night, and Franklin-Simpson hosts Cumberland County. These guys have to be able to play on consecutive nights or they don't stand a chance in the post season.
Rattlesnake Richardson: I've noticed it all season. Jeb Richardson has a bit of a side spin on his jumpshot. It's a sidewinder. He's a good shooter, but I believe if his shot hits the rim it won't drop.
Overtime Guarantee: Anytime I take my children to a basketball game on a school night it will go into overtime. It's guaranteed. If I take them to a Friday or Saturday game, it will be a clock-eating, low fouling, blowout.
I suspect that D.G. Sherrill and his Bowling Green Purples felt like fishermen telling stories about the big fish that got away after Thursday night's game with Franklin-Simpson. They just about landed the fish, but the thing slipped right through their hands.
I don't usually go to Thursday night ballgames because it makes me think that it's Friday. I wasn't going to miss another match up between the Purples and the Wildcats. I like the way these two teams play ball -- pressing, tough match up defense, attack the basket, athletic -- and they have some of my favorite players in the region with "Sir" Rayco Bryant, Courtney Dalcourt, D.L. Moore, and Jarren Nixon.
It was a Thursday night crowd, though. The crowd was small and no one seemed to be into the game. I found myself yawning while the two teams went through their warm up drills. Yawning prior to a high school basketball game? Please, forgive me. I just went through three days of flu induced fever and a work day in which I played "beat the deadline and make the boss think I'm on top of everything."
The small crowd allowed me to sit just a few rows behind the Franklin-Simpson bench. This was the third time I've seen the Wildcats, but the two previous times I had to sit near the top of the gym to watch them. When I get to sit behind a team's bench I can see how they handle themselves and how the coach handles various situations. I was so close I could hear David Clark's keys jingle.
Both teams came out cold but played very active man-to-man defense. Good defense made both teams take bad shots, but they continued to attack the basket. They seem to enjoy that style of play. I know I do. However, Franklin-Simpson is very deliberate with their possessions. They attack the basket, but they're in no hurry to do so when they have the ball. The pace of the game was more to the Wildcats' liking, and they had a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Franklin-Simpson extended their lead on Bowling Green, led by Rayco Bryant, who was hitting short jumpers and lay-ins. Like every other time I've seen the Purples play this season, they control the game on the defensive end of the court. They picked up their defensive pressure and stopped Bryant from getting so close to the basket with the ball. They also forced turnovers and made a run at the Wildcats.
My favorite Purple, Lando Calrissian...I mean Billy Williams hit two free throws with 48 seconds left in the half to tie it. Each team hit another basket, and I started looking for Elizabeth Vargas because the score was 20-20 at halftime.
The third quarter demonstrated something I've said about the Purples all season: their defense makes their offense. They opened in a 1-2-2 zone with Eric Smith on top pressuring the perimeter ball movement. I've seen them play this zone before and play it well, but on Thursday night, they weren't active enough when Franklin-Simpson pushed the ball toward the baseline. The Wildcats surged early and had Bowling Green down 29-22.
The Purples ditched the zone and started playing a tough full court defense that forced Franklin-Simpson into a pace they don't really like. Bowling Green started chipping into the lead and pulled within two, 31-29, at the end of the third.
It's too bad the crowd was small because a lot of people missed a very exciting game. Sure, it was a low scoring defensive struggle, but the fourth quarter was exciting. I one point during the game I heard a fan say to another "U-G-L-Y." It was ugly. If a baby was as ugly as this game, Southern women would chorus "Bless its little heart."
Reminiscence Alert
When I was 13 or 14 years old I worked the concession stands at Cardinal Stadium for UofL football games. It was easy money because nobody actually went to their ballgames. A friend of mine and I usually ditched our work in the second or third quarter so we could watch the Louisville gridders spiral into another defeat. One afternoon, the UofL cheerleaders did a cheer "U-G-L-Y! You ain't got no alibi. You ugly, yeah, you ugly, yeah, you is!"
If a cheerleading squad whipped that out on an opponent in today's hyper-sensitive world, the NCAA would launch an inquiry that would make Watergate look like a shoplifting investigation. The long ago Cardinal cheerleaders could've summed up Thursday's game.
In the fourth, Richardson hit a three that put the Purples on top 33-31, and that started a sequence of several big plays by either team. They weren't on consecutive plays, but they were close enough together that they seemed to be connected. D.L. Moore grabbed one of the most impressive rebounds I've seen this season. He misjudged where the bounce was headed, but he was elevated enough that he was able to extend and arm and snag the ball. I believe his head was level with the rim when he made the rebound. I like it when Moore uses his athletic ability because few in the Fourth can match him.
Shortly afterward, Bowling Green was set to expand their narrow lead, and a Purple got the ball on the baseline and made his move toward the basket. Courtney Dalcourt came across the court to block the shot. He swatted the ball so hard and so far that I expected to hear Chris Berman blabbering "back, back, back, back, back."
I felt like it was the turning point in the ballgame. Bowling Green lost their momentum, and Wildcats starting surging. It was near this point when Coach David Clark turned to his team on the bench and shouted, "A one point game against Bowling Green and y'all aren't sayin a word!"
With time running out, Franklin-Simpson had the ball with the score tied at 42. D.L. Moore made the defensive play of the game. He got set in front of a Wildcat and drew a charging call with just six seconds left. Bowling Green had let the lead get away from them, but they had a chance to win it. I don't know what to say about the ending, but it looked like the Purples had a play drawn up but failed to execute it. Maybe Franklin-Simpson's defense disrupted the play, but D.L. Moore ended up taking the last shot from the perimeter. It looked like the Purples were off their rotation.
At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 42.
In the overtime, Bowling Green got behind and couldn't make the surge to catch the Wildcats. the ending turned into the Purples fouling to stay alive, but Cedrick Adams had anti-freeze in his veins and hit knocked down big free throws at the end.
The Wildcats prevailed 53-49. They controlled the tempo through most of the game, and Bowling Green let a win slip right through their hands.
D.L. Moore finished the game with 12 points and 15 rebounds, six of which were offensive boards. Tevin Barksdale had 12 points the Purples. Rayco "Baby Bark" Bryant had 16 points with eight rebounds. Cedrick Adams added eight points and was an icy 6-6 at the free throw line.
OBSERVATIONS
Foot Soldier: Rayco Bryant's game starts with his feet. When he gets the ball in the paint, he knows how to move his feet and legs to get position on the defender and get the ball in the hole. He's very good at it. He's also quick for his size. He surprises people with his ability to move. He's downright agile when he slashes through the lane to get the ball.
BRIIICK?: I looked over the stats for the game, and I couldn't decide what cost Bowling Green the game. They put up 56 shots but only hit 16 for 28.6% shooting. Franklin shot 39.3% but only had one more field goal than the Purps. Bowling Green out-rebounded them and hit four more three point shots (F-S took seven shots from the arc compared to BG's 20). The difference in the game was free throw shooting. Franklin was 18-27, but Bowling Green was 12-20. That's the only advantage I can see.
Back-to-Back: Bowling Green turns around and hosts the Scotties on Friday night, and Franklin-Simpson hosts Cumberland County. These guys have to be able to play on consecutive nights or they don't stand a chance in the post season.
Rattlesnake Richardson: I've noticed it all season. Jeb Richardson has a bit of a side spin on his jumpshot. It's a sidewinder. He's a good shooter, but I believe if his shot hits the rim it won't drop.
Overtime Guarantee: Anytime I take my children to a basketball game on a school night it will go into overtime. It's guaranteed. If I take them to a Friday or Saturday game, it will be a clock-eating, low fouling, blowout.
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