Fifth Region Tournament, Hart County High School, Munfordville, Kentucky

Monday, March 10, 2008

By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent

Game One: Central Hardin 63 - Adair County 58

I am a huge fan of high school basketball if you haven't noticed by now, and I really don't have any connections with any certain team or players other than friends I've made during the season. But, in the last week or so it's been hard not to root for some of them. I like the underdogs, and I like coaches who have never been in situations like this before.

For instance, Central Hardin Coach J.C. Wright has put his time in on the sidelines in Cecilia. He and his team are the hottest things going in the Fifth Region. Monday night they were trying to get into the finals for the first time in school history. They've already accomplished one big feat this year by winning the 17th district tournament, a district loaded with good teams year in and year out.

The local odds maker who sat near me during the game told me that he liked Central in this game, against the defending Fifth Region champs. Adair has a good ball club, and I knew it would be a good game.

Adair controlled the tip and got the opening bucket. As usual, the Indians were very patient and looked for the best possible shot. Central was quick to run, wanting to get the upper hand by controlling the tempo. The Bruins had the hot hand in the first two minutes of the game, hitting every shot they attempted. Most were three pointers. On the defensive end, the front row fans were getting a lot of action because of the deflections by the Bruins. Central Hardin was building a lead, and I had only seen Adair play from behind one time this season. It wasn't good. It was when they played University Heights in the King of the Bluegrass, and they lost the game. Central Hardin was running past the Indians, leading after one, 25-14.

Adair County is loaded with talent. Three players were on the all region team, and Mark Fudge was Coach of the Year. They were not going to give in that easy. They did cut it to six points early in the second, but Central had a weapon in Daniel Linder, who was begging for the ball. He had the hot hand. They pushed the lead back to ten, and fans around me said that Adair would cut it in half by halftime. They did, thanks to Tony Harding making the "Charlie Brown Blockhead Play of the Game." He fouled Kalen Kimberland with 3.6 seconds left in the half. Kimberland made the layup and the following free throw. Central Hardin had the slim lead of 36-31 at halftime.

I thought Adair County had just played the worst half of basketball I had seen them play, and they were only down five. I have seen Adair play many more times than Central. I really didn't know the fire power Central Hardin possessed. Like I said, they have been the hottest team over the last few weeks in the Fifth. They picked a good time to come out of hibernation and put together a winning streak.

I wish high school basketball had its own TV station because this game would make an instant classic. The Indians had one more run in them. They just weren't going to roll over and play dead against the Bruins. Adair County kept their heads and knew they had it in them to win the game. Corey Helm, who was off the mark most of the night, hit huge back-to-back threes and tied the game with 2:29 to go. This would be the last run they could make. Central Hardin just wanted it more, and they deserved the victory. Adair County couldn't execute in the closing minutes. Central won by five, and we will have a new Fifth Region champion.

OBSERVATIONS

Huh? What'd ya say?: I hope Hart County uses the gate money they got this week to get a new PA system. It's horrible! The lady running the PA was OK, but I couldn't hear her. She sounded a lot like Charlie Brown's teacher, "wha wha, wha, wha." If you didn't know the players' names when they scored, you weren't going to hear it, either. Buck up Hart County!"

The Poppa Bear: Congratulations to J.C. Wright and his staff. This is the season that Central Hardin fans have waited. They are hot "WRIGHT" now. I feel like this team has been under the radar all year. They have a killer 1-3-1 zone defense, and teams find it hard to crack. Most fans I came across this season never mentioned the Bruins. It was always Adair, North or Bardstown as the favorites. I know they have not won the big game yet, but I'm just sying no one had them going this far.

Go Volunteers!: No not the ones in Knoxville. The Munfordville Fire and Rescue was in charge of the parking and did a great job. They probably don't get to see any of the games, but they were out there making sure your car was safe. They did slack up when people were leaving, which was kind of crazy. They should have helped out on that end as well. Overall, good job.

Game Two: Bardstown 52 - Elizabethtown 50

Folkls, these games are taking a toll on me. The excitement has been great for all of them, but the last game of the semifinals might have been the most excitement I've seen all year. If you have read the Pick and Roll all year, you know I have said to never give up on a James Haire coached team. They knocked off Green County in the first round, and they were ready to square off with the Runnin' Tigers of Bardstown in the semifinals.

Battle of the City Schools! Bardstown jumped out on E-town very quickly, and it looked like this game was oing to be over before we got out of the first quarter. The Tigers have great ball movement, and it had the Panthers gasping for air. Coach Haire had to use a timeout befor ethis game got out of hand. E-town managed just four points in the first quarter, and they were down by 11.

E-town showed some life in the second quarter. It may have been because the E-town girls team showed up after winning their final earlier on Monday. Chris "Go Go" Gohman was on a roll again tonight. He had his hands all over the ball. I didn't keep up with steals, but he must have hd a bunch. Bardstown helped E-town by not making any field goals for about two minutes. That seemed like a long time in this fast paced game. By the end of the second, E-town had cut the Tiger lead to four. Never count out a James Haire coached team. The Panthers were hanging tough in a physical game. The halftime score was 28-24, Bardstown.

Teams don't win a state championship just by the talent they have on the floor. James Haire is a great coach, and I have heard over the years that he can prepare for any team. He made adjustments at the half, and Panthers came out in the third ready to upset the Tigers. I call this an upset because most people had Bardstown in a landslide. E-town was in control, and everything was going in their favor. The tempo was a big factor in the third. At the 2:40 mark, E-town had their first lead of the night. I could see the momentum shift to the Panthers. The Bardstown fans seemed to wilt in their seats; E-town was not ready for this season to be over with.

I could spend an hour writing on the fourth quarter alone. It's the best quarter of basketball I've seen all this year. This game had been tight since the start of the third, and the fourth was going to be a slug-fest. Both teams were trading buckets and someone had to make a stop. E-town struck first, forcing Bardstown into a couple of turnovers. With a two point lead with 1:30 to go, E-town had the momentum once again, but, all of sudden, Bardstown stepped it up and tied it again with 25.2 to go.

Elizabethtown came down to their end of the floor and was going for the game winner. They turned the ball over. They fouled Bardstown's Demarco Phillips with 10.2 seconds to go in regulation.

Were we headed to overtime?

After Phillips missed both free throws, I thought were were. The Panthers grabbed the missed free throw and headed down the floor with time running down. At half court, Bardstown's Corey Hall, the senior leader, stole the ball, ran down the floor, and hit the game winning layup with 1.8 seconds to go. E-town's crowd just dropped in their seats, and the Bardstown fans rushed the floor. They were headed to the finals on a last second layup. It just gave me cold chills again writing about it.

Bardstown pulls out a very exciting game, 52-20.

OBSERVATIONS

Cheerleading 101: I have to give it up to the Bardstown student section. They were fantastic again tonight. The stuff they come up with is great. I was thinking that cheerleading must be 6th period over there in Bardstown. It's hard to put into word, but I will try. One cheer all the students lock arms and sway back and forth. Four guys stand up and the pep band strikes up the old Beach Boys tune "Surfin' USA," and it looks like the four guys are surfing in the crowd. Another one is the boxing match. One students comes out with head gear and gloves and stands on the floor. He the shadow boxes the crowd and they act like they're getting punched. Then, the student with the gloves connects with the KO punch. The whole crowd hollers "KO, KO, KO" to the E-town fans. It even had the refs smiling during a timeout.


The End Zone is the Place to Be: Hart County High has bleachers in one end of their gym. This is where the real fans sit. I sat there most of the tournament. It's full of old players, current coaches, and fans of basketball. Me being a youngster in the group, I learned a lot with the "Older Guys." I also handed out a lot of cards for this website. So, hello first time readers, welcome to our crazy basketball world.

Apologies from Pick and Roll: Chris sent me his story, and I was going to post it this morning. Pick and Roll is an early riser, which is the result of starting my working life in the grocery produce business. I had to meet deliveries at 4 a.m., and I walked to work (up hill both ways). When we switch back to Daylight Savings Time, I'm thrown for a loop. I slept too late this morning to get to Chris's excellent coverage, and I had to meet someone in Murray early in the morning. I apologize.

I quote the great philosopher, Grandpa Jones, "Daylight Savings Time is like cutting one end off a blanket and sewing it on the other to make it longer." By the way, did you know that Louis "Grandpa" Jones was born in Henderson County, Kentucky, but they always billed him as "The old man from the mountains..." I've been the Henderson County, thousands of times, but I have yet to see a mountain.

As always, Pick and Roll readers are appreciated.