18th District Championship, Green County High School, Greensburg, Kentucky 02-29-08
By Chris Gergory, Fifth Region Correspondent
For the first time in nine years, Green County and Larue County met in the district finals. So far, things have been good for the Dragons. They had a big scare on Monday night against Caverna, but on Friday night they new that the game would be tough. Larue County started their push for the championship after lighting up Hart County with a 32 point defeat.
Coming into the championship game, these teams split the regular season, each winning on the other's home floor. Both were very close games. When Green won at Larue it was on a loast second 30 footer by Green's Clint Henderson. I think both games were decided by less than five points total.
Both teams match up pretty well. I thought it would be a coin toss. A huge crowd was on hand, and several Larue County fans made the half hour drive to pack the gym. Man, it was HOT!! (Editor's query: Half an hour from Larue County to Greensburg? In Bowling Green one is lucky to make it from Russellville Road to Scottsville Road in that amount of time).
The tip-off was late because of the girls' championship game. That was an exciting game. Green County beat Hart County 73-65, and I must tip my hat to a couple of ladies who lead their teams in the championship game. The Lady Dragons' Micah Jones scored 31 points and had 10 steals. She is only in the eighth grade. Hart County Megan Isaacs had 30 points and an amazing 22 rebounds, which in a weird way makes Dennis Rodman the Megan Isaacs of NBA basketball. Yeah, I know he's retired, but Dennis would like the thought of being Megan Isaacs.
As the Larue County players (boys team) made their way to the locker room, they received high fives and cheers from the faithful Hawk fans. Once again, they looked focused and ready to play. I was hoping they would start this game off where they finished on Tuesday when they lit up the scoreboard for 31 fourth quarter points. I'm sure that caught coach Toby Curry's ye, and he had to find a way to slow them down.
Green controlled the tip, and they didn't waste any time putting up the first points of the game. It took all of about 30 seconds. Not to be out-done, Larue also found the rim on their first possession. The game was frantic from the get-go, but the Hawks are not used to playing that style. They run the ball, but not at that kind of pace. It had them out of sorts. Green made a 7-0 run and forced Coach Childress to use a time out.
I know Coach Childress pretty well, and he never backs down from a challenge. He just had to settle his team and play like he knows they can. Emotions were high, and the refs were letting them play. Late in the first quarter, Larue's Christian Seymore got whistled for a foul about 40 feet from the goal, and he had a few words for the ref. I don't know what he said, but I doubt he wished him a "Happy Hoopsmas." The ref couldn't grab the whistle fast enough to "T" him up. That was at the 3:44 mark. The technical may have opened Larue's eyes. They slowed it down, got hot, and made a run of their own. At the end of one, it was 15-10 Green.
When the second got underway it was like someone turned of the light switch on the Hawks. They were out of control and making a lot of mistake. Green opened up a ten point lead, and Larue was digging themselves a hole. With the help of senior Shawn Seymour, Larue would not give up. He grabbed a rebound and took it coast-to-coast to cut the lead at halftime to seven points.
Could the Hawks come out and get hot again like they did on Tuesday? The fans around me were hoping so.
What a difference a half makes? Larue came out as hot as I was up there in the rafters. The Seymour brothers hit on a couple of threes, and in no time, the Hawks were pecking on the Dragons' front door. By this time, they cut the lead to three only a minute and five seconds into the third quarter. They later tied it up at 31, which was the first tie since the score was 2-2. Larue just couldn't get over the hump. Green once again made a late run at the end of the quarter and lead 40-36.
At the start of the fourth, Larue was playing much better. They finally slowed down and began running their offense. They got open looks and made the most of it. Green looked a little winded. They played eight players but one or two starters didn't rest much.
Larue once again tied the score at 45 at 4:15 to go (only the third tie). The Dragons were poised. Every time Larue made a run, they were quick to stop it. In the end, Larue just couldn't capitalize. They had some good looks, but it just wouldn't fall for them.
Green County won, 61-55 to take the 18th.
OBSERVATIONS
Dragons are Flying High: Green County has now won seven in a row. This is a good time of the year to put together a little win streak. Coach Toby Curry, I think, will agree with me that sometimes this team struggles, but in the end, they find a way to get it in the basket. With the great shooters they have on this team, they could breath some fire down some necks in the Fifth Region tournament.
Pajama Donkeys: I'm glad it's regional tournament time so we can get away from these Fifth Region refs. The lack of consistency is killing me.
Ron Burgundy Covering Game?: The Larue County student section -- for some reason -- had blown up pictures of celebrities floating around. One was Will Ferrell. I know he has a basketball movie out. Are they hoping he might suit up for the Hawks?
Hawks In Da' House: (Editor's intrusion on Chris's post) I got to meet Coach Childress at Diddle Arena last week. He was there with his basketball team. I think James "Boo" Brewer was in tow, too. I saw him after the game, and the last time I saw Boo Brewer on Western's court, he was dicing up some Hilltopper defense for UofL.
All District Tournament Team
Jordan Rice - Caverna
Chad Briggs - Caverna
Corey Salsman - Larue County
Shawn Seymour - Larue County
Clint Henderson - Green County
Seth Jones - Green County
Daniel Bennett - Green County
Look for an update on the regional draw. I will post as soon as I get them. The region will be played at Hart County High School.
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1 comment:
We made those to distract Green County players, and disorient their fans. And because we think they're really funny.
However, we couldn't hold up the really big ones because the ADs of the District agreed that no one could have "hand-held signs..." so we had to tape up the chicken and Michael Jackson, and those got torn down by Green County people... something I am none too happy about.
That was also the worst officiated game I have ever seen. I've been at church-league games with better refs.
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