Greenwood Classic, Greenwood High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
About halfway through the second half I almost decided not to blog this game because I didn't want readers to think that I'm making excuses or taking up for my friend Jill Phillips, head coach of the Princeton Lady Vikings. I missed getting Coach Phillips a Christmas gift, but if I was going to get her a late one, I buy her this. Maybe I should buy her a nice Slip-and-Slide to go with the hosing her team took tonight against Franklin-Simpson.
I mean no ill will toward my good friend down in Franklin because I think they'll know that I've been a fan of the Lady Wildcats. A hosing is a hosing, though, and since Coach Phillips is a good friend, I have to label the game just as it was.
Now, I'm not making excuses. The Lady Vikings have to start hitting layups or its going to be a long season for them. They have to play better defense in the first half.
I told my friend before the game that the Lady Wildcats came within a heartbreak of winning the Sweet Sixteen last year, and Coach Phillips briefly coached in Kentucky and knows the significance of that tournament. She understood what I was saying, too. Franklin-Simpson is a team that has played and won big games and has the hunger of being so close to a championship.
Really, the Lady Wildcats controlled throughout the contest. They outscored Princeton in each of the four quarters. Princeton played them even in the second quarter, with each team scoring 10 points. Franklin-Simpson took a 20-19 lead into halftime.
There was a play from the first half that I want to point out because it exemplified good coaching and smart ball playing. A loose ball popped up into the air near mid-court, and Drea Gooch for Franklin-Simpson could have easily caught the ball in her own back court, but she would have been in the corner and easily trapped. Instead, she let the ball cross mid-court and then took possession of it. That's smart ball. She nullified any kind of trap and was able to create a play out of it. The play happened right in front of me, and my hat is off to Coach Lex Lindsey and Drea Gooch for such heady play.
My beef with this game was in the second half. To protect their legs, the Lady Vikings dropped back into a 3-2 zone and switched from that into a 2-1-2 and even a 1-3-1 zone. Franklin-Simpson, using sound strategy pressed Princeton throughout the half. With 1:43 left in the half, the officials had called seven fouls on Princeton and just two on Franklin-Simpson. I don't doubt that Princeton committed that many fouls, but I've never seen a pressing team commit just two fouls during a half. Franklin is good but not that good.
Franklin-Simpson won a tough fought game tonight, 46-38. The Lady Wildcats still only have one loss against 11 victories. Their one loss is to the Iroquois in the Lady Panther Classic at Pleasure Ridge Park. They are the team to beat in the Fourth Region this season, and the Road to Diddle runs right up 31-W through the city of Franklin, the finest little town in the South.
OBSERVATIONS
Good Fan Support: The Lady Wildcats have a throng of faithful fans. I'm sure some had a tough decision to make tonight with their boys team hosting their own tournament. They cheer hard, too. It was a good atmosphere.
Dancing with the Stars: Jill Phillips did a little dance on the court on Monday night demonstrating a proper layup to one of the officials. I think we can look for her on ABC in a few weeks. I haven't seen that kind of footwork out of Coach Phillips since she played at Georgia.
The Polar Express: I don't know the young lady's name, and I apologize. Number 30 for Princeton looks like the girl from the movie The Polar Express. I mean that as a compliment, too.
No Idea But Had to Include It: I just have to include a video about The Turtle Man. It has nothing to do with basketball, but I love Kentucky and her people. Watch and enjoy. I know a fellow in Hickman County, Kentucky, who noodles for catfish. I have an open invitation to go noodling with him sometime, but it takes a special kind of fortitude to do that kind of fishing. My friend says that it takes a "strong arm and a weak mind" to noodle catfish. The only way I'll go is if I can get Coach Phillips' professor husband to go with me.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Princeton (OH) 48 - Warren East 45 (Girls)
Greenwood Invitational, Greenwood High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
I planned to put Pick and Roll on hold for a week while I visited family at Christmas and painted a hallway, stairwell, and two rooms in my house. I was fooling myself by thinking that I could stay away from basketball games with time off from work. Plus, I've lost my television because Santa Claus brought my children a Wii. Yep, you're right. I've logged some time on Mario Kart, and my kids can beat the living daylights out of me on the boxing game. I still mouth them like I'm the Louisville Lip, and they look at me like I've lost my mind.
My good friend, Jill Phillips e-mailed me and said that she was bringing her Princeton (OH) Vikings team to Bowling Green for a Christmas tournament, there was no way I was going to miss her games. Well, I missed one because I was in Mayfield, but I caught up with her team when they played Warren East on Sunday night at Greenwood.
I was torn. I really like the Warren East girls team have enjoyed watching Ashley Rainey play ball over the past couple of seasons, but Coach Phillips and her husband are very good friends of mine. How good? They have spent weeks at our house at times, and the Mrs. and I have always enjoyed their company. I've even proofread parts of her husband's books. He's a big, fancy professor at a little place called the University of Cincinnati. His students tell me that his courses are "bunny" or "Mickey Mouse" and that they take them to boost their GPA.
Princeton opened the game with an active full court press, and I believe they hit their first six or seven shots. Warren East looked a little flustered by the defense but never lost their composure. When they adjusted to the pressure they rallied late in the quarter, and trimmed the lead to one, 14-13, at the end of the first.
Warren East outplayed Princeton in the second quarter. They hustled for loose balls, played good defense, and East started hitting their shots. Amy Barnett handled the defensive pressure well and got the ball up the court, and Rainey was able to score down low. I'm always surprised at how well Rainey handles the ball along the perimeter.
Princeton could not buy a bucket in the second quarter. They rushed their shots. They forced their shots by foolishly challenging Rainey in the paint with smaller players. They paid the price, too. The Lady Vikings scored only seven points in the second frame while coughing up 16 to the Lady Raiders. East took a 29-21 lead to the break.
I like defensive oriented ball teams. If a team commits to playing good defense every time they take the court, then they have a shot at winning every game they play. All teams have bad shooting nights, but no matter how small the hoop seems a team can play good defense. I believe that's the case with my friend's team. They had lapses on the defensive end on Sunday night, but they clamped down and played good defense in the second half of the contest. Their defense got them back in the game.
The Lady Vikings know when to spring a trap or to apply double team pressure in a full court press. They frustrated East and made the Lady Raiders turn over the basketball. By the end of the third quarter, Princeton cut the lead to five.
Warren East responded early in the fourth quarter and pushed their lead back out to eight. It wasn't looking good for my friend and her Lady Vikings, but I was glad to see one of my Fourth Region favorites doing well against a good team from the Cincinnati area. I should, however, mention that Princeton was without their best player, who was injured in their game against Greenwood. I can't remember her name but Ohio State has recruited her, and she is the core of the Lady Viking's squad (I don't have a roster for my friend's team, and I'm terrible with name. I sometimes call my little boy by the dog's name).
Princeton's defensive pressure started paying off for them late in the fourth quarter. With 1:10 left in the game, Princeton took their first lead -- 45-44 -- since early in the second quarter. Warren East was able to tie the game on a free throw and then gave Princeton two chances to win the game. First, Stalworth stole the ball and went flying toward the hoop for a layup, but she put the ball on the glass too hard. It bounced off, and Warren East went back the other way as time was running out.
I figured we were heading to overtime. Princeton forced another Lady Raider turnover and had the ball with about 4.5 seconds left. Coach Phillips called a timeout and went over a play to get the ball up the court. Stalworth took the inbound pass and dribbled past the time line. She went up for a shot, but a Lady Raider got her hand on the ball to block it. Stalworth clutched in the air, adjusted her shot, launched a 22 foot leaner, and hit nothing but net.
It's a heart breaker for Warren East.
My friend Coach Phillips is originally from Shelbyville, Tennessee, and played high school ball for Rick Insell (as a WKU fan I hiss every time I type or say his name). She has a beautiful, drawling Tennessee accent. She said, "Well, I guess I'm going to have to start coloring my hair" in reference to the dramatic ending to the ballgame. I asked her if the play unfolded like she diagrammed it during the timeout. Like any coach would claim she said, "Yep, exactly."
Princeton steals one from the locals, 48-45.
OBSERVATIONS
The Swamp: I've been in a lot of high school gyms, and Greenwood's is among the bottom feeders in the region. There is not enough room at either end of the court, so they have the Duke style "hang-down" goals, which is fine. However, the way they are mounted to the ceiling results in a cable that droops down over the goal. A ball hit that cable last night and altered a play. I've always noticed it and have anticipated it being a factor in a ballgame. I just hope it's never a factor in a district game some day. No offense, Greenwood fans, I hate that place. This is just a suggestion: put a small lobby at the entrance so that fans don't open the door right into the gym.
Pick and Roll Not Title IX Friendly?: I know my regular readers will be surprised to find a summary of a girls' game on here. I like girls basketball, but I only have so much time on my hands to attend and write about games. I default to boys basketball, and I really do apologize to fans of the ladies. I'm trying to do better.
The Fortitude of Coaches: I noticed that Coach Phillips loaded her team into two passenger vans for their trip to Culver's -- the tournament's primary sponsor. She and her staff have to look after a high school basketball team for four days and shuttle them about in vans. I know that all other coaches go through this. I don't think casual fans of the game realize what coaches go through and do for their teams.
By J. Trace Kirkwood
I planned to put Pick and Roll on hold for a week while I visited family at Christmas and painted a hallway, stairwell, and two rooms in my house. I was fooling myself by thinking that I could stay away from basketball games with time off from work. Plus, I've lost my television because Santa Claus brought my children a Wii. Yep, you're right. I've logged some time on Mario Kart, and my kids can beat the living daylights out of me on the boxing game. I still mouth them like I'm the Louisville Lip, and they look at me like I've lost my mind.
My good friend, Jill Phillips e-mailed me and said that she was bringing her Princeton (OH) Vikings team to Bowling Green for a Christmas tournament, there was no way I was going to miss her games. Well, I missed one because I was in Mayfield, but I caught up with her team when they played Warren East on Sunday night at Greenwood.
I was torn. I really like the Warren East girls team have enjoyed watching Ashley Rainey play ball over the past couple of seasons, but Coach Phillips and her husband are very good friends of mine. How good? They have spent weeks at our house at times, and the Mrs. and I have always enjoyed their company. I've even proofread parts of her husband's books. He's a big, fancy professor at a little place called the University of Cincinnati. His students tell me that his courses are "bunny" or "Mickey Mouse" and that they take them to boost their GPA.
Princeton opened the game with an active full court press, and I believe they hit their first six or seven shots. Warren East looked a little flustered by the defense but never lost their composure. When they adjusted to the pressure they rallied late in the quarter, and trimmed the lead to one, 14-13, at the end of the first.
Warren East outplayed Princeton in the second quarter. They hustled for loose balls, played good defense, and East started hitting their shots. Amy Barnett handled the defensive pressure well and got the ball up the court, and Rainey was able to score down low. I'm always surprised at how well Rainey handles the ball along the perimeter.
Princeton could not buy a bucket in the second quarter. They rushed their shots. They forced their shots by foolishly challenging Rainey in the paint with smaller players. They paid the price, too. The Lady Vikings scored only seven points in the second frame while coughing up 16 to the Lady Raiders. East took a 29-21 lead to the break.
I like defensive oriented ball teams. If a team commits to playing good defense every time they take the court, then they have a shot at winning every game they play. All teams have bad shooting nights, but no matter how small the hoop seems a team can play good defense. I believe that's the case with my friend's team. They had lapses on the defensive end on Sunday night, but they clamped down and played good defense in the second half of the contest. Their defense got them back in the game.
The Lady Vikings know when to spring a trap or to apply double team pressure in a full court press. They frustrated East and made the Lady Raiders turn over the basketball. By the end of the third quarter, Princeton cut the lead to five.
Warren East responded early in the fourth quarter and pushed their lead back out to eight. It wasn't looking good for my friend and her Lady Vikings, but I was glad to see one of my Fourth Region favorites doing well against a good team from the Cincinnati area. I should, however, mention that Princeton was without their best player, who was injured in their game against Greenwood. I can't remember her name but Ohio State has recruited her, and she is the core of the Lady Viking's squad (I don't have a roster for my friend's team, and I'm terrible with name. I sometimes call my little boy by the dog's name).
Princeton's defensive pressure started paying off for them late in the fourth quarter. With 1:10 left in the game, Princeton took their first lead -- 45-44 -- since early in the second quarter. Warren East was able to tie the game on a free throw and then gave Princeton two chances to win the game. First, Stalworth stole the ball and went flying toward the hoop for a layup, but she put the ball on the glass too hard. It bounced off, and Warren East went back the other way as time was running out.
I figured we were heading to overtime. Princeton forced another Lady Raider turnover and had the ball with about 4.5 seconds left. Coach Phillips called a timeout and went over a play to get the ball up the court. Stalworth took the inbound pass and dribbled past the time line. She went up for a shot, but a Lady Raider got her hand on the ball to block it. Stalworth clutched in the air, adjusted her shot, launched a 22 foot leaner, and hit nothing but net.
It's a heart breaker for Warren East.
My friend Coach Phillips is originally from Shelbyville, Tennessee, and played high school ball for Rick Insell (as a WKU fan I hiss every time I type or say his name). She has a beautiful, drawling Tennessee accent. She said, "Well, I guess I'm going to have to start coloring my hair" in reference to the dramatic ending to the ballgame. I asked her if the play unfolded like she diagrammed it during the timeout. Like any coach would claim she said, "Yep, exactly."
Princeton steals one from the locals, 48-45.
OBSERVATIONS
The Swamp: I've been in a lot of high school gyms, and Greenwood's is among the bottom feeders in the region. There is not enough room at either end of the court, so they have the Duke style "hang-down" goals, which is fine. However, the way they are mounted to the ceiling results in a cable that droops down over the goal. A ball hit that cable last night and altered a play. I've always noticed it and have anticipated it being a factor in a ballgame. I just hope it's never a factor in a district game some day. No offense, Greenwood fans, I hate that place. This is just a suggestion: put a small lobby at the entrance so that fans don't open the door right into the gym.
Pick and Roll Not Title IX Friendly?: I know my regular readers will be surprised to find a summary of a girls' game on here. I like girls basketball, but I only have so much time on my hands to attend and write about games. I default to boys basketball, and I really do apologize to fans of the ladies. I'm trying to do better.
The Fortitude of Coaches: I noticed that Coach Phillips loaded her team into two passenger vans for their trip to Culver's -- the tournament's primary sponsor. She and her staff have to look after a high school basketball team for four days and shuttle them about in vans. I know that all other coaches go through this. I don't think casual fans of the game realize what coaches go through and do for their teams.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Lone Oak 61 - Allen County-Scottsville 57
Time Piece Roundball Classic, Graves County High School, Mayfield, Kentucky
J. Trace Kirkwood
I sometimes surprise even myself with the games I end up watching. Although I grew up in Miami and Louisville, I have deep roots and strong ties to Mayfield, Kentucky. It has been the base of my family for over a century, and my parents are living out there retirement in the "Pearl of the Purchase." After celebrating Christmas with my in-laws, we trucked out Mayfield to celebrate the holiday with my parents. I picked up the Mayfield Messenger and discovered that our own Allen County-Scottsville Patriots were slated to play the Lone Oak Purple Flash on Saturday night.
I know the Purchase ain't the Pennyrile, but, by golly, it's a close cousin.
Let's see. Allen County brought their coaches, players, some fans, busses, equipment, basketball, uniforms, shoes, socks, and probably a credit card from the school system. What could they have left behind. Oh yeah. Their game.
High school basketball keeps me in a perpetual state of "what the heck?" The Patriots looked good against Bowling Green the other night even though they lost the ballgame. They looked like they could challenge for the Fourth Region title, so I was delighted to get an opportunity to watch them play a game or two against teams from other regions.
Lone Oak, a high school and community just outside of Paducah, started the season 3-1 with victories over Hickman County, St. Mary, and the Reidland Greyhounds, but they dropped the next six game to teams including Apollo, Louisville Moore, and North Hardin. They're a hard team to read.
Allen County opened the game like they came to play -- at this point I did not know they lost to University Heights earlier in the day. The Pats opened up a quick lead and had good ball movement on offense. I did notice that they depended upon the perimeter to get baskets because Lone Oak sagged down on Phillip Hayes. When they did get the ball into the big man, Lone Oak had no answer.
Allen County had a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Flash came alive in the second quarter. Their defense triggered their comeback, and they whittled into Allen County's lead. By the 4:54 mark, they led 18-16 with a 9-2 run. The Patriots looked tired while Lone Oak, who also played earlier in the day, was hitting their shots and playing active on both ends of the court.
Coach Scott Shelton benched Hayes for about the last three minutes of the half. I don't know if he was tired or if the coach was trying to get his attention. I do know that the Patriots needed him out there. Casey Napier, Joe Jeskie, and Anthony Graves are good perimeter players, but they need Hayes in the middle un-balancing the opponent's defense.
Lone Oak took a 26-22 lead to the locker room by outscoring the Pats 17-8 in the second frame.
Allen County continued to look out-of-synch in the third quarter. The Flash, led by Cameron Tillet, Jamrielle Brown, and Josh Byrd continued to fill the passing lanes and frustrate Allen County on the defensive end, and they hit big baskets, allowing Lone Oak to hold onto a seven point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Allen County's lackadaisacal play showed up again in the fourth quarter, giving every indication that they were tired. I know two games in one day is difficult, and maybe it is hard at this time of the year. Everyone knows that in order to win a Sweet Sixteen championship a team must be able to play and win two games on Saturday. I don't see Lone Oak making much of a challenge in the First Region, so if the Patriots are going to challenge in the Fourth, they have to be able to tangle with these types of teams even when they're tired. I know Coach Shelton knows that.
Lone Oak extended their lead to 12 at one point during the Fourth Quarter. With 3:30 left in the game, Coach Shelton called a timeout, grouped his team around him, and started giving them something other than Christmas greetings. He wasn't apologizing for being late with his Christmas cards. I don't know what he said to his team, but he needed more time. He called two more timeouts.
I've never seen a coach do that.
Phillip Hayes pushed over a chair during the "Mother of All Timeouts." Mr. Hayes found a cozy spot on the bench and stayed there for the rest of the contest.
Allen County made a gallant run late in the fourth, led by the active and athletic play of Kevin Bunton. With 9.1 seconds left the Pats cut the lead to three points and had a shot at winning the game. The Flash held them off and won 61-57.
OBSERVATIONS
Great Gymnasium: Graves County High School is a great place to watch a basketball game. The stands are steep and close to the floor and include plenty of chairbacks on the home side. The concessions are good. I hate to say it, but it outclasses all but one gym in the Fourth Region. Bowling Green's "arena" rivals "The Eagles Nest," but it lacks the endzone seating of Graves County's.
Careful For What You Wish: Last week I complained about the bitterly cold weather. Saturday in Mayfield featured 72 degree weather and some sunshine. At game time, a vicious line of storms pounded their way through the Jackson Purchase, and fans discovered how badly the entrances to the Eagles Nest leak. I enjoyed the balmy weather but not the monsoon.
The Pearl of the Purchase: That's an old nickname for Mayfield. I mentioned earlier that I have strong ties to the city. I used to spend a good portion of each summer between 1970 and 1980 either in Mayfield or on my grandmother's farm near Fancy Farm. It was/is a second home to me. I used to pedal an old bicycle all over that town and came to know a lot of its residents. I'll probably get e-mail about this, but Mayfield has fallen on hard times. It's just not the same place from my childhood. It sort of makes me sad.
There's some good places to eat in Mayfield. Carr's Barbecue Barn and Hill's Barbecue are both very good. If you have a place to go eat it, Larry, Darrel and Darrel's is also very good. When you get barbecue in Mayfield, don't be surprised if they smash it down to look like a hockey puck. Trust me. I work for the government. It's good! Ace's Pizza is good, especially their meatball sandwich. There's also a doughnut shop just north of the town on U.S. 45 that has fantastic doughnuts. If you go early in the morning the things are too hot to eat.
I'd write more about Graves County High School, but my family are all Mayfield alumni and they'll disown me.
J. Trace Kirkwood
I sometimes surprise even myself with the games I end up watching. Although I grew up in Miami and Louisville, I have deep roots and strong ties to Mayfield, Kentucky. It has been the base of my family for over a century, and my parents are living out there retirement in the "Pearl of the Purchase." After celebrating Christmas with my in-laws, we trucked out Mayfield to celebrate the holiday with my parents. I picked up the Mayfield Messenger and discovered that our own Allen County-Scottsville Patriots were slated to play the Lone Oak Purple Flash on Saturday night.
I know the Purchase ain't the Pennyrile, but, by golly, it's a close cousin.
Let's see. Allen County brought their coaches, players, some fans, busses, equipment, basketball, uniforms, shoes, socks, and probably a credit card from the school system. What could they have left behind. Oh yeah. Their game.
High school basketball keeps me in a perpetual state of "what the heck?" The Patriots looked good against Bowling Green the other night even though they lost the ballgame. They looked like they could challenge for the Fourth Region title, so I was delighted to get an opportunity to watch them play a game or two against teams from other regions.
Lone Oak, a high school and community just outside of Paducah, started the season 3-1 with victories over Hickman County, St. Mary, and the Reidland Greyhounds, but they dropped the next six game to teams including Apollo, Louisville Moore, and North Hardin. They're a hard team to read.
Allen County opened the game like they came to play -- at this point I did not know they lost to University Heights earlier in the day. The Pats opened up a quick lead and had good ball movement on offense. I did notice that they depended upon the perimeter to get baskets because Lone Oak sagged down on Phillip Hayes. When they did get the ball into the big man, Lone Oak had no answer.
Allen County had a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Flash came alive in the second quarter. Their defense triggered their comeback, and they whittled into Allen County's lead. By the 4:54 mark, they led 18-16 with a 9-2 run. The Patriots looked tired while Lone Oak, who also played earlier in the day, was hitting their shots and playing active on both ends of the court.
Coach Scott Shelton benched Hayes for about the last three minutes of the half. I don't know if he was tired or if the coach was trying to get his attention. I do know that the Patriots needed him out there. Casey Napier, Joe Jeskie, and Anthony Graves are good perimeter players, but they need Hayes in the middle un-balancing the opponent's defense.
Lone Oak took a 26-22 lead to the locker room by outscoring the Pats 17-8 in the second frame.
Allen County continued to look out-of-synch in the third quarter. The Flash, led by Cameron Tillet, Jamrielle Brown, and Josh Byrd continued to fill the passing lanes and frustrate Allen County on the defensive end, and they hit big baskets, allowing Lone Oak to hold onto a seven point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Allen County's lackadaisacal play showed up again in the fourth quarter, giving every indication that they were tired. I know two games in one day is difficult, and maybe it is hard at this time of the year. Everyone knows that in order to win a Sweet Sixteen championship a team must be able to play and win two games on Saturday. I don't see Lone Oak making much of a challenge in the First Region, so if the Patriots are going to challenge in the Fourth, they have to be able to tangle with these types of teams even when they're tired. I know Coach Shelton knows that.
Lone Oak extended their lead to 12 at one point during the Fourth Quarter. With 3:30 left in the game, Coach Shelton called a timeout, grouped his team around him, and started giving them something other than Christmas greetings. He wasn't apologizing for being late with his Christmas cards. I don't know what he said to his team, but he needed more time. He called two more timeouts.
I've never seen a coach do that.
Phillip Hayes pushed over a chair during the "Mother of All Timeouts." Mr. Hayes found a cozy spot on the bench and stayed there for the rest of the contest.
Allen County made a gallant run late in the fourth, led by the active and athletic play of Kevin Bunton. With 9.1 seconds left the Pats cut the lead to three points and had a shot at winning the game. The Flash held them off and won 61-57.
OBSERVATIONS
Great Gymnasium: Graves County High School is a great place to watch a basketball game. The stands are steep and close to the floor and include plenty of chairbacks on the home side. The concessions are good. I hate to say it, but it outclasses all but one gym in the Fourth Region. Bowling Green's "arena" rivals "The Eagles Nest," but it lacks the endzone seating of Graves County's.
Careful For What You Wish: Last week I complained about the bitterly cold weather. Saturday in Mayfield featured 72 degree weather and some sunshine. At game time, a vicious line of storms pounded their way through the Jackson Purchase, and fans discovered how badly the entrances to the Eagles Nest leak. I enjoyed the balmy weather but not the monsoon.
The Pearl of the Purchase: That's an old nickname for Mayfield. I mentioned earlier that I have strong ties to the city. I used to spend a good portion of each summer between 1970 and 1980 either in Mayfield or on my grandmother's farm near Fancy Farm. It was/is a second home to me. I used to pedal an old bicycle all over that town and came to know a lot of its residents. I'll probably get e-mail about this, but Mayfield has fallen on hard times. It's just not the same place from my childhood. It sort of makes me sad.
There's some good places to eat in Mayfield. Carr's Barbecue Barn and Hill's Barbecue are both very good. If you have a place to go eat it, Larry, Darrel and Darrel's is also very good. When you get barbecue in Mayfield, don't be surprised if they smash it down to look like a hockey puck. Trust me. I work for the government. It's good! Ace's Pizza is good, especially their meatball sandwich. There's also a doughnut shop just north of the town on U.S. 45 that has fantastic doughnuts. If you go early in the morning the things are too hot to eat.
I'd write more about Graves County High School, but my family are all Mayfield alumni and they'll disown me.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Bowling Green 63 - Allen County Scottsville 62
Citizens First Classic, Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
There's no love lost between Bowling Green and Allen County-Scottsville. Current Bowling Green coach, D.G. Sherrill, used to coach the Patriots and some in Allen County feel like the Purples stole him away them. Maybe some were glad to see him pack up his office and head north on U.S. 231. I don't know. The rivalry of these two teams date back to the days when Jim McDaniels swooped up and down the hardwood for Allen County-Scottsville. I was glad to see the two teams tangling for the championship of the Citizens First Classic.
Bowling Green entered the game with only one loss, a one point heartbreaker against the Glasgow Scotties. Allen County rolled into the game with an undefeated record and a hard fought, double overtime victory over Madison Central on the first night of the tournament. I could sense that these two teams were going to go toe-to-toe for 32 or more minutes to haul home the tournament trophy.
The Allen County faithful really turned out for the ballgame, and they were in full voice from beginning to end. They made it fun. There's a female Patriot fan who can whistle nearly as loudly as I can (I've developed a New York taxi cab hailing whistle that can be heard up to a mile away). An old farmer once told me, "A whistling woman and a crowing hen often meet the same fate." I always loved how well Donna Douglas, who portrayed Elly May Clampett, could whistle.
The first quarter set the tone for the entire ballgame. Bowling Green's full court pressure worked well, and the Purples, once again, had everything clicking on their transition game. The Patriots regrouped and charged back at Bowling Green. Both teams played kind of sloppy, but that's because neither teams' defense backed down. They played physical basketball and, at times, rough. The officials called 11 fouls in the first quarter, and it wasn't a case of over-officiating, either.
I was real impressed with ACS's center, Phillip Hayes. He's big, strong, and surprisingly mobile for his size. He's not a stand around center on defense or when it comes to rebounding. He has a hand in a lot of plays, and he can move away from the basket on defense, too. He has a soft touch around the basket and good hands. Bowling Green had a narrow 16-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was just as physical as the first. The Purples pushed the lead to eight at one point, but Allen County responded and cut the lead to three on one of the best plays I've seen in a high school basketball game in a long time. The Patriots' Kevin Bunton received an alley-oop pass from the corner and jammed it through the basket to make the score 35-32 late in the quarter.
Bunton is one of those last names that stirs the soul of longtime high school basketball fans in this state. It is one of Louisville's basketball dynasty names like Unseld, Eaves, and Macklin. Bill Bunton played for Male High School and later another school on Brook Street called the University of Louisville. If I remember right, he had a brother named Bob, who also played for Male High. Granville Bunton played high school ball in Louisville and later was a rebounding wizard at WKU. Cypheus Bunton played at Western High School and became a fan favorite at Western like his Uncle Granville. As a Louisvillian when I see "Bunton" I think, "athletic, quick, smart, and good."
Kevin Bunton didn't have a real good game, but I believe he has the attributes of his namesakes. I wonder if he is related somehow. He certainly has the elevation because earlier in the quarter he went up to block a shot, and looked like his hand was near the top of the box. If I had to guess, I'd say Bunton is 6'3".
The Purples got another bucket at the close of the first half and took a 37-32 lead to the locker room.
Allen County came opened the third quarter by breaking the Bowling Green press with good ball handling and crisp passes. They frustrated the Purples with their own brand of pressure defense and exposed some of the ballhandling weaknesses of this year's Purples. Charlie Williams is Bowling Green's best ball handler, but he dribbles into to trouble too often.
Bowling Green held on, though, with good perimeter play and tenacious play on the boards, despite Hayes' size and presence in the paint.
The third quarter featured another funny incident involving a referee absolutely blowing a call. Three Purples tussled for a rebound and bounced the ball out-of-bounds right in front of one of the officials. He blew his whistle and shouted, "WHITE BALL!" It was the wrong call. I guess the other official didn't see the play. The Allen County fans were unhinged because it happened right in front of them. The official came over to talk to Patriot Coach Scott Shelton, and the Bowling Green fans encouraged him that he made the right call.
That's not the funny part. James Brandenburg from WBKO Channel 13 was shooting video at the end of the court where the questionable call was made. When the crowd quieted down some wag on the Allen County side yelled, "We'll watch it on Channel 13 tonight!" while pointing at Mr. Brandenburg. Everyone got a good laugh out of it.
Bowling Green held their five point lead at the end of three, 55-50.
The game had the feel of a district or regional tournament game. It had an air of March Madness to it. It was great.
Allen County-Scottsville has earned a reputation in this early season as being a "fourth quarter team." They opened the quarter earning their reputation. Hayes slashed the lane for a nice tomahawk dunk. Kevin Bunton followed that play up with a basket and a foul. He drained the free throw, and the game was knotted at 55 with 6:42 left.
The fourth quarter was a defensive struggle. Both teams played hard. Allen County played like a team determined to keep its undefeated season. Bowling Green played like a team determined to knock an undefeated rival. Ordinarily if a game featured just 15 points scored over a 6:42 span, I'd say it was ugly. The two defense locked down their defenses and played to win the game.
Allen County took a 62-61 lead late in the game, but Bowling Green scored late to take a one point lead. The Patriots had a chance to win the game with just a few second left, but as they brought the ball up Tevin Barksdale picked the guard's pocket. Time ran out as he made his way back up the court.
Bowling Green grabbed the win and the championship with a 63-62 victory. I'm anxious to see the welcome the Purples get when they play in Scottsville on January 12th.
OBSERVATIONS
Another Donkey Chasm: Folks, if you're going to drop the verbal "A-Bomb" on a coach, make sure you know who is sitting nearby. Try to refrain from it if their are children present. Try to figure out if the lady sitting behind you is the coach's wife. If your the parent of a player and not satisfied with the coach try talking to the coach, the athletic director, or the even the principal about your complaint. Coaches are big and tough and emotionally equipped for the name calling. Wives and daughters are not. Another piece of advice: pay attention to Southwest Airlines ads.
All Tournament Team:
D.J. Ray -- Bowling Green
Cameron "Big Man" Clemmons -- Louisville Doss
Kevin Bunton -- Allen County-Scottsville
Lamont Graham -- Louisville Doss
Phil "Not Purple" Hayes -- Allen County-Scottsville
Curtis "Boom Boom" Washington -- Elizabethtown
Chris Ulis -- Elizabethtown
Vic Smith -- Bowling Green
Charlie Williams -- Bowling Green
Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Mele Kalikimaka!and Happy Hanukkah: You won't find any "happy holidays" stuff on the Pick and Roll. I'll leave everyone with one of my favorite Christmas songs from Robert Earl Keene.
By J. Trace Kirkwood
There's no love lost between Bowling Green and Allen County-Scottsville. Current Bowling Green coach, D.G. Sherrill, used to coach the Patriots and some in Allen County feel like the Purples stole him away them. Maybe some were glad to see him pack up his office and head north on U.S. 231. I don't know. The rivalry of these two teams date back to the days when Jim McDaniels swooped up and down the hardwood for Allen County-Scottsville. I was glad to see the two teams tangling for the championship of the Citizens First Classic.
Bowling Green entered the game with only one loss, a one point heartbreaker against the Glasgow Scotties. Allen County rolled into the game with an undefeated record and a hard fought, double overtime victory over Madison Central on the first night of the tournament. I could sense that these two teams were going to go toe-to-toe for 32 or more minutes to haul home the tournament trophy.
The Allen County faithful really turned out for the ballgame, and they were in full voice from beginning to end. They made it fun. There's a female Patriot fan who can whistle nearly as loudly as I can (I've developed a New York taxi cab hailing whistle that can be heard up to a mile away). An old farmer once told me, "A whistling woman and a crowing hen often meet the same fate." I always loved how well Donna Douglas, who portrayed Elly May Clampett, could whistle.
The first quarter set the tone for the entire ballgame. Bowling Green's full court pressure worked well, and the Purples, once again, had everything clicking on their transition game. The Patriots regrouped and charged back at Bowling Green. Both teams played kind of sloppy, but that's because neither teams' defense backed down. They played physical basketball and, at times, rough. The officials called 11 fouls in the first quarter, and it wasn't a case of over-officiating, either.
I was real impressed with ACS's center, Phillip Hayes. He's big, strong, and surprisingly mobile for his size. He's not a stand around center on defense or when it comes to rebounding. He has a hand in a lot of plays, and he can move away from the basket on defense, too. He has a soft touch around the basket and good hands. Bowling Green had a narrow 16-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was just as physical as the first. The Purples pushed the lead to eight at one point, but Allen County responded and cut the lead to three on one of the best plays I've seen in a high school basketball game in a long time. The Patriots' Kevin Bunton received an alley-oop pass from the corner and jammed it through the basket to make the score 35-32 late in the quarter.
Bunton is one of those last names that stirs the soul of longtime high school basketball fans in this state. It is one of Louisville's basketball dynasty names like Unseld, Eaves, and Macklin. Bill Bunton played for Male High School and later another school on Brook Street called the University of Louisville. If I remember right, he had a brother named Bob, who also played for Male High. Granville Bunton played high school ball in Louisville and later was a rebounding wizard at WKU. Cypheus Bunton played at Western High School and became a fan favorite at Western like his Uncle Granville. As a Louisvillian when I see "Bunton" I think, "athletic, quick, smart, and good."
Kevin Bunton didn't have a real good game, but I believe he has the attributes of his namesakes. I wonder if he is related somehow. He certainly has the elevation because earlier in the quarter he went up to block a shot, and looked like his hand was near the top of the box. If I had to guess, I'd say Bunton is 6'3".
The Purples got another bucket at the close of the first half and took a 37-32 lead to the locker room.
Allen County came opened the third quarter by breaking the Bowling Green press with good ball handling and crisp passes. They frustrated the Purples with their own brand of pressure defense and exposed some of the ballhandling weaknesses of this year's Purples. Charlie Williams is Bowling Green's best ball handler, but he dribbles into to trouble too often.
Bowling Green held on, though, with good perimeter play and tenacious play on the boards, despite Hayes' size and presence in the paint.
The third quarter featured another funny incident involving a referee absolutely blowing a call. Three Purples tussled for a rebound and bounced the ball out-of-bounds right in front of one of the officials. He blew his whistle and shouted, "WHITE BALL!" It was the wrong call. I guess the other official didn't see the play. The Allen County fans were unhinged because it happened right in front of them. The official came over to talk to Patriot Coach Scott Shelton, and the Bowling Green fans encouraged him that he made the right call.
That's not the funny part. James Brandenburg from WBKO Channel 13 was shooting video at the end of the court where the questionable call was made. When the crowd quieted down some wag on the Allen County side yelled, "We'll watch it on Channel 13 tonight!" while pointing at Mr. Brandenburg. Everyone got a good laugh out of it.
Bowling Green held their five point lead at the end of three, 55-50.
The game had the feel of a district or regional tournament game. It had an air of March Madness to it. It was great.
Allen County-Scottsville has earned a reputation in this early season as being a "fourth quarter team." They opened the quarter earning their reputation. Hayes slashed the lane for a nice tomahawk dunk. Kevin Bunton followed that play up with a basket and a foul. He drained the free throw, and the game was knotted at 55 with 6:42 left.
The fourth quarter was a defensive struggle. Both teams played hard. Allen County played like a team determined to keep its undefeated season. Bowling Green played like a team determined to knock an undefeated rival. Ordinarily if a game featured just 15 points scored over a 6:42 span, I'd say it was ugly. The two defense locked down their defenses and played to win the game.
Allen County took a 62-61 lead late in the game, but Bowling Green scored late to take a one point lead. The Patriots had a chance to win the game with just a few second left, but as they brought the ball up Tevin Barksdale picked the guard's pocket. Time ran out as he made his way back up the court.
Bowling Green grabbed the win and the championship with a 63-62 victory. I'm anxious to see the welcome the Purples get when they play in Scottsville on January 12th.
OBSERVATIONS
Another Donkey Chasm: Folks, if you're going to drop the verbal "A-Bomb" on a coach, make sure you know who is sitting nearby. Try to refrain from it if their are children present. Try to figure out if the lady sitting behind you is the coach's wife. If your the parent of a player and not satisfied with the coach try talking to the coach, the athletic director, or the even the principal about your complaint. Coaches are big and tough and emotionally equipped for the name calling. Wives and daughters are not. Another piece of advice: pay attention to Southwest Airlines ads.
All Tournament Team:
D.J. Ray -- Bowling Green
Cameron "Big Man" Clemmons -- Louisville Doss
Kevin Bunton -- Allen County-Scottsville
Lamont Graham -- Louisville Doss
Phil "Not Purple" Hayes -- Allen County-Scottsville
Curtis "Boom Boom" Washington -- Elizabethtown
Chris Ulis -- Elizabethtown
Vic Smith -- Bowling Green
Charlie Williams -- Bowling Green
Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Mele Kalikimaka!and Happy Hanukkah: You won't find any "happy holidays" stuff on the Pick and Roll. I'll leave everyone with one of my favorite Christmas songs from Robert Earl Keene.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Louisville Doss 63 - Madison Southern 52
Citizens First Classic, Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
I always try to be honest with my readers. I stayed for this game after Bowling Green's game, but I should have gone home. I didn't take many notes because I was tired. As soon as I finished my work day (my real job that kind of pays), I gulped down some supper, corralled the kids, and headed for the gym. It's hard for me to leave basketball games. Junkies probably have an easier time leaving heroin dens and drunks are better at leaving bar stools than I am leaving a good game of hoops. I've tried a 12 Step program but can't do it without dribbling.
Memory Alert!!
I haven't seen the Doss Dragons play for nearly 30 years. When I was a freshman at Male High, we played at Doss. Steve Sargeant was our point guard and Winston Bennett was a sophomore and on his way to being an All-American at Male and later a small school in Lexington called "Kentucky." Doss whipped out a nasty full court press that left the Bulldogs desperately confused. At one point Bennett had the ball in the corner and tried to throw over Doss's basket to Sargeant, who was begging for the ball. He looped the pass, and hit nothing but net. Two points for Doss scored by Winston Bennett.
I was surprised to learn that Dwight Bransford dragged his Dragons into Bowling Green without a victory, but those guys have taken on Male (this time they lost), Iroquois, Paul Dunbar, and George Rogers Clark. They beat Hart County on Sunday and faced a 4-1 Madison Southern team on Monday night.
Doss controlled the entire game and steadily pulled away from Madison Southern. The Dragons had a three point lead at the end of the first quarter, 18-15, and had a 33-35 lead at the half. At the end of the third quarter they had a ten point, 48-38, lead and won the game 63-52. At times during the game the Eagles could not buy a basket. They got easy shots in the paint, and the ball rattled around on the rim and bounced into the Doss players' hands. I don't have the stats, but I'm guessing that Doss controlled the boards by a wide margin.
In the fourth quarter, it even seemed like Doss was trying to give the game to Madison Southern, but the Eagles could never capitalize. They pulled within eight, and had three possessions in which they could have cut the lead to six. They just couldn't get over that hump, and Coach Shane Butry's players were terribly frustrated at the end.
Madison Southern had a tough player named Carrington Roberts who could work his way inside and had a nice soft touch from about 10 feet. He was unafraid of the big men in the paint. I love those kinds of players.
It was nice having visitors from the Sixth and Eleventh regions.
OBSERVATIONS
Nice P.A. Coach: I thought for a second that David Allen Coe had snuck into the gym at Bowling Green to announce the lineups for the Doss-Madison Southern game. It was actually D.G. Sherrill, who was doing double duty as the public address announcer. He may be the first P.A. announcer from Fredonia, Kentucky.
Good Genes?: I noticed that Doss has a kid named Demeatric Unseld on the team. I wonder if he's related to Wes Unseld.
By J. Trace Kirkwood
I always try to be honest with my readers. I stayed for this game after Bowling Green's game, but I should have gone home. I didn't take many notes because I was tired. As soon as I finished my work day (my real job that kind of pays), I gulped down some supper, corralled the kids, and headed for the gym. It's hard for me to leave basketball games. Junkies probably have an easier time leaving heroin dens and drunks are better at leaving bar stools than I am leaving a good game of hoops. I've tried a 12 Step program but can't do it without dribbling.
Memory Alert!!
I haven't seen the Doss Dragons play for nearly 30 years. When I was a freshman at Male High, we played at Doss. Steve Sargeant was our point guard and Winston Bennett was a sophomore and on his way to being an All-American at Male and later a small school in Lexington called "Kentucky." Doss whipped out a nasty full court press that left the Bulldogs desperately confused. At one point Bennett had the ball in the corner and tried to throw over Doss's basket to Sargeant, who was begging for the ball. He looped the pass, and hit nothing but net. Two points for Doss scored by Winston Bennett.
I was surprised to learn that Dwight Bransford dragged his Dragons into Bowling Green without a victory, but those guys have taken on Male (this time they lost), Iroquois, Paul Dunbar, and George Rogers Clark. They beat Hart County on Sunday and faced a 4-1 Madison Southern team on Monday night.
Doss controlled the entire game and steadily pulled away from Madison Southern. The Dragons had a three point lead at the end of the first quarter, 18-15, and had a 33-35 lead at the half. At the end of the third quarter they had a ten point, 48-38, lead and won the game 63-52. At times during the game the Eagles could not buy a basket. They got easy shots in the paint, and the ball rattled around on the rim and bounced into the Doss players' hands. I don't have the stats, but I'm guessing that Doss controlled the boards by a wide margin.
In the fourth quarter, it even seemed like Doss was trying to give the game to Madison Southern, but the Eagles could never capitalize. They pulled within eight, and had three possessions in which they could have cut the lead to six. They just couldn't get over that hump, and Coach Shane Butry's players were terribly frustrated at the end.
Madison Southern had a tough player named Carrington Roberts who could work his way inside and had a nice soft touch from about 10 feet. He was unafraid of the big men in the paint. I love those kinds of players.
It was nice having visitors from the Sixth and Eleventh regions.
OBSERVATIONS
Nice P.A. Coach: I thought for a second that David Allen Coe had snuck into the gym at Bowling Green to announce the lineups for the Doss-Madison Southern game. It was actually D.G. Sherrill, who was doing double duty as the public address announcer. He may be the first P.A. announcer from Fredonia, Kentucky.
Good Genes?: I noticed that Doss has a kid named Demeatric Unseld on the team. I wonder if he's related to Wes Unseld.
Bowling Green 81 - Townsend (TN) 54
Citizens First Classic, Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
Early in the season I'm frustrated by the lack of rosters and programs. I don't have the same access the "real media" has, so I have a tough time coming up with players names and a tougher time coming up with stats.
Hmmm. Townsend High School? I once camped near Townsend a couple of years ago. That may be all I can tell you about their basketball team. I hate that, and I refuse to identify players only by their numbers. I talked to one of the organizers of the Citizens First Classic about the lack of programs (the tournament had a good program last year) and he said, "When teams don't send me rosters, I can't put together a program."
Bowling Green and Townsend matched each other throughout the first half of the game. Townsend opened a listless, but the coach (I have no idea what his name is, but for the sake of this entry I'll call him "Bobby") blistered his team during an early timeout. He screamed, "Where's your fire?" People shifted in their seats a little and starting looking around at each other in a nervous sort of way. Somebody asked me, "Do you think he's gonna throw a chair?"
His tongue lashing worked? They picked up their defense and started executing their offense, and they made a run back at Bowling Green. The first quarter ended with the two teams tied at 17. My father would say, "Eight minutes in and nothing accomplished."
I noticed that the point guard for Townsend played in some sort of agonizing pain. I thought he had abdominal cramps from maybe eating too much Split Tree Barbecue before the game. Another soul speculated that he had a broken rib, and another thought maybe he had a broken rib. Who knows? The kid was in pain, but "Bobby" didn't take him out of the game. Maybe the kid was determined to play.
The two teams played even through the second quarter and looked like the half would end with the score tied at 34. Bowling Green got a late turnover but missed a layup as the time expired. However, one of the officials called a foul on Townsend, which allowed Bowling Green to take a 36-34 lead to the locker room.
A Townsend fan shouted at the referee, "No one would make that call in a thousand year." I thought it was a bad call, too, but our friendly Vol neighbors need to keep the football south of the border. It doesn't translate well onto the hardwood.
Bowling Green dominated the second half. Joe "Automatic" Gorman had the longshot working, and the entire Purples team had their transition game clicking. They kept stretching the lead by hitting baskets, layups, and playing tough defense. They held Townsend to five third quarter points while scoring 22. By the end of the quarter Townsend players' tongues were wagging.
Bowling Green continued their tough defense throughout the fourth quarter. D.J. Ray, Vic Smith, and Dominique Britt all played tight full court defense. Charlie Williams stayed active at the top of the 2-2-1 defense. Townsend didn't have a chance.
At one point, Townsend's coach pulled a kid out of the game, and when the kid got to the bench, he yelled, "You don't know what you're doing out there." He continued, but I don't feel like I have to transcribe the entire dialog.
The player's mother yelled from the stands, "Quit embarrassing my boy you..." Well, I have my standards on the Pick and Roll. She suggested that maybe he was a chasm full of donkeys. I will say this. The coach yelled at his players, perhaps to excess, but I never heard him use foul language. My wife always gets upset when she hears a coach yell at players. I always tell her, "It takes a thick skin to be an athlete." In my short and pathetic football career I thought a face mask was a handle for coaches to hold while they yelled at me.
I must point out that I've rarely heard James Haire at Elizabethtown yell at his players, and few could argue with his success.
I hate to do this to Joe Gorman, but the folks around the Fourth Region must learn to keep him from squaring up to the basket when he has the ball. Once his shoulders are square to the hoop he'll ring teams up every time. It's automatic.
Bowling Green won 81-54.
OBSERVATIONS
Whatever Happened to Pep Bands?: I know it's a Christmas tournament (refuse to use "holiday") and that bands won't be in attendance, but I miss the era of the pep bands. Even if the pep band is in the stands, they spend most of the time sitting there. Now, fans have to listen to horrible music played too loudly over the public address system. I know that youngster don't communicate verbally anymore, but some of us still use our voices and ears. I guess you can "txt mssg" through any amount of noise. I think at Bowling Green High they crank the loud music to force people out of the gym and to the concession stand. The years of travel have robbed me of good hearing, so when someone tries to talk to me over blaring music they sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. That's my crotchety old curmudgeon moment.
Frigid Cold: I don't know about everyone else, but I've had enough of the cold weather. I'm a native of South Florida, so I have thin blood. Christmas in Miami meant putting on t-shirts and cut-offs and playing football in the front yard with mi amigos, Jorge Gonzalez, Roberto DeLafia, Antonio Santana. I didn't know there was a world north of Lake Okeechobee and didn't realize it had to be cold to snow. That reality hit me when my family moved to Kentucky. Well, I can't find any good links to Cuban Christmas music, so I'll just link to Bing Crosby singing Mele Kalikimaka with the Andrews Sisters. I hope that will warm everyone.
Verbal Defense: Dominique Britt displayed some of the best "verbal defense" I've seen in a long time. He went started setting up a trap against a Townsend player and sounded as if he was barking at the kid. I laughed. I hear fans complain about trash talking and the like, but on the whole I think ballplayers -- of all sports -- are quiet these days. Heck, they're almost mute. We chattered all the time, especially playing baseball. Sometimes barking at an opponent can confuse them. THIS is for you Mr. Britt.
By J. Trace Kirkwood
Early in the season I'm frustrated by the lack of rosters and programs. I don't have the same access the "real media" has, so I have a tough time coming up with players names and a tougher time coming up with stats.
Hmmm. Townsend High School? I once camped near Townsend a couple of years ago. That may be all I can tell you about their basketball team. I hate that, and I refuse to identify players only by their numbers. I talked to one of the organizers of the Citizens First Classic about the lack of programs (the tournament had a good program last year) and he said, "When teams don't send me rosters, I can't put together a program."
Bowling Green and Townsend matched each other throughout the first half of the game. Townsend opened a listless, but the coach (I have no idea what his name is, but for the sake of this entry I'll call him "Bobby") blistered his team during an early timeout. He screamed, "Where's your fire?" People shifted in their seats a little and starting looking around at each other in a nervous sort of way. Somebody asked me, "Do you think he's gonna throw a chair?"
His tongue lashing worked? They picked up their defense and started executing their offense, and they made a run back at Bowling Green. The first quarter ended with the two teams tied at 17. My father would say, "Eight minutes in and nothing accomplished."
I noticed that the point guard for Townsend played in some sort of agonizing pain. I thought he had abdominal cramps from maybe eating too much Split Tree Barbecue before the game. Another soul speculated that he had a broken rib, and another thought maybe he had a broken rib. Who knows? The kid was in pain, but "Bobby" didn't take him out of the game. Maybe the kid was determined to play.
The two teams played even through the second quarter and looked like the half would end with the score tied at 34. Bowling Green got a late turnover but missed a layup as the time expired. However, one of the officials called a foul on Townsend, which allowed Bowling Green to take a 36-34 lead to the locker room.
A Townsend fan shouted at the referee, "No one would make that call in a thousand year." I thought it was a bad call, too, but our friendly Vol neighbors need to keep the football south of the border. It doesn't translate well onto the hardwood.
Bowling Green dominated the second half. Joe "Automatic" Gorman had the longshot working, and the entire Purples team had their transition game clicking. They kept stretching the lead by hitting baskets, layups, and playing tough defense. They held Townsend to five third quarter points while scoring 22. By the end of the quarter Townsend players' tongues were wagging.
Bowling Green continued their tough defense throughout the fourth quarter. D.J. Ray, Vic Smith, and Dominique Britt all played tight full court defense. Charlie Williams stayed active at the top of the 2-2-1 defense. Townsend didn't have a chance.
At one point, Townsend's coach pulled a kid out of the game, and when the kid got to the bench, he yelled, "You don't know what you're doing out there." He continued, but I don't feel like I have to transcribe the entire dialog.
The player's mother yelled from the stands, "Quit embarrassing my boy you..." Well, I have my standards on the Pick and Roll. She suggested that maybe he was a chasm full of donkeys. I will say this. The coach yelled at his players, perhaps to excess, but I never heard him use foul language. My wife always gets upset when she hears a coach yell at players. I always tell her, "It takes a thick skin to be an athlete." In my short and pathetic football career I thought a face mask was a handle for coaches to hold while they yelled at me.
I must point out that I've rarely heard James Haire at Elizabethtown yell at his players, and few could argue with his success.
I hate to do this to Joe Gorman, but the folks around the Fourth Region must learn to keep him from squaring up to the basket when he has the ball. Once his shoulders are square to the hoop he'll ring teams up every time. It's automatic.
Bowling Green won 81-54.
OBSERVATIONS
Whatever Happened to Pep Bands?: I know it's a Christmas tournament (refuse to use "holiday") and that bands won't be in attendance, but I miss the era of the pep bands. Even if the pep band is in the stands, they spend most of the time sitting there. Now, fans have to listen to horrible music played too loudly over the public address system. I know that youngster don't communicate verbally anymore, but some of us still use our voices and ears. I guess you can "txt mssg" through any amount of noise. I think at Bowling Green High they crank the loud music to force people out of the gym and to the concession stand. The years of travel have robbed me of good hearing, so when someone tries to talk to me over blaring music they sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. That's my crotchety old curmudgeon moment.
Frigid Cold: I don't know about everyone else, but I've had enough of the cold weather. I'm a native of South Florida, so I have thin blood. Christmas in Miami meant putting on t-shirts and cut-offs and playing football in the front yard with mi amigos, Jorge Gonzalez, Roberto DeLafia, Antonio Santana. I didn't know there was a world north of Lake Okeechobee and didn't realize it had to be cold to snow. That reality hit me when my family moved to Kentucky. Well, I can't find any good links to Cuban Christmas music, so I'll just link to Bing Crosby singing Mele Kalikimaka with the Andrews Sisters. I hope that will warm everyone.
Verbal Defense: Dominique Britt displayed some of the best "verbal defense" I've seen in a long time. He went started setting up a trap against a Townsend player and sounded as if he was barking at the kid. I laughed. I hear fans complain about trash talking and the like, but on the whole I think ballplayers -- of all sports -- are quiet these days. Heck, they're almost mute. We chattered all the time, especially playing baseball. Sometimes barking at an opponent can confuse them. THIS is for you Mr. Britt.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Elizabethtown 56 - Graves County 43
Citizens First Classic, Bowing Green High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
Oh, let's see. Christmas shopping is done. The temperature was equivalent to the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR). I had tickets to WKU's ballgame and passes to the Citizens First Classic. Tough decision here. What should I do with a Sunday afternoon? BASKETBALL!
After church I spent part of the afternoon wrapping Christmas gifts. I wrapped my wife's gifts: thigh master, vacuum cleaner, frying pan, work boots, a framed photograph of me and the Hooters girls at Talladega (I had such a nice smile), and some new dish rags. Boy! She's going to be surprised when she rips into those presents. Anyway, we made our way to Diddle Arena to watch a game at 4 p.m. After the Hilltoppers woke up in the second half and put Alabama A&M away, we headed over to Bowling Green High to watch some more basketball. One game is just never enough.
I caught parts of two games, but I'll get to those later. I caught the complete game between Elizabethtown and Graves County. Now, I had to make a tough decision -- sort of like deciding between getting my wife the work boots or diamond earrings for Christmas -- because Allen County Scottsville played Madison Central in the auxillary gym at the same time. I didn't want to short change the fine folks in the Fifth Region, who are loyal readers, so I stuck with Elizabethtown.
I was stunned to see that James Haire's 2008-09 edition of the Panthers had a 1-5 record heading into this tournament and their game with the Graves County Eagles. When I looked over their schedule I noticed that they Male High, Greenwood (their only win), Adair County, Taylor County, and Grayson County. That's a pretty tough opening to a season, especially when you only have three seniors on your squad.
Coach Haire has a new player this year, a big kid named Curtis Washington, who transferred from John Hardin. I don't have any rosters or programs, so I'm taking a stab at this: He looks like he's about 6'8" with a B-52 style wingspan.
On the other hand, Graves County rolled into the game with five seniors, led by Cassidy McAlpin, and a 5-1 record. Their only loss was to Massac, Illinois, at the Marshall County Hoopfest earlier in December.
Both teams opened the game cold, and the small crowd only added to the lethargic nature of the play. I sat and wondered what was going on between the two unbeaten teams playing in the other gym. Graves County had a 10-8 lead on E-town at the end of the first quarter.
The Panthers picked up their defense in the second quarter and held Graves County to just five points. E-town threw a tricky little 2-1-2 zone defense with Washington in the middle at the Eagles, but Coach Haire never settles on just one defense. It seemed like they switched defenses on every possession. Graves County sleepwalked through the second frame. I was impressed with Cassidy McAlpin for the Eagles. He has good post moves and was the only guy for Graves County who played like he wanted to win a ballgame.
In the second quarter, Curtis Washington took a 14 foot jumpshot. Play stopped and the gym was quiet. Coach Haire got the attention of his big man and shouted, "Don't do it again!" The admonished young man shook his head with an unspoken "Yes, sir." I got a laugh out of that.
E-town took a 22-15 lead to the locker room.
The third quarter was nearly all Elizabethtown. The entire team played better defense, and point guard Jack Goblirsh picked up his game. I liked his tenacity, but the officials were not happy with him for some reason. I suspect his mouth had him in trouble. I don't mean anything bad by that because if I were choosing-up sides off that squad, Jack would be the first kid I'd take.
The Panthers held a 39-26 lead heading into the final frame.
Graves County finally picked up their game late in the fourth quarter. Senior guard, Tevin Hill found his game and started attacking Elizabethtown's defense. Late in the game, Hill hit the front end of a pair of free throws but missed the second attempt. He got his own rebound, put the ball up and in, and was also fouled. He hit the free throw and had his Eagles to within eight points, 49-41. Graves County could only muster two more points, while the Panthers scored seven more.
The Panthers notched their second victory on the season, and Terry Birdsong's squad left the court wondering what the heck happened out there. Graves County should figure into the mix in the First Region. They have a good team, but they have to find some inner intensity to beat teams like Elizabethtown, which has played at a very high level for the entire early season.
OTHER GAMES:
Bowling Green 92 - North Hardin Christian 52: I walked into this game at halftime and saw that the Purples were up by 37 points. I looked at the other team's uniforms, and all I could see was "North Hardin." I thought, "Man alive. The Purples are putting this kind of beatdown on a Ron Bevars squad?" I looked for Coach Bevars, who I figured would have peeled the purple paint from Bowling Green's auxillary gym. Then, I realized it was North Hardin CHRISTIAN. I don't have much to say about this game except that I shared a bag of Purpcorn with my little boy.
Allen County-Scottsville 74 - Madison Central 72 (OT): This is the game I DIDN'T attend to see Elizabethtown play. I figured that I'll see Allen County play several times this season, blah, blah, blah. O.K. I was kicking myself for missing this ballgame. These two teams are for real and both were undefeated prior to Sunday night. I wish I had more to say about it. I saw the end of regulation and the overtime. All of it was exciting, and I'm glad to see that the Fourth Region team walked away with the victory.
In the preseason, all the local sports pundits were asked to rank the best teams in the Fourth Region. I don't remember anyone, including myself, mentioning Allen County-Scottsville. Now, that I've seen the Patriots, I want to revise any predictions I made. They are good, athletic, and play with serious intensity. They are now 8-0 and have dispatched, Franklin-Simpson, Greenwood, Warren East, Barren County, and now Madison Central on their way to an undefeated record.
OBSERVATIONS:
Purples Going Green?: I guess to conserve energy, Bowling Green High School is not using several lights in the auxillary gym. With the lacking lighting and the Purple walls I felt like Ronnie Milsap walking into that place. Hey, Coach Sherrill! I know you are a proponent of energy independence, but this is taking it to extreme.
Grew in Da'House!: It was good to see Steffphon Pettigrew cheering on his alma mater on Sunday night. He had fellow Hilltoppers Orlando Mendez-Valdez and Mike Walker in his posse.
Children of Kentucky: My wife puts out a toy Nativity scene on a table beside our Christmas tree every year. Earlier in the day I found my daughter and son playing with the figures from that set. I asked them what they were playing, expecting a religious themed game, and they answered, "Basketball." So, I looked at the table, and I think they had the wise men and shepherds in a 2-2-1 full court press. It looked like they had the baby Jesus playing the post on offense, so I suggested that they move him to point guard. I figured he would know where everyone was on the court. They also had an old dry erase board from my office (I work at home) and were drawing up plays. One looked like an impossible five man weave. I put it on paper and faxed it to Darrin Horn down in South Carolina.
By J. Trace Kirkwood
Oh, let's see. Christmas shopping is done. The temperature was equivalent to the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR). I had tickets to WKU's ballgame and passes to the Citizens First Classic. Tough decision here. What should I do with a Sunday afternoon? BASKETBALL!
After church I spent part of the afternoon wrapping Christmas gifts. I wrapped my wife's gifts: thigh master, vacuum cleaner, frying pan, work boots, a framed photograph of me and the Hooters girls at Talladega (I had such a nice smile), and some new dish rags. Boy! She's going to be surprised when she rips into those presents. Anyway, we made our way to Diddle Arena to watch a game at 4 p.m. After the Hilltoppers woke up in the second half and put Alabama A&M away, we headed over to Bowling Green High to watch some more basketball. One game is just never enough.
I caught parts of two games, but I'll get to those later. I caught the complete game between Elizabethtown and Graves County. Now, I had to make a tough decision -- sort of like deciding between getting my wife the work boots or diamond earrings for Christmas -- because Allen County Scottsville played Madison Central in the auxillary gym at the same time. I didn't want to short change the fine folks in the Fifth Region, who are loyal readers, so I stuck with Elizabethtown.
I was stunned to see that James Haire's 2008-09 edition of the Panthers had a 1-5 record heading into this tournament and their game with the Graves County Eagles. When I looked over their schedule I noticed that they Male High, Greenwood (their only win), Adair County, Taylor County, and Grayson County. That's a pretty tough opening to a season, especially when you only have three seniors on your squad.
Coach Haire has a new player this year, a big kid named Curtis Washington, who transferred from John Hardin. I don't have any rosters or programs, so I'm taking a stab at this: He looks like he's about 6'8" with a B-52 style wingspan.
On the other hand, Graves County rolled into the game with five seniors, led by Cassidy McAlpin, and a 5-1 record. Their only loss was to Massac, Illinois, at the Marshall County Hoopfest earlier in December.
Both teams opened the game cold, and the small crowd only added to the lethargic nature of the play. I sat and wondered what was going on between the two unbeaten teams playing in the other gym. Graves County had a 10-8 lead on E-town at the end of the first quarter.
The Panthers picked up their defense in the second quarter and held Graves County to just five points. E-town threw a tricky little 2-1-2 zone defense with Washington in the middle at the Eagles, but Coach Haire never settles on just one defense. It seemed like they switched defenses on every possession. Graves County sleepwalked through the second frame. I was impressed with Cassidy McAlpin for the Eagles. He has good post moves and was the only guy for Graves County who played like he wanted to win a ballgame.
In the second quarter, Curtis Washington took a 14 foot jumpshot. Play stopped and the gym was quiet. Coach Haire got the attention of his big man and shouted, "Don't do it again!" The admonished young man shook his head with an unspoken "Yes, sir." I got a laugh out of that.
E-town took a 22-15 lead to the locker room.
The third quarter was nearly all Elizabethtown. The entire team played better defense, and point guard Jack Goblirsh picked up his game. I liked his tenacity, but the officials were not happy with him for some reason. I suspect his mouth had him in trouble. I don't mean anything bad by that because if I were choosing-up sides off that squad, Jack would be the first kid I'd take.
The Panthers held a 39-26 lead heading into the final frame.
Graves County finally picked up their game late in the fourth quarter. Senior guard, Tevin Hill found his game and started attacking Elizabethtown's defense. Late in the game, Hill hit the front end of a pair of free throws but missed the second attempt. He got his own rebound, put the ball up and in, and was also fouled. He hit the free throw and had his Eagles to within eight points, 49-41. Graves County could only muster two more points, while the Panthers scored seven more.
The Panthers notched their second victory on the season, and Terry Birdsong's squad left the court wondering what the heck happened out there. Graves County should figure into the mix in the First Region. They have a good team, but they have to find some inner intensity to beat teams like Elizabethtown, which has played at a very high level for the entire early season.
OTHER GAMES:
Bowling Green 92 - North Hardin Christian 52: I walked into this game at halftime and saw that the Purples were up by 37 points. I looked at the other team's uniforms, and all I could see was "North Hardin." I thought, "Man alive. The Purples are putting this kind of beatdown on a Ron Bevars squad?" I looked for Coach Bevars, who I figured would have peeled the purple paint from Bowling Green's auxillary gym. Then, I realized it was North Hardin CHRISTIAN. I don't have much to say about this game except that I shared a bag of Purpcorn with my little boy.
Allen County-Scottsville 74 - Madison Central 72 (OT): This is the game I DIDN'T attend to see Elizabethtown play. I figured that I'll see Allen County play several times this season, blah, blah, blah. O.K. I was kicking myself for missing this ballgame. These two teams are for real and both were undefeated prior to Sunday night. I wish I had more to say about it. I saw the end of regulation and the overtime. All of it was exciting, and I'm glad to see that the Fourth Region team walked away with the victory.
In the preseason, all the local sports pundits were asked to rank the best teams in the Fourth Region. I don't remember anyone, including myself, mentioning Allen County-Scottsville. Now, that I've seen the Patriots, I want to revise any predictions I made. They are good, athletic, and play with serious intensity. They are now 8-0 and have dispatched, Franklin-Simpson, Greenwood, Warren East, Barren County, and now Madison Central on their way to an undefeated record.
OBSERVATIONS:
Purples Going Green?: I guess to conserve energy, Bowling Green High School is not using several lights in the auxillary gym. With the lacking lighting and the Purple walls I felt like Ronnie Milsap walking into that place. Hey, Coach Sherrill! I know you are a proponent of energy independence, but this is taking it to extreme.
Grew in Da'House!: It was good to see Steffphon Pettigrew cheering on his alma mater on Sunday night. He had fellow Hilltoppers Orlando Mendez-Valdez and Mike Walker in his posse.
Children of Kentucky: My wife puts out a toy Nativity scene on a table beside our Christmas tree every year. Earlier in the day I found my daughter and son playing with the figures from that set. I asked them what they were playing, expecting a religious themed game, and they answered, "Basketball." So, I looked at the table, and I think they had the wise men and shepherds in a 2-2-1 full court press. It looked like they had the baby Jesus playing the post on offense, so I suggested that they move him to point guard. I figured he would know where everyone was on the court. They also had an old dry erase board from my office (I work at home) and were drawing up plays. One looked like an impossible five man weave. I put it on paper and faxed it to Darrin Horn down in South Carolina.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Bowling Green 51 - Franklin-Simpson 49
Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
It started out looking like a very long night for the Bowling Green Purples. Franklin-Simpson opened the game with a sticky defense that forced the Purples into turnovers and forced shots and generally sloppy play. The Wildcats were up 9-0 just two and a half minutes into the game, and they eventually expanded the lead to to two touchdowns -- 14-0. Finally, Joe Gorman broke the ice for the Purps with a three pointer, and Bowling Green played their way back into the game before the end of the first quarter. After holding a 14 point lead, Franklin found themselves clinging to a 20-12.
In the second quarter Bowling Green used its defense to outplay the Wildcats. The forced Franklin into a series of bad possessions that included a 10 second call, a five second call, and turnovers on bad passes. Bowling Green's press is not smothering, but it is constant. It frustrated Franklin throughout the ballgame, and if you throw out the first five minutes of this game, the Purples outplayed their opponent through the remainder of the contest.
Bowling Green outscored Franklin 19-14 in the second frame to cut the lead to three at 34-31.
The Purples held F-S to just nine points in the third quarter, but they could only muster 10 points themselves. They opened nearly as ice cold as they opened the ballgame. They seemed to be stuck on 31, but by the end of the frame the hosts were behind by only two points, 43-41.
Franklin-Simpson looked tired in the fourth quarter, and I think that is directly attributable to the effectiveness of Bowling Green's nearly constant pressure. Again, the Purples' defenders pressed after turnovers and missed shots, and they did it a lot better than they did against Glasgow a week ago. Franklin didn't get any cheap baskets like the Scotties did.
Bowling Green didn't get their first lead in this game until 1:02 left in the contest, when they hit a layup to make it 49-47. Franklin tied the ballgame with just a few seconds on the clock, but the Purples got the ball back up the court in a hurry. They moved the ball around an active and seemingly desperate Wildcat defense. I thought they made one pass too many, but they scooped the ball into D.J. Ray, who was low on the blocks. Ray released the ball on a "gimme" layup just before the time expired and the ball bounced through the hoop. The home team won 51-49. It was an exciting end to otherwise ugly game.
OBSERVATIONS
Chip and Dale: I used to laugh at the "Chip and Dale" cartoons when they were so polite to one another that they couldn't get anything done. For awhile on Friday night I thought that Bowling Green and Franklin-Simpson were trying to give each other the ballgame like Chip and Dale. Neither team seemed to want to win it. One side threw the ball out-of-bounds and the other obliged with a turnover.
Poncho Wright Award: Eric Smith shoots rainbow jump shots from a kind of funny looking release. I've heard people call this type of shot a "rainmaker" because it knocks moisture out of the clouds. Back during the Doctors of Dunk era at Louisville they had a player named Poncho Wright, who could shoot the ball with the best. Poncho had a high-arching, rainmaker jump shot and was deadly from the corner. I've always said that it's too bad Poncho played prior to the three-point shot in college basketball. Eric Smith's shots remind me of Wright's. Eric even has a high arc on his free-throws.
Courtney Dalcourt Watch: He's the best athlete in this part of the state. He's better football player than basketball player, but his athletic ability is unmatched. He's big and fast and strong. I've lost track of who is recruiting him for football, but my guess is that a 1-AA program is going to make a steal. I may be his biggest fan.
By J. Trace Kirkwood
It started out looking like a very long night for the Bowling Green Purples. Franklin-Simpson opened the game with a sticky defense that forced the Purples into turnovers and forced shots and generally sloppy play. The Wildcats were up 9-0 just two and a half minutes into the game, and they eventually expanded the lead to to two touchdowns -- 14-0. Finally, Joe Gorman broke the ice for the Purps with a three pointer, and Bowling Green played their way back into the game before the end of the first quarter. After holding a 14 point lead, Franklin found themselves clinging to a 20-12.
In the second quarter Bowling Green used its defense to outplay the Wildcats. The forced Franklin into a series of bad possessions that included a 10 second call, a five second call, and turnovers on bad passes. Bowling Green's press is not smothering, but it is constant. It frustrated Franklin throughout the ballgame, and if you throw out the first five minutes of this game, the Purples outplayed their opponent through the remainder of the contest.
Bowling Green outscored Franklin 19-14 in the second frame to cut the lead to three at 34-31.
The Purples held F-S to just nine points in the third quarter, but they could only muster 10 points themselves. They opened nearly as ice cold as they opened the ballgame. They seemed to be stuck on 31, but by the end of the frame the hosts were behind by only two points, 43-41.
Franklin-Simpson looked tired in the fourth quarter, and I think that is directly attributable to the effectiveness of Bowling Green's nearly constant pressure. Again, the Purples' defenders pressed after turnovers and missed shots, and they did it a lot better than they did against Glasgow a week ago. Franklin didn't get any cheap baskets like the Scotties did.
Bowling Green didn't get their first lead in this game until 1:02 left in the contest, when they hit a layup to make it 49-47. Franklin tied the ballgame with just a few seconds on the clock, but the Purples got the ball back up the court in a hurry. They moved the ball around an active and seemingly desperate Wildcat defense. I thought they made one pass too many, but they scooped the ball into D.J. Ray, who was low on the blocks. Ray released the ball on a "gimme" layup just before the time expired and the ball bounced through the hoop. The home team won 51-49. It was an exciting end to otherwise ugly game.
OBSERVATIONS
Chip and Dale: I used to laugh at the "Chip and Dale" cartoons when they were so polite to one another that they couldn't get anything done. For awhile on Friday night I thought that Bowling Green and Franklin-Simpson were trying to give each other the ballgame like Chip and Dale. Neither team seemed to want to win it. One side threw the ball out-of-bounds and the other obliged with a turnover.
Poncho Wright Award: Eric Smith shoots rainbow jump shots from a kind of funny looking release. I've heard people call this type of shot a "rainmaker" because it knocks moisture out of the clouds. Back during the Doctors of Dunk era at Louisville they had a player named Poncho Wright, who could shoot the ball with the best. Poncho had a high-arching, rainmaker jump shot and was deadly from the corner. I've always said that it's too bad Poncho played prior to the three-point shot in college basketball. Eric Smith's shots remind me of Wright's. Eric even has a high arc on his free-throws.
Courtney Dalcourt Watch: He's the best athlete in this part of the state. He's better football player than basketball player, but his athletic ability is unmatched. He's big and fast and strong. I've lost track of who is recruiting him for football, but my guess is that a 1-AA program is going to make a steal. I may be his biggest fan.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Glasgow 75 - Bowling Green 74
Glasgow High School, Glasgow, Kentucky
By J. Trace Kirkwood
Man! It feels good to be back in the saddle. After a weekend of pressing the couch watching Lonesome Dove while trying to shake the mother of all colds, I was pretty ramped up to be headed to a high school basketball game. It was a beautiful drive under a huge full moon on my way to Glasgow. The moon was so bright that I believe I could have made the drive without using the truck's headlights.
I had no idea what to expect out of this game. Glasgow is re-tooled with former UofL player, Jeff Hall, as head coach, and his son Cameron Hall is also on the squad. Bowling Green lost players like D.L. Moore and Jared Carpenter, but D.G. Sherrill has opened up his offense this season with an emphasis on perimeter play. The only thing I knew is that it would be different from a Glasgow-Bowling Green from last season.
The Fourth Region better beware of this pack of dogs in Glasgow. Think of President Bush's dog Barney's recent behavior when you think of this year's edition of these snippy little terriers. I'm not trying to make a case that the Scotties are going to win the Fourth Region, but they will figure into the final outcome of the standings. Last season Glasgow finished with a mediocre 16-13 record and was sub .500 in the region. They made it to the regional tournament but got bounced in the first round by Russell County.
I was unable to track down the scoring tonight, but Cameron Hall, who is a 6'1" junior, will emerge as the best shooter in the Fourth Region this year. He can shoot from nearly anywhere on the court and has a nose for the basket when he needs to drive into the lane. Matched with the shooting of Craig Mosier, the Scotties will bite more than just Rueters reporters in January and February.
I have to admit that I arrived late to the ballgame. It's hard for me to make it to games that start at 6:00 p.m., especially when they are in another city. Last season I promised Ricky Mudd that I would make a game at Glasgow, and I never did, so I decided to kick this Pick and Roll season off with a visit to the Dog Pound. I got to see a good game.
The Purples are going to press a lot this season. They have a sweet 2-2-1 zone press that works well when the players committ to making it work. They also like to press after missed shots and even turnovers. Bowling Green has one major flaw when they press after missed baskets: no one gets back on defense. They gave up too many easy baskets to Glasgow. It cost them the ballgame.
Bowling Green's Joe Gorman didn't see a lot of playing time last season, but he was on the court a lot on Friday night. The kid can flat out shoot three point shots. He cannot be left open if he's along the arc between the baseline and the free throw line. He's nearly automatic from out there, and he nailed some key shots in the first half.
The game was knotted at 31 at halftime.
Astraddle halftime was a devestating run by the Scotties. With just a few minutes left in the second quarter Bowling Green had a 28-20 lead on the home team. An 11-3 run by Glasgow tied it, but the Scotties continued their run after halftime. They stretched it to a 20-5 run and had a 40-33 lead in the third. By the end of the quarter, the Purples had closed within three -- 56-53.
Bowling Green made a gutsy run in the fourth quarter and actually outscored Glasgow 21-19 in the final frame. It wasn't enough. Plus, the Purples missed critical free throws down the stretch. They had two opportunities to tie the ballgame with just a few seconds left, but two different players -- Eric Smith and Tevin Barksdale -- missed sets of double bonus free throws. It was a killer, and the Scotties take a big win on their home court.
Glasgow's run on either side of halftime is what killed Bowling Green.
OBSERVATIONS
Welcome Back: Everyone should welcome Jeff Hall back to the Fourth Region. A lot of people are going to pull the welcome mat in after they see how well his boy can shoot the basketball. No amount of pressure will stop him. He could shoot the ball with a piece of plywood held up in front of his face. I'm guessing that Cameron Hall will get the Fourth Region's "Newcomer of the Year" award, and the Scotties will be the most improved team from last year.
Brian Asberry Welcoming Committee Chairman?: When I was a senior in high school in 1984 a friend of mine and my brother's had just graduated from WKU. He was working for the Courier-Journal and invited me to go with him to the Louisville-Western game at Freedom Hall. He had some really good seats that put us just a few rows from the court. We both wore red hooded sweatshirts that had massive block letters reading W.K.U. on the fronts. At some point in the game Western's Brian Asberry, always one of the Hilltopper's enforcers, took exception to Jeff Hall's defense and maybe his mouth. I don't know. As Asberry trotted up the court he delivered a vicious forearm shivver to Hall's face. Hall crumpled to the court near the jump circle while the Louisville faithful went wild with anger. For a few moments I thought I was going to die at the hands of irate Cardinals fans. They were looking to express their grievance with Mr. Asberry to anyone wearing WKU clothing.
To any UofL fans that might remember yelling at me I want to inform you that what you all collectively suggested to us is physically impossible to do. The Cardinals won that game, but it didn't turn out too well for the little red birds from Louisville this season. So! Right back at ya, Louisville fans!
Good to be Back: I tried to write about some football this year, but it didn't work out. I love high school football, but my family are fair weather friends. If I go to football games, I usually have to go alone, especially after it turns cool. I travel a lot during the week, so I was spending too much time away from my family. Although they didn't go tonight, I usually have no trouble getting the wife and kids to go to a basketball game. They love the hoops.
Please post comments. If you think I'm wrong about something, call me on it. I'm a big boy, so you're not going to hurt my feelings, and there is no way I can see everything correctly from the stands. Remember. I'm not a reporter. I'm just a fan with a computer and some time on my hands. I hope everyone enjoys Season II of the Pennyrile Pick and Roll.
By J. Trace Kirkwood
Man! It feels good to be back in the saddle. After a weekend of pressing the couch watching Lonesome Dove while trying to shake the mother of all colds, I was pretty ramped up to be headed to a high school basketball game. It was a beautiful drive under a huge full moon on my way to Glasgow. The moon was so bright that I believe I could have made the drive without using the truck's headlights.
I had no idea what to expect out of this game. Glasgow is re-tooled with former UofL player, Jeff Hall, as head coach, and his son Cameron Hall is also on the squad. Bowling Green lost players like D.L. Moore and Jared Carpenter, but D.G. Sherrill has opened up his offense this season with an emphasis on perimeter play. The only thing I knew is that it would be different from a Glasgow-Bowling Green from last season.
The Fourth Region better beware of this pack of dogs in Glasgow. Think of President Bush's dog Barney's recent behavior when you think of this year's edition of these snippy little terriers. I'm not trying to make a case that the Scotties are going to win the Fourth Region, but they will figure into the final outcome of the standings. Last season Glasgow finished with a mediocre 16-13 record and was sub .500 in the region. They made it to the regional tournament but got bounced in the first round by Russell County.
I was unable to track down the scoring tonight, but Cameron Hall, who is a 6'1" junior, will emerge as the best shooter in the Fourth Region this year. He can shoot from nearly anywhere on the court and has a nose for the basket when he needs to drive into the lane. Matched with the shooting of Craig Mosier, the Scotties will bite more than just Rueters reporters in January and February.
I have to admit that I arrived late to the ballgame. It's hard for me to make it to games that start at 6:00 p.m., especially when they are in another city. Last season I promised Ricky Mudd that I would make a game at Glasgow, and I never did, so I decided to kick this Pick and Roll season off with a visit to the Dog Pound. I got to see a good game.
The Purples are going to press a lot this season. They have a sweet 2-2-1 zone press that works well when the players committ to making it work. They also like to press after missed shots and even turnovers. Bowling Green has one major flaw when they press after missed baskets: no one gets back on defense. They gave up too many easy baskets to Glasgow. It cost them the ballgame.
Bowling Green's Joe Gorman didn't see a lot of playing time last season, but he was on the court a lot on Friday night. The kid can flat out shoot three point shots. He cannot be left open if he's along the arc between the baseline and the free throw line. He's nearly automatic from out there, and he nailed some key shots in the first half.
The game was knotted at 31 at halftime.
Astraddle halftime was a devestating run by the Scotties. With just a few minutes left in the second quarter Bowling Green had a 28-20 lead on the home team. An 11-3 run by Glasgow tied it, but the Scotties continued their run after halftime. They stretched it to a 20-5 run and had a 40-33 lead in the third. By the end of the quarter, the Purples had closed within three -- 56-53.
Bowling Green made a gutsy run in the fourth quarter and actually outscored Glasgow 21-19 in the final frame. It wasn't enough. Plus, the Purples missed critical free throws down the stretch. They had two opportunities to tie the ballgame with just a few seconds left, but two different players -- Eric Smith and Tevin Barksdale -- missed sets of double bonus free throws. It was a killer, and the Scotties take a big win on their home court.
Glasgow's run on either side of halftime is what killed Bowling Green.
OBSERVATIONS
Welcome Back: Everyone should welcome Jeff Hall back to the Fourth Region. A lot of people are going to pull the welcome mat in after they see how well his boy can shoot the basketball. No amount of pressure will stop him. He could shoot the ball with a piece of plywood held up in front of his face. I'm guessing that Cameron Hall will get the Fourth Region's "Newcomer of the Year" award, and the Scotties will be the most improved team from last year.
Brian Asberry Welcoming Committee Chairman?: When I was a senior in high school in 1984 a friend of mine and my brother's had just graduated from WKU. He was working for the Courier-Journal and invited me to go with him to the Louisville-Western game at Freedom Hall. He had some really good seats that put us just a few rows from the court. We both wore red hooded sweatshirts that had massive block letters reading W.K.U. on the fronts. At some point in the game Western's Brian Asberry, always one of the Hilltopper's enforcers, took exception to Jeff Hall's defense and maybe his mouth. I don't know. As Asberry trotted up the court he delivered a vicious forearm shivver to Hall's face. Hall crumpled to the court near the jump circle while the Louisville faithful went wild with anger. For a few moments I thought I was going to die at the hands of irate Cardinals fans. They were looking to express their grievance with Mr. Asberry to anyone wearing WKU clothing.
To any UofL fans that might remember yelling at me I want to inform you that what you all collectively suggested to us is physically impossible to do. The Cardinals won that game, but it didn't turn out too well for the little red birds from Louisville this season. So! Right back at ya, Louisville fans!
Good to be Back: I tried to write about some football this year, but it didn't work out. I love high school football, but my family are fair weather friends. If I go to football games, I usually have to go alone, especially after it turns cool. I travel a lot during the week, so I was spending too much time away from my family. Although they didn't go tonight, I usually have no trouble getting the wife and kids to go to a basketball game. They love the hoops.
Please post comments. If you think I'm wrong about something, call me on it. I'm a big boy, so you're not going to hurt my feelings, and there is no way I can see everything correctly from the stands. Remember. I'm not a reporter. I'm just a fan with a computer and some time on my hands. I hope everyone enjoys Season II of the Pennyrile Pick and Roll.
Monday, December 8, 2008
The Busy and the Sickly
I want to apologize to the Pick and Roll faithful and any new readers combing through this blog. I intended to go to a couple of games this past weekend, but a really bad chest cold set in on me keeping me out of the gymnasiums. I've also been on the road for work a lot, so I haven't been to any games. I'm planning to get back on the horse this week, though.
One of the problems I have is that my own kids are starting to play basketball. I have to haul them to practices. I just don't understand where they get their passion for basketball.
I'm still at it, so don't think this blog is dead. It's just struggling along right now.
One of the problems I have is that my own kids are starting to play basketball. I have to haul them to practices. I just don't understand where they get their passion for basketball.
I'm still at it, so don't think this blog is dead. It's just struggling along right now.
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