I separated these two regions from the others in west Kentucky because these are the two that Chris Gregory and I spend the most time covering and writing about. We know these teams better than those from other regions, and these are the ones in which we live. It's a blatant Pick and Roll bias. We will be at these regional tournaments as much as humanly possible.
I must give a tip of the hat to Chris for compiling the pairing for me.
Fourth Region: E.A. Diddle Arena, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Wednesday, March 5th
6:30 - Bowling Green vs. Russellville
8:00 - Russell County vs. Glasgow
Thursday, March 6th
6:30 - Franklin-Simpson vs. Greenwood
8:00 - Barren County vs. Metcalfe County
Semifinals will be played at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. on March 10th
Final will be played at 6:00 p.m. on March 11th
Fifth Region: Hart County High School, Munfordville, Kentucky
Wednesday, March 5th
6:00 - Adair County vs. Larue County
8:00 - Central Hardin vs. Nelson County
Thursday, March 6th
6:00 - Green County vs. Elizabethtown
8:00 - Bardstown vs. Taylor County
Semifinals will be played at 5:30 and 8:45 p.m. on March 10th. They will clear the gym between games.
Final will be played at 7:00 p.m. on March 11th.
Showing posts with label Fifth Region Basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fifth Region Basketball. Show all posts
Monday, March 3, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Larue County 68 - Hart County 36
18th District Semifinal, Green County High School, Greensburg, Kentucky 02-26-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
High school basketball is a game of spurts, ups-and-downs and slumps. Over the past coupls of weeks Larue County has been in a slump, and to tap it all off, last Wednesday, one of their best players decided to leave the team. On Tuesday night, they faced a team they beat down twice this season, but I've always heard that it's hard to beat a team three times in one season. Also, the other two times that Larue played Hart, the Raiders had key players injured. Both times they were without 6'7" Ethan Moore, who could cause match-up problems for Larue.
Once again, I lucked out on a ride to Greensburg. My friend, Justin Craft, picked me up, and another Larue County great, Matt Clifford, was along for the ride. We talked hoops all the way there (Hey! It's Hoopsmas!). When we arrived at Green County's gym, I could tell there was a bigger crowd there than the night before. The girls game was still going on, and, man, it's hard for me to watch girls hoops. It seems there's a whistle every time down the floor. So, to kill time, I wandered around the crowd to talk to some fans. I cam across the parents of a player who told me they enjoyed the website. Thanks, Larue County fans.
We found a seat next to Larue County's locker room. Some players came out early to watch the girls' game. I kept a close eye on them to see if they were getting pumped up for the game. They were. The players were kind of loosey-goosey, and I think that was positive sign. They seemed relaxed. I also noticed that the referees were close to the Hawks' locker room, as well. One of them was Charles Jones, the same Charles Jones that played for UofL and the pride of Scooba, Mississippi. He has been a Fifth Region ref for many years, and I have seen him at many games this year. We are used to him now.
Both teams looked ready to play during warm-ups, and I was curious to see if anyone could step up in the absence of Tyler Hornback, the Larue player who left the team. When the teams made it to the jump circle, I noticed that Hart had the size advantage. Larue's biggest player is 6'3" and the Raiders' Moore is 6'7".
Hart controlled the tap. Hart played a fast pace but couldn't find the basket. On Monday night, I noticed that teams have trouble shooting in Green County's gym. I asked Matt Clifford about it because he played many games there. He told me it was the white walls that are behind the goals. It's hard to pick up the rim when all a shooter looks at is a big white wall and a clear backboard. He said that the rim looks like it's floating in air. Makes sense to me.
The first quarter was back and forth without a lot of scoring. Larue had the early lead, 10-9. Hart County ran subs in-and-out three at a time and were looking to keep the Hawks grounded.
I don't know what was up with the floor on Tuesday night. I think these teams set a record for the most walking calls in one half. We counted four straight trips down the floor that there was a whistle blown for traveling.
Larue County still hung to a small lead, but both teams really didn't shoot that well. Despite the cold shooting, Larue played better than they have the last couple of weeks. They held the lead, 18-15 at the half. It wasn't much of a first half with so many whistles and the cold shooting by both teams.
Again, tonight, no halftime entertainment, but I did hear something that made me chuckle. The PA announcer told the crowd that they were going to raffle off a rifle. Raffle a rifle at a high school game in Kentucky? What's next, try to catch a greased pig during football season. I know schools have trouble raising money these days, so I guess they'll do whatever it takes to get some money. Oh, by the way, I purchased a ticket on the rife.
For the second time this year -- that I've seen -- Coach Childress kept his team in the locker room for the entire halftime. When they came out, they only had 30 seconds to warm up. That's all they needed. They blistered the nets in the third or maybe Childress blistered their hind-ends at halftime. They outscored the Raiders 19-5 in the third and had pushed their lead to 17. I think Larue was coming out of their slump. It was too much for Hart.
Over the past couple of games, Larue had built leads only to panic and loose them. I hoped this wasn't going to happen Tuesday night. They were up 45-21 with 6:28 to go in the game, but Hart County just couldn't get it going tonight. To be honest, I didn't think they fed their big man enough. Larue played better than I had seen in awhile, and they lit up the scoreboard in the last frame for 31 points. They flew away with the victory, 68-36.
OBSERVATIONS
Players Not the Only Ones Stepping It up for the Tournaments: I hope people don't get tired of us writing about high school bands. Tuesday night, the Larue County band went "Old School." I had heard them earlier this season, but I think they were holding back in the regular season. They busted out "Play that Funk Music," "Celebrate, Good Times, C'mon," and "Sweet Home Alabama." SKYNYRD! (Pick and Roll is standing with his lighter aflame for an encore). I even noticed the Hart County band director bobbing his head to the songs. They were equipped with electric guitar, bass, and drum set. Way to step it up Band of Hawks.
Let the Light Shine On Us: I didn't know how Larue would react after losing one of their best players. I have to give it to them. Christian Seymour, Corey Salsman, and senior Alan "A Ray" Vass. Every player who played had good minutes, but these three were got it done with defense, scoring, and deflections. I hope it carries over to Friday night. They will have to play hard again against a good Green County team.
I'll be back at Green County on Friday night to catch the 18th District championship game. Green County has been a good host. The fans are friendly, and, besides, I have to see if I win the rifle.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
High school basketball is a game of spurts, ups-and-downs and slumps. Over the past coupls of weeks Larue County has been in a slump, and to tap it all off, last Wednesday, one of their best players decided to leave the team. On Tuesday night, they faced a team they beat down twice this season, but I've always heard that it's hard to beat a team three times in one season. Also, the other two times that Larue played Hart, the Raiders had key players injured. Both times they were without 6'7" Ethan Moore, who could cause match-up problems for Larue.
Once again, I lucked out on a ride to Greensburg. My friend, Justin Craft, picked me up, and another Larue County great, Matt Clifford, was along for the ride. We talked hoops all the way there (Hey! It's Hoopsmas!). When we arrived at Green County's gym, I could tell there was a bigger crowd there than the night before. The girls game was still going on, and, man, it's hard for me to watch girls hoops. It seems there's a whistle every time down the floor. So, to kill time, I wandered around the crowd to talk to some fans. I cam across the parents of a player who told me they enjoyed the website. Thanks, Larue County fans.
We found a seat next to Larue County's locker room. Some players came out early to watch the girls' game. I kept a close eye on them to see if they were getting pumped up for the game. They were. The players were kind of loosey-goosey, and I think that was positive sign. They seemed relaxed. I also noticed that the referees were close to the Hawks' locker room, as well. One of them was Charles Jones, the same Charles Jones that played for UofL and the pride of Scooba, Mississippi. He has been a Fifth Region ref for many years, and I have seen him at many games this year. We are used to him now.
Both teams looked ready to play during warm-ups, and I was curious to see if anyone could step up in the absence of Tyler Hornback, the Larue player who left the team. When the teams made it to the jump circle, I noticed that Hart had the size advantage. Larue's biggest player is 6'3" and the Raiders' Moore is 6'7".
Hart controlled the tap. Hart played a fast pace but couldn't find the basket. On Monday night, I noticed that teams have trouble shooting in Green County's gym. I asked Matt Clifford about it because he played many games there. He told me it was the white walls that are behind the goals. It's hard to pick up the rim when all a shooter looks at is a big white wall and a clear backboard. He said that the rim looks like it's floating in air. Makes sense to me.
The first quarter was back and forth without a lot of scoring. Larue had the early lead, 10-9. Hart County ran subs in-and-out three at a time and were looking to keep the Hawks grounded.
I don't know what was up with the floor on Tuesday night. I think these teams set a record for the most walking calls in one half. We counted four straight trips down the floor that there was a whistle blown for traveling.
Larue County still hung to a small lead, but both teams really didn't shoot that well. Despite the cold shooting, Larue played better than they have the last couple of weeks. They held the lead, 18-15 at the half. It wasn't much of a first half with so many whistles and the cold shooting by both teams.
Again, tonight, no halftime entertainment, but I did hear something that made me chuckle. The PA announcer told the crowd that they were going to raffle off a rifle. Raffle a rifle at a high school game in Kentucky? What's next, try to catch a greased pig during football season. I know schools have trouble raising money these days, so I guess they'll do whatever it takes to get some money. Oh, by the way, I purchased a ticket on the rife.
For the second time this year -- that I've seen -- Coach Childress kept his team in the locker room for the entire halftime. When they came out, they only had 30 seconds to warm up. That's all they needed. They blistered the nets in the third or maybe Childress blistered their hind-ends at halftime. They outscored the Raiders 19-5 in the third and had pushed their lead to 17. I think Larue was coming out of their slump. It was too much for Hart.
Over the past couple of games, Larue had built leads only to panic and loose them. I hoped this wasn't going to happen Tuesday night. They were up 45-21 with 6:28 to go in the game, but Hart County just couldn't get it going tonight. To be honest, I didn't think they fed their big man enough. Larue played better than I had seen in awhile, and they lit up the scoreboard in the last frame for 31 points. They flew away with the victory, 68-36.
OBSERVATIONS
Players Not the Only Ones Stepping It up for the Tournaments: I hope people don't get tired of us writing about high school bands. Tuesday night, the Larue County band went "Old School." I had heard them earlier this season, but I think they were holding back in the regular season. They busted out "Play that Funk Music," "Celebrate, Good Times, C'mon," and "Sweet Home Alabama." SKYNYRD! (Pick and Roll is standing with his lighter aflame for an encore). I even noticed the Hart County band director bobbing his head to the songs. They were equipped with electric guitar, bass, and drum set. Way to step it up Band of Hawks.
Let the Light Shine On Us: I didn't know how Larue would react after losing one of their best players. I have to give it to them. Christian Seymour, Corey Salsman, and senior Alan "A Ray" Vass. Every player who played had good minutes, but these three were got it done with defense, scoring, and deflections. I hope it carries over to Friday night. They will have to play hard again against a good Green County team.
I'll be back at Green County on Friday night to catch the 18th District championship game. Green County has been a good host. The fans are friendly, and, besides, I have to see if I win the rifle.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Green County 61 - Caverna 58
Green County High School, Greensburg, Kentucky 02-25-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Nathaniel Greene was a Major General in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War and is for whom Green County is named. He emerged from the war with the reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Tuesday night, Green County Coach Toby Curry had to turn to his floor general, Clint Henderson, because they were in a battle with the Caverna Colonels.
Caverna finished the regular season with 4-21 record, or should I say a 0-0 record? It's tournament time and everyone can throw records out the window. I debated on whether or not to go to this game because I thought it might be a walkover. But, at the last minute I decided to go, and I'm glad I did.
Coach Simon Ford from Caverna came out after the teams hit the floor for warm-ups. He had to be thinking "upset" because he was dressed like he was going to do some celebrating after the game. He was decked out in a gray silk suit, light purple shirt, dark purple silk tie, and shoes to match. I didn't know if he was ready to coach or bust out his "groove thang." I wasn't the only one who noticed. Fans around me said the same thing. So, I must give Coach Ford the Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Sharp Dressed Man" Award. Somebody spin that ZZ Top record!
I haven't seen Green County at full strength this year. Their junior wing player, Keaton Druin, was hurt when I saw them in Bardstown in December. I had only heard about Caverna, and I knew they had some talented kids. I hadn't seen them play. They were fun to watch. I thought there were some fast teams in the Fifth Region, but Caverna is very fast. They have a freshman point guard Jordy Rice, who has the quickest first step I've seen this year. He got out of the gate fast, but had trouble finding the goal after beating his man to the basket. He wouldn't be held down long.
Caverna knew what was at stake on Tuesday night. They definitely didn't play like a 4-21 team. They jumped on the Dragons before the big fire breathing lizards had time to turn around. Coach Curry was not amused. He settled his team down for the moment and started pressing Caverna. They didn't stay in it long because of the speed of the Colonels. Caverna missed a lot of shots, so Green had an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter starter and so did Jordy Rice. Man! Fifth Region coaches will be sick of this kid before he graduates. He is listed at 5'6" but plays much taller, and he is not scared to take it hard to the hole. He started to fill it up and Green had no answer. Green County hurt themselves by not playing defense. Caverna was turning the tables on them. They wanted the game bad. It paid off because they held the halftime lead, 29-23.
Cue up the club; I think Coach Ford is ready to dance.
I was a little disappointed at halftime. No cheerleader routines. No fancy dance teams. Not even little kids shooting free throws for a slice of pizza. Nothing! So, I decided to take a trip to the commons area to see what Green County had to offer in the way of food (they don't call me "Pudge" for nothing). I came out empty handed. Nothing caught my eye, so I had to focus my attention back on the game.
Green County made some adjustments and opened up the third in a 2-3 zone, and it got Caverna out of sorts. They made silly turnovers and were out of control. With a timeout, Coach Ford called his team over and simply told them to slow down. It's hard to tell a team to slow down when they've been running wide open all night. At this point, they still had a lead but losing it quick. The game was getting physical, and I could see the Green County players getting frustrated. They weren't supposed to lose this game, but they were in a battle. By this time, Coach Ford had lost his silk jacket. His players responded and held on to a narrow lead, 43-41.
As the fourth frame rolled around, I looked down to see if Coach Ford had gotten out his hat and walking cane. It looked like Caverna was going to stroll in and get a win and cash their ticket to the Fifth Region tournament.
The refs let the teams play all night then, all of sudden, they started calling everything. This hurt Caverna because they had relied on their big man Chad Briggs all night. He was the only size the Colonels had down low. He fouled out with about five minutes to go on a couple of hosed calls. Green County was in the bonus around the four minute mark. Caverna never got in the bonus in the second half.
With the help of Henderson, Druin, and Seth Jones, Green County's big man -- and a blown charge/blocking call against Caverna -- the Dragons got the lead around the 3:30 mark and never looked back. They avoided a scare in Greensburg and won, 61-58
OBSERVATIONS
Graveyard or Gymnasium: Someone forget to tell Green County that it was tournament time. The place was dead. There was a decent crowd there but no noise. Maybe everyone is not as pumped up as me and Pick and Roll are. It's HOOPSMAS!! The fans around me were all from Larue County, and I think they were making as much noise as anyone. I know that Green County loves their football, but show some support for your basketball team. Maybe they are all waiting for next week when Green goes to the regional tournament.
Did He Fire Five Times or Six?: Congratulations to Clint Henderson. He was chosen by the coaches of the Fifth Region to the All Region Team. he deserves it. I've watched the Green three times this year, and he has scored 20+ points every time. Tuesday, he got away with some questionable push offs, but I'm in the stands and not in a striped shirt. He loves to shoot the three and makes several as well. If Green and Taylor meet at some point in the regional tournament, look out for two of the best shooters in the Fifth. Henderson and and for Taylor, Cox, will make it rain threes.
God is My Co-Pilot: A Pick and Roll "thank you" to John Seymour and his co-pilot. I work with John and we talk hoops alot. Tonight, he called me and asked if I was going to this game. I said, "yes," and he said he'd be there in a minute to pick me up. With the salary I get from Pick and Roll it was a big help with the gas on Tuesday night. Thanks again, John. I need to ride with you more often. I love the stories from the "co-pilot." He told me not to mention his name, but people who know John know who I'm talking about.
Editor's Note: Chris, if you keep submitting great stories to me, I'll bump your salary up by 50%. We'll still be making the same amount.
Tuesday night: Hawks vs. Hart.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Nathaniel Greene was a Major General in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War and is for whom Green County is named. He emerged from the war with the reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Tuesday night, Green County Coach Toby Curry had to turn to his floor general, Clint Henderson, because they were in a battle with the Caverna Colonels.
Caverna finished the regular season with 4-21 record, or should I say a 0-0 record? It's tournament time and everyone can throw records out the window. I debated on whether or not to go to this game because I thought it might be a walkover. But, at the last minute I decided to go, and I'm glad I did.
Coach Simon Ford from Caverna came out after the teams hit the floor for warm-ups. He had to be thinking "upset" because he was dressed like he was going to do some celebrating after the game. He was decked out in a gray silk suit, light purple shirt, dark purple silk tie, and shoes to match. I didn't know if he was ready to coach or bust out his "groove thang." I wasn't the only one who noticed. Fans around me said the same thing. So, I must give Coach Ford the Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Sharp Dressed Man" Award. Somebody spin that ZZ Top record!
I haven't seen Green County at full strength this year. Their junior wing player, Keaton Druin, was hurt when I saw them in Bardstown in December. I had only heard about Caverna, and I knew they had some talented kids. I hadn't seen them play. They were fun to watch. I thought there were some fast teams in the Fifth Region, but Caverna is very fast. They have a freshman point guard Jordy Rice, who has the quickest first step I've seen this year. He got out of the gate fast, but had trouble finding the goal after beating his man to the basket. He wouldn't be held down long.
Caverna knew what was at stake on Tuesday night. They definitely didn't play like a 4-21 team. They jumped on the Dragons before the big fire breathing lizards had time to turn around. Coach Curry was not amused. He settled his team down for the moment and started pressing Caverna. They didn't stay in it long because of the speed of the Colonels. Caverna missed a lot of shots, so Green had an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter starter and so did Jordy Rice. Man! Fifth Region coaches will be sick of this kid before he graduates. He is listed at 5'6" but plays much taller, and he is not scared to take it hard to the hole. He started to fill it up and Green had no answer. Green County hurt themselves by not playing defense. Caverna was turning the tables on them. They wanted the game bad. It paid off because they held the halftime lead, 29-23.
Cue up the club; I think Coach Ford is ready to dance.
I was a little disappointed at halftime. No cheerleader routines. No fancy dance teams. Not even little kids shooting free throws for a slice of pizza. Nothing! So, I decided to take a trip to the commons area to see what Green County had to offer in the way of food (they don't call me "Pudge" for nothing). I came out empty handed. Nothing caught my eye, so I had to focus my attention back on the game.
Green County made some adjustments and opened up the third in a 2-3 zone, and it got Caverna out of sorts. They made silly turnovers and were out of control. With a timeout, Coach Ford called his team over and simply told them to slow down. It's hard to tell a team to slow down when they've been running wide open all night. At this point, they still had a lead but losing it quick. The game was getting physical, and I could see the Green County players getting frustrated. They weren't supposed to lose this game, but they were in a battle. By this time, Coach Ford had lost his silk jacket. His players responded and held on to a narrow lead, 43-41.
As the fourth frame rolled around, I looked down to see if Coach Ford had gotten out his hat and walking cane. It looked like Caverna was going to stroll in and get a win and cash their ticket to the Fifth Region tournament.
The refs let the teams play all night then, all of sudden, they started calling everything. This hurt Caverna because they had relied on their big man Chad Briggs all night. He was the only size the Colonels had down low. He fouled out with about five minutes to go on a couple of hosed calls. Green County was in the bonus around the four minute mark. Caverna never got in the bonus in the second half.
With the help of Henderson, Druin, and Seth Jones, Green County's big man -- and a blown charge/blocking call against Caverna -- the Dragons got the lead around the 3:30 mark and never looked back. They avoided a scare in Greensburg and won, 61-58
OBSERVATIONS
Graveyard or Gymnasium: Someone forget to tell Green County that it was tournament time. The place was dead. There was a decent crowd there but no noise. Maybe everyone is not as pumped up as me and Pick and Roll are. It's HOOPSMAS!! The fans around me were all from Larue County, and I think they were making as much noise as anyone. I know that Green County loves their football, but show some support for your basketball team. Maybe they are all waiting for next week when Green goes to the regional tournament.
Did He Fire Five Times or Six?: Congratulations to Clint Henderson. He was chosen by the coaches of the Fifth Region to the All Region Team. he deserves it. I've watched the Green three times this year, and he has scored 20+ points every time. Tuesday, he got away with some questionable push offs, but I'm in the stands and not in a striped shirt. He loves to shoot the three and makes several as well. If Green and Taylor meet at some point in the regional tournament, look out for two of the best shooters in the Fifth. Henderson and and for Taylor, Cox, will make it rain threes.
God is My Co-Pilot: A Pick and Roll "thank you" to John Seymour and his co-pilot. I work with John and we talk hoops alot. Tonight, he called me and asked if I was going to this game. I said, "yes," and he said he'd be there in a minute to pick me up. With the salary I get from Pick and Roll it was a big help with the gas on Tuesday night. Thanks again, John. I need to ride with you more often. I love the stories from the "co-pilot." He told me not to mention his name, but people who know John know who I'm talking about.
Editor's Note: Chris, if you keep submitting great stories to me, I'll bump your salary up by 50%. We'll still be making the same amount.
Tuesday night: Hawks vs. Hart.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pick and Roll's Best of the Fifth Team
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
We are in the last week of regular season games, and once again my work schedule has not permitted me to attend any games this week. That's OK because working this week opens me up for the district tournaments next week.
My list is based solely on players I've seen play. I've seen a lot of players who are having good season, but I'm only going to list the impact players from the games I've seen.
1. Darrion Ballou, Adair County: Ballou is one of the best players in the Fifth Region. In the games I've watched, he has an 18.5 point average and has pulled down 10.3 rebounds. He is only a junior. His recruiting is starting to open up. Some say that he will not make a good D-1 player, but I disagree. If his Indians can make it to the big dance in Rupp again this year, then look for him to start getting some offers.
2. Maurice Gosa, North Hardin: He leads the Trojans on the floor and is as quick as a cat. He can shoot the rock, too. He has a 52% average from three point land in the games I've watched. Even those he gets his fair share of shots, he can dish it out, too. Maurice is a very good passer, and for his size he has great hops.
3. Chase Cox, Taylor County: I have nicknamed him "The Gunner" because this kid will pull the trigger from anywhere. I watched him against Adair County, and fans told me that he looks to shoot as soon as he gets off the bus. Also, they honored him for scoring 2,000 points for his career. He is known to have an "off night," but when that happens he picks it up on defense. Look for Chase to start raining threes next week in Campbellsville.
4. Tyler Hornback, Larue County: Tyler is a workhorse. He has athletic ability running out of his ears. I know this kid personally, and fans can't ask for a better kid anywhere. Tyler has had some good games this season and has a Pick and Roll average of 16 points and 8 rebounds, and to go along with that he has dished out 3.5 assists. This multi-sport athlete does a lot for the Hawks, and in most games he has to defend other teams' best player. He jumps real well and has good speed. He's only a junior.
5. Tony Harding, Central Hardin: Tony really impressed me. At 6'0" he jumps out of the gym and slashes with the best of them. Overall, he has had an up-and-down year, but he put up 23 points the night they dismantled North Hardin to get the school's first ever number one seed in the 17th district. Central has only been to the Fifth Region Tournament twice in school history, so look for Tony and the Bruins to make the most of it. Editor's Note: I saw Harding play in Bowling Green in December, and he is one of my favorites, too.
6. Sean Bouthilette, Elizabethtown: Another workhorse. This "wide body" takes pride in rebounding, and he doesn't look to score as much as other players I listed. He is the type of player every coach wants on his team. Bouthilette has a good crew around him, so don't county out a James Haire coached team. Editor's Note: I was mystified as to how to spell Bouthilette until I saw his name listed on the news the other night, and I see you have it exactly right. I saw him play against Shelby County, and he is one tough ballplayer.
CHRIS'S FIFTH REGION UP-AND-COMERS
1. Bryan Bault, Junior, Larue County: He's a solid scorer and rebounder in his first year to play high school ball. He has really helped his team.
2. Roosevelt Emerson, Sophomore, North Hardin: In one game I watched this year he had 23 points. He is 6'5" and his best ball is ahead of him.
3. Chris White, Junior, John Hardin: Best hands in the 17th District for a big man. He has a soft touch down low and can shoot from out on the floor.
4. Kyle Sandusky, Sophomore, Adair County: He's the best "Sixth Man" in the Fifth. He rains threes and plays good "D" with his long arms.
5. Jordan Hickman, Junior, Bardstown: He takes it to the hole harder than anyone. He's quick, which, I think is a requirement on this team. Look for him to help lead the Tigers in the Fifth Region Tournament.
6. James Berry, Sophomore, North Hardin: He's a 6'3" guard and has a good percentage from three point land. He needs to improve his ball handling, but other than that he's a solid sophomore.
Best Student Section: My vote goes to Adair County. I know some schools will take offense to this, but, hey, they have been there every time I have. They make some noise, too. I can't wait for next week when they all pack into Taylor County's gym.
Don't forget that my list is based on the games I attended, and I mean no disrespect to other players that have had great season. Maybe that just had off nights at the games I attended.
We are in the last week of regular season games, and once again my work schedule has not permitted me to attend any games this week. That's OK because working this week opens me up for the district tournaments next week.
My list is based solely on players I've seen play. I've seen a lot of players who are having good season, but I'm only going to list the impact players from the games I've seen.
1. Darrion Ballou, Adair County: Ballou is one of the best players in the Fifth Region. In the games I've watched, he has an 18.5 point average and has pulled down 10.3 rebounds. He is only a junior. His recruiting is starting to open up. Some say that he will not make a good D-1 player, but I disagree. If his Indians can make it to the big dance in Rupp again this year, then look for him to start getting some offers.
2. Maurice Gosa, North Hardin: He leads the Trojans on the floor and is as quick as a cat. He can shoot the rock, too. He has a 52% average from three point land in the games I've watched. Even those he gets his fair share of shots, he can dish it out, too. Maurice is a very good passer, and for his size he has great hops.
3. Chase Cox, Taylor County: I have nicknamed him "The Gunner" because this kid will pull the trigger from anywhere. I watched him against Adair County, and fans told me that he looks to shoot as soon as he gets off the bus. Also, they honored him for scoring 2,000 points for his career. He is known to have an "off night," but when that happens he picks it up on defense. Look for Chase to start raining threes next week in Campbellsville.
4. Tyler Hornback, Larue County: Tyler is a workhorse. He has athletic ability running out of his ears. I know this kid personally, and fans can't ask for a better kid anywhere. Tyler has had some good games this season and has a Pick and Roll average of 16 points and 8 rebounds, and to go along with that he has dished out 3.5 assists. This multi-sport athlete does a lot for the Hawks, and in most games he has to defend other teams' best player. He jumps real well and has good speed. He's only a junior.
5. Tony Harding, Central Hardin: Tony really impressed me. At 6'0" he jumps out of the gym and slashes with the best of them. Overall, he has had an up-and-down year, but he put up 23 points the night they dismantled North Hardin to get the school's first ever number one seed in the 17th district. Central has only been to the Fifth Region Tournament twice in school history, so look for Tony and the Bruins to make the most of it. Editor's Note: I saw Harding play in Bowling Green in December, and he is one of my favorites, too.
6. Sean Bouthilette, Elizabethtown: Another workhorse. This "wide body" takes pride in rebounding, and he doesn't look to score as much as other players I listed. He is the type of player every coach wants on his team. Bouthilette has a good crew around him, so don't county out a James Haire coached team. Editor's Note: I was mystified as to how to spell Bouthilette until I saw his name listed on the news the other night, and I see you have it exactly right. I saw him play against Shelby County, and he is one tough ballplayer.
CHRIS'S FIFTH REGION UP-AND-COMERS
1. Bryan Bault, Junior, Larue County: He's a solid scorer and rebounder in his first year to play high school ball. He has really helped his team.
2. Roosevelt Emerson, Sophomore, North Hardin: In one game I watched this year he had 23 points. He is 6'5" and his best ball is ahead of him.
3. Chris White, Junior, John Hardin: Best hands in the 17th District for a big man. He has a soft touch down low and can shoot from out on the floor.
4. Kyle Sandusky, Sophomore, Adair County: He's the best "Sixth Man" in the Fifth. He rains threes and plays good "D" with his long arms.
5. Jordan Hickman, Junior, Bardstown: He takes it to the hole harder than anyone. He's quick, which, I think is a requirement on this team. Look for him to help lead the Tigers in the Fifth Region Tournament.
6. James Berry, Sophomore, North Hardin: He's a 6'3" guard and has a good percentage from three point land. He needs to improve his ball handling, but other than that he's a solid sophomore.
Best Student Section: My vote goes to Adair County. I know some schools will take offense to this, but, hey, they have been there every time I have. They make some noise, too. I can't wait for next week when they all pack into Taylor County's gym.
Don't forget that my list is based on the games I attended, and I mean no disrespect to other players that have had great season. Maybe that just had off nights at the games I attended.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Elizabethtown 52 - Shelby County 43
Elizabethtown High School, Elizabethtown, Kentucky 02-15-08
It was a "throw-back" trip for me on Friday night. I lived in Shelbyville from 1995 to 2002, when I pulled up stakes and moved my family to Bowling Green. I loved Shelbyville and Shelby County. I even learned to pronounce it the correct way "Shebbuhvuhl and Shebby Cyownny." When I saw that the Rockets were venturing down to the Crossroads of Kentucky, I decided I was tired of Fourth Region games and that I would cross into Chris Gregory's turf and watch a match up between teams from the Fifth and Eighth regions.
It brought back some great memories of my days living in the Eighth Region. My first real taste of basketball up there came one morning while I was getting my hair cut in Greg Tipton's barbershop. Greg and his customers got into a heated discussion about Toyota recruiting players for Scott County High School, which had up-ended Shelby County's long reign in that region. It was great to find a great barber and a place where people liked to talk high school hoops, even if they were a little jealous of Scott County. They called them "Team Toyota."
If I had any concept of "blogging," I would've started the Pick and Roll during my days in Shelbyville because I was a regular at Shelby County games and never missed the Eighth Region tournament at Henry County High School. It was a great gym full of a lot of great fans and a lot of great basketball.
I loved seeing the Rockets take the court tonight. It was great to see these two programs, both rich in tradition. Shelby County has two state championships (1966 and 1978), and Elizabethtown won it in 2000. Between them, they have been to 21 Sweet Sixteen Tournaments. Plus, they share the same colors, blue and gold.
During warm ups, Elizabethtown's band played "The Time Warp," and it seemed that way. It could've been 1996 or 1997 all over again, except that a kid like Alex Matthews, who plays for the Rockets, was a just a little boy in those days. Gosh! I was kind of hoping that I could spend Saturday morning in Tipton's barbershop griping about the officiating and whining about Scott County kicking everybody's butts.
Shelby County started the game absolutely ice cold, and they looked more like a fizzy pop than a fire blazing rocket. Elizabethtown's 2-1-2 zone (talk about a "Time Warp.") befuddled the Rockets, and they fell behind 8-1. It seemed like it was forever before Shelby County broke the ice, but they finally did Johnson's free throw. Mike Clark called a timeout and worked a little "Rocket science" and put them on the right trajectory. At the end of the first quarter, Tim Sanford hit a three that put Shelby County within one, 11-10.
Shelby County seemed to take control of things in the second quarter. They moved the ball around the 2-1-2 zone by hitting the high post and letting him distribute the ball back to the perimeter. Alex Matthews also made some sharp interior passes that kept the Panthers' defenders one step behind the ball. The Rockets took a 22-20 lead to the locker room at halftime, and I thought that Shelby County would find their orbit in the second half and splashdown a victory.
I was wrong. It's why I don't pretend to be a pundit, and it's one of many reasons why I don't gamble.
In the second half, E-town showed patience on the offensive end and continued to play a very active zone defense. Sean Bouthelette, which translates to English as "defense destroyer," and Chris "Go-Go" Gohman started hitting shots and making passes to break down Shelby County's defense. It seemed that the Rockets had no answer.
It was in the third quarter that I witnessed the "Nacho Call." An Elizabethtown fan was standing near the end of the court eating nachos, and when a ball bounced out-of-bounds on that end of the court, he signaled that it was E-town's ball. I looked to me that the referee looked to the fan for the call. It was as if the fan said, "that's not-cho call."
The score was tied at 33 at the end of the third.
Shelby County fans should click HERE for my true feelings about the fourth quarter. My brother travels to South Africa on a regular basis, and he tells me that the locals there call zebras "pajama donkeys." Early in the fourth quarter I wondered if these were the same pajama donks Chris Gregory saw in Larue County the other night. In the second half, Shelby County had more than 10 fouls, and the Panthers had two.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm letting my feelings come through, but I've never pretended to be objective on this blog. Behind Male High, Shelby County is my second favorite team because I followed them closely for seven years. Plus, my nephew graduates from SCHS this spring.
Nothing against Elizabethtown because I respect their program, and I cheered for them in 2000 when Antwain Barbour and the Panthers downed Lexington Catholic for the title. I cheered very hard for them.
The Panthers defensive pressure and patient offense frustrated Shelby County, and the home team cruised to a 52-43 victory over one of the leading teams in the Eighth Region.
OBSERVATIONS
The Panthers' Den: What a great place to watch a basketball game. I really liked Charlie Rawlings Memorial Gym. It's a bit of a throwback place, and I liked that the teams sit on the bleachers right along with the fans. That can be very intimidating. They didn't blare loud music before the game or during halftime. I just wish more people were there.
Band on the Fun: I'm giving a Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Three Thumbs Up" nod to the E-town band. They played music at the right time, and they played some old classic rock n'roll numbers. When fans ponied up a buck to shoot a three point shot at halftime, the band played Billy Squier's "The Stroke." That's fantastic! But, they aren't spreadin' ear pollution far and wide, Billy.
Two F's, Two T's, and Two Guns: I noticed a banner for Steffphon Pettigrew hanging in the gym. He was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball last year, and E-town has honored him with a nice banner. I remember when Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live imitated Ugandan dictator Idi Amin he always said, "Two A's, two D's, and one gun." I've seen Mr. Pettigrew play at WKU this season, and I can tell everyone that the young man has a healthy pair of guns. He is put together solid, and opponents are learning that the young Mr. Pettigrew can sling those guns. I'm looking forward to when Steffphon Pettigrew is a Wheel of Fortune puzzle.
Stand Up and Cheer!: I noticed E-town shares its fight song with the Hilltoppers. Being a WKU alumnus and a regular attendee of Hilltopper hoops, it's hard not to sing along with "Stand Up and Cheer," and it may have bothered some of the Shelby County fans I was sitting amongst.
It was a "throw-back" trip for me on Friday night. I lived in Shelbyville from 1995 to 2002, when I pulled up stakes and moved my family to Bowling Green. I loved Shelbyville and Shelby County. I even learned to pronounce it the correct way "Shebbuhvuhl and Shebby Cyownny." When I saw that the Rockets were venturing down to the Crossroads of Kentucky, I decided I was tired of Fourth Region games and that I would cross into Chris Gregory's turf and watch a match up between teams from the Fifth and Eighth regions.
It brought back some great memories of my days living in the Eighth Region. My first real taste of basketball up there came one morning while I was getting my hair cut in Greg Tipton's barbershop. Greg and his customers got into a heated discussion about Toyota recruiting players for Scott County High School, which had up-ended Shelby County's long reign in that region. It was great to find a great barber and a place where people liked to talk high school hoops, even if they were a little jealous of Scott County. They called them "Team Toyota."
If I had any concept of "blogging," I would've started the Pick and Roll during my days in Shelbyville because I was a regular at Shelby County games and never missed the Eighth Region tournament at Henry County High School. It was a great gym full of a lot of great fans and a lot of great basketball.
I loved seeing the Rockets take the court tonight. It was great to see these two programs, both rich in tradition. Shelby County has two state championships (1966 and 1978), and Elizabethtown won it in 2000. Between them, they have been to 21 Sweet Sixteen Tournaments. Plus, they share the same colors, blue and gold.
During warm ups, Elizabethtown's band played "The Time Warp," and it seemed that way. It could've been 1996 or 1997 all over again, except that a kid like Alex Matthews, who plays for the Rockets, was a just a little boy in those days. Gosh! I was kind of hoping that I could spend Saturday morning in Tipton's barbershop griping about the officiating and whining about Scott County kicking everybody's butts.
Shelby County started the game absolutely ice cold, and they looked more like a fizzy pop than a fire blazing rocket. Elizabethtown's 2-1-2 zone (talk about a "Time Warp.") befuddled the Rockets, and they fell behind 8-1. It seemed like it was forever before Shelby County broke the ice, but they finally did Johnson's free throw. Mike Clark called a timeout and worked a little "Rocket science" and put them on the right trajectory. At the end of the first quarter, Tim Sanford hit a three that put Shelby County within one, 11-10.
Shelby County seemed to take control of things in the second quarter. They moved the ball around the 2-1-2 zone by hitting the high post and letting him distribute the ball back to the perimeter. Alex Matthews also made some sharp interior passes that kept the Panthers' defenders one step behind the ball. The Rockets took a 22-20 lead to the locker room at halftime, and I thought that Shelby County would find their orbit in the second half and splashdown a victory.
I was wrong. It's why I don't pretend to be a pundit, and it's one of many reasons why I don't gamble.
In the second half, E-town showed patience on the offensive end and continued to play a very active zone defense. Sean Bouthelette, which translates to English as "defense destroyer," and Chris "Go-Go" Gohman started hitting shots and making passes to break down Shelby County's defense. It seemed that the Rockets had no answer.
It was in the third quarter that I witnessed the "Nacho Call." An Elizabethtown fan was standing near the end of the court eating nachos, and when a ball bounced out-of-bounds on that end of the court, he signaled that it was E-town's ball. I looked to me that the referee looked to the fan for the call. It was as if the fan said, "that's not-cho call."
The score was tied at 33 at the end of the third.
Shelby County fans should click HERE for my true feelings about the fourth quarter. My brother travels to South Africa on a regular basis, and he tells me that the locals there call zebras "pajama donkeys." Early in the fourth quarter I wondered if these were the same pajama donks Chris Gregory saw in Larue County the other night. In the second half, Shelby County had more than 10 fouls, and the Panthers had two.
Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm letting my feelings come through, but I've never pretended to be objective on this blog. Behind Male High, Shelby County is my second favorite team because I followed them closely for seven years. Plus, my nephew graduates from SCHS this spring.
Nothing against Elizabethtown because I respect their program, and I cheered for them in 2000 when Antwain Barbour and the Panthers downed Lexington Catholic for the title. I cheered very hard for them.
The Panthers defensive pressure and patient offense frustrated Shelby County, and the home team cruised to a 52-43 victory over one of the leading teams in the Eighth Region.
OBSERVATIONS
The Panthers' Den: What a great place to watch a basketball game. I really liked Charlie Rawlings Memorial Gym. It's a bit of a throwback place, and I liked that the teams sit on the bleachers right along with the fans. That can be very intimidating. They didn't blare loud music before the game or during halftime. I just wish more people were there.
Band on the Fun: I'm giving a Pennyrile Pick and Roll "Three Thumbs Up" nod to the E-town band. They played music at the right time, and they played some old classic rock n'roll numbers. When fans ponied up a buck to shoot a three point shot at halftime, the band played Billy Squier's "The Stroke." That's fantastic! But, they aren't spreadin' ear pollution far and wide, Billy.
Two F's, Two T's, and Two Guns: I noticed a banner for Steffphon Pettigrew hanging in the gym. He was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball last year, and E-town has honored him with a nice banner. I remember when Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live imitated Ugandan dictator Idi Amin he always said, "Two A's, two D's, and one gun." I've seen Mr. Pettigrew play at WKU this season, and I can tell everyone that the young man has a healthy pair of guns. He is put together solid, and opponents are learning that the young Mr. Pettigrew can sling those guns. I'm looking forward to when Steffphon Pettigrew is a Wheel of Fortune puzzle.
Stand Up and Cheer!: I noticed E-town shares its fight song with the Hilltoppers. Being a WKU alumnus and a regular attendee of Hilltopper hoops, it's hard not to sing along with "Stand Up and Cheer," and it may have bothered some of the Shelby County fans I was sitting amongst.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Nelson County 43 - Larue County 42
Larue County High School, Hodgenville, Kentucky 02-12-08 (Abraham Lincoln's Birthday)
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Tuesday was a big day in Hodgenville. The whole town was celebrating the 199th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The First Lady, Laura Bush, was supposed to be here but canceled due to the bad weather, so we had to settle for newly elected Governor Steve Beshear. The icy weather made everything a big gamble, but the governor rolled the dice and and brought all his chips to Larue County. The town was buzzing.
School had been out for the last two days, so I wondered if any games would be played on Tuesday night. I made a few calls and sent a few e-mails and found out the games were on. Because the weather was a question mark, I decided to wager that the roads were slick and stayed close to home to watch the Hawks take on the Nelson County Cardinals.
Nelson County came into Tuesday's contest riding a big win against cross town rival Bardstown in an overtime contest on February 8th. Nelson brought a 12-10 record, which might have made the Hawks overlook feathered friends from the neighboring county. When I looked at Nelson County's roster, I realized they were loaded with seniors, seven to be exact. They were not that big, but they were a scrappy bunch.
Nelson came out looking like they were going to stuff the Hawks and put them over their mantel. They got it done on the both ends of the court and jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead. Coach Paul Childress called a timeout at the 5:10 mark. His Larue County squad responded and stepped it up big time by getting into every passing lane. In a sarcastic tone, Nelson County Coach Minor Harmon told his team to try to pass it to a player wearing a red jersey.
Larue Switched defenses every trip down the floor, and they were putting down the hammer. They went on a 10-2 run to close the first quarter. The Hawks led 14-10.
The 1-3-1 zone was working for Larue, and Nelson County went cold in the second quarter. The Hawks were patient on offense, more so than I had seen all year. Tyler Hornback was filling up the basket and was all over the floor. It seemed that Larue had put it on cruise control in the second. Coach Harmon called another timeout and really got into his team. I was close to their bench and could hear him say that if they were going to play like that, then just load up the bus and go home. That's all he said to them; end of timeout. Larue continued to claw the Cardinals and pushed their lead at the half to 28-16.
I have been all over the Fifth Region this year, and I have always watched the refs just to see how consistent they are. Tonight I saw the worst in the region. They must have just been called up from the JV ranks. These two guys were horrible. After the game something was pointed out to me. Someone told me that every time a team builds a lead the refs let the other team back into the game. Then, I got to thinking back to the games I've been to, and it seemed that way. Never was a hand check called, or a hold or anything like that. They only called the obvious ones.
Anyway, Nelson County was getting back into this game with the help of Larue County making some turnovers. Grease the pan and warm the oven because the Hawks were serving them up hot. Turnovers were killing Larue. Nelson County was hot from the field. Despite all of that, Larue still held a 38-28 lead at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter was getting pretty wild in Hodgenville. Nelson County gave it all they had and were knocking on the Larue's door. Their full court press was hurting the Hawks, and not long into the quarter, the Cardinals had cut the lead from ten to four. Despite being out-of-control, Larue started their own press, but it did little good. Nelson County was determined and were not going to give up the game.
Forgive me because I didn't catch the kids name, but a non-starter for the Cardinals nailed a three pointer around the 2:00 mark that gave them the lead. The crowd was so loud that I could not hear the PA announcer. It was a good shot, and it was about 23 feet from the goal. Nelson had a 41-40 lead.
Larue started to foul. Nelson County had not shot many free throws. I guess the refs were worried about the weather and wanted to get the game over with. A Cardinal player missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Larue got a run out with 30.6 seconds left. Nelson fouled senior Alan Vass, who is also Larue County's quarterback, so pressure was no issue for him. He made both and regained the lead. With 19 seconds left, Nelson ran an offense looking for the best possible shot, and they got it with 19 seconds to go. Larue called a timeout.
Larue County lost on February 8th on a last second thirty footer, so I thought this my be a welcomed payback for them. They had to go the length of the floor, but I thought they had plenty of time.
While Larue tried to inbounds the ball to their senior point guard, Christian Seymour, Nelson County appeared to be holding him. The referee must've swallowed his whistle or was looking at the roof checking for leaks or something. Hey, refs! You're at Larue County. You've got to call that for the home crowd. It happened right in front of the Larue fans, and, man, they were hot. I'm sure the ref has a few burnt hairs on his neck, and he wouldn't turn around to face the crowd.
That's the fastest I've ever seen a ref run off the floor.
It was aces and eights for the Hawks. Nelson came in and stole one on Old Abe's birthday.
I think Larue is a better team than their last few games have shown. Maybe when the district tournament comes around they can get back to playing good ball.
Speaking of district tournaments -- or regionals for that matter -- things have gotten pretty interesting over the last few weeks. North Hardin has lost a couple that they shouldn't have. Bardstown has lost two of their last four, and Larue has lost four of five. So, all the tops teams, except for Adair, have lost some games down the stretch, and some of the middle of the pack teams have shocked and upset some of those top teams. The fifth is shaping up to be a good tilt. I can't wait.
This is the best time of the year for us basketball fans.
OBSERVATIONS
Bring Out Your Dead: Coach Minor Harmon looks like a mortician to me. I'm not making fun of the guy, I was just surprised to see him as coach. I had not seen him prior to this season. He is fun to watch, and I can tell he is always thinking. He will walk down to the end of the bench and then all of sudden turn around and call a play or think of a defensive move. It's really a treat to watch. The fans seem to really like him, and his team has put together back-to-back regional wins over some top teams. He has them believing they can play with anyone on any given night.
The Jumping Hawks: Halftime entertainment Friday night was a group of 4th through 6th graders that have formed a jump rope team. These kids were amazing. They do crazy things with jump ropes. They are led by two coaches, and they perform everywhere from parades to festivals to high schools around the state. Keep up the good works kids! It was a treat to watch the show, and it kept me from visiting the concession stand (they don't call me "pudge" for nothing).
Thank You, Mother Harper: I sat in amazement as I watched the refs. It was bad at both ends. I had never seen these guys before and after talking to some Larue County fans after the game, we probably will never see them again (editor's query: should I alert the sheriff? "Never see them again" has double meaning in some of the places I work). I guess some refs have off nights, and I know first hand that it is a hard job. But, I can't stand it when they miss call after call. I know this is not the norm for the Pick and Roll, but I can't help it tonight. I'm blowing off some steam because I'm a Larue County resident and a fan. If these guys were anywhere else tonight, and I was there watching, I would be as equally upset. Sorry, it was that bad.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Tuesday was a big day in Hodgenville. The whole town was celebrating the 199th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The First Lady, Laura Bush, was supposed to be here but canceled due to the bad weather, so we had to settle for newly elected Governor Steve Beshear. The icy weather made everything a big gamble, but the governor rolled the dice and and brought all his chips to Larue County. The town was buzzing.
School had been out for the last two days, so I wondered if any games would be played on Tuesday night. I made a few calls and sent a few e-mails and found out the games were on. Because the weather was a question mark, I decided to wager that the roads were slick and stayed close to home to watch the Hawks take on the Nelson County Cardinals.
Nelson County came into Tuesday's contest riding a big win against cross town rival Bardstown in an overtime contest on February 8th. Nelson brought a 12-10 record, which might have made the Hawks overlook feathered friends from the neighboring county. When I looked at Nelson County's roster, I realized they were loaded with seniors, seven to be exact. They were not that big, but they were a scrappy bunch.
Nelson came out looking like they were going to stuff the Hawks and put them over their mantel. They got it done on the both ends of the court and jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead. Coach Paul Childress called a timeout at the 5:10 mark. His Larue County squad responded and stepped it up big time by getting into every passing lane. In a sarcastic tone, Nelson County Coach Minor Harmon told his team to try to pass it to a player wearing a red jersey.
Larue Switched defenses every trip down the floor, and they were putting down the hammer. They went on a 10-2 run to close the first quarter. The Hawks led 14-10.
The 1-3-1 zone was working for Larue, and Nelson County went cold in the second quarter. The Hawks were patient on offense, more so than I had seen all year. Tyler Hornback was filling up the basket and was all over the floor. It seemed that Larue had put it on cruise control in the second. Coach Harmon called another timeout and really got into his team. I was close to their bench and could hear him say that if they were going to play like that, then just load up the bus and go home. That's all he said to them; end of timeout. Larue continued to claw the Cardinals and pushed their lead at the half to 28-16.
I have been all over the Fifth Region this year, and I have always watched the refs just to see how consistent they are. Tonight I saw the worst in the region. They must have just been called up from the JV ranks. These two guys were horrible. After the game something was pointed out to me. Someone told me that every time a team builds a lead the refs let the other team back into the game. Then, I got to thinking back to the games I've been to, and it seemed that way. Never was a hand check called, or a hold or anything like that. They only called the obvious ones.
Anyway, Nelson County was getting back into this game with the help of Larue County making some turnovers. Grease the pan and warm the oven because the Hawks were serving them up hot. Turnovers were killing Larue. Nelson County was hot from the field. Despite all of that, Larue still held a 38-28 lead at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter was getting pretty wild in Hodgenville. Nelson County gave it all they had and were knocking on the Larue's door. Their full court press was hurting the Hawks, and not long into the quarter, the Cardinals had cut the lead from ten to four. Despite being out-of-control, Larue started their own press, but it did little good. Nelson County was determined and were not going to give up the game.
Forgive me because I didn't catch the kids name, but a non-starter for the Cardinals nailed a three pointer around the 2:00 mark that gave them the lead. The crowd was so loud that I could not hear the PA announcer. It was a good shot, and it was about 23 feet from the goal. Nelson had a 41-40 lead.
Larue started to foul. Nelson County had not shot many free throws. I guess the refs were worried about the weather and wanted to get the game over with. A Cardinal player missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Larue got a run out with 30.6 seconds left. Nelson fouled senior Alan Vass, who is also Larue County's quarterback, so pressure was no issue for him. He made both and regained the lead. With 19 seconds left, Nelson ran an offense looking for the best possible shot, and they got it with 19 seconds to go. Larue called a timeout.
Larue County lost on February 8th on a last second thirty footer, so I thought this my be a welcomed payback for them. They had to go the length of the floor, but I thought they had plenty of time.
While Larue tried to inbounds the ball to their senior point guard, Christian Seymour, Nelson County appeared to be holding him. The referee must've swallowed his whistle or was looking at the roof checking for leaks or something. Hey, refs! You're at Larue County. You've got to call that for the home crowd. It happened right in front of the Larue fans, and, man, they were hot. I'm sure the ref has a few burnt hairs on his neck, and he wouldn't turn around to face the crowd.
That's the fastest I've ever seen a ref run off the floor.
It was aces and eights for the Hawks. Nelson came in and stole one on Old Abe's birthday.
I think Larue is a better team than their last few games have shown. Maybe when the district tournament comes around they can get back to playing good ball.
Speaking of district tournaments -- or regionals for that matter -- things have gotten pretty interesting over the last few weeks. North Hardin has lost a couple that they shouldn't have. Bardstown has lost two of their last four, and Larue has lost four of five. So, all the tops teams, except for Adair, have lost some games down the stretch, and some of the middle of the pack teams have shocked and upset some of those top teams. The fifth is shaping up to be a good tilt. I can't wait.
This is the best time of the year for us basketball fans.
OBSERVATIONS
Bring Out Your Dead: Coach Minor Harmon looks like a mortician to me. I'm not making fun of the guy, I was just surprised to see him as coach. I had not seen him prior to this season. He is fun to watch, and I can tell he is always thinking. He will walk down to the end of the bench and then all of sudden turn around and call a play or think of a defensive move. It's really a treat to watch. The fans seem to really like him, and his team has put together back-to-back regional wins over some top teams. He has them believing they can play with anyone on any given night.
The Jumping Hawks: Halftime entertainment Friday night was a group of 4th through 6th graders that have formed a jump rope team. These kids were amazing. They do crazy things with jump ropes. They are led by two coaches, and they perform everywhere from parades to festivals to high schools around the state. Keep up the good works kids! It was a treat to watch the show, and it kept me from visiting the concession stand (they don't call me "pudge" for nothing).
Thank You, Mother Harper: I sat in amazement as I watched the refs. It was bad at both ends. I had never seen these guys before and after talking to some Larue County fans after the game, we probably will never see them again (editor's query: should I alert the sheriff? "Never see them again" has double meaning in some of the places I work). I guess some refs have off nights, and I know first hand that it is a hard job. But, I can't stand it when they miss call after call. I know this is not the norm for the Pick and Roll, but I can't help it tonight. I'm blowing off some steam because I'm a Larue County resident and a fan. If these guys were anywhere else tonight, and I was there watching, I would be as equally upset. Sorry, it was that bad.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Fifth Region Roundup
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
I don't claim to be good at predicting games or the weather or anything else for that matter. I guess one would have to go see a man who lives in Irvington, Kentucky. Dick Frymire has been predicting things for many years. He has some help, though. He has this pet rooster named Ted. Ted has picked several Super Bowl champions, but when it comes to basketball not even Ted has a clue.
When this season started and I went traveling around the Fifth Region, I knew that Adair County was the early favorite but only because they were the defending champions. They didn't loose much from last year's team. They are the smartest team I've seen all year, and they do things that you just can't coach. So, people who know me and know what I've been doing for Pick and roll ask me, "who will challenge the Indians for the title?"
Here's my look at these teams.
Adair County is 19-4 overall as of February 3rd. They have played a tough schedule, which includes Kentucky's premiere holiday tournament -- King of the Bluegrass. Their only loss came in an overtime game with highly ranked University Heights Academy out of the Second Region.Some say their game plan is boring, and they are probably the only team in the state that wants to slow the ball down and work for the open shot. They are very unselfish, but there are teams that can upset them.
North Hardin has been an up-and-down team all year. They have tons of athletic ability and quickness. At times, they play out of control and just don't work hard enough on the offensive end of the floor. They can, however, get hot. The Trojans are led by Maurice Gosa, a senior point guard, and big man LaRod King. They took a thumping in Columbia, but they couldn't have thrown the ball in the ocean that night. Also, they have a coach who knows a few things about regional basketball play. Ron Bevars has 699 career wins and is 15-0 in regional championship games. Don't be surprised if North gets it together and makes some kind of run.
Taylor County is a team I've only seen one time, but it was probably the best game I've seen this season. They have taken their lumps here and there, but, overall, they, too can challenge. They're still getting used to a transfer they got in early January. He's a big man and before that they didn't have a post player, so they lived on the three point shot. We all know that if the three ball isn't going down it could make for a long night. Chase Cox is their biggest threat from long range. If they make it, the regional tournament in Hart County, he will look to pull the trigger out on 31-W. Their big man, Leonard Macon, has got to settle down and play ball. The kid shows a lot of enthusiasm but sometimes takes it too far. They have a good zone defense that had Adair County on the ropes a couple of weeks ago.
The Bardstown Tigers is another tam I've only seen once. They have a 10-1 record against regional teams with their only loss coming to Nelson County. I saw them back in December, and if I remember right, they were very fast. They are led by DeMarco Phillips, a long and lanky kid who can handle the ball and has a good stroke from about 15 feet. They had a decent showing last week in the All "A" Classic in Richmond. Time will tell how good this team really is because they close the regular season with Adair County and North Hardin.
Central Hardin really impressed me on February 1st. They are sneaky quick, and they have a kid named Tony Harding (one vowel from being an ice skater), who can jump out of the gym. I would guess he is about 6', but that is a stretch. Coaches may want to take notice and not press this team because they have a press break offense that will burn teams if they are not careful. They are work horses on the floor, and they seem to play good together. If they beat Fort Knox on February 5th, they will earn the number one seed in the district for the first time in school history. They have only been to the regional tournament twice, so look for them to make the most of it.
LaRue County started the season 13-1, which is one of their best starts in a long time. Lately, they have dropped 3 of 5 and have struggled on defense at times. They play with a lot of heart and will leave everything on the floor. I expect them to run the table in the 18th district. They are one of two teams in the Fifth with a perfect district record. They have a balanced attack led by juniors Tyler Hornback, Bryan Bault, and their floor general Christian Seymour. They have a tough game coming up against Taylor County. Their coach also has a regional championship ring to his credit.
The Elizabethtown Panthers' record doesn't indicate how good this team can play. To say they lost a lot from last year would be an understatement. They had Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, Stephffon Pettigrew, but he's banging around for the Hilltoppers this season. They still have good size at every position, and they have a wide body down low in the form of Sean Bouthilette. If the ball is around him, he's going to get his hands on it, and he will not let go. In the game I watched they played a tough 1-3-1 zone defense. James Haire is one of the most respected coaches in the Fifth, and I always hear that you can't ever count out one of his teams.
These These are my thoughts on the top teams in the Fifth Region. Don't get me wrong, any of these teams can get upset on any given night. Some of the best district games will be in the 17th and the 20th. The 20th will be a war at Taylor County High School. The favorites in that district -- Adair and Taylor -- have only been separated by 10 points in the last five times they've played. I will probably be at that one myself.
I hope everyone has enjoyed my take on this region. Keep looking for updates all through the district and regional tournaments.
I don't claim to be good at predicting games or the weather or anything else for that matter. I guess one would have to go see a man who lives in Irvington, Kentucky. Dick Frymire has been predicting things for many years. He has some help, though. He has this pet rooster named Ted. Ted has picked several Super Bowl champions, but when it comes to basketball not even Ted has a clue.
When this season started and I went traveling around the Fifth Region, I knew that Adair County was the early favorite but only because they were the defending champions. They didn't loose much from last year's team. They are the smartest team I've seen all year, and they do things that you just can't coach. So, people who know me and know what I've been doing for Pick and roll ask me, "who will challenge the Indians for the title?"
Here's my look at these teams.
Adair County is 19-4 overall as of February 3rd. They have played a tough schedule, which includes Kentucky's premiere holiday tournament -- King of the Bluegrass. Their only loss came in an overtime game with highly ranked University Heights Academy out of the Second Region.Some say their game plan is boring, and they are probably the only team in the state that wants to slow the ball down and work for the open shot. They are very unselfish, but there are teams that can upset them.
North Hardin has been an up-and-down team all year. They have tons of athletic ability and quickness. At times, they play out of control and just don't work hard enough on the offensive end of the floor. They can, however, get hot. The Trojans are led by Maurice Gosa, a senior point guard, and big man LaRod King. They took a thumping in Columbia, but they couldn't have thrown the ball in the ocean that night. Also, they have a coach who knows a few things about regional basketball play. Ron Bevars has 699 career wins and is 15-0 in regional championship games. Don't be surprised if North gets it together and makes some kind of run.
Taylor County is a team I've only seen one time, but it was probably the best game I've seen this season. They have taken their lumps here and there, but, overall, they, too can challenge. They're still getting used to a transfer they got in early January. He's a big man and before that they didn't have a post player, so they lived on the three point shot. We all know that if the three ball isn't going down it could make for a long night. Chase Cox is their biggest threat from long range. If they make it, the regional tournament in Hart County, he will look to pull the trigger out on 31-W. Their big man, Leonard Macon, has got to settle down and play ball. The kid shows a lot of enthusiasm but sometimes takes it too far. They have a good zone defense that had Adair County on the ropes a couple of weeks ago.
The Bardstown Tigers is another tam I've only seen once. They have a 10-1 record against regional teams with their only loss coming to Nelson County. I saw them back in December, and if I remember right, they were very fast. They are led by DeMarco Phillips, a long and lanky kid who can handle the ball and has a good stroke from about 15 feet. They had a decent showing last week in the All "A" Classic in Richmond. Time will tell how good this team really is because they close the regular season with Adair County and North Hardin.
Central Hardin really impressed me on February 1st. They are sneaky quick, and they have a kid named Tony Harding (one vowel from being an ice skater), who can jump out of the gym. I would guess he is about 6', but that is a stretch. Coaches may want to take notice and not press this team because they have a press break offense that will burn teams if they are not careful. They are work horses on the floor, and they seem to play good together. If they beat Fort Knox on February 5th, they will earn the number one seed in the district for the first time in school history. They have only been to the regional tournament twice, so look for them to make the most of it.
LaRue County started the season 13-1, which is one of their best starts in a long time. Lately, they have dropped 3 of 5 and have struggled on defense at times. They play with a lot of heart and will leave everything on the floor. I expect them to run the table in the 18th district. They are one of two teams in the Fifth with a perfect district record. They have a balanced attack led by juniors Tyler Hornback, Bryan Bault, and their floor general Christian Seymour. They have a tough game coming up against Taylor County. Their coach also has a regional championship ring to his credit.
The Elizabethtown Panthers' record doesn't indicate how good this team can play. To say they lost a lot from last year would be an understatement. They had Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, Stephffon Pettigrew, but he's banging around for the Hilltoppers this season. They still have good size at every position, and they have a wide body down low in the form of Sean Bouthilette. If the ball is around him, he's going to get his hands on it, and he will not let go. In the game I watched they played a tough 1-3-1 zone defense. James Haire is one of the most respected coaches in the Fifth, and I always hear that you can't ever count out one of his teams.
These These are my thoughts on the top teams in the Fifth Region. Don't get me wrong, any of these teams can get upset on any given night. Some of the best district games will be in the 17th and the 20th. The 20th will be a war at Taylor County High School. The favorites in that district -- Adair and Taylor -- have only been separated by 10 points in the last five times they've played. I will probably be at that one myself.
I hope everyone has enjoyed my take on this region. Keep looking for updates all through the district and regional tournaments.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Central Hardin 60 - North Hardin 48
Central Hardin High School, Cecilia, Kentucky, 02-01-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
I guess I've been spoiled over the last few weeks because I have picked some great match ups to attend. I was thinking the same thing on Friday night because it was a district match up with a number one seed on the line and North Hardin Coach Ron Bevars was going after his 700th career win. When I pulled up in Cecilia and found my parking spot, a television camera man drove past, and I was getting pumped to see two of the best teams in the Fifth Region.
Central Hardin High School is a big place, and the parked cars were spread out, so I couldn't get a grasp of how many people were really there. As I walked in, I was on the phone trying to get my daughter some Hannah Montana movie tickets for Saturday night -- the things fathers will do for their kids. If you don't know who Hannah Montana is, I don't have time to explain.
Editor's query: I checked my Montana highway map and could not find a town called "Hannah." I did, however, find Hungry Horse, Montana, which is between Kalispell and Glacier National Park. Would your daughter want to go there?
With just a handful of regular season games left, teams are trying to position themselves into taht number one seed in the district tournament. Friday night, if North Hardin won, they could do it, but the Bruins had other ideas. They could also get a piece of that one seed. Central Hardin is flying under the radar in the fifth because they have played somewhat of a tough schedule. They have one bad loss to Louisville Central in the Louisville Invitational Tournament and a tough four point loss to the very good Bowling Green Purples. They were trying not to remember the ten point loss North handed them back on January 3rd.
North controlled the tap, and they were pushing the ball like crazy. They were hot, too. NH went up 7-0 before I could even look up. It didn't take long for Central Hardin Coach J.C. Wright to make adjustments. Instead of calling a timeout, he instructed his team to change to a 2-3 zone. That's all it took. NH went cold. During one stretch, the Trojans made five turnovers in 16 possessions. CH used those turnovers to inch closer on North's lead. By the time the first was over, NH had only a small lead, 13-10. You could feel the momentum shift to Central Hardin.
The Bruins opened the second with a flurry. They stayed in the zone, and North had trouble finding the basket. The refs were letting them play. The Trojans called a timeout at the 6:15 mark, and Coach Bevars and the Trojan faithful let the refs have it. It didn't do much good because Central applied good defense and finally took a lead at 20-17. They never looked back. I have heard from other fans around the Fifth that North was a good shooting team. I haven't seen it yet this year. They shot their share of bricks tonight. The Bruins were pulling away and led at the half, 28-13.
There was no entertainment at halftime except for some kids running around and shooting some hoops. I like that, and I think Pick and Roll was somewhere one night and the kids were out there shooting baskets (Note: it was Calloway County). It makes you wonder how many of them you'll be watching in a few years. There were even two little girls/cheerleaders running and flipping down the sidelines. A look into the future, if you will.
When I stood up to stretch my legs, I noticed Coach Wright was already working the refs before the game resumed. He and his team wanted this win badly. His team was about to step it up. The two teams went back-and-forth until the four minute mark, which is when Central began their quest for the number one seed. The Bruins hit everything in the third, and they had the lead at the end of three 45-29. There were a lot of sad faces on the North bench. This was not the game I expected.
I could see the North players getting frustrated as the last quarter started. Coach Bevars tried to spark his team, and finally NH tried to press, something they haven't done all night. It hurt CH, and North's LaRod King was the spark for which Bevars looked. He ran off six quick points in the fourth, but a Central timeout helped the Bruins to settle and figure out how to break the press. Man! Did they ever learn how to break a press?! I haven't seen a team break a press better all season. It just took them a couple of minutes to figure it out.
The Bruins ran away with a bit of a shocker, but, then again, I hadn't seen Central Hardin all year. They are a very good team. CH wins, 60-48.
OBSERVATIONS
The Three Musketeers: Daniel Linder, Tony Harding, and Chris Nichols combined for 48 of Central Hardin's 60 points. These three are being overlooked in the Fifth. Nichols is a shooter, Harding is a slasher, and Linder is a work horse. I said earlier that Central Hardin is under the radar, but Coach Wright and his teams are used to this. His teams don't get much attention in the 17th District. Look for these guys to make a run in the district tournament, but they have to beat Fort Knox on Tuesday to get the number one seed. Last season, they number one didn't make it out of the district.
The Perfect Wife: During the game I started looking around the "Bruins Den" and noticed something I didn't expect. The wife of LaRue County's Coach Paul Childress was in the stands. I thought it was odd since they were playing at Elizabethtown tonight. I laughed and thought, surely he didn't send her to scout these teams. You've got to love a wife who's willing to do that. I found out that she has a family member who plays for Central Hardin. I saw her on her cell phone a lot, so I'm sure she was checking in on the Hawks or maybe telling her husband which offense to run.
The Man on the Mic: Central Hardin has a great PA announcer. He has the right voice. I don't know his name, but I know he has been there for years. He does something that you normally don't hear at any gym. If he knows the players' nicknames, he will yell it out when they score. He does this for opposing teams as well. That's great! Other schools should look into doing this. I may be crazy, but I think it is cool.
Denial Doesn't Flow Through Hardin County: Even though his team came up short for him tonight, Coach Ron Bevars sits on 699 for his career. I know several people say they don't like him, but give the man some credit. First of all, he does a job that helps kids grow for later in life. As a former player myself, I can't tell you how many times I look back and say, "man, I'm glad my coach was there for me. Second, he really is a good coach. He is 15-0 in regional tournament championship games. That's unreal. There's not many coaches who can claim that. We all know that Coach Bevars will get his 700th win. So, if I don't get to see it in person: congrats Coach, you've had a great career.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
I guess I've been spoiled over the last few weeks because I have picked some great match ups to attend. I was thinking the same thing on Friday night because it was a district match up with a number one seed on the line and North Hardin Coach Ron Bevars was going after his 700th career win. When I pulled up in Cecilia and found my parking spot, a television camera man drove past, and I was getting pumped to see two of the best teams in the Fifth Region.
Central Hardin High School is a big place, and the parked cars were spread out, so I couldn't get a grasp of how many people were really there. As I walked in, I was on the phone trying to get my daughter some Hannah Montana movie tickets for Saturday night -- the things fathers will do for their kids. If you don't know who Hannah Montana is, I don't have time to explain.
Editor's query: I checked my Montana highway map and could not find a town called "Hannah." I did, however, find Hungry Horse, Montana, which is between Kalispell and Glacier National Park. Would your daughter want to go there?
With just a handful of regular season games left, teams are trying to position themselves into taht number one seed in the district tournament. Friday night, if North Hardin won, they could do it, but the Bruins had other ideas. They could also get a piece of that one seed. Central Hardin is flying under the radar in the fifth because they have played somewhat of a tough schedule. They have one bad loss to Louisville Central in the Louisville Invitational Tournament and a tough four point loss to the very good Bowling Green Purples. They were trying not to remember the ten point loss North handed them back on January 3rd.
North controlled the tap, and they were pushing the ball like crazy. They were hot, too. NH went up 7-0 before I could even look up. It didn't take long for Central Hardin Coach J.C. Wright to make adjustments. Instead of calling a timeout, he instructed his team to change to a 2-3 zone. That's all it took. NH went cold. During one stretch, the Trojans made five turnovers in 16 possessions. CH used those turnovers to inch closer on North's lead. By the time the first was over, NH had only a small lead, 13-10. You could feel the momentum shift to Central Hardin.
The Bruins opened the second with a flurry. They stayed in the zone, and North had trouble finding the basket. The refs were letting them play. The Trojans called a timeout at the 6:15 mark, and Coach Bevars and the Trojan faithful let the refs have it. It didn't do much good because Central applied good defense and finally took a lead at 20-17. They never looked back. I have heard from other fans around the Fifth that North was a good shooting team. I haven't seen it yet this year. They shot their share of bricks tonight. The Bruins were pulling away and led at the half, 28-13.
There was no entertainment at halftime except for some kids running around and shooting some hoops. I like that, and I think Pick and Roll was somewhere one night and the kids were out there shooting baskets (Note: it was Calloway County). It makes you wonder how many of them you'll be watching in a few years. There were even two little girls/cheerleaders running and flipping down the sidelines. A look into the future, if you will.
When I stood up to stretch my legs, I noticed Coach Wright was already working the refs before the game resumed. He and his team wanted this win badly. His team was about to step it up. The two teams went back-and-forth until the four minute mark, which is when Central began their quest for the number one seed. The Bruins hit everything in the third, and they had the lead at the end of three 45-29. There were a lot of sad faces on the North bench. This was not the game I expected.
I could see the North players getting frustrated as the last quarter started. Coach Bevars tried to spark his team, and finally NH tried to press, something they haven't done all night. It hurt CH, and North's LaRod King was the spark for which Bevars looked. He ran off six quick points in the fourth, but a Central timeout helped the Bruins to settle and figure out how to break the press. Man! Did they ever learn how to break a press?! I haven't seen a team break a press better all season. It just took them a couple of minutes to figure it out.
The Bruins ran away with a bit of a shocker, but, then again, I hadn't seen Central Hardin all year. They are a very good team. CH wins, 60-48.
OBSERVATIONS
The Three Musketeers: Daniel Linder, Tony Harding, and Chris Nichols combined for 48 of Central Hardin's 60 points. These three are being overlooked in the Fifth. Nichols is a shooter, Harding is a slasher, and Linder is a work horse. I said earlier that Central Hardin is under the radar, but Coach Wright and his teams are used to this. His teams don't get much attention in the 17th District. Look for these guys to make a run in the district tournament, but they have to beat Fort Knox on Tuesday to get the number one seed. Last season, they number one didn't make it out of the district.
The Perfect Wife: During the game I started looking around the "Bruins Den" and noticed something I didn't expect. The wife of LaRue County's Coach Paul Childress was in the stands. I thought it was odd since they were playing at Elizabethtown tonight. I laughed and thought, surely he didn't send her to scout these teams. You've got to love a wife who's willing to do that. I found out that she has a family member who plays for Central Hardin. I saw her on her cell phone a lot, so I'm sure she was checking in on the Hawks or maybe telling her husband which offense to run.
The Man on the Mic: Central Hardin has a great PA announcer. He has the right voice. I don't know his name, but I know he has been there for years. He does something that you normally don't hear at any gym. If he knows the players' nicknames, he will yell it out when they score. He does this for opposing teams as well. That's great! Other schools should look into doing this. I may be crazy, but I think it is cool.
Denial Doesn't Flow Through Hardin County: Even though his team came up short for him tonight, Coach Ron Bevars sits on 699 for his career. I know several people say they don't like him, but give the man some credit. First of all, he does a job that helps kids grow for later in life. As a former player myself, I can't tell you how many times I look back and say, "man, I'm glad my coach was there for me. Second, he really is a good coach. He is 15-0 in regional tournament championship games. That's unreal. There's not many coaches who can claim that. We all know that Coach Bevars will get his 700th win. So, if I don't get to see it in person: congrats Coach, you've had a great career.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Adair County 45 - Taylor County 44
Taylor County High School, Campbellsville, Kentucky 01-29-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Folks, we live in the best basketball state in America. Kentucky is the home of basketball. Sure we have a lot of other things in Kentucky of which we're proud, but when someone talks basketball, we hold our head high, our chest outward, and we are proud. I love it when you go to high school games and thousands of people are there. I love old gyms where it can be 5 degrees outside but 105 inside. I love it when it's packed and most of the crowd has to stand up most of the game and you're elbow-to-elbow with the person next to you. This is high school basketball in Kentucky, where kids play for the love of the game and the name on their jerseys. They leave it all on the floor.
Editor's Note: I could've sworn I heard a chorus humming My Old Kentucky Home as I read that.
Over the last couple of weeks I have seen some of the most exciting ballgames in recent memory. Tonight, when I pulled up in Campbellsville, I had a feeling I would not be disappointed. I ran into the Taylor County gym because it was pouring down rain, and I had to park somewhere near Green River Lake. I stayed wet the first two quarters, but it didn't dampen my spirits. Fans of old gyms would love this one; Taylor County has a gem of a gym. It's old and has bleachers all the way around the floor. I call it "The Clem Gym" in honor of Taylor County native Clem "The Gem" Haskins, who still holds the single game scoring record (55 points) at WKU.
As soon as the JV game ended, the student sections for both schools started their chants. The atmosphere was electric, just as it has been everywhere I've gone to in the past two weeks. I don't think you could have fit another person in that gym. I thought the fire marshal was going to come any second and make someone leave (like that was going to happen).
Both teams came out of the locker room to a chorus of booing from the opposition's fans. Taylor County has flown under the radar in the Fifth Region. They have lost some games they shouldn't have but, make no mistake, this is a very good ball club. Most recently, they have acquired a transfer from Danville High School named Leonard Macon. He has caused a stir in the 20th District and around the region. He is about 6'6", strong and plays to the crowd. He didn't start but made an impact early in the second quarter.
I've watched Adair many times this year. Once again, I found myself sitting beside Adair's #1 fan, T.P. Scott. As soon as I got there, I asked my new friend from Columbia how he felt about this game. He just shook his head and said, "I don't know. This one is always tough."
I soon found out he was right.
Adair controlled the tap, and the Cardinals played them man-to-man. The Indians came out hot but soon cooled off. They hung in the game because Taylor wasn't hot, either. Chase Cox, the Cardinals' three-point specialist put up a "goose egg" in the first quarter. People tell me that he looks to shoot the ball as soon as he gets off the bus. On Tuesday night, Adair's Kalen Kimberland rattled him. He's their senior leader on defense. The quarter ended with a low score: 10-9, advantage Adair.
Leonard Macon came off the bench in the second. Apparently, he didn't start because of a technical foul he got against Marion County on Friday. The kid is raw and strong. He doesn't shoot very good from the floor, but down load he is hard to handle. Both teams struggled to find their mark and still had a low scoring output in the second. The score was tied at 18 at the half. Mr. Scott reported that Adair only shot 33% from the field in the half.
To make Adair's shooting night even worse, Taylor opened up the third quarter in a 1-3-1 zone, and the Indian squad looked to Coach Mark Fudge for answers. I must give credit where credit is due. The Indians never got worried or rattled. They are so patient on offense, making the extra pass and playing under control. That's what makes a championship team.
Still having a little trouble with the zone, Adair called their first timeout of the night in the third quarter. They came out of the timeout looking to penetrate, which was what another fan and I had just been talking about. I met this guy soon after the game started. I'm sorry I never got his name, but he was real nice and said he had once coached the Adair players in little league (I gave him the web address so he can read up on our season).
Taylor was making progress with the zone and had a small lead at the end of the third, 29-26. That was the Cardinals' biggest lead of the game to that point. The crowd was still into the game.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, I finally had dried off from the rain and the excitement ran a chill up my back. About a minute and a half into the quarter, Corey Helm fed Adair's Darrin Ballou on the post, and he turned and dunked the ball straight up into Macon's face (welcome to the Fifth Region Mr. Macon!). It's the most emotion I've ever seen out of Ballou, who is normally quiet and goes about his job. He was in Macon's ear all the way down the court. Wow!! That's Kentucky high school basketball!
Not to be outdone, Taylor answered by feed their new big man, who traded for Ballou's bucket. Taylor had the lead with 5:13 left and had things going their way. They got into the bonus at 4:15 with a 35-32 lead.
The gym was getting louder and louder. Josh Gumm, Taylor's other three-point threat, hit a big three to make it 38-32. The zone had worked for the Cardinals all night, but Coach Troy Young made a move that we in the stands could not believe: he went back to the man-to-man, which let Adair back in the game.
Adair got a big bucket, cutting it to 38-34. Then, the Indians' Corey Helm finally woke up from his basketball coma and hit a huge three with 2:40 to go. This was the big swing in my opinion. The teams continued to trade baskets, and Ballou picked up his fourth foul. I thought, "well, this might burst the bubble for the Indians," but I forgot that this is a very smart team. Taylor remained in the man-to-man "D" and Adair spread the floor. Kalen Kimberland slashed into the lane and missed a shot, but he never gave up. He got his own rebound, put it in, and gave Adair a 43-42 lead. I could not believe what I was watching. Three out of the last four games I have been to have ended like this.
It was 44-43, and the Cardinals lead with 12.3 seconds to go. Adair spread the floor again, and Kimberland ran into the lane again. This time he was fouled and went to the line with 7.2 seconds remaining. He made the first of two shots, and Taylor tried to freeze him with a time out. You can't ice this kid. He made the second shot, making it 45-44. Taylor had a chance, getting the ball to Chase Cox, but Kimberland had him in check. Cox pushed off badly, but there was no call. he got the shot away, but the shot did not fall. He had been off his mark all night.
Adair won a great on in Campbellsville, and their fans rushed the floor. Hey, guys, don't forget that the district tournament is in Taylor's gym, and I'm sure they won't forget that.
OBSERVATIONS
King Cox: Before the game, Taylor County honored Chase Cox. He scored his 1,000th point on December 21st, and they went on to say that he now has over 1,200 career points. If my math is right, that's 200 points in a little over a month. Did I hear that right? Cox was off his mark on Tuesday, but it's still a great accomplishment for this young man. Oh, yeah, did I mention that he's only a junior? Look for him possibly to become the all time leading scorer in Taylor County history.
Gem of a Gym: My hat's off to Taylor County. They have a great gym. In this day and age with counties building new and bigger schools, Taylor has kept it real. Their gym is a fan's gym. If you ever have a chance to see it, don't pass it up. I love the way the bleachers are arranged because you're right on the floor, and you can see the action from anywhere.
Rodney Dangerfield?: I don't think so. With all the veteran coaches in the Fifth Region -- Tim Davis, James Haire, and Ron Bevars -- Coach Mark Fudge has earned my respect. He has talent, and he knows how to coach it. He has his team ready to play, and it shows. They are always under control, and I noticed that they are always looking to him for their next move. This means the players have confidence in their coach. He is a great leader, and coaches around the region better respect coach Fudge.
Editor's Note: I apologize to Adair County and Taylor County fans for being so slow posting Chris's report. My house had no power for a long time last night, and I had to leave for Henderson very early this morning. Thank you for reading.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Folks, we live in the best basketball state in America. Kentucky is the home of basketball. Sure we have a lot of other things in Kentucky of which we're proud, but when someone talks basketball, we hold our head high, our chest outward, and we are proud. I love it when you go to high school games and thousands of people are there. I love old gyms where it can be 5 degrees outside but 105 inside. I love it when it's packed and most of the crowd has to stand up most of the game and you're elbow-to-elbow with the person next to you. This is high school basketball in Kentucky, where kids play for the love of the game and the name on their jerseys. They leave it all on the floor.
Editor's Note: I could've sworn I heard a chorus humming My Old Kentucky Home as I read that.
Over the last couple of weeks I have seen some of the most exciting ballgames in recent memory. Tonight, when I pulled up in Campbellsville, I had a feeling I would not be disappointed. I ran into the Taylor County gym because it was pouring down rain, and I had to park somewhere near Green River Lake. I stayed wet the first two quarters, but it didn't dampen my spirits. Fans of old gyms would love this one; Taylor County has a gem of a gym. It's old and has bleachers all the way around the floor. I call it "The Clem Gym" in honor of Taylor County native Clem "The Gem" Haskins, who still holds the single game scoring record (55 points) at WKU.
As soon as the JV game ended, the student sections for both schools started their chants. The atmosphere was electric, just as it has been everywhere I've gone to in the past two weeks. I don't think you could have fit another person in that gym. I thought the fire marshal was going to come any second and make someone leave (like that was going to happen).
Both teams came out of the locker room to a chorus of booing from the opposition's fans. Taylor County has flown under the radar in the Fifth Region. They have lost some games they shouldn't have but, make no mistake, this is a very good ball club. Most recently, they have acquired a transfer from Danville High School named Leonard Macon. He has caused a stir in the 20th District and around the region. He is about 6'6", strong and plays to the crowd. He didn't start but made an impact early in the second quarter.
I've watched Adair many times this year. Once again, I found myself sitting beside Adair's #1 fan, T.P. Scott. As soon as I got there, I asked my new friend from Columbia how he felt about this game. He just shook his head and said, "I don't know. This one is always tough."
I soon found out he was right.
Adair controlled the tap, and the Cardinals played them man-to-man. The Indians came out hot but soon cooled off. They hung in the game because Taylor wasn't hot, either. Chase Cox, the Cardinals' three-point specialist put up a "goose egg" in the first quarter. People tell me that he looks to shoot the ball as soon as he gets off the bus. On Tuesday night, Adair's Kalen Kimberland rattled him. He's their senior leader on defense. The quarter ended with a low score: 10-9, advantage Adair.
Leonard Macon came off the bench in the second. Apparently, he didn't start because of a technical foul he got against Marion County on Friday. The kid is raw and strong. He doesn't shoot very good from the floor, but down load he is hard to handle. Both teams struggled to find their mark and still had a low scoring output in the second. The score was tied at 18 at the half. Mr. Scott reported that Adair only shot 33% from the field in the half.
To make Adair's shooting night even worse, Taylor opened up the third quarter in a 1-3-1 zone, and the Indian squad looked to Coach Mark Fudge for answers. I must give credit where credit is due. The Indians never got worried or rattled. They are so patient on offense, making the extra pass and playing under control. That's what makes a championship team.
Still having a little trouble with the zone, Adair called their first timeout of the night in the third quarter. They came out of the timeout looking to penetrate, which was what another fan and I had just been talking about. I met this guy soon after the game started. I'm sorry I never got his name, but he was real nice and said he had once coached the Adair players in little league (I gave him the web address so he can read up on our season).
Taylor was making progress with the zone and had a small lead at the end of the third, 29-26. That was the Cardinals' biggest lead of the game to that point. The crowd was still into the game.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, I finally had dried off from the rain and the excitement ran a chill up my back. About a minute and a half into the quarter, Corey Helm fed Adair's Darrin Ballou on the post, and he turned and dunked the ball straight up into Macon's face (welcome to the Fifth Region Mr. Macon!). It's the most emotion I've ever seen out of Ballou, who is normally quiet and goes about his job. He was in Macon's ear all the way down the court. Wow!! That's Kentucky high school basketball!
Not to be outdone, Taylor answered by feed their new big man, who traded for Ballou's bucket. Taylor had the lead with 5:13 left and had things going their way. They got into the bonus at 4:15 with a 35-32 lead.
The gym was getting louder and louder. Josh Gumm, Taylor's other three-point threat, hit a big three to make it 38-32. The zone had worked for the Cardinals all night, but Coach Troy Young made a move that we in the stands could not believe: he went back to the man-to-man, which let Adair back in the game.
Adair got a big bucket, cutting it to 38-34. Then, the Indians' Corey Helm finally woke up from his basketball coma and hit a huge three with 2:40 to go. This was the big swing in my opinion. The teams continued to trade baskets, and Ballou picked up his fourth foul. I thought, "well, this might burst the bubble for the Indians," but I forgot that this is a very smart team. Taylor remained in the man-to-man "D" and Adair spread the floor. Kalen Kimberland slashed into the lane and missed a shot, but he never gave up. He got his own rebound, put it in, and gave Adair a 43-42 lead. I could not believe what I was watching. Three out of the last four games I have been to have ended like this.
It was 44-43, and the Cardinals lead with 12.3 seconds to go. Adair spread the floor again, and Kimberland ran into the lane again. This time he was fouled and went to the line with 7.2 seconds remaining. He made the first of two shots, and Taylor tried to freeze him with a time out. You can't ice this kid. He made the second shot, making it 45-44. Taylor had a chance, getting the ball to Chase Cox, but Kimberland had him in check. Cox pushed off badly, but there was no call. he got the shot away, but the shot did not fall. He had been off his mark all night.
Adair won a great on in Campbellsville, and their fans rushed the floor. Hey, guys, don't forget that the district tournament is in Taylor's gym, and I'm sure they won't forget that.
OBSERVATIONS
King Cox: Before the game, Taylor County honored Chase Cox. He scored his 1,000th point on December 21st, and they went on to say that he now has over 1,200 career points. If my math is right, that's 200 points in a little over a month. Did I hear that right? Cox was off his mark on Tuesday, but it's still a great accomplishment for this young man. Oh, yeah, did I mention that he's only a junior? Look for him possibly to become the all time leading scorer in Taylor County history.
Gem of a Gym: My hat's off to Taylor County. They have a great gym. In this day and age with counties building new and bigger schools, Taylor has kept it real. Their gym is a fan's gym. If you ever have a chance to see it, don't pass it up. I love the way the bleachers are arranged because you're right on the floor, and you can see the action from anywhere.
Rodney Dangerfield?: I don't think so. With all the veteran coaches in the Fifth Region -- Tim Davis, James Haire, and Ron Bevars -- Coach Mark Fudge has earned my respect. He has talent, and he knows how to coach it. He has his team ready to play, and it shows. They are always under control, and I noticed that they are always looking to him for their next move. This means the players have confidence in their coach. He is a great leader, and coaches around the region better respect coach Fudge.
Editor's Note: I apologize to Adair County and Taylor County fans for being so slow posting Chris's report. My house had no power for a long time last night, and I had to leave for Henderson very early this morning. Thank you for reading.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Elizabethtown 62 - Breckinridge County 54
Breckinridge County High School, Harned, Kentucky 01-19-08
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
I first started playing basketball when I was in the fourth grade. It was in Homer Gray's Saturday Morning League. From that point on I knew I loved this game. It wasn't until a few years later, when my Aunt Kathy took me to my first Breck County game, I realized I wanted to be a Fighting Tiger.
Saturday night was Homecoming in Harned, and I wanted to see the Tigers and the Panthers scratch it out on the hardwood. Both teams are a little down this year (reflected by their records). E-town lost Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, Steffphon Pettigrew, who is playing for WKU this season, and I had yet to see the Panthers play. I reported on the Tigers over the holidays. Both schools have tons of tradition and some state tournament rings to flash.
Elizabethtown's James Haire is a veteran coach, but this year's team has really challenged him. Prior to Saturday's game, they sported an 8-7 record, having lost to Owensboro the night before. They have good size at every position, but I didn't know what to expect from them because they have won games over some worthy opponents. Plus, Breck has lost some tough games in the last couple of weeks.
E-town was already on the floor going through pre-game warm-ups when Breck took the floor. That's when the pep band struck up "Eye of the Tiger." To this day, and I guess forever, if a person was ever a Breckinridge County Fighting Tiger -- like I was -- that song just gets your blood a pumpin. I'm glad to see that the new band director hasn't shied away from tradition.
I'm really at a loss for words for this game. My buddy, Justin, who made the trip from Hodgenville with me, said that this game was "just blah." I admit that I was expecting a little better game. Maybe it's because I had witnessed two of the best games I've seen this year in the past seven days (I reported on them).
I told my buddy that maybe I should pass on this game, and he said, "well since you're here you should write something." Don't get me wrong; this game had some good moments.
Elizabethtown showed no effects from playing tough game on Friday night and ran off a few buckets. Breck missed some easy shots down low early in the first quarter. The thing that impressed me most in the first was how well Breck plays their man-to-man full court press. They have quick guards, and they get their hands on a lot of balls.
E-town was in control early, leading 17-12 after one period of play.
Breck is a young and players have had to grow up quick. They weren't going to back down to a team from the big city. To Coach Critchelow's dismay his Tigers looked a bit lost on offense, and E-town threw a tough 1-2-2 match up zone at them. I'm still a tiger at heart, but Breck made it easy for the Panthers in the first half. It bothers me to see a team that doesn't penetrate the zone and work for the three. These days teams are living and dying by the three point shot. Breck seemed to pass it around with no ball movement, letting E-town get set after every pass.
Heck, me, Pick and Roll, and three guys from Tules Creek could guard them. E-town outscored Breck in the second 13-7 to take the halftime lead 30-19.
Editor's Note: You and the three guys from Tules Creek would be working your butts off to pick up my slack. Plus, you'd need these things on the sidelines: a defibrillator, an emergency room doctor, an oxygen tank, a box of Girl Scout Tagalong cookies, and an ice cold Dr. Pepper before I'd even set foot on a basketball court. I'd have trouble keeping a fence post from going around me.
E-town started the third in a hurry to get this one over with and head back Highway 86. They ran an offensive play that would make Pick and Roll proud. They used the pick and roll. I had to look down at the E-town bench to see if Gene Hackman or James Haire was calling plays. I kept looking for the old "picket fence." E-town was too much for them in the third. They lead 44-30.
I guess the Panthers thought they had this game wrapped up because they seemed too laid back to start the last frame. Like I said, Breck was not intimidated. They were still playing hard and Coach Critchelow had made his point about moving the ball. E-town was up by 16 at this point. Breck had fought back to cut the lead to seven at one point but just couldn't get over the hump. E-town turned up pressure once again, and Breck was forced to foul and pray that the Panthers would miss from the charity stripe. E-town made the shots down the stretch and dodged a late bullet from the Tigers. They won 62-54.
OBSERVATIONS
No Stranger to the Mic: Breckinridge County's Huston DeHaven has been calling Tiger basketball since 1970, and his sidekick and stat man, Scotty Willoughby, has been with him since 1992. These voices of Breckenridge County have seen it all, and they won't shy away from telling listeners exactly what they think about officials, the crowd, and let people know if a player got away with a dirty play. By no means would they bash a player but tell listeners, "Well, he got away with that one.
I asked Mr. DeHaven what games stuck out in his mind other than Breck's state run in '95. He said, "well, a lot of them." He remembered every regional final that Breck was involved in: 1986 against Apollo and Rex Chapman; '93 against Grayson County where the Tigers had a seven point lead with 30 seconds to go and Grayson came back to win. Mr. DeHaven went on to tell me that he had once interviewed the legendary Cawood Ledford, Joe B. Hall, and Denny Crum. He is a fixture in Breck County sports, and I hope he has many more years behind the microphone.
He also had a day job for many years. He was the superintendent of Breck County Schools.
I Love Tradition: Regular readers of the Pick and Roll know that we love high school bands. Well, Breck has had good bands over the years, and Saturday night I was glad to see they still keep up with traditions. Like many games we all stand to honor our country with the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner," but Breck takes it a step further with playing "My Old Kentucky Home." During time outs and half time they play "Eye of the Tiger," which features a cow bell. You can never have enough COW BELL!!
A Hero There Made: Elizabethtown's Sean Bouthilette (pronounce booth-uh-let) was in the right places at the right times Saturday night. He led the Panthers with 19 points. He was a mismatch for Breck and E-town took full advantage of it. He is much quicker than he looked and is wide and strong. He grabbed a lot of loose balls and muscled his way to the basket. Somehow, I think the Panthers will be around come regional tournament time (just a gut feeling). They went nine deep tonight, and that means a lot playing night in and night out come tournament time. You can never count out a James Haire coached team.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
I first started playing basketball when I was in the fourth grade. It was in Homer Gray's Saturday Morning League. From that point on I knew I loved this game. It wasn't until a few years later, when my Aunt Kathy took me to my first Breck County game, I realized I wanted to be a Fighting Tiger.
Saturday night was Homecoming in Harned, and I wanted to see the Tigers and the Panthers scratch it out on the hardwood. Both teams are a little down this year (reflected by their records). E-town lost Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, Steffphon Pettigrew, who is playing for WKU this season, and I had yet to see the Panthers play. I reported on the Tigers over the holidays. Both schools have tons of tradition and some state tournament rings to flash.
Elizabethtown's James Haire is a veteran coach, but this year's team has really challenged him. Prior to Saturday's game, they sported an 8-7 record, having lost to Owensboro the night before. They have good size at every position, but I didn't know what to expect from them because they have won games over some worthy opponents. Plus, Breck has lost some tough games in the last couple of weeks.
E-town was already on the floor going through pre-game warm-ups when Breck took the floor. That's when the pep band struck up "Eye of the Tiger." To this day, and I guess forever, if a person was ever a Breckinridge County Fighting Tiger -- like I was -- that song just gets your blood a pumpin. I'm glad to see that the new band director hasn't shied away from tradition.
I'm really at a loss for words for this game. My buddy, Justin, who made the trip from Hodgenville with me, said that this game was "just blah." I admit that I was expecting a little better game. Maybe it's because I had witnessed two of the best games I've seen this year in the past seven days (I reported on them).
I told my buddy that maybe I should pass on this game, and he said, "well since you're here you should write something." Don't get me wrong; this game had some good moments.
Elizabethtown showed no effects from playing tough game on Friday night and ran off a few buckets. Breck missed some easy shots down low early in the first quarter. The thing that impressed me most in the first was how well Breck plays their man-to-man full court press. They have quick guards, and they get their hands on a lot of balls.
E-town was in control early, leading 17-12 after one period of play.
Breck is a young and players have had to grow up quick. They weren't going to back down to a team from the big city. To Coach Critchelow's dismay his Tigers looked a bit lost on offense, and E-town threw a tough 1-2-2 match up zone at them. I'm still a tiger at heart, but Breck made it easy for the Panthers in the first half. It bothers me to see a team that doesn't penetrate the zone and work for the three. These days teams are living and dying by the three point shot. Breck seemed to pass it around with no ball movement, letting E-town get set after every pass.
Heck, me, Pick and Roll, and three guys from Tules Creek could guard them. E-town outscored Breck in the second 13-7 to take the halftime lead 30-19.
Editor's Note: You and the three guys from Tules Creek would be working your butts off to pick up my slack. Plus, you'd need these things on the sidelines: a defibrillator, an emergency room doctor, an oxygen tank, a box of Girl Scout Tagalong cookies, and an ice cold Dr. Pepper before I'd even set foot on a basketball court. I'd have trouble keeping a fence post from going around me.
E-town started the third in a hurry to get this one over with and head back Highway 86. They ran an offensive play that would make Pick and Roll proud. They used the pick and roll. I had to look down at the E-town bench to see if Gene Hackman or James Haire was calling plays. I kept looking for the old "picket fence." E-town was too much for them in the third. They lead 44-30.
I guess the Panthers thought they had this game wrapped up because they seemed too laid back to start the last frame. Like I said, Breck was not intimidated. They were still playing hard and Coach Critchelow had made his point about moving the ball. E-town was up by 16 at this point. Breck had fought back to cut the lead to seven at one point but just couldn't get over the hump. E-town turned up pressure once again, and Breck was forced to foul and pray that the Panthers would miss from the charity stripe. E-town made the shots down the stretch and dodged a late bullet from the Tigers. They won 62-54.
OBSERVATIONS
No Stranger to the Mic: Breckinridge County's Huston DeHaven has been calling Tiger basketball since 1970, and his sidekick and stat man, Scotty Willoughby, has been with him since 1992. These voices of Breckenridge County have seen it all, and they won't shy away from telling listeners exactly what they think about officials, the crowd, and let people know if a player got away with a dirty play. By no means would they bash a player but tell listeners, "Well, he got away with that one.
I asked Mr. DeHaven what games stuck out in his mind other than Breck's state run in '95. He said, "well, a lot of them." He remembered every regional final that Breck was involved in: 1986 against Apollo and Rex Chapman; '93 against Grayson County where the Tigers had a seven point lead with 30 seconds to go and Grayson came back to win. Mr. DeHaven went on to tell me that he had once interviewed the legendary Cawood Ledford, Joe B. Hall, and Denny Crum. He is a fixture in Breck County sports, and I hope he has many more years behind the microphone.
He also had a day job for many years. He was the superintendent of Breck County Schools.
I Love Tradition: Regular readers of the Pick and Roll know that we love high school bands. Well, Breck has had good bands over the years, and Saturday night I was glad to see they still keep up with traditions. Like many games we all stand to honor our country with the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner," but Breck takes it a step further with playing "My Old Kentucky Home." During time outs and half time they play "Eye of the Tiger," which features a cow bell. You can never have enough COW BELL!!
A Hero There Made: Elizabethtown's Sean Bouthilette (pronounce booth-uh-let) was in the right places at the right times Saturday night. He led the Panthers with 19 points. He was a mismatch for Breck and E-town took full advantage of it. He is much quicker than he looked and is wide and strong. He grabbed a lot of loose balls and muscled his way to the basket. Somehow, I think the Panthers will be around come regional tournament time (just a gut feeling). They went nine deep tonight, and that means a lot playing night in and night out come tournament time. You can never count out a James Haire coached team.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Larue County 59 - Spencer County 56
Larue County High School, Hodgenville, Kentucky, 01-15-08
By Chris Gregory
Larue is quietly making a name for themselves in the fifth region this year. Nobody is giving them a shot to win the region, but I feel like they can play with the top three or four temas in the region. This is a team that is loaded with blue collar players, they have no Scotty Hopson's or Darius Miller's or Jon Hood's on their team, just hard nosed kids that love to play the game. Spencer Co. is about the same way. This is the first time I ever watched any Spencer Co. team. They play hard and sometimes dirty.
A decent sized crowd was on hand, and Spencer Co. brought a rowdy bunch. I had a quick chat with Coach Paul Childress before the game and he said that he was a little worried about this game. After coming off a big district win he didn't know how his team would respond against a non regional opponent. He also said that this was a very good Spencer Co. team, better than there 8-8 record.
The game got under way and Larue controlled the tip, Spencer backed into a 1-2-2 zone. It seemed to confuse Larue at first but they had great ball movement and got a bucket and the Hawks looked like they were going to pick up right where they left off on Friday. Spencer looked a little tight and made some silly turnovers. The quarter was a good one for the Hawks, they were up 16-8 when Spencer Co. got a time-out with 2:19 to go in the quarter. The Bears came out of the time-out and that's when the fans showed up as well. They were on the refs as soon as they put the ball back in play. I have been all over the fifth region this year and I haven't seen these refs before, I'm sure they were legal, but they were not that consistent. The first quarter ended with a Larue Co. lead 19-10.
With the Spencer Co. fans still rowdy the second quarter began and Larue was still hot, with the help of Tyler Hornback, Larue Co's all purpose player, they started to stretch their lead. But the Bears started to claw back into this one. They were taking it to the Hawks and getting them into big time foul trouble. Hornback, who had been all over the court picked up his second foul with 5:58 to go in the half. they were forced to sit him and that's when Spencer Co's Craig Edwards took over. Edwards is a wide body and he had been frustrated the whole game, he was kind of a dirty player but I guess his frustration made him act a little dirty. He would complain about not getting any calls, but he never did anything wrong. With Larue Co. in foul trouble, (three starters with two fouls) the sub's was able to hold the lead and go in at the half up 31-23.
Both teams of course, headed to their locker rooms and we got to enjoy the Larue Co. cheerleaders do their floor routine, I guess they have some kind of competition coming up, oh well good luck to them. Now I don't know what Coach Jacob Barmore said to his team, but they were in and out of the locker room in no time. I guess they wanted to catch the cheerleaders as well. Whatever he said must have worked cause they came out looking like a different team. They ran off a flury of buckets and cut the lead to two points. Larue got a timeout, Coach Childress had to settle his team.
The third was a wild one both teams were very intense and it got a little ugly. The refs were still catching it from the fans as they were still inconsistent, the fans from Spencer were really upset, they saw there team get back into this game, but now they thought the refs were going to take them out of it. That's when they had seen enough from one particular fan, they stopped the game and escorted a fan out of the gym. Now my back was to the Spencer Co. crowd but I had heard them all night and I wasn't about to turn around to see who was getting tossed. It was ugly. Good thing they had a sherriff's deputy on hand. Funny thing is that fans across the gym said the ref tossed the wrong guy. After it was all said and done Spencer Co. had there first lead 40-39 to end the third.
This game was a rough one for both teams, I had to keep looking down at the Larue bench to see if football Coach Rodney Armes was passing out helmets and shoulder pads. It was really heating up. Both teams made silly fouls and some mistakes in the fourth, I don't know if that was from being tired or just frustrated from all the banging. It must have been frustration, a Spencer Co. player picked up a technical foul, and it kinda took the steam out of his team. Now Larue Co. struggled all night from the free throw line (11 for 25). but after the technical, they started to fall and that was the turning point IMO. That put Larue up 51-46. The Bears still had fight in them, after trading buckets and some Larue made FT's the lead was 55-50 with 38.5 tics on the clock. Spencer was forced to foul, which probably wasn't a bad idea cause Larue had shot so poorly through-out the game. But they made them down the stretch and Larue won a wild one in Hodgenville, 59-56 .
OBSERVATIONS
Brothers in Arms: Senior Shawn and Junior Christian Seymour, both smart on and off the ball court, tonight they made 4 of 6 free throws with less than forty seconds to go in the game. On a night that the free trows were not falling, they stepped it up and knocked some important shots down. That builds confidence for tournament time.
I Know You Are, But What Am I?: Craig Edwards for Spencer Co. is a bully, I mean that in a good way. He is wide and very strong kid and he gives opposing players fits. He's a good offensive player as well, he single handly brought Spencer Co. back in this game scoring 19 points and many rebounds. He fouled out with about 40 seconds to go, after that they had no one to go to. Hats off to the bully!
Silent but Deadly: Coach Paul Childress, for people that know him, knows that he pretty much is quiet most of the time, well until game time that is. Tonight you could tell he really wanted this game, not that he don't want every game, but he really worked the sidelines tonight, working the refs, getting after players, only to get the most out of them and that is why people like him, he gets the most out of what he has got. At times I thought he was going to blow a gasket but he just turned away and kept his cool.
Leader of the Pack: Larue Co's Tyler Hornback has put together back to back performances that Larue fans have been waiting for. He is starting to turn the corner and at a good time in the season. He started off the season a little slow, but now he may be ready to carry this team on his back. But then again there are many players on this team who can step it up on any given night. Region teams know about Hornback, he was a starter last year as a Soph. and he made some noise then, so he may get some heavy attention come tournament time. So look for Corey Salsman, The Seymour Bro's. or Byran Bault to step up and help out and lead a balanced team.
By Chris Gregory
It's been a week and a half since I have been to a game, (dang work schedule). So tonight I got back to it. I didn't have to travel far for the contest (about three miles)between Spencer Co. Bears and the Larue Co. Hawks. Both teams were on a six game winning streak. The Hawks won last Friday against district foe Green Co. which to date is probably the best overall game played by Larue. Spencer from the 8th region, has had some good wins against John Hardin, North Bullitt, and Louisville Western.
Larue is quietly making a name for themselves in the fifth region this year. Nobody is giving them a shot to win the region, but I feel like they can play with the top three or four temas in the region. This is a team that is loaded with blue collar players, they have no Scotty Hopson's or Darius Miller's or Jon Hood's on their team, just hard nosed kids that love to play the game. Spencer Co. is about the same way. This is the first time I ever watched any Spencer Co. team. They play hard and sometimes dirty.
A decent sized crowd was on hand, and Spencer Co. brought a rowdy bunch. I had a quick chat with Coach Paul Childress before the game and he said that he was a little worried about this game. After coming off a big district win he didn't know how his team would respond against a non regional opponent. He also said that this was a very good Spencer Co. team, better than there 8-8 record.
The game got under way and Larue controlled the tip, Spencer backed into a 1-2-2 zone. It seemed to confuse Larue at first but they had great ball movement and got a bucket and the Hawks looked like they were going to pick up right where they left off on Friday. Spencer looked a little tight and made some silly turnovers. The quarter was a good one for the Hawks, they were up 16-8 when Spencer Co. got a time-out with 2:19 to go in the quarter. The Bears came out of the time-out and that's when the fans showed up as well. They were on the refs as soon as they put the ball back in play. I have been all over the fifth region this year and I haven't seen these refs before, I'm sure they were legal, but they were not that consistent. The first quarter ended with a Larue Co. lead 19-10.
With the Spencer Co. fans still rowdy the second quarter began and Larue was still hot, with the help of Tyler Hornback, Larue Co's all purpose player, they started to stretch their lead. But the Bears started to claw back into this one. They were taking it to the Hawks and getting them into big time foul trouble. Hornback, who had been all over the court picked up his second foul with 5:58 to go in the half. they were forced to sit him and that's when Spencer Co's Craig Edwards took over. Edwards is a wide body and he had been frustrated the whole game, he was kind of a dirty player but I guess his frustration made him act a little dirty. He would complain about not getting any calls, but he never did anything wrong. With Larue Co. in foul trouble, (three starters with two fouls) the sub's was able to hold the lead and go in at the half up 31-23.
Both teams of course, headed to their locker rooms and we got to enjoy the Larue Co. cheerleaders do their floor routine, I guess they have some kind of competition coming up, oh well good luck to them. Now I don't know what Coach Jacob Barmore said to his team, but they were in and out of the locker room in no time. I guess they wanted to catch the cheerleaders as well. Whatever he said must have worked cause they came out looking like a different team. They ran off a flury of buckets and cut the lead to two points. Larue got a timeout, Coach Childress had to settle his team.
The third was a wild one both teams were very intense and it got a little ugly. The refs were still catching it from the fans as they were still inconsistent, the fans from Spencer were really upset, they saw there team get back into this game, but now they thought the refs were going to take them out of it. That's when they had seen enough from one particular fan, they stopped the game and escorted a fan out of the gym. Now my back was to the Spencer Co. crowd but I had heard them all night and I wasn't about to turn around to see who was getting tossed. It was ugly. Good thing they had a sherriff's deputy on hand. Funny thing is that fans across the gym said the ref tossed the wrong guy. After it was all said and done Spencer Co. had there first lead 40-39 to end the third.
This game was a rough one for both teams, I had to keep looking down at the Larue bench to see if football Coach Rodney Armes was passing out helmets and shoulder pads. It was really heating up. Both teams made silly fouls and some mistakes in the fourth, I don't know if that was from being tired or just frustrated from all the banging. It must have been frustration, a Spencer Co. player picked up a technical foul, and it kinda took the steam out of his team. Now Larue Co. struggled all night from the free throw line (11 for 25). but after the technical, they started to fall and that was the turning point IMO. That put Larue up 51-46. The Bears still had fight in them, after trading buckets and some Larue made FT's the lead was 55-50 with 38.5 tics on the clock. Spencer was forced to foul, which probably wasn't a bad idea cause Larue had shot so poorly through-out the game. But they made them down the stretch and Larue won a wild one in Hodgenville, 59-56 .
OBSERVATIONS
Comedians or Players?: This Larue Co. team should nickname this season "The Blue Collar Players Tour", they will not win any Mr. Basketball awards or probably not sign any Division 1 scholarships in basketball, but they work hard and listen to their coach and right now they are gettin er done, with their balanced attack. I hope they can keep up their good play when they get back into district play on Friday at Hart Co.
Brothers in Arms: Senior Shawn and Junior Christian Seymour, both smart on and off the ball court, tonight they made 4 of 6 free throws with less than forty seconds to go in the game. On a night that the free trows were not falling, they stepped it up and knocked some important shots down. That builds confidence for tournament time.
I Know You Are, But What Am I?: Craig Edwards for Spencer Co. is a bully, I mean that in a good way. He is wide and very strong kid and he gives opposing players fits. He's a good offensive player as well, he single handly brought Spencer Co. back in this game scoring 19 points and many rebounds. He fouled out with about 40 seconds to go, after that they had no one to go to. Hats off to the bully!
Silent but Deadly: Coach Paul Childress, for people that know him, knows that he pretty much is quiet most of the time, well until game time that is. Tonight you could tell he really wanted this game, not that he don't want every game, but he really worked the sidelines tonight, working the refs, getting after players, only to get the most out of them and that is why people like him, he gets the most out of what he has got. At times I thought he was going to blow a gasket but he just turned away and kept his cool.
Leader of the Pack: Larue Co's Tyler Hornback has put together back to back performances that Larue fans have been waiting for. He is starting to turn the corner and at a good time in the season. He started off the season a little slow, but now he may be ready to carry this team on his back. But then again there are many players on this team who can step it up on any given night. Region teams know about Hornback, he was a starter last year as a Soph. and he made some noise then, so he may get some heavy attention come tournament time. So look for Corey Salsman, The Seymour Bro's. or Byran Bault to step up and help out and lead a balanced team.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Adair County 70 - North Hardin 44
Adair County High School, Columbia, Kentucky
January 4, 2007
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Well, it's a new year and teams around the Fifth Region are getting back into the meat of their schedule. Friday night, I was really torn over which game to attend. There were so many district and regional match ups that I couldn't make up my mind. I was so torn that even gave Pick and Roll a call for his advice. I needed to go watch Taylor vs. Central Hardin because I haven't written anything on them yet.
So which game did I choose? North Hardin at Adair County. I've been waiting for this game since I looked at who the Indians played after the King of the Bluegrass Tournament.
North came into this game after playing the night before at district foe Central Hardin, a game which the Trojans won 64-54. I would've gone to that game, but I had to work that night.
In my Fifth Region Review, I stated that both of these teams played good in holiday tournaments. I would give Adair the nod on strength of schedule because they played three ranked team in the KOB: University Heights, Trinity, and Ballard. However, North Hardin is a very good and athletic ball team. I had seen both of these teams play and knew that this game could make an early statement in the Fifth. I thought the game was going to be a coin toss because both teams are very good.
North was 12-2 overall and 8-0 in the region coming into this game, and Adair was 11-3 and 5-0 in the Fifth. As I suspected there was a big crowd on hand, and Adair fans are true to their Indians.
North controlled the tap and got into their offense right away. They turned ball over, and I started to notice that the Trojans might not be as pumped up for the game as the Indians. Adair's Corey Helm capitalized on the turnover and busted a three on the right wing. When this kid gets set, watch out, because he hardly ever misses.
Both teams play man-to-man, but North was about a step behind on their end.
Adair was quick to push the ball, and they were ready to run North back up Dixie Highway. North Hardin finally settled down and scored a bucket, but Adair was on the warpath in the first. I believe they did the unimaginable in the first quarter. This is unofficial, but I had them making all their field goals in the frame. They led 18-9.
North Hardin is the type of team that lives and dies by the three. Their best threat, Maurice Gosa, hit six three point shots the night before at Central, but he could not find the mark in Columbia. I'm sure that he missed his first five three point shots in this contest.
Midway through the second, North looked tired. Maybe they had one too many holiday meals. Adair County still had their hot hand and was not going to let up on the athletic Trojans. Darren Ballou began to heat up, and so did their point guard, Nick Fudge, who is Coach Mark Fudge's son.
I asked fans about Ballou to see if any college coaches were looking at him. Most said that his parents like WKU, but no one could say if the Ballou family has talked to Hilltopper Coach Darrin Horn.
Ballou had 10 points at the break, and his Indians led 33-18.
The third began a little ugly for Adair. They started turning the ball over, and it looked as if North was finally ready to show up for this game. They scored a couple of quick baskets and starting feeding their big man LaRod King. This offense helped because Adair's wide body, Cameron Murrell, got into foul trouble. Coach Fudge responded with a smaller lineup and started running against the Trojans. It worked, Adair had a 21 point lead at the end of the third.
Adair County fans could smell victory when the fourth quarter rolled around. Even Coach Ron Bevars had taken his seat on the bench. Adair came into this game rested and ready. Still, I could not believe how the game was shaping up. As I stated, I came in thinking it was a coin toss, but Adair prevailed by 26 points.
The Fifth Region is going to be KY Highway 55 this season. It's got to go through Adair County.
OBSERVATIONS
We'll Take Your Charity: Adair County is a great free throw shooting team. The Indians will make any team going down to the wire with them pay big time.
When I Wish Upon A Star: North Hardin fans say not to pay too much attention to this game because it means nothing. They're wrong. It's wishful thinking. If these two play again, North will think, "man, they've beat us by 26, what else can we do?" They also said that North was tired from playing Central Hardin the night before. I disagree again. They are kids, for crying out loud and kids don't get tired. How can you play and win state tournament games? They are played day-after-day. Now is the time for their players to get ready for those types of games.
It's A Small World After All: When the Adair County fan sitting next to me asked where I was from, I told him Breckinridge County. It turned out that his aunt was my first grade teacher. He said he started going to state tournament games the year Breck won it all in 1995, and he's been back every year since. That paled in comparison to the guy next to him. T.P. Scott has attended 663 state tournament games in-a-row. 663 games! I guess he likes hi basketball. Nice fans in Columbia.
Editor's astonished note: I'd like to meet Mr. Scott, and I hope you gave him the web address to the Pick and Roll. 663 games? I've pondered that, and I have decided that it has to be close to a record or maybe is a record. The Sweet Sixteen is 15 games every year, right? If my ciphering is right, then Mr. Scott has been to the Sweet Sixteen 44 times.
I've thought about all the college, high school, and pro basketball games I've been to in my 41 years, and I don't think I've been to a total of 663. I cut my teeth as a little boy on Kentucky Colonels basketball, Seventh Region (the great Ballard and Male High teams), and UofL basketball. I went to 40 college basketball games in the 1994-95 season (before I was married), and I've held season tickets to WKU basketball for the last six seasons. I'm absolutely astonished.
By the way, Pick and Roll is angling to attend all fifteen games at Rupp this March. It will tax the several dollar budget of the website and then I have to convince my wife and trick my boss.
January 4, 2007
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Well, it's a new year and teams around the Fifth Region are getting back into the meat of their schedule. Friday night, I was really torn over which game to attend. There were so many district and regional match ups that I couldn't make up my mind. I was so torn that even gave Pick and Roll a call for his advice. I needed to go watch Taylor vs. Central Hardin because I haven't written anything on them yet.
So which game did I choose? North Hardin at Adair County. I've been waiting for this game since I looked at who the Indians played after the King of the Bluegrass Tournament.
North came into this game after playing the night before at district foe Central Hardin, a game which the Trojans won 64-54. I would've gone to that game, but I had to work that night.
In my Fifth Region Review, I stated that both of these teams played good in holiday tournaments. I would give Adair the nod on strength of schedule because they played three ranked team in the KOB: University Heights, Trinity, and Ballard. However, North Hardin is a very good and athletic ball team. I had seen both of these teams play and knew that this game could make an early statement in the Fifth. I thought the game was going to be a coin toss because both teams are very good.
North was 12-2 overall and 8-0 in the region coming into this game, and Adair was 11-3 and 5-0 in the Fifth. As I suspected there was a big crowd on hand, and Adair fans are true to their Indians.
North controlled the tap and got into their offense right away. They turned ball over, and I started to notice that the Trojans might not be as pumped up for the game as the Indians. Adair's Corey Helm capitalized on the turnover and busted a three on the right wing. When this kid gets set, watch out, because he hardly ever misses.
Both teams play man-to-man, but North was about a step behind on their end.
Adair was quick to push the ball, and they were ready to run North back up Dixie Highway. North Hardin finally settled down and scored a bucket, but Adair was on the warpath in the first. I believe they did the unimaginable in the first quarter. This is unofficial, but I had them making all their field goals in the frame. They led 18-9.
North Hardin is the type of team that lives and dies by the three. Their best threat, Maurice Gosa, hit six three point shots the night before at Central, but he could not find the mark in Columbia. I'm sure that he missed his first five three point shots in this contest.
Midway through the second, North looked tired. Maybe they had one too many holiday meals. Adair County still had their hot hand and was not going to let up on the athletic Trojans. Darren Ballou began to heat up, and so did their point guard, Nick Fudge, who is Coach Mark Fudge's son.
I asked fans about Ballou to see if any college coaches were looking at him. Most said that his parents like WKU, but no one could say if the Ballou family has talked to Hilltopper Coach Darrin Horn.
Ballou had 10 points at the break, and his Indians led 33-18.
The third began a little ugly for Adair. They started turning the ball over, and it looked as if North was finally ready to show up for this game. They scored a couple of quick baskets and starting feeding their big man LaRod King. This offense helped because Adair's wide body, Cameron Murrell, got into foul trouble. Coach Fudge responded with a smaller lineup and started running against the Trojans. It worked, Adair had a 21 point lead at the end of the third.
Adair County fans could smell victory when the fourth quarter rolled around. Even Coach Ron Bevars had taken his seat on the bench. Adair came into this game rested and ready. Still, I could not believe how the game was shaping up. As I stated, I came in thinking it was a coin toss, but Adair prevailed by 26 points.
The Fifth Region is going to be KY Highway 55 this season. It's got to go through Adair County.
OBSERVATIONS
We'll Take Your Charity: Adair County is a great free throw shooting team. The Indians will make any team going down to the wire with them pay big time.
When I Wish Upon A Star: North Hardin fans say not to pay too much attention to this game because it means nothing. They're wrong. It's wishful thinking. If these two play again, North will think, "man, they've beat us by 26, what else can we do?" They also said that North was tired from playing Central Hardin the night before. I disagree again. They are kids, for crying out loud and kids don't get tired. How can you play and win state tournament games? They are played day-after-day. Now is the time for their players to get ready for those types of games.
It's A Small World After All: When the Adair County fan sitting next to me asked where I was from, I told him Breckinridge County. It turned out that his aunt was my first grade teacher. He said he started going to state tournament games the year Breck won it all in 1995, and he's been back every year since. That paled in comparison to the guy next to him. T.P. Scott has attended 663 state tournament games in-a-row. 663 games! I guess he likes hi basketball. Nice fans in Columbia.
Editor's astonished note: I'd like to meet Mr. Scott, and I hope you gave him the web address to the Pick and Roll. 663 games? I've pondered that, and I have decided that it has to be close to a record or maybe is a record. The Sweet Sixteen is 15 games every year, right? If my ciphering is right, then Mr. Scott has been to the Sweet Sixteen 44 times.
I've thought about all the college, high school, and pro basketball games I've been to in my 41 years, and I don't think I've been to a total of 663. I cut my teeth as a little boy on Kentucky Colonels basketball, Seventh Region (the great Ballard and Male High teams), and UofL basketball. I went to 40 college basketball games in the 1994-95 season (before I was married), and I've held season tickets to WKU basketball for the last six seasons. I'm absolutely astonished.
By the way, Pick and Roll is angling to attend all fifteen games at Rupp this March. It will tax the several dollar budget of the website and then I have to convince my wife and trick my boss.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Fifth Region Review
When Pick and Roll told me about his idea to start this blog, I told him that I would love to help him out. He knew that I was a fan of high school basketball. At first, I didn't know what kind of approach to take, but then I told myself to just go to games and see what I could come up with. I hope Pick and Roll readers have enjoyed my views so far.
Like Pick and Roll, I, too, have a job, but mine is a little different than his because I work a night shift in Elizabethtown. How do I get to the game? Well, my schedule allows me some days off during the week, but, in turn, I work a lot Saturdays and Sundays. It's really not that bad.
I thought I would give a Fifth Region review:
Adair County Indians
They're quickly becoming one of my favorite teams. They had a great holiday tournament season, but they suffered their first loss to an 11-2 Boone County squad in the Hoopin It up Classic. Then, they traveled to the King of the Bluegrass, where they had a tough first round draw against a very good University Heights team. They lost in overtime. They've played a very tough non-region schedule, which should prepare them for Fifth Region play. I'm sure that is what Coach Mark Fudge was wanting.
Adiar is ledy by 6'7" Darrin Ballou, who is only a junior, and from what I gathered from the KOB, he is catching the eye of some college coaches. The Indians are not wasting any time getting into regional play. They open up the new year with a game against always tough North Hardin on January 4th. Adair is 11-3.
North Hardin Trojans
I saw North Hardin take on John Hardin on December 13th. The Trojans have a slew athletes, led by point guard Maurice Gosa, who is very quick and loves to take people off the dribble. North Hardin was busy during the holidays as well. They went 3-0 in the Athlete's Choice Classic at Bardstown Bethlehem, and then went 2-2 in the KFC-Taco Bell Classic at Marion County, losing to Lexington Paul Dunbar in double overtime. Opponents better watch out for this team's quickness because they flat get it up an down the floor. They also have a good percentage from the three point line. Like I wrote in an earlier post, they have veteran coach Ron Bevars, who has an impressive regional tournament record, so don't ever count them out.
Larue County Hawks
Okay. I've been taking some flack from people around the Fifth Region over Larue County. I live there, and I'm good friends with their head coach, Paul Childress, so, naturally, I'm not going to let anyone talk smack about them. They have a 9-1 record, but some say they've played a weak schedule. However, if fans go back and look at the start of the season, they had three payers, two of whom were starters from last year's team, out with injuries. One of them is still out, and they're all seniors. Coach Childress was forced to play Junior Bryan Bault, who had never played one minute of high school basketball until this year. He must be pretty pleased with his team's early run. Bryan Bault? He's leading the team in points and rebounds.
I also like that Larue's coaching staff consistently teaches their young players. They give them a chance to play and make them learn from their mistakes.
Editor's query: Is the Wonder Woman of Kentucky County Clerks still in office? I always enjoyed working with her and got a kick out of telling people that I was going to meet Linda Carter in Hodgenville.
Bardstown Tigers
The Tigers may be as quick and athletic as North Hardin. I watched them dismantle Green County over the holidays. They are led by Demarco Phillips, who is a smooth, lanky wing player. They started the season with a seven game winning streak, but they ran into a good Allen County-Scottsville team ledy by Pick and Roll's favorite player, Jay "Pickle Juice" Starks. Look for Bardstown to go into regional play wide open and ready to kick into high gear.
Elizabethtown Panthers
I haven't been able to watch the Panthers, normally a Fifth Region power. Lately, they have been on fire, winning five games in a row after dropping four of their first five. Never county out a James Haire coached team. I hope to report on them later.
Taylor County Cardinals
Again, I haven't had a chance to see them play, but they've caught my attention. They beat Elizabethtown in the second game of the season, but they gave the win back to E-town in the championship game of the Coca-Cola Classic. The Cardinals also had a good game against Adair County, losing by only four in Columbia. Loaded with another Gumm as a three point threat, look for Taylor to maybe surprise some teams.
Like Pick and Roll, I, too, have a job, but mine is a little different than his because I work a night shift in Elizabethtown. How do I get to the game? Well, my schedule allows me some days off during the week, but, in turn, I work a lot Saturdays and Sundays. It's really not that bad.
I thought I would give a Fifth Region review:
Adair County Indians
They're quickly becoming one of my favorite teams. They had a great holiday tournament season, but they suffered their first loss to an 11-2 Boone County squad in the Hoopin It up Classic. Then, they traveled to the King of the Bluegrass, where they had a tough first round draw against a very good University Heights team. They lost in overtime. They've played a very tough non-region schedule, which should prepare them for Fifth Region play. I'm sure that is what Coach Mark Fudge was wanting.
Adiar is ledy by 6'7" Darrin Ballou, who is only a junior, and from what I gathered from the KOB, he is catching the eye of some college coaches. The Indians are not wasting any time getting into regional play. They open up the new year with a game against always tough North Hardin on January 4th. Adair is 11-3.
North Hardin Trojans
I saw North Hardin take on John Hardin on December 13th. The Trojans have a slew athletes, led by point guard Maurice Gosa, who is very quick and loves to take people off the dribble. North Hardin was busy during the holidays as well. They went 3-0 in the Athlete's Choice Classic at Bardstown Bethlehem, and then went 2-2 in the KFC-Taco Bell Classic at Marion County, losing to Lexington Paul Dunbar in double overtime. Opponents better watch out for this team's quickness because they flat get it up an down the floor. They also have a good percentage from the three point line. Like I wrote in an earlier post, they have veteran coach Ron Bevars, who has an impressive regional tournament record, so don't ever count them out.
Larue County Hawks
Okay. I've been taking some flack from people around the Fifth Region over Larue County. I live there, and I'm good friends with their head coach, Paul Childress, so, naturally, I'm not going to let anyone talk smack about them. They have a 9-1 record, but some say they've played a weak schedule. However, if fans go back and look at the start of the season, they had three payers, two of whom were starters from last year's team, out with injuries. One of them is still out, and they're all seniors. Coach Childress was forced to play Junior Bryan Bault, who had never played one minute of high school basketball until this year. He must be pretty pleased with his team's early run. Bryan Bault? He's leading the team in points and rebounds.
I also like that Larue's coaching staff consistently teaches their young players. They give them a chance to play and make them learn from their mistakes.
Editor's query: Is the Wonder Woman of Kentucky County Clerks still in office? I always enjoyed working with her and got a kick out of telling people that I was going to meet Linda Carter in Hodgenville.
Bardstown Tigers
The Tigers may be as quick and athletic as North Hardin. I watched them dismantle Green County over the holidays. They are led by Demarco Phillips, who is a smooth, lanky wing player. They started the season with a seven game winning streak, but they ran into a good Allen County-Scottsville team ledy by Pick and Roll's favorite player, Jay "Pickle Juice" Starks. Look for Bardstown to go into regional play wide open and ready to kick into high gear.
Elizabethtown Panthers
I haven't been able to watch the Panthers, normally a Fifth Region power. Lately, they have been on fire, winning five games in a row after dropping four of their first five. Never county out a James Haire coached team. I hope to report on them later.
Taylor County Cardinals
Again, I haven't had a chance to see them play, but they've caught my attention. They beat Elizabethtown in the second game of the season, but they gave the win back to E-town in the championship game of the Coca-Cola Classic. The Cardinals also had a good game against Adair County, losing by only four in Columbia. Loaded with another Gumm as a three point threat, look for Taylor to maybe surprise some teams.
Friday, December 28, 2007
King of the Bluegrass Tournament
Adair County vs. University Heights Academy
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Everybody is talking about Scotty Hopson, but pound-for-pound Adair County's Kalen Kimberland was the best player in this game. He had a tough assignment: guard Hopson.
I like to watch players during warm ups and see how they prepare themselves for the game. Hopson was dancing to the music played over the loudspeakers, but the Adair players looked focused. This was the first time I've gotten a look at Adair County since last season's Fifth Region Tournament, and they looked stronger, especially the 6'7" center, Darrin Ballou.
A friend of mine from Louisville joined me and wanted to see if I could be wowed by Scotty Hopson. Instead, Ballow wowed me.
When we took our seats, I noticed we were behind Scott Padget. I could tell by his ears. He's a heck of a nice guy and was talking to everyone around him.
Hopson got fired up quickly when the game started. He scored six quick points, and then he let me down. I remember what Pick and Roll said about him in Bowling Green, and I saw what he was talking about. He's got great potential but needs to get his game face on.
I liked what I saw out of Adair County. I looked forward to a Hopson-Ballou match up, but to my surprise, Kimberland started guarding Hopson. Kimberland is only 5'11," so he gives up eight inches to the Blazers' blue chipper. He plays great defense.
At the end of the first quarter the Blazers had a 16-14 lead.
Darrin Ballou is quickly becoming one of my favorite players, and I hear he is big on WKU. I think he would be a good fit for the Hilltoppers. He shoots good from the floor but tends to force some of his shots He was stronger than Hopson. Ballou needs to work on his free throw shooting.
The second quarter went back-and forth. Hopson stood around a lot and looked lazy. His teammate, Tyshawn Edmonson took up the slack by doing most of the scoring in the second quarter. It's rumored that UT is looking at Edmonson (editor's note: I've also heard Florida). UHA still had the lead at the half, 33-28.
Adair County made some adjustments to start the third quarter. They started feeding Ballou down low, and he was finding the basket. It didn't take long for Hopson to switch over and guard Ballou, but Ballou took it right to him. He is stronger in the upper body, and he pushed Hopson around quite a bit.
With 5:00 to go in the third, UHA Coach Randy McCoy called a timeout and was red faced. At the end of the quarter, the game was tied at 49.
The game was living up to its hype.
With his team in a battle, Mr. Hopson decided to show up. He took charge in the fourth quarter. He is quick off the dribble and really elevates on his jump shot. He just doesn't impress me. I don't know why.
The game went to overtime with the teams knotted at 58.
In the extra frame, Adair County's Kalen Kimberland showed why he was -- pound-for-pound -- the best player on the floor. He scored nine of his game high 21 points in overtime. After a timeout, UHA threw a 2-1-2 zone press against Adair, and it caused the Indians a lot of trouble. With 6.6 second left in the game, UHA had a two point lead, but Adair had the ball. They had a shot at tying it up, but Ballou turned the ball over. UHA won a good contest, 65-63.
OBSERVATIONS
Beam Thee Up Scotty: Hopson has a lot of growing up to do before he plays the college game. His attitude is sorry. Scott Padgett said the same thing about him. If he ends up at UK, I hope BCG can mold him. He is athletic and has great hops.
Editor's Observation: Pick and Roll was never in the military, but he knows that soldiers, sailors, and Marines call the thick rimmed, ugly, military issue eyeglasses "BCG's." That is their lingo for Birth Control Glasses. I'll let the readers make the leap in logic, but calling Billy Clyde "BCG" could get...well...ugly.
Double Dog Adair You: Adair County is going to be fun to watch again this year in the Fifth Region. Ballou and Nick Fudge (in my opinion the best point guard in the Fifth) along with Kimberland will carry the Indians deep into the regional tournament. Ballou and Fudge are both juniors, so they'll be tough next year, too.
Editor's Note: I've got to take "A Christmas Story" out of the DVD player.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
Everybody is talking about Scotty Hopson, but pound-for-pound Adair County's Kalen Kimberland was the best player in this game. He had a tough assignment: guard Hopson.
I like to watch players during warm ups and see how they prepare themselves for the game. Hopson was dancing to the music played over the loudspeakers, but the Adair players looked focused. This was the first time I've gotten a look at Adair County since last season's Fifth Region Tournament, and they looked stronger, especially the 6'7" center, Darrin Ballou.
A friend of mine from Louisville joined me and wanted to see if I could be wowed by Scotty Hopson. Instead, Ballow wowed me.
When we took our seats, I noticed we were behind Scott Padget. I could tell by his ears. He's a heck of a nice guy and was talking to everyone around him.
Hopson got fired up quickly when the game started. He scored six quick points, and then he let me down. I remember what Pick and Roll said about him in Bowling Green, and I saw what he was talking about. He's got great potential but needs to get his game face on.
I liked what I saw out of Adair County. I looked forward to a Hopson-Ballou match up, but to my surprise, Kimberland started guarding Hopson. Kimberland is only 5'11," so he gives up eight inches to the Blazers' blue chipper. He plays great defense.
At the end of the first quarter the Blazers had a 16-14 lead.
Darrin Ballou is quickly becoming one of my favorite players, and I hear he is big on WKU. I think he would be a good fit for the Hilltoppers. He shoots good from the floor but tends to force some of his shots He was stronger than Hopson. Ballou needs to work on his free throw shooting.
The second quarter went back-and forth. Hopson stood around a lot and looked lazy. His teammate, Tyshawn Edmonson took up the slack by doing most of the scoring in the second quarter. It's rumored that UT is looking at Edmonson (editor's note: I've also heard Florida). UHA still had the lead at the half, 33-28.
Adair County made some adjustments to start the third quarter. They started feeding Ballou down low, and he was finding the basket. It didn't take long for Hopson to switch over and guard Ballou, but Ballou took it right to him. He is stronger in the upper body, and he pushed Hopson around quite a bit.
With 5:00 to go in the third, UHA Coach Randy McCoy called a timeout and was red faced. At the end of the quarter, the game was tied at 49.
The game was living up to its hype.
With his team in a battle, Mr. Hopson decided to show up. He took charge in the fourth quarter. He is quick off the dribble and really elevates on his jump shot. He just doesn't impress me. I don't know why.
The game went to overtime with the teams knotted at 58.
In the extra frame, Adair County's Kalen Kimberland showed why he was -- pound-for-pound -- the best player on the floor. He scored nine of his game high 21 points in overtime. After a timeout, UHA threw a 2-1-2 zone press against Adair, and it caused the Indians a lot of trouble. With 6.6 second left in the game, UHA had a two point lead, but Adair had the ball. They had a shot at tying it up, but Ballou turned the ball over. UHA won a good contest, 65-63.
OBSERVATIONS
Beam Thee Up Scotty: Hopson has a lot of growing up to do before he plays the college game. His attitude is sorry. Scott Padgett said the same thing about him. If he ends up at UK, I hope BCG can mold him. He is athletic and has great hops.
Editor's Observation: Pick and Roll was never in the military, but he knows that soldiers, sailors, and Marines call the thick rimmed, ugly, military issue eyeglasses "BCG's." That is their lingo for Birth Control Glasses. I'll let the readers make the leap in logic, but calling Billy Clyde "BCG" could get...well...ugly.
Double Dog Adair You: Adair County is going to be fun to watch again this year in the Fifth Region. Ballou and Nick Fudge (in my opinion the best point guard in the Fifth) along with Kimberland will carry the Indians deep into the regional tournament. Ballou and Fudge are both juniors, so they'll be tough next year, too.
Editor's Note: I've got to take "A Christmas Story" out of the DVD player.
KFC-Taco Bell Holiday Classic @ Marion County High School
Green County vs. Washington County 12-26-07
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
With Christmas finally over I can get back to watching some basketball games. I had a tough choice to make. So many good games, where should I start? I decided to head down to the KFC-Taco Bell Holiday Classic at Marion County High School. It's a small tournament with a few good teams, but five participants were from the Fifth Region.
I live in Hodgenville, so I had to take KY 84 to get down to Lebanon. Anyone who has traveled this road knows that it has more curves than Jessica Simpson.
I was a little disappointed to find out that the first game was between Green County and Washington County.
The Dragons were fresh in my mind because I watched Bardstown blitz them a few days before. They had all the size in the contest because Washington County starts five guards -- five guards!
Green came out firing, but they kept making silly turnovers, which kept Washington County in the game. The Dragons -- looking to rebound from last week's thrashing -- was up 21-18 at the end of the first quarter.
When the second quarter started so did Green County's Clint Henderson. He will pull the trigger from anywhere on the court, and he dives on the floor for loose balls. He plays good defense. The Commanders, however, didn't get discouraged under Henderson's barrage. Joe Joe Simms, who would get my vote for the "All-Star Name of the Tournament," started making shots, but the Dragons took a 36-30 lead into halftime.
Both teams looked different in the second half. Both wanted to win the game and played that way. The game could make a statement in the Fifth Region that these teams are for real, and someone might take notice. The game went back and forth in the third. Henderson kept his hot and hand, and reserve Daniel Bennett made some baskets. Both teams scored 14 points in the third, so Green maintained its six point advantage. Score: 50-44.
I figured it out after the third quarter. Washington starts five guards for a reason: they run opponents to death. I could see Green getting tired. They had run out of gas.
People in the Fifth Region better remember this name: Marshall Haydon. He plays for Washington County, and he caught fire in the fourth quarter and never let up. He did something I had never seen before. He hit FIVE straight three point goals. Needless to say, he was "feeling it." He ended up with eight three point goals by the end of the contest.
The Commanders never led in the game, but they were never out of it. They chipped away at Green's lead through the fourth frame, and they kept wearing down the Dragons. Washington got their first lead with 1:13 left in the game.
With 27 seconds left in the game the score was tied at 72. It looked like Green was going to hold it for the last shot and the win, but they could not keep from turning the ball over. Both times I've seen them play they've had trouble with ball control, and it has killed them both times.
Green County fouled the Commanders' Justin Chapman in hopes he'd miss both free throws. He made one and missed the other. Washington County pulled it out in a 73-72 thriller
OBSERVATIONS
Mano de Piedra: Green County has got to learn to hold onto the ball. It seems like they have about 50 turnovers in the two games in which I've seen them. Maybe they should work at Arby's and serve up turnovers there or maybe they're trying for the Pick and Roll's Roberto Duran Award: Hands of Stone.
Zzzzz Zzzzz: Marshall Haydon could be the Fifth Region's sleeper this year. Not only did he hit five three pointers in a row and total of 8 for the game, but he finished with 31 points. Nuff said.
Si Senior(s): Washington County never gave up. Seniors Haydon and Chapman lead the Commanders. They may get out-manned in some games, but I really like what I saw out of them tonight. They might get hot in March and take their team deep into the regional tournament.
Editor's Note: Green County was named for Nathaniel Greene, who also was second to Washington.
Also, I want to apologize to Chris and Pick and Roll readers for being tardy posting his reports. I had to assist with the recovery of material from a courthouse fire in Carlisle County this week. I've been away from home and working nearly around the clock.
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent
With Christmas finally over I can get back to watching some basketball games. I had a tough choice to make. So many good games, where should I start? I decided to head down to the KFC-Taco Bell Holiday Classic at Marion County High School. It's a small tournament with a few good teams, but five participants were from the Fifth Region.
I live in Hodgenville, so I had to take KY 84 to get down to Lebanon. Anyone who has traveled this road knows that it has more curves than Jessica Simpson.
I was a little disappointed to find out that the first game was between Green County and Washington County.
The Dragons were fresh in my mind because I watched Bardstown blitz them a few days before. They had all the size in the contest because Washington County starts five guards -- five guards!
Green came out firing, but they kept making silly turnovers, which kept Washington County in the game. The Dragons -- looking to rebound from last week's thrashing -- was up 21-18 at the end of the first quarter.
When the second quarter started so did Green County's Clint Henderson. He will pull the trigger from anywhere on the court, and he dives on the floor for loose balls. He plays good defense. The Commanders, however, didn't get discouraged under Henderson's barrage. Joe Joe Simms, who would get my vote for the "All-Star Name of the Tournament," started making shots, but the Dragons took a 36-30 lead into halftime.
Both teams looked different in the second half. Both wanted to win the game and played that way. The game could make a statement in the Fifth Region that these teams are for real, and someone might take notice. The game went back and forth in the third. Henderson kept his hot and hand, and reserve Daniel Bennett made some baskets. Both teams scored 14 points in the third, so Green maintained its six point advantage. Score: 50-44.
I figured it out after the third quarter. Washington starts five guards for a reason: they run opponents to death. I could see Green getting tired. They had run out of gas.
People in the Fifth Region better remember this name: Marshall Haydon. He plays for Washington County, and he caught fire in the fourth quarter and never let up. He did something I had never seen before. He hit FIVE straight three point goals. Needless to say, he was "feeling it." He ended up with eight three point goals by the end of the contest.
The Commanders never led in the game, but they were never out of it. They chipped away at Green's lead through the fourth frame, and they kept wearing down the Dragons. Washington got their first lead with 1:13 left in the game.
With 27 seconds left in the game the score was tied at 72. It looked like Green was going to hold it for the last shot and the win, but they could not keep from turning the ball over. Both times I've seen them play they've had trouble with ball control, and it has killed them both times.
Green County fouled the Commanders' Justin Chapman in hopes he'd miss both free throws. He made one and missed the other. Washington County pulled it out in a 73-72 thriller
OBSERVATIONS
Mano de Piedra: Green County has got to learn to hold onto the ball. It seems like they have about 50 turnovers in the two games in which I've seen them. Maybe they should work at Arby's and serve up turnovers there or maybe they're trying for the Pick and Roll's Roberto Duran Award: Hands of Stone.
Zzzzz Zzzzz: Marshall Haydon could be the Fifth Region's sleeper this year. Not only did he hit five three pointers in a row and total of 8 for the game, but he finished with 31 points. Nuff said.
Si Senior(s): Washington County never gave up. Seniors Haydon and Chapman lead the Commanders. They may get out-manned in some games, but I really like what I saw out of them tonight. They might get hot in March and take their team deep into the regional tournament.
Editor's Note: Green County was named for Nathaniel Greene, who also was second to Washington.
Also, I want to apologize to Chris and Pick and Roll readers for being tardy posting his reports. I had to assist with the recovery of material from a courthouse fire in Carlisle County this week. I've been away from home and working nearly around the clock.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)