Greenwood High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky 02-08-08
Welcome to the Jungle? Prior to tapping the ball, Greenwood sound man cued up some Firearms and Flowers welcoming everyone to the jungle. But, I thought it was "The Swamp." Jungle? Swamp? No matter the venue it was still a big lizard fight on Scottsville Road in Bowling Green tonight. That's right, Dragons and Gators are just big danged lizards when you think about it. One's a toothy swamp lurker that death rolls its prey under water, and the other is a mythological fire breathing creature. Both are dangerous.
Coming into tonight's game Warren Central had beaten Greenwood 24 times in a row. The last Gator victory over the Dragons came in 2001. The latest defeat came on January 4th, when Central sent the Gators packing with a 53-44 defeat at the Dragons' lair on Morgantown Road.
Would the streak ever end?
In the first quarter, it looked like Steve Riley's latest version of Dragons would run the streak into another Clinton administration. At first, it seemed that Thing 1 and Thing 2 (Mark Lacy and Austin Reed) were busting the Central press, and the Dragons couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with their jumpshots to start the game. The clawed back and had a narrow 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
No matter how poorly Central plays on the offensive end in a ballgame they always have their press, and the play it so well. Then, they are good at converting off of the turnovers the press creates.
Things changed in the second quarter, however. Lacy started picking off Central's passes as they tried to move the ball around the perimeter, and he got a couple of easy baskets. He's very good at anticipating the pass, and thrives on other team's bad offensive spacing. Teams cannot make that mistake against Greenwood.
For the first time since in a long time I watched Warren Central lose their composure. They did not handle Greenwood's half-court pressure and continued to turn the ball over. Greenwood took a 29-23 lead into the break, and I felt that the ground below us would tremble and split open because Central's streak was about to be broken. The Gators were controlling this contest.
In the third quarter, Greenwood put some beatdown on Central that I've not seen in a long time. Dee Anderson, Mark Lacy, and other Gators circled the wounded Dragons like they were a team of saints ready to slay another fiery beast.
The Gators outscored their visitors 22-7 in the third frame and took a commanding 51-30 into the break.
Greenwood controlled the fourth quarter, even though Central made a small run at them. I'm sure Coach Blane Embry didn't want to give Warren Central anything to smart about on the eve of district play and backed off the gas. Greenwood broke the streak on Friday night with a 61-44 victory over the Dragons.
OBSERVATIONS
The Ballard Effect: This is not so much an observation as a reminiscence. When I was in high school in Louisville Ballard High School seem to always get preferential treatment from the officials. Ballard was an east end school, and their students drove new cars. Male High was perceived as an inner-city school, so everyone thought we were thugs. When Ballard students did something mischievous it was called "school spirit." When we did something it was called "misdemeanor." Well, that was the Louisville Police Department's description of it. The preferential treatment seemed to find its way onto the basketball court, too. I called it "The Ballard Effect." For the life of me, I can't imagine why I just thought of this.
Fourth Quarter Fracas: I don't know what happened or who was involved, but a couple of Central players got into a dust-up with a couple of Greenwood players in the fourth quarter. It didn't seem like a big deal to me, except that players ended up in the stands. It's interesting to me that when baseball teams clear benches and throw punches, people think its funny and have cutesy names for it like "rhubarb." When basketball players start throwing haymakers then it is treated like a criminal act. It happens. The kids are competitors.
Migraine Maker: Before the game, Greenwood's band was playing something terribly out of key while the sound system was blaring "We Will Rock You." I thought my head was going to explode. One thing at a time, please. Hey, Gators! The next time Warren Central visits try "Dragon Attack" by Queen and let the band practice in the hallway.
District Stuff: Bowling Green will take the one seed, and I guess with the loss tonight Central will be the four seed. I think Greenwood and East are split, so they'll flip a coin to see who wears white in the first round. In the 14th District none of it really matters. It's played at Central, so there's three teams that better beware.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Franklin-Simpson 53 - Bowling Green 49 (OT)
Bowling Green High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 02-07-08
I suspect that D.G. Sherrill and his Bowling Green Purples felt like fishermen telling stories about the big fish that got away after Thursday night's game with Franklin-Simpson. They just about landed the fish, but the thing slipped right through their hands.
I don't usually go to Thursday night ballgames because it makes me think that it's Friday. I wasn't going to miss another match up between the Purples and the Wildcats. I like the way these two teams play ball -- pressing, tough match up defense, attack the basket, athletic -- and they have some of my favorite players in the region with "Sir" Rayco Bryant, Courtney Dalcourt, D.L. Moore, and Jarren Nixon.
It was a Thursday night crowd, though. The crowd was small and no one seemed to be into the game. I found myself yawning while the two teams went through their warm up drills. Yawning prior to a high school basketball game? Please, forgive me. I just went through three days of flu induced fever and a work day in which I played "beat the deadline and make the boss think I'm on top of everything."
The small crowd allowed me to sit just a few rows behind the Franklin-Simpson bench. This was the third time I've seen the Wildcats, but the two previous times I had to sit near the top of the gym to watch them. When I get to sit behind a team's bench I can see how they handle themselves and how the coach handles various situations. I was so close I could hear David Clark's keys jingle.
Both teams came out cold but played very active man-to-man defense. Good defense made both teams take bad shots, but they continued to attack the basket. They seem to enjoy that style of play. I know I do. However, Franklin-Simpson is very deliberate with their possessions. They attack the basket, but they're in no hurry to do so when they have the ball. The pace of the game was more to the Wildcats' liking, and they had a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Franklin-Simpson extended their lead on Bowling Green, led by Rayco Bryant, who was hitting short jumpers and lay-ins. Like every other time I've seen the Purples play this season, they control the game on the defensive end of the court. They picked up their defensive pressure and stopped Bryant from getting so close to the basket with the ball. They also forced turnovers and made a run at the Wildcats.
My favorite Purple, Lando Calrissian...I mean Billy Williams hit two free throws with 48 seconds left in the half to tie it. Each team hit another basket, and I started looking for Elizabeth Vargas because the score was 20-20 at halftime.
The third quarter demonstrated something I've said about the Purples all season: their defense makes their offense. They opened in a 1-2-2 zone with Eric Smith on top pressuring the perimeter ball movement. I've seen them play this zone before and play it well, but on Thursday night, they weren't active enough when Franklin-Simpson pushed the ball toward the baseline. The Wildcats surged early and had Bowling Green down 29-22.
The Purples ditched the zone and started playing a tough full court defense that forced Franklin-Simpson into a pace they don't really like. Bowling Green started chipping into the lead and pulled within two, 31-29, at the end of the third.
It's too bad the crowd was small because a lot of people missed a very exciting game. Sure, it was a low scoring defensive struggle, but the fourth quarter was exciting. I one point during the game I heard a fan say to another "U-G-L-Y." It was ugly. If a baby was as ugly as this game, Southern women would chorus "Bless its little heart."
Reminiscence Alert
When I was 13 or 14 years old I worked the concession stands at Cardinal Stadium for UofL football games. It was easy money because nobody actually went to their ballgames. A friend of mine and I usually ditched our work in the second or third quarter so we could watch the Louisville gridders spiral into another defeat. One afternoon, the UofL cheerleaders did a cheer "U-G-L-Y! You ain't got no alibi. You ugly, yeah, you ugly, yeah, you is!"
If a cheerleading squad whipped that out on an opponent in today's hyper-sensitive world, the NCAA would launch an inquiry that would make Watergate look like a shoplifting investigation. The long ago Cardinal cheerleaders could've summed up Thursday's game.
In the fourth, Richardson hit a three that put the Purples on top 33-31, and that started a sequence of several big plays by either team. They weren't on consecutive plays, but they were close enough together that they seemed to be connected. D.L. Moore grabbed one of the most impressive rebounds I've seen this season. He misjudged where the bounce was headed, but he was elevated enough that he was able to extend and arm and snag the ball. I believe his head was level with the rim when he made the rebound. I like it when Moore uses his athletic ability because few in the Fourth can match him.
Shortly afterward, Bowling Green was set to expand their narrow lead, and a Purple got the ball on the baseline and made his move toward the basket. Courtney Dalcourt came across the court to block the shot. He swatted the ball so hard and so far that I expected to hear Chris Berman blabbering "back, back, back, back, back."
I felt like it was the turning point in the ballgame. Bowling Green lost their momentum, and Wildcats starting surging. It was near this point when Coach David Clark turned to his team on the bench and shouted, "A one point game against Bowling Green and y'all aren't sayin a word!"
With time running out, Franklin-Simpson had the ball with the score tied at 42. D.L. Moore made the defensive play of the game. He got set in front of a Wildcat and drew a charging call with just six seconds left. Bowling Green had let the lead get away from them, but they had a chance to win it. I don't know what to say about the ending, but it looked like the Purples had a play drawn up but failed to execute it. Maybe Franklin-Simpson's defense disrupted the play, but D.L. Moore ended up taking the last shot from the perimeter. It looked like the Purples were off their rotation.
At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 42.
In the overtime, Bowling Green got behind and couldn't make the surge to catch the Wildcats. the ending turned into the Purples fouling to stay alive, but Cedrick Adams had anti-freeze in his veins and hit knocked down big free throws at the end.
The Wildcats prevailed 53-49. They controlled the tempo through most of the game, and Bowling Green let a win slip right through their hands.
D.L. Moore finished the game with 12 points and 15 rebounds, six of which were offensive boards. Tevin Barksdale had 12 points the Purples. Rayco "Baby Bark" Bryant had 16 points with eight rebounds. Cedrick Adams added eight points and was an icy 6-6 at the free throw line.
OBSERVATIONS
Foot Soldier: Rayco Bryant's game starts with his feet. When he gets the ball in the paint, he knows how to move his feet and legs to get position on the defender and get the ball in the hole. He's very good at it. He's also quick for his size. He surprises people with his ability to move. He's downright agile when he slashes through the lane to get the ball.
BRIIICK?: I looked over the stats for the game, and I couldn't decide what cost Bowling Green the game. They put up 56 shots but only hit 16 for 28.6% shooting. Franklin shot 39.3% but only had one more field goal than the Purps. Bowling Green out-rebounded them and hit four more three point shots (F-S took seven shots from the arc compared to BG's 20). The difference in the game was free throw shooting. Franklin was 18-27, but Bowling Green was 12-20. That's the only advantage I can see.
Back-to-Back: Bowling Green turns around and hosts the Scotties on Friday night, and Franklin-Simpson hosts Cumberland County. These guys have to be able to play on consecutive nights or they don't stand a chance in the post season.
Rattlesnake Richardson: I've noticed it all season. Jeb Richardson has a bit of a side spin on his jumpshot. It's a sidewinder. He's a good shooter, but I believe if his shot hits the rim it won't drop.
Overtime Guarantee: Anytime I take my children to a basketball game on a school night it will go into overtime. It's guaranteed. If I take them to a Friday or Saturday game, it will be a clock-eating, low fouling, blowout.
I suspect that D.G. Sherrill and his Bowling Green Purples felt like fishermen telling stories about the big fish that got away after Thursday night's game with Franklin-Simpson. They just about landed the fish, but the thing slipped right through their hands.
I don't usually go to Thursday night ballgames because it makes me think that it's Friday. I wasn't going to miss another match up between the Purples and the Wildcats. I like the way these two teams play ball -- pressing, tough match up defense, attack the basket, athletic -- and they have some of my favorite players in the region with "Sir" Rayco Bryant, Courtney Dalcourt, D.L. Moore, and Jarren Nixon.
It was a Thursday night crowd, though. The crowd was small and no one seemed to be into the game. I found myself yawning while the two teams went through their warm up drills. Yawning prior to a high school basketball game? Please, forgive me. I just went through three days of flu induced fever and a work day in which I played "beat the deadline and make the boss think I'm on top of everything."
The small crowd allowed me to sit just a few rows behind the Franklin-Simpson bench. This was the third time I've seen the Wildcats, but the two previous times I had to sit near the top of the gym to watch them. When I get to sit behind a team's bench I can see how they handle themselves and how the coach handles various situations. I was so close I could hear David Clark's keys jingle.
Both teams came out cold but played very active man-to-man defense. Good defense made both teams take bad shots, but they continued to attack the basket. They seem to enjoy that style of play. I know I do. However, Franklin-Simpson is very deliberate with their possessions. They attack the basket, but they're in no hurry to do so when they have the ball. The pace of the game was more to the Wildcats' liking, and they had a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Franklin-Simpson extended their lead on Bowling Green, led by Rayco Bryant, who was hitting short jumpers and lay-ins. Like every other time I've seen the Purples play this season, they control the game on the defensive end of the court. They picked up their defensive pressure and stopped Bryant from getting so close to the basket with the ball. They also forced turnovers and made a run at the Wildcats.
My favorite Purple, Lando Calrissian...I mean Billy Williams hit two free throws with 48 seconds left in the half to tie it. Each team hit another basket, and I started looking for Elizabeth Vargas because the score was 20-20 at halftime.
The third quarter demonstrated something I've said about the Purples all season: their defense makes their offense. They opened in a 1-2-2 zone with Eric Smith on top pressuring the perimeter ball movement. I've seen them play this zone before and play it well, but on Thursday night, they weren't active enough when Franklin-Simpson pushed the ball toward the baseline. The Wildcats surged early and had Bowling Green down 29-22.
The Purples ditched the zone and started playing a tough full court defense that forced Franklin-Simpson into a pace they don't really like. Bowling Green started chipping into the lead and pulled within two, 31-29, at the end of the third.
It's too bad the crowd was small because a lot of people missed a very exciting game. Sure, it was a low scoring defensive struggle, but the fourth quarter was exciting. I one point during the game I heard a fan say to another "U-G-L-Y." It was ugly. If a baby was as ugly as this game, Southern women would chorus "Bless its little heart."
Reminiscence Alert
When I was 13 or 14 years old I worked the concession stands at Cardinal Stadium for UofL football games. It was easy money because nobody actually went to their ballgames. A friend of mine and I usually ditched our work in the second or third quarter so we could watch the Louisville gridders spiral into another defeat. One afternoon, the UofL cheerleaders did a cheer "U-G-L-Y! You ain't got no alibi. You ugly, yeah, you ugly, yeah, you is!"
If a cheerleading squad whipped that out on an opponent in today's hyper-sensitive world, the NCAA would launch an inquiry that would make Watergate look like a shoplifting investigation. The long ago Cardinal cheerleaders could've summed up Thursday's game.
In the fourth, Richardson hit a three that put the Purples on top 33-31, and that started a sequence of several big plays by either team. They weren't on consecutive plays, but they were close enough together that they seemed to be connected. D.L. Moore grabbed one of the most impressive rebounds I've seen this season. He misjudged where the bounce was headed, but he was elevated enough that he was able to extend and arm and snag the ball. I believe his head was level with the rim when he made the rebound. I like it when Moore uses his athletic ability because few in the Fourth can match him.
Shortly afterward, Bowling Green was set to expand their narrow lead, and a Purple got the ball on the baseline and made his move toward the basket. Courtney Dalcourt came across the court to block the shot. He swatted the ball so hard and so far that I expected to hear Chris Berman blabbering "back, back, back, back, back."
I felt like it was the turning point in the ballgame. Bowling Green lost their momentum, and Wildcats starting surging. It was near this point when Coach David Clark turned to his team on the bench and shouted, "A one point game against Bowling Green and y'all aren't sayin a word!"
With time running out, Franklin-Simpson had the ball with the score tied at 42. D.L. Moore made the defensive play of the game. He got set in front of a Wildcat and drew a charging call with just six seconds left. Bowling Green had let the lead get away from them, but they had a chance to win it. I don't know what to say about the ending, but it looked like the Purples had a play drawn up but failed to execute it. Maybe Franklin-Simpson's defense disrupted the play, but D.L. Moore ended up taking the last shot from the perimeter. It looked like the Purples were off their rotation.
At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 42.
In the overtime, Bowling Green got behind and couldn't make the surge to catch the Wildcats. the ending turned into the Purples fouling to stay alive, but Cedrick Adams had anti-freeze in his veins and hit knocked down big free throws at the end.
The Wildcats prevailed 53-49. They controlled the tempo through most of the game, and Bowling Green let a win slip right through their hands.
D.L. Moore finished the game with 12 points and 15 rebounds, six of which were offensive boards. Tevin Barksdale had 12 points the Purples. Rayco "Baby Bark" Bryant had 16 points with eight rebounds. Cedrick Adams added eight points and was an icy 6-6 at the free throw line.
OBSERVATIONS
Foot Soldier: Rayco Bryant's game starts with his feet. When he gets the ball in the paint, he knows how to move his feet and legs to get position on the defender and get the ball in the hole. He's very good at it. He's also quick for his size. He surprises people with his ability to move. He's downright agile when he slashes through the lane to get the ball.
BRIIICK?: I looked over the stats for the game, and I couldn't decide what cost Bowling Green the game. They put up 56 shots but only hit 16 for 28.6% shooting. Franklin shot 39.3% but only had one more field goal than the Purps. Bowling Green out-rebounded them and hit four more three point shots (F-S took seven shots from the arc compared to BG's 20). The difference in the game was free throw shooting. Franklin was 18-27, but Bowling Green was 12-20. That's the only advantage I can see.
Back-to-Back: Bowling Green turns around and hosts the Scotties on Friday night, and Franklin-Simpson hosts Cumberland County. These guys have to be able to play on consecutive nights or they don't stand a chance in the post season.
Rattlesnake Richardson: I've noticed it all season. Jeb Richardson has a bit of a side spin on his jumpshot. It's a sidewinder. He's a good shooter, but I believe if his shot hits the rim it won't drop.
Overtime Guarantee: Anytime I take my children to a basketball game on a school night it will go into overtime. It's guaranteed. If I take them to a Friday or Saturday game, it will be a clock-eating, low fouling, blowout.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Illness Benches Pick and Roll
I've been hit with a double-whammy. I have a flaming case of the flu, which is making its rounds through my household, and I've pulled a muscle in my lower back. I'm blessed with severe pain and a 102 degree fever. I'm better this morning, but I will not be at any games tonight. I'm going to miss some good ones. I might be benched for an entire week.
Chris Gregory will be at a game somewhere in the Fifth Region tonight.
Well, Chris informs me that he won't make it to any games tonight. I thought I had my wife talked into going to the Warren Central at Bowling Green game (she has had a crush on Anthony Winchester since he first set foot on The Hill in 2002), but she decided not to go. She's "afraid it will storm on her."
Chris sent me the pairings for the Sweet Sixteen:
2 vs. 11
6 vs. 3
7 vs. 15
9 vs. 5
13 vs. 14
8 vs. 12
1 vs. 4
10 vs. 16
If everything goes as planned, I will be at every one of those games. That will be the season finale for Pick and Roll. That will be 15 games in four days.
Chris Gregory will be at a game somewhere in the Fifth Region tonight.
Well, Chris informs me that he won't make it to any games tonight. I thought I had my wife talked into going to the Warren Central at Bowling Green game (she has had a crush on Anthony Winchester since he first set foot on The Hill in 2002), but she decided not to go. She's "afraid it will storm on her."
Chris sent me the pairings for the Sweet Sixteen:
2 vs. 11
6 vs. 3
7 vs. 15
9 vs. 5
13 vs. 14
8 vs. 12
1 vs. 4
10 vs. 16
If everything goes as planned, I will be at every one of those games. That will be the season finale for Pick and Roll. That will be 15 games in four days.
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.
Pick and Roll's Shameless Self Promotion
For folks who live in south central and western Kentucky, they can head to their local Minit Mart or to their high school and pick up a copy of High School Zone. I have my own article on page 20 of February's issue, and I will be in future issues of the magazine. The magazine is free, and your friends and family will know you are an erudite sports fan when they find HSZ on your coffee table. Click on the link above to read it online and be sure to put it in your "favorites" along with the Pick and Roll.
By the way, I'm having a blast with this stuff. During a stretch of my real career I wrote dreary old impact studies for highway and coal mining projects or I wrote things to make lawyers and politicians sound like they knew what they were talking about. This is the first time I've tackled sports writing, and when I decided to start Pick and Roll I wanted to snap a towel on the buttocks of formulaic, journalistic sports writing, especially for the crown jewel of Kentucky sports: high school basketball.
I never imagined that I'd end up writing magazine articles.
The main thing, though, is that I love high school basketball and football. If Pennyrile Pick and Roll accomplishes anything other than wasting internet broadband, I hope it inspires people to pick up on a Friday night and go to a basketball game.
As always, I'm thankful to the souls who read P&R.
Happy Hoops!
By the way, I'm having a blast with this stuff. During a stretch of my real career I wrote dreary old impact studies for highway and coal mining projects or I wrote things to make lawyers and politicians sound like they knew what they were talking about. This is the first time I've tackled sports writing, and when I decided to start Pick and Roll I wanted to snap a towel on the buttocks of formulaic, journalistic sports writing, especially for the crown jewel of Kentucky sports: high school basketball.
I never imagined that I'd end up writing magazine articles.
The main thing, though, is that I love high school basketball and football. If Pennyrile Pick and Roll accomplishes anything other than wasting internet broadband, I hope it inspires people to pick up on a Friday night and go to a basketball game.
As always, I'm thankful to the souls who read P&R.
Happy Hoops!
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.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Bowling Green 73 - Warren East 62
Warren East High School, Bristow, Kentucky 02-01-08
Friday night's game at Warren East High School could've featured players wearing tight shorts and skin tight uniform tops because it was a throw-back atmosphere. There were actually people in the stands. I thought I was going to have to park in downtown Bristow and walk to the high school because the crowd was so large. It was like the old days. I checked to see if I had a mullet, a Members Only jacket, Vans, and a Swatch with the goofy guards that made it impossible to tell what time it was.
My daughter and I walked into a battle between the Lady Raiders and the Lady Purples. East had Bowling Green down, but the Purples fought back and made it a game. East prevailed, but the ladies set the mood for the boys game.
While the teams warmed-up, the Warren East pep band started playing Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train." It fit the mood, but I wondered if that's a good song for a high school band.
"I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules."
Somebody phone Tipper Gore!
I figured with the pressing and high flying offenses of the Purples and the Raiders that we might be "going off the rails on a crazy train."
There's no love lost between these two teams and these two schools. Bowling Green is a city school and populated with city kids. Warren East is a rural school with an interesting mix of suburban kids and farm kids. I'm good friends with a Warren East alumnus who calls Purples backers, "those snotty Bowling Green fans." I know Bowling Green alumni who call East grads "hayseed plow boys."
Don't kill the messenger, folks. I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm fascinated, however, by the differences that make up good high school rivalries, and the East-Bowling Green one is among the best. I remember from the Male-Manual rivalry that we were blessed with superior intellect, better looks, and greater athletic ability while the folks from Manual had none of these attributes.
The two teams went at each other like this game had major implications in the district and the region. Wait, it did. After dropping a game at Warren Central, the Purples needed a district win, but it's a tall order to try to sneak into the Raiders' roost and wrestle a victory from them.
Each team tested the other in the first quarter. The two teams sort of mirror each other. Both like to play man-to-man, pressing defense, and they both balance the offensive end with great penetration and perimeter shooting. At the end of one, the score was tied at 14. Within my mind I could hear the ghostly voice of Joe Dean, Sr., saying, "we've got ourselves a barn burner, Tom (Hammond). It might be 25 outside but in here we've got a barn burner."
The Purples picked up their defensive pressure in the second quarter and forced Warren East to take tough shots. The Raiders couldn't find the basket in the second quarter. Both teams had trouble hanging onto the ball, but Bowling Green seemed to be more prone to turnovers. My good friend Eddie Dillard swore that the ball was over inflated, but he wouldn't go out there and test it between quarters.
With 3:29 left in the half, Bowling Green had a 29-15 lead on East and seemed like they were going to take command of the game. However, the Raiders answered with a 7-2 run to end the half to pull with in nine, 31-22. Shenard Holton led the Raiders with 10 points at halftime, while Jordan Ellis added seven. Eric Smith for Bowling Green led the way with nine points, and D.L. Moore and Jared Carpenter each had five.
If it was a barn burner, then Bowling Green opened the third quarter like they were going to burn the thing down to the foundation. Jeb Richardson hit three three pointers to open the half, one of which was from about 22 feet. Joe Dean would've erupted with "Sttttrrraaaaaahng Muuusic in Bristow kay-wye, Tom!" Richardson was nailing treys, but, as always, the Purples' defense is what created the offense. When they decide to play active defense, this Bowling Green squad is tough to beat.
By the 4:41 mark, Bowling Green had a commanding 45-27 lead on their rival. Warren East Coach Russell Malone called a time and met his players on the court and delivered a lip whipping on his players that we could hear in the stands. I don't think he was wishing them Groundhog's Day greetings and likely telling them that their six more weeks of winter would be spent running "suicides" on the gym floor.
After the Purples built a 22 point lead on them, Warren East responded to Coach Russell and closed the third with a furious 9-1 run that cut the lead to 52-39.
No one thought that East was out of the game. They are too good of a team to roll over and die, especially for an arch-rival.
In the fourth quarter, East threw a 2-2-1 trapping press on the Purps, and they had a tough time moving the ball up the court. D.L. Moore was on the bench with foul trouble, but Coach D.G. Sherrill put him back in the game because he is a press buster. Moore is signed to play wide receiver at South Carolina next year, and he knows how to use his 6'6" frame to snag passes going over a press.
Also, Jordan Ellis fouled out early the fourth quarter. I've seen East play three times this season, and all three times Ellis has fouled out with plenty of time left in the game. Ellis is a very good athlete, but he gets behind on defense and swats too much. Jordan! Move your feet and avoid the seat!
East managed to cut the lead to 10, but they could never get over the hump in this one. Bowling Green won 73-62.
If I have everything right, that means every team in the 14th District is .500 in district games. Bowling Green, East, and Greenwood are all 3-3 and Central is 2-2. One must ask, does seeding really matter in this district? Two very good basketball teams will end their seasons on the first night of the district tournament.
Shenard Holton for Warren East led all scorers with 19. Jordan Ellis and DeAngelo Kirk each had 13. Bowling Green had a balanced scoring sheet with D.L. Moore and Jared Carpenter scoring 10, while Jeb Richardson had 10.
OBSERVATIONS
Warren East Career Day: After a referee called a foul on Warren East in the third quarter, the East student section chanted, "I'm blind. I'm deaf. I wanna be a ref." They even had the Bowling Green fans chuckling. That gets a Pick and Roll "Three Thumbs Up" Award.
Killing Me Softly: After what seemed like a bad call, Coach Russell Malone kept yelling, "You're killin me. You're killing me!" at one of the officials. The Bowling Green fans started calling him Bobby Knight.
He Does Wear #22: Jerron Nixon did a great Curly Neal impersonation in Friday's ballgame at Warren East. The floor was dusty and players kept losing their footing. Nixon slipped down to one knee, slid several feet, and popped back up without ever breaking his dribble. The great Harlem Globetrotter, Curly Neal, wowed crowds with a trick that looked like Nixon's move.
Donuts on Dunks: It had been since Scotty Hopson threw a couple down on the Purples in December that I had seen someone in a high school game dunk the ball. On Friday night, East's Jordan Ellis and Bowling Green's D.L. Moore each had a dunk. Ellis has great leaping ability and threw down a one handed jam on a fast break amongst two Purples.
Friday night's game at Warren East High School could've featured players wearing tight shorts and skin tight uniform tops because it was a throw-back atmosphere. There were actually people in the stands. I thought I was going to have to park in downtown Bristow and walk to the high school because the crowd was so large. It was like the old days. I checked to see if I had a mullet, a Members Only jacket, Vans, and a Swatch with the goofy guards that made it impossible to tell what time it was.
My daughter and I walked into a battle between the Lady Raiders and the Lady Purples. East had Bowling Green down, but the Purples fought back and made it a game. East prevailed, but the ladies set the mood for the boys game.
While the teams warmed-up, the Warren East pep band started playing Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train." It fit the mood, but I wondered if that's a good song for a high school band.
"I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules."
Somebody phone Tipper Gore!
I figured with the pressing and high flying offenses of the Purples and the Raiders that we might be "going off the rails on a crazy train."
There's no love lost between these two teams and these two schools. Bowling Green is a city school and populated with city kids. Warren East is a rural school with an interesting mix of suburban kids and farm kids. I'm good friends with a Warren East alumnus who calls Purples backers, "those snotty Bowling Green fans." I know Bowling Green alumni who call East grads "hayseed plow boys."
Don't kill the messenger, folks. I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm fascinated, however, by the differences that make up good high school rivalries, and the East-Bowling Green one is among the best. I remember from the Male-Manual rivalry that we were blessed with superior intellect, better looks, and greater athletic ability while the folks from Manual had none of these attributes.
The two teams went at each other like this game had major implications in the district and the region. Wait, it did. After dropping a game at Warren Central, the Purples needed a district win, but it's a tall order to try to sneak into the Raiders' roost and wrestle a victory from them.
Each team tested the other in the first quarter. The two teams sort of mirror each other. Both like to play man-to-man, pressing defense, and they both balance the offensive end with great penetration and perimeter shooting. At the end of one, the score was tied at 14. Within my mind I could hear the ghostly voice of Joe Dean, Sr., saying, "we've got ourselves a barn burner, Tom (Hammond). It might be 25 outside but in here we've got a barn burner."
The Purples picked up their defensive pressure in the second quarter and forced Warren East to take tough shots. The Raiders couldn't find the basket in the second quarter. Both teams had trouble hanging onto the ball, but Bowling Green seemed to be more prone to turnovers. My good friend Eddie Dillard swore that the ball was over inflated, but he wouldn't go out there and test it between quarters.
With 3:29 left in the half, Bowling Green had a 29-15 lead on East and seemed like they were going to take command of the game. However, the Raiders answered with a 7-2 run to end the half to pull with in nine, 31-22. Shenard Holton led the Raiders with 10 points at halftime, while Jordan Ellis added seven. Eric Smith for Bowling Green led the way with nine points, and D.L. Moore and Jared Carpenter each had five.
If it was a barn burner, then Bowling Green opened the third quarter like they were going to burn the thing down to the foundation. Jeb Richardson hit three three pointers to open the half, one of which was from about 22 feet. Joe Dean would've erupted with "Sttttrrraaaaaahng Muuusic in Bristow kay-wye, Tom!" Richardson was nailing treys, but, as always, the Purples' defense is what created the offense. When they decide to play active defense, this Bowling Green squad is tough to beat.
By the 4:41 mark, Bowling Green had a commanding 45-27 lead on their rival. Warren East Coach Russell Malone called a time and met his players on the court and delivered a lip whipping on his players that we could hear in the stands. I don't think he was wishing them Groundhog's Day greetings and likely telling them that their six more weeks of winter would be spent running "suicides" on the gym floor.
After the Purples built a 22 point lead on them, Warren East responded to Coach Russell and closed the third with a furious 9-1 run that cut the lead to 52-39.
No one thought that East was out of the game. They are too good of a team to roll over and die, especially for an arch-rival.
In the fourth quarter, East threw a 2-2-1 trapping press on the Purps, and they had a tough time moving the ball up the court. D.L. Moore was on the bench with foul trouble, but Coach D.G. Sherrill put him back in the game because he is a press buster. Moore is signed to play wide receiver at South Carolina next year, and he knows how to use his 6'6" frame to snag passes going over a press.
Also, Jordan Ellis fouled out early the fourth quarter. I've seen East play three times this season, and all three times Ellis has fouled out with plenty of time left in the game. Ellis is a very good athlete, but he gets behind on defense and swats too much. Jordan! Move your feet and avoid the seat!
East managed to cut the lead to 10, but they could never get over the hump in this one. Bowling Green won 73-62.
If I have everything right, that means every team in the 14th District is .500 in district games. Bowling Green, East, and Greenwood are all 3-3 and Central is 2-2. One must ask, does seeding really matter in this district? Two very good basketball teams will end their seasons on the first night of the district tournament.
Shenard Holton for Warren East led all scorers with 19. Jordan Ellis and DeAngelo Kirk each had 13. Bowling Green had a balanced scoring sheet with D.L. Moore and Jared Carpenter scoring 10, while Jeb Richardson had 10.
OBSERVATIONS
Warren East Career Day: After a referee called a foul on Warren East in the third quarter, the East student section chanted, "I'm blind. I'm deaf. I wanna be a ref." They even had the Bowling Green fans chuckling. That gets a Pick and Roll "Three Thumbs Up" Award.
Killing Me Softly: After what seemed like a bad call, Coach Russell Malone kept yelling, "You're killin me. You're killing me!" at one of the officials. The Bowling Green fans started calling him Bobby Knight.
He Does Wear #22: Jerron Nixon did a great Curly Neal impersonation in Friday's ballgame at Warren East. The floor was dusty and players kept losing their footing. Nixon slipped down to one knee, slid several feet, and popped back up without ever breaking his dribble. The great Harlem Globetrotter, Curly Neal, wowed crowds with a trick that looked like Nixon's move.
Donuts on Dunks: It had been since Scotty Hopson threw a couple down on the Purples in December that I had seen someone in a high school game dunk the ball. On Friday night, East's Jordan Ellis and Bowling Green's D.L. Moore each had a dunk. Ellis has great leaping ability and threw down a one handed jam on a fast break amongst two Purples.
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