By J. Trace Kirkwood
I want to clear up some old and new business before I head into my astute analysis of the football game in Russellville on Friday night. First, take note that my name now appears above the story. A loyal reader pointed out to me that maybe I was hiding my identity from fans, coaches, and players by not putting my name on the stories. I never thought of it that way. They said, "Chris Gregory puts his name on the stories, but you don't. Are you scared?"
There's no yellow stripe on me, and I never intended to shelter my identity from the savvy and intelligent readers of the Pennyrile Pick and Roll. I didn't want the website to be about me, unless I could share something funny or stupid about myself. There's plenty of material to draw from the latter.
Secondly, the Pennyrile Pick and Roll will be loosely known as the Pennyrile Hook and Ladder during the football season. I won't change the banner, but I will be covering some football games this fall.
Finally, my little boy is a Pick and Roll correspondent in the making. I told him he was a skunk tonight because he was being disobedient. He very seriously and with a straight face told me, "I spanked a skunk right on his behind one time, and he didn't even spray me." It was an absolute and complete fabrication, but he told it like it was true. He never recanted his story, either. He's got the skill set to be either a politician or a Pick and Roll writer.
I'm afraid to write too much about the Russellville game because I'm writing a story for High School Zone Magazine about Russellville's stadium and team. There's a good reason for that. When I write for HSZ, I make a little money. When I write stuff for Pick and Roll, well, I generally lose money.
Normally, when I've been to a game at an old stadium like Rhea Stadium in Russellville, I'd go on ad infinitum about the architecture and the atmosphere of the old place because I love old stadiums and gymnasiums. I'm not going to that here because I don't want the publisher of the magazine to phone me and call me bad names. Mostly, I want the checks to clear the bank.
I will say this. When the stadium lights took over after sunset, they were a beacon to every flying, jumping, and crawling bug in Logan County. I was raised up on the edge of the Everglades and swatted fewer bugs on a summer evening. I don't mean anything bad about the stadium because it's a problem for all football stadiums at this time of the year.
Early in the game Franklin-Simpson discovered how to get over and through Russellville's defense. They also capitalized on nearly every mistake the Panthers made during the game. After a fumble at 8:25 in the first quarter, the Wildcats pounced with a touchdown at 7:32 with a pass from Courtney Dalcourt to tight end Jim Murphee.
Franklin-Simpson running back Patrick Flippin had a huge night busting through holes in the Russellville defensive line. The Wildcats spread out their offense, and Russellville had no answer for it. Flippin hung a second touchdown on the Panthers with 3:51 left in the first.
On the kickoff after a missed field goal, Russellville's Damian Elam mishandled the ball but ran the ball back 97 yards for a touchdown. After he fumbled around with the ball inside the five yard line, the Wildcat return coverage split like the Red Sea in front of Moses. Elam's touchdown breathed some life into the Panthers and their fans, but with less than a minute in the quarter Dalcourt connected with Murphee in the endzone by threading a three yard pass through a pair of Panther defenders. The first quarter ended with the Wildcats up 20-7.
In the second quarter Flippin busted a 63 yard ramble through the middle of Russellville's defense and scored a touchdown. Dalcourt found Zack Herrington in the endzone for another touchdown with 3:51 left in the half. Franklin-Simpson took a commanding 34-7 lead to the locker room.
Late in the third quarter, Russellville Head Coach John Myers replaced starting quarterback Zach Smith with sophomore D.J. Quarles. It seemed that Quarles brought another dimension to the position because he was able to run the ball better than Smith. With 9:24 left in the game, Quarles linked up with Zach Smith, who was playing wide receiver, for a 60+ yard touchdown pass. Smith ran past all the Wildcat defenders.
Russellville opted for the two point conversion and handed the ball off to Damian Elam, who made the athletic play of the night. He jumped over a diving Wildcat defender to convert the extra-points.
Franklin-Simpson should have a good ball team this season with Courtney Dalcourt at quarterback and athletic receivers like Murphee and Herrington. Patrick Flippin adds another dimension to their offense out of the backfield, not too mention Dalcourt skills at scrambling. Dalcourt, however, needs to give up on the scramble and throw the ball out of bounds after he has rolled out of the tackle box.
Russellville? They are going to have to start popping people on the football field. They don't seem to play very physical football, and they have to quit making so many mistakes. The turn the ball over too much, and their special teams are inconsistent.
OBSERVATIONS
What is this, Exxon? Fans have to shell out five bucks for a program and roster at Rhea Stadium. The program is for all the fall sports, but five bucks?! I'm just kidding because I know it helps fund some of the athletics programs. I was hoping for a coupon for Roy's barbecue.
It's Rigged! Russellville Independent School System's superintendent's wife won the drawing at Rhea Stadium. Hey, now!
Funny Story: One of my best friends, Russ Cummins, who does the play-by-play for Fern Creek High School football told me a story about his uncle "R.D." R.D. played for Bowling Green years ago when the Purples and the Panthers tangled every year. A Russellville player delivered a crushing blow to my friend's uncle, but R.D. jumped right back up and ran to the sideline and sat down on the bench. There was a problem, though. The hit knocked the sense out of the player, and he was sitting on Russellville's bench. The Panther players got away from him like he just walked out of the reactor core at Three Mile Island. Bowling Green had to dispatch a manager to retrieve their discombobulated player. If I remember right, that happened at Rhea Stadium.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Basketball Lamentations
"The roads to Jerusalem are in mourning, no longer filled with crowds on their way to celebrate the Temple festivals."
Basketball gyms and arenas across the Pennyrile are quiet on Friday nights in the summer. There might be a handful of friends or players running the court in a pick-up game, but, for the most part, the lights are off and dust gathers waiting for the first stirrings of practice in the fall.
I love baseball, so I settle into that cove during the summer, but in Bowling Green baseball season pretty much ends when the Hilltoppers play their last game at Nick Denes Field. I can keep up with the St. Louis Cardinals via the internet, but I lament June around here. There's no basketball. There's no baseball. There's heat and humidity, and I mow my lawn counting the days until the high school football season starts. That helps a lot. It speeds the time until the first tipoff of the season.
By the way, for a few weeks this fall Pennyrile Pick and Roll will become Pennyrile Hook and Ladder because I will cover some football games around the region. There's nothing better than spending a mild fall evening watching high school football.
I've got to find out if Owensboro plays Breckinridge County and find that lady who takes off a piece of clothing every time the Red Devils score. I only saw her when they played Bowling Green. It was cold and the Red Devils only got on the board twice.
Still, I lament the wait for basketball season.
No Chris Gregory and I are not eating children or struggle at millstones. Our children do not stagger under heavy loads of wood.
Still, I was driven to watch NBA basketball. Oh, the sorrows we bear! Yeah, yeah. I know there's some NBA fans out there, but I've never been able to watch professional basketball very much. One night I switched off the basketball game and started watching hockey. I mean no offense to fans of "The Association." I've tried to like it.
I guess it's sort of like green olives. They look good but taste awful. No matter how many times one might get suckered into eating a green olive they're always going to taste terrible.
"Give us back the joys we once had!"
No, my name is not Jeremiah.
My kids went to Bowling Green High School's basketball camp. This was their second year to attend the camp, and they love it. They come home throwing bounce passes and guarding each other with a proper defensive stance. We live in Warren Central's district, so I tell them to be careful sporting those purple and gold t-shirts.
I want to say thanks to all the coaches and players at BGHS for enhancing my kids' love of basketball.
Chris Gregory is going to post something about coaching changes in the Fifth Region. There's nothing going on in the Fourth.
Damon Tabor, who was principal at Rockfield Elementary, is apparently going to coach the girls' team at Warren Central. He retired from Rockfield at the end of the school year. He wore out his electric paddle on my kids, so he decided to retire.
Hang in there hoops fans.
Basketball gyms and arenas across the Pennyrile are quiet on Friday nights in the summer. There might be a handful of friends or players running the court in a pick-up game, but, for the most part, the lights are off and dust gathers waiting for the first stirrings of practice in the fall.
I love baseball, so I settle into that cove during the summer, but in Bowling Green baseball season pretty much ends when the Hilltoppers play their last game at Nick Denes Field. I can keep up with the St. Louis Cardinals via the internet, but I lament June around here. There's no basketball. There's no baseball. There's heat and humidity, and I mow my lawn counting the days until the high school football season starts. That helps a lot. It speeds the time until the first tipoff of the season.
By the way, for a few weeks this fall Pennyrile Pick and Roll will become Pennyrile Hook and Ladder because I will cover some football games around the region. There's nothing better than spending a mild fall evening watching high school football.
I've got to find out if Owensboro plays Breckinridge County and find that lady who takes off a piece of clothing every time the Red Devils score. I only saw her when they played Bowling Green. It was cold and the Red Devils only got on the board twice.
Still, I lament the wait for basketball season.
No Chris Gregory and I are not eating children or struggle at millstones. Our children do not stagger under heavy loads of wood.
Still, I was driven to watch NBA basketball. Oh, the sorrows we bear! Yeah, yeah. I know there's some NBA fans out there, but I've never been able to watch professional basketball very much. One night I switched off the basketball game and started watching hockey. I mean no offense to fans of "The Association." I've tried to like it.
I guess it's sort of like green olives. They look good but taste awful. No matter how many times one might get suckered into eating a green olive they're always going to taste terrible.
"Give us back the joys we once had!"
No, my name is not Jeremiah.
My kids went to Bowling Green High School's basketball camp. This was their second year to attend the camp, and they love it. They come home throwing bounce passes and guarding each other with a proper defensive stance. We live in Warren Central's district, so I tell them to be careful sporting those purple and gold t-shirts.
I want to say thanks to all the coaches and players at BGHS for enhancing my kids' love of basketball.
Chris Gregory is going to post something about coaching changes in the Fifth Region. There's nothing going on in the Fourth.
Damon Tabor, who was principal at Rockfield Elementary, is apparently going to coach the girls' team at Warren Central. He retired from Rockfield at the end of the school year. He wore out his electric paddle on my kids, so he decided to retire.
Hang in there hoops fans.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Pick and Roll Parody
Ah, yes, the ivory towers of academia bristle with the Newtonian genius of McQuady, Kentucky's number one sage. This should build the confidence of the Commonwealth that her children are being well educated at institutions of higher learning like Western Kentucky University -- the Harvard of South Central Kentucky -- when they see this kind of creativity emerging from the tiled and marbled hallways of The Hill.
The song can be sung to the old Dr. Hook song "Cover of the Rolling Stone." It's always been one of my favorite songs, so I think it is funny that someone came up with a parody of Pick and Roll using that song. I started thinking about the song when I started writing columns for High School Zone Magazine and took copies to my parents in Mayfield, "Gonna buy five copies for my mother."
Chris Gregory and I don't have Indian gurus or teenage, blue-eyed groupies, and neither of us wears an eye-patch. I don't have a limo for my poor old gray haired daddy to drive, either.
If you don't know the tune follow the above link and listen. Here you go:
Well I’m a big time blogger
Not killing trees like a logger
And I write about things I know
I write about history and I write about hoops
I’m not worried about making much dough
I’ve got a big gas bill that gives my wife a cold chill
But it’s a chill that has got to go
When my wife starts reading what’s I’m writing
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories by your lover?
(Roll) Wanna send the link to your mother?
(Roll) Wanna see what I’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’m not shady just taking my old lady
To gyms that she ain’t never seen
I got my little son and daughter
Taking notes for our e-zine
Now it’s all designed to cover our region
But the region won’t really be covered
Until your team hosts a game that’ll get you
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna write about some others?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’ve got me a 5th Region correspondent
Who’ll write anything I want
I got a fancy web counter
That’s keeping track of the hits
I got all the space that a blog provides
So I never have to cut it off
And I’ll keep writing and you’ll keep reading
What’s on the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna send a link to your mothers?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
The song can be sung to the old Dr. Hook song "Cover of the Rolling Stone." It's always been one of my favorite songs, so I think it is funny that someone came up with a parody of Pick and Roll using that song. I started thinking about the song when I started writing columns for High School Zone Magazine and took copies to my parents in Mayfield, "Gonna buy five copies for my mother."
Chris Gregory and I don't have Indian gurus or teenage, blue-eyed groupies, and neither of us wears an eye-patch. I don't have a limo for my poor old gray haired daddy to drive, either.
If you don't know the tune follow the above link and listen. Here you go:
Well I’m a big time blogger
Not killing trees like a logger
And I write about things I know
I write about history and I write about hoops
I’m not worried about making much dough
I’ve got a big gas bill that gives my wife a cold chill
But it’s a chill that has got to go
When my wife starts reading what’s I’m writing
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories by your lover?
(Roll) Wanna send the link to your mother?
(Roll) Wanna see what I’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’m not shady just taking my old lady
To gyms that she ain’t never seen
I got my little son and daughter
Taking notes for our e-zine
Now it’s all designed to cover our region
But the region won’t really be covered
Until your team hosts a game that’ll get you
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna write about some others?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
I’ve got me a 5th Region correspondent
Who’ll write anything I want
I got a fancy web counter
That’s keeping track of the hits
I got all the space that a blog provides
So I never have to cut it off
And I’ll keep writing and you’ll keep reading
What’s on the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
(Pick and Roll) Wanna read the stories that we cover?
(Roll) Wanna send a link to your mothers?
(Roll) Wanna see what we’ll write next
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
On the Pennyrile Pick and Roll
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sweet Sixteen Championship
Mason County 57 - Holmes 48
Welcome to my post about the Northern Kentucky Invitational Tournament. They have all the good football teams, but now they want to dominate basketball, too. I used to work in northern Kentucky a lot, and I always felt like I was in Ohio when I got north of Georgetown. People talked funny, drove like maniacs, and insisted on telling me that I was #1 in the form of a hand signal. They drove fast but were awful nice when they passed me. I'd just tell them that I thought they were #1 right back.
I went to the game for two reasons. First, I love the way the Holmes Bulldogs play basketball. When they are clicking, I could watch them play all day. They play with grace and agility. The make a beautiful sport more so. The other reason? I wasn't going to deny my quest to see all fifteen games of the Sweet Sixteen.
Crazy? You're danged right. Going to the entire tournament is among the craziest things I've done in a long time. It will probably take a week to get the sound of basketball out of my head. The whistles. The horns. The bouncing of a ball on hardwood. The squeak of rubber soles. It's all in there.
I don't know what to write about a championship. I don't want to bore everyone with a game recap because that will be told in every newspaper from the banks of the Mississippi to the headwaters of the Tug.
Holmes played sloppy in the first and third quarters, and it cost them the game. I'm tired. I may write more about it in the next couple of days, but I'm going to bed and celebrating Easter on Sunday.
Happy Hoops!!
Welcome to my post about the Northern Kentucky Invitational Tournament. They have all the good football teams, but now they want to dominate basketball, too. I used to work in northern Kentucky a lot, and I always felt like I was in Ohio when I got north of Georgetown. People talked funny, drove like maniacs, and insisted on telling me that I was #1 in the form of a hand signal. They drove fast but were awful nice when they passed me. I'd just tell them that I thought they were #1 right back.
I went to the game for two reasons. First, I love the way the Holmes Bulldogs play basketball. When they are clicking, I could watch them play all day. They play with grace and agility. The make a beautiful sport more so. The other reason? I wasn't going to deny my quest to see all fifteen games of the Sweet Sixteen.
Crazy? You're danged right. Going to the entire tournament is among the craziest things I've done in a long time. It will probably take a week to get the sound of basketball out of my head. The whistles. The horns. The bouncing of a ball on hardwood. The squeak of rubber soles. It's all in there.
I don't know what to write about a championship. I don't want to bore everyone with a game recap because that will be told in every newspaper from the banks of the Mississippi to the headwaters of the Tug.
Holmes played sloppy in the first and third quarters, and it cost them the game. I'm tired. I may write more about it in the next couple of days, but I'm going to bed and celebrating Easter on Sunday.
Happy Hoops!!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sweet Sixteen; Semifinals
Holmes 57 - Lexington Catholic 50
All I've heard all week is that Lexington Catholic was going to win the state championship. I had nothing to counter them with, but I knew that Holmes was a very good team. With Elijah Pittman emerging as a reliable sophomore scoring and rebounding threat, the Bulldogs looked like the kind of team needed to knock of the Knights.
It didn't look to good for Holmes at the start of the game. They played sloppy, much of it due to Catholic's tenacious press. Catholic looked unstoppable, taking a 19-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs sprang to life in the second quarter and outplayed the Knights. Holmes was quicker and stronger than them. The Knights had a 31-25 lead at the break, but Holmes was coming after them, outscoring them 21-12 in the second quarter.
After the half, Holmes picked up where they left off in the first half. They continued to surge at the Knights, and with 4:58 on the clock, they cut the lead to 34-32. They tied it at 38 with 2:38 left in teh third quarter.
At this point the video boards featured the Subway "Sub of the Game," which was Elijah Pittman. At that point he had six points and three rebounds. I've become a huge fan of this wonderful sophomore who stepped his game up on the big stage of the Sweet Sixteen. He finished the game with 15 points.
I guess Pittman averaged about 15 points a game for the tournament, and he did all of it -- to the semifinal -- from the bench. I've become a huge fan of his.
The momentum shifted back to Lexington Catholic at the end of the quarter, when they hit two quick baskets as time expired. They were up 44-41.
The Bulldogs played great defense in the fourth quarter, holding a beleaguered Catholic team to just six points. Meanwhile, they reeled off 16 points and rode a 57-50 win over one of the favorites to win the tournament into the championship game.
Mason County 60 - Shelby County 50
Thirty years ago, the Shelby County Rockets won their second state championship by downing the Holmes Bulldogs. It would be one of those "wow" moments if the two linked up again in the championship round. By the way, Charles Hurt played for Shelby County, and Dicky Beal played for Holmes. Both ended up playing together for UK.
I think Dicky Beal bumped into me tonight, and, of course, the officials called a foul on me.
Instead of having Louisville Central in their way like they did in 1978, Shelby County had a mighty Mason County team in their way. Instead of having the star headed to play for the Wildcats, Mason County had the star -- Darrius Miller -- headed for UK.
Mason struggled with the Rockets defense in the first half. At the end of one quarter, the Royals had a 16-15 lead on Shelby County, who probably wore the glass slipper to the semifinals. It's funny because their baseball team wore the same shoe to the state championship game last summer.
The two teams played to a 6-4 defensive slug-fest in the second quarter. It wasn't pretty basketball.
Mason County controlled the second half and advanced to the championship game with a 60-50 victory.
OBSERVATIONS
Eight More Miles to Louisville: I've been meaning to post something about this. It's the first time since 1996 that both Louisville schools were eliminated in the first round. Well, I guess that the good programs from the state's principal city has to allow the underpopulated places in the state to enjoy the Sweet Sixteen. Everybody is lucky that Male High choked in the first round of the Seventh Region tournament.
Billy G: Billy Gillespie was hanging around the Sweet Sixteen for the semifinal watching Darius Miller. Autograph seekers swarmed him at times. Maybe he'll finally sign his contract.
Eight through Eleven: The semifinal featured teams from the eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh regions. They should have called it the "Golden Triangle Invitational." Oh, well, that will lead to more industry moving into the area.
Double Royalty: I noticed that Mason County has a kid named Ethan King on the squad. He scored 18 points in Saturday morning's semifinal. He's the Royal's King. Thank, you very much. TCB, baby.
All I've heard all week is that Lexington Catholic was going to win the state championship. I had nothing to counter them with, but I knew that Holmes was a very good team. With Elijah Pittman emerging as a reliable sophomore scoring and rebounding threat, the Bulldogs looked like the kind of team needed to knock of the Knights.
It didn't look to good for Holmes at the start of the game. They played sloppy, much of it due to Catholic's tenacious press. Catholic looked unstoppable, taking a 19-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs sprang to life in the second quarter and outplayed the Knights. Holmes was quicker and stronger than them. The Knights had a 31-25 lead at the break, but Holmes was coming after them, outscoring them 21-12 in the second quarter.
After the half, Holmes picked up where they left off in the first half. They continued to surge at the Knights, and with 4:58 on the clock, they cut the lead to 34-32. They tied it at 38 with 2:38 left in teh third quarter.
At this point the video boards featured the Subway "Sub of the Game," which was Elijah Pittman. At that point he had six points and three rebounds. I've become a huge fan of this wonderful sophomore who stepped his game up on the big stage of the Sweet Sixteen. He finished the game with 15 points.
I guess Pittman averaged about 15 points a game for the tournament, and he did all of it -- to the semifinal -- from the bench. I've become a huge fan of his.
The momentum shifted back to Lexington Catholic at the end of the quarter, when they hit two quick baskets as time expired. They were up 44-41.
The Bulldogs played great defense in the fourth quarter, holding a beleaguered Catholic team to just six points. Meanwhile, they reeled off 16 points and rode a 57-50 win over one of the favorites to win the tournament into the championship game.
Mason County 60 - Shelby County 50
Thirty years ago, the Shelby County Rockets won their second state championship by downing the Holmes Bulldogs. It would be one of those "wow" moments if the two linked up again in the championship round. By the way, Charles Hurt played for Shelby County, and Dicky Beal played for Holmes. Both ended up playing together for UK.
I think Dicky Beal bumped into me tonight, and, of course, the officials called a foul on me.
Instead of having Louisville Central in their way like they did in 1978, Shelby County had a mighty Mason County team in their way. Instead of having the star headed to play for the Wildcats, Mason County had the star -- Darrius Miller -- headed for UK.
Mason struggled with the Rockets defense in the first half. At the end of one quarter, the Royals had a 16-15 lead on Shelby County, who probably wore the glass slipper to the semifinals. It's funny because their baseball team wore the same shoe to the state championship game last summer.
The two teams played to a 6-4 defensive slug-fest in the second quarter. It wasn't pretty basketball.
Mason County controlled the second half and advanced to the championship game with a 60-50 victory.
OBSERVATIONS
Eight More Miles to Louisville: I've been meaning to post something about this. It's the first time since 1996 that both Louisville schools were eliminated in the first round. Well, I guess that the good programs from the state's principal city has to allow the underpopulated places in the state to enjoy the Sweet Sixteen. Everybody is lucky that Male High choked in the first round of the Seventh Region tournament.
Billy G: Billy Gillespie was hanging around the Sweet Sixteen for the semifinal watching Darius Miller. Autograph seekers swarmed him at times. Maybe he'll finally sign his contract.
Eight through Eleven: The semifinal featured teams from the eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh regions. They should have called it the "Golden Triangle Invitational." Oh, well, that will lead to more industry moving into the area.
Double Royalty: I noticed that Mason County has a kid named Ethan King on the squad. He scored 18 points in Saturday morning's semifinal. He's the Royal's King. Thank, you very much. TCB, baby.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Sweet Sixteen Quartefinals; Session Two
Shelby County 53 - Hazard 50
Anyone who has read my posts knows that I'm pulling for the Rockets to win the state championship. I have ties to that community and am a long time fan of Shelby County.
Hazard jumped out to an early lead, and Shelby County played a terrible second quarter, scoring only seven points. The Rockets played a 3-2 zone that overplayed on the wings trying to force Hazard to go inside. Hazard's Josh Whittaker, who is a fantastic sophomore, stepped his scoring and had a 11 points at halftime.
Hazard had a 30-20 lead after holding Shelby County to five second quarter points.
Shelby County responded by playing a nearly perfect third quarter. They hit their shots and quickly cut the lead to 30-29. In fact, Hazard didn't score until the 2:40 mark of the quarter. I noticed that Coty Minnis hurt his foot and actually had his shoe off while on the bench. He was for a couple of minutes but returned before the end of the quarter. Shelby tied it at 33 with Tim Sanford's three pointer.
The Rockets outscored them 18-5 in tthe third and had a 38-35 lead.
In the fourth the Rockets expanded the lead to 46-37, but the Bulldogs had one more bite left in them. They roared back to within two, 50-48. Shelby County hit important free throws down the stretch, and kept Hazard from capitalizing on two critical possessions at the end of the game.
Shelby County advances to the semifinals for the first time since Charles Hurt led them to the championship in 1978.
OBSERVATIONS
Who Shot the Sheriff: Paintsville's band is the first one I've seen that features steel drums. I used to live in Miami, Florida, and never saw one down there. They played "Low Rider" by War the other night, and on Friday night they played "I Shot the Sheriff." I guess they probably don't do that song when the team travels to Harlan County.
Lexington Traffic Update: You know those little stick figure people and pets that people stick on the back windows of their mini-vans? In Lexington, those things are kill flags. Crosswalks are target zones. People gripe about Louisville traffic to me, but at least Louisville traffic moves. It moves at a break-neck pace, but you're going to get where you're going unless you die. I read a story in the "Hurled-Liter" that a woman gave birth in her car on Broadway in Lexington. What the paper didn't tell is that the child was conceived, gestated, and born in the same traffic jam.
Hanging Up the Whistle: Paintsville's coach, Mike Runyon, is retiring. His career ended when the horn sounded on their loss to Holmes in the quarterfinals. When one of his players complained to the officials the other night, he got the attention of the player and just tapped the side of his own head with one finger, telling the young man to think. That's great.
B.G.'s D.G.: Congrats to Bowling Green's Coach D.G. Sherrill for being named Fourth Region Coach of the Year. He's proof that coaching goes beyond the court and into young men's hearts.
T.P. Scott Update: Mr. Scott from Adair County survived game number 666. No seven headed monster or anything else out of The Revelation. He's moved on and closing in one #675. That's 675 Sweet Sixteen games in-a-row.
Anyone who has read my posts knows that I'm pulling for the Rockets to win the state championship. I have ties to that community and am a long time fan of Shelby County.
Hazard jumped out to an early lead, and Shelby County played a terrible second quarter, scoring only seven points. The Rockets played a 3-2 zone that overplayed on the wings trying to force Hazard to go inside. Hazard's Josh Whittaker, who is a fantastic sophomore, stepped his scoring and had a 11 points at halftime.
Hazard had a 30-20 lead after holding Shelby County to five second quarter points.
Shelby County responded by playing a nearly perfect third quarter. They hit their shots and quickly cut the lead to 30-29. In fact, Hazard didn't score until the 2:40 mark of the quarter. I noticed that Coty Minnis hurt his foot and actually had his shoe off while on the bench. He was for a couple of minutes but returned before the end of the quarter. Shelby tied it at 33 with Tim Sanford's three pointer.
The Rockets outscored them 18-5 in tthe third and had a 38-35 lead.
In the fourth the Rockets expanded the lead to 46-37, but the Bulldogs had one more bite left in them. They roared back to within two, 50-48. Shelby County hit important free throws down the stretch, and kept Hazard from capitalizing on two critical possessions at the end of the game.
Shelby County advances to the semifinals for the first time since Charles Hurt led them to the championship in 1978.
OBSERVATIONS
Who Shot the Sheriff: Paintsville's band is the first one I've seen that features steel drums. I used to live in Miami, Florida, and never saw one down there. They played "Low Rider" by War the other night, and on Friday night they played "I Shot the Sheriff." I guess they probably don't do that song when the team travels to Harlan County.
Lexington Traffic Update: You know those little stick figure people and pets that people stick on the back windows of their mini-vans? In Lexington, those things are kill flags. Crosswalks are target zones. People gripe about Louisville traffic to me, but at least Louisville traffic moves. It moves at a break-neck pace, but you're going to get where you're going unless you die. I read a story in the "Hurled-Liter" that a woman gave birth in her car on Broadway in Lexington. What the paper didn't tell is that the child was conceived, gestated, and born in the same traffic jam.
Hanging Up the Whistle: Paintsville's coach, Mike Runyon, is retiring. His career ended when the horn sounded on their loss to Holmes in the quarterfinals. When one of his players complained to the officials the other night, he got the attention of the player and just tapped the side of his own head with one finger, telling the young man to think. That's great.
B.G.'s D.G.: Congrats to Bowling Green's Coach D.G. Sherrill for being named Fourth Region Coach of the Year. He's proof that coaching goes beyond the court and into young men's hearts.
T.P. Scott Update: Mr. Scott from Adair County survived game number 666. No seven headed monster or anything else out of The Revelation. He's moved on and closing in one #675. That's 675 Sweet Sixteen games in-a-row.
Sweet Sixteen Quartefinals; Session One
Lexington Catholic 54 - Owensboro 47
The Owensboro Red Devils just gave one of the best teams in the state a run for their money. Lexington Catholic has a stable full of Division I prospects, and Owensboro has a several good players and Brock Moorman. I don't mean to put down the other Red Devils, but Moorman is the only player on their squad that might get the looks that Vee Sanford, Jordan Smart, or Nathan Novosel get.
The Red Devils outplayed the Knights at times, and they took a narrow 23-21 lead to halftime
In the third quarter the Knights came back and took the lead away from Owensboro. In an effort to stop Catholic's surge, Wayne Breeden, used all his timeouts. With 3:06 left in the quarter, Owensboro had one full timeout left.
The Knights took a 38-32 lead to the final frame.
There was a big crowd at this game, and they were responsive to the action on the court. Tyler Swift drew first blood in the fourth with a three pointer at 6:40 that brought the Red Devils to within three.
That's when Taylor Stewart took over the game for a few minutes for the Knights. He started out with back-to-back slam dunks, and topped his effort off with a three point shot that put the Lex. Cath a 47-36 lead.
Owensboro had one more run left in them, and they pulled to within two with 3:18 left with a 49-47 score. Catholic controlled the last three minutes of the game and held Owensboro scoreless. They advance to the semifinals with a 54-47 victory.
Holmes 61 - Paintsville 53
The Paintsville Tigers attack the basket more and better than anyone I've seen this season. Landon Slone and Shane Grimm will take on anyone with the dribble, and they are dangerous because they can finish plays or pull up and shoot.
I was anxious to see how they would match up with the athletic Holmes team. They hung pretty well with Holmes, which has so many different tools on the floor. Paintsville competes with good teams by doing everything right. They have to.
Holmes took a three point lead to the second quarter, but the Tigers outplayed them, outscoring them 16-10 in the second quarter and took a narrow 24-21 lead to halftime. The Tigers ended the half with a beautiful play. Blake Bundy flipped a perfect pass to Landon Slone, who finished it with a reverse layup. It was done perfectly.
Paintsville pace seemed suicidal. They fly up and down the court, and they only have six or seven players that are very good (I hate to write that). They start thinking about attacking the basket when they inbounds the ball on the other end.
Every time I wrote Paintsville off in the second half, they came back on Holmes. The Tigers clung to a 37-36 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs used their size, strength and athletic advantage in the fourth quarter and outscored Paintsville 25-16 to win and advance to the semifinals to face Lexington Catholic.
OBSERVATIONS
Who Shot the Sheriff: I love Paintsville's band. I've never, ever seen a high school band that features steel drums, and I'm a native of Miami, Florida. I didn't know there were that many Rastafarian's in the Kentucky mountains. The dude playing the steel drums, played a great rendition of "I Shot the Sheriff." I loved it. I wonder if they'd play that song if they performed in Harlan County?
Lexington Traffic Update: I read in the "Hurled-Liter" that a baby was born in a car on Broadway in Lexington. I'm willing to bet that the full story would say that the child was conceived, gestated, and born in the same traffic jam. By the way, if any soul is brave enough to step off a curb in "SexyLexy" right after the walk signal flashes, they are brave enough serve in the military. In Lexington, crosswalks are target zones. Has anyone noticed the little stick figures people put on the back windows of their SUVs usually depicting a family and a couple of pets? In Lexington, those things are kill flags.
That's Not the Pits, Man!: Elijah Pittman entered the state tournament averaging 5.4 points a game. Since stepping onto the court at Rupp Arena he's scored 24 in the first round game and 19 in Friday's quarterfinal. Pittman is a just a sophomore. He's long, lanky, and athletic. He can also step out and knock down three point shots. I wonder if David Henley has been rope-a-doping everyone this season.
The Owensboro Red Devils just gave one of the best teams in the state a run for their money. Lexington Catholic has a stable full of Division I prospects, and Owensboro has a several good players and Brock Moorman. I don't mean to put down the other Red Devils, but Moorman is the only player on their squad that might get the looks that Vee Sanford, Jordan Smart, or Nathan Novosel get.
The Red Devils outplayed the Knights at times, and they took a narrow 23-21 lead to halftime
In the third quarter the Knights came back and took the lead away from Owensboro. In an effort to stop Catholic's surge, Wayne Breeden, used all his timeouts. With 3:06 left in the quarter, Owensboro had one full timeout left.
The Knights took a 38-32 lead to the final frame.
There was a big crowd at this game, and they were responsive to the action on the court. Tyler Swift drew first blood in the fourth with a three pointer at 6:40 that brought the Red Devils to within three.
That's when Taylor Stewart took over the game for a few minutes for the Knights. He started out with back-to-back slam dunks, and topped his effort off with a three point shot that put the Lex. Cath a 47-36 lead.
Owensboro had one more run left in them, and they pulled to within two with 3:18 left with a 49-47 score. Catholic controlled the last three minutes of the game and held Owensboro scoreless. They advance to the semifinals with a 54-47 victory.
Holmes 61 - Paintsville 53
The Paintsville Tigers attack the basket more and better than anyone I've seen this season. Landon Slone and Shane Grimm will take on anyone with the dribble, and they are dangerous because they can finish plays or pull up and shoot.
I was anxious to see how they would match up with the athletic Holmes team. They hung pretty well with Holmes, which has so many different tools on the floor. Paintsville competes with good teams by doing everything right. They have to.
Holmes took a three point lead to the second quarter, but the Tigers outplayed them, outscoring them 16-10 in the second quarter and took a narrow 24-21 lead to halftime. The Tigers ended the half with a beautiful play. Blake Bundy flipped a perfect pass to Landon Slone, who finished it with a reverse layup. It was done perfectly.
Paintsville pace seemed suicidal. They fly up and down the court, and they only have six or seven players that are very good (I hate to write that). They start thinking about attacking the basket when they inbounds the ball on the other end.
Every time I wrote Paintsville off in the second half, they came back on Holmes. The Tigers clung to a 37-36 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs used their size, strength and athletic advantage in the fourth quarter and outscored Paintsville 25-16 to win and advance to the semifinals to face Lexington Catholic.
OBSERVATIONS
Who Shot the Sheriff: I love Paintsville's band. I've never, ever seen a high school band that features steel drums, and I'm a native of Miami, Florida. I didn't know there were that many Rastafarian's in the Kentucky mountains. The dude playing the steel drums, played a great rendition of "I Shot the Sheriff." I loved it. I wonder if they'd play that song if they performed in Harlan County?
Lexington Traffic Update: I read in the "Hurled-Liter" that a baby was born in a car on Broadway in Lexington. I'm willing to bet that the full story would say that the child was conceived, gestated, and born in the same traffic jam. By the way, if any soul is brave enough to step off a curb in "SexyLexy" right after the walk signal flashes, they are brave enough serve in the military. In Lexington, crosswalks are target zones. Has anyone noticed the little stick figures people put on the back windows of their SUVs usually depicting a family and a couple of pets? In Lexington, those things are kill flags.
That's Not the Pits, Man!: Elijah Pittman entered the state tournament averaging 5.4 points a game. Since stepping onto the court at Rupp Arena he's scored 24 in the first round game and 19 in Friday's quarterfinal. Pittman is a just a sophomore. He's long, lanky, and athletic. He can also step out and knock down three point shots. I wonder if David Henley has been rope-a-doping everyone this season.
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