crawlb4uball

David Jump FR Williamstown KY - St. Catharine College

I haven't seen enough from the Centers on the roster to know how they will be at that position nor do I have a good feel for their depth but I think the other four starters (Cottrell, Hawkins, Fries and Sammons) can match up with just about any top four in NKY. I don't know enough about the southern teams in the 8th to know how they will match up against them but I really like their chances this year.

That has been true in the last few years. This year they played down the stretch and in the tournament with only 6 varsity players which is tough (Mullins, Fries, Sammons, Cottrell, Robinson & Pracht).

How sure are you in that starting line up? Kelch saw a lot more varsity minutes than Williams last year and Hawkins is too good not to start over either Walker or Racke. My guess would've been: Hawkins Cottrell Sammons Fries Kelch

What are you hearing about redistricting? I haven't heard anything. Do you have a source?

From Cincinnati.com Simon Kenton able to hold on, move on NEW CASTLE - Trent Steiner admitted that his outlook on Simon Kenton's wild Eighth Region quarterfinal game against Shelby County was "corny." "Pressure can make diamonds or burst pipes," the Pioneers' coach said. It virtually did both for Simon Kenton, which watched a 20-point lead evaporate to one with 46.5 seconds left before Taylor Morrison got free on the left baseline for a layup and the Pioneers sank four free throws in eight tries the rest of the way to end the game with a 6-0 run and hang on for a 76-69 win at Henry County High School. "It was scary," said Morrison, the senior forward who said he tied his career-high with 32 points and set a career-high with seven 3-pointers. "I guess nerves got to us. They were hitting, and we weren't hitting back. We started making stupid passes, which is what they were trying to make us do. "We came in here expecting to win, but we didn't expect to be up by 20. We kind of laid back, so I'm not sure it was good that we were up 20." Simon Kenton reached the regional semifinals for the second straight year after losing in the quarterfinals each of the previous four seasons. "When we were up by eight with 1:29 left, I thought we had it in the freezer," Steiner said. "They're kids. Sometimes, you don't know what they're going to do." Simon Kenton (14-13) overcame shooting just 50 percent on free throws (23 of 46) to earn a berth in Monday's 8 p.m. semifinal. The Pioneers will play the winner of Friday's second game between Oldham County and Henry County. Senior Brenan Kurtz added 14 points and junior Matt Mullins finished with 13 for Simon Kenton. Sophomore Malik Manica scored 23 points to lead Shelby County (16-15), which had won three straight. The two teams combined to shoot 73 free throws in the foul-marred game. Shelby County was 17 of 27 while making just two 3-pointers to Simon Kenton's nine. The Rockets also were whistled for three technical fouls, two on the bench. After James Gordon gave Shelby County a 2-0 lead. Morrison scored five unanswered points to spark a 10-0 run that included two of his three first-half 3-pointers, forcing the Rockets to abandon their zone defense after a timeout. The Pioneers led by nine points twice in the second quarter. Shelby County cut that lead to two points, but Morrison countered with his third 3-pointer to help Simon Kenton stay on top. Simon Kenton opened up a 19-point third-quarter lead by charging out of the locker room with an 18-2 run capped by an unusual two-player, five-point play with 3:25 to go. Grant Vercheak was fouled while Morrison was sinking yet another 3-pointer and connected on both ends of the bonus free throw for a 46-27 lead. Shelby County cut that to nine by the end of the quarter, but the Pioneers seemed to take command by opening the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run for a 54-38 lead. "It was a game of ebbs and flows," Steiner said.

Great game by both! What did Ruthsatz do in Q1 to earn the T? I was far up and couldn't see.

I agree. It was a smart move by Trent to schedule that Ballard game.

78-50 with 5:30 left...

That isn't good. With Ballard and Cov Cath coming up, I think it's more than fair to say we needed this win. I missed the game (thought it was later). What happened? Same old issue - turnovers and bad shots?

Crap. I forgot it started early. Probably too late to bother coming now. I'm a little surprised SK is losing by 12. I thought it would be a much closer game.

Yeah I knew that. Sorry.

I've never seen Jackson play before. Damn he can shoot! I don't know the 9th region all that well. Is he considered one of the top players in the 9th?

At the beginning of the season I would've said Noah...

That didn't really answer the question. I think the early coaches polls had them 4th in NKY. The question is why? After losing talent like Barnes, Ayers, Sampson, Swanson, Bowling and Montgomery - why were they projected to do well? I was thrilled with the preseason ranking but I never really understood the hype either considering what they lost. I'm proud of how they played. Several of those loses were in OT or last second 1 or 2 point losses. But the question is still valid - have they underperformed or were they over hyped?