10th Region Champs GRC 30-5 will take on 3rd Region Champs Apollo 17-14 in the nightcap on Wednesday. Your thoughts and predictions.

Edited March 11, 201214 yr by gold sunrise

GRC by 5

This will be a blowout. GRC by 20.

This will be a blowout. GRC by 20.

 

What can you tell us about Apollo. I have read that they have some tall kids. Bivin, 6'7 290 lb who is a major college football prospect. Berry 6'5 and athletic and Sophomore Sheldon 6'4. What can we expect from them?

When I had the opportunity to see them,..... I still don't know how they pulled off winning the third region. Apollo was sitting back in a 2-3 zone and were not a team you would say had a shot at winning the region. I got to see Muhlenberg Co. and they were bigger and faster. I'm afraid they have accomplished all thats possible for them to accomplish. But that is why we play the game. I didn't get to see the regional tournament. I went to the second region games.

^ Thanks. Looks like they may be one of those teams that came on strong in the post season.

Correction on Apollo's record its 17 - 14.

Correction on Apollo's record its 17 - 14.

 

Thanks, edited it.

Though this to be interesting:

 

In 2007 GRC won thier first round game to advance and face The #1 team in Ballard and lost. Last year, GRC also won thier first game to advance and face the #1 team in Eastern and again lost. This year if GRC advances to the second round they could possibely again face the #1 team in Trinity.

Sweet 16: Clark taking business-like approach

 

By Keith Taylor Sun Sports Editor 12:23 p.m. EDT, March 12, 2012

 

 

LEXINGTON — It’s been business as usual for the George Rogers Clark boys basketball team.

 

The Cardinals spent the past two days preparing for the boys Sweet Sixteen, which begins Wednesday at Rupp Arena. Clark conducted a workout at the Craft Center Saturday and had a similar session Sunday at Transylvania.

 

Clark coach Scott Humphrey has been impressed with his team’s practice sessions following a 61-39 win over Mason County in last week’s 10th Region Tournament at the MCHS Arena in Montgomery County.

 

“We’ve looked really sharp in practice,” Humphrey said Sunday. “Getting the opportunity to practice on the college floors the past two days is going to be a great benefit for us. It doesn’t seem like a major change, but going from a high school floor to a college-length floor is a huge adjustment.”

 

Humphrey added the team’s approach has been “business as usual.”

“Today’s practice didn’t look any different than a practice in October or early November. It’s been the same type of focus and intensity and that’s what has allowed us to improve throughout the year. We haven’t let any days get by us.”

 

The Cards (30-5) will take on Owensboro Apollo in the opening round of the tournament at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Rupp Arena. The past few days, Clark has focused on themselves, rather than the Eagles.

 

Beginning today, the Cards will shift their attention to their first-round opponent.

“We spent the weekend getting as much film as we can, but we’ve spent the past two days working on Clark County,” Humphrey said.

 

Sweet 16: Clark taking business-like approach - centralkynews.com

Apollo vs. Clark Co.

 

Apollo

 

Region: 3rd • Record: 17-14 • Enrollment: 1,350

 

Coach's résumé

 

Steve Sergeant is in his second season at Apollo. He also coached at Seneca for six years. He played at Male in the early 1980s (a year ahead of Winston Bennett) and at Kentucky Wesleyan.

 

Starters

 

Player Height Class Points

 

Nick Porter 5-10 Sr. 6.6

 

Sam Sergeant 5-11 So. 6.8

 

Hunter Bivin 6-7 Jr. 12.3

 

Michael Berry 6-6 Sr. 10.8

 

Hunter Shelton 6-5 So. 14.3

 

Scouting report

 

Apollo struggled through the regular season and district, but three wins in the region cured their ills. "It seemed like everything came together for us at the right time. I don't know how to explain it," Sergeant said. A switch to man-to-man defense provided a spark, but it was mostly players executing better, he said. Bivin is a big man in the middle. Point-guard Porter is an effective distributor (averaging 6 assists). Berry's a force inside (17 rebounds in region finals). Shelton is a great three-point shooter (82 of 162 for 51 percent). Sam Sergeant, back from a knee injury, is a stabilizing factor. "We're big, slow and pretty effective in the half-court," Steve Sergeant said.

 

Region redemption

 

Apollo's loss to Daviess County in the district finals dropped its record to 14-14. But the Eagles had the magic touch in the region. In the first round, Bivin's shot with :08 left upset Ohio County (which was on a 20-game winning streak) 52-51. In the finals, Berry's tip-in at the buzzer toppled Muhlenberg County 64-62.

 

Player to watch

 

Bivin is one of the top football prospects in the nation. Among those offering the junior offensive lineman are most of the SEC schools, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin, among others. "He's a very good basketball player, too," Sergeant said. "He's pretty athletic, very strong and is in great shape for his size." Bivin is shooting 70 percent from the field and is averaging 9 rebounds.

 

Sweet history

 

This is the ninth time Apollo has reached the Sweet Sixteen. In 2006, it reached the finals before falling to Jeffersontown.

 

Clark County

 

Region: 10th • Record: 30-5 • Enrollment: 1,662

 

Coach's résumé

 

Scott Humphrey in his ninth year (216-72) at Clark County. He was previously at Simon Kenton for six seasons and has an overall record of 348-117. He's taken the Cardinals to three state tournaments.

 

Starters

 

Player Height Class Points

 

Bopper Stenzel 6-1 Sr. 17.2

 

Charlie Rogers 6-1 Sr. 9.5

 

Taylor Howard 6-0 Sr. 7.5

 

Adam Fatkin 6-7 Sr. 19.7

 

Dominic VanCleve 5-11 Sr. 4.3

 

Scouting report

 

Stenzel was the only experienced player returning from last season's Sweet Sixteen squad, but these retooled Cardinals came together quickly, with everybody filling their roles. Stenzel is the leader. Fatkin made himself into a legit post player (20 ppg, 10 rpg). "He changed his body and turned himself into an athlete through hard work," Humphrey said. Rogers' transformation came through emotional maturity. "He turned the page in mid-December, and he's been rock-solid ever since," Humphrey said. VanCleve provides defense and Howard outside shooting.

 

The trust factor

 

Clark County stamped itself as the surprise team of the season when it put together a 17-game winning streak, including taking the Fort Harrod Classic at Mercer County and the Ashland Invitational Tournament. The Cards trailed in the second half in nine of those 17 games, but rallied every time. "When things got tough, these guys trusted each other enough to pull it out," Humphrey said. "That showed me this was a special group with a unique mental toughness."

 

Player to watch

 

Stenzel's motor is always revving at high RPMs. "He's as fierce a competitor as I've ever had," Humphrey said. "He loves the big moment, the big game. His toughness and grit permeate our program." Stenzel averaged three points on last year's senior-laden team. Now he's averaging 17 while running the point and leading the defense. He's getting looks from some Division II colleges.

 

Sweet history

 

This is Clark County's 23rd trip to the state tournament. It won the title in 1951 and was runner-up in 1923 and 1950.

 

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/03/13/2...#storylink=cpy