I ran into a 9th Region official last weekend and he said that they have been instructed to call tighter games and not let basketball games turn into wrestling matches. Here is an article about it on Lexington, KY local news provided by the Lexington Herald-Leader | Kentucky.com discussing how Mr. Basketball Candidate Derek Willis took a lot of abuse last season. It sounds like it has picked up right where it left off as he was ejected from a game earlier this week due to some frustration over lack of calls.

 

Any thoughts of how the games have been called thus far in your Region?

 

 

 

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my issue has always been consistency- from one ref to the other, one gym to another and one region to another. Basketball is officiated differently in NKY than it is in Lexington or Louisville- way more physical up here.

 

If they start calling games any tighter up here, better not play Grant Co. at their place on a school night- you may be late for school/work the next morning. On the positive side, the JV and Frosh kids at the end of the bench would get some run.

Games are officiated so different across the state. So far, through two scrimmages and one (or two) games, the only difference is more illegal screens have been called along with hand checks.

my issue has always been consistency- from one ref to the other, one gym to another and one region to another. Basketball is officiated differently in NKY than it is in Lexington or Louisville- way more physical up here.

 

If they start calling games any tighter up here, better not play Grant Co. at their place on a school night- you may be late for school/work the next morning. On the positive side, the JV and Frosh kids at the end of the bench would get some run.

 

There should also be consistency from 1 team to another! Playing hard does not constitute fouling sorry, no matter what team you play. The Grant Co. boys don't need you taking shots at them for playing hard.

Games are officiated so different across the state. So far, through two scrimmages and one (or two) games, the only difference is more illegal screens have been called along with hand checks.

 

Glad to hear that. Both have been a problem.

I've seen three 9th region games and a 10th so far this year. 9th seemed to call a lot of touchy fouls early in the games. Seemed to back off and let them play later in the game. If the object is not to let the games get out of control, I'm not sure why the point of emphasis is on a slight touch or reach in out top, versus the banging down low.

Every year the point of emphasis comes and goes. It's just a check to make sure the refs keep control of the games. So far they seem to be doing just that.

my issue has always been consistency- from one ref to the other, one gym to another and one region to another. Basketball is officiated differently in NKY than it is in Lexington or Louisville- way more physical up here.

 

 

If you think the brand of ball played in Northern Kentucky is "physical," then you'd be terrified by what goes on in the 5th Region. And in no way, shape or form has Northern Kentucky ever been "more physical" than the Louisville and Lex area. In fact, I doubt it has ever been "more physical" than anywhere else in the state, based on my observations.

There just needs to be consistency within the game. Players will need to adjust. That is the way it is in most sports at all levels. There is no way to legislate this perfectly. Refs are trying their best and miss calls, just the nature of the sport. Sometimes you don't get the calls other times you do. It usually works it way out evenly over the course of a season. Again, just call it consistently during the game. Probably the most frustrating to me is charging. This is at all levels. Some nights you just have to be better than the calls. Teams that are mature and don't get frustrated (hard to do with 15-18 year olds, granted) can handle the adversity. As far as most physical area of the state, that is a fruitless debate, there are physical teams all over. Many things factor into this, rivalry, athleticism, refs letting them play, etc. Being physical and playing hard go together IMO.

If you think the brand of ball played in Northern Kentucky is "physical," then you'd be terrified by what goes on in the 5th Region. And in no way, shape or form has Northern Kentucky ever been "more physical" than the Louisville and Lex area. In fact, I doubt it has ever been "more physical" than anywhere else in the state, based on my observations.

 

I talked to Coach Booher when he first moved up here for the Holmes job. He says it is really physical in the 9th compared to much of the state.

If you think the brand of ball played in Northern Kentucky is "physical," then you'd be terrified by what goes on in the 5th Region. And in no way, shape or form has Northern Kentucky ever been "more physical" than the Louisville and Lex area. In fact, I doubt it has ever been "more physical" than anywhere else in the state, based on my observations.

Agree 1000%.

The Holmes and Newport game was a knife fight in the post. Physical as heck, I thought.

They need to watch for three things to clean the game up in my opinion.

1. Handchecking, especially on drives.

2. Off ball physicality. Including the bumping and grabbing of cutters and screening.

3. Hand use in the post. Guy playing post defense should not be allowed to put his hands in the back of the offensive post player. Allow the arm bar, but don't allow hands which can allow a kid to be steered in the post.

I talked to Coach Booher when he first moved up here for the Holmes job. He says it is really physical in the 9th compared to much of the state.

 

I've watched a number of games in the 9th over the years and have always found the play soft in terms of fouls. It may have gotten better the past few years, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the 9th has fared poorly at the Sweet 16 over the years. Before coming to Holmes, Booher coached in the 15th Region, which is a shooter's league as well.

 

I would count the play in the 5th and the 6th/7th to be the most physical in the state. The 4th always was very rough when I was living there, but I can't really speak to that area any more. My sources say not much has changed over the years. The 12th and 13th tended to be rough, but I always noticed that teams from those regions had a hard time when venturing up into the mountain regions. The 10th and 11th can be hardcore, but not always.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from my son is defenders grabbing his jersey when he cuts to get open. Handchecking out front is also a pet peeve of mine. Get your butt down and move your feet, if you get beat then rely on help defense but that crap has to stop.

Nope. Just as physical, if not more physical in the 15th as it was last year.

 

Rough post play doesn't bother me. The physical play out front is TERRIBLE.