• Jordan Green's driving layup with :01.5 left gives Henry Clay a 57-55 win over Knott Central. Devils will face LexCath in Sunday finals.
  

I'm very proud of 14th region rep Knott Central. Henry Clay is one of the best teams in the state imo.

 

Cameron Justice is the real deal.

[h=1]Henry Clay, LexCath advance to Holiday Classic finals

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/12/29/2458795/live-updates-from-republic-bank.html#storylink=cpy

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Henry Clay Coach Daniel Brown was happy to see his team pushed to the limit by Knott Central.

"We needed a close game, we needed somebody to challenge us," he said.

"We didn't play our best, but a lot of that had to do with Knott Central — they may be the best team in the mountains. But we hung in there, didn't panic and we made plays at the end."

Knott Central, which lost for the first time this season, rallied from a 10-point deficit to take a 53-52 lead early in the fourth quarter.

It was a tight, deliberate fight the rest of the way.

Chance Little's rebound basket for Knott Central tied it 55-55 with 32 seconds left.

That set the stage for Green's winning shot.

Christen Cunningham led the Devils with 17 points. Green had 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Trey Grundy added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Spotty free-throw shooting (10-for-20) almost cost Henry Clay.

But that didn't affect Knott Central Coach B.B. King's opinion of the Devils.

"They're as good as anybody. I think they're the No. 1 team in the state," he said.

King's Patriots, who were No. 19 in the pre-season, have probably played their way into the top 10 or higher by winning 11 of 12 games.

Camron Justice, a sophomore point guard, had 23 points and 11 rebounds against Henry Clay. Evan Hall, a 6-6 sophomore, had 15 points and six rebounds.

Knott Central outrebounded the bigger Devils 34-28, and had only 10 turnovers against their quickness.

Read more here: Henry Clay, LexCath advance to Holiday Classic finals | High school basketball | Kentucky.com

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Henry Clay's Jordan Green scored the winning basket in the fourth quarter of the Henry Clay vs Knott Central boy's semifinal basketball game of the Republic Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic High School, in Lexington, Ky., on Dec. 29, 2012. Henry Clay won 57-55. Photo by Pablo Alcala | Staff LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER Buy

Read more here: Henry Clay holds off Knott Central | High school sports photo galleries | Kentucky.com

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Knott Central's Camron Justice (5) scored in the second quarter of the Henry Clay vs Knott Central boy's semifinal basketball game of the Republic Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic High School, in Lexington, Ky., on Dec. 29, 2012. Henry Clay led 37-30 at halftime. Photo by Pablo Alcala | Staff LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER Buy Photo

Read more here: Henry Clay holds off Knott Central | High school sports photo galleries | Kentucky.com

Does KCC's coach have a play called "Lucille?"

I think Knott Central had a starter by the name of Short out for this game.

I thought the Patriots would miss the graduated Davis more than they have. This is a young team and really playing great. But the 14th also has Hazard, a team that Knott defeated in overtime at Knott about 10 days ago, and Perry Central who just recently got 6'7 transfer Justin Johnson eligible.

The regional tournament at Letcher Central should be worth the money this year.

Does KCC's coach have a play called "Lucille?"

lol.

I think of the musician everytime I hear Coach King's name.

Btw, BB was a great player himself. He was the key player for the 1981 Knott Central team that played in the state tournament. I believe he went on to play for Morehead State.