Ballard is good... really good. I think that might be my lead for every thread about the Bruins the rest of the year.

 

As has been the story for Ballard, the talent of their stars has proven difficult for Kentucky teams to contend with. Lavonne Holland had 16, Kelan Martin had 15 and Quentin Snider added 14 for the Bruins. The defense forced DeSales into 32 turnovers.

 

The Bruins will play Jeffersontown in the quarterfinals Friday at 5:30.

 

 

Chase Shellman led the way for DeSales, scoring 15 points.

wow

Yikes! DeSales is no world-beater, but theyr'e not chopped liver, either.

Despite this scoreline and several scorelines like it, there are weaknesses. But it takes a significant amount of talent and discipline to get at them. The only two Kentucky schools that have played them close are both in the AP Top 10 -- with the exception of Central, which had a lead until after the final buzzer, losing on a last second basket by Kelan Martin.

 

I don't know the details of their game against Scott County in the first game of the season, but that was only a nine-point contest. Madison Central was the other close one, a two-point, 88-86 win for Ballard in the King of the Bluegrass. I really wish I'd seen that one as it's going to end up being one of the best games of the season, especially for the major players on those teams; Snider had 36 for Ballard and Dominique Hawkins had 37 for Madison Central.

 

The Bruins were held to 63 points in a loss to Indianapolis Cathedral. That's their lowest offensive output of the season. They've scored less than 70 in only three games; the Bruins won two of them. You can't really stop these guys from scoring, but a team that actually has the talent to put up some points can make a run at them.

I've talked to a person close to the Ballard program - he thinks that the only team that can beat Ballard this year is Ballard.

^ They're going to win it all IMO.

I've talked to a person close to the Ballard program - he thinks that the only team that can beat Ballard this year is Ballard.

 

As the 32 turnovers indicate, teams that aren't prepared to contend with Ballard's athleticism and skill end up in real trouble. When they manage to clamp down on a team, they're just outstanding.