Welp, phone died with two and half to play. Nice while it lasted.

 

Fun game. NCC got blasted out of the building a little bit once Ballard put the pressure on after the break, but that was a darn good team.

 

I can't make it, but given the two teams' size in the frontcourt, tomorrow's third place game between them and PRP should be a battle.

Just a question... but was "Ballard just being Ballard" last year in the Sweet 16?

 

What, making it to the title game, like they do once every three years or so? Yes. As usual, Ballard was awesome.

Made the trip tonight with my son. What a game. Ballard proved their the top team in Kentucky and Snider and Martin are very exciting players.

 

Newport Catholic is a very unselfish team and gave Ballard all they could handle.

 

I was sitting next to some Ballard fans and they were very impressed with McDonald (#34). They liked his versatility and were really impressed with his basketball IQ and floor vision (things that don't show up on stat sheets).

 

I just looked at the official stats for the tournament and was very surprised he is averaging 4 - 5 assists per game to go along with a 15 pt/game average. He either leads his team or is 2nd in almost every category. This is impressive given he draws a double team every time he touches the ball. I know stat so can be misleading however the stuff he does that does not show up on the stat sheet, makes him a very complete player.

 

I felt NCC's offense ran a lot smoother when he is in the game. Both teams are loaded with future college players.

 

Awesome experience for my son and I.

Before this one, I wondered how much Ballard's speed would play into the final margin. Looks like it meant they were around 20 points better. Ballard has some big kids too, but theirs are fast as well. Just a different type of team on a different level this year. Barring injury, it looks like everyone is playing for second.

 

And to the comment about last year's team, who did that Ballard team lose? It's going to be more "Ballard being Ballard" this year, just like last year, except that now they're a year older and more experienced. We might as well get used to it.

And to the comment about last year's team, who did that Ballard team lose? It's going to be more "Ballard being Ballard" this year, just like last year, except that now they're a year older and more experienced. We might as well get used to it.

 

They didn't lose much. One starter... a good one to be sure... but naught else. They're just as good as it looks on paper.

Just realized what I wrote....Ballard had 55 2nd half pts?!?!?

 

There's teams who don't even hit that in a full game and Ballard just did it in a HALF against a top 5 team..WOW

 

..............while playing a starter short (Douglas) IS impressive.

Jake Schulte with 23 pts is a good sign for Breds fans. His size and athleticism should allow him to dominate on a nightly basis. He has also improve d his versatility and showed he can put the ball on thr floor and attack the rim from the elbow.

..............while playing a starter short (Douglas) IS impressive.

 

Bingo. Scary.

Exactly what I expected. It's pretty simple. Ballard has a 5th gear and no other teams in Kentucky have that gear. It'll be a major upset if they don't win it all this season.

I wouldn't count on it. They have a terrible track record in state championship games. The Bruins probably have the best record for most runner-up trophies. I don't know what it is about them but they seem to roll over everyone throughout the state tournament and then make it to the final game and can't get it done.

They have a terrible track record in state championship games. The Bruins probably have the best record for most runner-up trophies.

 

Titles in 1977, 1988, 1999.

 

Runners-up in 1987, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013.

 

The school opened, I believe, in 1973.

 

That 2010 game remains the most puzzling game result I've ever seen.

 

I'd have loved to have seen the back-to-back title games between Clay County and Ballard in '87 and '88 when Scotty Davenport was coaching the Bruins.

Jake Schulte with 23 pts is a good sign for Breds fans. His size and athleticism should allow him to dominate on a nightly basis. He has also improve d his versatility and showed he can put the ball on thr floor and attack the rim from the elbow.

 

Looks like the Breds need to spend some time on the FT line though.

Titles in 1977, 1988, 1999.

 

Runners-up in 1987, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013.

 

The school opened, I believe, in 1973.

 

That 2010 game remains the most puzzling game result I've ever seen.

 

I'd have loved to have seen the back-to-back title games between Clay County and Ballard in '87 and '88 when Scotty Davenport was coaching the Bruins.

 

I remember those games with Allan Houston/Kenny Bell vs Richie Farmer/Russ Farmer. I saw the one at Freedom Hall when Richie went for like 40+.

It will take a very, very good team to beat NCC . I don't know what their schedule looks like but they won't lose too many more.

I wouldn't count on it. They have a terrible track record in state championship games. The Bruins probably have the best record for most runner-up trophies. I don't know what it is about them but they seem to roll over everyone throughout the state tournament and then make it to the final game and can't get it done.

 

Would you say the teams that beat them weren't as good as Ballard? Madison Central was as good as Ballard last year. wasn't it Shelby Valley that beat them in 2010? Were they not as good as Ballard then?

Would you say the teams that beat them weren't as good as Ballard? Madison Central was as good as Ballard last year. wasn't it Shelby Valley that beat them in 2010? Were they not as good as Ballard then?

 

IMO Madison Central was probably as good although they were down 17 in the 3rd quarter and had to claw back for the win so I would say Ballard had something to do with that with their mistakes and poor decisions at the end.

 

Being very knowledgeable about the 2010 season, I think Ballard was clearly the better team but had to play three top ten teams to make the final game while SV only played one top 20 team, as I recall, so I think the Ballard team had no legs for the finals. If that game is played with both teams in a similar situation from the rest standpoint, Ballard wins 8/10 times IMO. And for the SV fans, this is just my opinion and I'm not trying to demean the accomplishments of the SV squad.