I had no problem with Moeves taking that 3. He is a solid outside shooter and had a good look.

As for the last shot for NCC goes...I initially didn't like the choice and I still don't unless, as Clyde said, the coach told him to take it if that situation presented itself. The lane was wide open for a drive, and he took a step at first and looked like he might drive it, then stepped back for the 3. With 32 seconds left on the clock and the game tied I think you need to take something much closer to the basket. But I can't fault the kid, he saw an open shot and took it that at almost any other point in the game isn't even debatable if he should take it or not.

 

The 4th quarter two tings stand out to me. Lafayette dialed up the pressure on the press that they had pretty much run all game, and in doing so took a lot of chances. NCC seemed to panic a little and make a lot of bad reads, flat out bad passes and just didn't see the open man a lot of the time and played right in to what Lafayette wanted. NCC also had a miss match several times on the block when Lafayette had a guard guarding one of the NCC big men. Instead of just recognizing that, stopping everything and posting the mismatch up, NCC seemed to continue to try to run their sets and maybe even run some time off the clock. I know the group I was sitting with, we were all just kind of looking at each other in bewilderment wondering why I the world was NCC not trying to exploit that. I mean, not once did they even try in that time frame.

 

As someone said earlier, this game will definitely help NCC in the long run I think and make them just that much better when the games really count.

Pangallo going scoreless is something you wont see too often. I am sure they could have used his typical 10-14 points.

 

Weyer and McDonald I thought did a nice job against the press as well.

I would agree, and my apologies if my reply came off sounding upset. But I don't think it has to do with being tired. They just made, as one parent in the stands said and I'll "clean it up, some of the most ill-advised passes in the world. Lafayette did a great job of amping up the pressure, but the Breds were beating it. However once Lafayette got on a roll the Breds cracked BIGTIME.

 

It's all good. I can appreciate not being the happiest of campers that soon after the game. The Breds are tough and it's going to be a treat in the coming weeks to see them make their run through the All "A" State and likely bring that trophy home, as well as an upcoming battle with CovCath that will answer a lot of questions about how those two size up.

 

It's an interesting year again in the 9th especially with the Top 4 who are aiming to prove that nothing is for certain. It's exciting that we have this much excellence this year locally that are in the discussion, as well as making a name for themselves around the state.

It appears when pressure is amped they just cannot get out of their own way. You can bet Holmes will be in their face full court the whole game. The bigs seem to struggle with that. Still not sure if it is depth or just not able to handle pressure for 32 minutes. They wont play many teams of this caliber the rest of the way except Holmes, CCH, and Trinity and Brossart won't be easy.

The bigs weren't the ones turning it over.

Can someone explain where the "bigs" didn't handle the pressure? I'm confused on those comments? I thought Weyer and McDonald did a great job bailing the team out several times tonight on the press. IMO they handled the pressure extremely well. And when Schulte went back in the game he took the ball to the basket. I don't think they cracked under pressure at all. They combined for 47 points (Weyer and McDonald had 19 a piece, Schulte 9), 19 rebounds (Weyer 6, McDonald 9, Schulte 4) and only 4 turnover. Where did they not handle the pressure?

 

Not a great 4th quarter for the Breds. But it seems they have the 3rd quarter figured out. I'd trade two losses in December for a big win in March any day. Keep working guys.

Agree completely.

Pangallo going scoreless is something you wont see too often. I am sure they could have used his typical 10-14 points.

Weyer and McDonald I thought did a nice job against the press as well.

 

Agree, he had quite a few shots "just rim out". It was like the ghost of Charles Hurt was pushing them out. :lol2:

No. 3 Lafayette 57, No. 4 Newport Catholic 55: After rallying from seven down in the last minute of regulation to beat Scott County in overtime Saturday, the Generals had another stunning comeback against NewCath.

 

Do the Generals love drama or what?

 

"Apparently so," said Davis, who had 28 points and 11 rebounds in the latest thriller.

 

Lafayette trailed No. 4 NewCath 44-28 late in the third quarter.

 

The key to the Generals' rise from the dead?

 

"We started knocking down shots," Mendenhall said. "Once we could score we could turn up the heat defensively."

 

Lance Blakley had seven of his 12 points in the last quarter. Harrison Lane, who hit two clutch threes against Scott County, missed his first six long-range tries Sunday, but he made his last one that tied it 55-55 with 1:05 left.

 

"I guess he likes the spotlight," Davis said laughing.

 

Coach Ron Dawn said NewCath wanted to hold the ball for the last shot, but the Thoroughbreds instead tried and missed a three from the top of the key with 39 seconds left.

 

Lafayette got the ball to Jackson in the lane. He missed, but got the putback with 10 seconds left.

 

"He wasn't going to let us lose," Mendenhall said of Davis. "That's what Mr. Basketball candidates do. They find a way to win."

 

NewCath made a turnover before it could get off a last shot.

 

Lafayette forced the Thoroughbreds into eight turnovers in the fourth quarter.

 

"We just didn't execute very well," Dawn said. "We panicked, no doubt. They got a on a roll there and we threw the ball away."

 

NewCath was led by 6-7 junior Drew McDonald (19 points, eight rebounds) and 6-6 sophomore Ben Weyer (19 points, five rebounds).

 

Read more here: Republic Bank Holiday Classic finals: Lexington Catholic to defend its turf vs. Lafayette | High school basketball | Kentucky.com

While NCC's bigs don't turn the ball over against pressure, that style does somewhat take them out of the game. My concern if I'm a NCC fan is that the issue with fatigue is what it is without a developed bench. NCC will get into better shape as the year goes on, but so will other teams. Their lack of depth may be their biggest Achilles' heel.

 

NCC hasn't fared very well against, ahem, "athletic" teams.

I just watched the 3rd qtr. I didn't see the press give NCC much trouble. The TOs I saw were in the halfcourt offense for the most part.

Weyer is going to be a pain the rear for coaches from here on out through 2016. Inside/outside. Nice.

I just watched the 3rd qtr. I didn't see the press give NCC much trouble. The TOs I saw were in the halfcourt offense for the most part.

 

Well the 4th qtr started. Now I see it. As I suspected you get the ball out of Pangallo's hands and it becomes a crapshoot.

Well the 4th qtr started. Now I see it. As I suspected you get the ball out of Pangallo's hands and it becomes a crapshoot.

 

NCC guards, like a lot of guards, forget to use the bounce pass. They had multiple passes stolen or tipped that would have worked better had it been a bounce pass. I guarantee it got mentioned by Coach Dawn because the possession I just saw coming out of a timeout had 4 bounce passes coming up the floor and it led to an easy basket for Schulte.

I think I just saw something I know I have never witnessed and didn't think I ever would.

 

Schulte talked trash briefly.

Well the 4th qtr started. Now I see it. As I suspected you get the ball out of Pangallo's hands and it becomes a crapshoot.

 

Fatigue. Both physically and mentally. No opportunity to really take a kid out, sit him down, and let him see the game unfold from the bench (and that can make quite a difference, especially against intense pressure).