2014 40th District Tournament Preview

 

Montgomery County will begin its quest to defend the 10th Region title by hosting this year's 40th District Tournament. Jason Holland inherited a talented roster when he replaced Happy Osborne & his Indians will be favored to claim the 40th's top spot again. Montgomery fields the 10th's best starting five & no one can match their athleticism. Having said that, the Indians have not been as dominating as they were a season ago. The gap between the 10th's #1 team & everyone else seems to have narrowed.

 

Second-seeded George Rogers Clark enters the tournament having played arguably the toughest schedule in the 10th Region. Defense is the calling card for Scott Humphrey's team & that tenacity keeps the Cardinals in a lot of games. The offensive side of the ball is where GRC struggles & is the primary reason why they enter the postseason losers of 7 straight.

 

First-year Paris coach Terrence Brooks brings his Greyhounds to the tournament as the #3 seed. The 'Hounds are a young, talented team that has at times looked outstanding & at other times been frustrating. Such is the case with youth, but Brooks' bunch is capable of making a run at Clark.

Bourbon County is the #4 seed & is also led by a first-year coach in Matthew Martin. The Colonels have struggled from the season's outset, at one point losing 12 consecutive games. But Bourbon has found recent success, as they enter the tournament having won 4 of their last 6 games. It will be an uphill battle, however, as Martin's team faces Montgomery in the opening round.

 

The Pairings (all games at Montgomery County)

 

#1 Montgomery County vs. #4 Bourbon County- Feb. 25th 6:00 pm

#2 George Rogers Clark vs. #3 Paris- Feb. 25th 7:30 pm

 

Championship Game- Feb. 27th 7:00 pm

 

Players To Watch

 

We have to start this list with a quartet of Montgomery County players. Senior guard Bryan Wallace is one of the 10th's top players & was amazing in last year's postseason, earning a spot on the Sweet 16 All-Tournament Team. Wallace is Montgomery County's leader--not just in scoring and assists and steals--but he is their leader. He is the straw that stirs the drink. Forward DeAnte Cisero, a 6'6" senior, is second on the team in points & first in rebounding. Long & athletic, Cisero is quite the presence in the paint. Darius Jones is a 6'5" senior forward & is likely the most athletic player in the 10th Region. Swingman Xavier Piersawl, at 6'2", is a versatile player who can score, but does a lot of different things well.

 

Perhaps the most under-appreciated player in the entire Region is 5'7" junior Damion King of George Rogers Clark. King is GRC's scoring leader & is as aggressive as they come on both sides of the ball. Big man Khmarkis Blanton, at 6'4" and 220 pounds, has not shown the consistency that some would like, but when at the top of his game is a force to be reckoned with. The Cards also boast one of the 10th's top freshmen in swing player Jerryd Jones. Junior forward Luke Sharrock is the type of player most coaches would like to have--hard-nosed, 100% effort, & does a lot of the dirty work.

 

Koebe Garrard, a 6'3" sophomore wing, leads the Paris attack as the team's top scorer & rebounder. Garrard's combination of athleticism & sheer power give him an advantage over most defenders. Senior guard Cameron Downey is the Greyhounds' number-two man & brings experience to a roster that needs it. Paris too brings a quality freshman to the table in forward Jekobi Wells, a lanky swingman who seems to get better each game.

 

Bourbon County is led by junior guard Landon Sexton, an able scorer on the perimeter. Senior guard Gavin Owsley is solid in the back court & most effective in transition.

 

Our Predictions

 

gold sunrise's picks:

 

Montgomery County 85

Bourbon County 50

 

George Rogers Clark 55

Paris 49

 

 

George Rogers Clark 55

Montgomery County 54

 

mcpapa's picks:

 

Montgomery County 82

Bourbon County 49

 

Clark County 58

Paris 48

 

 

Montgomery County 66

Clark County 56

 

Randy Parker's picks:

 

Montgomery County 81

Bourbon County 54

 

George Rogers Clark 59

Paris 50

 

 

Montgomery County 64

George Rogers Clark 55

I'm calling the Paris upset over GRC. I just have a hunch.

MoCo 85

Bourbon 60

 

Paris 65

GRC 60

 

MoCo 72

Paris 57

I'm calling the Paris upset over GRC. I just have a hunch.

 

This game has me worried. Just hope your hunch is wrong.

This game has me worried. Just hope your hunch is wrong.

 

GRC was at Augusta tonight.

GRC was at Augusta tonight.

 

Scouting Paris I would assume. Believe me our coaching staff is not taking Paris lightly.

Scouting Paris I would assume. Believe me our coaching staff is not taking Paris lightly.

 

That's a great move on GRC part. Paris is and will be a tough out for GRC. Probably one of the better games in district play in the 10th region. I'm calling the upset here but don't think it would be a huge upset. Paris showed me a lot the two times I saw them play and took it to Augusta tonight and just ran out of time. I know GRC has by far played a harder schedule and played a lot of good teams close due to their lock down D. But they have struggled to put it together for 4 quarters.

That's a great move on GRC part. Paris is and will be a tough out for GRC. Probably one of the better games in district play in the 10th region. I'm calling the upset here but don't think it would be a huge upset. Paris showed me a lot the two times I saw them play and took it to Augusta tonight and just ran out of time. I know GRC has by far played a harder schedule and played a lot of good teams close due to their lock down D. But they have struggled to put it together for 4 quarters.

 

And our lack of being able to score at times could hurt us too.

How do these two match up size wise Goldie ?

Montgomery will have trouble with Clark if Jones does not play. Does anybody know his status?

How do these two match up size wise Goldie ?

 

Fairly well to my memory. We are very small, but quick. We have played lots of teams with good inside size and rebounded well with them. Our defense is there, that is not worries me, it is our lack of scoring that is our problem.