Not saying it would have stopped her, but I have to think it would have certainly slowed her down. I have to think she's avgeraging around 10-12 pts per game. Seems like most teams packed it in on HC this year and they would had trouble scoring (when playing good teams). I have to think that with NCC's team quickness, a zone would have made it tough on her.

 

She is an outstanding player and she obviously took it to another level last night, but if you need to keep someone out of the middle of the lane (which is sounds like was the issue for NCC), zone would have been my answer. Especially when the bigs were in foul issues and McClendan was their real chance to stay in the game.

Not saying it would have stopped her, but I have to think it would have certainly slowed her down. I have to think she's avgeraging around 10-12 pts per game. Seems like most teams packed it in on HC this year and they would had trouble scoring (when playing good teams). I have to think that with NCC's team quickness, a zone would have made it tough on her.

 

She is an outstanding player and she obviously took it to another level last night, but if you need to keep someone out of the middle of the lane (which is sounds like was the issue for NCC), zone would have been my answer. Especially when the bigs were in foul issues and McClendan was their real chance to stay in the game.

They did go zone an Hc hit a 3. Then ncc started double and triple teaming her. Ware is One of the best ball defender

I Have seen in a Long time but nobody was stopping mcclendon last night.

The question I have is if McClendan was doing all the damage getting in the lane, did NCC ever go to a zone? NCC ended up winning, but it just seems like going to a zone would have slowed down the gal that seemed to tear them up tonight.

 

As mentioned NCC went to a zone briefly. But then HC just held the ball out front until NCC had to come out and guard them. Also as was already mentioned McClendon was killing NCC from the foul line because every drive resulted in a basket or a missed layup or a foul called on NCC. I thought the bumps were called as they have been all year in the 9th region at least. And I thought the fouls on the HC bigs were called as they have been all year in the 9th region in that if you are moving at all it is a foul. Not how I like to see a game called but if those are the rules then those are the rules.

They did go zone an Hc hit a 3. Then ncc started double and triple teaming her. Ware is One of the best ball defender

I Have seen in a Long time but nobody was stopping mcclendon last night.

 

That's impressive. How long did they stay in the zone? Just til one 3 went in? And did McClendan get in the lane when they were in the zone? I know the day after is easy to say what you would've done, but I still think I would have stayed in a zone if she was on fire and getting to the lane. HC is not a good shooting team, so I would have taken my chances that they were not going to continue to hit threes. It hasn't happened all year. In fact, didn't they bank in 1-2 of them? I would have packed it in. If McClendan can get to the rack with all 5 NCC players with a foot in the paint, then something is wrong. HC is not going to beat you from the outside. If Ware was having issues guarding her, then it was a special night for McClendan...no doubt! But one player (that is not an outside shooter) should not be able to destroy you in a zone, no matter how hot she is. That's what teams did to them all year and held their point totals way down. If the bigs were in that much foul trouble that early and McClendan was penetrating and keeping them in it, then I still say "PACK IT IN!" If each NCC player kept one foot in the lane when the bigs were out, are you saying HC would have still scored like they did? I wasn't there, but I find that hard to believe. I'm just saying at some point, I would have told all 5 to stand in the lane and not move! They would not beat you from the outside. You can double and triple team a girl, but if you're chasing her all over, she can get seams. If you sit back and wait, then she has to come to you. If they want to sit out there and hold the ball, then let them. Especially when you have the lead. I'm not sure either team was ever up enough in the second half to hold the ball. And even if I was losing and they did hold the ball and I wanted to push the issue, I would have had my two guards go chase and play a triangle with Kiernan at the foul line. Especially when even one of the bigs were out.

What about the 15 block calls again Ncc girls when McClendon was driving to the basket. The refs were calling everything for the offense. NO ADVANTAGE either way due to the refs. The girls decided this one. Heck of a game and lets leave it at that. Both teams played their hearts out.

 

The refs put NCC on the foul line five times in the first 4 and half minutes in the 3rd quarter. This resulted in six points including at least 1 3-point play. I do not use the word "rob" very often but Holy Cross was the better team last night. NCC won the first quarter. HC won the 2nd, the last three minutes of the third, and the first 7:30 of the 4th. The refs were very unfair in the first 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter and the last 30 seconds of the game. The second to last could called against Holy Cross was a travesty. I feel sorry for them. Holy Cross seemed very young and will be very good in the next couple of years.

 

But Nicole Kiernan is an absolute animal. I thought she had a shot at Ms. Basketball. IS she still in the running?

I agree on the zone, I've only seen one guard stay with her without fouling out. But I would go with a box and one. That is if you have the right girl. Straight up zone allows her to pick on the weak side of the zone where your best player probally isn't.

Edited March 9, 201412 yr by True blue (and gold)
Rule 5

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – The third meeting would either be another charm or go the other way depending on the side.

It turned out to be another charm for the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds girls basketball team by a narrow 54-52 count. The Thoroughbreds (28-4) defeated the Covington Holy Cross Lady Indians (21-8) for the third time this season in the 9th Region semifinals Saturday at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the Northern Kentucky University campus. NewCath also edged Holy Cross, 39-37 in the 9th Region All “A” semifinals on Jan. 17 on a Michaela Ware lay-up in the final seconds and 62-43 on The Hill on Feb. 8.

“That’s the reason why we play the tough schedule we play,” said George Stoll, NewCath Head Coach. “We’ve been in a few games like that this year. It prepares us for these type of situations so we’re not overwhelmed when we get here. Credit the girls. They didn’t panic when we got down. They kept playing and executed their sets there at the end.”

The Thoroughbreds battle defending champion Notre Dame (22-8) for the region crown at 6 p.m. Sunday. NewCath is seeking its first title since 2011. Notre Dame won the regular-season game, 39-26 on Feb. 13 on The Hill.

NewCath could not pull away despite getting the 6-foot-1-inch junior twins Cessie and Ally Mayhaus to foul out allowing posts Nikki Kiernan and Alexus Mayes have big nights. Kiernan had a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds with Mayes scoring 11. NewCath won the rebounding battle, 31-29.

“We didn’t do a good enough job attacking when (the Mayhaus twins) were out,” Stoll said. “But we made key baskets down the stretch. That’s what we needed to do. It’s not easy to beat a good team three times.”

Kiernan has 1,830 points for her career. The Thoroughbreds needed the three free throws she hit in the game’s final 11.8 seconds to get there to win the game. The first two came with NewCath trailing 52-51. After a Holy Cross miss, Kiernan grabbed the rebound and made 1-of-2 with 2.8 seconds left to make the final score as Holy Cross’ desperation heave missed.

“I was really confident knowing the first two were going in,” Kiernan said. “With the second two, I was happy I made one of them. We all bring something to the team. I encourage them to keep pushing throughout the whole game.”

Dajah McClendon put Holy Cross on her back and scored 25 points giving the Lady Indians a chance. The sophomore made 9-of-13 free throws.

Cessie Mayhaus added 13 points for Holy Cross and her sister had four. The twins had to sit most of the second half picking up their third and fourth fouls early in the second half.

“We go against each other in practice,” Mayes said. “We will bring in taller people to go against in practice. Coach Stoll has friends who play basketball who are tall. He’ll ask them to come in and we’ll practice against them. That gets us prepared mentally.”

Missed free throws also didn’t help NewCath’s cause. The Thoroughbreds made just 17-of-33 attempts for 52 percent compared to 14-of-21 for 67 percent for the Lady Indians. Holy Cross had 21 fouls and NewCath had 19 with one player in Loren Zimmerman fouling out compared to the two for Holy Cross.

“We played well,” said Kes Murphy, Holy Cross Head Coach. “We had our chances late. The kids that got minutes stepped up. They made their shots late.”

NewCath shot a little better from the field. The Thoroughbreds hit 18-of-42 shots for 43 percent compared to 18-of-43 for 42 percent for the Lady Indians.

The turnovers were also about even at 12 for Holy Cross and 11 for NewCath. But the Thoroughbreds recorded 11 steals to four for the Lady Indians.

NewCath point guard Michaela Ware again had a big game with four steals. She also led the Thoroughbreds with seven assists. NewCath had 16 assists to four for Holy Cross.

The Thoroughbreds started the game off strong. They finished the quarter with an 11-0 run to go up 15-7 after the first quarter. Kiernan scored six during that run and Stephanie Lewis had four.

But Holy Cross fought back and tied the game when Cessie Mayhaus hit a three-point play with 4:03 remaining. The Lady Indians finished the first half with a 14-1 run to go up 28-20 at halftime. Cessie Mayhaus and McClendon had nine each in the second quarter.

But NewCath came out stronger in the third quarter scoring the first 15 points of the half. Mayes led the run with seven points as the Thoroughbreds built a 35-28 lead.

But Holy Cross rallied again behind McClendon. She hit a three-point play to tie the game at 39 with 17.8 seconds left in the quarter before Kiernan’s offensive rebound gave NewCath a 41-39 lead with two seconds left in the third.

“(McClendon) absolutely killed us,” Stoll said. “She’s a great basketball player. In tournament time, that’s what great players do. They step up. We were fortunate to get the last punch.”

The game stayed tight in the fourth quarter with neither team leading by more than two points. A Kiernan score gave NewCath a 48-47 advantage with about two 2:30 remaining before McClendon hit two free throws.

The Thoroughbreds led 50-49 when Kiernan passed to Ware out of a double-team and she hit a jumper. Ware then hit a free throw with 55.1 seconds remaining to put the Thoroughbreds up 51-49.

Holy Cross came down and took the lead again. Michelle Hungler hit the second of two three-pointers from the left corner to put the Lady Indians up 52-51 with 40 seconds remaining setting up Kiernan’s heroics.

Holy Cross should be a region contender again as just three seniors graduate. They are Hungler, Kristen Stanley and Kendall Sebastian.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: Thoroughbreds edge Lady Indians, 54-52

Congrats to sophomore Dajah McClendon of Holy Cross, who as other posters have said was an absolute force last night. It was a joy to watch her seize control with HC's "bigs" sidelined, and I'm thrilled that we have two more years to watch her mature. After a game like that, it's a shame that her floater off the glass with seconds left didn't go in.

 

Congrats also to senior Michelle Hungler of Holy Cross. She showed no fear when she pulled up and drained that three from the far corner in the last minute, giving Holy Cross the one-point lead. A lot has been alleged about the Indians' outside shooting. It's true that Holy Cross is not a team of good outside shooters, top to bottom. But Hungler (and freshman Aleah Tucker) are the exceptions. Half-way through the year, Hungler found her stroke and her confidence, and the Indians suddenly had another weapon. People who watched Holy Cross night in and night out know that truth. As with McClendon, it's unfortunate that she didn't get the reward of seeing her shot prove the game-winner.

 

As far as Holy Cross' three "bigs" are concerned, I feel their pain and frustration. Hassert's literal pain, as a back injury kept her sidelined for the last third of the season. She died a little physically and emotionally on the bench each game, especially last night knowing the Indians could really have used her. As for the Mayhaus girls, they weren't given a chance. Their combined minutes last night I don't think added up to 32. I won't dwell on the officiating. Other posters have already zeroed in on that. But I would like an explanation sometime of what kind of contact is allowed, and under what circumstances a defensive player is entitled to the space she occupies. NewCath's Kiernan knew that if she initiated any contact whatsoever, she would get the call, and she exploited that advantage. It was fitting that her game-winning points came at the line -- she spent a lot of time there. And though she missed what seemed like a dozen free throws, I'll give her credit for hitting the two that counted. She's fortunate, however, because her miss with a couple seconds left would have cost NewCath the game if McClendon's desperation heave at the buzzer had been a foot to the left.

 

In closing, I'll say this: Two HC-NewCath games this year were decided on a shot with less than three seconds to play. As a fan, you can't ask for more than that.

So were they calling fouls differently on the other side of the court? Were NCC's bigs in foul trouble? What did they do differently to stay out of foul trouble playing against two 6'2" players? Did they adjust to the way the game was being called? Or was it just plain that the refs called it differently in the paint on the different ends?