WOW, what a game.

Holmes

 

FG - 17/26

3pt. -3/14

FT's - 11/23

 

Bolden 18, Hill 13

 

 

Dixie

 

FG - 13/26

3pt. - 4/15

FT's - 13/18

 

Hatton 25

I read Clyde's post from the update thread that he left at halftime. So did I. So did about 1,000 people. Did not see a comeback coming. That will teach me to pull up stakes early.

Congratulations to Holmes for pulling out the W and good luck to them tomorrow night. They built a halftime lead that made it hard for Dixie to get back into it.

 

Congratulations to the Dixie team as well. You guys busted your butts all year long and proved a lot of people wrong. You have nothing to hang your heads about.

 

A big thank you goes out to the Dixie seniors! You represented the school extremely well over the past couple of years and had great careers.

 

Brandon finishes at #25 on the state's career scoring list. Great work B! :thumb:

 

I'll post my game thoughts later.

Hard to believe the Brandon Hatton era is over. I have watched him scorch nets since 4th grade AAU and he has always been a pleasure to Watch.

Holmes really seemed to lose their intensity in the third quarter. They were going through the motions as if they had the game won. Then as it got tighter, Hatton took over on offense for Dixie and got them within range of the win. That last shot by Dixie was not a good play. Why even call timeout if your play is for Hatton to shoot a contested 30 footer?

 

I know Holmes beat Cov Cath in the district final, but I have a hard time seeing them win tomorrow night. It will be on Bolden to make it happen.

Dixie just kept chopping away and Holmes looked like NCC shooting foul shots in the second half. Dixie fans will be upset that Hatton did not get the same call as Ruthsatz got in the NCC game when with under a minute left he got the Holmes defender to bite at the 3 point line and then threw himself into the defender for a ton of contact. But this was just a no call and airball. Dixie had a chance to tie it in closing seconds on a Hatton three and he had a good look at it but it just did not go down.

 

Holmes played well inside as evident by the 2 point FG%. They also drew several fouls inside which was good in the first half but kind of bit them in the second half. They will have to clean that up Monday night.

Dixie just kept cutting the lead down with some good ball movement and Hatton hitting some shots. They played a smart focused game.

Holmes really seemed to lose their intensity in the third quarter. They were going through the motions as if they had the game won. Then as it got tighter, Hatton took over on offense for Dixie and got them within range of the win. That last shot by Dixie was not a good play. Why even call timeout if your play is for Hatton to shoot a contested 30 footer?

 

I know Holmes beat Cov Cath in the district final, but I have a hard time seeing them win tomorrow night. It will be on Bolden to make it happen.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts as well. In first game Fri vs. Highlands, Holmes also had a strong second quarter, then spent the second half playing not to lose as opposed to trying to pull away. Give Dixie credit, though. They played a real tough second half.

 

No way Holmes can play only half a game Monday night and beat CovCath.

Dixie just kept chopping away and Holmes looked like NCC shooting foul shots in the second half.

Both Holmes and NCC had trouble shooting FTs at same basket in second half of today's games. Even Bolden. Has me wondering whether it's a physical thing ... different sight line, glare, etc.

Congrats to Holmes and Dixie as well. Bittersweet game for me as I root for both teams.

 

Great, great career Brandon Hatton. Good luck at the next level!

Love my Bulldogs but hate to see Brandon's career end. That being said can't wait to make a road trip with the old man to watch him play on the next level!!

Both Holmes and NCC had trouble shooting FTs at same basket in second half of today's games. Even Bolden. Has me wondering whether it's a physical thing ... different sight line, glare, etc.

 

NCC had problems at both ends shooting foul shots. I think Holmes problem in the second half was that is it easier to shoot foul shots up 10, 12, 14 points than it is to shoot them up 3, 4, 5 points.

Tell me about the non-call late that Coach Chev was mad about.

Key stretch in the final minutes.....Hatton hits a HUGE 3 to make it 50-49 Holmes....Bolden comes right back and answers with a 3 to put Holmes back up 4 at 53-49 with 151 left. Holmes made 1 of 2 fts after Hatton made it 53-51. Dixie can't get a good look at a 3 to send it to OT. Ball game.

 

FT's killed Holmes in the second half. Make half of the misses and it doesn't come down to a late second 3 by one of the best to ever play in the 9th region to decide if the game goes to OT or not. Holmes will have to do a better job with that tomorrow night in the finals or the Colonels will win by double digits.

 

Brandon Hatton ends his career with 3,045 points. One hell of a career by him. Really classy move by him to go up to Bolden after the game when I was getting ready to interview him, give him a hug and tell him "go win it all for me."

Tell me about the non-call late that Coach Chev was mad about.

 

I'm assuming you are talking about the no-call on the over and back. Bolden was dribbling on the offensive side of midcourt when he lost the handle and was the first one to touch it on the other side of midcourt. From my view I did not see the defender touch the ball. None of the refs signaled tip either.

 

There was also a non-call on goaltending against Holmes. Daria had a fastbreak and put the ball on the glass when it was then knocked away by a Holmes defender. Not sure how that wasn't called.