Final. The Big 3 of Wayne County were not to be stopped tonight. They will face Southwestern in the 12th Region Finals on Tuesday night.

 

Congrats to the Rebels on what was a great season and good luck to Wayne County tomorrow evening.

Was a really good ballgame. Boyle's center Colton Elkins was tossed from the game early for throwing a punch in a scrum with a Wayne County player. They both went after a loose ball and Elkins, who had played terrific for the first quarter, let his emotions get the best of him. The refs made the right call. Boyle's coaching staff disagreed, however anyone sitting across the court from the benches could see it happen very clearly. It appeared for a moment that Boyle would fade away, falling behind by 15. But the Rebels fought back to within five on several occasions before Wayne pulled away late.

 

Take aways: I believe Hagen Tyler of Boyle is the best player in the region. He is so silky smooth and can take over a game at any time. I don't know how many points he scored tonight but he had to be near 30. Boyle mistaken during the second half to me was relying too much on a couple of kids who couldn't score and leaving Clayton Ray on the bench. Ray had played well offensively and it seemed like Boyle could have used his scoring when trying to make a comeback.

 

For Wayne, Woods gets all the publicity and is a great shooter, but I have always felt Corey Stearns was the best all around ballplayer on the team. His ability to maneuver on the baseline and score in the paint is so old school. And obviously had Elkins been in the game that would have made things more difficult, but Stearns had score eight points in the lane before Elkins left.

 

Bottom line, Wayne was the better team but Boyle gave a valiant effort. Both of these teams return almost everyone next season and I wouldn't be surprised to see them both in the regional semifinals or finals in 2015.

Both of these teams return almost everyone next season and I wouldn't be surprised to see them both in the regional semifinals or finals in 2015.

 

I tell you, this is the deepest this region has been (in good teams & talented players) as I can remember in a long time. And dang, a bunch of them will be bringing back most of their players next season and all but one will have the incentive of coming up short to drive them to improve their games during the off-season. The 12th ought to have four teams in the top twenty next season.

In the end, Boyle just didn't have enough firepower to beat Wayne. Not sure they could beat them 1 out of 10 times. Wayne has 3 significant offensive threats, something Boyle cannot match.

 

I really like #10 for Wayne. I believe his name is Perkins?? Plays his tail off; doesnt seem to get flustered; is very unselfish; and never seems to complain. I also like Stearns' demeanor and the way he plays. He doesn't force things offensively and also seems very unselfish. Both of those kids play solid defense and are team first kind of players.

First of all I never get on here and post anything but I have to on this one. I was sitting across from the benches when Elkins got ejected from the game. He did NOT throw first punch but was hit in face not once but three times before he through a elbow. So in my opinion if one player is ejected both players should go. I have seen the films and they all show this to be the truth!!!!

All I'm going to say is Boyle Co watched the video and came out of the locker room after the game and said that Blevins was the first one to throw an elbow. Several of them actually. From my viewpoint it looked like Blevins started it. Either way Elkins should have kept his cool and not retaliated. It's always the 2nd one to get caught. The official should have called double technicals instead of grandstanding. Both players should have been ejected or both should have got technicals. No way Elkins should have been ejected and not Blevins. Changed the whole game. Boyle could have laid down but they battled back led by Hagen Tyler who scored 24 points in the 2nd half. Props to Wayne Co tho. Those boys play smart and sound basketball and make you pay for every mistake you make. They remind me alot of my team at Boyle in '98 that won the region. Just a bunch of good all around ballplayers

Anyone that knows Colton or has been around him for very long, knows he's not that type of player. He got caught up in the heat of the moment. He's as mild mannered as they come. Let this be a learning experience , which in turn will make him a better player.

Anyone that knows Colton or has been around him for very long, knows he's not that type of player. He got caught up in the heat of the moment. He's as mild mannered as they come. Let this be a learning experience , which in turn will make him a better player.

 

Agreed.

Anyone that knows Colton or has been around him for very long, knows he's not that type of player. He got caught up in the heat of the moment. He's as mild mannered as they come. Let this be a learning experience , which in turn will make him a better player.

 

That's what is always said in a situation like this and while probably true, you just have to keep your cool in those situations. And I agree this will make him a better player going forward.

 

Either way Elkins should have kept his cool and not retaliated. It's always the 2nd one to get caught.

 

You are correct about being the 2nd one. We had a football player face a similar situation this fall. As hard as it is, you just can't do that.

 

The official should have called double technicals instead of grandstanding. Both players should have been ejected or both should have got technicals.

 

They actually did call double technicals. Blevins and Elkins both received technicals (that's why no foul shots were taken), but Elkins' technical came with an automatic ejection for the punch/elbow. And whether you agree or not, the referee who called it called it immediately and was standing right over the play when he did. There was much discussion after the play between the refs but it wasn't like they decided to toss him later. If there was any grandstanding, it was by Boyle's coach who put him back in the game only to feign "shock and surprise" that he was tossed, even though the ref had already told him and the announcer had already said it over the P.A.

Bad thing about situations like this is that both fans bases "See" what they want to see. From most unbiased (Fan of neither school) reports I've read and heard it sounds like the refs may have got the call correct. I'll say this however, it stinks when a kids season ends like this and they don't get to leave it all on the floor due to their own actions or not.

Unfortunate yes, but I was sitting right on the play and the refs got it right. Both players were going hard for the ball and arms elbows etc were flying to try to get the ball. Its was just when the punch was thrown that got him ejected. Funny the SW parents and students were publically cheering for Boyle. I think the Wayne fans got a kick out of that.....

Video shows Blevins throwing the first elbows . Period!! And yes the referee was doing all he could to get noticed. He was the same idiot who called technical on Boyle Co against WJ over the free throw situation. Like I said, Elkins got ejected, so should Blevins. Wayne had no answer for Elkins down low and it changed the entire game.

Will Elkins have to miss the first two games of next season?

Will Elkins have to miss the first two games of next season?

 

Good question.

Bad thing about situations like this is that both fans bases "See" what they want to see. From most unbiased (Fan of neither school) reports I've read and heard it sounds like the refs may have got the call correct. I'll say this however, it stinks when a kids season ends like this and they don't get to leave it all on the floor due to their own actions or not.

 

Well said. The incident occurred 20' in front of me and I apparently didn't see everything that happened and suspect only by watching on videotape multiple times and perhaps from various angles could anyone know for sure exactly what occurred. I saw them go the floor, fight for the ball and suddenly Elkins draws back and takes a shot at Blevins.

 

Elbows, pushing & shoving are part of what happens in tightly played games and officials will call what they catch, but if a player directs his action (whether it be fist, elbow or forearm) above the trunk of the body at the face or throat, then you're gone.

 

Elkins likely responded to the physical contact incurred as they went after the ball and down together then what occurred after that is one of those things where sometimes we just react in a physical way with no premeditated thought given to it. The kid had never shown me anything to indicate that he's that kind of individual and I still don't think he is. He's a good kid who over reacted to a physical situation.

 

And I'm not going to allow anyone to attack Wayne County about "being physical" because the word was apparently out early that the way to attack & possibly beat Wayne was to "get physical" with them which over the course of this season has brought about a great deal of punishment inflicted on WC's players by the opposition in an effort to intimidate them and throw them off their game. Much of it was out of line and difficult to stomach, but the players have not allowed it to deter them from reaching their goals thus far.

 

Wayne plays HARD. They run, run some more, hustle, stay in your face, out jump much taller opponents and just generally wear most opponents out physically & mentally. More often than one should see opposing players react out of frustration because they're tired and their coach is still yelling at them to "work harder" or to "take it to them".

 

They may or may not win tonight - regardless, they are as hard working of a group of young men as I have see in the many decades I've watched high school basketball.