Final.

Big win for the Colts in the finals of the Berea Tournament. Siah Holifield takes tournament MVP with a 24 point 12 rebound performance in the finals.

CLAY was out rebounded 37 to 19 in this one. And West Jessamine shot the lights out of the 3 . CLAY missed Farmer no doubt about it. But the way WJ played I don't know if it would have mattered. Clay had a ton of shots go in and out. No excuses here they got beat fair and square. Clay had big games from Wolfe and Smith . Smith had 19 pts and 12 blocks. Both made all tourney team

I'm looking forward to seeing Blake Smith on Saturday.

 

12 blocks?!?!?!? Okay then, Blake. Okay then.

Yeah he was swatting them all over the gym. He was in foul trouble and couldn't be as aggressive as normal. He had 7 or 8 shots go in and out. But him and Wolfe both played well. I don't know the stats but I'd say west Jessamine hit 17 or 18 threes.

Big win for the Colts in the finals of the Berea Tournament. Siah Holifield takes tournament MVP with a 24 point 12 rebound performance in the finals.

Congrats to them on the win. Well coached team. Aslo congrats to Holifield on MVP. Very nice player.

Impressive win for West Jessamine! Clay was without Farmer, which is material, but Clay is the team that will likely represent their region at Rupp. This is a really good team even without Farmer.

 

Yet again, this illustrates just how strong the 12th's top 6 teams are this year.

Impressive win for West Jessamine! Clay was without Farmer, which is material, but Clay is the team that will likely represent their region at Rupp. This is a really good team even without Farmer.

 

Yet again, this illustrates just how strong the 12th's top 6 teams are this year.

 

The 12th's top 4 are strong. Southwestern has the best claim to the crown so far in that region with some high quality wins and one let down against East Jessamine after a big win against Wayne. Lincoln is right behind SW, followed by Wayne (mostly because they have been region champs two years running) who lost a close one to Lincoln at Lincoln. Although Lincoln closes out that game easily of they make free throws. Boyle would be 4th on that list. They had a lot of easy games early, had a couple of quality wins in Lexington, but they still have the most to prove out of those top 4. The second half of the season will tell us more about Boyle than the first half.

 

Nobody else in the 12th has proven they deserve to be included in the conversation with those teams. The next tier of teams in the 12th (Mercer, West, Pulaski, ect.) have proven they can beat up on lesser competition but struggle to beat anyone average or above.

 

Personally I think Mercer is poised to join that party at the top of the 12th region, but they need to get that signature win, preferably against one of those top 4. I believe they play 3 of those 4, and those might be the only games they have against high quality opponents the rest of the way until the regional tournament. If anyone outside those top four are going make it to the regional finals, it will be Mercer. But they will need to beat someone of significance before I put them in the conversation with the quality teams in that region.

The 12th's top 4 are strong. Southwestern has the best claim to the crown so far in that region with some high quality wins and one let down against East Jessamine after a big win against Wayne. Lincoln is right behind SW, followed by Wayne (mostly because they have been region champs two years running) who lost a close one to Lincoln at Lincoln. Although Lincoln closes out that game easily of they make free throws. Boyle would be 4th on that list. They had a lot of easy games early, had a couple of quality wins in Lexington, but they still have the most to prove out of those top 4. The second half of the season will tell us more about Boyle than the first half.

 

Nobody else in the 12th has proven they deserve to be included in the conversation with those teams. The next tier of teams in the 12th (Mercer, West, Pulaski, ect.) have proven they can beat up on lesser competition but struggle to beat anyone average or above.

 

Personally I think Mercer is poised to join that party at the top of the 12th region, but they need to get that signature win, preferably against one of those top 4. I believe they play 3 of those 4, and those might be the only games they have against high quality opponents the rest of the way until the regional tournament. If anyone outside those top four are going make it to the regional finals, it will be Mercer. But they will need to beat someone of significance before I put them in the conversation with the quality teams in that region.

 

I agree totally.

^^agree for the most part. I agree that those are the top 4 and that Mercer and West are the next 2, yet aren't at the level of those top 4. Where I disagree a little is that those 2 teams haven't beaten average (or better) teams. West beat a better than average team last night. Yes, even without Farmer, that team is better than average (I think that will show when they play Boyle othis weekend.). Both Mercer and West have beaten several middle of the road teams.

 

I do agree that neither have that signature win. The issue for both teams has been consistency. As has been talked about on BGP regarding other teams recently, health has been an issue for both teams. Ely for West has struggled with a wrist injury (shooting hand), and he's their best player. Hager for Mercer was below the weather for about 6 games, then Faulkner. Davis has missed 3 games.

 

We will have a much better idea about those 2 teams come the end of January. At the end of the day, I think next year will be Mercer's year. West returns Holifield and Seater but loses their other 3 starters.

I agree with the above statement that Clay is an above average team without Farmer. But in all honesty they are a totally different team as well. WJ blanketed Smith all night with 3 defenders. As soon as he made his move they would collapse in with 2 defenders. Now if Farmers on the Court and you do this he will make you pay from 3. Last night clay didn't make any shots when Smith would kick it out. Also Farmer will handle the point some and give Smith off the ball opportunities. They made Blake work extremely hard for his 19 last night. I thought the coaches game plan was spot on. Smith is good but he can't score on 3 defenders. With farmer on the court you have to pick your poison. Do you want to concentrate on Smith or Farmer. Which ever one doesn't get doubled is gonna make you pay. IMO if Clay's at full strength that beat WJ 9 out of 10.

^^agree for the most part. I agree that those are the top 4 and that Mercer and West are the next 2, yet aren't at the level of those top 4. Where I disagree a little is that those 2 teams haven't beaten average (or better) teams. West beat a better than average team last night. Yes, even without Farmer, that team is better than average (I think that will show when they play Boyle othis weekend.). Both Mercer and West have beaten several middle of the road teams.

 

I do agree that neither have that signature win. The issue for both teams has been consistency. As has been talked about on BGP regarding other teams recently, health has been an issue for both teams. Ely for West has struggled with a wrist injury (shooting hand), and he's their best player. Hager for Mercer was below the weather for about 6 games, then Faulkner. Davis has missed 3 games.

 

We will have a much better idea about those 2 teams come the end of January. At the end of the day, I think next year will be Mercer's year. West returns Holifield and Seater but loses their other 3 starters.

 

I guess you can say that West has beaten several teams with winning records, but those teams inflated their win total with games against lesser opponents. Clay is still probably a quality win, but it's probably a totally different game with Clay's second leading scorer and leading rebounder.

 

Mercer has 2 wins against teams with winning records: Russell (5-4) and West Jessamine. You might be able to chalk up Mercer's early losses to the players getting use to a new coach and him getting use to new players.

 

The health issues you brought up may be crucial for both teams. Hager and Faulkner are by far the best players for Mercer. Having them at 100% will help tremendously. Ely is really important to West as well.

I guess you can say that West has beaten several teams with winning records, but those teams inflated their win total with games against lesser opponents.

 

West Jessamine defeated GRC by 1 point 2 nights ago. We are now 8-3. Here is our record.

 

Defeated Nicholas County (3-7) by 45.

Defeated Pendleton County (5-7) by 21.

Loss to Madison Central (8-4) by 3.

Loss to Dixie Heights (7-4) by 6. (Dixie won the Ashland Invitational.)

Defeated Scott (8-6) by 14.

Defeated Woodford County (8-3) by 24.

Defeated Johnson Central (7-7) by 15.

Defeated Owen County (11-2) by 10. (GRC gave them their first loss.)

Defeated Russell County (5-4) by 15.

Loss to West Jessamine (10-3) by 1. (West Jessamine won the Berea Invitational.)

Defeated Harlan County (8-6) by 2.

Y

I guess you can say that West has beaten several teams with winning records, but those teams inflated their win total with games against lesser opponents. Clay is still probably a quality win, but it's probably a totally different game with Clay's second leading scorer and leading rebounder.

 

Mercer has 2 wins against teams with winning records: Russell (5-4) and West Jessamine. You might be able to chalk up Mercer's early losses to the players getting use to a new coach and him getting use to new players.

 

The health issues you brought up may be crucial for both teams. Hager and Faulkner are by far the best players for Mercer. Having them at 100% will help tremendously. Ely is really important to West as well.

 

I'm looking at losses as well. 3/4 of Mercer's losses have come against strong teams. At the #2 team in the 8th & at the #2 team in the 5th; vs the #3 team in the 6th (these rankings were BGP rankings at the time the games were played). The bad loss was vs Harlan County who was the 7th ranked team in the 13th region. In my opinion, the only bad loss was Harlan. And all of the losses were close games. The 18 point win at West Jessamine helps offset that last loss.

 

West lost at Lincoln by 14 (top 2 or 3 team in the 12th); at South Laurel by 18 (#6 team in the 13th); and at home to Mercer by 18. South Laurel was a bad loss. I would argue that Mercer may be as well given the margin and the fact that it was at home. They have a few good wins to help offset those losses.

West Jessamine defeated GRC by 1 point 2 nights ago. We are now 8-3. Here is our record.

 

Defeated Nicholas County (3-7) by 45.

Defeated Pendleton County (5-7) by 21.

Loss to Madison Central (8-4) by 3.

Loss to Dixie Heights (7-4) by 6. (Dixie won the Ashland Invitational.)

Defeated Scott (8-6) by 14.

Defeated Woodford County (8-3) by 24.

Defeated Johnson Central (7-7) by 15.

Defeated Owen County (11-2) by 10. (GRC gave them their first loss.)

Defeated Russell County (5-4) by 15.

Loss to West Jessamine (10-3) by 1. (West Jessamine won the Berea Invitational.)

Defeated Harlan County (8-6) by 2.

 

So who are the quality teams? I see a Dixie Heights team (a loss) who won a tournament where the teams they beat have a combined record of 15-21, one team with a winning record (7-5 Holy Cross Covington). An 11-2 Owen County team, while having a GREAT player, haven't beaten anyone you could consider a quality team. A loss to a Madison Central team, who may not be a bad team, but they certainly aren't the same type of team they were in the recent past. Woodford is down and hasn't beaten anyone, and the same can be said about Johnson Central. West Jessamine beat a 5-7 Lewis County, a 7-5 Tates Creek team who lick their chops when they can play a game against someone outside Lexington, an 8-3 GRC team who, despite the list, haven't beaten anyone of consequence, and a 12-1 quality Clay County team that was without their second leading scorer and leading rebounder. I guess winning a tournament, no matter the quality of competition you play, means you're a really good team.