Great story on Blake Losey in today's Cincinnati Enquirer. I've said it before but I really like this kid's game and leadership on the floor. Good luck tonight, Camels!

 

 

Losey's outburst leads Campbell County to victory

 

MAYSVILLE – As the third-leading scorer for the Campbell County boys basketball team, Blake Losey doesn't always get the same attention that his teammates Matt Wilson and Deondre Jackson do.

 

The senior guard surely got the attention of the Pendleton County Wildcats Monday night, scoring 12 points in the third quarter to lead the Camels to an 81-67 win in the first 10th Region semifinal at Mason County High School. Campbell, 24-7, advances to Tuesday night's final, where it will play the winner the game between Scott and Harrison County. The Camels will try to win the regional championship for the second year in a row and return to the KHSAA Sweet 16.

 

"It will be amazing, just like last year," Losey said. "Hopefully we'll come away with the 'W.' "

 

Losey led a balanced scoring effort for the Camels, posting 12 of his team-high 19 points in the third quarter. Campbell won the period 24-13 overall and took a 58-41 lead into the final frame after leading by six at halftime, 34-28.

 

Losey scored a basket on the opening possession of the third period, then with 3:30 left and Campbell up 42-31, he got behind the Wildcats as Wilson grabbed a defensive rebound. Wilson threw a perfect outlet pass to Losey in the frontcourt and the senior scored an open layup.

 

After Pendleton scored three straight points to cut the lead to 10, Losey connected on a 3-pointer, then converted a layup and foul shot on the conventional three-point play to push the lead to 16. His final basket of the period made it a 56-39 contest late in the period.

 

"We're playing a lot harder and we're very happy with the way we played," Losey said. "We were playing as a team like we have been. We just kept pushing the ball. It's great."

 

Losey missed most of the fourth quarter with a bruised hip but is likely to play in the final.

 

The Camels kept pushing to start the fourth quarter, beginning on a 7-2 run to take their biggest lead of 22 points at 65-43. The Wildcats fought back and twice got the margin to 10, but senior Jordan Day and Wilson scored baskets to get the lead back to 12 points.

 

"I didn't think we finished it out the way we wanted it to, but I'm happy," said Campbell County head coach Aric Russell. "Any time you can get in this position, going to the finals, win by 14-15, I'll take that all day, every day."

 

The Camels had a team effort in the semis. Three other players scored in double figures, Wilson with 13, Jackson with 11 and Day with 10. Another four Camels had between six and nine points. Wilson added 10 rebounds to help the Camels to a 44-35 rebounding edge. He played just 22 minutes because of foul trouble but the Camels outscored the Wildcats during those stretches.

 

"We're deep," Russell said. "We got eight kids who play almost every position. (Foul trouble) didn't hurt us. The kids who came in did really well."

 

Campbell played Harrison County Dec. 19, winning 85-58, and beat Scott by a resounding 70-26 score in the 37th District final. Campbell lost 77-68 to Scott Jan. 16 without the 6-foot-8 Wilson in the lineup.

 

"Scott has a lot of shooters like the team we just played, so we'll have to lay the same type game we just played," Russell said. "Harrison is a different matchup. They have a lot of bigger kids. We know them both so we'll be ready.

 

Pendleton County (15-17) – Antrobus 6 10 26, McCain 2 0 4, Browning 1 3 5, Wood 4 0 8, Daugherty 1 1 4, Walsh 1 0 2, Allen 6 2 15, Lea 1 1 3. Totals 22 17 67.

 

Campbell County (24-9) – Losey 8 1 19, Hegyi 2 3 7, McGovney 2 4 9, Wilson 5 3 13, Jackson 2 6 11, Day 2 5 10, Franzen 2 2 6, Neltner 1 4 6. Totals 24 28 81.

 

Halftime, Campbell 34-28. 3-pointers: PC 6 (Antrobus 4, Daughtery, Allen). CC 5 (Losey 2, McGovney, Jackson, Day).

"We're deep," Russell said. "We got eight kids who play almost every position. (Foul trouble) didn't hurt us. The kids who came in did really well."

 

Papa & I were talking about this last night. Hegyi, Day, & Neltner are 3 quality players who come off the bench for Campbell. Neltner is not the defensive presence Wilson is--and that's not a knock on him...few players are the defensive presence Wilson is--but the kid battles, gets rebounds, and can score.

 

Those 3 bench players combined for 23 points last night. That quality depth, plus Wilson's presence in the middle, will make Campbell County hard to beat tonight.

I love Craig Neltner's game as well. He may not score a lot of points but he's a workhorse when he's out there; always making plays. Every team needs a player like him! Looks like he's been hitting the weight room this season - he's slimmed down a bit from the beginning of the year.

Blake Losey may not get the thunder that some players get, but he is a force to be reckoned. He brings some much to the floor.

Love to watch Losey play. He was AWESOME last night!! He has shown leadership in many of CC's games this year!! Great kid!!

Blake Losey may not get the thunder that some players get, but he is a force to be reckoned. He brings some much to the floor.

 

In the post season at least, he is to this Campbell County team what Holbrook was to last year's IMO.