I didn't like the limitations. They were too dependent on Smith and Jared. Smith would have been a tough match-up, but Highlands guards would have had issues with Holmes.

 

Stegman was highly underrated as a guard. The 98 Highlands team played pretty quick teams and pressing teams and did fine. Scott County and PRP included. And Lorenzen was basically a guard playing the four spot. Very good passer.

Stegman was highly underrated as a guard. The 98 Highlands team played pretty quick teams and pressing teams and did fine. Scott County and PRP included. And Lorenzen was basically a guard playing the four spot. Very good passer.

 

I like Randy, grew up playing baseball and basketball with him. I didn't think that he was underrated. I don't believe that he was a game changer. They also had Bischoff who gave them versatility w/ his size and athleticism. They just didn't strike me as very deep in terms of point scoring or bench strength.

I didn't like the limitations. They were too dependent on Smith and Jared. Smith would have been a tough match-up, but Highlands guards would have had issues with Holmes.

 

I believe I charted a Highlands game once and it went something like this:

 

Smith and Lorenzen on floor together Highlands +34

Only Smith or Lorenzen on the floor Highlands -1

Neither Smith nor Lorezen on the floor Highlands -13

It would be hard to not have Derek Smith on the team.

That 1995 SK team was good, but nowhere near great and they would not even come close to matching up with the top 5 teams listed below.

 

1. 2009 Holmes

2. 2014 Covington Catholic

3. 1997 Highlands

4. 1998 Highlands

5. 2004 Covington Catholic

 

I'd take my chances with Danny's boys but that was 21 years ago. Holmes team is #1 in my book.

Was it the 1996 Holmes team that ran the table in the 9th before getting upset by HC?

1. Justin Dolleman

2. Mike Brock

3. Ross Neltner

4. Derek Smith

5. Ronnie Dawn

I believe I charted a Highlands game once and it went something like this:

 

Smith and Lorenzen on floor together Highlands +34

Only Smith or Lorenzen on the floor Highlands -1

Neither Smith nor Lorezen on the floor Highlands -13

 

I'm not sure what this proves? You have two high level D-I athletes and the team is better with them on the floor?

 

Go figure.

 

Is there a high school team in America that isn't considerably better with its two best players on the floor? And one of them was arguably the best player in the state.

That 1995 SK team was good, but nowhere near great and they would not even come close to matching up with the top 5 teams listed below.

 

1. 2009 Holmes

2. 2014 Covington Catholic

3. 1997 Highlands

4. 1998 Highlands

5. 2004 Covington Catholic

 

SK had a deep bench with Brendon Stowers, 6'5 Noel Landrum and G Jason Kramer to name a few.

SK had a deep bench with Brendon Stowers, 6'5 Noel Landrum and G Jason Kramer to name a few.

 

Again a good SK team but just didn't have the horses to match up with other great 9th Region teams during the past twenty years.

I'm not sure what this proves? You have two high level D-I athletes and the team is better with them on the floor?

 

Go figure.

 

Is there a high school team in America that isn't considerably better with its two best players on the floor? And one of them was arguably the best player in the state.

 

I think it was just an interesting stat, but not an attempt to prove anything...why the rage ?

Was having this discussion with a buddy of mine (SK grad) this morning.

 

He posed the following question:

 

"Is it crazy to think that even as state champs, that 2014 Covcath team wasn't one of the best 5 to come through the 9th over the past 20 years?"

 

A few arguments he made:

 

1. 08 Holmes team was deeper and if not for one of the best players to come through KY (Darius Miller), that 08 team cuts down the nets led by Henderson. (Also argued Ruthsatz was no where near the all around player that Henderson was regardless of what the "stats" say)

 

2. They would have been the 3rd or 4th best team in the region in 2003 because they couldn't have competed with all the size in the region that year. (I told him see Newcath in 14)

 

3. They had one of the easiest paths to the state finals that any team has had over the past 20 years from the 9th region.

 

4. The 04 Covcath team was better. Just as physical a team but with better shooters, and much more size across the board.

 

Legit points or is my man crazy?

Was having this discussion with a buddy of mine (SK grad) this morning.

 

He posed the following question:

 

"Is it crazy to think that even as state champs, that 2014 Covcath team wasn't one of the best 5 to come through the 9th over the past 20 years?"

 

A few arguments he made:

 

1. 08 Holmes team was deeper and if not for one of the best players to come through KY (Darius Miller), that 08 team cuts down the nets led by Henderson. (Also argued Ruthsatz was no where near the all around player that Henderson was regardless of what the "stats" say)

 

2. They would have been the 3rd or 4th best team in the region in 2003 because they couldn't have competed with all the size in the region that year. (I told him see Newcath in 14)

 

3. They had one of the easiest paths to the state finals that any team has had over the past 20 years from the 9th region.

 

4. The 04 Covcath team was better. Just as physical a team but with better shooters, and much more size across the board.

 

Legit points or is my man crazy?

 

A couple arguments in favor of 2014 CovCath:

1. They were considered a top 5 team in the state going into the post season.

The only other teams that fit that are 98 and 99 Highlands, 09 and 10 Holmes and 14 NewCath (AP Poll), so statewide they were esteemed as a top tier team.

 

2. 2014 was one of the strongest years the 9th region has had in this time period. They had to beat both Newport Central Catholic and Holmes in the region tournament, so despite their state tournament draw being weaker, they still beat 3 top 8 teams in the region.

You can't compare Nick and Arrez. Two COMPLETELY different players. Arrez couldn't score like Nick and Nick couldn't lock down like Arrez. One was a PG. The other was a 2/3.

 

Arrez' all-around game is needed by every team.

So is Nick R's game.

Walter -to your overall question and not specific to CCH v previous Holmes teams, yes, a team that didn't win the final game COULD be better than a team that did in a different year. Lots of variables , especially in a one-and-out scenario, that make it tough to say.

 

All I know is this. Banners carry a lot of weight in an argument.