Final

Another big win for the Titans. Does anybody have stats or scoring?

From Daarik Gray of the Harrodsburg Herald:

 

 

Mercer County Point Totals: Faulkner 26, James 21, Hager 10, Davis 4, Dow 4, Souder 6, Mink 5, Dunning 2, Baughman 3, Blevins 6.

Who drops a game first? Mercer Boys or Mercer Girls? Both teams seem to be really good.

Hager had another double digit assist game as he led with 10 assists and 4 steals.

 

Faulkner led with 7 rebounds and also had 4 steals.

 

This team has shot 64% from three each of the last 2 games, making 14 and 16.

 

For the year, they are shooting 42% from three, 54% from the field and 73% from the line.

Who drops a game first? Mercer Boys or Mercer Girls? Both teams seem to be really good.

 

Mercer County girls. They are in the Traditional Bank tournament in Lexington starting today. If they manage to win that tournament then they go undefeated this season. I think they have #7 BG first. Win that game then I think they play #1 ETown. I think if they win that game then they may meet up with #4 Eastern.

With all due respect to the opponents on their schedule, in hindsight when you have a squad that you think is genuinely a contender, why in the world wouldn't they have beefed up the schedule? Just sayin'.

With all due respect to the opponents on their schedule, in hindsight when you have a squad that you think is genuinely a contender, why in the world wouldn't they have beefed up the schedule? Just sayin'.

 

I was having this same conversation with someone yesterday after the Boyle County game. I think playing in the Traditional Bank tournament helped Boyle County in a major way last season. I think in hindsight Mercer County wishes they would have done the same this year.

 

Right now it looks like the only challenging games they have left on their schedule are Southwestern, Wayne County if Stearns is back, Cordia has lost some luster, Boyle County and Lafayette. They'll be expected to win every one of those games. The best statement I heard was it will be harder for Mercer County to win region than it will be to win state. If they can make it to Rupp Arena and handle the bright lights and big stage then they will be capable of making it to Sunday.

It would have been nice if they'd have played in KOB. But, watching them play, they're still a work in process. Not close to their potential. Most games they've only played well for one half. Until this past summer, I'm not sure Coach Cook knew how good this team would be. I'm sure the schedule was largely completed prior to that.

 

But, looking at their schedule, they scrimmaged at Trinity. They played South Laurel at the Legacy Nissan Classic. If things play out according to ratings, they will play the preseason favorite (number 2 at worst) in the third region in the championship of their Christmas tournament. They then go on to play at the Gateway Holiday Classic at Montgomery.

 

Down the stretch, it really ramps up. 4 of their last 6 games: at Pulaski; Cordia at Pulaski; at Lafayette and at Southwest. They also play at Boyle and at Wayne

 

Maybe not a bad way to approach it. Gradually ramp it up with the last couple weeks of the regular season being brutal.

It would have been nice if they'd have played in KOB. But, watching them play, they're still a work in process. Not close to their potential. Most games they've only played well for one half. Until this past summer, I'm not sure Coach Cook knew how good this team would be. I'm sure the schedule was largely completed prior to that.

 

But, looking at their schedule, they scrimmaged at Trinity. They played South Laurel at the Legacy Nissan Classic. If things play out according to ratings, they will play the preseason favorite (number 2 at worst) in the third region in the championship of their Christmas tournament. They then go on to play at the Gateway Holiday Classic at Montgomery.

 

Down the stretch, it really ramps up. 4 of their last 6 games: at Pulaski; Cordia at Pulaski; at Lafayette and at Southwest. They also play at Boyle and at Wayne

 

Maybe not a bad way to approach it. Gradually ramp it up with the last couple weeks of the regular season being brutal.

 

Maybe. You also know as well as I do that there were high expectations for this team before Dylan James arrived. James' success and smooth transition onto the team has made Mercer County even better.

 

March basketball all is a whole other animal. Regular season tests are very important for growth.

Maybe. You also know as well as I do that there were high expectations for this team before Dylan James arrived. James' success and smooth transition onto the team has made Mercer County even better.

 

March basketball all is a whole other animal. Regular season tests are very important for growth.

 

I saw a lot of growth in this team from the end of last season to this summer when they found ways to win close games against quality competition.

 

If the Titans are good enough, they will be fine. I'd be more concerned if they were beating teams (now) by 8 or 10. They're doing what great teams do when they play sub-par teams. The most recent evidence of that was the beatdown of West by 44 in a rivalry game. And West is a better than average team.