All you guys watched the game, right? The only thing that kept Augusta in the game was Free Throw shooting. Mason made 7-7 and Augusta shot 24-28. My math says that is a 17 point difference. Mason never made it into the bonus either half and Augusta trotted to the line often. Big factor in the game.

 

 

No question that Biggs' strategy is to use the depth and athleticism to play a closely guarding, pressing style. When one athlete gets in trouble, bring in another. 75 total fouls in the Scott game are evidence of that. Augusta got off very few uncontested shots. While Mason had a ton of free looks. If Augusta had shut down the middle, the game might have looked a little different. Panthers don't like to defeat the Evil Empire in December. Prefer the second game of the year. Kirk will have them ready.

All you guys watched the game, right? The only thing that kept Augusta in the game was Free Throw shooting. Mason made 7-7 and Augusta shot 24-28. My math says that is a 17 point difference. Mason never made it into the bonus either half and Augusta trotted to the line often. Big factor in the game.[/QUO

So was this difference because one team was playing aggressive defense and the other not so much? Or are you saying something else?

All you guys watched the game, right? The only thing that kept Augusta in the game was Free Throw shooting. Mason made 7-7 and Augusta shot 24-28. My math says that is a 17 point difference. Mason never made it into the bonus either half and Augusta trotted to the line often. Big factor in the game.

I saw that Augusta also missed a lot of bunnies! You've got to make those 3 footers if you want to beat Mason Co.

Augusta missed a handful of very high-percentage shots, but sumo is right that they got to the FT line quite often.

 

It was clear to me that Mason County was the better team last night. It was my first time seeing them and I came away impressed. I'd like to see Sweeney & Darren Williams use their size to their advantage more often on the offensive end, but overall, the Royals looked pretty solid. They've also got a couple of really good young players in Garrison & Lofton.

Yes, Bracken and Augusta will both grow and get better as the season progresses; but so will Mason county. This Royals team hasn't played a great game yet this season, but they have matured since the SK game. It's been clear to me in both games they are the best team in the district, and as long as they continue to improve I don't see that changing.

And Mason County wasn't in the bonus until 55 seconds left in the 4th quarter, compared to Augusta being in the bonus towards the end of the 3rd quarter, free-throws kept the game close last night.

This game was never in doubt from the warm ups. Pig Williams once again took on the challenge of guarding the other team's best player and doing a stellar job. I counted myself at least 3 or 4 steals by him on Maddox in the first half alone. Pig has shown his defensive presence on 3 of the best guards in the 10th(Ohmer, Crawford, Maddox. IMO they might have gotten theirs especially from the free throw line, but Pig has caused major problems for all of these players and has caused a handful of turnovers for each while still getting his points and keeping his turnovers at a minimum. Pig gets my nod as the best guard right now in the 10th because scoring clearly isn't everything. Mason also did a great job of keeping Snapp to just 6 points. Just need to limit transition scores and keep the fouls down and they can start pulling away from teams like this.

This game was never in doubt from the warm ups. Pig Williams once again took on the challenge of guarding the other team's best player and doing a stellar job. I counted myself at least 3 or 4 steals by him on Maddox in the first half alone. Pig has shown his defensive presence on 3 of the best guards in the 10th(Ohmer, Crawford, Maddox. IMO they might have gotten theirs especially from the free throw line, but Pig has caused major problems for all of these players and has caused a handful of turnovers for each while still getting his points and keeping his turnovers at a minimum. Pig gets my nod as the best guard right now in the 10th because scoring clearly isn't everything. Mason also did a great job of keeping Snapp to just 6 points. Just need to limit transition scores and keep the fouls down and they can start pulling away from teams like this.

 

I wouldn't hang my hat on the numbers he held those guys to. 35,32,21

I wouldn't hang my hat on the numbers he held those guys to. 35,32,21

 

Easy to look at the stats and say that, but when you watch Mason County actually play you see there is a lot of motion and switches so in most cases he isn't the only one guarding them. Add the fact majority of Ohmer and Crawfords points come from the free-throw line and Maddox had his fair share from the line last night. I'll take Pig over any guard in the region hands down.

As I did state, they did get theirs, but if you look at Pig's numbers with theirs, he scored just as well, while causing turnovers that the others did not. Pig rarely turns the ball over. Scoring is not everything.

I don't understand why there's an inclination to diminish a high scoring performance that came about, at least partially, because a player shot a lot of free throws. One major mark of an excellent scorer is getting to the charity stripe on a regular basis.

I don't understand why there's an inclination to diminish a high scoring performance that came about, at least partially, because a player shot a lot of free throws. One major mark of an excellent scorer is getting to the charity stripe on a regular basis.

 

Very true. Just being stated to highlight that not all of their points were scored while being directly guarded by Pig. Very true statement though.

Mason is getting wins no denying that. One 25 point loss to Simon Kenton whom got beat by MoCo yesterday. Ive seeen the Royals play a few games this season. They look good at times on the offensive side. They are not the defensive juggernaut that they are made out to be on here. They will get an occasional steal, but their press is fooling nobody. I watched it get beat over and over by Augusta and Bracken. Pig is their best defender I will give ya that, but their are better on ball defenders in 10th. Once you take off the Mason Co goggles and watch a game from an unbias perspertive you will see what I am talking about.

 

Look at thier body of work:

 

Dec 1, 15 Western Brown home (W) 83 - 44 easy home opener win

 

Dec 4, 15 Simon Kenton away (L) 55 - 80 lost to MoCo

 

Dec 8, 15 Bourbon County home (W) 73 - 62 11pt win to the regions #12 team

 

Dec 11, 15 Scott home (W) 93 - 87 foul fest Ohmer gets 35

 

Dec 12, 15 Woodford County (W) 66 - 60 neutral court vs average team

 

Dec 15, 15 Bracken County away (W) 79 - 74 was a 1pt game under 10sec to go Crawford gets 32

 

Dec 17, 15 East Carter away (W) 84 - 52 This one went as it should have big win over sub-par team

 

Dec 21, 15 Augusta home (W) 77 - 66 Had multiple oppertunities to blow this one open but couldnt defend without fouling.

 

As long as they keep winning thats great, but as we seen with Scott high you can only go so long before the method of "put more points up" will work. Mason's press isnt great, they are just ok in the man to man, and once the opposition gets by Pig there is no help defense. All a kid has to do is get by their man and they go straight to the rim. Ohmer did it, Crawford did it, and Maddox somewhat did it. Resulting in the free throws. Can't fault the other team for exploiting Mason Co. weakness. Until they show they can sit down and defend without fouling they are going to be in many close games. At some point its gonna come back to bite them.

 

This not intended to be negative. Just an observation from someone with no emotional tie to thr Royals.

Edited December 22, 201510 yr by Rick Grimes
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Mason Co was without 5 players against Simon Kenton. Any team loses 5 players and they are in trouble, and Pig in foul trouble. On Simon Kenton on home court, and you are going to lose.

Mason Co was without 5 players against Simon Kenton. Any team loses 5 players and they are in trouble, and Pig in foul trouble. On Simon Kenton on home court, and you are going to lose.

 

Why was Mason without 5 players?

Mason Co was without 5 players against Simon Kenton. Any team loses 5 players and they are in trouble, and Pig in foul trouble. On Simon Kenton on home court, and you are going to lose.

 

 

I don't think this argument is going to carry any weight. Out of the 5 players only one plays any minutes.