Jaelin Jenkins pulled early due to 2 fouls in the 1st quarter and a third in the 2nd quarter to follow up with you on that @Wildcatfan25 Harrison came out she to a break. Jajyanye and Eric Powell played great but have been good all year. This team.is even better when everyone is clickn. We will see how it plays out in districts. This game is old now. It was fun playing about this while it was fresh. Can't wait to see some 11th region competitive games Tuesday everyone have a great day

Anyone who thinks Mercer County isn't very good is just...off their rocker. Now, are they unbeatable? Absolutely not, no one is. But they are definitely one of the best teams in that state, and if they played Lafayette again tonight, the score could easily be reversed from their previous meeting.

 

With that said, I posted on here after the Anderson/Mercer game a coupe of weeks ago when it looked like for 3 1/2 quarters that Anderson might pull the upset that the way to beat Mercer was to get hot from 3 point land as they didn't defend it very well. At least they didn't against Anderson, and needed to keep them off the offensive glass. Well sounds like Lafayette definitely hit 3's, and also appears they kept them off the offensive glass well enough as well.

 

I am going to disagree with PP92 when he said he doesn't think a loss is ever good. I absolutely think a specific loss can definitely be good and wake up a team when they get a little full of themselves, which I think Mercer had. They had been playing with fire the past few games, and finally got burned. That may have been the wakeup call they needed, just at the right time too. Watch out 12 region.

Anyone who thinks Mercer County isn't very good is just...off their rocker. Now, are they unbeatable? Absolutely not, no one is. But they are definitely one of the best teams in that state, and if they played Lafayette again tonight, the score could easily be reversed from their previous meeting.

 

With that said, I posted on here after the Anderson/Mercer game a coupe of weeks ago when it looked like for 3 1/2 quarters that Anderson might pull the upset that the way to beat Mercer was to get hot from 3 point land as they didn't defend it very well. At least they didn't against Anderson, and needed to keep them off the offensive glass. Well sounds like Lafayette definitely hit 3's, and also appears they kept them off the offensive glass well enough as well.

 

I am going to disagree with PP92 when he said he doesn't think a loss is ever good. I absolutely think a specific loss can definitely be good and wake up a team when they get a little full of themselves, which I think Mercer had. They had been playing with fire the past few games, and finally got burned. That may have been the wakeup call they needed, just at the right time too. Watch out 12 region.

 

A blueprint to defeat them is on video now for everyone to see.

 

No such thing as good loss.

I would agree with elements of each of the last two posts. I normally take the position that a team losing is not in and of itself a good thing. However, I agree with the sentiment that Mercer had gotten a little full of themselves. Had they gone through the motions and beaten the same Lafayette team that played like Lafayette did on Friday night, it wouldn't have done them any good. They would have continued the same pattern as they have shown their last eight or nine games - and continued to get away with it. The only fire I've seen from this bunch of late was the game at Wayne.

 

The loss, and by a double digit margin, presents the opportunity for a wake-up call. I cannot guarantee that it will work but it should. The Lincoln game tomorrow night will tell us a lot. I do know that beating Lafayette by five or six would not have helped the matter.

 

And any team can be beaten, that is for sure. Mercer could step up their intensity and still lose, either again in the regular season or in the postseason. However, if they can regain that edge that they were playing with, I like their chances against anyone.

 

As far as the film showing the secret to beating Mercer, I think what it shows will be more valuable for the Mercer coaching staff then for any future opponents. The same things that have given Mercer problems over the last several games were the very same things that were their strengths when they were playing hard. Btw, all this talk about athletic teams giving Mercer a problem is off base. Facing a team that controls the tempo is their challenge. Lafayette's Coaxh is no dummy.

I would agree with elements of each of the last two posts. I normally take the position that a team losing is not in and of itself a good thing. However, I agree with the sentiment that Mercer had gotten a little full of themselves. Had they gone through the motions and beaten the same Lafayette team that played like Lafayette did on Friday night, it wouldn't have done them any good. They would have continued the same pattern as they have shown their last eight or nine games - and continued to get away with it. The only fire I've seen from this bunch of late was the game at Wayne.

 

The loss, and by a double digit margin, presents the opportunity for a wake-up call. I cannot guarantee that it will work but it should. The Lincoln game tomorrow night will tell us a lot. I do know that beating Lafayette by five or six would not have helped the matter.

 

And any team can be beaten, that is for sure. Mercer could step up their intensity and still lose, either again in the regular season or in the postseason. However, if they can regain that edge that they were playing with, I like their chances against anyone.

 

As far as the film showing the secret to beating Mercer, I think what it shows will be more valuable for the Mercer coaching staff then for any future opponents. The same things that have given Mercer problems over the last several games were the very same things that were their strengths when they were playing hard. Btw, all this talk about athletic teams giving Mercer a problem is off base. Facing a team that controls the tempo is their challenge. Lafayette's Coaxh is no dummy.

 

I thought they were fired up for the Boyle County game. They looked more into the Boyle game than the Montgomery County game.

 

If the close call against West Jessamine didn't wake them up then how will losing to Lafayette wake them up?

I thought they were fired up for the Boyle County game. They looked more into the Boyle game than the Montgomery County game.

 

If the close call against West Jessamine didn't wake them up then how will losing to Lafayette wake them up?

 

My guess would be...and I didn't see the WJ game so this is just a guess...that they played well below their standard, maybe their "C" game and still won. They (kids) quite possibly they left that game thinking...man, we can play like crap and still win. Maybe so, against West Jess. Not so much against a pretty good, more capable team (Lafayette). And you know as well as I do PP that regardless of what the coach is preaching to the kids...we can lose...better get off your high horse...we can't just turn it on/off when we want to...sometimes that stuff goes right in one ear and out the other, and it takes a loss to jar them awake.

 

I forgot who said this...some famous person...but goes something like, "I learned much more from my failures than I did any of my successes". That might not be exact but it's close. Sometimes you need to lose to learn from. if you learn from it and it makes you better in the end, then it's a good thing.

My guess would be...and I didn't see the WJ game so this is just a guess...that they played well below their standard, maybe their "C" game and still won. They (kids) quite possibly they left that game thinking...man, we can play like crap and still win. Maybe so, against West Jess. Not so much against a pretty good, more capable team (Lafayette). And you know as well as I do PP that regardless of what the coach is preaching to the kids...we can lose...better get off your high horse...we can't just turn it on/off when we want to...sometimes that stuff goes right in one ear and out the other, and it takes a loss to jar them awake.

 

I forgot who said this...some famous person...but goes something like, "I learned much more from my failures than I did any of my successes". That might not be exact but it's close. Sometimes you need to lose to learn from. if you learn from it and it makes you better in the end, then it's a good thing.

 

They beat West Jessamine 88-44 the first time they played them. The second time West Jessamine gave them all they wanted and they managed to squeeze out an 83-79 victory.

 

Why is that game any different than the Lafayette game? Why is there a different lesson taught because of a loss? You beat a team by 44 and then only by 4 the next time you play but that isn't a wake up call?

They beat West Jessamine 88-44 the first time they played them. The second time West Jessamine gave them all they wanted and they managed to squeeze out an 83-79 victory.

 

Why is that game any different than the Lafayette game? Why is there a different lesson taught because of a loss? You beat a team by 44 and then only by 4 the next time you play but that isn't a wake up call?

 

PP I know you have been around a lot of kids, and have your own, and I know you know how they think. I have gotten on some of my teams pretty hard in the past, and even this year, playing like crap, squeaking by a team you should have beaten handily, telling them the level of play has to get better, this isn't good enough, this effort will lose to so and so and so and so. The response? Relax coach, we won, what's the big deal? Many kids are just in the "now" and don't think long term, down the road. As I said earlier, those Mercer kids may have left the WJ game thinking hey, we played like poo and still won...man we're just great...not thinking ahead that that performance would have probably been a loss to maybe 40 or 50 other teams they could have played that night. It may have taken the Lafayette loss for the kids to start looking a little more long term and refocus, a close game to a team they dominated earlier evidently wasn't enough to do it.

I believe the loss could be good for Mercer. Takes off the pressure of being undefeated and the emotional baggage that goes with that.

 

Look at UK last year. Look at UK in 2012. I think losing to Vandy in the SEC tourney final is why they won the NCAA tourney.

 

Look at Boyle last year. Nearly beaten by Danville in the first round of the district, then blown away by Lincoln in the district finals. Only to win the next 5 and make it to the semis state. I think the district tourney games were the wake up calls to make the run.

 

Mercer should be proud of the 24 straight wins, put it on the shelf, and get back to work for a deep run in March. They have all the necessary tools to do so, including now the knowledge they can be beaten by any one on any night.

PP I know you have been around a lot of kids, and have your own, and I know you know how they think. I have gotten on some of my teams pretty hard in the past, and even this year, playing like crap, squeaking by a team you should have beaten handily, telling them the level of play has to get better, this isn't good enough, this effort will lose to so and so and so and so. The response? Relax coach, we won, what's the big deal? Many kids are just in the "now" and don't think long term, down the road. As I said earlier, those Mercer kids may have left the WJ game thinking hey, we played like poo and still won...man we're just great...not thinking ahead that that performance would have probably been a loss to maybe 40 or 50 other teams they could have played that night. It may have taken the Lafayette loss for the kids to start looking a little more long term and refocus, a close game to a team they dominated earlier evidently wasn't enough to do it.

 

The damage has been done and was done the West Jessamine game. 12th Region teams feel they can compete and beat Mercer County now. The Lafayette game didn't give the 12th Region teams hope. The West Jessamine game did.

I believe the loss could be good for Mercer. Takes off the pressure of being undefeated and the emotional baggage that goes with that.

 

Look at UK last year. Look at UK in 2012. I think losing to Vandy in the SEC tourney final is why they won the NCAA tourney.

 

Look at Boyle last year. Nearly beaten by Danville in the first round of the district, then blown away by Lincoln in the district finals. Only to win the next 5 and make it to the semis state. I think the district tourney games were the wake up calls to make the run.

 

Mercer should be proud of the 24 straight wins, put it on the shelf, and get back to work for a deep run in March. They have all the necessary tools to do so, including now the knowledge they can be beaten by any one on any night.

 

Disagree about the district tournament final game for Boyle being a wake up call. That game was meaningless. After beating Danville they were in the region tournament. That's all that mattered and they knew and played like it in the final district game. They played like crap first half of the Pulaski County game in the region tournament also. I'm not sure when their wake up call came or that they needed a wake up call. I never felt that team was too big for their britches. They were one of the more poised teams we've been fortunate to have at Boyle County.

I love this this is what blogs are supposed to be like when it comes to sports as long as we keep it clean and stand up for our teams we can agree to disagree. Respect due to all people in threads and both teams. Both teams are good. Good luck to them both. This has to be the best thread goimg . oh bybtge way Lafayette beat down Wayne Co it was no contest the whole game. I believe Ross Jenkins had 39 and Jaelin Jenkins had 15pts and 8assists. Just thought to out that in there.

I love this this is what blogs are supposed to be like when it comes to sports as long as we keep it clean and stand up for our teams we can agree to disagree. Respect due to all people in threads and both teams. Both teams are good. Good luck to them both. This has to be the best thread goimg . oh bybtge way Lafayette beat down Wayne Co it was no contest the whole game. I believe Ross Jenkins had 39 and Jaelin Jenkins had 15pts and 8assists. Just thought to out that in there.

 

And Wayne County has defeated Southwestern at Southwestern. Something Lafayette couldn't do.

 

Just putting that out there.

They beat West Jessamine 88-44 the first time they played them. The second time West Jessamine gave them all they wanted and they managed to squeeze out an 83-79 victory.

 

Why is that game any different than the Lafayette game? Why is there a different lesson taught because of a loss? You beat a team by 44 and then only by 4 the next time you play but that isn't a wake up call?

 

How was the Lafayette game a motivator when the West Jess game was not? Mercer went to West undefeated and left there undefeated. They went to Lafayette with a similar effort and left with their first L.

 

IMO they approached both games thinking they could cruise to victory. The West game because of the 44 point win their first matchup and the Lafayette game due to the Generals' recent lopsided losses - especially the 30 point loss to LCA on Friday night. They didn't respect them like they should've. Mistake, and hopefully one which they will learn from!

How was the Lafayette game a motivator when the West Jess game was not? Mercer went to West undefeated and left there undefeated. They went to Lafayette with a similar effort and left with their first L.

 

IMO they approached both games thinking they could cruise to victory. The West game because of the 44 point win their first matchup and the Lafayette game due to the Generals' recent lopsided losses - especially the 30 point loss to LCA on Friday night. They didn't respect them like they should've. Mistake, and hopefully one which they will learn from!

 

That's my point. The West Jessamine game is a bigger game than the Lafayette game whether folks want to acknowledge that or not. They rolled into the West game thinking it would be an easy win and it wasn't. Just because they won doesn't mean they shouldn't have learned from that game. If they can't learn something from a game just because they won the game then Mercer County may be in big trouble. Every game should be a learning experience regardless of the outcome. That's why I don't buy that losing is a good thing. They should have already known they have a huge target on their back and that they need to play hard every quarter of every game.