Holmes 55 Holy Cross 48 2OT

[SoccerFreak38]

Holmes gets the 1 seed.

Holmes was up 19 at the half, only scored 16 in second half!

[AGullett08]

Holmes came out strong, holding HC scoreless until 35 seconds left in the first quarter! Holmes led 15-2 after one! Then Holmes kept pounding and led 30-11 at the half! The second half the Indians came alive!!! Held the Bulldogs to 16 points in both quarters and was tied 46 all at the end of regulation. After the first OT it was all tied up at 48. Second OT, Holmes hit their free throws when they needed it! Well played by HC!

 

Should be a good game in the district tourney as they take on NDA.

 

Holmes plays Beechwood/Latin

[frankdracman23]

Makes the Region a whole lot more interesting now.

[RCC9]

The region is WIDE open.

[Baseball Nut 24]

Unofficial scoring from Holy Cross Radio:

 

Holy Cross:

McClendon 21

Beal 14

Tucker 11

 

Holmes:

Harris 10

McClendon-Englemon 10

Stovall 10

Johnson 9

Brown 9

[uk#1fan]

Wow sounds like a good game.

[AGullett08]

The region is WIDE open.

 

I wouldn't say wide open, Holmes is still probably the team to beat. Tonight they couldn't hit a shot in the second half. Tucker from HC caught fire from behind the arch and got them back in the game. I say this may close the gap, but Holmes and Ryle IMO are the top two teams.

[Tiger1]

The region is WIDE open.

 

Is Holmes considered the favorite? If not, then who?

[Twotoplace]

The region is WIDE open.

Disagree. Holmes and Ryle combined are 20-1 in the region, with Ryle's only region loss coming at Holmes by 4 points. I would be real surprised if the region winner isn't one of these two teams.

[RCC9]

Just my opinion! They may have a good record, but they haven't dominated all the teams in the region by any means. Holy cross showed they can play with them and so has HHS. And HHS is back to playing much better. Add ND and NCC as capable teams that can beat them on any given night and you have a region that is more open than it has been in a long time.

[SoccerFreak38]

Disagree. Holmes and Ryle combined are 20-1 in the region, with Ryle's only region loss coming at Holmes by 4 points. I would be real surprised if the region winner isn't one of these two teams.

 

I agree with you 100%, I feel like Holmes is the favorite right now but Ryle is right there. Holmes is a tough team to beat, I've noticed they have started to develop their half court game. It's much better that what it was last year. Brown for the Lady Bulldogs has stepped up big time since losing Gulley to a knee injury! I think this may be Holmes year, but I wouldn't be shocked if Ryle took the region as well.

 

Other teams are right there too, tourney should be interesting to watch.

[CAP]

IMO, its Holmes to lose with Ryle a close second everyone else does have a shot but will have to play extremely to beat either of these 2 teams, not saying it can't happen. Holmes will be very hard to beat at NKU because the floor is bigger which gives them more room in the open court.

[Drunk Johnny]

I would says at this point Holmes is still the top "Dawg" in the 9th region, but Ryle is close. Highlands looks like they have righted the ship and do not be surprised if they content for the regional title. They have a lot of talent on that team and most of it Seniors. Also the winner of HC and ND to get to the region can make some noise.

[RCC9]

IMO, its Holmes to lose with Ryle a close second everyone else does have a shot but will have to play extremely to beat either of these 2 teams, not saying it can't happen. Holmes will be very hard to beat at NKU because the floor is bigger which gives them more room in the open court.

 

I look at it a little different. I think the bigger court actually hurts them. You still play them in a zone, so they have to come to you to score. And even if you have to go to man, the court isn't really any bigger because you don't have to guard them way out there. So essentially the court is the same size when they are on offense because you don't have to stretch you defense to guard them.

 

Also keep in mind it's 10 feet longer. They only play about 6 kids.

 

Also, they rely on turnovers on defense a lot. That typically means that they actually prefer a smaller court because it's harder for the other team to find space. Would you be more effective trapping someone on a football field or a Bball court? It's much easier to trap someone in a more confined space. The bigger court allows good ball handling teams to stretch the defense. Teams that can spread you out and shoot have a advantage in my opinion.

 

Whenever you have a group of teams, someone is always the favorite. I agree Holmes then Ryle for now. I'm just saying their isn't as much of a gap between 1 and let's say 6 as we've seen in the past. It will be all about the draw and the match ups. I know HHS and HC can beat either one of they play to their potential.

[egs300]

It was tale of two halves. Someone mentioned that Holmes went cold in the 2nd half, ironically it was same basket that HC couldn't buy a bucket in the 1st half. The basket did seem to have lid on it.

 

HC came out of the locker room a different team. It was truly a team effort to get back in to the game. Out the gate McClendon asserted herself getting to the basket and finishing. As a result it opened up the some looks. That's when Beal downed a money ball, then Tucker caught fire from distance coupled with a few easy baskets, now there was a ball game. It was truly a tale of two halves. HC turnovers in the 1st and Holmes' turnovers in the 2nd and both team took advantage of the miscues and capitalized on their end. It was great to see HC not give up and fight back from 19 and great to see Holmes' leaders step up and calm the ship. If you missed the game you missed a treat. However, in the upcoming tournament both teams have to come out ready to play or season OVER.