Dragons with a huge statement win over what was our #2 team in the 4th Region. Franklin had won by 14 over the Dragons back in January. The big stat? In January, Franklin went 7/11 from three, and shot 52% from the field. Tonight, they shot an astonishingly poor 1/21 from three, and only 27% from the field. The Dragons didn't set the world on fire with their 7/23 performance from three, but it was more than adequate.

 

With the win, Warren Central advances to the semifinals against Barren County. They keep alive hopes to extend their streak of 20 win seasons and regional final appearances. They also extended the futility of 13th District teams against 14th District teams. No 13th District representative has defeated a 14th District team in the region tournament since 2001.

How this happened is incredible. I thought this would be a good game but for Franklin to lose like this was shocking. How did Central stop Lovan?

How this happened is incredible. I thought this would be a good game but for Franklin to lose like this was shocking. How did Central stop Lovan?

 

The secret to stopping Lovan is to let him shoot. He's a poor jump shooter. He is a GREAT high school player but will need to develop a better jumper if he wants to play at the high major level.

Tavon Lovan has a beautiful jump shot with incredible touch. His 3pt percentage wasnt eye popping but he only took 57 from beyond the arch. One of which was an off balanced buzzer beater Russell County want soon forget. He's a superior ball handler and driver to the basket. He averages 26.6 ppg, shoots 57.1% from the field, 80% from the line, and averages 11.2 rebounds per game. All this while being grabbed, pulled and hacked night in and night out. He is a great shot blocker and has an impressive highlight reel of dunks. He blocked the game tying 3pt shot in the district championship and polished it off with a dunk to give himself 45 on the night. Most importantly he's an outstanding polite young man who continuously praises his teamates. I believe there is a high major who will find room for him.

Central very closely faceguarded Lovan for a lot of the game, and made it a pain to get him the ball. They'd get it to him, they'd just have to work a bit harder than normal.

 

 

That's his shot chart. I wouldn't say Central "let" him shoot by any means. He did miss all four of his shots that were beyond around 13 feet. The one at the free throw line was a step back attempt which would be a higher degree of difficulty, and the other one from just in side the three point line was about 18 feet. He hit a couple of mid range jumpers, and then everything else was around the rim. There is not doubt that Central's effort was to keep him from driving, which you'd be silly not to try against him. Lovan is great at getting to the rim (or getting to the line while trying), and obviously if you can drive the ball then you're going to have a higher degree of success. (That's one of the things that makes Bowling Green so unstoppable) Lovan hit one three pointer in their first game - it's the only shot he hit from beyond around 13 feet in either game. The one he hit from around 10 feet that you see just outside the paint was the only one he hit in either from outside the paint.

 

At the end of the day, Lovan still did OK. He matched the most that Central put up in Murray's 18 points. It's what was around him that lost the day for Franklin-Simpson. TWENTY MISSED THREES. There was no guy like Doaks to lift Franklin up like in the first meeting. Lovan could've scored 38 and Franklin would have still lost by seven (simplifying, I know, but not the point). One thing I noticed about both teams, but Franklin in particular, is most, if not all, of their three point attempts came behind the deeper, college three point line. It's something I notice every year at Diddle and Rupp. I don't know if psychologically the players are looking for the bolder line, or the deepest line, but they almost always shoot from the deeper distance. It's an additional foot on the shot, and in many cases, they're shooting deeper than that. If you're not used to it, I imagine that'll throw you off a bit, especially if you're a three point specialist.

Tavon Lovan has a beautiful jump shot with incredible touch. His 3pt percentage wasnt eye popping but he only took 57 from beyond the arch. One of which was an off balanced buzzer beater Russell County want soon forget. He's a superior ball handler and driver to the basket. He averages 26.6 ppg, shoots 57.1% from the field, 80% from the line, and averages 11.2 rebounds per game. All this while being grabbed, pulled and hacked night in and night out. He is a great shot blocker and has an impressive highlight reel of dunks. He blocked the game tying 3pt shot in the district championship and polished it off with a dunk to give himself 45 on the night. Most importantly he's an outstanding polite young man who continuously praises his teamates. I believe there is a high major who will find room for him.

 

Based on his EYBL stats last season, he was 0/1 from 3 in 17 games. He can't drive past high major athletes every time. He's a great player but I'm not sure that a WKU or EKU wouldn't be the best fit for him. He needs to go somewhere he can develop over 4 years. That's my only point.

Based on his EYBL stats last season, he was 0/1 from 3 in 17 games. He can't drive past high major athletes every time. He's a great player but I'm not sure that a WKU or EKU wouldn't be the best fit for him. He needs to go somewhere he can develop over 4 years. That's my only point.

 

Vanderbilt disagrees with you.

 

Lovan is a junior who missed most of his sophomore year with a wrist injury. He will be on the summer circuit and return for his senior season along with all but one of his current FS teammates next year.

Vanderbilt disagrees with you.

 

Lovan is a junior who missed most of his sophomore year with a wrist injury. He will be on the summer circuit and return for his senior season along with all but one of his current FS teammates next year.

 

Vanderbilt hasn't offered yet but they have offered over a dozen other kids in that class.

 

I'm just saying it is my personal opinion that he would be better off at a lower level. I think his family connection makes many assume he will go to WKU but I do agree that if he can have a great AAU season and show that he has shored up some of his defencies, the Vanderbilt types of offers will come.