Final from Lexington Catholic.

Adam Kunkel leads all scorers with 34 points. Unofficially.

 

Jags to face the winner of the next game, which is Henderson County vs. Madison Central.

Kunkel is really coming out his Sr year.

Kunkel is really coming out his Sr year.

 

Not a surprise to me at all, but I would agree that everywhere he goes this season he is leaving a mark as a serious Mr. Basketball Candidate. He is very hard to shut down, but still manages to make others on his team better.

Not a surprise to me at all, but I would agree that everywhere he goes this season he is leaving a mark as a serious Mr. Basketball Candidate. He is very hard to shut down, but still manages to make others on his team better.

 

Very good point on AK. He gets his points as the team needs but also makes his teammates better. He is making a case for the best player in the 9th region and a strong candidate for Mr BBall KY.

Very good point on AK. He gets his points as the team needs but also makes his teammates better. He is making a case for the best player in the 9th region and a strong candidate for Mr BBall KY.

 

Yes, a very good leader he is. He leads by example with his effort and by playing so hard he sets the bar for his teammates. But he also is becoming a very vocal leader that you can tell the rest of the team respects. He has a very good situation there at Cooper because undoubtedly he is the star of that team which I feel his guys are genuinely ok with that. But he has a good enough cast with him that can still carry their fair load. Teams can get set to stop AK, but then those other guys are still capable. Plus, if you plan to focus a game plan on stopping AK, you better bring the heat cause not an easy task.

Hmm- AK is a very nice player. But a 5 point win over a 1-7 team? Doesn't sound like you need much " heat" against the supporting cast.

Hmm- AK is a very nice player. But a 5 point win over a 1-7 team? Doesn't sound like you need much " heat" against the supporting cast.

 

A very nice player? Good one.

Hmm- AK is a very nice player. But a 5 point win over a 1-7 team? Doesn't sound like you need much " heat" against the supporting cast.

 

“Hmm AK is a very nice player”? OK. Coming off the battles this team had in the KOB just a few days ago I would say a 5 point win is more than acceptable. This supporting class is just fine and just proved it last week vs. some of the top teams in the state and last I checked it only takes 1 point to win a game. #DoUrHomeworkBeforePosting

Hmm- AK is a very nice player. But a 5 point win over a 1-7 team? Doesn't sound like you need much " heat" against the supporting cast.

 

Just curious, were you at the game and have you seen any other Cooper games this year?

Hmm- AK is a very nice player. But a 5 point win over a 1-7 team? Doesn't sound like you need much " heat" against the supporting cast.

 

Dunbar's opponents combined record: 62-20. Hardly a slouch schedule, so the 1-7 could be a tad deceiving.

Doubt that coach Sully is overly concerned about a 5 pt victory over the holidays. What he is probably more concerned about is his star player having to provide 60% of the teams points in one game and he and Chris McNeil accounting for all but 10 of the teams point total. 8 other players played and only managed a combined 10 points?? That is not something that Sully wants to see as a norm. Kunkel and McNeil 15 for 19 from the field, the rest of the team 4 for 19.

Sounds like several people don’t know this coach. Coach Sullivan could care less who’s scoring points. The foundation of Cooper basketball is DEFENSE.....period. If you don’t, can’t or won’t play it you simply will not wear maroon and gold. This years version of Jag basketball happens to have a great athlete that to this point has been difficult for opposing teams to stop, so be it. Other players contribute however they can (ie. Walters putting up 20 vs. CCH) because filling the shoes of Hendrix and S. McNeil just simply is not going to happen completely so the team has adjusted. However, as long as this team plays solid defense night in and night out my opinion is coach Sully could care less who’s getting points at the end of the night.

It also sounds like they don't know AK either. Adam is the kind of player that when he gets in the zone, you want the ball in his hands. He is hands down the streakiest scorer I have ever seen play the game. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he has a game or two this year in the 40's. He is that type of player. His teammates know and understand this as well, as they have been friends and teammates for a very long time. Good teams and good coaches understand what their strengths are and the play to them. Coopers first and primary strength is their team defense, which yesterday was not very good. Adjustments were made and fortunately they were able to pull out a win. Offensively, it is not like they are not capable of scoring outside of Adam. Their supporting cast (Walters, Runion, Ollier, McNeil) are certainly no slouches. Cooper had three quarters yesterday where they looked tired and played poorly. It happens. But the bottom line is this, they won the game. And I will also add this, Paul Lawrence Dunbar regardless of their record, was a worthy opponent. They are well coached and their kids played extremely hard. Cooper plays a very good Madison Central team today and I guarantee you Sully will have them dialed in. But let's don't get caught up on who is scoring, margin a victory or any other arm chair coaching statistics. You make adjustments during the game if need be and review your results. Should you find a certain style or strategy didn't work, you address it and move on. I'm pretty sure the message coming from Sully is not who scores but a lesson on what happens when you don't defend well collectively.

Dunbar's opponents combined record: 62-20. Hardly a slouch schedule, so the 1-7 could be a tad deceiving.

 

This. Hard to imagine a better 1-win team.

 

Dunbar made a valiant comeback in this one, and even briefly took a lead in the 4th quarter. Cooper probably didn't play its best ball in the second half, but the Jags are legit. I really enjoyed watching them play, in particular Kunkel & McNeil.