Stats coming. Fantastic game.

As we did Tuesday, we won a game we should not have won. Unlike the Hoptown game, I really feel like Madisonville was the better team. But I'll take the win. We still have that winning DNA and it showed with this region tournament like 2 games in 3 days.

 

We got verrrry lucky, because I'll be the first Blazer in that gym to admit that we should not have been shooting free throws at the end. But we did and we won.

 

My assessment this week is that UHA is still the Region 2 favorites, but it's no longer a lock. We have a once in a lifetime player carrying us, and that can work in Region 2 and hopefully the All-A tournament. But, Tandy and McGowan alone can't do this all season without help and expect to compete at Rupp Arena.

 

We came on strong late last season. The tough schedule will get our guys better prepared late on.

I will say this. In previous years, UHA would have folded in a game like this. This shows that the maturity level of the team as a whole has improved and will help them moving forward. Madisonville proved they are no slouch of a team and I look forward to seeing them more this season.

What a great game and great atmosphere. Great ceremony for Buckner.

 

Casey was a monster for madisonville. UHA let him get the ball way too deep. Once UHA put Hollowell on him (when he was on the floor instead of sitting out due to fouls) they slowed him down.

 

I'll say that the officials were dreadful. On both sides. And that's about the best crew in region 2. They were wildly inconsistent. They let it be a brawl in the first 4 minutes and then suddenly it was called tight.

 

The poor officiating was on full display at the end of the first half. They basically let a guy from madisonville, #23 push multiple uha players. They gave him a warning. Credit to those kids from heights for backing away. Apparently that's what led to Crump getting his technical as he was mouthing as they walked off the floor. That was a completely mismanaged situation by the refs. They let a guy for one team get away with trying to basically fight a guy, then they call a technical for a kid mouthing.

 

That switched the momentum coming out from halftime. Heights should have gotten the ball up 1. Instead, Madisonville got two free throws and the ball and started on a 10-0 run.

 

Heights didn't play well and I think Madisonville probably played about as well as they can play and Heights still won. UHA sat KJ Crump the entire second half. Bold move but probably a good one in the long run. I suspect he will learn from that.

 

Foul trouble ruled the day again for UHA. When Hollowell was on the floor they were able to control things. But when he was out they struggled. If he can stay out of foul trouble he can slow casey down.

 

And on the last call... That's a really tough one. The guy from Madisonville really hit him hard. I have no idea what he was thinking. The sad part is I don't know if UHA would have gotten a shot off. But they had no chance because the Madisonville guy hit him so hard. At the end of the day, He fouled him, and pretty hard. In the open court. If they don't call it, UHA's mad. Since they did? Madisonville is mad. My advice for the kid from Madisonville? Don't foul.

 

I have no doubt that one of these two teams will represent region 2 in RUPP. I still think it will be UHA. In some ways, I'm more certain now because of how they were able to overcome a poor effort and beat a very good team.

 

I'll say this though. I think Hoptown can give Madisonville trouble. Casey won't go off like he did against us. Without him completely dominating inside that isn't even a contest. If we can neutralize him I think we could get them in a regional tournament. Crazy thing is, they might have to play us in the first round of regionals.

UHA had no answer for Ksuan Casey (25 points/20 rebounds). They were up three when he fouled out with a minute to go.

 

Madisonville was 16/30 at the free throw line, including 5/12 in the fourth quarter.

 

HIGHLIGHT REEL – University Heights 8

UHA had no answer for Ksuan Casey (25 points/20 rebounds). They were up three when he fouled out with a minute to go.

 

Madisonville was 16/30 at the free throw line, including 5/12 in the fourth quarter.

 

HIGHLIGHT REEL – University Heights 8 Madisonville 79 | Your Sports Edge

 

I Think Hollowell did a good job on Casey. The problem is he missed half the game because of foul trouble. Case and White struggle at the line and that's a problem because they get there so much. Heights had some buys miss free-throws who shoot over 80%. Tandy missed two late (never happens), Hollowell missed the and-1 and they missed the front end of two one and ones.

 

And I agree. In years past UHA folds in that situation.

The clutch play is great, but you always like to judge a team by how good they can play without their top player. Kyky can carry us all year and he will have to, but if he has 1 bad game in region against HHS or Madville and I will be worried.

 

I still say we win the region title, because we have the best player and that's usually how it goes in this region.

 

But you can also call these 2 games poor efforts and we still won, but if these efforts keep happening it's a trend and not just a bad game. What will get us better long term are the high level teams we will play over the next month on top of good tournament experience at the All-A.

 

Hoptown and Madville have more room for growth over the next 2-3 months than we do at this time. We aren't gonna get any taller. What would be crazy is if we won the district title, but ended up having to play Madisonville in the semi-finals and then Hoptown the next game. But unless you can find a way so somehow defend Tandy and contain him to around 30 points, no one has a chance.

 

What's crazy is that Brody and Mathis at CCHS probably have the best defensive backcourt that could cause UHA problems, but they lack scoring and overall depth to even be close to them.

The clutch play is great, but you always like to judge a team by how good they can play without their top player. Kyky can carry us all year and he will have to, but if he has 1 bad game in region against HHS or Madville and I will be worried.

 

I still say we win the region title, because we have the best player and that's usually how it goes in this region.

 

But you can also call these 2 games poor efforts and we still won, but if these efforts keep happening it's a trend and not just a bad game. What will get us better long term are the high level teams we will play over the next month on top of good tournament experience at the All-A.

 

Hoptown and Madville have more room for growth over the next 2-3 months than we do at this time. We aren't gonna get any taller. What would be crazy is if we won the district title, but ended up having to play Madisonville in the semi-finals and then Hoptown the next game. But unless you can find a way so somehow defend Tandy and contain him to around 30 points, no one has a chance.

 

What's crazy is that Brody and Mathis at CCHS probably have the best defensive backcourt that could cause UHA problems, but they lack scoring and overall depth to even be close to them.

 

I have to give Shouse some credit. He sat Tandy for 4 minutes in the second quarter when he and Crump weren't moving the ball well. In those 4 minutes Quarrels and McGee did a nice job of making a little run. I think UHA cut the lead during that stretch. I was impressed with Shouse's use of the bench last night. I don't think he pulls guys the way he did last night in previous years.