1 hour ago, The Double Deuce said:

I'm really surprised at Beechwood's inclusion, not that they can't play to that level, but I'm going to wait and see on them.  I need to see a lot more balance to their roster / offense than we've seen previously, and can they rebound against bigger more physical teams with the loss of Mitchell.

Conversely, as @NKYBBALLFANS alluded to, if there is going to be a 3rd team from the 9th included in a pre-season ranking, I'd have St. Henry.  I think this could be (should be) Dave Faust's best team since his region champion (2003 maybe, with Fabiani et al), and if they get any consistent play at all from their back-court, they will be closer to the Top 2 than they are to the 4th place team and beyond.  Vieth + Bessler alone would have been enough to have them above Beechwood (comfortably) to start the year.  

I think the 9th ends up being a 2-team race, but if there is a team that I think can scare CovCath and Highlands in March, it is the Cru.

 

8 minutes ago, Bluesport said:

St. Henry lost basically nothing are have all their top level guys back. This is the best team they have had since they won the 9th Region in 2003.

The 9th Region Preview has St. Henry at third over Beechwood.

 

1 hour ago, theguru said:

 

I saw that-great write up. I was just adding a little promotion.

Just now, Bluesport said:

I saw that-great write up. I was just adding a little promotion.

Thanks, I agree, and me too. 

3 hours ago, Bluesport said:

St. Henry lost basically nothing are have all their top level guys back. This is the best team they have had since they won the 9th Region in 2003.

That was a special team.  More than one person told me that they’d give Mason County their toughest game of the Sweet 16, and they were right.  Those guys had played together since they could walk. And if not for the big guy (Schmidt?) going out for a few minutes, the Cru just might have been state champs.  

1 hour ago, mcpapa said:

That was a special team.  More than one person told me that they’d give Mason County their toughest game of the Sweet 16, and they were right.  Those guys had played together since they could walk. And if not for the big guy (Schmidt?) going out for a few minutes, the Cru just might have been state champs.  

You lost me-St. Henry was the All A State Champs.

 

27 minutes ago, Bluesport said:

You lost me-St. Henry was the All A State Champs.

 

I’ll admit that my memory isn’t what it used to be. But I’m pretty sure that Mason beat St. Henry by a bucket in the first round of the Sweet Sixteen in 2003. 

10 minutes ago, mcpapa said:

I’ll admit that my memory isn’t what it used to be. But I’m pretty sure that Mason beat St. Henry by a bucket in the first round of the Sweet Sixteen in 2003. 

My bad mcpapa-I thought you meant last year in the All A.

Watching the CCH/Dixie game, CCH is up 20 in 2nd quarter.  They are GOOD and loaded with talent.

Maybe they're not ready for the top 20 yet, but keep an eye on Louisville DeSales this year.  They lost to E-Town tonight 73-70.  Sekou Kalle, 6'10' Sr. scored 24 points and 5'8" Sr. Devin Perry each scored 20 points.  Soph. forward Keith Robinson also put up 12 points.  They will play a tough schedule though, so their ranking might suffer some. Besides E-Town, the Colts are scheduled to play Bowling Green, Trinity, Cov Cath, Oldham Co. and Male.  Tough schedule, but with their good size inside and decent guard play, they could be able to pull off an upset in the 6th Region. 

 

I know we only have one week of play behind us, but St. Henry made a big statement with a tough and close overtime loss against a top Lexington Catholic team, and then went on and beat Highlands at Highlands in an incredibly close game.  St. Henry is a top 20 team.  Just my opinion.