Collins Titans square off with Oldham County in Buckner next Tuesday.

COVID-permitting.   (it's the new "weather-permitting")

WHEN:  Tuesday, 2/2/21

WHERE:  Oldham County HS, Buckner, KY

TIME:   Game begins 20 minutes after the varsity girls' game, or approximately 7:45 pm ET

BROADCAST:  Free live video coverage begins with coverage of the girls' game between Oldham and Collins at 5:30 pm ET.    The boys' broadcast will begin immediately afterward, or approximately 7:40 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com

Oldham County is 10-4 all-time against Collins, and according to the rankings should be favored in this one, playing at home with a veteran team picked to win the region.   But due to all the COVID craziness, Collins has some things going their way.   Namely, the Titans have played 10 games already this season - including games against some strong teams, like St. X, Henry County, and LexCath.    Oldham County, on the other hand, has played just 3 games so far.    Though Oldham has played three quality opponents - South Oldham, North Oldham, and Highlands -the Colonels won't have played in almost two weeks when this game is played.   (Oldham last played on 1/22).

Collins is coming off a solid performance against a really good St. Xavier team, falling by just four points, 61-57.   The Titans come into the game with a record of 6-4; Oldham is 2-1 after topping North Oldham 81-72 on January 22nd; the Colonels earned the first round bye in the 29th district with that victory and have qualified for the 8th Region tournament as a result.

Pegasus Sports will broadcast both games of the doubleheader (free live video; also archived one year)

I think it will be tough for Collins to overcome Oldham County’s size. I like OC by 10 maybe more.

Oldham's size versus tremendous quickness by that Collins backcourt....

Should be really interesting.    Two of the most successful coaches in the 8th region.    This has become quite the annual battle; even though Oldham has a significant series edge, the 10-4 mark against Collins doesn't quite reflect the intensity and battle each of their games have turned into....

I'm looking forward to calling this one.

CM

Oldham County - 6'5" senior Tyler Slone is off to a torrid start.    The Colonels' forward is averaging 22 points per game, leading the team, and is tied for the lead in rebounds with 6.7 / game.    Though Slone has good range and has hit 5 threes in his first 3 games, he has been doing the bulk of his damage inside the arc, where he is hitting 75% of his shots.

Xander Wagner-Rose is off to an impressive start.   The 6'6" senior post is averaging 8.3 ppg / 6.7 rebounds, and hitting 50% of his shots from the floor.   Wagner-Rose is displaying an aggressive athleticism that has been truly impressive at times this year, soaring high for passes and rebounds, and softly making jumpers before returning to earth.    After a difficult game against Highlands, Wagner-Rose bounced back in dominant fashion against North Oldham with 11 points / 10 rebounds.

BENCH:   The Oldham bench was the area most of the pre-season questions focused on.    The early returns are promising for OC.   In particular, 6'10" junior Hayden Burgess has consistently made contributions early on, averaging 5.3 ppg / 5.3 rebounds.    He's displaying a knack for offensive boardwork and a soft touch with the basketball, shooting 71% from the floor - albeit typically from short  range.   6'6" junior Sam Powell also is doing well early on, averaging 6.3 ppg and hitting 54.5% of his shots.   Powell exploded for 16 points against North Oldham, including 4 of 4 beyond the arc.

As a team, Oldham has five players hitting over 50% from the floor.    Although the outside shooting has been a pedestrian 31%, the team is shooting an electric 55.9% from inside the arc.

Collins  In some ways, Collins is still a pretty young team, as they start two sophomore guards who are both integral to their success.    In part because of this youth, the Titans' scoring has dropped significantly from last year, as Collins comes into this game averaging just 53.8 ppg.   The Titans' defense, however, is a typical Chris Gaither defense - stingy.    Five of Collins' 10 opponents have scored 50 points or fewer, and only three have reached the 60 point mark.

Shooting has been a bit of a problem early, with the Titans hitting just 44% overall from the field, and just 26.9% (42 of 156) beyond the arc.    Some of that may be attributable to the youth, and some to COVID, because the Titans are clearly getting better.   Playing against powerful St. Xavier last Friday - and without leading scorer Kenyon Goodin - the Titans connected on 62.9% of their shots and barely missed out on the upset, falling 61-57.

Sophomore transfer Kenyon Goodin has led the way this year, averaging 13.2 ppg.   Fellow backcourt mate sophomore Quinton Simmons is #2 in scoring at 10.4 ppg.   Aaron Thompson (10.2 ppg) and Dawson Eden (8.2 ppg) form the rest of the core of four that score the bulk of the Titans' points.

The starters account for the vast majority of the scoring as a clear scoring threat off the bench hasn't yet emerged.

Junior forward Austin Thompson has emerged as the premier outside threat.   Despite coming off the bench, Thompson has hit 8 of 16 threes (50%) to lead the Titans in both makes and percentage.    

Rebounding has been by committee, with Eden leading the way at 4.6 / game.    Simmons (3.5 rebounds) and Goodin (3.4) get their share.

Collins has been showing balanced scoring, and any of several players could lead this team in scoring on a given night.   In the last five games, Collins has been led in scoring by 5 different players (Kenyon Goodin with 19 against Bardstown...Dawson Eden with 16 against Woodford...Austin Thompson with 9 against LexCath...Aaron Thompson with 14 against Henry County...Quinton Simmons with 18 against St. X...)

Goodin has missed the last two games; it will be interesting to see if he returns Tuesday.

Free live video broadcast coverage begins right after the girls' contest at approximately 7:40 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com

 

 

I'll get the edge to OC by 9.

Does anyone know if Goodin is playing for Collins?   He doesn't show in the stats of their last two games.....

UPDATE:   The girls' half of the doubleheader has been cancelled due to COVID restrictions.

This is now a JV / Varsity boys matchup, so the Oldham-Collins varsity game will start approximately 7:30 pm ET.

Free live video coverage on www.pegasussportsky.com will start right at 7 pm ET.

CM

I see Oldham’s size plus their experienced guard trio of Oak, Campbell and Gibson leading to a victory over Collins. 

Two of the more accomplished 8th Region coaches of the past decade.

Oldham's Coy Zerhusen is the winningest coach in the 8th Region over the last 7 seasons.   Entering his 8th year in Buckner, Zerhusen is 182-52 (.778), with 6 district titles in the last 7 years, four appearances in the 8th Region title game (including 3 in a row), and one Region 8 title.

Collins' Chris Gaither is entering his 10th season in Shelbyville; he's only the second coach ever be lead Collins.    His record of 213-93 gives him a winning percentage just shy of 70% (.696).   He has coached the Titans to 5 district titles in his previous 9 years, and 3 region 8 titles.

Although Oldham has the overall advantage in the series, 10-4, the two teams are 3-3 all-time against each other in region tournament play.

Join us tomorrow night for all the live video coverage at 7 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com

end of one

Oldham County looks rusty, but the Colonels lead after 1Q, 12-8

Oldham on a 7-0 run to start the 2Q

19-8 Oldham   timeout Collins

OC's Slone at the line when we come back

22-8

Oldham County dominant on offense and defense

Gaither calls his second time out within 15 seconds

 

1:33 to go till half

Oldham brings all five starters back in, holding a 32-17 lead

HALF

Oldham County 35

Collins 20

Oldham County's Tyler Slone leads all scorers with 14 points

Oldham hitting the long ball, going 7 of 17 beyond the arc (41.2%) , and dominating on the glass.

Few fouls have been called on either team, but Dawson Eden of Collins did pick up two fouls in the first half