http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/high_school/16332934.htm

Is Mason County really 30 points better than any team they have played? I have not seen them play yet, but they must be something else.

 

We have a nice team here in Maysville, but beating JBS and Russell by identical scores of 57-55 kind of shows that the Royals aren't "30 points better". Need to be stronger rebounding the ball and need to adjust better to different styles of officiating.

 

And that #2 state ranking is a little premature as well.

 

Looking forward to getting back to Lexington this evening to watch the Mason-Henry Clay game.

Very impressive showing by Russell last night. However, I tried to say earlier this week to many that the FT issue at Russell will bite them in a big game. 4-11 at the line is unacceptable, especially by a team that plays as well together, shoots well from outside, etc. Russell has the pieces and Dodd has done an outstanding job, but if they don't better at the line, it could cost them in the end of the season. Heck, all they have to do is just be a "bad" FT shooting team...but they are absolutely HORRIFIC, terrible. I watched a game last year at East Carter and they nearly lost a big lead because of the inability to make a FT.

 

Overall, Russell is clearly head and shoulders above everyone in the 16th and very happy for their showing against quality out of region teams, but make a free throw.

 

How did Blair and Robinson play for the Red Devils??? I also think that the presence of Scott Gill is BIG for the Red Devils....an unsung hero that does a lot of things very well but doesn't get as much credit. Can jump to the moon.

Very impressive showing by Russell last night. However, I tried to say earlier this week to many that the FT issue at Russell will bite them in a big game. 4-11 at the line is unacceptable, especially by a team that plays as well together, shoots well from outside, etc. Russell has the pieces and Dodd has done an outstanding job, but if they don't better at the line, it could cost them in the end of the season. Heck, all they have to do is just be a "bad" FT shooting team...but they are absolutely HORRIFIC, terrible. I watched a game last year at East Carter and they nearly lost a big lead because of the inability to make a FT.

 

Overall, Russell is clearly head and shoulders above everyone in the 16th and very happy for their showing against quality out of region teams, but make a free throw.

 

How did Blair and Robinson play for the Red Devils??? I also think that the presence of Scott Gill is BIG for the Red Devils....an unsung hero that does a lot of things very well but doesn't get as much credit. Can jump to the moon.

 

 

Speaking of unsung hero's, Austin Blair is "huge" for Russell. He has sacrificed getting his points to lead this team at the "point" position. During this tournament he set the tempo of the game by getting the ball out fast in transition and finding the open man. His defense is underated and he is a big reason why L'ville Central shot 23% and Miller only scored 16.

Robinson has set the defensive tempo this entire tournament. He has his hand on every ball and ran the fast break as good as anyone I've seen in this tourny. Without him, Russell has a couple more losses this year easy.

Gill quietly gets 12 points 10 rebounds just about every game and when he's not blocking shots (as he did a Darius Miller 3), he's altering them. Fun team to watch!

I was very impressed by Russell's team play. They don't look like much physically, but they are much more athletic than they look. I've known Gill for the past few years because of track (jumps and sprints), he's probably the best pure athlete on Russell's team. After Darius' dunk, he came right back down the floor and outran the defense for an easy layup. I wouldn't let him shoot from farther than 3 feet away, but he will do a lot of the unseen things to help you win a ballgame. Blair did a good job handling the point against Mason's defense, and Robinson had a good game as well. VanHoose kept his team in the game with his 3-point shooting, and kept Mason County in it with a sub-par performance from the charity stripe (Mason didn't do themselves any favors from the line either).

 

Will be interesting to see if Rose Hill's "big two" are enough to stay with the Devils in the 16th.

My guess is that King played so sparingly because his defense is suspect. I've seen him get beat repeatedly this year. Tony tends to play a little out of control, but did hit one big three.

 

Mason showed a lot of character by coming back twice. Darius needs to be a little more selfish at those end-of-game situations. The comeback in OT after being down 50-55 with just over 2 minutes to play was nice - keyed by great defense, Scott's hustle was key.

 

Finally, it was kind of fun to sit next to VanHoose's mom duriing the game. A very nice lady, a good fan who cheered just as much for everyone else on Russell's team as for her own son. All fans could learn a lesson!

 

You must have missed last season. King shut down Tyler Mains twice with his defense and Browning made huge shots in the state tournament. King's defense is not suspect. It's called help defense and Stahl isn't there to help down low...there is your weak link on defense. He continually has his back to the basketball and he can't score. He isn't a threat on either end and played the entire game. Why? Pawsat, Browning, and King sat, all three are great role players and take pressure off of Miller who had to go one on five on offense. Ray Charles could have seen that.

 

Darius' play has nothing to do with him needing to be more selfish, he's 6'7" and needs some layups and dunks to get going especially when the Royals need a bucket. And he played a team who doesn't have anyone over 6'3". Coach Wells would be blowing teams out with the talent level of this team.

 

They are potentially 30 points better than anyone they played. They could go ten deep and have the best full court press in the state. I can't believe what I have seen from Coach O'Hearn this season.

 

With Miller inside and three players on a full court press, this would have been a blowout...anyone could have seen that.

Great showing for the Devils! The 16th has to be gaining some respect thru out the state. The teams that do not venture into Lexington and Louisville are really missing out on some great comp and great coverage by the major newspapers.

 

Hopefully Elliott Co & any other 16th future contenders read this !

In my opinion, the Royals are not playing up to their full potential right now, but that is what the season is for. Coach Wells was a great coach and Mason County was fortunate to have him, but I think Coach O'Hearn is even better and will prove it over the next several years.

You must have missed last season. King shut down Tyler Mains twice with his defense and Browning made huge shots in the state tournament. King's defense is not suspect. It's called help defense and Stahl isn't there to help down low...there is your weak link on defense. He continually has his back to the basketball and he can't score. He isn't a threat on either end and played the entire game. Why? Pawsat, Browning, and King sat, all three are great role players and take pressure off of Miller who had to go one on five on offense. Ray Charles could have seen that.

 

Darius' play has nothing to do with him needing to be more selfish, he's 6'7" and needs some layups and dunks to get going especially when the Royals need a bucket. And he played a team who doesn't have anyone over 6'3". Coach Wells would be blowing teams out with the talent level of this team.

 

They are potentially 30 points better than anyone they played. They could go ten deep and have the best full court press in the state. I can't believe what I have seen from Coach O'Hearn this season.

 

With Miller inside and three players on a full court press, this would have been a blowout...anyone could have seen that.

 

We can agree to disagree to disagree on a few things; I agree with you on others.

 

I wondered why Pawsat got so little time. While he's not an offensive threat, he usually plays pretty good defense.

 

I agree that Miller should post up more. Just because he won't play with his back to the basket in college doesn't mean it won't help his high school team. When I say he needs to be more selfish; I would have liked to see him take the ball to the hole at the end of the first half, and I would have liked for him to take the shot at the end of regulation instead of firing the tough pass. The great players (and we've had one in particular here lately) seem to want the last shot, and I still haven't seen that from Darius.

 

King very well may have handled Mains last year (the double OT game last year was a classic even if it was a Mason County loss); I'm just going on what I've observed this year and that is that he consistently lets his man get around him. He looked real good in the game up at Scott, and seemed to be more effective in transition than in the half-court, and there wasn't much Mason County transition last night.

 

Mason needs to recognize officiating tendencies. It was apparent that the refs were going to let the kids play, and Mason could have been more physical going to the basket, rebounding and pressing.

 

I do agree with your theme that Mason County needs more from its role players.

Some thoughts from last night's game:

 

Great game plan by Russell; everyone knows that one of Mason County's strengths is its press; so if you limit Mason's baskets by playing deliberately on offense you negate opportunities to press. Russell frustrated Mason often with its motion offense and back door cuts, mixing in high screens for VanHoose.

 

Great crowd, Mason prides itself on traveling well.

 

Little-used Keith Downing redeemed himself for the missed layup at the end of the first half with a couple of key steals very late in the game. Coach O'Hearn's subbing late - Downing on defense and Setty on offense - helped pull this one out.

 

My guess is that King played so sparingly because his defense is suspect. I've seen him get beat repeatedly this year. Tony tends to play a little out of control, but did hit one big three.

 

Mason showed a lot of character by coming back twice. Darius needs to be a little more selfish at those end-of-game situations. The comeback in OT after being down 50-55 with just over 2 minutes to play was nice - keyed by great defense, Scott's hustle was key.

 

Finally, it was kind of fun to sit next to VanHoose's mom duriing the game. A very nice lady, a good fan who cheered just as much for everyone else on Russell's team as for her own son. All fans could learn a lesson!

 

 

She is a very classy lady and what a looker. Ive been trying to get her to leave her oldman for years. She is a class act. Alot of fans could learn from her. especially the champion.

Is Mason County really 30 points better than any team they have played? I have not seen them play yet, but they must be something else.

 

 

Mason County is not 30 points better than all the teams they have played. They are a good team but they are not that good. If you shut Miller down then its a game. Miller does not do well with heavy pressure, and that is exactly what Russell gave them. They are a good team, but by far not a 30+ scoring team.

Miller needs to be more aggressive & demanding of the ball especially in crucial times. He dominated both ends the 2-3 minutes of the game then almost disappeared

You must have missed last season. King shut down Tyler Mains twice with his defense and Browning made huge shots in the state tournament. King's defense is not suspect. It's called help defense and Stahl isn't there to help down low...there is your weak link on defense. He continually has his back to the basketball and he can't score. He isn't a threat on either end and played the entire game. Why? Pawsat, Browning, and King sat, all three are great role players and take pressure off of Miller who had to go one on five on offense. Ray Charles could have seen that.

 

Darius' play has nothing to do with him needing to be more selfish, he's 6'7" and needs some layups and dunks to get going especially when the Royals need a bucket. And he played a team who doesn't have anyone over 6'3". Coach Wells would be blowing teams out with the talent level of this team.

 

They are potentially 30 points better than anyone they played. They could go ten deep and have the best full court press in the state. I can't believe what I have seen from Coach O'Hearn this season.

 

With Miller inside and three players on a full court press, this would have been a blowout...anyone could have seen that.

"Anyone could have seen that"

I guess that makes me a NOBODY, because NOBODY saw that!

Mason Co may easily be on the other side of that 30 point deficit when they play Scott Co. I see ans easy win for the Cardinals this year

Mason County is not 30 points better than all the teams they have played. They are a good team but they are not that good. If you shut Miller down then its a game. Miller does not do well with heavy pressure, and that is exactly what Russell gave them. They are a good team, but by far not a 30+ scoring team.

:thumb: Ive saw ever game Mason has played and have for years i assure you were not 30 points better then everybody.I about choked when i saw that comment.