North with their best win they have had inside of the region this season! 

Collins was shot handed- could explain their offensive challenges. Rematch very possible down the road. 

Did Scales play for North Oldham?

33 minutes ago, ConverseAllStar said:

Did Scales play for North Oldham?

I don't believe so. 

Neither Scales (North) or Simmons (COL) played, so I'd say that both teams were definitely short-handed, playing without one of their leading scorers.    I'd consider the injury situation to be a "wash."

North has now played ten games without Scales and the Mustangs are 10-0 since he was lost with a shoulder injury.   

I felt going into the game that the defense that made the most plays at key times might be the deciding factor - and that was the way it turned out.   Leading just 38-35 heading to the fourth period, North outscored Collins, 13-4, in the final frame to pull away.

Both teams managed to accomplish some things....both teams' defenses refused to let the other team dictate the tempo ....  North clearly better on the glass, thanks in large part to their twin towers (although senior guard Jack Fischer was the co-leader in terms of rebounding for North).     For the most part, Collins wasn't really able to turn North over often, which took away one of their best weapons, which is getting into transition off live-ball takeaways.

North has really improved their free throw shooting.  Collins has been superb at the line all season, but North had been average.   For the fourth straight game, North hit over 71% at the stripe....

Kenyon Goodin again showed why he is one of the most versatile offensive players in the 8th Region.

Cole Harbin's foul trouble was huge, I think, tonight.   It really took away one of Collins' best outside threats.   That said, a little surprised at how long he sat in the second half.   By the time he got back in the game, he was "cold", and didn't really contribute the rest of the evening.

Grant Neal was huge tonight for North.    Showed one of the reasons why North has to be the favorite in the 8th....too many offesive weapons.    Collins seemed to be trying to focus, defensively, on Roberts and Higdon (as many teams would)...only to see Neal light it up on 6 of 8 shooting (including 2 threes) and a team-high 17 points.   

North has now won 15 of its last 16 games (including 11 straight) and five different players (now including Neal) have led the Mustangs in scoring in at least one of those games.  

Fifth time this year North's defense has held an opponent under 40 points.

North improves to 5-2 against ranked teams, with their only losses by 14 to #1 Warren Central and by 8 to #2 LexCath.   Collins falls to 0-3 against ranked teams.

This would be a tremendous final if the two were to meet in the 8th Region championship.

 

 

8 hours ago, ColonelMike said:

Neither Scales (North) or Simmons (COL) played, so I'd say that both teams were definitely short-handed, playing without one of their leading scorers.    I'd consider the injury situation to be a "wash."

North has now played ten games without Scales and the Mustangs are 10-0 since he was lost with a shoulder injury.   

I felt going into the game that the defense that made the most plays at key times might be the deciding factor - and that was the way it turned out.   Leading just 38-35 heading to the fourth period, North outscored Collins, 13-4, in the final frame to pull away.

Both teams managed to accomplish some things....both teams' defenses refused to let the other team dictate the tempo ....  North clearly better on the glass, thanks in large part to their twin towers (although senior guard Jack Fischer was the co-leader in terms of rebounding for North).     For the most part, Collins wasn't really able to turn North over often, which took away one of their best weapons, which is getting into transition off live-ball takeaways.

North has really improved their free throw shooting.  Collins has been superb at the line all season, but North had been average.   For the fourth straight game, North hit over 71% at the stripe....

Kenyon Goodin again showed why he is one of the most versatile offensive players in the 8th Region.

Cole Harbin's foul trouble was huge, I think, tonight.   It really took away one of Collins' best outside threats.   That said, a little surprised at how long he sat in the second half.   By the time he got back in the game, he was "cold", and didn't really contribute the rest of the evening.

Grant Neal was huge tonight for North.    Showed one of the reasons why North has to be the favorite in the 8th....too many offesive weapons.    Collins seemed to be trying to focus, defensively, on Roberts and Higdon (as many teams would)...only to see Neal light it up on 6 of 8 shooting (including 2 threes) and a team-high 17 points.   

North has now won 15 of its last 16 games (including 11 straight) and five different players (now including Neal) have led the Mustangs in scoring in at least one of those games.  

Fifth time this year North's defense has held an opponent under 40 points.

North improves to 5-2 against ranked teams, with their only losses by 14 to #1 Warren Central and by 8 to #2 LexCath.   Collins falls to 0-3 against ranked teams.

This would be a tremendous final if the two were to meet in the 8th Region championship.

 

 

Good recap- sitting harbin comment reminded me of the OC Collins game 3 years ago- covid year. OC beat them at collins and one of their two stars (not McKnight) had foul trouble and sat a bunch. Collins lost and it never felt like gaither was pulling out all the stops to win- similar to last night. And then Collins beat OC to win the region a few weeks later….

My North Collins Regional Finals preview:  

Play zone like in the 4th last night, make anyone other than Kenyon beat you.  Offensive end more focus on getting it down low.  

Gaither does an amazing job exploiting his teams strengths and hiding his teams weaknesses, but his roster has nowhere near the depth and talent of North.  I would not anticipate the next game being as close as this one…if there is a next game!  They have to win 2 games to even get out of district!!

4 hours ago, Hoopstars said:

Good recap- sitting harbin comment reminded me of the OC Collins game 3 years ago- covid year. OC beat them at collins and one of their two stars (not McKnight) had foul trouble and sat a bunch. Collins lost and it never felt like gaither was pulling out all the stops to win- similar to last night. And then Collins beat OC to win the region a few weeks later….

It's always a tough decision, and sometimes a coin flip....

Understand I wasn't being critical of Gaither....he's not only one of the proven, premier coaches in the 8th, I consider him a good friend.   Frankly, I think he's one of the elite coaches in the entire state.   I certainly don't think he "forgot" Harbin was on the bench or anything silly like that.   It's a judgment call - like when to pull a pitcher off the mound.   

I was just noting that Harbin seemed out of sorts - "cold" - when he finally re-entered, and Collins could have really used his sharpshooting skills there late when North's defense was absolutely denying them anything inside.