What:   29th District Championship

Where:  North Oldham HS, Goshen, KY

Who:  #3-ranked BGP North Oldham (23-5) vs Oldham County (16-14)

Time:   Immediately after the girls' 29th district final, or about 7:45 pm ET

Broadcast:   Free, live, hi-def video coverage on www.pegasussportsky.com

Oldham County has been the king of the 29th for a long time, winning the last three titles - including a win over North in last year's finals - and 11 of the last 12 championships.   (South Oldham's victory in 2019 was the only season Oldham failed to win the title in the last dozen years.)

Series:  Oldham County leads the all-time series over North Oldham, 23-10.  

Most Recent Meeting:   North Oldham defeated Oldham County, 75-65, in OT, on 1/20/23 in Goshen.   Oldham shot 53% in the loss, led by Max Green's 28 points and Luke Amburgey's 18 points / 14 rebounds.  North was led by Dallas Roberts and Grant Neal, each with 21 points.   North shot 45%.   The Mustangs won despite being outshot (53% to 45%) and outrebounded (30-22).  

District History:   OC and NO have met in the 29th District Finals five times, with Oldham having a 4-1 advantage.   Oldham beat North, 65-56, in last year's finals.

Injury News:   OLDHAM - The availability of Luke Amburgey, Oldham's #2 scorer and #2 rebounder (13.8 ppg / 7.2 rpg), is unknown as of this writing.    He is being checked today after injuring his right leg against South Oldham in the district semi-finals last night.    He did return to the game after the injury, and, while certainly hindered by the injury, played effectively at times, including hitting four big free throws in the fourth quarter.    I'm guessing Amburgey will play unless the doctors think there is a chance of re-injury, in which case Josh Leslie may want to just give him some rest, knowing Oldham advances to New Castle, win or lose, on Friday.   NORTH - Jack Scales missed 10 games with a right shoulder injury suffered against Seneca.    The Mustangs' third-leading scorer (11.9 ppg) saw some spot action in the season-ending win over St. X - maybe playing 8-10 minutes(?) - but he gave North fans plenty to be encouraged about as he hit 2 three pointers en route to 6 points.  Scales will undoubtedly play against Oldham, but may not reclaim his starting role this week.

Hot Team:  North Oldham is as hot as they come.   The Mustangs have now won 12 in a row - 10 of those without the services of Scales.    North has won 16 of their last 17, and those 16 wins included victories over #6 Lyon County (by 34), #11 North Laurel (by 14), #16 Mason County (by 14), #17 Collins (without Scales) by 12, and #18 Grant County (on the road, without Scales).   North's lone loss over the last 17 games came to #2 LexCath on the road. 

Broadcast:   The official voice of the 29th District basketball tournaments, Pegasus Sports will broadcast the finals for the 40th consecutive season.   Mike Montgomery and Todd Gilley will have the call of what should be a dynamite championship game.   www.pegasussportsky.com  

Got to take North by a bunch.

1 minute ago, 4 Quarters said:

Got to take North by a bunch.

That's my instinct, too - but then, that's what I said would happen the first time, and it was an overtime game.  My thinking was that Higdon and Anderson, at 6'7 and 6'8, would overwhelm the 6'4 Amburgey and likely get him in foul trouble.  And the exact opposite happened - he had a great game, and the two North bigs were largely non-factors.  Was that all a fluke, or rather does it tell us something basic about the matchup?  I suspect North wins, but will offer no further detailed predictions this time.  heh.

Any update on Amburgey? If he is not available for this game, North will win by a TON. 

Even if he does, I am assuming he will not be 100%. If North's bigs show up to play, North could still potentially win by a good amount. 

Give me the 'Stangs by 12.

Also, I did not realize that Scales was back in the lineup! Assuming he will come off the bench? 

2 hours ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

Also, I did not realize that Scales was back in the lineup! Assuming he will come off the bench? 

Not sure yet....will know tonight.   But - It really doesn't matter for North; Fischer has been a frequent starter - and is more than talented enough to be the starter.     A 3-guard starting group of Dallas Roberts, Fischer, and Grant Neal is a potent trio - and then you bring a sharpshooter like Scales off the bench??  ?  Wow....and don't forget, reserve guard Ryan Howard has flourished with all the extra minutes he got after Scales' injury, and led North in scoring in at least one game.

North simply has an embarrassment of riches at the guard spot.    

11 hours ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

Any update on Amburgey? If he is not available for this game, North will win by a TON. 

Even if he does, I am assuming he will not be 100%. If North's bigs show up to play, North could still potentially win by a good amount. 

Give me the 'Stangs by 12.

No update as of Friday morning.   His role in tonight's game is still undetermined, though I understand he did practice some this week.   Unsure if his practice was limited in any way, though.

This looks like a game-time decision, from what I'm hearing.

North by 90!

I think North wins, but it will be close similar to the last game. 

Complete destruction by North Oldham so far!

38 NO

14 OC

Halftime 

Anderson for North got his second foul 2 minutes into the game, hasn’t played since.  No matter.  38-14 at half

North is absolutely dominant tonight.

Oldham had an 8-5 lead, and North went on a 24-1 run to take control.

Anderson sat nearly all of the first half with 2 fouls for North, but it hasn't mattered.   North leads on the glass, 18-8 at the break.   Mustangs hitting 50% from the floor.

Roberts alley-oop to Anderson on the fast break

North Oldham 50

Oldham County 16

We are two points from a running clock

48-16 midway thru the 3rd.  North does this occasionally.  They’re good enough, and have played together long enough, that they can coast at times.  First time I saw them turn it on this way was in the regional final last year, an absolute blitzkrieg of Woodford.   They turned up the heat against South earlier this year - that was personal for them.  And tonight.  Oh, and in the KOTB vs Lyon County…..