George Rogers Clark Cardinals (5-0, KSR #6)
vs.
Fleming County Panthers (5-0, R16 #2)

? Flemingsburg to host a clash of unbeaten contenders from the 10th and 16th regions

?? | Few teams in the state reload like GRC, with a record of 102-10 since the start of their state championship season of ‘21-’22 and off to a 5-0 start this year. Malachi Ashford, Eli Craig, and Montez Gay all average in double figures and combine to shoot at a clip of 58% from the field. 

? | Despite the loss of last year's 16th Region POY Adam Hargett, the Panthers haven't missed a beat, matching GRC's fast start. Bourbon County transfer Bradley Robinson has eased Hargett's absence, averaging 20.4 ppg, followed closely by Seth Hickerson's 19.6.

? vs. ? | The Panthers just dropped 102 on Bracken County, raising their season average to 82.4 ppg. The Cardinals have been stingy on defense, only allowing 53 points a night to the opposition. 

Tip: Tuesday (12/17) night at 7:30

This one is going to be a real treat for any basketball fan. GRC is a great program and I'm sure will be a tough out for any opponent statewide that they face. Fleming County is always fun to watch, I love Buddy Ball as Coach Buddy Biggs emphasizes that fast paced offense combined with tough, gritty pressure defense. They have a real opportunity in this game and I'm sure will come out looking to be on fire. Fleming County is a TOUGH place to play and they seem to play better there. Both of their wins last season against Ashland and Boyd County, teams that they did not defeat since their second of a back-to-back regional championship run in 2014, came at home. 

Fleming has a great crowd that counts as a sixth and seventh man on the court with the energy their bring. Their crowd is enthusiastic and they love their Panthers. There is something to that place when it comes to shooting for opposing teams. They beat Rowan County and Ashland there by double digits and beat Boyd County in overtime last season on that court. Ashland shot an uncharacteristic 6/30 from three point range (20%, season average 36.0%) Rowan County shot 5/25 (20%, season average 37.8%) and Boyd County shot 13/37 (35.1%, season average 39.6% last season). Fleming County would not meet Boyd County again, but they did lose to Ashland in the regional tournament and lost twice to Rowan County at Rowan. 

Where Coach Cook succeeds at GRC is how his teams always seem to find a way to dictate the tempo of the game. If I'm GRC that's what I emphasize. They play fast themselves, and I anticipate they will look for ways to attack the class (Bartelson and Gay combine to average 14.8 rebounds per game) while pushing tempo to try to force turnovers and get easy buckets. If I'm GRC I focus more on attacking the teeth of the defense inside. The 10th region GRC comes from is loaded - you never know what you're going to get when it comes tournament time. Last season Campbell County would get hot and defeat GRC in the 10th region tournament semifinal and then win in overtime against Harrison County who started the season off 2-9 and clawed their way back to win their district and finish 17-15. Then in the Elite Eight Campbell County would be an overtime away from beating Harlan County who advanced to the state finals.

Fun fact: George Rogers Clark opened in 1963 as a consolidation of Winchester and Clark County High Schools. Winchester had a lot of success in the 1910's and 1920's, making the state championship game in 1925. Clark County went on a run from 1947 - 1952 in which they won six regional titles in a row, including a state championship in 1951. If Ashland wins the region this year, they will break that 16th region record with their seventh in a row. Shortly after the merger to become George Rogers Clark in 1963, they would win a couple more regional titles in the 16th and then move to the 10th region where they have been ever since.

Seems like an "under the radar" big time game.  Coach Biggs has done a tremendous job in Flemingsburg.

? | Live Stream courtesy of the Fleming County Sports Network on YouTube 

Back to back 3s for GRC to open the scoring. 

6-0 Cards

7:00 1Q 

Make it a trio of 3s for GRC, two of them by Ashford. 

9-2 Cards

5:00 1Q 

The lead has quickly ballooned to 20-5.

1:00 1Q 

GRC is all business tonight.

31-10 Cards

5:45 2Q 

Back to back 3s for Fleming trying to ignite a run to close the half. 

41-22 GC

1:00 2Q 

Halftime 

GRC 45

Fleming County 22

 

The Panthers were beginning to find an offensive spark near the end of the half, but can't get stops.

56-36 GRC 

Midway 3Q

Robinson's got a quick eight points for Fleming.

58-41 GRC

2:46 3Q 

Ballgame.

GRC rolls, 88-63.