Bottom line, if Highlands hits their bunnies and gets a few calls in the 1st half they could have maybe had a 4-6 point lead going into the half.

 

 

This could be said for both teams, as CCH also missed a lot of shots they normally make, and did not always get the calls either.

I agree, but I was in the rafters so I probably couldnt see it anyway. The sound system was horrible and hate to be critical but the announcer was subpar. For a big tournament they need to get someone with a better voice, someone with a deeper voice. He sounded like a DJ at a Country Music Bar.

 

I'm sure he's a fine fellow but I'm still partial to the orignal PA announcer Buck Akin.

This could be said for both teams, as CCH also missed a lot of shots they normally make, and did not always get the calls either.

 

Particularly the one where Maile almost got decapitated underneath! It was quite a mugging...and she signals "play-on"!

I thought the tall gray haired guy was the best. He made the difficult calls. The woman made the obvious calls. The other short fella just looked happy to be there.

 

I thought is demeanor and mannerisms made it look as if that was the last place he wanted to be!

1st Quarter: The game started off as the Mitch Shover show as he scored seven of Cov. Cath’s 11 first quarter points. Luke Maile and J. D. Schmerge added the other 4 points for the Colonels. Highlands was paced by Greg Mcgraw and his 5 points. Nic Simpson and Zach Hurtt added the Bluebirds other 4 to create a 11-9 Colonel lead.

 

2nd Quarter: Highlands came out the aggressor in the second quarter as a couple of ties of the game and a 3 plus minute scoring drought highlighted the second eight minutes. Greg McGraw hit a three pointer to break the tie with 2:04 to go, but a Mitch Shover three pointer tied the game as the game went to halftime, tied at 20.

 

3rd Quarter: The scoring floodgates opened for Covington Catholic at the start of the 3rd quarter. The Colonels found this Luke Maile guy in the locker room and said can you play?? He had 8 points in the quarter including his last bucket that pushed the Colonel lead to 10 with 53.6 seconds to go in the quarter, 41-31. The Colonels would outscore the Bluebirds 21-11 in the frame to take that 41-31 lead into the final quarter.

 

4th Quarter: Highlands would not go down without a fight as Greg McGraw came to play in the last quarter. McGraw hit 12 of his 25 points in the 4th quarter including the three pointer that cut the Colonel lead to 4 points with 30.8 seconds to go. It would remain a 4 point difference when the final horn sounded as the Covington Catholic Colonels defeat the Highlands Bluebirds, 60-56.

 

Highlands ends their season with a 21-9 record. Covington Catholic will face St. Henry in the first 9th Region semi-final matchup on Monday night.

 

Scoring by Quarter:

 

Covington Catholic – 11 9 21 19 - 60

Highlands – 9 11 11 15 - 56

 

Individual Scoring – Covington Catholic

 

Michael Grimes – 16

Luke Maile – 14

J.D. Schmerge – 11

Mitch Shover – 10

Chris Bondick – 5

Chris Roll - 4

 

Individual Scoring – Highlands

 

Greg McGraw – 25

Nic Simpson – 10

Michael Eaton – 7

Stephen Kowolonek – 6

Zach Hurtt – 4

Ben Watson - 2

 

The scoring by quarter does not add up:confused:

Coach L did another masterful job of coaching. Why would the powers that be at CC make a poor decision to get rid of him? They will know what a talented coach they had soon enough. The football coaching decision looks very questionable in retrospect, this may well be another gaffe by the athletic administration.

Back to the game, congrats to Coach Schlarman and his team on a good year and good luck to covcath for the rest of the season.

Great win for the Colonels. Congrats to Coach Listerman and the guys. Two more and I'll see you in Lexington. :thumb:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:laugh:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not!!!!!

Particularly the one where Maile almost got decapitated underneath! It was quite a mugging...and she signals "play-on"!

 

 

That was the one I was thinking of as well.

Coach L did another masterful job of coaching. Why would the powers that be at CC make a poor decision to get rid of him? They will know what a talented coach they had soon enough. The football coaching decision looks very questionable in retrospect, this may well be another gaffe by the athletic administration.

Back to the game, congrats to Coach Schlarman and his team on a good year and good luck to covcath for the rest of the season.

 

Do you know something that has not been made public yet?(at least as far as I know)

This is not accurate......only the lady on this crew will be going to the Sweet 16.

 

She did a nice job in a very tough enviroment. I am a little concerned though with what I witnessed during a timeout. The female ref walked over to one of the male refs and was talking to him, he nodded his head in agreement and as she began ot walk away she gave him a "good ballgame". I am sure she didnt realize what she had done and me personally dont care and it doesnt bother me but who knows what some might think.

She did a nice job in a very tough enviroment. I am a little concerned though with what I witnessed during a timeout. The female ref walked over to one of the male refs and was talking to him, he nodded his head in agreement and as she began ot walk away she gave him a "good ballgame". I am sure she didnt realize what she had done and me personally dont care and it doesnt bother me but who knows what some might think.

 

Honestly, everyone could use a "good game" every once in a while...

I was on the floor on Highlands end in the first half and some of those drives just didn't have anything to call. The defensive player has a right to his space, if the offensive player tries to muscle him out then there will be contact. Doesn't necessarily mean there is a foul. I thought she was be far the strongest of the three officials!:thumb:

 

I agree, the refs certainly weren't any worst than we've seen all year in the 9th Region. I thought they might be kind of old though to be doing such a big game.

Is this the same lady ref who worked the state tournament a few years back? She was the 1st lady to ever officiate a Sweet 16 game, and Covington Catholic won that game as well.

The referees had no impact on the game imo. Yeah they missed one here or there but lets face it they let two heavyweights duke it out last night on both ends of the floor and CovCath won the battle. I thought maybe Listerman recogonized the tempo of the game and how it was going to be called and took full advantage of the situation. I call that great coaching when you can turn it on and turn it off when needed and still get away with certain fouls. I am dissapointed in the fact that Listerman is the same guy that the CovCath nation threw under the bus most of the year but yet he pulls off a great effort in beating a very good Highlands team. So, I guess everything is just peachy in Park Hills today. Or are people upset that a certain kid didnt score 30. Give it a rest, you are not going to find anyone better than Listerman. Good Luck Colonels.

Participants in this thread are to be commended for their fair assessment and cordial responses. That should be noted considering it was HHS v. CCH !!!!!

 

Thought it was an interesting, kind of "laid back" atmoshere at the gym last night, not a typical energy associated with rivalry.....did anyone else sense that ?

 

To the game...........thought CCH played a great strategy against HHS particularly the way they "crowded" McGraw to not give him easy look/drives to the basket and forcing Eaton & Hurtt to become part of the offense. McGraw still played a great game as my pick as POY. Highlands lacked offensive options to offset a very balanced CovCath squad. Great season for the Birds despite some real adversities throughout the year.....good luck to Nic and I'm sure Greg will get opportunities to play on! Greg McGraw was one of those rare HS players with talent/quality kid that was an absolute joy to watch play....good luck to you !

 

Thought the officiating was ok.......certainly not worse that 9th region. It is widely understood that every other region calls a less "tight" game and I think it favored CovCaths make -up more so than HHS, particularly Simpson's "finesse" style. Several calls to note, one being the out of bounds fiasco noted earlier but I thought the no-call on the kicked ball affected the game the most (4pt. lead to 7 pt lead). Regardless, the officiating did not decide this game.

 

CovCath played the better game and utilized their bench very well (how does Kowolenek foul out with almost 5 min. left) Anyway,Grimes proved once again that he is the true leader of a nicely balanced team. I was also impressed with Schmerge and Maile was the difference in This game. He was the only one, from either team, that finished down low. Despite the obvious contact....he finished strong. Good game plan and adjustments.......thought HHS dodged a bullet when CCH slowed the tempo in the second, but didn't connect on their jumpers but they adjusted throughout and clearly dictated the style/pace of play.

 

Two very good teams with seasons to be proud of............... congratulations to the Colonels, they earned the right to move on......Good Luck.