You're right...thanks. Are you doing the game that night?

 

Yup...

Wow. Typical, being critical of high school kids. The problem is Whitaker doesn't have a lot around him. I am sure Holmes really focused on him. I am not saying he is a big time talent, but its hard becaus hes really the only player Hazard has who can penetrate and get things done against a team as athletic as Holmes, and they were keying on him.

 

Not being critical at all...just giving my opinion and evaluation. Would you say the same thing if a college scout said that?

 

As far as Holmes focusing on Whitaker, that wasn't the case. Dom Johnson and Housely guarded him straight up the whole game. I also wouldn't agree that he doesn't have much around him. Hazard has some talent with Miller and Warren who also started on last year's region title team. Back is just as capable of penetrating and getting in the lane as Whitaker. His only down fall is his size, but he's only a soph so he should grow.

 

Hazard got killed on the boards though. Holmes athleticism and length really gave them fits there.

I liked Whitaker alot, he played hard, he played physical, intense on defense, and he could handle the rock. He shooting could improve a bit but I liked him alot. He was definately the best player on Hazard, he stood out to me.

 

I agree that he was intense on defense, physical, and could handle the rock, but IMO he forced a lot and his shot is very inconsistent. He needs to learn to share the ball more...a lot of the Hazard fans yelled atleast 4 or 5 times for him to pass the ball.

Not being critical at all...just giving my opinion and evaluation. Would you say the same thing if a college scout said that?

 

As far as Holmes focusing on Whitaker, that wasn't the case. Dom Johnson and Housely guarded him straight up the whole game. I also wouldn't agree that he doesn't have much around him. Hazard has some talent with Miller and Warren who also started on last year's region title team. Back is just as capable of penetrating and getting in the lane as Whitaker. His only down fall is his size, but he's only a soph so he should grow.

 

Hazard got killed on the boards though. Holmes athleticism and length really gave them fits there.

 

I don't know of a Miller on the team. Justin Jones is a pretty athletic player and Warren is a pretty good post player, but Hazard has no where near the talent Holmes does. They are good player, but just not on that level. Last year Hazard was very close to making it to the Sweet 16 semis, but Shelby Co. doubled up Whitaker and made him give it up and it really hurt Hazard.

 

Anyways my point is Whitaker is a very nice player. I don't know why you are throwing off on the kid.

I don't know of a Miller on the team. Justin Jones is a pretty athletic player and Warren is a pretty good post player, but Hazard has no where near the talent Holmes does. They are good player, but just not on that level. Last year Hazard was very close to making it to the Sweet 16 semis, but Shelby Co. doubled up Whitaker and made him give it up and it really hurt Hazard.

 

Anyways my point is Whitaker is a very nice player. I don't know why you are throwing off on the kid.

 

Cory Martin...my bad...and Jones was the player I was missing...thanks.

 

Also I'm not throwing off on Whitaker. Just giving my opinion that I didn't think he was as good as I had heard on here. Don't get me wrong, he is a solid player but he'd be even better if he got his teammates involved more and didn't force things up as much. I think that's why his shot is inconsistent.

Just got in from the game. It was actually pretty boring to watch from both sides. Hazard sat in a 2-1-2 zone the whole game to force Holmes to work for their shots.

 

First quarter Hazard played Holmes tough and actually held an 8-6 lead with 2:34 left in the first quarter. This would be their only lead of the game though as Riley came down and knocked down a 3 to put Holmes up 9-8 and then Rico got an "and one" on the next possession to give Holmes a 12-8 advantage. Hazard responded with a bucket of their own and Holmes led 12-10 after one.

 

Second quarter Holmes jumped on Hazard and went on an 11-3 run to start the quarter and give them a 23-12 advantage at the 2:09 mark. The run was keyed by back to back 3's from Riley and D. Johnson as well as nice buckets from Arnold and Housely. Holmes would head in to the locker room up 25-15 at the half.

 

Third quarter Holmes came out and put an 8-0 run on Hazard to give them a 33-17 lead with 2:40 left until the fourth. Hazard responded with a 4-0 run to close within 12 at 33-21, but back to back 3's by Rico, with one coming at the buzzer gave Holmes a 39-21 advantage heading in to the fourth quarter.

 

Fourth quarter Holmes started getting a little sloppy and Hazard was able to creep back in the game by pressing. Hazard went on a 6-0 run to start the fourth to close within 12 at 39-27 but a big bucket by Pittman put Holmes back up 14. Hazard went on another 5-0 run to close the gap to 41-32 with 3:51 to play, but another bucket down low by...guess who...Pittman put them back up 11 at 43-32. The rest of the game was pretty back and forth with Holmes holding an 8-10 point lead and Holmes sealed the deal at the line as Hazard couldn't force any turnovers with their press and was forced to foul Holmes. Rico, JJ, DJ, and Riley combined to go 7-8 down the stretch from the charity stripe to give Holmes the final of 53-40.

 

For Hazard nobody really stood out to me. If Whitaker is the best player in the 14th though, that region must lack talent big time. I was very unimpressed with him. He goes to the rim hard and has decent ball handling but is very inconsistent with his shot.

 

For Holmes, it was a pretty lackluster performance. None of the players really looked too interested and at times there was a lot of standing around. Definetly not the same Holmes team I saw last night against Highlands, but then again this was a good scheduling move by Henley to play a late game last night and then turn around and play less than 24 hours later against a team that we'll likely be seeing at Rupp. Should prepare them for the same schedule they'd see at Rupp, having to play back to back like that.

 

Holmes continues to roll. Big game with Boone Monday.

 

I have to agree about Whittaker. Good guard, but there a few in the 9th region as good or better.

Not a bad job Hazard. Defeated by 13 to a team that is said to be #1 in the state possibly. Without Coach Holland. 4 hour trip up to Covington. Hazard could play with anybody in the state if they wanted to and played to there potential. I would like to see Holmes play. Low scoring game to. Not bad at all though. Congrats to Holmes. Where there any dunks?

Not a bad job Hazard. Defeated by 13 to a team that is said to be #1 in the state possibly. Without Coach Holland. 4 hour trip up to Covington. Hazard could play with anybody in the state if they wanted to and played to there potential. I would like to see Holmes play. Low scoring game to. Not bad at all though. Congrats to Holmes. Where there any dunks?

 

No dunks. A few attempts from Pittman and Rico but they got fouled HARD in the act to prevent them. Hazard's zone had a lot to do with the low scoring game as it prevented Holmes from running their motion offense. Hazard was also patient on offense and didn't really start taking quick shots until the 4th after they had got down by 18.

#13 Josh Whitaker for Hazard is a beast. Some of the best ball handling I've ever seen. :notworthy:

 

He is a good player & a good ball handler but IMO that is also one of his problems. He dribbles way to much! He also forces things more than I would like to see from a lead guard or point guard.

Congrats to Holmes.

Solid win for the Dogs over a Top 20 team. I expect Hazard to be in Rupp come March. I actually picked them as a sleeper team before the season started.

I am not downgrading the Hazard team or the fans of Hazard. It should have been a blowout. :thumb:

 

Isn't that like saying "I ain't saying you're ugly but......"

Wrong thread.

Edited February 8, 200917 yr by Ram
Rule 13

Isn't that like saying "I ain't saying you're ugly but......"

 

uhhmmm yes!

I wouldn't mind seeing that either because the only way that would happen is the Sunday night game for all the marbles because they are on opposite sides of the bracket.

The finals are Saturday night.