No, different guys.

 

No Larry was the Romes boys before the Romes boys were even born. Larry transferred to Beechwood after his freshmen year at CovCath. I think he knew he wasn't going to get a lot of playing time with the team we had in what would have been his Junior and Senior years...

I remember that, wasn't it a very low scoring game?

 

Yup, sure was. I believe 35-31 final...or something like that. Holmes only had 12 points at halftime and they were averaging around 70 a game that year. Some would say that Eifert played stall-ball...but I think that would somewhat diminish what a truly beautiful coaching job that was. Eifert was a very good baseball coach as well. I don't believe he ever got the recognition that he deserved. Great motivator, great tactician.

Bracken over Brossart in the District Tournament, March 3, 2004.

Probably the biggest upset I remember! Not only was Holmes loaded but HC had lost Harney, Clark and several other seniors to graduation. The only returning players with any varsity experience were Goetz & Saalfeld. Best coaching job in one game I've ever witnessed.

I've always wondered if this was the "straw that broke the camel's back" for Mike Flynn. His teams were also upset in the regionals by HC in '89 & '91.

 

Great point there. Flynn packed his bags after that season and went to Ashland. Many in Covington were glad that he moved on. That loss was tough to stomach. Eifert completely out-coached Flynn that night in Hebron.

 

I've talked to Goetz a few times about that game. He said that Eifert had it drilled into their minds that they were going to win that game. You could just feel their confidence from the tip. It was genius to have Donny Goetz run the point that game. I'm still amazed that Eifert even thought to let his center be his main ball handler against Holmes. Truly a legendary coaching performance!

Great point there. Flynn packed his bags after that season and went to Ashland. Many in Covington were glad that he moved on. That loss was tough to stomach. Eifert completely out-coached Flynn that night in Hebron.

 

I've talked to Goetz a few times about that game. He said that Eifert had it drilled into their minds that they were going to win that game. You could just feel their confidence from the tip. It was genius to have Donny Goetz run the point that game. I'm still amazed that Eifert even thought to let his center be his main ball handler against Holmes. Truly a legendary coaching performance!

 

Eifert was a brilliant coach.

For me it would have to be the '96 Holmes team losing to HC in the region. Holmes was loaded, and came into the game undefeated in the 9th.

Bracken over Brossart in the District Tournament, March 3, 2004.

 

Was going to say the same thing, nothing else comes even close. This was true David over Goliath.

The more I think about this it might have been 1977 when Holmes was upset in the district by Beechwood. Surely someone out there remembers this. I know Holmes won in 1976, 1978 and 1980.

 

Great thread. :thumb:

 

Just to clean a few thing up for anyone who cares, Holmes won the region in 1977.

 

77-Holmes

78-Holmes

79-Highlands

80-Holmes

81-Simon Kenton

82-Highlands

83-Highlands

84-Newport Catholic

 

Maybe this will help match the year with the upset.

The biggest one that I remember is directly related to the topic in this thread... It was a Holy Cross victory over Holmes in the '96 9th Region opening round. Holmes was undefeated against the 9th region (16-0 coming in, I believe) that season and had already claimed 3 blowout victories over Holy Cross that year. Holmes was the overwhelming favorite not only to win that game, but to win the 9th. However, Clay Eifert had something else in mind... He had his Indian squad convinced that they would beat Holmes. With a beautiful gameplan that put his center Donny Geotz at the point... HC was able to control tempo and virtually eliminate Holmes' press. Holmes top scorers Joe Rice, Jim Humphrey and Bernard were all held to single digits. In fact, the leading scorer for Holmes that game was Tim Sullivan (Cooper Head Coach) with 12 points. Tim was a distributor and defensive point guard, but he gave Holmes a chance to come back in the late minutes. However, it was not to be and there was a collective thud heard all across the Commonwealth. Holmes finished around 26-5 and would have been a legitimate contender down state.

 

In case you were wondering... Boone County went on to defeat Lloyd in the 9th Region Final. A sophomore guard named T.C or T.K....or something like that.....came out of nowhere to be the MVP of the tournament. This was another big uspet because Lloyd had Charles Sheffield and Jefferson that year. They were supposed to be Holmes biggest threat.

 

I totally agree the Holy Cross win over Holmes in 96 deserves mention as one of the biggest in recent NKY memory. :thumb:

 

Just to clarify the bolded though, Boone beating Lloyd in the finals wasn't an upset. The Rebels were 4-0 against Lloyd that season, including the 33rd district finals just a week before. Also, I think the kid you are talking about was junior guard T.J. Evans, and I'm not sure he was the MVP. Boone had a senior who's last name was Hall and he was clearly their best player.

Was going to say the same thing, nothing else comes even close. This was true David over Goliath.

 

I really don't think it's the biggest one, I just like picking on the Brossart faithful. Nothing but love for you guys!:banana:

Holmes was regional champs in 76, 77, 78 and 80, and lost in the regional finals to Highlands in 79 at Holmes (after having beaten the Birds twice during the regular season - although once was without Muntis).

 

In 1980-81, the year after Beal graduated, Dayton beat Holmes at Dayton in the beginning of the year in what was thought at the time to have been an upset, with Holmes coming off of the strong previous 5 years. Holmes struggled that year, though, and really didn't re-emerge as a regional contender until Jack Jennings era.

 

Beechwood did win a big game AT Holmes in 1979, I believe, in the District - don't recall who they beat, but I recall Beechwood with Kurt Polhgeers and Bailey Morlidge being strong players on that team.

The biggest upset, or rather disappointment in my estimation, for a northern Kentucky team was the loss of the No. 1 ranked NewCath team in the first round of the state tournament in 1984 to what I think was the lowest ranked team in the Sweet Sixteen that year.

 

On the subject of Newport Catholic, I would give them a couple of votes for pulling off huge northern Kentucky upsets - once in 1980 over Holmes (Beal's senior year) at Holmes by a margin of about 12 points - the only intra-region game Holmes lost that year; and then again last year (2008) when Holmes went on to the state finals.

I totally agree the Holy Cross win over Holmes in 96 deserves mention as one of the biggest in recent NKY memory. :thumb:

 

Just to clarify the bolded though, Boone beating Lloyd in the finals wasn't an upset. The Rebels were 4-0 against Lloyd that season, including the 33rd district finals just a week before. Also, I think the kid you are talking about was junior guard T.J. Evans, and I'm not sure he was the MVP. Boone had a senior who's last name was Hall and he was clearly their best player.

 

Played against TJ Evans at NKU alumni league and intramurals. This guy can still play. Who else was on that Boone team? Flick?

If I remember correctly he averaged over 35ppg on 73% FG and about 80% FT. Very impressive. Scored 68 against NC. Would be interesting to see his game with the dogs of today. Jack wasn't the best leaper in the world!

 

You're right, but he had that "thick" body he could lay on you near the post and he did have a quick first step. As I recall he was pretty good playing with his back to the basket.

I totally agree the Holy Cross win over Holmes in 96 deserves mention as one of the biggest in recent NKY memory. :thumb:

 

Just to clarify the bolded though, Boone beating Lloyd in the finals wasn't an upset. The Rebels were 4-0 against Lloyd that season, including the 33rd district finals just a week before. Also, I think the kid you are talking about was junior guard T.J. Evans, and I'm not sure he was the MVP. Boone had a senior who's last name was Hall and he was clearly their best player.

 

Thanks, didn't know Boone owned Lloyd like that. I just remember that the team Holmes was most worried about all season was Lloyd because of Sheffield and Jefferson. Also didn't know about Hall either... Memories a little fuzzy over the years, I guess. Truthfully, anyone coming out of the 9th that season other than Holmes would have seemed like they came out of nowhere.