I think there is plenty of truth to that. Northern Kentucky has so many schools, and many are either "big" or "private." Because of that, there is a large number of schools that can win the regional title. A good family comes through and a school is set for a few years. Another family goes to another place and they have a run. And on down the line. Finally, the family of group A starts having kids and several years later, group A has another run.

 

It's like that in most regions, actually. The biggest difference being that northern Kentucky involves several schools in the rotation, while most regions only have two or three! Very interesting.

The Pangallo family comes to mind and the Sandfoss family a few years back.

It all seems so cyclical- like every team has their run for 5 years and then falls away for a bit and then comes back. I wonder if it has anything to do with certain families that all go to the same school and keep sending good players back. :lol:

 

I noticed that as well. Covcath, Holmes, Highlands, and Newcath are all prime examples of this.

If not for Rice getting kicked off the Holmes team in 2006, there's a very good chance we could be talking about Holmes accomplishing that feat this year and then breaking the record next year with 6 straight.

 

Define very good chance.... Because in 2006 & 2007, with or without Rice, CovCath won 4 out of their 6 matchups, and Holmes lost to Dixie in region in 2006, let alone beating CovCath or Highlands in region that year.

I think there is plenty of truth to that. Northern Kentucky has so many schools, and many are either "big" or "private." Because of that, there is a large number of schools that can win the regional title. A good family comes through and a school is set for a few years. Another family goes to another place and they have a run. And on down the line. Finally, the family of group A starts having kids and several years later, group A has another run.

 

It's like that in most regions, actually. The biggest difference is that northern Kentucky involves several schools in the rotation, while most regions only have two or three! Very interesting.

 

George (CovCath) and Doug (Holmes) Schlomer come to mind. George losing the Sweet Sixteen Championship game on a last second shot, and Doug losing the Sweet Sixteen Championship game on a blown call. Same family different schools same heart breaking result.

If I close my eye and think about it, I can see the kid take the shot from around half court, the ball just crazes the rim and instead of bouncing off to the side or out of bounds, it drops straight down into the hands of a Earlington players who is as surprised as anyone! The rest is history.

 

I am not at all ashamed to admit, I cried.....:cry::cry::cry:

Not that it has a bearing, but a little known fact is that the guy who scored the winning basket was in jail the following year at tournament time.

With the tournaments starting up in a few weeks I thought it might be fun to reminisce about past 9th regional champions. There have been some really good players and champions in the 9th but it might be fun for some of the younger readers to hear stories about some of the older teams and their accomplishments. Most of us know about Troy McKinley and the 1981 state championship team that defeated Mason Co. in the finals before a capacity crowd at Rupp. How about Doug Schloemer, John Wimzie and Dicky Beal on the 1978 Holmes team that had their championship stolen by a non-call. How about Dicky Beal and the 1980 Holmes team and Jack Jennings and the 1988 Holmes team. If we want to go back to the 60s even CovCath had some great teams under Mote Hils. NewCath in the 70s. Kenny Shields won 5 regionals and I think 2 with Scott Draud pulling the trigger. What do you say let's hear all the stories as you remember them.

 

:dancingpa

Do some research on the 1978 Holy Cross team. I think they won close to 30 games that year but couldn't beat Holmes who went 34-2 and beat Holy Cross 4 times, all pretty close games as I recall. They had Dan Lenihan, Clay Eifert, Dan Niehaus and Gary Bamberger. They had Holmes down in the district by I believe 8 or 9 late in the game and went into a delay game. Dickie Beal went crazy with steals late and Holmes pulled it out. Another thought that comes to mind was the 1966 championship game at Campbell County, the first of the so called big gyms to host a regional in the 9th. NewCath played Holmes and I have to beleive Holmes was favored to win but a big red head named Dave Cowens put on a show. He was only about 6'5" at the time but he was unstoppable that night. Holmes had a star named Lou Herndon who was about 6'3", had a left-handed fadeaway shot that couldn't be blocked. NewCath won by maybe 30 that night. Dave went on to play at Florida State probably because of his performance that night and getting exposure in the state tournament. He later starred in the NBA and the rest is history. No one ever believed he would become the star he was.

Do some research on the 1978 Holy Cross team. I think they won close to 30 games that year but couldn't beat Holmes who went 34-2 and beat Holy Cross 4 times, all pretty close games as I recall. They had Dan Lenihan, Clay Eifert, Dan Niehaus and Gary Bamberger. They had Holmes down in the district by I believe 8 or 9 late in the game and went into a delay game. Dickie Beal went crazy with steals late and Holmes pulled it out. Another thought that comes to mind was the 1966 championship game at Campbell County, the first of the so called big gyms to host a regional in the 9th. NewCath played Holmes and I have to beleive Holmes was favored to win but a big red head named Dave Cowens put on a show. He was only about 6'5" at the time but he was unstoppable that night. Holmes had a star named Lou Herndon who was about 6'3", had a left-handed fadeaway shot that couldn't be blocked. NewCath won by maybe 30 that night. Dave went on to play at Florida State probably because of his performance that night and getting exposure in the state tournament. He later starred in the NBA and the rest is history. No one ever believed he would become the star he was.

 

1978 Holy Cross team had a 12-13 point lead on Holmes in the district quarter final game and Coach Flynn put in Dicky Beal and Holmes started pressing and eventually won a great game. The Holy Cross players you listed were not part of that team. It was John Kennedy & Randy Ives at guard for HC, Barry Buntin, Rick Eckerle, Tom Corman, etc were the other players. Lenihan, Eifert, and Niehaus were starters for HC when they lost to Highlands in the 1980 regional semi-final. Holmes went on to crush Highlands by 25+ in the 1980 regional finals.

Define very good chance.... Because in 2006 & 2007, with or without Rice, CovCath won 4 out of their 6 matchups, and Holmes lost to Dixie in region in 2006, let alone beating CovCath or Highlands in region that year.

 

Holmes was the overwhelming favorite in nky that year when Rice, Jefferson, Hill, and Edmondson were all juniors. They were undefeated in the region when Rice got kicked off the team. Wins included a 54-51 W over Covcath at Holmes and a 67-62 W over Highlands at Highlands. Rice got kicked off the team after the Highlands game. Holmes beat Dixie by 15 the next game after that and then lost 3 straight, including getting thumped by a Bill Walker led NCH team.

 

I'm not saying Holmes would have beaten Covcath in the region title game that year, but they definetly wouldn't have been knocked out by Dixie in the first round and I think Covcath would have probably saw Holmes in the finals instead of Newcath.

 

You also failed to mention that of those 4 wins, none came against Holmes at full strength. In 06, CCH lost to Holmes at full strength then beat them in the district championship without Rice. In 07, Covcath beat them by 1 in OT without Jefferson, then by 4 at Covcath without Jefferson, Rice, Henderson (I think), Arnold, and a few other bench players, then they met in the district championship and I believe Holmes was missing Jefferson once again. In the region championship, Holmes won by 12 at full strength and Ernst of the Enquirer even stated that this was the first time the two had played with Holmes at full strength since they had beaten Covcath the previous year by 3.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the 97 Highlands team that made it to the state championship game against Eastern.

I am a 1980 grad of Holmes. Doug Schloemer was the best scorer of the basketball I have seen as far as high school goes. Dicky Beal was the best playmaker and game changer to play in the 9th region. I am sure Doug will tell you Dicky was the difference in Holmes run to the heartbreaking loss in 78. The 80 run was cut short due to the format and the late Friday night game against Ashaland, a fate that could upend Holmes again this year. Not complaining it is what it is and I would not change it. I would also throw Scott Draud and Jack Jennings in the mix. The second tier would include McKinley, Dawn and Dollman (sp) are a few more of my favorite players from the 9th region.

Holmes was the overwhelming favorite in nky that year when Rice, Jefferson, Hill, and Edmondson were all juniors. They were undefeated in the region when Rice got kicked off the team. Wins included a 54-51 W over Covcath at Holmes and a 67-62 W over Highlands at Highlands. Rice got kicked off the team after the Highlands game. Holmes beat Dixie by 15 the next game after that and then lost 3 straight, including getting thumped by a Bill Walker led NCH team.

 

I'm not saying Holmes would have beaten Covcath in the region title game that year, but they definetly wouldn't have been knocked out by Dixie in the first round and I think Covcath would have probably saw Holmes in the finals instead of Newcath.

 

You also failed to mention that of those 4 wins, none came against Holmes at full strength. In 06, CCH lost to Holmes at full strength then beat them in the district championship without Rice. In 07, Covcath beat them by 1 in OT without Jefferson, then by 4 at Covcath without Jefferson, Rice, Henderson (I think), Arnold, and a few other bench players, then they met in the district championship and I believe Holmes was missing Jefferson once again. In the region championship, Holmes won by 12 at full strength and Ernst of the Enquirer even stated that this was the first time the two had played with Holmes at full strength since they had beaten Covcath the previous year by 3.

 

ETA I thought Jefferson played in that district game at CovCath but didn't start as if I remember correctly he was late for the bus because he was getting a haircut.

 

ETA just wondering who do you blame for all those games the Holmes players missed during those years? Whose fault was it that all those Holmes players were sitting out those games? You can't say what if or gee if only, when the players in question did all this to themselves, and none of the kids sitting out were due to injury except for Jefferson.

1978 Holy Cross team had a 12-13 point lead on Holmes in the district quarter final game and Coach Flynn put in Dicky Beal and Holmes started pressing and eventually won a great game. The Holy Cross players you listed were not part of that team. It was John Kennedy & Randy Ives at guard for HC, Barry Buntin, Rick Eckerle, Tom Corman, etc were the other players. Lenihan, Eifert, and Niehaus were starters for HC when they lost to Highlands in the 1980 regional semi-final. Holmes went on to crush Highlands by 25+ in the 1980 regional finals.

Thanks like I said it is hard to remember the exact years the farther removed you are from them. Did I have the part right that Holmes beat holy Cross 4 times that year?

Holmes was the overwhelming favorite in nky that year when Rice, Jefferson, Hill, and Edmondson were all juniors. They were undefeated in the region when Rice got kicked off the team. Wins included a 54-51 W over Covcath at Holmes and a 67-62 W over Highlands at Highlands. Rice got kicked off the team after the Highlands game. Holmes beat Dixie by 15 the next game after that and then lost 3 straight, including getting thumped by a Bill Walker led NCH team.

 

I'm not saying Holmes would have beaten Covcath in the region title game that year, but they definetly wouldn't have been knocked out by Dixie in the first round and I think Covcath would have probably saw Holmes in the finals instead of Newcath.

 

You also failed to mention that of those 4 wins, none came against Holmes at full strength. In 06, CCH lost to Holmes at full strength then beat them in the district championship without Rice. In 07, Covcath beat them by 1 in OT without Jefferson, then by 4 at Covcath without Jefferson, Rice, Henderson (I think), Arnold, and a few other bench players, then they met in the district championship and I believe Holmes was missing Jefferson once again. In the region championship, Holmes won by 12 at full strength and Ernst of the Enquirer even stated that this was the first time the two had played with Holmes at full strength since they had beaten Covcath the previous year by 3.

 

I'm going to disagree with you. First of all, as a fellow Holmes fan posted a few weeks ago "if an IF was a 5th, we'd all be drunk" :lol: Getting all those players on the court at the same time was a huge IF.

 

And personally, I think the fact that CCH played Holmes so close in 2007 is all the more proof that they could have beaten them at full strength in 2006. The 2007 CovCath team lost Tierney, Noll, Young, and Landrum (and me :lol:) and still beat them 3 times in 2007. Yes, the wins were over incomplete Holmes teams, but relative to 2006, CovCath would be "incomplete" as well. So I submit that it is inaccurate to say that, with Rice, it would have been a "good chance".

 

And, just for fun, keep in mind that that 2006 Holmes team (even though they lost districts) wound up with a better draw for the region then CovCath (since CCH had to play Highlands in the semi-finals)

Sorry I missed this thread, Tiger1 should know and have alot to talk about on this thread. If I might get off the subject a little bit for 2 things. First I watched the Ballard/EC game last night and people was bursting out the doors there was so many people. But the size of the gym was about the size of the top section at the feildhouse at Holmes. Take the bottom section out and bring the top section of Holmes gym down thats the size of EC. Not a blast on EC at all. But 80% of the games from 1975 - 80 thats how filled Holmes gym would be. You had to park as far away as Meiken Feild and north to Wallace Ave. Thousands of people. Not even as close now days. 2nd - Doug Schloemer was the 2nd best shooter I have seen but Dicky Beal was the most exciting. The most underated and best shooter I have ever seen was Holmes assistant coach John Wimzie!!! :thumb: If Doug was not there John would have taken all the honors. The master of dunks was Elliot Simpson from Holmes, you did not want to try to block his dunks :eek: :isurrender:. Reynold's Flynn :idunno: if he had this team. :isurrender: Are you tired out there :confused: No sir :eyeonyou: You must not be running hard enough. None, I do mean none of this slow down play worked for him.

Sorry I missed this thread, Tiger1 should know and have alot to talk about on this thread. If I might get off the subject a little bit for 2 things. First I watched the Ballard/EC game last night and people was bursting out the doors there was so many people. But the size of the gym was about the size of the top section at the feildhouse at Holmes. Take the bottom section out and bring the top section of Holmes gym down thats the size of EC. Not a blast on EC at all. But 80% of the games from 1975 - 80 thats how filled Holmes gym would be. You had to park as far away as Meiken Feild and north to Wallace Ave. Thousands of people. Not even as close now days. 2nd - Doug Schloemer was the 2nd best shooter I have seen but Dicky Beal was the most exciting. The most underated and best shooter I have ever seen was Holmes assistant coach John Wimzie!!! :thumb: If Doug was not there John would have taken all the honors. The master of dunks was Elliot Simpson from Holmes, you did not want to try to block his dunks :eek: :isurrender:. Reynold's Flynn :idunno: if he had this team. :isurrender: Are you tired out there :confused: No sir :eyeonyou: You must not be running hard enough. None, I do mean none of this slow down play worked for him.

I was looking for you to help us on the biggest upset thread. What year did Holmes get upset in the districs by Beechwood? I thought it was around 79 but someone said Highlands beat Holmes that year in the regional finals.