I agree 100%. Any team that looks past B-wood will be going home. They have already showed they can beat Highlands. The 35th owns the 9th and I don't see it changing. Last night B-wood ran into a buzz-saw, Holmes defense was everywhere. I think B-wood will respond and start the 9th off with a bang.

:thumb:

I am sure that everyone will want to draw Beechwood, they are by far the smallest school in the tournament, should be a easy W for whoever draws them.

 

So you think everyone in the state tournament is hoping to play Elliott County in the first round?

So you think everyone in the state tournament is hoping to play Elliott County in the first round?

 

I think Beechwood showed last night that they are a very strong DIII school but are not yet in the upper echelon of talent. Beechwood is very good but not yet in the same class as Holmes. But there aren't too many teams in the state that are. I just think the Tigers looked very vulnerable last night.

So you think everyone in the state tournament is hoping to play Elliott County in the first round?

 

 

 

Comparing Elliot Co. and Beechwood is ridiculous as far as talent and overall play. Beechwood isn't even close...

 

I don't know that a team will "run over" them in the region, but I see them being one and done as well...not because of their size, but because they just aren't THAT good...they've had a great season, but the region is where it stops.

Henley looks like he has massaged Holmes right to where they need to be. Beyond the dominating defense and all around game, take a look at the All Tournament team - Housley, Dom Johnson and MVP Jeremiah Johnson. Those there are arguably Holmes' #4, 5 and 6 players on their team, or even lower. If Henley can keep the team concept focus going, Holmes is looking better than they have all year right now.

Comparing Elliot Co. and Beechwood is ridiculous as far as talent and overall play. Beechwood isn't even close...

 

I don't know that a team will "run over" them in the region, but I see them being one and done as well...not because of their size, but because they just aren't THAT good...they've had a great season, but the region is where it stops.

 

I expected someone to jump on that thinking I was comparing Beechwood to Elliott County. I am doing that only in reference to the size comment. Elliott County is one of the smallest schools in the state. So for Reality Check or anyone else to discount Beechwood purely because of size is as silly as saying everyone wants Elliott County because they are a small school.

I think Beechwood showed last night that they are a very strong DIII school but are not yet in the upper echelon of talent. Beechwood is very good but not yet in the same class as Holmes. But there aren't too many teams in the state that are. I just think the Tigers looked very vulnerable last night.

So they are 22-5 as of last night with second best record in NKY and they aren't talented? Just wait till region when Beechwood will once AGAIN prove everybody wrong.

The key to last night's game, besides Holmes' defense, was the 18-4 run that they went on after Beechwood took an early 4-2 lead. Beechwood never seemed to recover as a 10+ point lead is just too hard to overcome against Holmes. Holmes did a nice job being aggressive and taking it to the rim. Smith and Snyder both got in foul trouble which made Beechwood VERY small and allowed Pittman and JJ to clean up around the rim.

 

The only negative I saw in regards to Holmes was when they had a 15+ point lead early in the 4th, they started settling for jumpers rather than continuing to be aggressive and use their height around the rim. They corrected this late in the 4th quarter and finally started to pull away.

The key to last night's game, besides Holmes' defense, was the 18-4 run that they went on after Beechwood took an early 4-2 lead. Beechwood never seemed to recover as a 10+ point lead is just too had to overcome against Holmes. Holmes did a nice job being aggressive and taking it to the rim. Smith and Snyder both got in foul trouble which made Beechwood VERY small and allowed Pittman and JJ to clean up around the rim.

 

The only negative I saw in regards to Holmes was when they had a 15+ point lead early in the 4th, they started settling for jumpers rather than continuing to be aggressive and use their height around the rim. They corrected this late in the 4th quarter and finally started to pull away.

 

Good post and right on target. Holmes just has too much size and athleticism for Beechwood...and IMO for everyone else in N. Ky. the way the are playing now. Beechwood can not afford to have Snyder and Smith off the floor in foul trouble because they are just too small without them. It doesn't matter how great your defense is when a team just keeps rebounding till they score.

If Beechwood can keep Snyder and Smith on the floor, they can play with anyone else in the region.

I think Beechwood showed last night that they are a very strong DIII school but are not yet in the upper echelon of talent. Beechwood is very good but not yet in the same class as Holmes. But there aren't too many teams in the state that are. I just think the Tigers looked very vulnerable last night.

 

If you are saying upper echelon means Holmes-like talent, I agree. But Holmes is ahead of everyone in N. Ky. in talent by far so that isn't a fair comparison. There are only a few teams in the state that can compare themselves to the talent Holmes has right now. Beechwood's talent this year is competitive with anyone else in the region, including Boone County. Beechwood has enough talent to beat Boone, but if they played ten times Boone is going to win 7 of 10. Every team in N. Ky. would take Beuttel in a heart beat. Romes takes a back seat to very few in the region in athleticism. Beechwood has talent this year.

So they are 22-5 as of last night with second best record in NKY and they aren't talented? Just wait till region when Beechwood will once AGAIN prove everybody wrong.

 

Not saying Beechwood is bad, but their schedule was not really difficult. Yes, they had some good wins, but in the Region Tourney they aren't going to be playing teams like Dayton, Bellevue, Villa, and those small schools. I realize they needed to play the DIII teams, but most of their wins have come against teams they should have beaten.

Nice recognition for JJ, Dom, and Housely in today's paper:

 

Role players keep Bulldogs rolling:

 

After contemplating the first tournament MVP award of his basketball career, Holmes junior Jeremiah Johnson decided the honor was a positive development for more than just his personal trophy collection.

 

"I think it's a good thing," he said. "It shows that you can't just key on one person. We're all playing our roles."

 

Johnson, usually the Bulldogs' fourth scoring option, was joined on the 35th District all-tournament team by role players Dominique Johnson and Brandon Housley. Together, the trio led Holmes to a 64-43 victory over Beechwood and the team's second straight district title.

 

Rest of story:

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090228/SPT0302/902280422/

Not saying Beechwood is bad, but their schedule was not really difficult. Yes, they had some good wins, but in the Region Tourney they aren't going to be playing teams like Dayton, Bellevue, Villa, and those small schools. I realize they needed to play the DIII teams, but most of their wins have come against teams they should have beaten.

I was waiting for someone to point that out but they have to play 14 conference games. So, 8 of their wins have come from Bigger schools like highlands, Conner, and the teams that played down in the Ashland tournament.

That is true. It would have been nice if they could have worked in a couple more tougher games like NCC or St. Henry. But Beechwood beat Dixie (in the regional), Highlands (in the regional) and bigger school Conner. So they have wins over two teams in the regional. They also played big schools Ryle, Campbell County, Ashland, North Laurel and their district opponents (Holmes, Holy Cross and Cov Cath). So their schedule wasn't weak. With all the committed games for district play and NKAC Div III, they don't have much opportunity to add in others.

Ya i understand that. I am not taking anything away from beechwood. Just pointing out the fact. I would have liked to see them against some of the bigger schools as well.