I think you are focusing too much on the NCC loss for the Birds. They played at NCC, the Breds have seniors who would not be denied on their home floor. They got hotter than a firecracker in that 3rd qtr and it wouldnt have mattered if it were Holmes they were playing, those are the type of runs that will bury any team.

 

I am not saying it will be a laydown for Highlands but what signature wins does St. Henry have this year?

 

I'll give you that one, St. Henry doesn't have any signature wins....hopefully that changes on Wednesday.

 

I think we both have a difference in opinion of each team. I've only seen Highlands once, but wasn't very impressed. I think they match up better than some think. Both teams are very very well coached.

 

Gryche can you list the players we should see for Highlands if you could? Maybe like a scouting report for your own team, then I'll do the same for St. Henry. It would be kinda neat to compare and look at what each team has.

Kowolonek is their best player but I am not so sure he has really set himself apart from the rest of the team this year. I think he will have a big game also because of the open floor and his ability to get up and down the court and play above the rim. Grote has shown he can score and be a shut down defender but he hasnt scored much in the last few games. If he is not feeling it offensively they really need him to clamp down on the Cru's main weapon. Grubbs is the biggest factor IMO over the last 10 games. He has really been a force down low. Watson is a warrior in the paint and can get you 8 to 10 pts and the same in rebounds. Lother has played well the last 5 games or so showing he can put some offensive numbers up and has mental toughness. Dill has been a key player for them in games this year, I thought he was the player of the game in their big win over Boone County. Gordon and Smith Kellen have been very solid off the bench as well.

 

They will play fundamentally sound basketball and defend the Cru like no others. I just hope they can gain some consistency on offense and not give up a bunch of 3's like they did against NCC.

 

I am looking forward to the game.

I think you are focusing too much on the NCC loss for the Birds. They played at NCC, the Breds have seniors who would not be denied on their home floor. They got hotter than a firecracker in that 3rd qtr and it wouldnt have mattered if it were Holmes they were playing, those are the type of runs that will bury any team.

 

I am not saying it will be a laydown for Highlands but what signature wins does St. Henry have this year?

 

If you use NCC for a barometer in this match up:

NCC beat HHS at Highlands by 6, while missing 19 free throws.

NNC beat HHS at home by 22, while shooting lights-out from beyond the arc.

NCC beat ST. Henry in overtime by 9.

 

With this being said, I think it is a one point game either way.

Highlands has too much size for St. Henry and Grubbs should have a big game. St. Henry will have to shoot well from 3 to take this one.

Pretty deep team. Usaully 9-10 deep but at times they can go 11. If I had to guess I would say my list below is in order of minutes, bolded players are seniors.

Speed

Zumdick

Swikert

Anderson

Bessler

Hils

Volz

Eisenmenger

Beiting

Dault

Cooper

 

 

So will St. Henry run...to offset size disadvantage. Or slow the game to a crawl and look to be close at the end and steal one?

I think they will do a little of both. When they run they seem to be at there best in my opinion. They turn it over more but by keeping the pace at a fast one I think it gives them more weapons. It allows Bessler, Swikert, and Volz to get going in the scoring column much easier because they are so quick and athletic.

 

My question is....how big is Highlands? I keep hearing of the size differnce. St. Henry isn't big but I don't remember the Birds being huge either.

I think they will do a little of both. When they run they seem to be at there best in my opinion. They turn it over more but by keeping the pace at a fast one I think it gives them more weapons. It allows Bessler, Swikert, and Volz to get going in the scoring column much easier because they are so quick and athletic.

 

My question is....how big is Highlands? I keep hearing of the size differnce. St. Henry isn't big but I don't remember the Birds being huge either.

 

Lother 5'7

Gordon 6'0

Grote 6'1

Kowolonek 6'2

Dill 6'4

Smith Keller 6'4

Watson 6'5

Grubbs 6'5

 

Those are the main 8 players that St. Henry will see. Bolded are the starters (Lother and Gordon have rotated starting at the point this year). It will be tough for St. H to keep Grubbs and Watson off the boards. Both are very physical around the rim and more than held their own against Holmes when they played.

You need to mention that Grubbs is a "Shaq-like" presence in the paint.

You need to mention that Grubbs is a "Shaq-like" presence in the paint.

 

Grubbs is a big boy down there. I'd say he's 6'5 260?

I would estimate more like 280

IMO the difference will be Coach Faust. He'll out coach "most" of his oppenents when talent is somewhat equal and in this case I think "talent is equal".

 

GO CRU!!!!!:dancingpa

IMO the difference will be Coach Faust. He'll out coach "most" of his oppenents when talent is somewhat equal and in this case I think "talent is equal".

 

GO CRU!!!!!:dancingpa

 

Talent may be equal and the coaching is even more equal. Schlarman does as much if not more than Faust with the talent he has. If Highlands shows up and plays with the intensity that they have shown in games versus Boone and Holmes this year they win this by 6 or 8 points. If they show up with the intensity that they displayed against Conner then they will be going home after the first night of the tourney. George Grote is the key in this game and the entire regional tourney for that matter. If he can put together 2 good games they will be in the regional final game.

Cameron Speed-Best player on the floor. Very good free throw shooter and has a good outside game. Very quick and is the MVP of this team.

Dave Zumdick-Inside outside threat. Has a nice midrange game and is a good rebounder. Best post player St. Henry has.

Joey Swikert-Best defender for the Cru. He is very quick, can shoot the 3pter and ads mental toughness to this team. Has to stay out of foul trouble, but how hard he plays its hard fo him to do. He's a true team leader.

Benny Bessler-Him and Kowolonek are going to be the most athletic kids on the floor. Benny plays at warp speed and has a a motor that no one else in this game will have. Benny also plays so hard he can have trouble with foul trouble and turnovers. A very good spark for the Crusaders.

Ryan Anderson-A pleasant surprise for Faust this year. He stepped in as a junior and had a very nice season. A good defender and rebounder. Has a nice 3pt shot. Won Mr. Hustle Award for D-2 already this year.

Jake Hils-A true point guard. Top 10 assist man in NKY his first year starting on varsity. Has to limit his turnovers in the post season. Not so much a scoring threat.

Scotty Volz-Sat out his sophmore and junior seasons. He is the most talented player the Crusaders have, in my opinion. Plays 110% all the time. Has a good shot and is an agressive rebounder. Has to keep his head and play smart against a physical Highlands team.

Craig Eisenmenger-Alan Beiting-Chris Dault-Kyle Cooper- All these guys come in to rebound and defend. Don't expect them to score more than 2 or 3 baskets combined. Eisenmenger is the best rebounder this team probably has due to his hops and length. He has been playing very well as of late so has Beiting.

Cameron Speed-Best player on the floor. Very good free throw shooter and has a good outside game. Very quick and is the MVP of this team.

Dave Zumdick-Inside outside threat. Has a nice midrange game and is a good rebounder. Best post player St. Henry has.

Joey Swikert-Best defender for the Cru. He is very quick, can shoot the 3pter and ads mental toughness to this team. Has to stay out of foul trouble, but how hard he plays its hard fo him to do. He's a true team leader.

Benny Bessler-Him and Kowolonek are going to be the most athletic kids on the floor. Benny plays at warp speed and has a a motor that no one else in this game will have. Benny also plays so hard he can have trouble with foul trouble and turnovers. A very good spark for the Crusaders.

Ryan Anderson-A pleasant surprise for Faust this year. He stepped in as a junior and had a very nice season. A good defender and rebounder. Has a nice 3pt shot. Won Mr. Hustle Award for D-2 already this year.

Jake Hils-A true point guard. Top 10 assist man in NKY his first year starting on varsity. Has to limit his turnovers in the post season. Not so much a scoring threat.

Scotty Volz-Sat out his sophmore and junior seasons. He is the most talented player the Crusaders have, in my opinion. Plays 110% all the time. Has a good shot and is an agressive rebounder. Has to keep his head and play smart against a physical Highlands team.

Craig Eisenmenger-Alan Beiting-Chris Dault-Kyle Cooper- All these guys come in to rebound and defend. Don't expect them to score more than 2 or 3 baskets combined. Eisenmenger is the best rebounder this team probably has due to his hops and length. He has been playing very well as of late so has Beiting.

 

Im guessing you mean for the Cru (see bolded)

 

You should be the spokesperson for St. Henry basketball NKYBOY. Nice work.

I have seen this type of statement several times on BGP with people inferring that St. Henry doesn't have much talent to work with. Why do people seem to think St. Henry doesn't have talent? They are a basketball only school with some very strong feeder programs. St. Henry has talent every year. Faust is a good coach but don't try and tell me St. Henry doesn't have talent.

 

I agree. I also agree that Faust is the best coach in the region, but Voice of Reason is right St. Henry always has some talent. I think what the people are trying to say is that for the talent that St. Henry has, they still shouldn't beat some of the powerhouse teams that they seem to beat every year.