I have an unbiased look at the call. No way that should have been intentional. It was a hustle a play by the NCC players. Pittman was slowing up on the play because the outlet pass wasn't thrown far enough in front of him. Once he slowed up coming back to the ball it allowed the "full speed" NCC guys to collide with Pittman as he finally gathered the ball and tried to go up and dunk it.

 

No way that it was intentional. I don't think Pittman ever thought it was intentional. It was bad timing and switched the momentum some, but I don't think it was the reason that Holmes won today......

 

Also why doesn't Holmes press? No way NCC could have handled a full court press of the bulldogs.

 

Probably because they pressed NCC last time and Pangallo broke it by himself most of the time.

And again if you go by the letter of the law, every foul called at the end of a game could be called intentional.

 

That was not an intentional foul. Besides you are alluding to him calling the foul on the trailer, it was called on the guy in front of him(or on his side, whichever). If there was a push, which there was not, he didn;t see it. The arms went up before the player even hit the support.

 

I don't know which guy got the foul but the kid directly behind him swatted down with both arms and had no path to the ball. That is going to get called every time.

You have to protect the player in that situation. Do I think there was intent to harm, no that would have equated to a flagrant foul.

Got to agree on the press comment. Thought NCC would have tried setting screens to get Connor open instead just that flare out top? NCC inside guys fought hard tonight. Holmes is just better.

 

You didn't see all the screens they tried to run him off? They set a whole bunch of screens for him, the Holmes players got through them...

 

For the record I don't know where all this talk has come from about how NC could've done better or didn't have a good game plan, etc. They didn't get outhustled, they didn't get outcoached, what they got was they got out-talented, Holmes tends to do that to folks... NC shoudn't have any regrets though IMO...

The defense has improved, but its not where it was at this time last year due to the loss of "the erasor".

 

You'd be surprised:

 

2008/09 Postseason (through 4 games)- 34.75 ppg

2007/08 Postseason (through 4 games)- 47.5 ppg

 

That's 13 points less this year. I'd say their defense is better this year at this time compared to last year.

 

Entire Season:

2008/09- 46.6

2007/08- 45.4

 

This year's team is only allowing 1 ppg more than last year's squad for an entire season.

 

Holmes has also played one more game to date than last year's team. Take away the one bad defensive game that Holmes had against Bryan Station where they allowed 86 points and look at the average you get for Holmes through 32 games:

 

1453 (number of points they've allowed this year, not including the 1st BS game)

/32 (number of games last year's team played to date)

=45.4 ppg

 

They actually have the same average as last year's team through 32 games.

Holmes doesn't really have the depth like they had last season to press. They only play 7 guys.

 

And they don't make a lot of baskets to get into the press.

Let's put this to bed right now, Hensley even told the NewCath coaching staff after the game that the intentional foul call was completely bogus. I'll definitely take my eyes and his word for it.

 

You just CAN NOT call that in that situation. If that is the definition of inentional you are going to use how do you not call intentional with every foul by a losing team in the last two minutes.

 

Did he intentionally foul him, absolutely, was the intent to hurt? Did he undercut him, hit his head, even take him down? No. It was a terrible call at a terrible time.

 

That one call made a 2 point game a 9 point game and it was over. Anyone who says the turning point was anything other than that was watching a different game than I was.

 

The game was tied again after the intial dunk some mentioned before so clearly that wasn't it.

 

This game was very much in doubt until the 2:30 mark when the intentional was called.

 

 

You mean Henley?:thumb:

I'm pretty sure Pittman thought the foul was intentional. When he recovered his balance he reeled around toward the New Cath player and, for just an instant, glared as though he might retaliate. The crowd reacted and Elijah quickly regained his composure. He shook off the impact, walked to the line and sunk both free throws.

 

Which is a sign of maturity and that he learned his lesson from Thursday night. I too noticed that when he hit the support pad he glanced around it and gave the NCC player a quick look but then turned around gave his teammates high 5's and went to the line and sunk both free throws.

I don't know which guy got the foul but the kid directly behind him swatted down with both arms and had no path to the ball. That is going to get called every time.

You have to protect the player in that situation. Do I think there was intent to harm, no that would have equated to a flagrant foul.

you're helping me here. If he swatted down he obviously didn't shove him in the back as some are alluding too.

 

The poster above described the sequence perfectly with the short pass.

NCC basketball should show class like the football program and there coach.

All year with coach's dancing on the floor after games. No wonder that sport doesn't get the same support as football.

 

Sour grapes? Someones kid get cut from the basketball team?

Sounds like it...

Sour grapes? Someones kid get cut from the basketball team?

NCC basketball should show class like the football program and there coach.

All year with coach's dancing on the floor after games. No wonder that sport doesn't get the same support as football.

 

Want to explain? Never saw this....

I was right behind the basket... Virtually the same spot I was in for the Ryle game. The foul on Pittman vs. Ryle should have been an Intentional. The foul NCC gave up was most certainly not an Intentional. I felt bad for NCC at that moment and I'm a Holmes alum.

I was right behind the basket... Virtually the same spot I was in for the Ryle game. The foul on Pittman vs. Ryle should have been an Intentional. The foul NCC gave up was most certainly not an Intentional. I felt bad for NCC at that moment and I'm a Holmes alum.

I was right behind the basket... Virtually the same spot I was in for the Ryle game. The foul on Pittman vs. Ryle should have been an Intentional. The foul NCC gave up was most certainly not an Intentional. I felt bad for NCC at that moment and I'm a Holmes alum.

 

Were they the same refs? Make-up call...days later? I wasn't there (unfortunately). My son told me it was a whale of a game, though. I said earlier in the year that Holmes gets calls that other teams don't...ala "Jordan Rules". Looks like it continues. Good luck to the Dawgs! Kudos to NCC for an outstanding season. Good Luck to their Seniors! Now one game for the "Trip to Rupp"!!!

From nky.com:

 

Holmes junior all-state nominee Ricardo Johnson has heard it all before. His coaches implore him. His AAU coach reminds him. Even his brother and teammate Jeremiah Johnson busts his chops about it at home.

 

The standout guard has none of the trappings of a me-first superstar. He's unselfish to a fault. He can take over a game, but rarely does it unprompted.

 

With time winding down in the Ninth Region semifinals and Holmes unable to put away a scrappy Newport Central Catholic team, Johnson was the control freak his teammates needed him to be. He scored seven of his game-high 15 points in the game's final minutes to deliver Holmes a 47-38 victory and regional final showdown with Boone County.

 

Rest of story:

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090309/SPT0302/903090381/