Brice Jewett had 22 points to lead South; five Dragons were in double figures. (besides Jewitt: Carson Fields 14, Corey Dogan 11, Austin Bowling 10, and Chris Schumm 10)

 

Twelve of 15 South players scored.

 

South hit 16 three pointers and dominated the glass, while committing just 8 turnovers (unofficial).

 

South reach 100 points despite shooting just 5 free throws, all in the first half (made four). The Dragons hit 55% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc.

 

South won all four quarters, leading 23-12 after one and 48-26 at the half. By halftime, the Dragons had already played 10 players, with 9 scoring. And with a 77-36 lead after three, only subs and JV players played in the fourth. A JV player - Eric Blair - hit a three in the final minute to reach the century mark.

 

Interestingly, South's shooting improved throughout the game; the Dragons hit 70.6% in the third period (12 of 17) and - with subs/JVs in - hit 9 of 16 in the fourth.

 

Meade County was in trouble from the onset, with only two seniors on their roster, and no juniors, and starting only one senior and four sophomores. The Green Wave also is a small team, with only two starters over six feet (both 6'1"). As such, Meade is essentially a JV team playing a varsity schedule, but the Green Wave didn't back down all night. They played an aggressive ballgame throughout. Bryce Garris and Bo Wilson each had 13 for Meade, who struggled on the glass and with turnovers all night. Half of the Green Wave's points came from beyond the arc, as Meade hit 8 three pointers. Bo Wilson had two threes.

 

With such incredible youth, Meade's best days are ahead of them. If the current players can absorb the lumps now, they will have their day in the next year or two.

 

South improves to 16-5 heading into a showdown vs. Anderson County on Friday at South. Meade County falls to 4-15.

South can be difficult to handle when the "3" is on for them. However, I've also thought that their reliance on it is one reason why they've never made the Sweet Sixteen.

South can be difficult to handle when the "3" is on for them. However, I've also thought that their reliance on it is one reason why they've never made the Sweet Sixteen.

 

With all due respect, I disagree, although I do understand your point. I have covered the Oldham schools since 1979 - which means I've seen every South team, as they opened in 1989 - but there's nothing at all wrong with the offensive scheme South uses. It wouldn't be the scheme I would use as a coach - I have my own favorite - but people tend to forget that there are a lot of perfectly viable schemes capable of winning championships. The key is maximizing the talent you have in a scheme they are suited for and then EXECUTION determines the success from there. Whether you run the UCLA high-post, the Princeton offense, the read-and-react, a motion offense, whatever...all can win. Each requires certain skills of the players trying to run them. This scheme has not really kept South out of the Sweet 16. Pitino used the same basic concepts to take UK to a national title.

 

And it would be erroneous to think that South does nothing but shoot the three. That, in and of itself, is not an offense. But the Dragons are certainly known for this because they shoot the three well.

 

South shoots the three very well, but that very definitely is not the reason why they've failed to make the Sweet 16. South has never really been blessed with big, powerful players - although this year's team is very tall, they are not real powerful - and they've tended to get outmuscled on the glass many times over the years. In fact, if I were to pinpoint the single most common reason South has sputtered in the region, that alone would be it. Some years, their defense has been lacking. Two of Simpson's best teams, both district champs, were derailed when their best player was lost to injury during the district tournament or immediately after it in practice. I thought one of those had a very real shot at the region. But their three point game has never really been the cause for their lack of post-season success. In fact, I can't remember a single regional game that South lost where afterwards their coaches were saying "the shots just didn't fall for us tonight" - and I've broadcast every 8th region game since 1998, and all of the Oldham schools' 8th region games since 1979.

 

I've seen every South Oldham team, from the opening of the school. The first South teams were half-court teams...they became an uptempo team and an inside-outside offense under Steve Simpson when he took over 10 years ago. And some years, the three point shooting has been all the team really has...but this year, any criticism of their shooting habits is definitely unwarranted...as a team, they are shooting over 40% from beyond the arc, or the equivalent of over 50% from inside the arc. And last night, although they hit 16 threes, they also hit 25 twos from point blank range because Meade County was racing out to attack the perimeter. Their passing constantly created open shots - in fact, there were very few contested South shots - inside or outside - all night, because of the good passing and the ability of the shooters to demand respect on the outside.

 

Part of the quandry for the opponents this year is the fact that all five South starters shoot well beyond the arc, so you can't "play off" anyone. Ditto for most of the reserves... A JV player hit three of four threes in last night's game for South.

 

That said, I do believe they have had teams some years where that was all they could do. They shot threes because it was the one thing they were good at. That happens to teams. Meade County hit eight threes last night - in part because they were way behind, in part because they were so small they simply had no inside game. South has had similar teams in the past, that didn't have size, they didn't have strength, and maybe the defense wasn't that good, but they could shoot from the perimeter.

 

This, however, is one of the better South teams I've seen.

 

If you're only an average three point shooting team, you can easily shoot yourself right out of games with the three. If you count on just your two starting guards for outside shots, it will cost you in the long run if they shoot too many. If you don't practice threes as part of your practice regimen, then you cannot expect it to pay dividends in ball games. South's advantage in this aspect of the game is simply the sheer number of talented shooters on this team: Casey Jackson, Brice Jewitt, Corey Dogan (over 50% from beyond the arc on the season), Chris Schumm, Eric Blair (JV!), Austin Bowling, Carson Fields - all are excellent beyond the arc. In fact, the entire starting five is hitting over 33% beyond the arc, and only one of the five shoots the three that "poorly".

 

It is important to note that every offense has its weak points. And there is an obvious weakness to a perimeter game: It typically does not create as many free throw opportunities. I think this is one reason we've seen Simpson focus a lot on the passing game, and South moves the ball well. Last night, we saw what can happen to a team when they get overly-aggressive on the outside shooters - the dump-downs to the inside for layups were frequent.

 

Last year, South tried to compensate with a slasher - Drew Kraemer's ability to drive to the basket created free throw opportunities and kept the pressure off the outside shooters. South won the district last year, but lost Kraemer during the district tournament, which helped lead to their upset loss at the hands of Henry County in the region. He was their captain and the leader on the floor, as well as the leading scorer and primary "slasher".

 

Arguably Simpson's best South Oldham team, led by star SG Brad Cofer, was submarined in the region when Cofer tore up his ankle in practice after the team won the district and before the region started and Bullitt Central upset them.

 

But these weak points - fewer FT opportunites, for example - existed when Rick Pitino coached UK to the national title game. It was the same basic offensive philosophy and it took the Cats to the National Championship. This is a good offense - but like any offense, the execution is the key, and other aspects to the game must also be in place to win consistently. (defense, for example)

 

Of course, South has been in existence since 1989. During that time, Scott County, Oldham County, Shelby County, and - more recently - Anderson County have simply had overwhelming teams. Not much room for anyone else to go to the Sweet 16...

GEEZ, who wrote that LOOOONNNNNGGGGG post!!!! :laugh:

 

Oh...it was me... :ohbrother:

I scrolled for about 30 seconds before i found the bottom of that post. Lol

It was a little long, ColonelMike. Good thing that I am a fast reader.

 

South has had some bad luck come tournament time, but my opinion is just that...an opinion. I've seen Gary Forrest take overall less talented teams and MAKE them regional contenders. I certainly DO miss Coach Forrest. For me, he was one of the few bright points for being in District Oldham, er District 29. With that being said, I do also like and respect Coach Simpson. However, I'll stick with my opinion that the reliance on the three is ONE of the reasons that South hasn't made it to Rupp yet. Maybe THIS could be the year that that changes. They certainly have the talent. :thumb: I'd be happy to eat a serving of cross if the Dragons win the 8th, even if they are not my team.

I was just checking the literacy skills of the average BGP reader... :lol::lol::lol:

 

I think I took a good shot at the record for longest post, too...

 

Gary Forrest was a classic. I admired him perhaps more than any coach I've ever seen in the 8th region, and that's saying a lot in a region that has had coaches named Drury, Hoggard, Creamer, Mefford, Hurst, Hart, Simpson, Sutherland, and Jones who have established themselves as legends. People griped about his system, too, but Gary was able to make lemons into lemonade...he won the region five times - an average of about once every four years - and at least two of those times he didn't have the best overall talent.

I was just checking the literacy skills of the average BGP reader... :lol::lol::lol:

 

I think I took a good shot at the record for longest post, too...

 

Gary Forrest was a classic. I admired him perhaps more than any coach I've ever seen in the 8th region, and that's saying a lot in a region that has had coaches named Drury, Hoggard, Creamer, Mefford, Hurst, Hart, Simpson, Sutherland, and Jones who have established themselves as legends. People griped about his system, too, but Gary was able to make lemons into lemonade...he won the region five times - an average of about once every four years - and at least two of those times he didn't have the best overall talent.

 

I agree with you that Forrest will get all the lemonade he can from his lemons. He and Jones are the best at doing that.

I agree with you that Forrest will get all the lemonade he can from his lemons. He and Jones are the best at doing that.

 

We're getting a bit off-topic...but you're right, Jon Jones is superb at maximizing talent. He's another favorite of mine.

 

A guy who never got enough credit for getting far more out of his team than a person could have reasonably expected was Jim Hurst at Trimble County. He and I became good friends over the years, and I really respected what the man could do with the talent he had. Had Hurst been at Oldham, Anderson, Shelby...people would likely be referring to him more often as one of the 8th region greats, too.