Some of the best teams in recent memory:

 

05/06 Holmes- Again, another talented team with Rice, Hill, Jefferson, Edmondson, Henderson. Probably one of the best starting 5 to ever play in the 9th region. Also had Braeon Avery, Terrence Clark, and Josh Nelson among others. This team was rolling through 9th region competition, Rice was kicked off the team after defeating Highlands , and Holmes loses to a Bill Walker led NCH team a few nights later. Had this team stayed intact and made it to the state tournament I feel confident that they could have done something special. This same Holmes team beat the 7th region runner up, Ballard, by 15 earlier in the year. Ballard lost by 2 to eventual state champ, J'town, in the region championship.

 

There haven't been many more over-hyped players in the 9th ever than Edmondson. One-trick pony who couldn't dribble or play defense. Set Shot Louie.

There haven't been many more over-hyped players in the 9th ever than Edmondson. One-trick pony who couldn't dribble or play defense. Set Shot Louie.

 

Edmondson was very good at SK forming a dynamic duo with Mike Hester, but Nate got lost in the talent pool over at Holmes and could never get it going...By the way Mike Hester might have been the most entertaining guards i've ever seen of late in NKY, he could do it all despite his size...Hester now plays at NKU or he's at least on the team that I know of...

What about the Derek Smith and Jared Lorenzen led team? Did Stegman play on that team?

 

What about this team?

There haven't been many more over-hyped players in the 9th ever than Edmondson. One-trick pony who couldn't dribble or play defense. Set Shot Louie.

 

I seem to remember Edmondson lighting the Colonels up at CCH his soph year and then them going away from him in the second half. Edomdson was an extremely talented player but as stated before, got over-looked and lost in the talent pool that was at Holmes his two years there.

 

When that team consisted of Hester, Jefferson, Rice, Hill, and Edmondson they were a machine. Why? Mike Hester kept all tbe ego's in check with his ability to share the ball and keep everyone happy.

 

I admit Edmondson's defense was shaky, but he had very good handles and could shoot the lights out.

 

I'll stand by my belief that if that 05/06 team stays intact, they play J'town for the state championship that year.

 

That team was DEEP.

 

Hill, Edmondson, Jefferson, Rice, Henderson, Avery, Clark, Nelson, J. Higgs, Hall....they could go 12 deep with little drop off 6-12.

z

1991 Holmes team had most of their state-runner up team back from 1990 (Hayes brothers, Pouncy, Kevin Elliers).

 

Holy Cross (With Houston & Mclendon) beat them at the buzzer in the regional final and went on the the state semi finals.

 

Highlands (Barlow, McSorley, Menefee) was #1 most of the '91 season beating Holmes early and that Holy Cross team on the final game of the regular season at Holy Cross.

 

Most thought Holmes or Highlands would win the region.

I seem to remember Edmondson lighting the Colonels up at CCH his soph year and then them going away from him in the second half. Edomdson was an extremely talented player but as stated before, got over-looked and lost in the talent pool that was at Holmes his two years there.

 

 

I was at that game. They went away from him because CCH started guarding him. Once you guarded him and made him do something besides standing around the arc shooting 3s he was done. I believe he had 18 in the first half and ended up with about 20.

Holmes won the region in '88 with Jennings and the Pouncy brothers. The beat Buckhorn in round one, and lost to eventual champ Ballard by 10 in the quarters.

 

Ok, now I remember. For some reason Holmes was moved to our District that year (Bellevue, Dayton, Newport) and we faced them in the 2nd round. We actually played well only losing to that squad 91-76 holding Jennings to 28 pts (8 below his avg) LOL.

 

They were loaded with the Pouncy's, Brown, Jennings, Tupman, etc. That was also the year that the Sweet 16 was held at Freedom Hall where Richie Farmer put up 51 against Ballard in a losing effort.

I was at that game. They went away from him because CCH started guarding him. Once you guarded him and made him do something besides standing around the arc shooting 3s he was done. I believe he had 18 in the first half and ended up with about 20.

 

He stood around and shot 3's because that was the only place he touched the ball. If he didn't have it on the arc, Hill or Jefferson was driving the lane or feeding it to Rice down low.

 

Look at what Nate did as a frosh out at SK and at Gallatin as a senior. Don't let his two years at Holmes fool you. Kid could ball.

 

Putting our differences aside in observation of talent, can we atleast agree that if that 05/06 team stays intact and doesn't self-implode, they go on to win region and win a few games down at Rupp?

Also, if we're going to use the state title as a gauge, St Henry 03 has to be mentioned as one of the best in the 9th to never win it.

 

That team beat a Mike Brock led team THREE times that year and if not for the injury to big man Smith in the first round of the state tourney, they beat MC and win the title, IMO.

Also, if we're going to use the state title as a gauge, St Henry 03 has to be mentioned as one of the best in the 9th to never win it.

 

That team beat a Mike Brock led team THREE times that year and if not for the injury to big man Smith in the first round of the state tourney, they beat MC and win the title, IMO.

 

You mean the big man Schmidt, and I agree they would have beat Mason County in the opening round, but I think the tourney would have worn the Crusaders out, and I don't believe they would have won it all....

The 2001 Conner Cougars with Marcus Johnson, Jeremy Stevenson, and Terry Johnson stand out in my mind as a great team that didn't win the 9th Region title. They lost in Double OT in the finals against Highlands @ Holmes with Neltner as a Sophomore and Guidugli as a senior. Highlands was fairly sluggish that year until tourney time, and the 9th was very competitive with Ronnie Dawn of NCC in his senior year. Simon Kenton had a pretty good team with Brock as a Sophomore and Stowers controlling the rock. CovCath and Holmes were decent. Dixie was coming on with the Sophomore/Junior Bramalege brothers. St. Henry had Love etc... and took Conner to OT in the District semi's. Conner was tough and well rounded with smarts, good team play and great shooters. With their senior heavy team I think they could've represented the 9th well at Rupp that season, but just missed the chance by a hair. Highlands lost in the 1st round to a Russelville team that I think Conner could've faired better against.

^^^Didn't that team lose to a bad Holmes team that year? Maybe in OT?

What about the 98/99 Holmes team?

 

That team was undefeated in the 9th until being upset by Newport by 3 late in the season.

 

They were 17-1 in the region heading in to the district tournament and got upset by Covcath in the first round.

 

Their only two losses that year in the region were by a combined 6 points. (lost 68-65 to Newport, lost 56-53 to Covcath)

 

Holmes also beat eventual region champ, Highlands, by 20 earlier in the year.

I seem to remember Edmondson lighting the Colonels up at CCH his soph year and then them going away from him in the second half. Edomdson was an extremely talented player but as stated before, got over-looked and lost in the talent pool that was at Holmes his two years there.

 

When that team consisted of Hester, Jefferson, Rice, Hill, and Edmondson they were a machine. Why? Mike Hester kept all tbe ego's in check with his ability to share the ball and keep everyone happy.

 

I admit Edmondson's defense was shaky, but he had very good handles and could shoot the lights out.

 

I'll stand by my belief that if that 05/06 team stays intact, they play J'town for the state championship that year.

 

That team was DEEP.

 

Hill, Edmondson, Jefferson, Rice, Henderson, Avery, Clark, Nelson, J. Higgs, Hall....they could go 12 deep with little drop off 6-12.

z

 

Why didn't Hester attend Holmes, what made him and Endmondson go to SK? A starting five of Hester, Jefferson, Hill, Edmondon and Rice would have been nasty...And with Henderson on the bench, I would have loved to see that team play together!

Why didn't Hester attend Holmes, what made him and Endmondson go to SK? A starting five of Hester, Jefferson, Hill, Edmondon and Rice would have been nasty...And with Henderson on the bench, I would have loved to see that team play together!

 

Hester's family moved to Hebron originally and Mike attended Conner his 8th grade year. I'm almost positive he single handedly led either the Conner 8th grade or 9th grade team to the league championship.

 

His freshman year they moved to Independence where he attended SK. Edmondson's mom lived in Independence (out off Decoursey) but he attended Holmes since his mom worked for the Covington Independent School System.

 

Nate attended SK with Mike his frosh year and then both came back to Holmes their soph year. Mike eventually left Holmes before the season started and went back to Sk but Nate stayed at Holmes for his soph and jr year.

 

Mike finished out his hs career at SK (I believe he would've had to sit out his soph year if he stayed at Holmes), Nate played at Holmes his soph and jr year but some off the court issues during his jr basketball season forced him to move to Gallatin Co with his dad where he played his senior year.

 

I agree if that group stayed together they would've been extremely tough state wide and IMO would've won atleast 1 state title.