Newport Central Catholic 45, Highlands 29

 

Newport Central Catholic (14-4) - Bueter 0 2 2, Highchew 3 4 10, Ryan 2 0 5, Giesler 9 1 19, Miller 2 0 4, Doyle 2 0 5. Totals: 18 7 45.

 

Highlands (7-10) - Dean 2 0 4, Crowley 3 0 6, Egan 4 0 11, Towles 4 0 8. Totals: 13 0 29.

 

 

NCC 14 14 6 11 -45

Highlands 11 4 6 8 -29

 

3-pointers: N 2 (Ryan, Doyle); H 3 (Egan).

 

I dont know who calls in the scores after Highlands games but they need to double check their accuracy. The paper has Seibert from NCC having Doyle's points and they called in Samson Lewis' name incorrectly the last 2 games. Doyle hit a big 3 pointer in the 1st Qtr when NCC came back from being down 9-4.

 

4 players scoring for Highlands isnt going to get it done.

 

On a sidenote: if Ricky Tyler is refereeing your game this season you better watch your steps. He called 6+ travels last night and most were accurate but he definitely watches your feet.

Newport Central Catholic 45, Highlands 29

 

Newport Central Catholic (14-4) - Bueter 0 2 2, Highchew 3 4 10, Ryan 2 0 5, Giesler 9 1 19, Miller 2 0 4, Doyle 2 0 5. Totals: 18 7 45.

 

Highlands (7-10) - Dean 2 0 4, Crowley 3 0 6, Egan 4 0 11, Towles 4 0 8. Totals: 13 0 29.

 

 

NCC 14 14 6 11 -45

Highlands 11 4 6 8 -29

 

3-pointers: N 2 (Ryan, Doyle); H 3 (Egan).

 

I dont know who calls in the scores after Highlands games but they need to double check their accuracy. The paper has Seibert from NCC having Doyle's points and they called in Samson Lewis' name incorrectly the last 2 games. Doyle hit a big 3 pointer in the 1st Qtr when NCC came back from being down 9-4.

 

4 players scoring for Highlands isnt going to get it done.

 

On a sidenote: if Ricky Tyler is refereeing your game this season you better watch your steps. He called 6+ travels last night and most were accurate but he definitely watches your feet.

 

Did the Birds attempt any FTs?

Yes they missed all of them but I think they only shot 4-5.

I know the Birds missed the region last year. If they draw away from NCC this year, will they make it? Can Newport, Bellevue or Dayton come close to Highlands?

History to answer your question..........................No they cannot come close to them. This is a bad district..........Dayton is one of the worst teams in the region....................Bellevue slightly better than that........................Newport slightly better than Bellevue...........................

Newport seems to be playing a lot better lately. I don't know about beating the Birds but Newport is the only one that even has a remote chance at beating them IMO.

29 points in a boys game is awful, I don't care who is playing. Did they try and hold the ball or what?

The bottom line on this game is that Highlands does not have enough scorers, period. NCC played some nice D, particularly Hitchew v Crowley and HHS has nobody else to carry the offensive load to score with Stewart out. Egan has come on of late but he generally requires space to get his shot off/same with Lewis. Towles doesn't have great footwork down low and lacks a consistent outside shot. In addition, they go with a six-man rotation w/New being the least scoring threat. I am not knocking Highlands as I have witnessed them stay competetive in games w/out great scoring through good hustle and attitude. Also, all is not lost with the return of Stewart next week, this team gets so much better offensively. Case in point.....last night v. NCC if you add Stewart to the floor, Giesler switches to defend Stewart and Towles becomes a potential mismatch down low and space opens for Egan& Crowley outside.

 

In this game though, Jake was too much for Towles (and most everyone in the 9th) and NCC got stingy on D. I thought Hitchew make Crowley play out of position most of the night and always wonder why coaches don't play mis-matches more often.......I really felt that Crowley should have been isolated on the post to use his height against Hitchew. Also felt that Dean needed to continue to be physical taking the ball at Bueter.

 

Other observations on the younsters.....I saw HHS True show some promise playing against the best big man in the region. Still learning but did some good things. Bueter does a nice job protecting the ball/starting their offense. I hope Towles plays next season (please !) because I do see a lot of potential there........

 

Regarding the officiating, please refrain from the "short jokes".....

Any of the younger guys getting any minutes? I know Towles is a Jr. I have seen True's name a couple of times. I undestand the you have seniors, and I'm not saying sit those guys, but you're going to be in the same boat next season if no one has any meaningful varsity experience.

Any of the younger guys getting any minutes? I know Towles is a Jr. I have seen True's name a couple of times. I undestand the you have seniors, and I'm not saying sit those guys, but you're going to be in the same boat next season if no one has any meaningful varsity experience.

 

Four seniors (Stewart, Crowley, Egan, Dean) three Juniors (Lewis, New, Towles)...........I like the Soph class + True but don't necessarily see any missed opportunities this year on varsity. Unfortunately, it looks like Highlands will be faced with relying on primarily kids coming from the gridiron the next few seasons?

The bottom line on this game is that Highlands does not have enough scorers, period. NCC played some nice D, In this game though, Jake was too much for Towles (and most everyone in the 9th) and NCC got stingy on D. I thought Hitchew make Crowley play out of position most of the night and always wonder why coaches don't play mis-matches more often.......I really felt that Crowley should have been isolated on the post to use his height against Hitchew. Also felt that Dean needed to continue to be physical taking the ball at Bueter.

 

Here in lies the entire problem with HS sports in general, especially when these types of instances present themselves and coaches stick with statistics and protocolo instead of creating. Waaaaaaay too much coaching by the book imo in all HS sports.

This is sorta like the Bengals kicking a FG from the 25 yd line down 3 with 4th and inches. Going to either be 4 and 12 or 3 and 13 to end the season. I guess these coaches want to take momentum into the next game or season. LOL, Same old, same old. WHY!!!!!!?

The Birds were stuck on 13 in the 2nd qtr for like 5 min. At that point they could have possibly inserted soph Witte to try his hand. He shhots well and had a nice JV game drilling three treys. He goes 6' and is strong enough to handle the NCC guards. I dont know, its just very tough watchinh the inability to score the basketball but Im sure it has the coaches up in arms as well.

 

Id like to see better on-ball defense by ALL 5 of the Birds and all throughout the game. But to play that way you cant just rotate 6 kids.

 

Stewart returning will make them an entirely different team that is for sure.

The Birds were stuck on 13 in the 2nd qtr for like 5 min. At that point they could have possibly inserted soph Witte to try his hand. He shhots well and had a nice JV game drilling three treys. He goes 6' and is strong enough to handle the NCC guards. I dont know, its just very tough watchinh the inability to score the basketball but Im sure it has the coaches up in arms as well.

 

Id like to see better on-ball defense by ALL 5 of the Birds and all throughout the game. But to play that way you cant just rotate 6 kids.

 

Stewart returning will make them an entirely different team that is for sure.

 

Hard to put that on a kid that has missed the whole season. If he's 100% healthy, he will not be in game shape. The rest of the team needed to improve in his absence. From the sound of it, that hasn't happened.

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Hard to put that on a kid that has missed the whole season. If he's 100% healthy, he will not be in game shape. The rest of the team needed to improve in his absence. From the sound of it, that hasn't happened.

 

It will still make them a different team...just because of his size and experience. They still won't be world beaters though, BUT they could be a team that gets overlooked and pulls an upset or two.

 

Last nights game...I wasn't there...did the Birds try to press at all? Sounds like they may need to use defense to create offense. They SHOULD have enough athletes to be effective pressing.

One disturbing thing that I noticed in the 1st quarter last night just shortly after NewCath took over the lead was Coach Flynn screaming his head off relentlessly to his players while in their 2-3 zone to get their hands up and countless other orders at his players especially to Egan who he referred to as 'Red'. The more he screamed, you could just see the entire team's confidence deflate by the second and while trying to listen to him, they just seemed to lose focus. NewCath worked the ball around and held possession for quite awhile looking for the perfect shot, which they found and connected on. Flynn's screaming did nothing but distract his team and melt away any self confidence they had started the game with. Early on, the 2-3 zone seemed to work brilliantly with Giesler only getting a shot off because of an ally-oop from Bueter to Giesler that played out in unbelievable fashion. Before that the Birds did a good job denying Jake any space near the basket. I honestly feel that one main turning point in the game was Coach Flynn's big mouth during that possession and sucking the life out of his players, ruining their confidence. It was downhill after that.