From nky.com

 

While it was some early foul trouble that caused Holmes coach Jason Booher to switch from man-to-man to a zone defense a little earlier than he may have preferred, it’s a defense the Bulldogs have used successfully all season and perhaps no more so than Friday night.

 

That zone, a wide-ranging 2-3 alignment, helped Holmes hold Covington Catholic to 20.8 percent shooting from the field for the game in rolling to a 48-34 victory in the 35th District championship game at Northern Kentucky University’s Regents Hall.

 

Both teams advance to next week’s Ninth Region Tournament at NKU’s Bank of Kentucky Center.“We’ve won a lot of games this year with that zone,” said Holmes coach Jason Booher, who is in his second season after guiding Shelby Valley to the 2010 state championship. “We contested just about every shot they took. I thought our guys were active. Our defense was outstanding tonight. I was really impressed with the way we played it.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120224/SPT0302/302240152/Holmes-uses-zone-clamp-down-CovCath?odyssey=nav%7Chead

This not to pick on any kid, but just a statistical observation: Nick Frederick, Sawyer Pauly and Nick Ruthsatz, who combined for 49 points in the win over Holy Cross, combined for just 11 points tonight, and combined to make 1 of 32 shots from the field and the one make - a three by Ruthsatz - came as his dad was frantically trying to call a timeout. Wow.

 

Pauly and Frederick struggle to create their own shots in the games i have seen. Frederick gets two screens sometimes to free himself up. Great shooter but Holmes must've have been glued to him. Same with Ruthsatz. I wonder if the Colonels were satisfied with their win vs HC and Maybe a Little spent emotionally?

Pauly and Frederick struggle to create their own shots in the games i have seen. Frederick gets two screens sometimes to free himself up. Great shooter but Holmes must've have been glued to him. Same with Ruthsatz. I wonder if the Colonels were satisfied with their win vs HC and Maybe a Little spent emotionally?

 

Bolden and Palmer absolutely locked Ruthsatz down.

 

Waller, Martin, Coston, and Wilson did a nice job at the the top of the zone switching and closing out on screens to prevent easy looks from 3.

 

Last night was by far the best defense I've seen Holmes play all year. They were very aggressive and flat out wanted it more.

 

It wasn't until late in the game that CCH picked up the defensive intensity but by then it was too late.

It wasn't until late in the game that CCH picked up the defensive intensity but by then it was too late.

 

Any concerns about Holmes' offense?

I don't understand why Holmes winning this game should bother Holy Cross fans. Holmes beat Holy Cross during the season. Did anyone really think Cov Cath SHOULD beat Holmes? Of course CCH COULD beat Holmes, but Holmes was definitely the favorite in the game. The fact is the #1 seed in the district took care of business and proved why they were the #1 seed. Congrats to the Bulldogs.

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NERD Night!

Do students get a discount at the Regional games or do they have to pay full price?

Congrats to Holmes great effort. I think the shooting stats point out what I saw as some very tired Colonel legs and I am guessing still somewhat emotionally spent from Wednesday's triple OT thriller. No way to say if the outcome would have been any different but I definately think it affected the game

Any concerns about Holmes' offense?

 

3 pt shooting...yes.

 

Overall? No. I wouldn't be too concerned about 40% from the field.

Not great, but not bad.

 

Holmes was patient offensively, looking for good shots more often than not and their defense forced Covcath in to several long possessions.

3 pt shooting...yes.

 

Overall? No. I wouldn't be too concerned about 40% from the field.

Not great, but not bad.

 

Holmes was patient offensively, looking for good shots more often than not and their defense forced Covcath in to several long possessions.

 

 

As pathetic as CCH was from the field they were only down 6 in the 4th. Holmes needs to get their offense in gear IMO to have a chance to win the 9th.

As pathetic as CCH was from the field they were only down 6 in the 4th. Holmes needs to get their offense in gear IMO to have a chance to win the 9th.

 

Having Palmer, Englemon, and Martin on the bench in foul trouble had a lot to do with the offensive woes in the first half. Not much offense on the floor with Bolden, Wilson, Waller, Hill, and Rice (outside of Rice, obviously) out there.

 

I do agree though that Holmes needs to get the offense together. Too often they fall in love with the three and it affects the offensive rhythm. When they were attacking, CCH had nothing for them...Rice and Palmer were getting in the lane at will in the second half.

 

Dontel Rice and Coach Booher said it best though in the post game comments.....at this point it's all about defense. Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.

 

Covcath averages 66 ppg....in the two games against Holmes, they have scored 34 and 55....34 being a season low.

Was it a sellout at this championship game? I know the semifinals were a sellout crowd so that by itself made the decision to go to Regents Hall a good one. But I am curious about the crowd size for the championship game.

Was it a sellout at this championship game? I know the semifinals were a sellout crowd so that by itself made the decision to go to Regents Hall a good one. But I am curious about the crowd size for the championship game.

 

Big crowd but not sold out. Close.

Was it a sellout at this championship game? I know the semifinals were a sellout crowd so that by itself made the decision to go to Regents Hall a good one. But I am curious about the crowd size for the championship game.

 

Big crowd but I was honestly somewhat disappointed with the size. Had this game been in the early-mid 2000's, they likely would've had to turn people away.

 

This is still a big rivalry but I think HC-CCH has become bigger.