How big were those Voskuhl shots near the end and the Free throws by Ogle and Clark. Prime time performers.

We can't poll the players but based on the obvious degree of interest and emotional responses to this longest girls basketball game thread ever, I am curious what the overall BGP crowd's take would be on this. Could a mod put up a poll along the lines of (a) agree with the game plan - great strategy as it gave team its best chance to win the game in the coach's opinion (and gave team chance to win in last two minutes of game) or (b) disagree with the game plan- stall ball strategy stinks, is "undignified" and embarrassing to the players and no longer has a place in high school basketball?

 

As for me, I am in the (a) camp and think it was a great strategy by the coach and congratulate her on trying to give her team the best chance to win the game within the rules of the game. I have frequently mentioned to a friend before this that I don't understand why more coaches of substantial underdogs don't try this or other unconventional strategies at tournament time. Back in the day (and I understand I am dating myself) this "letting the air out of the ball" game plan used to be a standard part of the strategy of the game and the fact that nobody seems to try it any more should make it even more effective (as apparently from the comments the NDA coach did not make adjustments to force the tempo of the game which is the obvious adjustement counter strategy and amazingly to me played into by having her team hold the ball while only up a relatively small margin). This strategy was good enough for Dean Smith at UNC to use for substantial periods at the end of a game when he has great players including Michael Jordan and Phil Ford. Of course, the adoption of the shot clock ended this strategy by the rules of the game at the college level but I never understood why high school coaches not subject to that limitation stopped taking advantage at least occasionally of the opportunity to level a very unlevel playing field (court). Also, interesting to me that a number of posters on her who frequently advocate ball control football to limit the favored football teams offensive possessions as the best strategy to wine in football think the same strategy destroys the "dignity" (please) of a basketball game. Also, where is it written what tempo a high school basketball game must be played. The opening analyst strategy comments at about half college basketball games is that the team that controls the tempo of the game wins or one team prefers a faster (or a slower) pace and needs to try to dictate tempo. Should all teams play Paul Westhead Loyola Marymount fast? No one complains if a team chooses to full court press and pressure defense the whole game (other than still pressuring when the game has become lopsided or decided). Or does NDA regularly play the only acceptable tempo at which a girls high school game should be played.

 

It reminds me of the old George Carlin car driving bit. Anybody driving faster than me and passing me is a "maniac" and anybody driving slower than me and holding me back is an "idiot".

 

Congrats to NDA on the win and good luck in the rest of the tourney.

 

I agree with this 100%. And another example, this past superbowl I am pretty show the coaches told a team to let the others score without contesting it. I think this is also a strategy and not giving up.

I have but not to this extreme . If your a ND fan or player the good thing they got the win ( and thats all that matters this time of the year ) and they should be fresh and nobody got hurt. IMO

Yes I think there is a big difference. NewCath just beat them last week by 32 and Highlands only scored 27 points. And NewCath is probably rated 4th or 5th in the region. The two games that HHS scored 81 and 98 points was against Dayton and Bellevue, no disrespect to them but that doesn't mean a whole lot against two smaller schools.

 

I wasn't at the game last night, however, I agree with the many posters that state that they haven't liked UC since Tony Yates did this back in the 80's against UK.

 

HHS - 81

Dayton - 27

 

and

 

HHS - 98

Bellevue - 28

 

I wasn't at these two games either, however, does anyone have an issue with HHS running up the score on these two schools? I'm not a fan of this type of basketball either...... Bush League.

Yes I think there is a big difference. NewCath just beat them last week by 32 and Highlands only scored 27 points. And NewCath is probably rated 4th or 5th in the region. The two games that HHS scored 81 and 98 points was against Dayton and Bellevue, no disrespect to them but that doesn't mean a whole lot against two smaller schools.

 

Back to post 141, The level of competition drops off even further below Highlands?? I've been to about 8-10 girls games this year. Most were of the top ranked teams in the NKY area or state and most games were competitive. Didn't realize there was such a HUGE gap of the have and have nots. What would a #3 team do to a Dayton or Bellevue? Can't see it being worse than nearly scoring 100 points? Was Highlands handing out to a lesser team what they didn't want to take against a better team?

Ball control offense in football isn't a good analogy. When playing ball control in football, the team still has to put out maximum effort every 30 seconds or so and must get a first down in order to continue controlling the ball. In stall ball, there is no effort.

 

Here is a thought on an easy solution. The problem with the shot clock in high school is forcing schools to spend money on installing the clocks in tight economic times. A possible solution to stall ball is put it in the referee's hands. You could do this one or two ways. Put a count on the player with the ball and they have 10 seconds to pass the ball even if they aren't closely guarded. OR, give the referrees the option to call technical fouls for lack of competing. The referee issues a warning to a team holding the ball with no attempt at competing and then if the team continues to do so, they call a technical. This would be used only if a team is clearly not competing, not if a team is competing and just trying to run out the clock. Perhaps you even say it only applies in the first three quarters of a game so there is no gray area in the fourth quarter of a close game.

Back to post 141, The level of competition drops off even further below Highlands?? I've been to about 8-10 girls games this year. Most were of the top ranked teams in the NKY area or state and most games were competitive. Didn't realize there was such a HUGE gap of the have and have nots. What would a #3 team do to a Dayton or Bellevue? Can't see it being worse than nearly scoring 100 points? Was Highlands handing out to a lesser team what they didn't want to take against a better team?

 

IMO there are 5 pretty good teams in the 9th.

 

Ryle/Boone/NDA/Conner/NCC

 

That's it.

Seniors robbed??? Seriously??? Robbed of what - an opportunity to be beaten again by another lopsided score? True coaches coach to win, among other important things like developing character, sportsmanship, etc. - not to keep parents happy. To showand teach a team that they have a chance to be victorious by pulling together in a different and unique way and by utilizing a little used strategy that is very much within the rules is a fantastic lesson in being resourceful. THAT'S WHAT UNDERDOGS DO!!! (For more information about this, look up these items: civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, American Revolution ...) Hats off to Coach Richey and staff for taking the risk and almost pulling it off. Just my opinon.

Couldn't be more wrong. In the Civil Rights movement and the American Revolution they actually took the fight to their opponents. Even though they knew the odds were not in there favor they fought for what they believed in. In the American Revolution I'm sure glad they didn't all stand around and look at the Cannon!!!!

I wasn't at the game last night, however, I agree with the many posters that state that they haven't liked UC since Tony Yates did this back in the 80's against UK.

 

HHS - 81

Dayton - 27

 

and

 

HHS - 98

Bellevue - 28

 

I wasn't at these two games either, however, does anyone have an issue with HHS running up the score on these two schools? I'm not a fan of this type of basketball either...... Bush League.

 

You want to make comments about two games in which you were not in attendance? How do you know what Highlands did and/or did not do in each of these games? Now I call that Bush League.

Back to post 141, The level of competition drops off even further below Highlands?? I've been to about 8-10 girls games this year. Most were of the top ranked teams in the NKY area or state and most games were competitive. Didn't realize there was such a HUGE gap of the have and have nots. What would a #3 team do to a Dayton or Bellevue? Can't see it being worse than nearly scoring 100 points? Was Highlands handing out to a lesser team what they didn't want to take against a better team?

 

Amen TAC!!! Exactly my point in the post prior to this.

 

Seems they can dish it out, just can't take it.

 

Again, bush league!

I have read over the 10 pages of posts in this thread and to be quite honest am not really sure how to approach the subject. IMO the job of the coach in the regional tournament is to just win. In fact I believe someone said that coach Levandusky said just that when the score was 4-0 and she was headed to the water cooler for a drink. Coach Richey did what she felt was necessary last night to give her team a chance to just win and advance. It does not have to meet with the approval of anyone other than her, her coaching staff and her team. The idea of robbing her seniors is a non-factor in this discussion because two of the three saw very little action during the course of the year, but were rewarded for their dedication to the program with a start in their final home game and quality minutes in the two blowout losses in the district. I can also see the other side of the coin if I was a parent of a player on the team and my coach did not have enough faith in my daughter and her teammates to go out and compete at the level necessary to win the game straight up. At the end of the day, it really does not matter as the team expected to advance did and for those Highlands players the sun did come up today and now it is time to work on your game and be prepared for next year.

Looks like a Bellevue fan is not a happy kitten today. LOL

Might be close to the end for this one. I for one am on the fence concerning the stall tactic. Yes, it is a legal tactic, and it has been employed before. On the other hand, I would have a hard time coming to this solution as my only way to compete in a varsity basketball game. There are a myriad of strategies that can get a lesser talented team to compete and even beat a better team. Maybe the coach explored every option, and stalling was it. I just know I would struggle with that.

I have read over the 10 pages of posts in this thread and to be quite honest am not really sure how to approach the subject. IMO the job of the coach in the regional tournament is to just win. In fact I believe someone said that coach Levandusky said just that when the score was 4-0 and she was headed to the water cooler for a drink. Coach Richey did what she felt was necessary last night to give her team a chance to just win and advance. It does not have to meet with the approval of anyone other than her, her coaching staff and her team. The idea of robbing her seniors is a non-factor in this discussion because two of the three saw very little action during the course of the year, but were rewarded for their dedication to the program with a start in their final home game and quality minutes in the two blowout losses in the district. I can also see the other side of the coin if I was a parent of a player on the team and my coach did not have enough faith in my daughter and her teammates to go out and compete at the level necessary to win the game straight up. At the end of the day, it really does not matter as the team expected to advance did and for those Highlands players the sun did come up today and now it is time to work on your game and be prepared for next year.

 

Well, people have just come to the assumption and realization that the final game of a season is for those Srs who dont play much or at all have the chance to get in the game when the game is out of hand. Thats their reward I guess. Wow, some reward.

Its almost like entitlement, well the last time I checked this is HS sports and at HHS each and every girl is told what their role is and whether they will ever play a minute or not, if they accept the role great, heres your uni. If anyone says this is not crystal clear between all players and Coach Richey then you are just reaching.

Might be close to the end for this one. I for one am on the fence concerning the stall tactic. Yes, it is a legal tactic, and it has been employed before. On the other hand, I would have a hard time coming to this solution as my only way to compete in a varsity basketball game. There are a myriad of strategies that can get a lesser talented team to compete and even beat a better team. Maybe the coach explored every option, and stalling was it. I just know I would struggle with that.

 

I know this is hard for you to grasp and I understand that, but Coach R did everything in the book to get this team to respond after losing their leader and nobody and I mean nobody stepped up to the plate to take the reins.