Pictures:

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/115618094599483617907/BooneVsHolmesBOKDay4Xx#

 

And still open!

No points for Downs? Did he play?

 

He played really well.

Holmes offense looked similar to how they did Friday against CCH. No flow.

Holmes offense looked similar to how they did Friday against CCH. No flow.

 

Was that way a lot during the year. When BC got beat off the dribble, their help defense was great, they contested shots, took charges (you never know how those will be called in any game I watch) and allowed few put backs. The 'dogs just were not a very good shooting team. Coston got hot near the end, but too late and he couldn't make a thing until then. BC beat them twice, they were the better team.

No points for Downs? Did he play?

 

I believe Downs had 5 points. He played a very good floor game, quite a few assists for easy layups, excellent defense.

Bear with me for a moment but I am feeling good about my predictions on this game. Here is what I said in the prediction thread:

 

I don't think the winning team hits 60. I think it is possible that the winning team barely hits 50. I believe both teams are better defensively than offensively and it will become a grinding game. I don't think Boone County needs McQueary to score to win. They need him to take good shots and not force it. If he starts forcing shots, then that is a problem. It is going to be those other guys that are the key in this game for Boone County - Schwartz, Carr, Palmer, Pitts. Liken it to what we saw in CCH over Holy Cross when Pauley and others had such good games. Boone needs one or two of their other guys to get it going offensively and that will get them the win.

 

I know I am going against the tide with that thought. If it turns into a higher scoring game, absolutely Boone County needs McQueary to score. My whole thought is that this game is going to be a defensive war and the point total will not be that high. Because of that, McQueary needing to score 20 becomes less critical. I don't think this will turn into a 32-29 game like a couple years ago but if the final is 46-42 it will be right about where I am thinking. If that is the score, Boone can win with 10 points out of McQueary.

 

Also have to give credit to statman who said this in the prediction thread:

 

Boone County is an excellent FT shooting team, if they can get many trips to the line, it's the Rebels game to lose. I don't see this game ever getting where either team gets a double digit lead, several ties and lead changes. In the end, Boone County takes advantage of the charity stripe and pulls this one out

I don't think Rice is getting enough recognition for his game tonight. Very impressive. And while all the talk is about the Bray dunk, the one by Rice was a heck of a dunk too. He went up for a rebound, grabbed the ball below the rim just as a Boone player was about to snag the rebound, took the ball back up and threw it down with two hands. Very impressive. Rice hit 3's, blocked shots, grabbed rebounds, took it to the rim off the dribble. He is excellent.

In my opinion, the better team won.

A few things occurred that led to Holmes's downfall.

In the first quarter Holmes had a chance to jump on Boone, because Boone was uncharacteristically sloppy and making unforced errors. If Holmes could have converted some short shots they may have been able to build a cushion.

Their zone was causing problems in the early going and were able to keep McQueary quiet, but not for long.

 

Early in the 3rd quarter, Boone went on a little run that got them up close to ten points. Once it got that lead, they spread the floor and ran their stuff. Boone had the better guards in this game. They took care of the ball and didn't force shots. Holmes on the flip side took some very poor shots in that little run that Boone had to get to the front.

Boone had great spacing and played very heady and smart with the lead.

 

Palmer didn't play as well as he had going into the tournament and their offense bogged down, too much with the dribble and struggled to get open looks. Coston didn't score until the 4th quarter and Rice didn't get a bunch of shots in the second half.

 

Best of luck to Boone the rest of the way.

 

As for Holmes, it was a pretty solid year in which they just didn't have enough consistent offensive firepower. Coach Booher did a really nice job with this team and had to cover weaknesses and improvise at times. They didn't finish the year with the personnel that they started with and many youngsters gained valuable experience. From what I have been told they have some solid personnel coming up from the ranks to join, a solid nucleus of players. Their 8th grade team won the KBA State Tournament a couple weeks back, plus they have some freshman and sophomores who if they continue to work will provide some depth for next year.

Hats off to Dontel Rice who had a really solid two years. I think the kid has a really bright future, if he continues to improve as he did these last two years.

Congrats to Boone. Certainly not what most of us thought with no 35th district teams making it to even the 9th region semi-finals. Funny how sports works out sometimes. Nice season by Holmes and this probably was the worst match up they could have gotten in the first round.

 

Is that the 2nd year in a row that happened?

Also have to give credit to statman who said this in the prediction thread:

 

Boone County is an excellent FT shooting team, if they can get many trips to the line, it's the Rebels game to lose. I don't see this game ever getting where either team gets a double digit lead, several ties and lead changes. In the end, Boone County takes advantage of the charity stripe and pulls this one out

 

Thanks VOR, I'm available for next game too; however, my reasoning stays the same. The senior leadership on this team and the free throw shooting has been tremendous. I would have like to have seen a rematch of Boone and Holy Cross during the region (and Holmes and Holy Cross in the District Final while I'm dreaming), I think it would have been a war, but oh well.

Boone killed Holmes' zone. McQueary passing from the high post led to a lot of easy buckets.

 

Mcqueary runs an offense that is tough to defend. A lot of back screens leads to back door cuts for easy baskets. Boine has killed Holmrs with this over the past few years.

 

It also didn't help that Holmes had 5 guys out of practice the day before due to.being sick.

 

Rice wasn't feeling well and Bolden was hooked up to an IV two hours prior to the game.

I don't think Rice is getting enough recognition for his game tonight. Very impressive. And while all the talk is about the Bray dunk, the one by Rice was a heck of a dunk too. He went up for a rebound, grabbed the ball below the rim just as a Boone player was about to snag the rebound, took the ball back up and threw it down with two hands. Very impressive. Rice hit 3's, blocked shots, grabbed rebounds, took it to the rim off the dribble. He is excellent.

 

He played very well despite being sick.

I personally don't think he touched it enough. Boone had nobody that could defend him 1 on 1.

 

Rebels go 14-14 from the charity stripe in 4th quarter. Not gonna beat too many teams when they shoot like that.

Really gonna miss Dontel Rice.

 

As good of an athlete and basketball player he is, he is an even better kid off the court. Very humble, good student, and always positive.

 

No doubt in my mind he will be playing at the next level somewhere.

 

Also, Jared Martin needs to be recognized as well for all the hardwork and time he put in over the summer. He went from strictly jv last year to varsity starter and key contributor this year.

 

Good luck to both seniors in the future.

Mcqueary runs an offense that is tough to defend. A lot of back screens leads to back door cuts for easy baskets. Boine has killed Holmrs with this over the past few years.

 

It also didn't help that Holmes had 5 guys out of practice the day before due to.being sick.

 

Rice wasn't feeling well and Bolden was hooked up to an IV two hours prior to the game.

 

It’s so tough to defend because they're so disciplined when running it. There are a ton of good offensive schemes out there. These guys just execute so well. Good luck Rebels, especially to Chase and Cooper.

Glad to see my alma mater pick up a big win.