Eta Rho

Yes...they could meet in the semis or first round, depending on whether they win their district or not. Assuming both win their district, they'd meet in the semi's if they don't draw the same side as Holmes.

Boone did execute their gameplan to perfection. They didn't want to get in an up and down game with Holmes so they worked their offense and waited until something opened up. Both teams missed a lot of open looks though. No denying that. I wouldn't say one team missed more than the other. The difference was Boone hit big shots when it mattered and Holmes didn't. I wouldn't necessarily say Boone's press bothered Holmes as much as Holmes did Boone. Holmes started making their comeback when Boone began to press because it led to easy baskets at the other end and actually allowed Holmes to set up their press and force turnovers. Holmes struggled to score in the half court set. That's where the game was won for Boone. I expect Henley to give them a little more freedom the second go around. (If it happens) Fair enough. Pittman was only one really scoring for Holmes period in the first half. I believe he had 12 of their 21 points. He also sat more than you think. He came out of the game in the third at the 5 minute mark and didn't return until the 6 minute mark of the fourth. That's almost a full quarter with him on the bench and not even including the time he spent out after hurting his wrist in the first half. Riley also wasn't in foul trouble but sat a lot throughout the game. Not having those two on the floor makes a difference when they're the two leading scorers for Holmes. Very true...but Holmes also doesn't have to win at Boone, which eliminates the whole homecourt advantage. Instead, Boone has to beat Holmes on the same floor where Holmes already took down Scott Co. :thumb:

:lol:

I understand where you're coming from. EC does have a lot of experience bein there the past two years and playing in 3 total games. But even so, wouldn't the Holmes core group from last year (Rico, Pittman, JJ, Riley) also have just as much, if not more experience considering they went deeper in the tournament and have already "been there, done that?" EC has been there, sure, but they haven't had much success there, while the group for Holmes that's back this year had a lot of success. I know that was a senior laden team with Henderson and Co, but Pittman and the Johnson Brothers combined with Riley being able to step in and run the point were biggest keys to their run last year. Another variable I'd add to the experience debate is coaching. Henley is by far the better coach when it comes to preparing his team for big games, and I think the EC faithful would agree with that as well. Great coaching can make up for a lack of experience, which obviously this year's team isn't lacking either. I guess my point is, experience is nice to have but isn't a necessity. This is probably an issue we'll continue to disagree on, so I personally don't feel the need to further the debate. Things will sort themselves out here in less than a month. Here's to hoping both teams will be at Rupp and one of them cuts down the nets. :thumb:

Here's how and why I think Holmes would win a rematch: First, I doubt very seriously Boone is going to be able to hold Holmes to 38 points again. As bad as Holmes played offensively in the first game (give credit to Boone's defense AT TIMES), they still held Boone to 45 points, which to date is their second lowest output of the season. (Highlands held them to 37) Second, Henley will make the proper adjustments in a rematch, just as he did against Bryan Station. I'd expect to see him press a lot more from the get go. When Holmes started pressing early fourth, you could tell Boone was cracking under the pressure as Holmes cut the lead from 12 to 5 within I believe a minute or two minute span. Outside of Gabbard and Mcfarland, Boone isn't exactly a great ball handling team. Holmes coaching staff is VERY GOOD at finding weaknesses in the other team after a loss. (See Bryan Station..pressed first game which led to a lot of lay ups and BS winning by 14, didn't press the second game and forced them to beat them with a half court offense...result: Holmes by 18...a 32 point swing) Third, FREE THROWS! Very rarely is Holmes that atrocious from the free throw line. If they make their free throws it puts Boone in a tough spot late in the game and forces them to make plays, rather than sealing the deal at the line down the stretch. Lastly, Pittman. He was pretty much scoring at will until he got hurt. He sat the majority of the game because of the wrist problems, and when he actually was playing, he was no where near what he was early in the game. A rematch in the 9th region tourney would be a great game but I just don't see Boone being able to beat Holmes on a neutral floor that Holmes has already played on and beaten one of the top teams in the state. (Scott Co) Home court advantage was a HUGE for Boone in the first game. Do you think they would have beaten Holmes at Holmes this year?

Just wondering but what happened to the only other team to beat Holmes this year when they played in a rematch? :sssh: Might want to look up Coach Henley's track record. You'll realize very rarely does a team beat Holmes twice in one year or back to back times. (With the exception of Covcath) Examples: 04/05 Regular Season: Conner 75 Holmes 72 (OT) Region Championship: Holmes 53 Conner 39 06/07 Regular Season: Covcath 42 Holmes 41 (OT) Covcath 46 Holmes 42 Covcath 53 Holmes 50 (District Championship) St. Henry 50 Holmes 41 Region Tourney: Holmes 61 St. Henry 50 Region Championship: Holmes 72 Covcath 60

I think it really depends on the draw. I picked GRC in the Sweet 16 contest though.

40 points for Bryan....That's ridiculous. Scary thing is, this kid's only a junior. He could average 40 next year as a senior.

Scott Co by around 20.

Yea...I believe all the names are put in a hat and they keep drawing until a district champ is placed against a district runner up, not in the same district.

I believe each district champ and runner up are placed on separate sides of the bracket and then they randomly draw to get the match up of a district champ v district runner up.

Yea. Two district champions and two district runner ups in each bracket. If the draw plays out the way I have it listed, they'd meet up in the semi's, assuming both take care of business in the first round.

My bad, just got a little ahead of myself. I too can agree that EC has more experience than Scott Co. Did Maynard come off the bench last year? I seem to remember him being a big contributor for some reason?

Didn't Maynard start over C. Knipp last year? I'm not 100% sure, but pretty positive that was the case. Sure this will be their 3rd trip, but the fact still remains that these players have only played in THREE state tournament games. How do they have more experience over Holmes OR Scott Co? Riley has played in 5 total sweet 16 games. Johnson Brothers, Pittman, and DJ have played in 4 total sweet 16 games. I can understand the argument against SC because Phares was the only major contributor for that state title team as a soph, but not Holmes. How can a team whose only played in THREE games have more experience than a team whose core players have played in FOUR games? Let's not forget either that Pittman was the second most productive player last year in the state tournament OFF THE BENCH behind only Mr. Miller of Mason Co. I believe Rico was the fourth most productive player in the tourney. Again, to say this group isn't experienced is comical. This is practically the same nucleus from last year's state title run, so yea these are the same exact players. You can throw 2007 out the window and this team still has more experience than the EC boys. Last time I checked, 4 was more than 3.

Between Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Co, there is roughly 357,000 people (rounded up) in the area, according to the 2007 census: Boone has 112,000+. Kenton has 157,000+. Campbell has 88,000+. With these three counties being so large, it's only natural that there will be schools in the same county but different regions.

I saw BE play at the Lloyd Invitational back in December and could tell they were going to be a tough team come tournament time. They are a pretty big team and play very physical. I'm surprised Highlands lost, but on the road to BE isn't that bad IMO.

Current seniors for Holmes that were on that team in 06/07 and 07/08 as sophs and juniors are Riley, D. Johnson, and Rice. Riley played probably 5 mpg as a soph and right around 12 mpg as a junior. He was a key piece to the puzzle during Holmes region championship run last year and was the primary pg last year during the state tournament, with Avery moving over to the 2 a lot, so Holmes could have a shooter on the floor.. You've gotta be kidding me though, saying EC has more experience than either Scott Co or Holmes. Both senior classes have made an appearance in the state championship and have played in more sweet 16 games in ONE YEAR, than EC has in both of their trips. If anything, Holmes has more hunger for the simple fact that they've "been there, done that" and came up short in the state title game, and Scott County seniors should be hungry for another championship. Let's not forget that Holmes returns 3 starters from last year's state championship game, and Phares was a key member of that 07 state title team for SC. I'd say they both have ALOT of experience. I don't think some realize how much playing in the state championship drives a team to get back the following year. I believe the EC boys have the desire and hunger to get there, but let's not overexaggerate and say they have more hunger and experience than any other team, cause that's simply not true.

Why would Highlands not be a bigger threat? They beat Boone by 14 and already played Holmes tough at Holmes. Boone beat Holmes at Boone and Holmes played absolutely horrible, while also having their best player in Pittman play sparingly because of an injury. It's going to be very tough for Boone to have a repeat performance on a neutral court and honestly, no team in nky is going to beat Holmes twice in the same season. Henley is too good of a coach and will make the proper adjustments. Holmes will press Boone and get a lot of turnovers. It worked against them last year and when Holmes used it against them in the 4th quarter this year it worked well. Highlands has also already played at BOK Center before which will end up being an advantage for them IMO. I also wouldn't agree with the depth part. Highlands depth inside is enough to give ANY team problems. They have more athleticism than you think. The only player I'd give an athleticism advantage to over any of the Highlands players is probably Cotton.

Just like EC against Shelby Valley...right?? BTW, didn't Holmes lose on Boone's homefloor and not on a neutral floor? :sssh:

Good win for Hazard.

DII: Highlands, Newport, Newcath, Holy Cross, St. Henry, Lloyd, Brossart Pretty sure those are the DII schools in nky.

Biggest question with the Birds is we don't know how many of those players are actually going to continue playing basketball. There's been many times where kids at HHS will play until their frosh year and then switch to football. There are several in this year's frosh class who may not be around in a few years because of football. This could very well be the case with one or both of the True brothers as well, from what I hear. If Willie can keep the nucleus of those groups together though, they should be solid.

Doesn't surprise me you'd pick them.

Had to have been 06/07. Last year's game was at Holy Cross.

Newport seems to have really came on late in the season. They're going to be a dangerous team heading in to districts.