Eta Rho

Holmes and Beechwood meet in the 35th district championship Friday night at Holy Cross at 6:00. Holmes comes in 28-2 after a 45-24 win over Holy Cross. Beechwood comes in 22-4 after a 63-56 win over Covcath. These teams haven't met since the first game of the year when Holmes won 67-48 at Holmes. Thoughts?

Last time Dixie didn't make it to the region tournament was in 99/00 when they lost to Lloyd in the semi's 62-51, I believe. Coming in to this year, they've won the 34th 8 years in a row.

They lost their best player in Shelvin Mack after last year as well as I believe 1 or 2 other seniors but they returned two of the better players in the 11th in Morones and Ashford. Bryan Station seems to have self destructed down the stretch. Congrats to Henry Clay on the win.

:thumb:

Not "officially" on the wagon until both Highlands and Holmes are done (which I'm hoping that won't be until after Saturday night in late March ), but I do plan on rooting for you guys in the games you play in from here on out. :thumb:

I agree. It was pretty funny, but very classless. I was surprised the HC administration didn't say anything. I was wondering the same thing though regarding the air horn and drum while Holmes as at the line.

Considering some of the classless things coming from the HC student section toward him, I'd say he handled himself pretty well tonight.

Congrats to EC on the win.

:lol: No not at all. After reading the article, I've come to realize I was maybe a bit too hard on this group and some of their fans. Now that I understand where everyone is coming from, I'm right there with you guys. I think people have to truly understand the story behind all of the success to actually appreciate it as much as you guys do. Like I said...if Holmes can't win it all, I'll be rooting for you guys to bring the big trophy home. :thumb:

Excuses? Didn't Holmes just win by 21? I don't think I've made any excuses. But let's not act like Giwa did absolutely nothing to provoke it. Henley even questioned the call against Arnold.

So because of a basketball game the kid doesn't have any character? Let's remember we're talking about a 16 yr old KID. If you met the kid, you'd realize he is one of the most polite kids on the team. Any time you ask him a question the answer always is yes sir/mam or no sir/mam. And let's not act like the HC kids are saints out there on the court. I saw Giwa smack away D. Johnson's hand several times tonight when he put his hand in to guard him. One right in front of a ref, and when Giwa smacked his hand (every one in the gym saw it, including the Beechwood players and coaches sitting around me), DJ gets called for the push?? Trimpe also pushed Riley several times and Riley finally went over and asked a ref to watch him and Trimpe got called for it a few possessions later. I saw several HC players do their fair share of talking tonight as well, and have seen it from several other players and teams around nky as well...does that mean they have no character as well?

One player doesn't reflect a whole program, despite what you might think. Henley has disciplined Arnold...running in practice, game time, sitting out of games, etc. I don't think the "program" has anything to do with it, since measures are being taken to discipline the kid. No need for the Pm though...We'll just agree to disagree on the matter.

I agree. You'd think Holmes lost this game the way some are reacting. Pittman was supposedly "disinterested" and didn't start tonight, Arnold receives a T, HC slows the ball down the whole night, and despite that, Holmes still walks away with a 21 point win. :confused:

So because of one kid, it reflects poorly on the program as a whole? And actually, since you weren't there, I'll give you a recap of what happened. Giwa went up for a shot and got fouled by Arnold, Giwa then walked by Arnold and bumped him with his shoulder so Arnold used his forearm to push him away. Shouldn't have been done and he has to control his emotions but it was more of a case of him getting caught, and not Giwa. The refs weren't even going to call it until the HC crowd went crazy.

Pittman could have been starting late in the season though. Henley chose not to start him because his defense needed work. It's no coincidence that Holmes starts pressing again and since then Pittman hasn't started in 2 of their 5 games.

GT said Pittman looked disinterested in the first HC match up as well....fwiw. The game tempo and HC slowing the ball down and then sitting in a zone the whole game probably had a lot to do with his observations. Just because he didn't score much doesn't mean he was "disinterested." He crashed the boards hard tonight and had several second chance rebounds and rebounds off missed free throws that helped give Holmes extra possessions. He was also posting up A LOT tonight, which is rare from him. Believe what you want...I have a pretty reliable source though and you of all people should know that.

Fair enough.

Rico and JJ are just as capable of erasing a break out as Pittman..both did it several times tonight when Giwa got out ahead of the pack.

Happened last year up until the state championship game.

I'd say a lot of that had to do with the tempo of the game in general and him not touching the ball much. Pittman played with a lot of intensity tonight though, grabbing I believe 3 or 4 rebounds in a row at one point off of offensive misses and then also had 2 rebounds off of missed free throws. With HC not being a very big team, Henley elected to start Housely to put more quickness on the floor and put more pressure on HC early. Believe what you want, but I have a pretty reliable source that this came from.

Yea that's it...? :lol: Pittman didn't start because having him late in the game is much more important than having him early in the game. He got in foul trouble early against HC in the first game so Henley decided to start Housely to set the tempo early and keep Pittman from getting in foul trouble and sitting much of the first half. Seemed to work pretty well if you ask me.

There were A LOT of open seats on the HC side. From talking to someone who was at the game last night, he said Beechwood and Covcath both had bigger student sections than HC did tonight. Holmes had a lot of parents and "older" fans there but the student following was somewhat disappointing.

Henley wanted to come out and press right out of the gate, so he started Housely as it gives him another guard that can pressure the ball.

BTW, you could have showed up at 5:30 and still probably got in. I doubt very seriously the game was sold out and both teams' student sections were very disappointing. For it being a home game for HC, I would have thought they would have had a much bigger crowd.

Just got in from the game...really not much to say. First quarter both teams battled back and forth the first few minutes and we had a tie score at 5-5 after a HC 3. JJ responded at the other end with a 3 and then DJ hit a 3 after a missed HC shot to put Holmes up 11-5 and on a 6-0 run heading in to the second quarter. JJ had 6 of Holmes first 11 points. Second quarter things picked up a little. Both teams again traded baskets, making mini runs on one another the first few minutes. With Holmes up 18-13, a technical foul was called on I believe Arnold after Giwa was fouled. HC made one of four free throws to close within 4 at 18-14, but Holmes would close the quarter on a 10-2 run to give them a 28-16 lead heading in to the locker room. Third quarter things started to get ugly. HC slowed the ball down and began turning the ball over left and right and Holmes would win the quarter 7-6...with most of those points from both coming at the beginning of the quarter. Not sure why but Rico sat out probably 6 minutes of the third quarter. Holmes led 35-22 heading in to the fourth. Fourth quarter Holy Cross would score just 2 points and I'm pretty sure both came on free throws. Altogether HC scored 8 points in the second half. Holmes hit a pair of 3's to build a 19 point lead and a goal by Willie Slusher with around 35 seconds left would give Holmes the final of 45-24. Nobody really stood out, scoring wise for HC. I believe Giwa may have finished with 7 or 8. I will say this though...Holy Cross gets away with A LOT of holds and pushes. Trimpe was pushing and holding pretty much anyone he guarded tonight...particularly Riley early in the game and then Pittman the few times he guarded him late in the game. Anytime a HC player set a pick, you could guarantee a push or hold was coming with it on the player trying to fight through the screen. Very disappointing to see them get away with it so much early in the game. Second half the refs finally started calling it, so HC backed off a little. For Holmes, DJ played a very solid game. Not sure how many he finished with, but know it was in double figures. Holmes press looked pretty good tonight...forced several HC turnovers and IMO was the difference in the game as HC had to work very hard to get the ball across the line which wore them out by mid third quarter. All in all, while it wasn't very pretty, Holmes still gets the 21 point W. Beechwood on Friday for the district championship...I expect a good game.