JokersWild24

Clay County fans are probably going to have nightmares about Maguet and Taylor for awhile. Just a really talented young backcourt.

Yea'buddy.

My biggest concern with the All A is how many games a team like NCC eats up with teams that they'll just smoke. I know everyone needs to play cupcakes, but if you are going to be in contention to win the All A State, you'll have quite a few laughers getting there, just how it is, especially given the number of ("A") teams in the 9th. Not saying that it's the reason they've lost or that it's something where doing it differently would have guaranteed results, but it does make you wonder too. This past year and even the year before, I do think they'd have been better served just scheduling a game with a school like an LCA, doing a competitive tournament, and/or maybe played in a couple of "showcase" events where they'd get their kids in the big arena, tournament type atmosphere things. Thats just me though. At the same time, you can't really say that with any way of knowing, so people will always say, "well, we could have had the same results in region while not having our All A titles too though" and you can't really disagree.

Watching NCC, I've always felt like they were beatable because of their tendencies to have games where the scoring broke down kind of like it did here, and have wrote at length about that in some of the BGP State Rankings threads. I do feel for NCC because they always seem to be talented and just can't get over the hump. You start to wonder if it's now becoming a mental thing. They have a lot of talented kids who've had good years and good careers, so they have nothing to hang their heads about.

Spoke with someone who was at the game who I've watched tons of basketball with. They weren't aware of just how physical the refs were going to let them play, but the BBA is kind of known for letting them play, and it's okay when they do because they can do so without letting things get out of control. Hats off to Corbin for using that to their advantage early on, and just having a good game plan in general. Person I spoke with agreed that the double technical was a huge turning point that really seemed to spur Clay County. Looking ahead, they said that tomorrow's game with Knox Central should be a great one as well. They liked what they saw from Knox Central's balance and scoring, thought they shot the ball well, and that Marsee had some "wow" moments (but did say that they thought he might have some lingering effects of an injury). Tomorrow's game should be another war.

Tons of fouls, very physical game. Makes you feel for the officials that called it because it's always one where both sides are out for blood and nobody wants to back down. I know the Bluegrass officials who were calling it were some of the best in the State and I don't think tonight was any exception to that.

Hats off to Ryan House for refusing to lose, Wes Wolfe for carrying stretches of the first half to keep CC close, to Farmer's clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, Sexton's hustle, and Smith's still finding a way to get CC inspired and going despite having one of the toughest nights of his career. Probably leaving some people out, but trying to type quick so I apologize. Clay County trailed by 11 at halftime and only had 13 total points. The double-technical on Smith & Browning where they were going for the loose ball and Browning shoved Smith afterwards really seemed to fire Clay County up. Looking back, I think that was the real turning point.

Clay County's scoring: House - 22 Farmer - 19 Wolfe - 7 Sexton - 5 Smith - 4

Final from The Arena at Corbin. Clay County survives an awful first half, foul trouble, and a physical Corbin squad led by Andrew Taylor's 17 and the Tiger-tamer Zach Maguet's 12. This sounded more like a regional semi or final than a first rounder. Hate to see either side lose.

Inbound to Farmer and time expires. 57-52, Clay County wins. This was a WAR! Both teams will know they were in a game tomorrow. Tons of fouls on each team. Always so physical between these two.

Farmer picks up his 4th with 4 seconds left. Corbin at the line and cuts it to 57-52.

Farmer makes 2 free throws to stretch it to 7.

Corbin gets 1 of 2 and takes their final TO. Clay County leads by 5 and will be set to inbound with 12 seconds left.

Taylor with a deep 3 that misses and House grabs the board. He loses possession and Corbin gets fouled. 55-49, Corbin's Moore on the line with 12 ticks left.

Hopkins misses a three and CC's Will Sexton gets fouled with 22 seconds left as Maguet is charged with his 4th. Sexton makes the first. 55-49. Misses the second.

Corbin's Maguet picks up his 3rd and that puts CC's Ryan House on the line. House makes the both. 54-49. 22 for House.

Corbin comes out in a look that has everyone thinking they are going to ratchet up the pressure and CC will need to be strong with the ball.

Corbin gets a make and takes a full TO with 47.1 left. 52-49, Clay County leads and will be inbounding after the TO. Possession arrow favors Corbin. Both teams in the double. CC's Smith and Corbin's Hopper have fouled out.

House makes both to stretch it to 5, which is CC's largest lead of the evening.

Clay County's Trey Farmer winds up regaining possession for CC and Corbin's Hopper fouls Ryan House with :57 left. That's Hopper's 5th foul.

Trey Farmer will go to the line with 1:21 left in regulation. No one on the line for Clay Co. Farmer gets a shooter's roll on the first, makes the second, and CC leads by 3.

48-47 as Maguet hits each, Clay County with the ball holding onto a 1 point lead.

Hopper gets the ball as Farmer goes up and takes some contact. That leads to Blake Smith committing his 5th and Zach Maguet at the line with 1:27 left.

48-45, Corbin trails and they'll use one of their 3 timeouts. Possession arrow favors Corbin. CC's Sexton, Wolfe, and Smith have 4 fouls. Corbin has a few kids with 4 as well. CC commentary crew talking about how physical this game has been. Usually a knock down drag out when they meet and I don't envy an official trying to call it.

2:00 left in the game, 46-44, Clay Co leads. Smith goes to work on Maguet, kicks out to House, House hits Farmer and Farmer gets fouled and will go to the line. 47-44 on the first make. 48-44 on the second make. Clay Co leads with 1:52 left. Taylor has it knocked away, Blake Smith picks up his fourth going for the loose ball. Hopkins on the line.