tezzyrice

The same could be said about Beechwood as well if we're going to play the "who beat who by how much game". Boone struggled to beat Beechwood with the Tigers' best player hurt the whole game, while Holmes beat them by 19 and 21 with their best player healthy. Holmes also beat Ryle by 14 in Union (led by 19 with 1:00 to play), so let's not get wrapped up in one game my friend. It's more about match ups than anything and that is evident by Highlands easily handling Boone but losing to Holmes.

I agree. I hope some don't feel the need to debate it and take away from the topic at hand. Both would be well deserved winners, but as a Holmes fan, I couldn't be any more proud of Jamel for winning the award. I believe the coaches voted on the award, which makes it even more special since it was his fellow peers that nominated him for it. People have doubted him almost all his life because of his size and he has been the true example of what hard work and dedication can do for you. What he lacks in size, he makes up with in heart and desire for the game.

It's not like Holmes shot much better. They were 6-20 at halftime and it didn't get much better in the second half. Let's not act like Holmes played superb and Ryle just played bad because that is far from the truth. It was an ugly game by both teams, shooting wise.

This award is very well deserved and couldn't happen to a better kid. Riley is one of the hardest working kids in nky and I couldn't be any more proud of the young man. He has put in countless hours before school in the Holmes jr. high gym to improve his game over the past 6 years to get him to the level where he is today. I'm sure his mother will be very happy for him when she hears the news. She has been there supporting him and pushing him since day one back in elementary school. Keep up the good work "Meel". Good things will continue to come.

I agree it would have been a free throw shooting contest with 9th region refs...but at the same time, I think that's why the game got so physical, was because the refs were allowing it. At one point, Ahern reached in and smacked Riley's arm 3 times in a row without it being called. As for Pittman...how did he get the ball up to the rim if he indeed got smacked across the arms on the floor? Also, it was a one hand dunk attempt...not two. The theory of him getting smacked across the arms would make more sense had it been a two hand dunk attempt. Look at the pictures...why are Lamping's arms down to his side, if he indeed went for the ball??? Lamping clearly undercut him as he was about to throw it down...that's why Pittman was so upset.

We'll continue to agree to disagree then. We have to remember they let the kids play more physical in the 16th region than they do up here. Both teams got away with ALOT of hacks around the rim last night. Do you think a 9th region ref would have called it intentional? I've seen a few intentionals this year on less severe fouls than that one.

Beechwood had a 16-4 record in region but 10 of those wins were against D3 competition. (Smallest schools in nky.) Beechwood was 6-5 against D1 and D2 schools in nky. Considering Ryle beat Beechwood head to head, I'd say they are a much tougher opponent than Beechwood. Highlands was 14-5 in the region with NCC being 13-6. NCC beat Highlands twice and beat them by 22 just a week ago. Again, I'd consider NCC a much tougher opponent than Highlands. So both of Holmes' first two opponents have beaten Boone's first two opponents, so how do you figure Boone got a tougher draw?? Don't let records fool you.

Nothing wrong with that Coop. If we agreed on everything, there'd be nothing to debate on here. :thumb:

We'll continue to agree to disagree then. Of course Ryle fans are going to say it was a good clean hard foul. Would you have thought the same thing though had that been a Ryle player going up and a Holmes player did that? I'm going to assume the Ryle fans would have reacted the same way and called it intentional as well, so let's look at it from both perspectives here. Also, I think Holmes fans were more worried about their player getting hurt than seeing him dunk. Pittman had every right to be upset after the play...I saw several Ryle players react to MUCH smaller things than that during the game...especially Stauffer.

Gotta get through the region first fellas...but I thought it was a nice tribute to the season they're having and a few great one on one sessions with Rico, Eli, and Coach Henley, as well as some great highlights. Loved the close up of the banner from last year followed by the highlights and dunks from the state title game and this year.

I have to respectfully disagree. Pittman was in the air about to dunk when Lamping ran in to him with the body and undercut him. His intent was clear. Why do you think he missed the dunk? Because Lamping ran in to him as he was about to throw it down, which threw him away from the rim. Had he swiped at the ball, like you said, Pittman wouldn't have even touched the rim with the ball. It was a one hand dunk attempt...not two. From the pictures you can tell that Lamping made no attempt toward the ball. I've seen Pittman get hacked harder than that before and not complain or react, but rather get up and go about his business. Bottom line, it wasn't a very classy move by Lamping. Pittman had every right to be upset after the play as it should have been called an intentional foul...seems like you and maybe one or two others are the only ones who disagree. There were several Ryle, Dixie, and NCC parents sitting behind me and even they agreed it should have been called intentional. One positive though, after the game during the handshake, both gave one another a friendly half hug to bury the hatchet and showed great sportsmanship, which is what it's all about.

Just saw this video on Fox 19's webpage...I believe it's from a few weeks ago, but a nice segment about the Dogs leading up to what will hopefully be another run at Rupp. A lot of great highlights as well for those who haven't seen them this year: http://www.fox19.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=15048&topVideoCatNoB=109491&topVideoCatNoC=104760&topVideoCatNoD=141804&topVideoCatNoE=142722&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3401102

I agree. :thumb:

Hey I share your sentiments my friend. I love that the BOKC is hosting the region and find it somewhat comical people continue to try and find negatives about it because it's "new and different." I just felt the box office people were very slow with handling cash and printing out the tickets. I didn't see anyone use a credit card that was ahead of me.

Very true. The fact still remains though, despite being "offensively challenged", playing bad, not shooting well, and every other negative that people continue to point out after Holmes victories, they're still winning. Let's remember these are just KIDS! They're not going to be perfect every game like some of us adults expect them to be. Who cares if they win by 7 or 20? A win is a win...at this point in the season it's about "survive and advance." I'm sure Coach Henley and his players could care less about "style points."

I arrived to the game last night around 7:15 and waited in line for almost 20 minutes to get a ticket, with just 5 people ahead of me...I found that somewhat ridiculous.

Has it ever occurred to anyone that maybe Ryle plays pretty good defense themselves? Again, they have given up more than 60 points just 4 times this year and have scored in the 30's 5 times...I think that tells you their games are going to be pretty low scoring regardless of the opponent. Holmes has scored under 50 points just 4 times this year...so why all of a sudden are they "offensively challenged?" One game doesn't describe a team. It's about the match ups, and lately Holmes has been playing good defensive teams who don't like to get out and run. (Holy Cross, Ryle) Beechwood tried running with them in the district championship and got blown out of the gym...ah how we forget though because of one game. :idunno:

On a side note, with last night's win Holmes has reached the 30 win mark for the second year in a row. When was the last time a 9th region school won 30 games in back to back years? I think Holmes may have done it in the late 70's but was that the last time?

Holmes not putting away their opponents has more to do with them playing to the level of their competition. I don't buy the "level of competition once you reach the tournament will increase significantly and they may struggle" line. Holmes has proved they can beat the state's elite teams. They own the second most wins in the state against top 25 teams. IMO they turn it on against the better teams (Scott Co, Franklin Co, Ballard, Bryan Station, etc)...they just need to play with that same intensity against the average teams. Again, they will be fine.

Holmes wins aren't going to be very pretty, regardless of what people "expect." I think Dom Johnson sums it up best in regards to this Holmes team: "We were just moving the ball, getting our teammates involved and getting open shots," said Holmes senior Dominique Johnson. "That's it. That's the whole game. "... But we got relaxed. That's our weakness right there: relaxing when we get a lead. We've got to work on that." When Holmes is moving the ball and playing within the team concept, they're very tough to defend, which has been shown time after time this year when they put 10 and 15-0 runs on teams. It's after this though that teams are able to get back in the game because Holmes relaxes some and doesn't stay aggressive, because they know they have the ability to turn it on whenever. IMO they lack consistency offensively, more than anything. They can put a 10-0 run on you in a 2 minute span. They just need to keep that intensity the whole game.

I agree. In the second half when they started running the offense through the big fella, he had a personal 7-0 run and put Holmes back in control. Holmes has to get him the ball in the post...more often than not, he's either going to score or get to the line as nobody in the region is quick enough to guard him one on one. I'd expect to see Coach Henley try to utilize him more against NCC and hopefully in the finals. When Pittman plays with anger and aggression like he did in the second half last night, he is "a monster", to quote your very own Billy Hicks.

From nky.com: The last time the Holmes boys' basketball team stepped on the floor at the Bank of Kentucky Center, it put on an offensive clinic en route to an impressive victory over Scott County, the state's top-ranked team in the preseason. It was a performance that vaulted the Bulldogs to the top of the state polls and into national rankings. Thursday night, in their first return trip to the arena for a Ninth Region tournament first-round game, the Bulldogs picked up where they left off. This time, however, their hot-shooting subsided and the Bulldogs were forced to grind out a 41-34 victory over Ryle. http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090306/SPT0302/903060398/

Back to the game.... Pittman finished with a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Holmes doesn't press and force the tempo for several reasons: 1) Lack of depth. Last year they had enough depth to press the whole game, so they did...this year, not so much. When you're only going 7 deep, you have to be smart to conserve your energy for late game situations. Usually a lot more fouls are called on a team who presses as well because they're being so aggressive. 2) Shot selection. Too many times when Holmes starts running they force and rush shots and quit passing...like they did last night when they got up 14-2. It starts becoming more of a "It's my turn to shoot" type game. Henley has been quoted in years past as saying this was the reason he started slowing the ball down and running a motion offense. 3) Ball control. With teams trying to somewhat slow the game down against Holmes (regardless of what anyone else says), it's important for them to capitalize on every possession, as they aren't going to blow a team out of the gym with their shooting. Holmes does just fine with making other teams adapt to their style. They held Scott Co to their lowest point total of the year and after giving up 86 to Bryan Station in the first game, held them to 56 the second time around. They also held Ballard, another team who likes to run, to just 41 points. I'd say as long as they continue to put W's up, it doesn't matter what type of offense they run. Discipline on offense and defense will beat out run and gun any day.

NCC doesn't match up well with the Dogs. I see Holmes really dominating on the boards and getting in to the lane for a lot of easy buckets. Offensively, I see the Breds having trouble to score against Holmes defense. Holmes led the first game by as many as 18 or 19 and led by 10+ for pretty much the whole game. I see a similar result Sunday afternoon: Holmes 57 Newcath 43