tezzyrice

Key stat to the game IMO: Rebounding: Holmes- O-12 D-19 Total- 31 Boone- O-5 D-14 Total 19 Holmes shot 32% from the field. Boone shot 39% from the field.

Official Box Score: Holmes (33-2) - Pittman 4 5 13, R. Johnson 6 1 13, D. Johnson 1 0 2, Housley 1 0 2, Rice 0 2 2. Totals 12 8 32. Boone County (26-5) - Cotton 3 0 6, Brown 3 2 8, Earls 2 2 6, Gabbard 1 0 2, McFarland 1 3 5, Spalding 1 0 2. Totals 11 7 29. Holmes- 6-8-9-9- 32 Boone Co- 4-8-8-9- 29

I saw that. His two points came in the first half though.

^^^See page 4. Post #164 has several pictures from the game.

This was my first time seeing either team tonight and here are my observations: - Difference in the game was GRC's inability to break the press in the second half. First half they did a nice job because they were playing tough defense which limited how much MC could actually press, as they just didn't score. In the second half they got somewhat lazy on defense which allowed MC to pick up their scoring and get in their press to put more pressure on the Cards. - I was very impressed with Hatton offensively, Zollo all around the rim, and Rogers on the boards. Zollo and Rogers are tough around the rim and I felt GRC went away from Hatton too much in the second half. Stenzel is a flat out stud for only being a soph but has to be smarter with his shot selection. - Barner's had a nice dunk, I believe in the second half? That seemed to change the momentum a little bit. - Pawsat stepped up big time in the first half and also hit several clutch shots in the second half. For his size, I was surprised he had such a nice outside shot. - Both teams really get after it defensively. I was impressed with Hamm, Downing, and Middleton's on the ball defense all night, especially Hamm. Williams for GRC is a very scrappy player and I love the way he plays the game. He's only 5'7 but was able to guard ANYONE on the floor. Pretty exciting game and I'm thankful I got to witness it first hand. Good luck to the Royals at state. Hopefully we'll see a rematch of last year's state title game in the semi's...only this time, the good guys prevail.

I agree. The BOKC did a nice job with introductions...dimming the lights, spotlighting the players, and also getting the fans up and involved during the introductions. I think after tonight both the 9th and 10th will agree that the BOKC is the place to hold the region semi's and title game. Tonight had to have been the biggest crowd ever to witness a 9th region title game. Not sure if there was 8500 there like TOG said, but there was every bit of 7000 there. The bottom horse shoe was 3/4 full and the upper arena was probably 1/3 to 1/2 full. It felt like a mini sweet 16 game.

I thought Holmes did a much better job this time around in defending the back screens/cuts that Boone killed them with in the first game. That was the difference in this one IMO. Boone just didn't get a lot of easy shots like they did in game one. Both teams layed it all on the line tonight. I hope now the Boone fans who criticized their coach so much last year and early in the year this year realize they have a great coach in Mcqueary. He has put his team in position to win every game they've played this year. Not 100% sure but didn't Boone tie their record for wins in a single season with 26? I know their 03/04 team was I believe 26-4 or 26-5 and also lost in the region title game.

Yes...he actually played a lot in the first half. He had I believe two points on two free throws to put Holmes ahead early on. Spoke with his dad Mike a few minutes ago.

I was wondering the same thing.

I agree. Cotton has really improved his game from last year. He is not only their best athlete, but at times is their best player on the floor IMO. He gets overshadowed by Mcfarland A LOT. He will be a top 5 or 6 player in NKY next year IMO. I think he and Gabbard are Boone's two best juniors.

I agree with pretty much everything in this post. Neither team played stall ball tonight. Both teams had moments where they just passed the ball around the perimeter and it might have seemed like they were stalling, but the way both teams were getting after it on defense, I can see why they slowed down their possessions so much. It hasn't been mentioned much but despite Rico having a hell of a game, I felt Cotton did a decent job defending him. Rico earned every point he got tonight.

A few highlights from the game: http://wlwt.highschoolplaybook.com/media/ShowMedia.do?mid=cafbf9a5b65bb6104e57dde88d1997ea

Pretty sure there was a foul on one of the Boone players before that play. Riley grabbed a big rebound and got pushed to the ground from behind and instead of calling a foul they call a travel after he hits the ground face first. IF that foul gets called, Brown never even has the opportunity for that shot....

Considering they gave up an average of 34 ppg (well below all three of their opponents averages), I'll take the way they're playing defense right now any day of the week. Holmes continues to win, despite all of the negatives that people point out after EVERY Holmes W.

Dead on...I agree.

Holmes has avenged BOTH of their losses this year...32-2 speaks for itself.

Holmes wins the region championship and people continue to try and find negatives about their team and players. :ohbrother:

I agree 100%. The way some make it sound, Brown was down there doing the defense all by himself.

Let's not act like Brown was doing it all himself. There was usually a defender waiting to provide help from other block as Boone was sitting in a 2-3 zone. Just watched the highlights on ICN 6 from the game and the few times Pittman was matched up one on one with Brown, he got the ball and converted.

:thumb:

Teammates have to feed him the ball down low too...let's not leave that little fact out. The few times he got the ball down low in the first half he took advantage.

My point is, you point out that Brown gave Pittman fits down low but yet he had 8 points at the half and I believe was 2 for 3 from the field?

So you wouldn't consider Phares, Euton, or Donovan (Franklin Co) D1 caliber players? Pittman dominated all 3 and also had 4 blocked shots in both games against those players. Also, how can you say his #1 asset is shooting the 3 when he's only shooting 30% from the arc on the year? :confused: He's led his team to a 32-2 record and his team just won the region championship, so why is there any reason to bash the kid? BTW, I believe Billy Hicks described Pittman as a "monster" around the rim...I'll take his word for it. :sssh:

Wasn't Pittman the leading scorer in the first half between both teams? I really don't remember whether it was he or Rico...pretty sure he had 8 at the half though..

:lol: You obviously didn't see him against SC then when he dominated both Phares and Euton...to say he can't score inside unless a 6'0 guard is on him is ridiculous considering the players he's went up against this year and the success he's had.