CincySportsFan

Grant and Coach Kinmon needs wins no matter when or where. Can't see them giving one away.

Don't get me wrong. I think Grant would have loved to win the game. However, if you're in this situation:

- 11-15 on the year

- Play Simon Kenton in the district in two days

- You just saw SK lose one of their players to injury the night before

I think it's reasonable for Coach Kinmon to play it the way he did.

He can make up for whatever detractors there may be (if any) after this game (Owen County), with a win Monday night. I don't know that the opposite would be true. Beating Owen doesn't amount to a whole lot if you're one and done in the districts.

Coach Duvall, on the other hand, faces a Carroll County team he's beaten twice this year already (both by double digits)...and he's got two extra days to prepare for it. A little bit easier situation to be in.

And congrats to Owen...not just on the win...but on the season (17-8). And even in the losses (Gallatin, Holmes, Anderson, Boone)...you gotta feel they've prepared themselves for the postseason.

Good luck to both teams in the districts!!

I'll be disappointed if the WV-GC game is anything but close down the stretch. Even though Walton has lost 3 out of their last 4, and Grant has won 4 out of their last 5...this should shape up to be a dandy! I know Grant may have the momentum (and home court advantage), but the Lady Bearcats and their seniors won't want to go out this way. Still, it's tough to be a team 3 times in a year...and when they're this evenly matched....

Grant may win only because they've had a few more games to deal with their loss (Gorby) than Walton has (Krahl). Will be interesting to see how the youngsters for both teams handle the pressure.

Should be worth the price of admission Tuesday night!!!

A couple of uncertainties about this game...

How healthy is P. Ponzer?

What kind of a night will Walton have from outside?

How much mental effort will W-town be putting into "getting even" versus winning the game?

Any one of these could turn a blowout into a nailbiter, and vice-versa.

But, if Walton shoots free throws like they did the other night (29 of 31 I think)...they could pull away using the free throw line, even if they're only having an "average" night from the floor. If they cool down from the stripe, however, they'll really could feel some pressure. Williamstown's in a no-lose situation...making them a dangerous team at this time of the year. Still...I'll say Walton by 8 or 9.

It will come down to the wire!

Should things be close at the end...think the fans that stuck around from the winner of the first game won't be suddenly jumping on Grant's bandwagon?

I know WV has already beat SK this year, but it took a career night from Ponzer to do it. I think WV or Williamstown would much rather face Grant for the championship.

Grant County settled down & came back in the 2nd & took a 2pt lead into the half.

Nice for Grant to have the "comeback" on the other foot (compared to earlier in the week vs. N. Oldham). Sets up a great matchup in the district. Might be the best of all four first-round games (boys or girls!)

Will be interesting to see if Grant will try to run with Simon Kenton. Also wonder how the rotation will be affected with SK having not one, but two players out to injury. And with it being on Grant's home court...too close to call.

Won't be surprised if it's within 5-7 either way.

Tough spot for Grant to be in. You really don't want to play the game at all, since you've got Simon Kenton in the district just two days away. But, you feel you owe it to Owen County to show up with more than just your JV team. In the end though, the game meant more to Owen (playing for the seniors, on their home court, etc.) than it did for Grant. Just hope everybody made it out healthy (on both sides).

Now let the fun begin!!

Don't know what DD will do for Owen (since it is their Senior Night)...but, after seeing what happened to Simon Kenton last night against Highlands...it wouldn't surprise me if Ron Kinmon has his starters see VERY LIMITED playing time. Any chance Grant has of knocking off the Pioneers on Monday depends on the Braves having everyone at 100%.

Congrats to Coach Jones and the Wildcats! Wraps up a very nice regular season, with some quality wins in it. Good to see a smaller school like Gallatin County take it to some of the "big boys".

Now, to take care of business in the district...and hopefully make some noise down at Henry County in a couple of weeks!!

Hope there's a big crowd there Tuesday. The girls deserve it...and it definitely would help!!

If this is a game that was played two weeks ago...I think it'd be a great game. But, with it happening just a couple of days before districts start...I wouldn't expect a whole lot (especially from Grant, who plays on Monday). While I think both coaches would love to win the game to have some momentum going into next week, I think both are smart enough to know there's some "bigger fish to fry" later on, and won't empty the playbook just for the "W". An injury now to a starter could be catastrophic for either team.

And with the weather the way it is, I wouldn't be surpised it's cancelled. The bad thing would be the fact that it's probably senior night for Owen. The good news is that the 31'st district is at Owen Co. this year...so maybe a chance to recognize them then????

Simon Kenton is easily the class of the district at this point in time. Would be a huge upset if Williamstown could pull off the win. But, two years ago they nearly did just that! Good luck to Coach Wilhoit and the girls. For a still relatively young group (age-wise), they're fun to watch.

The Grant-Walton matchup could go either way. Grant has all the tools to give just about anybody fits, if everything's clicking (see first half versus N. Oldham!). Coach Guffey has four girls that are solid on the blocks, so that could present (foul) problems for Dixon at Walton. And with Hopperton and Johnson out front, they're a threat from beyond the arc. The wildcard could be Plunkett. She's just a sophomore and getting more and more comfortable in her role since Gorby went down. She's not the penetrator that Candace was, but she's got a nice jumper. Walton will have to cover her, or they could get burned. And as is the case with WV's boys team...a lot depends on how they're shooting outside. Hargett's going to get her's (don't see Grant being able to stop her completely), but if Heeger and Co. have a cold night...it could be a long trip back home. When all's said and done...Grant by 5.

Won't matter who wins the GC-WV game, Simon Kenton will win the district...and be a favorite to win the 8th region.

Agreed!

Grant had all facets working in the first half. Looked the best they have all year as a team. Don't know what happened in the second half.

Nice for the seniors to go out with a win on their home court. Could make it very interesting next week against Walton.