StraightShooter

I'm gonna call LC in an upset by 4. Should be a great game.

Great job, Lady Rebels. Best wishes at Diddle.

Lots of credit has to go to Coach Fookes. You may not like her style, but she is a darn good coach.

Will be very close. No idea who wins but pulling for the Rebs. Two very good coaches plus good teams.

Just going by expectations I had. Boone handled Ryle easily 3 times (12, 15, and 20 point margins) and the Dawgs struggled to beat them. Ryle struggles offensively.

Best wishes to the Lady Neers and congrats on another win. The SK girls' BB program shows what a coach can do. It seems like SK was in the tank before Coach Stowers took over. Coach Dawn will do the same thing at NC although NC was already a good program.

I've already explained my view and have no dawg in the fight. No need to discuss any further. Here's hoping for a chance for a Holmes-Boone final. Congrats to Holmes on doing what they had to do to beat a scrappy Ryle team that shot very poorly and still only lost by 7 to a top team in KY.

Riley is very good and will be the unsung hero if Holmes wins the region and brings home a state title to the Dawg Pound. I really like the way he plays the game.

It would have been a FT shooting contest with 9th region refs. I did not see any intentional fouls called in the games I went to this year so this probably would not have been called intentional since contact was made with Pittman on his arms on the floor as he was getting ready to do a Lebron James Jr. One thing for sure, the players would have had to adjust their style with 9th region refs or everyone may have fouled out.

It's called adapt. Holmes is good enough to adapt to the officiating. If they don't win the 9th, look in the mirror. They are the favorite but not by much.

It was clear to you and Holmes fans and we will have to disagree. It was a hustle play where the Ryle player made up quite a bit of distance and came down very hard across his arms and prevented a dunk. The ball was attached to the arm. Hard foul does not equal intentional. The refs let most everything go both ways all night. The lady ref grabbed Pittman when she saw it might get out of control. That might have been the best move all night. The refs observed a very physical game just like the rest of us.

Both teams got away with lots of hacks so I could not say that the NBA/college style of play really helped one team more than the other. Ryle looks "scared" to shoot in the 5-6 games I've seen them play this year. Always seems to be a lot of hesitation to throw up the rock with even a wide-open look. That is not successful basketball strategy. Their coach should get out and watch Elliott County play. Now, that is some fun basketball. If one of the 9th region teams can't win state, I guess I'm a closet EC fan because I like run and gun.

Boone can beat either team. Either team can beat the Rebels. I do think that Boone has a better chance of beating Holmes than does Highlands. At this time, the games will probably be close regardless of opponent. Boone is only worried about Highlands and cannot think about Holmes right now. Tourney time brings that extra bit of defensive intensity - gotta love it.

Holmes had the best season in the 9th region and had some key victories over very good teams such as Scott Co and Franklin Co and others. Our only signature win was vs. Holmes but that was at home. Ryle does not score many points and did not have a point guard that penetrated and caused defensive problems for other teams so only Ryle fans or Holmes-bashers could have ever predicted an upset. Beechwood had one of their best teams ever with a lot of seniors and some felt they could beat Boone in a first-round upset. They almost did. Ryle played a whale of a game and most people were very surprised to see them leading in this game in the second half, especially after trailing 14-2 early.

It looked like a Holmes runaway after they drained their first 3 or 4 treys. I guess even the cameraman thought that 14 points was enough for Holmes to beat the Raiders.

Just reporting what I witnessed. I have no idea who this man is. But, I'm guessing he wears red-tinted glasses.

Incidentally, a scuffle nearly broke out in the tunnel as the teams were headed down the same path to the locker room. The Holmes player was still mouthing about the foul. Cooler heads and some coaches prevailed or it could have been ugly.

Defense by Holmes will make them difficult to beat. Boone has the best chance IF they get by the Birds. I'll say Holmes by 17 over NCC.

Agreed. I thought NC would win handily by double digits. Great effort by Dixie.

Congrats to Holmes on winning a defensive battle. Ryle played just as tough on D as Holmes except that the Dawgs blocked a bunch more shots and that was one main difference in the game. Ryle got lots of shots underneath but Holmes' great ability to block shots and change trajectories is why the Dawgs prevailed. As I predicted, the 9th region will not be a cakewalk with 3 double-digit wins for Holmes. These 16th region refs allow a college/NBA style of play and that may make it harder for Holmes to win the region than the state. If Holmes survives the 9th, they will score a lot more points in games at Rupp. Best wishes to all Ryle seniors. They left it on the floor.

Very true. It was a very hard foul across the arms. Correct call was made.

It could happen tonight but, VERY doubtful that such a young team will win in the tourney environment. That will be a huge factor in a big NCC win tonight. Dixie has had some pretty woeful offensive nights so this has the makings of a blowout with revenge by NCC, young team from Dixie, key senior players on NCC. Dixie's chances are slim.

I do agree that Holmes has the best chance from the 9th to actually win state. But, I'll root for the u-dog since I'm not a Holmes fan. Plus, a humongous upset would mean that another team from Boone County has a better chance to win the region. GO RAIDERS! I actually hope it is not an easy game.

Already been an explanation for that upset. NCC by 15.

KY is wanted each year by the NCAA because of our great fans that will help fill up a regional site. So, I say they make it . They certainly do not deserve to even be considered.