ColonelMike

Halftime: Oldham County 25 Collins 16 Senior Night at Oldham County Adrianna Palazzolo returns from a two-game injury absence and leads OC at the half with 10 points. Oldham a scorching 9 of 11 at the stripe (81.8%)....both teams sloppy with the ball as Collins has 13 turnovers and Oldham 11. Live coverage continues at www.pegasussportsky.com

Glad to have you!

Oldham County's game with Collins scheduled for tonight is ON and will be played. Tip-off at 6 pm. FREE, live hi-def video coverage starts at 5:30 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com (the broadcast will continue with coverage of the boys' game immediately after.) CM

This game is definitely ON, per the Oldham County HS athletic director. Pegasus Sports will still be broadcasting it, as well. On air at 5:30 pm with pregame for the girls' contest, followed by coverage of the boys' game. www.pegasussportsky.com CM

I don't know Teagan well, but during the small interactions I've had with him, he seems like one of the most likeable athletes to come through the 8th Region in a long time. He's easy to root for.

LOL.....you mean WV "Bearcats", maybe? ? (BTW, WELCOME to BGPreps!!!) CM

This is always a great matchup, though there have been some curious blowouts. I think this one will be close.....

Absolutely brutal. Spencer probably matches up best with Anderson - but there's no easy night in the 30th this year, regardless.

Who: Oldham County Colonels vs. Collins Titans When: Tuesday, 1/31/23 approximately 7:45 pm tip (immediately following OC-Collins girls) Where: Oldham County HS, Buckner, KY Broadcast: Begins at 5:30 pm with pregame before girls' game; FREE live hi-def video on www.pegasussportsky.com What has become one of the 8th Region's best rivalries is re-visited Tuesday night in Buckner as the Collins Titans tangle with the Oldham County Colonels. The game will tip about 20 minutes after the conclusion of the girls' game, which will start the doubleheader at 6 pm. These two teams have treated us to some of the greatest high school games in the region over the past dozen years. Oldham leads the all-time series by a significant margin at 13-4, but Collins has kept it close when it counts: Oldham's lead in post-season tournament games is just 4-3. The Titans have been a Top 20 team much of the year, and - as usual - Collins' defense has led the way. That said, this year's Titans' squad has been one of head coach Chris Gaither's better scoring team, with veterans throughout. Kenyon Goodin is one of the most under-rated (not sure how, but he seems to be overlooked a little....) in the region, and has the capacity to score from anywhere on the court. Running mate Quintin Simmons is a great complementary talent that makes it very difficult to concentrate too much on Goodin. Collins prefers to play at the rim, and their defense helps the offense by creating turnovers and transition opportunities. Don't be deceived by the Collins' shooting percentages from deep; the Titans have talent to hit the outside looks if an opponent is foolish enough to give them good looks. Isaih Cochran is the third leg of the Collins core group; Cochran averages 11.7 ppg. The Titans are one of the region's best shooting teams, hitting 49% from the floor overall, 38% beyond the arc, and 74% at the line. The game will be a great matchup because Oldham will counter Collins' suffocating, athletic defense with one of the region's most explosive offenses, led by star junior Max Green, who seems to have really hit his stride of late. Green is averaging 25 ppg while hitting 49% of his shots - even though 44% of his shots (170 of 389) come from beyond the arc. A phenomenal shooter at all levels, Green is hitting 41% beyond the arc and 92% at the line (tops in KY). He has been held under 20 points only twice in 21 games, with a low of 13 against Lexington Christian. He has eclipsed 30 points three times. Oldham is primarily a 3-man team, yet they are one of the top scoring teams in Region 8. Luke Amburgey is a powerful inside player, averaging 14 points and 7 boards a game, and Abram Stinebruner - Louis Dampier's grandson - averages 12.2 ppg and hits 45% of his threes (55 of 123). Overall, Oldham 46% overall, 40% from beyond the arc, and 76% from the stripe. The edge may go to the team that gets some offensive production outside of their "big 3"....but at the end of the day, this will be a delightful matchup of scoring offense vs scoring defense. Can Collins slow down Green? Can Oldham come close to their scoring average against the stingy Titans? Oldham has the home-court advantage but Collins figures to be favored in what could be a very close contest. Free live video coverage on www.pegasussportsky.com

Nicely done, as always, AWB!! I so hated to have to step down as the 8th Region reporter (due to circumstances beyond my control), but I'm thrilled that Guru found someone as knowledgeable and dedicated to the 8th Region as you!! You do us all proud! I generally like your rankings this week, but cannot shake the feeling that Woodford is under-ranked. I have seen the Jackets play, and I don't think they've really played up to their potential yet, but I can't help feeling that this is one team I wouldn't want to face come tournament time. The year has been full of surprises, and most of them good.... ....the 8th overall has been much more competitive across-the-board than any of us - even incurable optimists like me - expected. ...Three of the four districts are VERY competitive. The 29th is always very competitive because all 3 teams are Oldham County squads and every game is a backyard brawl. But the 30th and 32nd are wildly loaded this year - some very good teams aren't going to make it to New Castle. SK looks like a definite favorite in the 32nd....but in the 30th?? Anything could happen in the 30th. ....If you aren't attending games in the 30th this year, YOU NEED TO GO NOW. There is a stunning array of talent in the region this year, and I am amazed almost every night by the performances. Teagan Moore (Owen), Dylan Hammonds (Grant), Dallas Roberts (North Oldham), Max Green (Oldham County), Jasper Johnson (Woodford County) lead the pack, but it's going to be hard to figure who gets left out of the All-Region team this year with talented players like Camden Cox and Luke Erhardt (Spencer), Gabe Dynes and Travis Krohman (SK), Brax Ward (Owen), Wilcoxson (Trimble), Simmons and Goodin (Collins), Gutman, Dixon, and Krohman (W-V), Amburgey (Oldham County), Luke Anderson & Ian Higdon (North Oldham), Julian Miles (South), and on and on and on......lots of arguments to be made for a lot of talented young men. (Yes, I KNOW I left some guys off that list....!!!) This may be the most talented the region has looked, top to bottom, in many, many years. Do yourself a favor and head out to your local HS gym..... I'll be in Buckner this week....Oldham County vs. Collins (girl/boy DH) on Tuesday....and Oldham County vs. Simon Kenton on Friday. OC vs Collins and OC vs SK should be dynamite games... CM

That game will be broadcast on Pegasus Sports at www.pegasussportsky.com

Jacob Cheesman has done a great job in Williamstown. The Demons are still a bit of a dark horse in the loaded 32nd, but Wtown has proven that they aren't to be taken lightly. They shoot lights out (78%+) at the line, and have three players averaging in double digits. Granted, the schedule hasn't been the strongest, but this is a veteran club that has Cheesman's system down pat, and the players have played together for a long time. Chemistry alone can win you games sometimes... Whether the Demons can pull an upset and advance to the Region tourney remains to be seen, but you have to tip your hat to what's going on in Williamstown!

South Oldham vs. Spencer County TONIGHT. Crestwood, KY Tip at 7:30 pm Broadcast: FREE live hi-def video coverage starts at 7 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com South Oldham will try to end a two-game losing streak against follow region 8 power Spencer County..... South junior guard Ella Morrison (20 ppg) tallied 40 points in the Lady Dragons' last outing, a narrow loss to Walton Verona. Morrison was 10 of 17 inside the arc, 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 6 at the line... Spencer center Daveigh Reichenbach looks to closer to 100% tonight after suffering an ankle injury against Bullitt Central a few games back. She played Saturday against Grant County and the expectation is that she will start tonight... Pegasus Sports' Mike Montgomery and Frank Wright have the call from Crestwood....FREE live video coverage starts at 7 pm on www.pegasussportsky.com

There is also a 6-team district in the 8th. The 31st has Carroll County, Trimble County, Gallatin County, Eminence, Henry County, and Owen County. Since 5 of those schools comprise most of the 6 "A" teams in the 8th, the 8th Region All-A tournament almost functions as a pre-district "practice run" for the 31st teams. The 32nd is a 4-team district and the 29th is a 3-team. The 29th became a 3-team district when Trimble successfully lobbied to be removed from the district because they struggled to compete with the Oldham schools. They were moved to the 31st, leaving 3 teams. Can't imagine the KHSAA - which, like pretty much everyone, isn't all that fond of 3-team districts - will allow that to stay in place much longer.

Current District status: Oldham Co 1-0 North Oldham 0-0 South Oldham 0-1 Oldham gets the #1 district seed and a "free pass" to the region 8 tourney with a win tonight. A North win leaves everything still in limbo until next Friday's North vs. South clash in Crestwood. If all three teams wind up 1-1 in district seeding play, the tiebreaker is point margins. The teams' combined victory margins, up to a maximum of 20 points, decides the #1 seed in the district. In the event there is still a tie, the Cantrell ratings would decide the number one seed. Oldham County is now 9-7 and has won 6 of their last 7 games. Guard Max Green is one of the region's hottest scorers right now - in the last 5 games, Green is averaging 28.8 ppg. He's been remarkably consistent in that stretch, too - his high game was 26 (vs Franklin County) and his high game was 32 (vs Walton-Verona). His other three games were 28, 29, and 29 points and included matchups against solid opposition in Eastern, McLean County, and county rival South Oldham. Word from the OC camp is that Luke Amburgey should be close to 100% after taking a hard fall last Friday against South Oldham. The Colonels will need him to be at his best, working on the inside against the twin towers for North Oldham. Amburgey had 25 points / 9 rebounds against South Oldham, but was a tad more pedestrian against Walton Verona, with 8 points / 6 boards. Look for his play to be very pivotal to the Colonels' chances. North is 16-5 and ranked #4 in KY according to Bluegrasspreps.com. The Mustangs have won 5 in a row and 9 of their last ten, with their only loss during that stretch by 8 points to #3 LexCath. North has gotten a lot from everyone; four different players have led the Mustangs in scoring in the last five games, including Dallas Roberts (twice), Luke Anderson (a monster 36 point / 10 rebound effort vs. Jeffersonville, IN), Jack Fischer, and Ryan Howard. It's significant that both Fischer and Howard have taken a turn as the leading scorers; until 5 games ago, both were reserves. With Jack Scales (out indefinitely with a shoulder injury) out, Fischer (who started some games last year) has moved into the starting role, and Howard has become the first guard sub off the bench. Despite the (temporary?) loss of Scales, arguably one of the 2 or 3 best 3 point shooters in the region, the Mustangs continue to be a serious outside threat. In the four games he has been out, the Mustangs have made 37.3% of their threes (28 of 75), including a 9 of 16 night against Jeffersonville and a 9 of 20 night vs. Dixie Heights. Ryan Howard is 6 for 10 beyond the arc in the last 4 games and Grant Neal has been 9 for 21 over that period. Both teams can score - both are averaging 68-69 ppg. North has shot the ball a little better this year, hitting 51.2% from the floor, undoubtedly because of the many good looks their bigs - Luke Anderson and Ian Higdon - get inside, and because both bigs are excellent passers, setting up clean outside looks from their many perimeter shooters. North looks to have more scorers that they can put on the floor at any given time. Oldham may have the single best scorer on the court in Max Green, though. He has been strong all season, but he has really elevated his play of late. A great leaper, Green contributes in a lot of other ways as well, and is a superb rebounder at over 6 / contest.

Henry County hosts South Oldham in the final game of the 2023 Henry County Classic in New Castle. FREE, live hi-def video coverage starts around 6:30 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com Henry is having a rough year, but often seems to play South Oldham close. South Oldham has won two in a row to even their record at 2-2; South is making over 10 threes per game.

Grant County and Spencer County square off in what should be a very entertaining game in the third contest of the Henry County Classic in New Castle on Saturday. Free live hi-def video coverage starts around 5 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com Who wins? Can Spencer slow Dylan Hammonds? Can Grant outshoot the sharpshooters from Spencer?

It's "OC vs OC" in the second game of Saturday's Henry County Classic in New Castle. Should be a very interesting matchup; both teams are playing well of late. Oldham has won 6 of 7, heading into Friday's matchup against Top 10 North Oldham, and has registered wins over credible opposition such as Elizabethtown, McLean County, Danville Christian, and Walton-Verona during that stretch. The Colonels have a potent offense and have scored 62 points or more in 9 of their last 10 games. Owen County has won 7 in a row, and has impressive wins over Walton-Verona (by 18) and Spencer County (by 20) during that run. Star guard Teagan Moore has signed with Western Kentucky, and has been a monster of late. He excels in big games; he had 44 against Spencer and 39 against W-V. FREE, live hi-def video coverage starts at approximately 3:25 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com

SK vs. Collins in a battle of 8th Region heavyweights Saturday in the Henry County Classic at the home of the 8th Region, the Roy L. Winchester Gym in New Castle. Tip has been re-scheduled for 2 pm. Free, live hi-def video coverage starts at 1:30 pm on www.pegasussportsky.com.

This will be a game to watch! But if you can't make it, check it out for FREE, in live, hi-def video on www.pegasussportsky.com

Henry County has had to re-order the times a bit: 2 pm - Collins vs. Simon Kenton 3:30 pm - Oldham Co vs. Owen County 5 pm - Grant County vs. Spencer County 6:30 pm - South Oldham vs. Henry County All games will be broadcast FREE, LIVE, in HI-DEF video on www.pegasussportsky.com Breaking in a new color commentator during the Collins vs. SK game.

The 8th Region is having one of its strongest years ever, in terms of the number of quality teams in the region. If you're not at the Henry County Classic to witness this first-hand, you need to be watching on www.pegasussportsky.com! ? CM

Who: Oldham County vs. #4-ranked North Oldham When: Friday, 1/20/23, tip approximately 7:45 pm (Immediately after girls' matchup) Where: North Oldham HS, Goshen, KY Broadcast: FREE, live hi-def video coverage begins at 5:30 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com District Seeding Implications: #4-ranked North Oldham will be playing its first district 29 seeding game. Oldham County (1-0, after a 78-76 victory over South Oldham last Friday) will claim the District 29 #1 seed if they can upset the Mustangs. If North prevails, the District #1 seed would still be up in the air, pending the North vs South Oldham game on 1/27. A 3-way tie for first would still be possible, with all three teams finishing 1-1 in seeding play. With District 29 being a 3-team district, the team with the #1 seed would get a "bye" to the district finals - meaning essentially a free pass to the 8th Region tournament. There will be a girls' varsity game between Oldham and North preceding the boys' game. Pegasus Sports (www.pegasussportsky.com) will go on-air with a pregame show at 5:30 pm, then will cover both the girls' and boys' games live. (both games will also be archived).

If you like 8th Region basketball, you NEED TO BE in New Castle, KY on Saturday: 2 pm - Grant County vs. Spencer County - Grant's Dylan Hammonds is almost an automatic double-double....can Spencer's sharpshooters outgun him? Both teams will be coming off tough district seeding games the night before; Grant vs. SK and Spencer vs. Collins. We'll see who can "turn it around" the quickest in the first game of the day. approximately 3:30 pm - Oldham County vs. Owen County - two of the top-5 guards in the region - certainly two of the tallest guards in the region - senior Teagan Moore of Owen County and junior Max Green of Oldham County - square off in an "OC vs OC" matchup.... approximately 5 pm - Simon Kenton vs. Collins - Collins has won 8 of 9 meetings between these two teams; SK will be coming off a tough district seeding game the night before against Grant. approximately 6:30 pm - South Oldham vs. Henry County - It's been a tough year for the Wildcats, but over the decades, Henry has always played South tough, particularly in the Roy. All four games will be broadcast FREE, live, hi-definition video on www.pegasussportsky.com. (If you miss, scroll down on the broadcast page and find the game you missed and watch it as a free archive indefinitely...)

Haven't seen Teagan since the Region 8 tourney last year....looking forward to seeing him against Oldham on Saturday.... This was an impressive win. That's a very good Bears team.