Handy Manny

That was in response to shot whisperer above. I feel like third is very fair pre season.

You are underestimating the Jaguars. Rondon will be running the show, but there is way more to their game. Andy Johnson will be a name to remember after this year. 6'4" SG who was a big factor last year and a healthy Pouncy will not be crumbling to anyone. 4 - 8 may not have much varsity experience due to deep classes, but they know how to win. The SR and JR classes were both freshmen tournament champions and are coming off an undefeated JV season last year. They also have multiple high level AAU guys. Look for Isaac Brown, Tanner Murphy, and Jaiden Combs to all come up big this year. You add in one of the best coaches in the state and Cooper will definitely be challenging for the region this year.

6'9" Brax Ward from Owen County committed to Coach Briggs and the Georgetown College Tigers.

That would make sense. It poses the question, Should all players start their freshman seasons out of county to allow for a transfer opportunity back to your home school without penalty.

While I am fine with the decision and I think it is the correct one. I have to ask what grounds were used to determine eligibility on appeal. I have read the bylaws for transfers and have seen how it has been applied to others and I am surprised at this one.

Central Hardin has hired Tavon Johnson as their new head coach. Tavon was an assistant at Bardstown.

Newport came into last nights game averaging 75 points per game over the last three. You don't put up 75 points a game with a slow tempo.

Cooper did a good job controlling the tempo of the game and not allowing a more athletic Newport team to run on them. Both teams hit big shots at different times during the game to keep it close. I thought Newport made a few mental mistakes late that could have closed it out sooner, but they are very young and will be so tough the next few years. If moral losses exist, this would be one for Cooper as they had a chance to win down the stretch. Cooper has now lost 4 in a row and desperately needs a good win to get the confidence back before tournament time. Newport is freakishly athletic and will be a scary matchup for anyone in the ninth region. They are going to need to find one or two more guys to step up if they want to go deep. I think they only played 6 guys and the legs were definitely looking tired.

Ethan Snapp 2016

Cooper - 48 Cov. Cath - 35

Cooper was led by Murphy who had maybe 20. Yamil had a solid game defensively and helped with handling the Boone press. Swan was in and out of the game giving breathers. He never really got going offensively. Boone was hot early from 3. Hunter Moore hit at least 3 maybe 4 in the first quarter. Maddox Jones has a solid game and probably ended up leading Boone. It was a very good freshman game.

Second Semifinal Cooper 55 Boone County 51

Boone County also has Maddox Jones and Marvin Bryant. Jones is 6’5 and plays JV and spot varsity. Bryant is strong and athletic. He can cause havoc around the rim.

Semi Finals tomorrow. Who are the top players for the teams. Boone County Cov Cath Cooper Simon Kenton

I was curious about that. I glanced at rosters early in the season and saw that Cov. Cath had 3 freshman playing strictly JV. This says a lot for what's in the pipeline. I also saw that Simon Kenton has 1 also.

Is Cov. Cath the favorite to win again this year?

I am just trying to start a discussion. I recently saw on social media where an AAU program out of Louisville, KY will be fielding teams in the 6th, 7th, & 8th grades this year. The 6th grade will have 2 players at 6'9" and the 8th grade will have 2 players at 6'10" or better. I have not seen the listed heights of the big guys on the 7th grade team. I have coached a lot of AAU and these 6th graders are bigger than anyone I have ever had even at the 17U level. So my question is, how do you defend this size with a typical 6th grade team where your bigs are in the 6'1 - maybe 6'3" range. I had a 6'1" big man in 6th grade and he towered over everyone.

Some of the selections were surprising and some were spot on. I was just curious myself about who picked them and what they used to decide.

Were the all tournament selections made by each team's coach?

This was the best middle school game I have seen in a very long time. Both teams competed and the atmosphere was great. The crowd was standing the whole last minute at an 8th grade game. Congrats to both programs. They were clearly the best two teams in the NKMSAA.

I'm liking Ockerman over Holmes Highlands over Ballyshannon Woodland over Summit View St. Pius over IHM

Pius has to be the overall favorite. I would never had guessed early on that this team would have 1 loss all season playing less Hagen and Hussey for a good part. Ockerman was my early favorite at least on paper. Highlands seems to be peaking at the right time now that everyone is healthy and had a chance to play together for a while. I feel like either of three could win it all, but Woodland, IHM, and even Camp Ernst could sneak in. Camp Ernst is my dark horse pick. They had regular season wins over Highlands and Ockerman.

We are wrapping up the regular season this week. Who stood out as 8th graders this year? Any surprises? I know some of the programs suffered as a result of players playing up and I believe there are several other guys who could have played up but didn't.

Holmes at Camp Ernst 7th - Camp Ernst 8th - Camp Ernst by 5.

Does anyone know where we can see the standings? I believe Pius leads the way with only 1 loss, then Highlands, Ockerman, & Woodland.