Handy Manny

With the exception of the 3rd. quarter, this was a really close game. Conner has got to become more consistent. 9 points combined from their two starting seniors is not going to work against most teams. Sizemore for Newport came up huge in this game. He had some nice open looks at the three early on and he nailed them. If not for his shooting, this game may have favored Conner going into half time. Newport had a huge rally late in the third to put them up big. Conner battled back and had cut it to 6 points in the fourth, but a couple mistakes allowed Newport the opportunity to walk away. Newport continues to be tough and I think Conner is growing from their losses. Flesch and Robinson had nice games for Conner and will be tough coming down the stretch.

Newport 59, Conner 49 Conner (6-6) -Lang 3 0 6, Stephens 1 0 3, Flesch 7 0 15, Robinson 8 2 18, Hodges 2 0 5, Ernstes 1 0 2. Totals 22 2 49. Newport (11-2) -Sizemore 5 0 14, Luther 2 2 7, McDaniel 9 2 20, Foster 4 2 10, Collin 4 0 8. Totals 24 6 59. Conner 16 13 5 15 -49 Newport 21 12 15 11 -59

7. Cov Cath 5. Highlands 3. Newport 2. Conner 1. Pendleton County TB - Highlands

I'm taking Conner by 5 in a tight one.

As was shown in the Lloyd tournament. He continues to handle the ball and create opportunities, but is starting to show that he can score when needed as well.

Agreed. Conner suffers from the same problem.

Tim Lang is a very good ball player and he really knows how to be in the right place at the right time. He reads defenses very well. He does need to get stronger handling the ball. He looked shaky at times against aggressive defenses in open court. He is by far Conner's most consistent scorer.

Conner High School will return 4 of top six next year. They only loose two seniors. They will have 6'0" Jacob Flesch 6'2" Jordan Liechty 6'5" Clay Robinson 6'8" Tyler Hodges (who may be 6'9" or taller by then)

Conner never gave up and did an excellent job of executing adjustments. Congrats to the Cougars on a huge win.

I don't see guard play being a problem for Conner. I am thinking Conner may struggle with the Cov Cath Bigs. This should be a very exciting game. I am still going with the Cougars at home.

This is a tough one because Conner doesn't always bring the same team menataly, but I am still going to go with Conner by 8.

Conner had zero offense in this game. It seemed like a lid was on the basket. I give it up to the Boone team. I can't say any of them had a bad game.

I don't hink soft is the correct adjective. Young compared to Boone and not as deep, but not soft. Conner can be very explosive and is fully capable of pulling out a win. Should they? No, not at all. Boone should be the better team, but this game is no given. Boone will have to go into Conner and win the game.

This really surprises me, but congrats to Cov Cath and Jake Thelan for an excellent game. I did not predict this one.

Flesch will quietly get it done. He is the primary ball handler for Conner. He is not a tremedous scorer, but he makes up for it in defense and other intangables.

Over the summer, if I remember correctly, Thelan and Stauffer went head to head in an AAU tournament. I am pretty sure Stauffer won that battle rather decively.

My question is, "Why does the defensive player not have one eye on the ball?"

I have to assume that Ryle is in pretty good shape. They went to the wire with Boone County utilizing a six man rotation after Stauffer went out.

Ryle won 53 - 39. That is all I know.

Stauffer should be back to full strength tommorow night. I am going with Ryle at Home by 10 points.

He had some really nice looks. SK moved the ball well and really worked the screens. Conner was just too dominant inside and it took it's toll.

It was a huge shot for Lang and I agree, that was where the momentum swung in Conner's favor.

Conner gets the win on the road.

This one surprises me, but it is still early.