BigT

Will be fun to watch McNeil, Hatton and Morgan tonight. They are three played AAU together growing up so it will be nice watching them battle. Good luck!

I am going to really miss watching Sean and Zach play together. It was a shame Sean was injured for a good portion of the season. It would have been nice to see them together more than we did this year. Nice article about the two of them that I would like to share: Mcscome Sports

I really feel the difference in this game was in the first half. Give St. Pius credit, they played well out of the gate where Ockerman did not. They held off a late charge and hit two huge free-throws to seal the victory. Good luck to St. Pius and Conner in the championship game Saturday.

Give St. Pius credit, they held off a second half charge by Ockerman and won 33-32. 45 for St. Pius missed two free throws a possession or two before he was fouled with 1.1 seconds left. Really showed some grit draining two after missing those 2 earlier. Nice ball game. Good luck to Ockerman and Conner in the finals Saturday.

This will be a rematch of their game a couple weeks ago at St. Pius. St. Pius beat Ockerman to hand them their only lose of the season. I'm sure this Ockerman group will be ready for this one. Should be fun.

San Diego????

Maybe Zach should have flopped. That seemed to get R to the line several times tonight.

There is no doubt in my mind that he was in the act of shooting. He had already picked up his dribble with both hands and was stepping into launching it from mid court. A lot of crazy things happened in this one that really leaves you thinking, what if???

Ockerman took care of Twenhofel. Played really well the first half but give Twenhofel credit as they out played Ockerman the second half. Ockerman will have to clean up some careless possessions Thursday when they will face the winner of St. Pius and Highlands. Does anyone have updates on others 8th grade games?

Great effort on the part of the Jags. Could have folded their cards early in this one. Shots weren't falling, early foul trouble and injuries to Zach on two different occasions that took him to the locker room both times. But he and the Jags stormed back in the second half and fought like crazy and really probably deserved to win the ball game. I don't believe in moral victories but Cooper should be proud of their performance tonight. John and Spencer, way to light it up. Zach, you are a warrior my man. Colin you are a beast inside. Sean, hang in there. This was a great environment for you tonight. It will only aid in getting you better prepared the a stretch run which I truly believe you guys have in you. Best of luck the rest of the way Jags.

Ockerman defeats Gray tonight to win their district. They will face Twenhofel tomorrow.

In the 8th grade action tonight over at RA Jones, it was Ockerman over Gray.

Congratulations to the Cooper Jag's JV on their win against NCC.

Sully will have the luxury of having a very competitive summer with a lot of guys looking to improve areas of weakness in an effort to earn varsity playing time. This is exactly what you want as a coach. These kids will push one another. I do think Chris will be a part of Sully's equation.

Ockerman 8th grade defeated RA Jones today in their district semi-final while Gray took care of Camp Ernest. Gray and Ockerman will play Monday night for the Championship. Chris McNeil played very well for Ockerman. Shot the ball well and had some really nice looks finding open teammates. Ockerman came out and played well from the start. Put up 24 in the first quarter!

I was thinking the same thing. Was hoping he would occupy that spot for a while!

I thought this was a disappointing game for both teams. Noble struggled for St. Henry. I have watched him play and yes I certainly thought he would be more of a factor. Cooper really struggled defensively getting beat back door on several occasions, not closing out to shooters, and not rotating defensively on drives to the basket. They didn't share the ball very well on offense. Just one of those games where you walk away with a win but know you may have stole one with a lack luster performance. Zach McNeil's jumper from just inside half court was impressive. He rose up and shot it like he was shooting a 10 foot jumper. Kid is so strong and has unlimited range. Would like to see him shoot more. Hear he is going to Thomas More. Still think he can play on a little larger stage.

Cooper really struggled against Boone's 1-3-1. Very stagnate attack which lead to outside shoots taken out of rythmn. Zach shot the ball very well the first half. Brother Sean provides them some instant offense coming off the bench. Loved the Z. McNeil drive and kick to S. McNeil for the three in the first half.

Can speak to the record of Ockerman which is 22-1. Beat Conner but lost to St. Pius. Would love to see a St. Pius/Ockerman rematch as the first game Ockerman did not play well at all. St. Pius is good but I think Ockerman would give them a much different game in a rematch.

However, the younger McNeil would be Chris. He is an 8th grader at Ockerman. And yes, you are correct about the times for the Cooper/Boone game tomorrow.

Sean does not dress JV.

This was in regards to Henry Steele's commit about the tournament being Conner's 8th tournament to lose. Not the 7th grade. Ockerman's 8th grade team is very good. I've seen a lot of 8th grade teams this year and IMO St. Pius and Ockerman are two of the better teams around.

Just thought I would update you on Ockerman record at this point. They have lost just one game and that was to St. Pius. They played poorly that night. Anxious to possibly see these to two square off again as I believe they are the two best 8th grade teams I have seen.

I'll take Ockerman and St. Pius in the finals with Ockerman getting redemption against their only lose of the season. St. Pius defeated Ockerman soundly but the Rockets were any place but in the gym that night. Played as poorly as I have seen them play all year. Rest assured if St. Pius were to beat Ockerman, which I don't feel will happen, it will certainly not be by the margin it was in their first meeting.

Clyde, Thanks for the kind words.