kywldcat01

Considering both Ricardo and Elijah have led their team to back to back state title games (despite losing 7 seniors from last year) and just won a state championship as juniors, that's a pretty bold statement to say they'll never be as good. Both made all tournament as sophs and juniors and Rico was just tournament MVP as a junior while averaging a double double through the first 3 rounds of the tournament. Miller was no doubt a stud but IMO Rico will end up being the better all around player. Look at Miller at this stage in his career (as a junior) compared to Rico and it's not even close. Pittman on the other hand has way more overall talent...he just hasn't developed that work ethic yet that Miller had. The only area I'd give Miller an advantage in from last year is his ball handling and overall composure on the court. Other than that, Pittman is the better player both offensively and defensively. Too many times Miller let smaller defenders have big games against him. (Ferguson and Henderson come to mind) Both have already accomplished more in their careers than Mr. Miller did in his entire high school career...and I have a feeling R. Johnson will surpass him next year when he wins Mr. Basketball and Holmes returns to the state tournament to defend their title. Please realize these comments come from a neutral observer...not from a Mason Co or Holmes fan. My comments are unbiased as they come. I agree 100%.

From the western part of the state, Shaquille Wilson of Christian Co has to be mentioned in this discussion as well.

The 97 Highlands team was good but didn't have the guard play to beat this years' Holmes team IMO. J-Lo wouldn't have been able to guard either Johnson Brother as both are too quick and I think Pittman's athleticism around the rim would be the difference against Smith. That Highlands team had no where near the overall athleticism that Central has with Wilson, Patterson, Morrison, and Robinson.

1. Holmes 2. Scott Co 3. Clark Co IMO it will be one of these 3 to cut down the nets next year but there will be a lot of teams that could play spoiler and knock them off such as Eastern, Ballard, and Warren Central, to name a few. I believe Christian co returns a lot next year as well?

Using ONLY sweet 16 teams: 1. Holmes 2. Central 3. Elliott Co 4. Shelby Valley 5. Eastern 6. Corbin 7. Lexcath 8. Mason Co 9. Christian Co 10. Anderson Co

How about Holmes' 5 dunks and I believe 16-2 run in less than a 3 minute span in the 4th quarter against Lexcath to put them away? That was pretty impressive the way they turned it on after LC closed to within 10.

I'm with you. It's rare that you see a team here in nky that has the type of athleticism, size, length, and talent that this years' team had. Scary thing is, like Machicrunch said, they aren't done yet. With Ricardo, JJ, and Elijah returning next year, we may be asking the same question around the same time next March.

With this years' Holmes team finishing 36-2 and winning just the second state championship in nky history, is it reasonable to consider them the best team to ever come out of the area?

I'd add Tim Patterson of Central to that list as well. He is going to be tough to stop around the rim next year.

I agree. The only thing I'd change is MAYBE move the state title game to Sunday afternoon.

I think it would have been a great game. Wilson and Patterson's strength around the rim would have been a total mismatch for the Lions. Morrison and Robinson could have frustrated the Faulkner twins because of their quickness, but I'm not sure they could have put anyone of Ferg and I doubt EC would have shot the ball as bad as Holmes did in the first half from behind the arc. With that said though, Central likely would have pulled it out because of their depth. 1-5 EC is probably the better team, but overall Central is more complete.

All Tournament Team Elisha Justice Shelby Valley Vee Sanford Lexington Catholic Chris Dowe Eastern Travis Johnston Grayson County Jarrod Polson West Jessamine Jonathan Rehner West Jessamine Ethan Faulkner Elliott County Timmy Knipp Elliott County Ridge Wilson Central Alex Morrison Central Wann Robinson Central Jamel Riley Holmes Elijah Pittman Holmes Ricardo Johnson Holmes Most Valuable Player: Ricardo Johnson Holmes

A few that come to mind: Josh Crawford (Corbin)- 33 points, 9 rbs v Eastern Chris Dowe (Eastern)- 27 points v Corbin Elijah Pittman (Holmes)- 23 points, 11 rbs v Elliott Co Elisha Justice (Shelby Valley)- 25 points, 7 rbs v Elliott Co

I'd have to agree with you Gold Sunrise. I'm a 9th region fan but followed some of the 10th region teams as well and I must say that the injury bug bit the Cards hard this season. Had the Purvis kid not gotten hurt at the beginning of the season, I really think we would have been talking about an Elliott Co-Clark Co second round match up in the sweet 16, rather than an Elliott Co-Shelby Valley match up. I think he would have made that big of a difference and I fully expect him to be a big contributor next year in the Cards quest to win the 10th.

I think someone already mentioned it in the Holmes/Central thread but thought it may need a thread for itself. Ricardo was named tournament MVP and picked up his first Division I scholarship offer - from Bradley - during the post-game celebration. http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090322/SPT0302/903220384/ I think this will be just one of many to come over the next year.

What were some of the best individual and team performances from the sweet 16 this year?

Mcclendon is a possibility. Didn't even think about him. I'd think Mayfield would be the leader to fill the 5th starting position at this point though. From the few times I saw Holmes, he plays very good defense and showed the ability to handle pressure from other teams. Mcclendon does have better size though.

I wasn't trying to imply anything by posting the records of the past ten state champions. I was simply using it as a reference. See my top 10 and you'll notice I don't use a teams' record as an indication to how good they were. WC in 04 is a perfect example of why records mean nothing. Early season losses happen a lot due to the examples you mentioned such as football players out, kids not being healthy, and teams trying to find team chemistry.

Here's the records of the past ten state champions: 2008/2009- Holmes 36-2 2007/2008- Mason Co 34-4 2006/2007- Scott Co 34-2 2005/2006- Jeffersontown 32-3 2004/2005- South Laurel 32-4 2003/2004- Warren Central 29-7 2002/2003- Mason Co 35-2 2001/2002- Lexington Catholic 33-2 2000/2001- Lafayette 25-11 1999/2000- Elizabethtown 30-5

2007 Scott Co was 34-2 2009 Holmes was 36-2 I would personally say that 07 Scott Co team was the best of the last ten years though. They were absolutely loaded. They split that year with an OJ Mayo/Patrick Patterson led Huntington team (SC was the only team to beat them I believe?). They also gave a Twanny Beckham led Ballard team their only two losses that year and beat a loaded Holmes team in the semi's.

Honestly that 2009 Holmes team with Riley, D. Johnson/Housely, J. Johnson, R. Johnson, and Pittman was better than the 2008 team with Henderson, Avery, Pittman, R. Johnson, and J. Johnson. They lost Avery and Henderson but made it back to the state championship despite a tougher road to the finals compared to last year. I also think this years' team was a better defensive team as well and if you look at the match ups this year compared to last, I like Holmes chances. Holmes had nobody last year that could match up with Darius and Trevor because of their size. When you look at Holmes size across the board this year compared to last, I just don't think Mason Co would have been able to handle their size and athleticism. I'd even go as far as saying Pittman and R. Johnson were better this year as juniors than Miller and Setty were last year as seniors.

People have said the same things the past two years about Holmes. Last year they lost 7 seniors, including Henderson, Avery, and Clark. The year before they lost Rice, Hill, and Jefferson. This year they lose Riley, D. Johnson, and Housely. This team continues to reload despite losing big pieces to their team each year. With Rice and Mayfield being inserted in to the starting lineup with the Johnson Bros and Pittman, I like their chances of 4 peating. I've become a believer of those three young men and I don't see them being denied their senior year.

With Rico, JJ, and Pittman returning for Holmes, I think it's going to be tough for any other team to get out of the 9th. Holmes may only return 3 senior starters, but those 3 seniors are pretty darn good. JJ, Rico, and Pittman are all three D1 caliber talent and they also return a star in the making in Rice. (If he can keep his emotions in check) Holmes will be very deep next year as well with a talented junior class who went to the JV championship without their best player (Rice) playing a single game. I believe Slusher will also play some valuable mins next year as a senior as well. Next year's Holmes team will remind me a lot of the 07/08 version, only with more talent. I like Highlands to contend with them for the region crown. I was impressed with their team this year despite having no seniors. Kowolonek, Grote, Watson, and Grubbs are going to be tough, as well as role players Lother, Gordon, and Dill. Boone should be there near the top but I don't think some of the Boone fans realize how much not having Mcfarland, Spaulding, and Brown is going to affect them. Mcfarland's all around game was what led them to a win over Holmes this year and the reason they were in the region championship.

When you compare talent, Holmes is up there with ANY of the past 10 sweet 16 winners. I wouldn't say Holmes is the best team in the past 10 years but they're definetly top 3 or 4. I don't think some have realized yet how good this Holmes team really is. How many other teams have gone through the state tournament and dominated the first 3 games the way Holmes did? The majority of the teams who won state were senior dominated; this Holmes team was junior dominated this year. We may not have even seen this groups' best team yet. That may be next year when Pittman, Johnson Brothers, and Rice return with a deep junior class. If I had to rank them: 1. 2007 Scott Co 2. 2003 Mason Co 3. 2009 Holmes 4. 2004 Warren Central 5. 2008 Mason Co 6. 2000 E-town 7. 2002 Lexcath 8. 2006 J'town 9. 2005 South Laurel 10. 2001 Lafayette

Box Score: Holmes (36-2)- 7-14-18-12-9-7- 67 Central (19-15)- 13-17-7-14-9-3- 63 Holmes- Pittman 4 6 14, D. Johnson 4 2 13, J. Johnson 6 0 13, Housely 1 6 8, Rice 2 2 7, Riley 2 0 6, R. Johnson 2 2 6 Central- Wilson 8 2 18, Morrison 5 0 15, Robinson 4 0 9, Patterson 4 1 9, Brown 2 2 7, Williams 2 0 5 3 Pointers: H 7 (D. Johnson 3, Riley 2, J. Johnson, Rice); C 7 (Morrison 5, Brown, Robinson)