Baseball Nut 24

1) Dixie (Have to give them the nod as the slight favorite in the wide open 9th region - I agree with Flotsam - lplaying at BOK will benefit Hatton and Red Colonels - excellent point) 2) NCC (Have 2 great players in Geisler and Hightchew - personally think they match up well against most of these teams, with exception of Dixie, but I could be wrong). 3) Boone Co 4) Holmes 5) Ryle 6) Holy Cross 7) CCH

I didn't consider Smith since Scott isn't in the 9th region?

Sportsfan 99 - I want to first say that I probably agree with you about Hatton being the most complete player. The kid can do a lot of things well and has a great all around game. That being said, to say no kid in the 9th region can guard him one on one w/o him scoring is a little much I think. I realize it was only 1 game but last Saturday night against Holy Cross, his line score was - 8 pts, 5 reb, 0 assists and 4 turnovers...I understand it was only 1 game, but to say he is unstoppable is a little much. Again, I love the kid, he is outstanding. POY is between 4 guys: Hatton, Geisler, Thelen or T Brown.... I would give a slight edge to Geisler over Hatton at this point.

Great job TOG, appreciate all the updates this week. I'll be there Saturday for hopefully 2 exciting semi-final games. I know Dixie beat NCC pretty soundly very early in the season, maybe the 2nd or 3rd game if I recall. NCC will be looking to get revenge for that loss and advance to the finals. I know they are playing much much better now then they were then. Cov Cath may be too strong for St. Henry but that should be a good game as well. Good luck to all 4 remaining teams on Saturday.

HC should have Avery back for this one and I think the tribe get back on the winning track at home. HC 67 Conner 55

Good luck to your Birds the rest of the way Qryche11.

Bulldogs at the Fieldhouse by 5

I agree with Sealteam - I think this one will be closer but I still think Dixie prevails in the end by 12 - Too much Hatton & Stansbury for the CCH guards to handle.

Holy Cross was without starting PG Jalen Avery who sat out the game with a foot injury. Stewart for Highlands had 26 pts, almost half the teams total and a lot of his buckets coming off layups when Highlands would beat the press. He has a very nice touch at the FT line for a taller kid. They better hope he scores that many every night because the rest of their starters are questionable at best IMO. HC forced 23 turnovers but Highlands shot 69% from the field. I guess when you shoot layups most of the night you are going to shoot a very high %. Highlands has no outside threats from the 3-pt line from what I saw. Burger 5/16 from the field isn't going to cut it, they need him to start shooting the ball better.

I'll take CCH over ST Henry in that one.

Statman will be in his normal spot above the scores table in the Perch up top. Statman, I'll see you there. Remind me to ask you something about the Internet Broadcast we did last Saturday night.

HC - 60 HHS - 52

I'll take - CCH over Scott ( Will be closer then the 30-pt game earlier but CCH is way too strong and deep for Scott ) Highlands over St. Henry ( Should be a good one - Look for HHS to get by in a close one ) NCC over Boone Co. (Another pick em game - NCC by 4-5 pts ) Dixie over Ludlow ( Dixie blew a 22 pt lead in the reg season game against Ludlow - I think they get even here )

Boone Co - 67 Holmes - 63

Mark, I want to thank you again for coming down last night. I thought you and Gary called another great game. Looking forward to broadcasting games over the internet with Gary for Holy Cross HS for years to come once we can get things worked out.

Clyde - the Turner girl had 20 points last night. Played a really solid game.

Kentonman - They tried using the temp metal ramps last night and again, were able to get him up the first flight of steps using them but for some reason they either couldn't or decided not to try and attempt the 2nd flight to the gym. As far as the game, it was an excited hard fought game. HC with a critical "dead ball" out of bounds miscue at the end of the first overtime with the score tied and 10 seconds left that would have given them a chance to win the game. After a dead ball and time out, HC could not run the baseline however, setup a play that passed the ball to another girl out of bounds and then back in. It was an obvious violation and ND got the ball. Not the best played or called game, but very exciting finish. These 2 teams battles hard and should likely play in the district final as well.

I echo the same sentiments that Statman has already said. Hopefully something can get done to make the Activity Center wheelchair accessible very soon. I was in the lobby when they tried using the ramps to get up to the gym but could only get up the first flight of steps. Apologies to the Dad and the young lady who scored her first varsity point.

Good correction Statman, I forgot to mention it was from 2 pt range.

Final NCC 68-38 Geisler 24 (10-12 from the field) Hightchew 17 (9-11 from the Ft line) * Looks like NCC shot 25-32 from the field - pretty hot shooting ! Good luck to NCC in the next round.

NCC 52-30 after 3rd quarter Geisler 21 Hightchew 17

Statman - Are you implying that he's a BIG presence in the middle?

Halftime score: NCC 37 Edmondson Co. 20 Geisler and Hightchew combined for 27 of the 37 first half points.

Thanks for the info Statman - was hoping it was 3.

A lot will also depend on how close the officials are calling fouls in this game IMO. If the game is called tight I think that favors Cov Cath. If they let them play, it will slightly favor HC because of their style. While HC plays 9 or 10 guys, they still can't afford to get Burger, McClendon or Arlinghaus into foul trouble early in the game - Let's hope there are 3 officials for this game and not 2.