Pete Mitchell

It was very odd. 88 teams in the tournament, split up into 4 team pools. Ordinarily, that would mean the 22 pool winning teams advance to the top bracket (i.e. in this case platinum). In this tournament, though, the top two pools were loaded with EYBL and EYBL level teams and the platinum bracket was a "modified" top level bracket that allowed for teams that did not win the A and B brackets to still play for the top championship. My guess is that EYBL teams like Indy Heat and All Ohio Red want to be sure they will play each other in pool play but they still want to be eligible to win the whole thing, and the tournament directors accommodate them (no coincidence that the teams that finished 2nd and 3rd in pool A wound up in the championship game of the platinum bracket). Indy Heat, a top EYBL organization, won the toughest pool (A), going 3-0, including a 21 point win over the team that eventually won the whole thing. What probably did Indy Heat in was that their Royals game was a war, and was a single possession game until the last minute, and Indy Heat had to go back to back right after that game and lost the next one to Chicago Select. The irony there is that when the Royals played Indy Heat, it was the Royals 4th game of the day and they were going back to back after dismantling a Chicago Lockdown team that had easily won its pool also. At the end of the day, this is a top tier tournament that draws many of the best national level teams, and they accommodate them, even though it is a little unfair to some other teams not in the "super" pools. That being said, though, the Kentucky Royals accorded themselves quite well and, with a lineup that includes at least (2) D1 kids (Pfriem and Allen) and maybe more, showed they compete at the very top level.

It was very odd. 88 teams in the tournament, split up into 4 team pools. Ordinarily, that would mean the 22 pool winning teams advance to the top bracket (i.e. in this case platinum). In this tournament, though, the top two pools were loaded with EYBL and EYBL level teams and the platinum bracket was a "modified" top level bracket that allowed for teams that did not win the A and B brackets to still play for the top championship. My guess is that EYBL teams like Indy Heat and All Ohio Red want to be sure they will play each other in pool play but they still want to be eligible to win the whole thing, and the tournament directors accommodate them (no coincidence that the teams that finished 2nd and 3rd in pool A wound up in the championship game of the platinum bracket). Indy Heat, a top EYBL organization, won the toughest pool (A), going 3-0, including a 21 point win over the team that eventually won the whole thing. What probably did Indy Heat in was that the Royals game was a war, and was a single possession game until the last minute, and Indy Heat had to go back to back right after that game and lost the next to Chicago Select. The irony there is that when the Royals were played Indy Heat, it was their 4th game of the day and they were going back to back after dismantling a Chicago Lockdown team that easily won its pool also. At the end of the day, this is a top tier tournament that draws many of the best national level teams, and they accommodate them, even though it is a little unfair to some other teams not in the "super" pools. That being said, though, the Kentucky Royals accommodated themselves quite well and, with a lineup that includes at least (2) D1 kids (Pfriem and Allen) and maybe more, showed they compete at the very top level.

Kentucky Royals dominate pool play at big time Bill Hensley Run N Slam in Ft. Wayne, head to play in platinum bracket play after winning 3 straight. Dontaie Allen impressive at 25 PPG.

Birds hitting their stride? After some ups and downs, sounds like they are starting to look like the team we were expecting. 6-0 win over Beechwood is a pretty good win and 14 strikeouts for Doty, wow.

Beat both Manimal teams last weekend at Racing to the Rim in Lexington, going 4-0. Couple of 10th region kids - Chad Ohmer and Reid Jolly - played really well. Heading up to Indy next weekend for big event.

No, Romeo is the namesake (my understanding) of Team Vision 22 (after Romeo's number, again I am not the source of this information, only a receiver/relay). On that team you have a couple northern Kentucky kids (Dontaie Allen, Adam Kunkel) and some good talent from throughout the rest of Kentucky and Cincinnati. Basically, though, I think it is built to showcase Romeo, and the others are happy to be on the floor in his shadow, hoping to flash something that one of the dozens of recruiters, there to see Romeo, will notice.

Who threw for Highlands?

NKY Squad strong showing. Miles gets better (and longer) it seems like everytime I see him. Royals/NKY Squad game was a great game, Squad prevails by 1 in overtime when Miles makes 2 free throws with 7 seconds to go. Royals are big, deep and loaded, but everytime they made a run and opened up a lead Fleek and Garrett Jones made key plays. Royals' Alec Pfriem is the real deal, game was really entertaining. Kind of a shame their pools had them meeting in the first round of bracket play, though.

Good win for the Indians!

Royals go 5-0 to win March Madness National Tournament. Royals have 17 players rostered, the nine that played in this tournament were: Alec Pfreim, 6'4" Roger Bacon Justin Pappas, 6'4" Hamilton Badin Chad Ohmer, 5'10" Scott Spencer Macke, 6'1" Holy Cross Blaine Walters, 6'4" Cooper Jamin Shumate, 6'2" Dixie Ty Houston, 6'4" Holy Cross Zach Deatherage, 6'1" Beechwood Pete Knochelmann, 6'7" Holy Cross They will be competing in the Bearcat Classic next weekend, with two teams, and the rosters will also include: Dontaie Allen, 6'5" Pendleton County TJ Deere, 6'4" Covington Catholic Reid Jolly, 6'3" Campbell County Reese Murphy, 5'8" St. Pius Grant Jolly, 6'0" Campbell County Austin King, 6'0" Highlands Logan Harrod, 5'10" Campbell County Tanner Lawrence, Campbell County

Thanks for the analysis LB. As I've said before, we are all happy that you are not gender or sport specific in your BGP contributions..

Here is what this comes down to, and what college coaches must have debated a lot. How good is Jake Ohmer? Is he a great high school scorer who is undersized and under-athleted for the D1 college game, or is he the exceptional 6 foot kid who is quick enough and athletic enough that has an intangible IQ and drive that will allow him to succeed at the next level? I think my answer is yes to the latter but we will have to wait and see. This might be blasphemous, but wasn't Jake's performance in the state tournament more impressive than Dominique Hawkins' was a few years ago?

I think in the coming years it is going to be even more surprising that so many missed the boat on Jake. He does play some during the summer, but he really commits himself to baseball for a large part of that time. I am not a D1 coach or recruiter, but I think there were plenty of signs of what Jake was and is capable of, and I will not be surprised if he becomes a lights out scorer at the D1 level. So many of his high school statistics were dismissed because of his size, his team, his region, etc. In many instances, I'd say those kinds of criticisms are legit, but not with Jake. In high level AAU ball, when he plays, he usually is the team's leading scorer, even if his role is to run the offense and create opportunities for others because of his passing ability. The kid is a gamer, deceptively athletic, a great shooter with a high motor and a high basketball IQ. He is also an intense competitor. Somehow, all of those attributes got overlooked because he happens to be 5'11". I would be willing to bet that in a couple of years WKU is happy they elected to be the nonconformists and gave him a chance.

And here I was looking forward to detailed analysis and updates re: girls softball .... ☹️

Let's go back a few more years .... Holmes had a state championship, a loss in the finals and a loss in the semis from, I believe, 2006-2009. The ninth region has certainly held its own over the past dozen or so years .... this makes the fourth finals, and possibly the third state champion if Cooper prevails. Go Jags!

A couple of years ago, a video montage was played right before the finals .... Maybe it's played every year and that was the only time I was there to see it ... But it concludes with something like "290 schools , one champion. We are Kentucky, and we play basketball." Goose bump kind of stuff ... And when I think of the legends made during the state tournament, some I saw in person, others I just heard about ..... King Kelly Coleman, Jeff Lamp, Paul Andrews, Richie Farmer, Troy McKinley etc... (Jake Ohmer probably earned a spot this week) ..... It should make everyone see the value in a single state tournament .... I went to my first All A this year, and they do a great job with it as well - in fact it enhances the Sweet Sixteen by offering the opportunity it does - but this thing we have is something special, and Hellbird I love hearing stories like yours. Here's to a couple of great games tonight and tomorrow .... i must admit, though, we'd love to see Jake go off and carry Scott to a Villanova-esque upset.

I hope Jake gets another two games .... if he does - and when you think about the kind of performance that will be required for a win tomorrow - I predict his numbers will be staggering .... Although Jeff Lamp put up 44 in the finals, I don't recall what he did before that ... As long as I am verbalizing my wish list, I'd love to see a 9th-10th final .... Not seen since 1981 Simon Kenton (then 9th) over Mason County in the finals

So? The suspense is killing me!

Through 2 games, 73 points and 27 rebounds for Jake. Those are really nice 4 game numbers.... especially for a guard ....

You know, Scott got beat up a lot this year for playing no D. I wonder what PCC take on that would be

Ohmer brothers are probably approaching brother scoring records... Anyone know?

My guess is Anna Clephane

I like a lot of kids at Campbell County, but I am so glad that Jake finally got the chance to play in the state tournament. I am sure his play is catching the attention of Some coaches that passed over him.

I want to reiterate my appreciation, on behalf of BGP everywhere, for the job LB does... not just the preparation to know every kid's name, but to be able to communicate the names instantly via text, and even to field and respond to comments, interactively ... thanks buddy. Next ice cream sandwich is on me.

Kind of a shame that Holmes goes out like that.... Good career for Stovall, back to back regionals, but I thought they had a real shot to get it done .... Congrats to Franklin Co and especially Brooklyn Miles, been one of my favorites since she was winning championships with the Kentucky Royals....