KOTU

Best player in Northern Kentucky and it isn't even close.

I agree Vinson is best player in N KY...he is complete. High basketball IQ, great handles, he can score inside and out, plays great defense. Not sure about the not even close part though. Just a few that come to mind would be Niece,Draud, Cody...I am sure people could make legitimate arguments for several others. What is not even close however with Vinson is his work ethic. He is the hardest working kid in the entire state. He is the definition of a gym rat.

I didn’t see the game but sounds like Busalt was on. He can cause headaches defensively and pressure a good ball handler. The Downton kid has a similar style of defensive play. Their best all around defender is Decker. The biggest problem in the games I have seen this year is there seems to be no real leader. It is getting very late in the season. Their identity changes from game to game.

Vinson is legitimate...great player and a great kid too.

Downton and Decker for Beechwood were hot.Riley was solid inside too. Scott HS played tough in first quarter but just had no answer for Draud and company.

Congrats to CCH on a great win last night. I anticipated a tight battle like the earlier matchups between the Colonels and the Tigers but honestly, the game was never really in doubt. CCH took a big lead early and kept grinding. After the game, I heard some Beechwood fans saying the shots simply weren't dropping. I would agree but I think a large portion of "why" is not that the Tigers were having an off shooting night...a large portion has to be credited to the CCH staff for coming up with a defensive plan that gave the Tigers few open looks. I think only Draud ended up in double digits and the majority of their other scorers were in single digits? Best of luck to the Colonels moving forward and well done to the Tigers for a great season...they are young and have a bright future.

Congratulations to Cov Cath and Beechwood for getting to this point....two very good teams that earned it. Looking forward to watching a great game tonight!

Who is everyone’s winner? Runner-up? Dark horse? Straight up.

 

Winner: Cooper

Runner-Up: CovCath

Dark horse: Newport

That was my exact prediction.

Just show them this B-Ball-fan...always works for me!

The bold outrageous call to win by 23 points was yours truly. :wave: :banghead:

 

I guess that I thought that it would be fun to go out on a limb. I would've looked like a genius if it had played out, but now I only look like a dolt. :no:

 

I really did underestimate just what a diligent, focused, and never say die team that Beechwood is. While watching the game I kept saying why can't the Colonels put these guys away? They should be dominating the paint, but it amazed me just how difficult it was for the Colonels to get close range shots off. The Tigers did an amazing job of contesting everything. Early only it felt that the Colonel "D" was way too stifling for the Tigers to get anything done, but ultimately they figured some stuff out, and started chipping away.

 

Congrats to the Beechwood Tigers on their first District Championship since 1949.

 

You certainly earned it. :thumb:

Love your comments B-Ball-fan. You have officially earned my "Respect For The Day" Award! That and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee from McDonalds! :-)

Without a doubt? Sheesh. 2 very tight games in which CovCath led for a good bit of the game and Beechwood is the "better team this year... without a doubt"?

 

I bet Goetz and the Tigers wouldn't want to play them again. Not saying they couldn't win again, but to me, it seems like 2 evenly matched teams this year and Beechwood was able to pull them out in the end. Good for Beechwood!

It sounds like you may be a CCH homer and that is fine...I am all about supporting your home team. But try to be unbiased and consider if CCH beat Beechwood twice in a single season and a Beechwood fan tried to make a statement that the Tigers barely lost and were somehow better, what would your response be? I think I know the answer.

I have heard continually about how CCH would be different if they were back to full strength, how they needed to be on a neutral court, how Beechwood won was a fluke,etc. Before the game I was reading quotes on BGP from CCH fans stating the Colonels would win last night by over twenty points. The simple truth is Beechwood beat CCH twice,on a neutral court, with CCH at full strength. How many more times would the Tigers have to beat the Colonels this season before you could admit that Beechwood was better than CCH in 2018-19?

Cov Cath just got Pouncey'd!

 

Pouncey should NOT be officiating High School games in which his AAU players are playing!

 

Beechwood scored the majority of their 2nd half points from the free throw line off of fouls where CCH had position and was playing amazing D ...

I believe the more appropriate response is Covington Catholic just got Goetz'd!

The better team this year is Beechwood without a doubt. I watched the game and officiating was outstanding. Both CCH and Beechwood should be proud of their respective performances last night. It was a great game in every way and a testament to what great high school basketball is all about!

Beechwood has the talent this year. They have been a bit inconsistent at times throughout the season but two wins against a very good CCH squad is no fluke. They are clearly the better team this season. Congrats to coach Goetz for a great job in building this program!

The matchups for the region will be so interesting. Potentially: Conner as a 2, Highlands/NCC/Newport as a 2, Beechwood/CCH as a 2, and St. Henry/ Lloyd as a 2, is going to create for some wild first round matchups and a great regional tournament. (I know theoretically other teams could make it, ie. Holy Cross, Dixie, etc.)

Could not agree more...

As amazing as that achievement is, he is even more amazing at being a great person. One of the kindest, most humble kids you will ever meet...

Small gym but the atmosphere was absolutely electric. Last night was a great example of competitive high school basketball.

Very surprised...

My nephew is a junior at CCH...he got me my ticket. I have heard so many people say that this game should have been played at BB&T Arena @ NKU. Maybe not a sellout but it could have held a lot more than CCH gym could handle..but I understand the home court advantage aspect

To be 100% clear, someone said that (and others agreed) in the prediction thread -- I 100% disagree with it. I also don't care because they won't play 10x, they will play 2x, and I think CovCath wins both of those.

I was one of the ones thinking Cooper would win. Last night was only my third time watching CCH this year but from a small sample size perspective, they definitely are trending upwards. Different team that I saw than the one that showed up to play Highlands. Electric atmosphere and one of the best games I witnessed all year...

I typically agree with the vast majority of your posts Double D...including the comment that Scully and Ruthsatz are both great coaches. All the hype and predictions will be over after tomorrow night. We can definitely agree that it will be a great game!

If they play 10 times, Cooper wins 8-9. CCH would have to have the shooting night of their lives to grind out a win. Cooper is so strong defensively, they take you out of your normal game and force you to play what they give you. No disrespect intended here for CCH...they are VERY good. Cooper is simply better...senior talent,well coached,strong kids.

Sully is a terrific coach. He has built a culture and system that will produce a winner every year. I’d be shocked if the Jags ever had a true down year with Sully as HC. Great motivational coach and character builder in addition to the defense first mentality. Great job Jags on demolishing a good team!

Could not agree more...

I would agree with just about everything you said. Even your homage to Ric Flair's catchphrase.

WOOOOOOO!!!!!

I've only seen CCH play against Highlands (early) and last night. They are definitely playing much better right now. If you asked me at beginning of season who wins, I say Beechwood. After last night, not so sure. I will say that Beechwood is young...a lot of talented sophomores. They are going to be tough to beat the next 2-3 years.

Isn't that a little harsh? Highlands has had plenty of talent the last 3-4 years. Maybe not enough to compete like they are now. I like to think of things as a Marathon and not a Sprint. I think Kevin Listerman and Coaches do a unbelievable job. Who am I kidding, one's my Brother In Law!:clap: Highlands success just didn't happen overnight. They have been building this team for a few years now. I commend the players who have "Trusted the Process" Go Birds!

Totally agree...coach Listerman does a great job. Another comment I hear continually about Highlands is that they are a "football school". That is only partially true. They have been developing the basketball program for years. Sam Vinson is a prime example. They have another big young sophomore (Muller/Mueller?) who can flat out shoot the three. That program is definitely on the rise.

Rusch is pound for pound one of the best PG's in Northern KY. Exciting player to watch...