The Double Deuce

6 minutes ago, LCDAWGS19 said:

Younger than me... barely. LOL

Don't worry, you're likely taller. 😎

You're right, @Baseball Nut 24, it isn't "David and Goliath."  I would say it is more UC in the 2022-23 College Football National Championship playoffs.  Do they deserve their ranking and status:  YES.  Have they had an amazing year:  YES.  Are they deserved of the hype and recognition that comes with being a Top 4 team:  YES. 

Were they "likely" to beat Alabama?  No. 

But for the third time in this thread, am I rooting for them to win:  ABSOLUTELY.

Just now, Waterboy70 said:

I'm guessing you weren't at the arena last night. Corbin played horrible in the first half but better in the 2nd half. However Jackson exposed Corbins biggest weakness--they have Zero post defense. North Laurel(If not Knox with Collins) will destroy Corbin in the Finals. Corbin has 2 really good players and several that are worried about their own stats(and this is the key reason why Wilson will quit after this season). Norths size is untouchable in the 13th.

Correct.  I've seen them twice, but not last night.  I really like how they play.  

@FrankNicodemus, you're a NKY Treasure!!!  

Quick (and hopefully correct) look at common opponents this year:

Cooper was 13-0 against common opponents:  Butler, Highlands, Conner, McCracken County (by 12), Boyd County (by 9), Dixie, Campbell County, Ryle (by 6), Simon Kenton, NewCath, Notre Dame, Ryle (by 11), and Bellevue.

Holy Cross was 11-3 against common opponents:  Ryle (L), Dixie, Highlands, Boyd County (L), McCracken County (L), Butler, Bellevue, NewCath, Notre Dame, Campbell County, NewCath, Simon Kenton, Conner, and Notre Dame.

A) I'm re-surfacing this poll / thread previewing the Game of the Year in NKY.

B) I couldn't be more surprised at this poll result (HC currently has more of the votes to win) if I woke up tomorrow morning with my head sewn into the carpet.  

C) If you are not a religious follower of NKY / KY Girls' high school basketball, and you're wondering just how good this Cooper Lady Jags team is, here is some empirical data to help you:  Cooper beat Mt. Notre Dame (OH) by NINETEEN points this year....AT MND.  Last night MND beat the Ohio D1 defending state champs, Princeton, and are now in a very real position to win the Ohio D1 State Championship.  Hope that helps.

Holy Cross has had an AMAZING year, their 4-0 record against Pikeville, Notre Dame, and Franklin County is very impressive, and their ascension into the KY Top 5 was on no one's radar in October.  However, they are a decided underdog in this game and they need some things to go very right for them to win on Friday night.

But......man, what a story that would be, so I'm hoping like heck it happens.

P.S. -- the winner of this game likely still has to beat Ryle in the finals, a State Top 15 team, and a team with more winning pedigree over the last 10 years than any other team in this area.

#Gauntlet

Corbin plays really, really hard, they aren't any to match-up with.  They aren't flashy, but they are tough-minded, and don't beat themselves.

Some really stacked regions!  Especially the 7th, the 9th, the under-the-radar 13th, and 3/4th of the 16th!  A lot of REALLY good teams are going home over the next few days.

Really strong year for Grant County, and one I expect them to build upon.  Lot to like about the Lady Braves' future.

Congrats to the Lady Camels!  They have a great chance to make it to the 10th Championship vs GRC.  Very solid season for the young Lady Camels.  

Coach Kelsch!!!!!  Atta way!  Has to be their first Region win in a lot of years.   

2 minutes ago, KingLow said:

Hard to beat a team 3 times and doing so 4 times in a season would be that much more difficult. 

Of all sports cliches, this is easily my least favorite.  If I'm better than you 3x, than the chances are good I will be better than you 4x.  

If Anderson County plays Spencer County (and them beating a fringe Top 20 team is more than a mild upset, IMHO) again than Anderson County will be cutting down nets.  Spencer is yet to score more than 31 points in 3 tries, that isn't getting it done.  

11 minutes ago, Sir_Chiefton said:

As a parent of an NDA basketball athlete, it’s a Kez problem.  He has created a culture of fear.  Not only did rosemary leave and Kirtley quit, but we had 3 juniors not return to the team because of him.  Further, we have to pull 8th graders up to Freshman because his reputation is seeping down levels.

Welcome aboard, Chief!

Am I mis-remembering, or was there some fireworks in the post-game handshake line last year between Lloyd and Newport after their Regional Semi game in 2023?  Could make Sunday's early game must-see, I'm all for a little deep-seeded hatred.  😇

1 minute ago, vbtalk said:

It’s well known that the principal there is easily persuaded by the families who make noise and write checks.

That is for sure.  They bow to the whim of some families on a very consistent basis.  If Coach Kayed learned one thing, don't keep a senior just to be nice but then think you'll get away with not playing her.

2 minutes ago, UKato91 said:

What is my narrative? I'm not sure what you think that is.   AGAIN, the prior coach was a train wreck.  They do not belong in the same category when comparing the two.   If that's the bar you want to hold Kez to that's an insult to Kez.   Now to address your other statement.   How many kids has Kez cut over the last 6 years?  I'm pretty sure the answer is 0.  It's not a matter of younger kids being better than the older ones and Kez being a great judge in talent.   It's not always that they are leaving for soccer or volleyball as seems to be the standard answer here.   It's not unreasonable to expect to have 3-4 girls stay all 4 years for each class at a school the size and caliber as NDA.  The other sports seem to be able to do that.  Why not basketball?  

Why did the Kirtley girl quit mid-year this year after being a big contributor last year?  Why did Rosemary Miller leave for Ryle?  I don't think soccer and volleyball are the culprits in those two cases.  Maybe there are great reasons that have nothing to do with Coach Murphy and his style and the way he communicates with the girls....or maybe there aren't.  I'm not close enough to know the "why's", but I see the same things you do as an outsider.  Then I see Kes' comments at the players and parents, and you can certainly start to see that there is smoke billowing around.

I do wonder how Kes' quotes in the article on LinkNKY have played out with the girls and their parents in the program.  Parents don't get the "big picture".

Not even saying he is wrong, but I am certain things like that should be in individual conversations and not said in frustration after a season-ending loss.

54 minutes ago, vbtalk said:

Let it out! It’s unhealthy to keep it bottled up!!! 😂

Never mess with a piano, an organ, or a synthesizer!  😎   #IYKYK

7 minutes ago, UKato91 said:

Look at the soccer coach they fired after winning the state championship 2 years prior and was very well liked by the majority of the families on the team.   Something must have been wrong, or he ticked off the wrong family.

*biting my tongue*

18 hours ago, New Colonel said:

I hope Fields is the starting QB.  I think he throws a better ball.  And with how big and strong Gregg is, he'd be my running back and I'd run him 30+ times a game.  Make teams load up the box to stop Gregg which will open up the big plays off of play action.  But that's me.

I am with you fully!  Mason is such a mature and talented young man, I'd give him the keys and let him lean on Gregg next year and then slowly mix in more of the route tree as the season unfolds and Mason gets more comfortable.  Seems like it has been a while since Dixie had a tall QB back in the pocket, and one equipped with a big and accurate arm.  They will be intriguing to watch this upcoming season.

40 minutes ago, Breds82 said:

Snapp over reacting to calls is nothing new. 

This.  

Wanted to surface this Final Statewide Poll so we can track how many of these Top 15 (per the statewide Media, who I think did a pretty good job all year) make it to Rupp.  As of this morning, all 15 of these are still playing (#16 [highest others receiving votes] was Notre Dame, so they are out), but there are some big games upcoming for several of them.  Here is the Top 15 from the poll and their next game:

1.  Sacred Heart -- 3/6 vs Central in the 7th Region Semis

2.  Cooper -- 3/8 vs #4 Covington Holy Cross in the 9th Region Semis

3.  GRC -- 3/8 vs Mason County in the 10th Region Semis

4.  Covington Holy Cross -- 3/8 vs #2 Cooper in the 9th Region Semis

5.  Owensboro Catholic -- 3/5 vs Grayson County in the 3rd Region Quarters

5.  Pikeville -- 3/8 vs Prestonsburg in the 15th Region Semis

7.  Anderson County -- 3/5 vs Trimble County in the 8th Region Quarters

8.  Franklin-Simpson -- 3/7 vs Bowling Green in the 4th Region Semis

9.  McCracken County -- 3/5 vs Marshall County in the 1st Region Quarters

10. Ashland Blazer -- 3/8 vs #13 Russell in the 16th Region Semis

11. Franklin County -- 3/7 vs Henry Clay in the 11th Region Semis

12. North Laurel -- 3/8 vs South Laurel in the 13th Region Semis

13. Russell -- 3/8 vs #10 Ashland Blazer in the 16th Region Semis

14. Butler -- 3/7 vs PRP in the 6th Region Semis

15. Ryle -- 3/8 vs Highlands in the 9th Region Semis

5 hours ago, Mr. Sixer said:

Not shocked Ryle played Zone one bit. 

I don't think that is his point, Sixer.  

Massive upset in the 8th!!!!!  Down go the very young Lady Neers.  

Anderson County has a very easy path now to the Sweet 16....and on their own court.  

44 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

Is this about what you expected, 9th Region folks?

Yes.  In spite of the poll.  Sullivan is solid, but they don't have the dudes for a motivated Lloyd team, which I assumed Coach Walker could muster up in the 9th Region Tourney.