NKYBallCoach

Draud with 4 points now as Beechwood within 2.

Newport up 21-17 with bucket from Miller after wild scramble for ball.

Harding scores and Beiger answers with a '3' for Beechwood.

Miller answers and Newport back up 3.

Draud with bucket - 1 point game.

Draud with no points so far.

End of 1st quarter. Newport 15 - Beechwood 12.

Beechwood answers with 5-0 run. 15-12 still in 1st Qtr.

15-7 Newport up midway through 1st qtr. Harding with 7 points.

Tip Off at 8 pm

Holy Cross had a furious comeback in this one - Breds led by 12 with 90 seconds to go and survived the rally. Mullikin once again led the way with 22 points (I think) with 3 other Breds (Jefferson, Mueller and Howard) in double digits

I agree - I don’t think this team will have to worry much at all if they keep goal in mind throughout what will be another tough regular season - if key players stay healthy - they should be in mix for state title

Offensively- you are correct - they only return Jefferson with any real stats and of course the QB - who has done a really nice job the past 2 years. Defensively - they do return 4 really big contributors with leading tackler LB Craig along with Landrum / Doeker. Runyan started and played a ton on defense and Jefferson has started past 2 years at DB. Sorry - No official numbers from me here but just background on what returns - defensively on DL and DB will be where most newcomers will be.

They sure lose a lot but there is a lot of quality players returning and quite a few nice players going to be given their first opportunities- just had to sit behind a pretty talented class that never really followed up on potential due to injuries - 2 different coaching staffs and a 3 year stretch of beyond difficult scheduling.

From memory: Def: DL - Sr: Wormald / Lankheit / Howard Returning: Soph #28 Def LB - Sr: Carver / Kelly Returning: Craig / Doeker / Landrum Def DB - Sr: Posey/ Cain / Miller Returning: Jefferson / Runyan So Def returns about 6 guys with experience Off - OL loses Lankheit / Wormald returns Craig / Deburger and a Stevenson with Morgan as well with some reps TE: Sr Howard - No returning experience WR: Sr: Posey / Miller Returning: Jefferson and Mueller QB Kremer returns RB: Sr Kelly and Cain - No returning experience So offense returns 4 starters an about 6 guys with real experience All in all they return maybe 8 guys total with quality experience

NCC played much better throughout the year after Belfry game but I can see your point of view from that perspective. And yes Pikeville will be very good. I think NCC will actually take a step back this year (a lot of talent / starts walking out the door) but they will be there in the end in Class A.

NCC will have a really good chance in A to compete for a championship. They have a lot of talent coming back with Kremer, Craig, Doeker and Jefferson with some others as well. They do have to replace a lot of talented players though. Obviously Kelly going to Ohio U but also Lankheit, Howard, Cain, Posey, Wormald and Miller all have offers to play in college and were all 2 way starters. Lickert also will have to coach better defensively - giving up nearly 200 yards a game rushing with a 3 man front will not work. But saying that - there are no DeSales, Cal or Danville in their way and Beechwood moves up to 2A. NCC should be excited about this group and their chances.

Yes - Mullikin has been a force all year for NCC and Howard definitely took advantage in 2nd half when they took away Mullikin. Together they form a nice trio with Jefferson, who does a little of everything.

I had the opportunity to catch this one in person. A very exciting game with both teams playing hard. West Jessamine led pretty much by double digits until 4th quarter when NCC went on run. Howard, Mueller, and Hunter all had 2 threes in the last quarter to pull off the come from behind win. Howard led scoring with 19 and Mullikin added 18 for Breds. #11 for West Jessamine was a really nice player and NCC had a hard time guarding him.

Final

Nice bounce back effort for the Breds as the energy and intensity was much better. Entire team played with a sense of urgency. Mullikin continued his great season with 35 points. Howard added 13 and Glaser with 9 for the Breds.

Camels do a nice job moving without ball and offense is constantly in motion. Really nice balanced squad with some special players in Jolly and Wilson.

Great achievement by this young man. I saw him play last year - he can fill it up. Congrats to Tommy!

Lloyd definitely has some players - Cody and Szabo are 2 I have seen in summer and they are very good.

Covcath dominated the boards and 2nd chance points in this one. Green, Fleck and Thelen were great inside and NCC had no answer. Covcath guards did well handling the ball and orchestrating offense. Jefferson for NCC was aggressive all night and had his first 20 point game for NCC. Howard (8) and Mullikin (9) combined for 17 points - they avg 37 together. I think Howard only shot 6 times. Frosh Iles had 3 points I think.