ukat1

Always a fun cross county match up. Ryle needs to clean up some sloppiness from week 1 and if they can do that they should have a good shot here the offense is wide open and built to score quickly with athletic receivers and the young QB who should keep improving weekly also look for the defense to step up. Now if the run heavy Conner offense grinds the game down if could be a pretty physical game - nice to see Alijah Thompson getting more involved in their offense great athlete and young man.

They are paying tuition all three that were at Ryle are good athletes who should help Beechwood over the next few years definitely plus adds.

3 Ryle freshmen transferred to Beechwood - 1 QB and 2 WRs. These weren't issues with Ryle as a program but thought out family reasons for the three players to make a move.

Ryle has a small freshmen team this season the group had small numbers all the way through. The 8th grade team has around 50 players so good numbers to follow up and that team won the middle school state title as 7th graders actually both groups did so there is talent at the freshman level and coming up next year. Strengths for this freshman class will be line play and defense plus two super receivers one is already 6'3". Just need to stay healthy as depth will be a concern.

Looking at Colmire, Harden or Yowen in some form of a committee. All are very athletic with good speed.

Ryle did a nice job at EKU and the skill positions will surprise a lot of people. During the bracket portion of the tournament they scored on every drive but one playing some great teams like Frederick Douglass, ST. X - both teams (losing in the finals to ST X A at the last second). While 7 v 7 doesn't equate out to real season results I think Ryle will be a tough out in the district this year with 4 OL starters back and 8 defensive starters returning. Dixie has a slight edge with all the great athletes and experience they have coming back but should be a close one and the other thought is this district may have some of the best QB play going in NKY in 2021.

So if Hergott does come back for a fifth year does that push all the players behind him at QB to reclassify as well? That's the interesting part of this to me is what happens to the next player(s). I wish him all the luck whatever decision he makes - great player and represents BW well.

I think the Ryle offense has a chance to be better this season - they are losing a lot as mentioned above but the next man up may end up better than those graduating as they develop and the new QB is in place and had a varsity start (274 yards / 3TDs) to get that out of the way this season as freshman. The wide receivers will be athletic led by Gardner and Smith who both saw significant time this past season. Running back will be an area to watch but they have some athletic players to slot in there. I would look for this to continue to be a pass first offense next season. The struggles for solid QB play at Ryle should be in a good spot for a few seasons as they are developing some solid players in the middle school program where they have won the 7th grade state middle school title back to seasons and 8th grade teams who went to regional finals. The schedule sounds really tough right out of the gate for the Raiders to break in their new turf but they will be led by a lot of underclassmen they should be fun to watch. Glad they scheduled St. X.

Having seen Crone, Pitzer and Agee all play it would be Crone's job easily at either BW or CCH. He has had a high degree of success with a slight drop this year but experience in big games, great athleticism along with 2 years to play (assuming he is immediately eligible) makes him an easy choice. Pitzer has a good upside needs a fair amount of development still - great kid and has some CCH legacy there. Agee is a nice athlete who gives flexibility to play and upgrade you at multiple spots if he weren't the QB. Isn't there a Soph or JR on the CCH depth chart who would also be in the mix? Nice problem for CCH to potentially have. Not a good look at SK potentially.

Just following up on the Cooper question. They had a couple of lineman playing up as freshman last season and have had a transfer from the Cov Cath 8th grade team come over who played TE and LB.

Give Ryle credit as well they have played this season without their QB from 8th grade as he is starting JV and backing up Lyons on varsity so they have been working to find a solid replacement. Beechwood is solid but with a mixture of 8th and 9th graders they can run into issues v a larger team. Cooper has a big strong line and has a strong run game. Super happy for these kids after struggling as 8th graders - lots of potential. Cov Cath is the best frosh team in my humble opinion - solid system from varsity on down and have some good solid players.

Looks like a 4 to 5 win season for the Raiders (Cooper, Boone, Conner, Dixie and Campbell being the best chances). Anything new in the Raiders arsenal / players that could help that total?

I thought all the players in this thread had fantastic tournaments with most making the all tournament team.

Great post season tournament I thought the host sites did a nice job and Ockerman was a great host for the championship round. Pius and Ockerman seemed destined to meet in this game all year and did not disappoint to close it out both teams left it all out there on the court in a championship atmosphere with the turnout. It will be fun to see which kids get to play at the JV and maybe even steal a few varsity minutes next year pending their school of course and the freshman games will see a good class - some great talent in the championship and all the schools as a whole. Fun season!

Who are your favorites going into the tournament? Pius Highlands Ockerman After that I would say it's pretty open. Woodland would have a shot at the finals pending when / if Giffen can get back from injury.

SVA at Ockerman 6th Ockerman by 20+ 7th SVA by 10 or so 8th Ockerman by 30+

No order; Hussey - Pius was a lot stronger this year and his driving ability added a dimension to his outside shot Class - Highlands he's probably the most physical of all the 8th graders this year Jones (35) - Ockerman definitely improved this season the pick and roll with Verax is pretty tough to defend. Intermediate jumper was good. Has a bit of a bully mentality which is good in the post Verax - Ockerman was used in a different role than past seasons as more of a distributor but still solid year Giffen - Woodland kid can flat out score Best duo Jones / Verax pick and roll Best scorer Hussey / Giffen Loss of a player that hurt a team most - Kelly at SVA created a multiple game losing streak (honorable mention to Hagen at Pius he was definitely missed but they still are the team to bear going into the tournament)

Woodland at Ockerman 6th Ockerman by 6 (was 15 when reserves went in) 7th Ockerman wins 8th Ockerman by 10 - great game the Hawks battled back from being down 10 points in the 2nd quarter and 7 at halftime. The 1-3-1 someone mentioned previously got Ockerman going when they switched to it. Woodland 8th grade is a great tough team made for a fun cap to the evening.

Grant Co at Ockerman 6th Ockerman by a lot 7th Grant Co in a close game by 3 8th Ockerman by a lot

Ockerman at Grant Co 6th grade Ockerman by a lot - all players got in the scoring column 7th grade Grant Co by a lot 8th grade Ockerman by a lot - all players got in the scoring column

Conner at Ockerman 6th grade Ockerman by double digits 8th grade Ockerman by double digits everyone played a lot Not sure on 7th grade they were at Conner

Ockerman at Pius 6th Grade Ockerman by 4 7th Grade Pius by 5 or 6 8th Grade Pius wins

Beechwood at Ockerman 6th Ockerman by double digits 8th Ockerman by double digits

Gray 6th grade seems to be far ahead of the others next tier seems to be Pius, Ockerman 7th grade CC and a few other solid teams seems to be competitive group 8th Ockerman, Pius and Highlands would be my top 3. Woodland is dangerous if they are hitting their 3s for sure would be a strong dark horse. Some solid teams lineup after that CE, SVA, CC.

Ockerman 6th over Camp Ernst by double digits