NKYBBALLFANS

Wow!!! What an ending!!!!

I have St. Henry over NewCath, I don't see Vieth and Bessler laying an egg tonight. They are at home..they will be ready. In the second game, Beechwood vs. Lloyd, that can go either way. Beechwood has to play as a team and get production inside and out...that has been a challenge for them all year. If Riley, Downton and Draud score and make their shots...Tigers win...if not.....wont be pretty.

Agree Brandon McClendon is right there. He can jump out of his shoes and is extremely athletic. I hope he has a big game tonight.

Rabe is a solid player. Downton...he can do it all.....hits the perimeter shot....throws down big dunks, plays big defense. Downton has alot of motor and maybe the most athletic kid in the region.

I don't know about you, but I think the 9th region is stacked with talented, athletic, top tier basketball players. I don't recall the region having this much talent as we have had in last couple years. This year is no different. I am interested to know who everyone's top ten list of basketball players in the 9th Region are this year. Here is what i have:

1. Wyatt Veith - St. Henry...the kid can do it all. Smart, hard-nosed player who can shoot from either the perimeter or drive to the bucket. Strong, tough kid...has the physical and mental make-up of a D1 player if he continues to play like he has.

2. Grant Disken - Cov Cath - Quick, smart, sees the floor well, can make the tough pass as well as the tough shot. Maybe doesn't have the height to be a D1 player, but certainly has the mental make-up as well as the ability to play at an extremely high level. A general on the floor. Best point guard in the 9th region.

3. Donovan Stocks - Cov Cath - Tall, long, muscular, athletic, the kids seems to be growing into his own this year. He keeps improving. Has tremendous upside. He will continue to grow and improve....could be a D1 player by graduation.

4. Scotty Draud - 2,000 points by his Junior year? Wow. This kid can drive, make tough shots in the paint and through contact, can hit from the perimeter. Has the physical make-up of a D1 player. Needs to improve his vision on the court.

5. Jeremiah Hicks - Holy Cross - Big, aggressive, hard nosed, defensive beast and just as strong offensively. I like his determination..attitude. The kid wants to win. Needs to improve his handles.

6. Sam Vinson - Highlands

7. Deshaun White - Newport -

8. Neil Green - Cov Cath

9. Luke Mueller - Highlands

10. Will Downton - Beechwood

Sorry i ran out of time on the narratives......but you get the idea........

My my...we got a great match up tonight as the HC Crusaders take on St Henry at 7:45pm. Can Bessler, Veith and team hold off HC's Brandon McClendon, the Big Bruising Jerimiah Hicks? This should be a very physical and high scoring game. Either team could win this. I am going to give the edge to St. Henry....but i won't be surprised if the Indians somehow will themselves to win.....

Beechwood!

Beechwood needs more than one player shooting the ball 40% of the time.

Not sure how it will all pan out by the end of the season, but so far i have:

1. Cov Cath

2. St. Henry

3. Conner

4. Highlands

5. Beechwood

6. Holy Cross

7. Newport

8. Newport Catholic

9. Lloyd

10. Cooper

Cov Cath the clear region leader....from there...I have St. Henry, Conner and Highlands in the next tier. The simply all have a balanced offense, with multiple scoring threats, patience and discipline.

I have Beechwood falling to the third tier with Holy Cross, Newport, NCC and Lloyd. The Tigers simply have been too inconsistent, impatient, and rely too much on one player to succeed against top tier talent this year. With the All A Tournament this week, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top with Beechwood, St. Henry, Holy Cross, Newport, New Cath and Lloyd this week. It will be interesting to see if my rankings hold up.

Game Stats????

The Tigers struggle to find an offensive rhythm. Oldham County was patient, passing and moving the ball multiple times...waiting for the open shot. Beechwood....not so patient...oftentimes forcing shots and turning the ball over.

Holy Cross seems to be improving each week. Simon Kenton is a solid well balanced team.

The 9-5 Tigers take on the 13-2 Oldham County Colonels on the road tonight. Should be a great game and a good indicator if Beechwood can rise to the occasion and beat a solid team on the road. My prediction is this.....If the Tigers play team ball and have 3 players in double digits (and they have plenty of talent to score offensively) they will win. They will need to have a balance of "in the paint" points from their bigs, Mitchell Riley and Brandon Hughes, and some outside help from Draud, and either Downton, Rolf or Decker. Improving their free throw percentage will help. The Tigers defense has been solid and it should be solid again tonight.

The Tigers will need to get more offensive production from their players if they are going to make a run for their district or region. The competition is tough...from watching their losses to Simon Kenton, Bishop Brossart, Tates Creek, Collins and Lexington Catholic, their weakness IMO is an unbalanced offensive attack. As you might recall from last year's season, Beechwood had numerous playmakers, Bieger, Schilling, CJ, Draud, Busald, Downton, and Baugh...oftentimes with 3 plus players in double digits. Still early enough in the season to make improvements, but they will need to be made if they want to make a run.

Cov Cath #1, not much to say. Their record against NKY opponents speaks for itself. It's difficult to discount Highlands undefeated record. I would have them at #2 they look solid and balanced, with multiple offensive threats. St. Henry #3 is for real. Beating Lex Cath is as about as big of a statement as they could have made thus far. Conner and Beechwood thus far are a toss up for #4..both playing too inconsistent to be much higher. But with all that said, there is alot more basketball yet to be played!

Well I thought it was a nice team win for Beechwood. If Beechwood is to succeed in the 9th Region they must continue to get team wins, that means significant production from more than one player. Championship teams normally have 2-3 players hitting double digits. If Beechwood doesn't find the right formula, as they did last year, they will continue to underachieve.