Basketball Jones

Just speculating, guys. That is all. Thanks for setting me straight, especially those who did so politely without telling me what to do. Although I did notice all the people who liked the fact he went after me.

Here is my take: This is the second time in five years Ashland Blazer pays Third Region champion Owensboro in the first round of the tournament. Ashland lost to Covington Catholic 76-65 in last year's first round. The Tomcats advanced to the quarterfinals the year prior, losing to eventual champion Highlands. They were 33-0 the season before that when the 2020 Sweet 16 was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. They beat Owensboro 59-50 in the first round of the 2019 tournament before getting bounced by Trinity in the quarterfinals. The Tomcats feature a pair of double-digit scorers: junior Zander Carter (22.3 ppg, 6 rpg) and senior Rheyce Deboard (17.3). They represent 53.5 percent of the offense. Senior Tucker Conway is a dangerous deep shooting threat, connecting on 45.9 percent from 3-point range (72-for-157). They helped the Tomcats persevere through a head coaching change made just before the start of the season that resulted in assistant Ryan Bonner taking over the team as acting head coach on short notice. They were 7-6 after the first 13 games and 15-5 after that. Owensboro was an uninspiring 10-6 on Jan. 13 because of injuries and player absences and an underwhelming 14-10 entering postseason play with a pair of losses to city rival Owensboro Catholic. The team was boosted by the addition of 6-foot-5 post player Ji Webb, who made his season debut Jan. 24. Since then, the Red Devils are 8-3 with victories over Owensboro Catholic in the district and regional finals for a 45th regional crown. Webb (10.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) ranks third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding since his addition. Kenyatta Carbon leads the team with 22.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg. He's the school's second all-time leading scorer and is within spitting distance of the leader. Owensboro shoots decently from the field (48 percent) but does not hit its free throws enough (59.1 percent)

Here is my take: Frederick Douglass is in the Sweet 16 for the first time. Martin County is in for the second time but will be playing its first games. Martin County's first Sweet 16 appearance was wiped out in 2020 by the Covid pandemic, which caused the tournament to be cancelled that year. The Broncos are the hottest team still standing with 28 wins in a row. They were unstoppable after putting together a full squad following the addition of players from the state championship football team. Their two losses were to Lexington Catholic Nov. 30 and Great Crossing Dec. 10. Martin County, the surprise champion from the 15th Region, is probably the streakiest team still left. The Cardinals are on a five-game winning streak, which followed an eight-game losing streak, which came after a 17-game winning streak. Kai Simpson averages 16.7 ppg, Melo Boone 16 ppg for the Broncos. They also are 1-2 in rebounding. Aveion Chenualt (13.2 ppg) and Tylor Webb (11.4 ppg) also are regular double-digit scorers. Luke Hale leads Martin County with 20.7 ppg. Brayden McKenzie is next at 15.3, but there is a big drop-off to the next player, Jacob Sturgell, at 8.5. Sturgell leads the team with 6.1 rpg. The teams have similar shooting efficiencies, with Frederick Douglass holding a slim edge from the field and Martin County hitting slightly better from long range and the free throw line. Shooting percentages for Frederick Douglass....48.5% FG, 32.6% 3FG, 64.8% FT. Shooting percentages for Martin County.............46.2% FG, 34.6% 3FG, 68.5% FT The winner plays either Male or Breathitt County in Friday's quarterfinals.

Here is my take: Surprise, surprise. On both sides. Despite being the returning regional tournament champion, Jeffersontown entered the season in rebuilding mode while returning a pair of starters and looked to be behind several talented teams in the Sixth Region. The Chargers held an underwhelming spot at 10th in the final regional rankings. They had a record of 11-12 on Feb. 14 and were a .500 team at regular-season's end with a team scoring average of 51.6 ppg. They have not lost since Valentine's Day, going 6-0 and averaging 64.6 ppg, a scoring increase of 25 percent. Jeffersontown is balanced and unselfish on offense and inconsistent with flashes of brilliance on defense. Camron McDaniels (12.1 ppg) and Lukas McDaniels (10.5 ppg) lead six players who average 9 ppg or more. Brandon Gatewood (9.7 ppg), Genesis Nimely (9.4 ppg) and Rhys Taylor (9.1) are right behind them. Brenton Moore, averaging 9 ppg, has led the Chargers in scoring each of the last two times out while averaging 16 points, nearly double his season average. The McDaniels, Lukas (5.4 rpg) and Camron (5.3 rpg), are 1-2 in rebounding. Seven players shoot 50 percent or better from the field, helping the team shoot 52.3 percent overall. Upset-minded Woodford County outlasted a rugged Eighth Region field and won its first regional title since 1986 when the school was in the 11th Region. The Yellow Jackets started the season 5-9 with a five-game losing streak, but they have now won seven games in a row with this late-season push. Like Jeffersontown, they were lightly regarded coming into the postseason. But they shoot well, hitting 53.5 percent from the field, and feature the scoring of Jasper Johnson (20.9 ppg) who accounted for a whopping 25.8 percent of the team's point production. Now, one of these surprising teams is poised to punch an improbable ticket to the quarterfinals where either Elizabethtown or McCracken County will await the winner.

LYON COUNTY VS. NEWPORT SWEET 16 PREVIEW Lyon County (30-5) vs. Newport (28-6), 1:30 pm Thursday first round at Rupp Arena All eyes on Lyon County junior guard Travis Perry, who needs 21 points to become Kentucky's all-time leading scorer. Perry, who has scored fewer than 21 points just once this season, is averaging 32.2 ppg, second in the state. He has 4,317 career points. Leader Kelly Coleman scored 4,337 at Wayland from 1953-56. The high-scoring Lyons are much more than Perry, although he's clearly the engine that makes them go. Fellow juniors Brady Shoulders (18.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg) and Jack Reddick (19 ppg) have had some big games for the Lyons and practically everybody is efficient when they shoot. The Lyons are hitting 49 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range and 71 percent from the free throw line. Bradin Nelson has averaged 6 ppg and 5.2 rpg and missed one free throw in 10 attempts since being ruled eligible four games ago, adding tough leadership as the only high-performing senior on the roster. The Lyons lead Kentucky in team scoring (83.9 ppg) and rank third in scoring margin (20.6 ppg). They rank 42nd in field goal shooting percentage (49.2). Comparatively, surprise Ninth Region champion Newport is 13th in scoring defense (50.6 ppg), 14th in scoring margin (13.5 ppg) and 15th in field goal percentage (51.3). The Wildcats are led by Marquez Miller (15.8 pg), Taylen Kinney (14 ppg), Jabari Covington (12.2 ppg) and top board man James Turner (6.6 rpg), all of whom rank in the top four in scoring and rebounding. Lyon County has won 16 consecutive games. Newport, making its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2010, has won 12 games in a row. That's two hot teams with a lot at stake. The winner plays the George Rogers Clark-North Laurel winner in Friday's quarterfinals. Lyon County beat John Hardin 82-65 in last year's first round before getting eliminated by Covington Catholic 59-57 in the quarters. Lyon County and Newport have two common opponents this season: Covington Holy Cross and Harlan County. Lyon County beat Holy Cross by 16 (95-79) and Harlan County by three (76-73). Newport lost to Holy Cross by two (74-72) and beat Harlan County by 15 (73-58).

So, are you gonna congratulate him, too? Or do you only confess other people's sins and not you're own.

Congratulations Aric on a great coaching career.

He said he has officially retired from coaching basketball at Campbell County but didn't straight out say he is officially retiring from coaching basketball. The reference to the bible verse is rather cryptic, I think. Matthew 6:33 is part of the Sermon on the Mount and continues a discussion of worry about material things: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." If I didn't know better, it sounds to me like something is going on with Russell, either personally or with Campbell County, and we don't yet know the whole story.

I have this irrational fascination with streaks. With Frederick Douglass being in my coverage area, I was interested in knowing who else was really hot coming into the tournament. So I started making a list on paper and just decided to go ahead and finish it up here. It's practically useless but I also have this irrational fascination with high school basketball.

SWEET 16 RANKED BY CURRENT WINNING STREAK 28 Frederick Douglass 23 Warren Central 16 Lyon County 14 Male 12 Newport 9 George Rogers Clark 9 North Laurel 7 Elizabethtown 7 Woodford County 6 Breathitt County 6 Jeffersontown 5 Martin County 5 McCracken County 5 Owensboro 5 Pulaski County 3 Ashland Blazer FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS 7 Elizabethtown vs. 5 McCracken County 7 Woodford County vs. 6 Jeffersontown 23 Warren Central vs. 5 Pulaski County 5 Owensboro vs. 3 Ashland Blazer 28 Frederick Douglass vs. 5 Martin County 14 Male vs. 6 Breathitt County 16 Lyon County vs. 12 Newport 9 George Rogers Clark vs. 9 North Laurel HIGHLIGHTS --Lyon County vs. Newport is the only first-round game featuring both teams with winning streaks in double figures (16 vs. 12) --George Rogers Clark vs. North Laurel is the only game featuring teams with winning streaks of equal length (9 vs. 9) --Frederick Douglass vs. Martin County has the greatest disparity in length of streak (28 vs. 5) --Owensboro vs. Ashland Blazer offers the least streaky matchup (5 vs. 3) --Six of the longest current winning streaks in the tournament reside with teams in the lower bracket (28 Frederick Douglass, 16 Lyon County, 14 Male, 12 Newport, 9 George Rogers Clark, 9 North Laurel --All four teams in the bottom quadrant have winning streaks of at least nine games (16 Lyon County, 12 Newport, 9 George Rogers Clark, 9 North Laurel) STREAKIEST POTENTIAL QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS Frederick Douglas vs. Male (28 vs. 14) Lyon County vs. George Rogers Clark or North Laurel (16 vs. 9)

The All-2nd Region tournament team announced Tuesday: Travis Perry, Bradin Nelson, Jack Reddick, Brady Shoulders (Lyon County) KeiMarion Smith, Antonio Williams, Bubba Leavell (Hopkinsville) Gerard Thomas, Cooper Davenport (Henderson County) Jordan Miles, Derrell Bateman (Christian County) DeShawn Murphy (Webster County) Jhaden Vaughn (Trigg County) Marcus Eaves (Madisonville-North Hopkins) Drake Skeen (Hopkins County Central)

Not only that, this is Woodford County's first-ever Eighth Region championship. Last won a region title in 1986 in the 11th Region. BBKRecordBook_Regional champions.indd (khsaa.org)

UPDATE: Travis Perry scored 33 points in Lyon County's 2nd Region tournament championship game victory over Hopkinsville on Tuesday. He needs 21 points to become Kentucky's all-time leading scorer, and will get that chance on Kentucky's biggest stage, Rupp Arena, at next week's Sweet 16 Tournament in Lexington. Perry has scored fewer than 21 points just once this season. He's averaging 32.2 ppg. Lyon County's next game is against Newport in the first round March 16. KENTUCKY'S ALL-TIME SCORING LIST 1. 4,337 Kelly Coleman (Wayland) 1953-56 2. 4,317 Travis Perry (Lyon County) 2018-present PERRY'S 2022-23 GAME-BY-GAME POINT TOTALS Game total/Opponent/Career total 24 Ohio County........................3,213 36 South Warren......................3,249 28 Mason County.....................3,277 24 Livingston Central..............3,301 27 Crittenden County.............3,328 41 Christian County.................3,369 38 Trigg County.......................3,407 26 Hopkins County Central....3,433 29 Harlan County....................3,462 34 Larue County......................3,496 25 Great Crossing...................3,521 28 North Oldham.....................3,549 25 Cov. Holy Cross..................3,574 passed Harry Todd for 4th all-time 37 Ballard..................................3,611 passed Cameron Justice for 3rd all-time 27 Lexington Catholic..............3,638 31 Mason County.....................3,669 passed Charlie Osborne for 2nd all-time 30 Livingston Central 45 North Laurel 21 University Heights 33 Webster County 31 Trigg County 30 Hopkinsville 29 Crittenden County 37 Caldwell County 33 Madisonville-North Hopkins 32 John Hardin 32 Bracken County....................reached 4,000 in his career (4,022) 34 University Heights 43 Trinity (Whitesville) 61 Dawson Springs.....................971 season total 31 Crittenden County.................1,002 season, 4,191 career 20 Trigg County..........................1,022 season, 4,211 career 32 Hopkins County Central.......1,054 season, 4,243 career 41 Christian County....................1,095 season, 4,284 career 33 Hopkinsville............................1,128 season, 4,317 career, needs 21 for new record --- vs. Newport, state tournament first round March 16

Seems like another good place to plug Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics: The science of the good for human life, which is the goal or end at which all our actions aim. Every coach should read this.

Got a great book to recommend to everybody: coaches, players, fans, fighters, writers, readers and the curious: Nicomachean Ethics by someone you may have heard of: Aristotle. It's his best-known work, the science of the good for human life, which is the goal or end at which all our actions aim. It's an easy read and you can't read it and not become a better person. That book changed my life, and I was already kind of OK. If just one person here reads that book and it works, get back to me. Thanks. --Jonesy