KY_Wildcats

I had forgotten that Omari Jointer was playing at Woodford. He is the cousin to a good friend of mine and I watched him quite a bit when he was in 4th 5th and 6th grade. He played AAU in Louisville before his father took the Frankfort job. Basketball is not even his first sport, he is a stud football player as well. You could tell even when he was little that he was going to be special.

To beat North its going to take a team like J-town that just can get into their passing lanes and has the quickness to beat them to their spots. I have not seen anyone in the 8th with that level of personnel. Woodford has the athletes to do so, but its going to take a next level effort. They are just so very well coached. I have always said this, the key is getting your middle school coaches to run a certain base of things that you do at the Varsity level. When they are freshman they already know how to play your style. I think for more rural teams this is a must.

North hit 75% from the field. Even when Oldham closed out well, they still hit it. The first time these two played it really was a 6-8 point game ( ended up 12) but this one I knew North would put it on them ( and they did)

I walked in with them at the round robin at Henry county as they were getting off the bus ( I assume from the 2a game they had played) They have quite a bit of size. I was shocked at how long and big they were.

He really can shoot the ball and he excels at being able to draw fowls and get to the line. He just knows how to score the ball.

This one was never in doubt. North is just a way superior team in every way. Fr Ty Bryant led Oldham county with unofficially 25 points.

I watched this one on line. Oldham had it cut to 12 in the mid 3rd, but just couldn't string a few buckets together to get back in it. Ballard and Cole Edelin tried to let them back in it. Edelin went 3 for 18 from 3. 6-11 Mason Grivna for Ballard just erases anything that comes into the lane. He has such knack and control of his body to be so young. He either alters or blocks everything that comes in the paint. Fr Ty Bryant had a bit of a bounce back game getting 20pts and 12 rebounds. Oldham just doesn't understand when they get it somewhat close against really good teams how to get good offensive possessions to mount a comeback all the way. Part of that was Ballard as they are just the superior team.

styles make fights. Oldham beat Spencer and Henry co early in the season and Henry had some guys out. Oldham also had a very athletic player quit the team that really hurt the way they were wanting to play style wise.

St X looks like a college team when they walk onto the floor, both in size and athleticism. Not a D-1 team of course, but they are better than some D3 teams I've seen in that regard. I have been shocked at how closely they've been played and even beaten. Heyworth is one of the best coaches in the region, and he will put a plan together that will most likely make this a close game. Losing Trey hurts Male, but they still have plenty of fire power. I like X by 5-7 points.

What I meant by the Oldham's a break is : Traditionally North , South and Oldham have all been in the top tier of the region strength wise ( this year South and North are two of the top teams). So a very good team is not going to have a chance to make it out of the district. Some of the other 8th region districts are not as good of teams competition wise. But you are correct it should be geographical. I played at North Bullitt when we were in the 8th region ( now in the 6th). We had Bullitt Central, Bullitt East and Spencer County in our district which was geographical. I guess I just meant if say you put Collins in with North, South and Oldham county you would have 4 of the stronger teams in the Region all in one district. I know that Collins is down this year due to the coaching turmoil , and Oldham is down but traditionally that is not the case. If those were your four teams, you seriously some years could be looking at all four teams being in the top 7 or 8 teams in the Region. That means a couple very good teams would not be able to have a chance to compete in the Region. I am all over the place with this post, but I wouldn't mind seeing every team invited to the Region and you seed the teams. I know that has been discussed, and I for one wouldn't mind seeing that happen.

I was an AD at a very competitive homeschool team that won a national title. To be fair we had four players that had played extensively for public schools the year before they came to us. At that time Cornerstone played mostly small private schools and homeschool teams. They had a few teams that were very nice teams. None that would beat North Oldham this year, but had some very nice players and teams. I am not sure how they are now competition wise. They didn't have to join KHSAA if they didn't want to get placed in a hard district. I am sure like a lot of small private schools they did it for increased revenue. I don't mean this in anyway to be mean spirited, but they were not forced to join the KHSAA. They could have stayed in the KCAA where they were prior to joining. The other flip side is the 29th most years is one of the tougher Districts in the Region. so maybe that was the thought to give the Oldham schools a break. I don't know?

I have seen 14 of the top 25 teams either in person or on film. Of course teams can have off nights, but I would say all 14 I have seen are very good teams. A few better than others. I think talent wise X is the best team, but Ballard gave them all they wanted, Male beat them once so we are in for a nice ending of the season I would say.

I watched it on Fox 19. Oldham`s active zone was very successful in the first half and Ryle shooting was suspect as is usually the case in gyms as large as Xavier's. Especially from a team that is not used to playing is such large stadiums. Oldham played very good in spurts, soph Kye Bowan had something like 18 pts and Fr Matt Withrow played lights out as well, and had 17 or 18 pts ( plus a monster dunk!). Ty Bryant ended with 10 or so but was just completely out of it the whole game. Some of it was Ryle pressure but it just wasn't his game, as he missed several easy buckets that he normally converts. Sr Will Hinkle played very well as well. Bottom line Oldham is going to struggle until they get some guys to step up off of their bench against good teams. I think they got a total of 3 points from their bench, and some critical turnovers against Ryle pressure while bench players were in. They have to have everyone in their starting 5 score against good teams to win, and that is just not a recipe for success against good , solid teams. Ryle is a good solid team with some seasoned players and it showed down the stretch. They whipped Oldham on the boards and made them play the whole length of the floor which wore Oldham down late. Oldham is just a year away and honestly a couple of players that need to sell out to becoming stronger and better players. They have the talent to do so, they just need to put the time in in the off season to learn to be successful varsity players.

I watched Anderson and Walton Verona Saturday at Henry County. They both have nice squads. Anderson slows things down, run these great horn sets work the ball around and get it inside. They have a very active big in the post that Walton had to double down on. Anderson remains very patient and I think enjoys close games. They have a nice little cat quick guard that does a good job leading them, and they can hit a three when they have too. Walton had control of the game most of the game by a narrow but firm margin ( 4-5 pts). Anderson just keeps plugging away and got a key turnover late to win the game. Walton wanted to get it out and go and was successful in spurts, but Anderson is thick and takes good angles when they guard. Neither team deserved to lose this one really. It was one of those games that if it would have went into the 60`s Walton wins, but it was much lower than that. Anderson can give some folks problems in the Region. I don't know who is in their district but if they get out of there they could pose some problems. The 8th doesn't have the speed and athleticism the 7th has but I would give the coaching I have seen in the 8th the nod over the 7th.

As a follow up thought: Losing Sears to Montgomery county was a huge blow to North Oldham. Austin just knows how to score and how to get to the free throw line. Tough to lose a kid like that after the season starts and have to reestablish your team.

I didn't see the game but was surprised by the outcome. I thought Jtown would win but not by this margin at all. North plays at a pace, and if they can get you in their pace they will beat you because they have good players and are VERY well coached. I am very familiar with 4 of Jtowns players having watched them for a few years. The Westmorland kid is a freak athlete, and Jtowns guards are so quick and physical. Duncan always brings his kids around at the time they need to be. I need to get out of the prediction game because in my head I thought Jtown by about 5 lol

This is what I meant by Suspect.

I think they will be in very good shape once Jayden returns. Maybe even a dark horse in the 7th?

I know Anderson`s schedule is a little suspect, but this guy is coaching his tail off. Having lost his best player and still winning games. Very impressive! Bullitt Central is not great but they are very solid, they own a 20point win over North Bullitt. Anderson coach deserves some votes for COY depending on how they finish out.

I have been watching Baron ( B) Clay since he was in 4th grade. Very nice kid and very nice player. Clutch shot!

From a good source Oldham was up 52-20 in the second qtr and put JV guys and subs in the rest of the way. Central almost came back. Kye Bowan soph led Oldham with 20 pts and Sr. Brooks Kightlinger had 10 pts and 11 rebounds Cooper Collins chipped in 10 off the bench. Ty Bryant was out with a mild injury. Man what has happened to Central? I remember the days when Dwayne Morton`s and Ron Kings of the world roamed their sidelines.

Do you think Grayson has a chance to make sweet 16? They look very strong and adding in Chris Gaither`s son gives them another very good shooter.

Just in time for Districts. will be interesting to watch. In your opinion is the 5th Region down a bit this year? I did some refereeing many many moons ago in the 5th and Etown and North Hardin, Bardstown and Marion all had VERY good teams. It just seems a bit down these past few years.

Do you have any Intel on when Keriawn Berry will be eligible to play for North Hardin? I have watched him many times. He played a season for an AAU program I was close with a few years ago. He is a huge difference maker if eligible. I don't know their roster and other pieces but he is a very very nice player. I am not comparing him to Kevin Durant, obviously he would have to continue to progress at a high level to get near that level. He is also 6-5 where KD is 6-11 ish. But the way he navigates the floor , shoots with distance and gets to the rim reminds me of KD. He is a mid major D1 talent currently, and I could see him potentially ending up power four level- he`s got that level of talent and potential I think. I am putting 5th region on notice if he gets cleared and eligible.

Eastern/Seneca is going to be a war! Eastern has those quality bigs , and Seneca just picks you up from the locker room and tries to suffocate you. I think both coaches are very very good at what they do. I think the keys to the game will be how Eastern guards handle Seneca`s intense pressure. If they can handle the pressure and get it inside, Seneca will have its hands full. If Seneca can turn Eastern and turn it into a foot race they will win. I like Seneca in a close one here.