B-Ball-fan

Eta Rho...I feel your pain. The little switcheroo that you just experienced perplexed me too. Y'ever feel like you were just talking to the 'air' ??? :confused: :eek: :lol:

Coach Faust played and coached in the Sweet 16.

I need to get with the program. Who did Coach Faust play for? I don't think that I ever knew.:confused:

I agree with everything you say.:thumb: Coming from a small mountain county school, enrollment 230 and the only high school in the county, I would be the happiest person in the world if we could ever make it to the Sweet 16. We've been runner-up twice in our region, but that's as close as we've been. If we could make it I wouldn't care who we played the first round, mismatch or not.

I got goose bumps just reading your post. I also get goose bumps every time I see a team run onto Rupp Arena's court for the first time knowing that this great memory will stay with them for the rest of their lives. It's a great feeling for everyone, powerhouses and especially for a small school making their first ever trip. I've never attended a Sweet 16 without experiencing a 'good feeling lump in the throat' at least once or twice before it's over. Besides great basketball, I'm sure it's what keeps me coming back year after year. Good luck to your team and maybe one day they'll have their day in the sun too. :thumb:

Maybe I should have said 3rd best team. 5th best may be stretching it a little bit.

 

Anyway, everyone deals with the region they're assigned. Obviously some are going to be stacked and others not, but there has to be 16 reps at the Sweet 16, regardless of region strength. However, I have seen some messy blowouts at the tournament when some of these mismatches occur between power region and weak region teams.

Personally, as uneven as the Sweet 16 appears to be every year, I've always liked the disparity in team strengths that brings on all kinds of unpredictable scenarios, even though mostly the strong teams usually prevail. It's still exciting for the teams, as well as the fans, to attend the tourney having high hopes of a few magical cinderella moments. Everybody likes to see the little guy have his day in the sun every once in awhile even if the magic doesn't completely last for 4 games. Sometimes it does though, and those Sweet 16 memories tend to be the most lasting. 2000 E-Town stands right up there in the 'who knew?' category. I remember seeing some of the team having breakfast in Lexington first day of tourney thinking "I guess this will be a quick trip for these guys". Little did I know. In 2002 I saw a state final where Lex Cath murdered a really decent Paducah team, so in this, blowouts can also come when powerhouses meet when everyone expected a close game. The Sweet 16 is full of surprises and I think that's what makes it so exciting. I guess there's many ways that Kentucky High School Basketball can be rethought out, and without trying to sound as if I'm resistant to change, I just think in this case, the elements that the Sweet 16 have traditionally brought, and is a dying breed, is capable of giving more goose bumps than by just going the ways of the world. There may never be a 'perfect on paper' method to running the Sweet 16, but all I know is that the way that it is run now, as it has always been, is about as close to basketball heaven as it can get. Ain't nuttin' like it in the world. :thumb:

Hate to sound biased but with the group Holmes returns next year, they could very well make a run like we saw this year.

 

They will be junior dominated but once again, very long and athletic and probably even bigger than this year's team. Their starting lineup should look something like this:

 

PG Jamel Riley (6')

G/F Ricardo Johnson (6'5)

G/F Jeremiah Johnson (6'4)

G/F Elijah Pittman (6'5)

C/F Keyvon Arnold (6'6)

 

Coming off the bench will most likely be Dom Johnson (6'3 G), but he could very well be inserted in the starting lineup with Arnold coming off the bench.

 

Holmes weakness imo next year will be depth. Not too sure about their freshmen outside of Herndon and Arnold.

 

The JV team was very good (20-1).

 

Holmes has a lot of upside though.

 

With Pittman and both Johnson brothers already at 6'5 as sophomores, it looks like they will grow another inch or two. SO we could possibly see three 6'6 guys in Holmes starting lineup with all of them being guards. Kind of scary to think about that.

 

As for the rest of NKY:

 

Boone returns a good junior to be class and if I'm not mistaken their freshman class was pretty good as well. IMO Boone and Holmes will be 1-2 preseason and throughout the year.

 

Covcath returns POY candidate in Luke Maile as well as a very good guard in Shover. The key for them is whether or not they can get Isler to step up like J.D Schmerge did this year. If they can and get a few role players to step up like a Brandon Brown from the 06 team, don't be surprised to see Covcath give Holmes and Boone all they can handle.

 

Newcath returns a solid core of players and had a good JV team so don't count them out. Pangallo will be huge for them.

 

Ryle, yes I know we say this every year, could be the darkhorse or sleeper. They had a solid nucleus of younger players who could contribute next year.

 

At the end of the year though, I think the region will run through Holmes with Boone and Covcath being the teams trying to knock them off.

I wouldn't be surprised if Elijah Pittman gets to be about 6'8 when his legs catch up to his long arms. He just has that look that he's got room to grow. That will be unbelievable in the coming few years with the Bulldogs and all of their height. They really are building a program worthy of of a state title at Covington Holmes. Most teams (not all) have a much easier time running through the Sweet 16 with an endless bench. They certainly have that and they are the smartest, most unselfish fired up Holmes Bulldogs TEAM I've seen in quite awhile. These cohesive elements and a deep bench can only take them further than they were ever capable of in the recent past. Having seen Rupp's floor last year can't hurt any either. I like their chances. They seem to be clicking on all cylinders right now, and are extremely focused on the ultimate goal that they appear to have developed a mature healthy mentality to face. They're now down to a 1 in 16 chance at taking the big prize, but I think we all know that their chances are way better than that. Wouldn't that be fantastic if all of their hard work finally pays off. :thumb:

GO DAWGS !!!

Cooper, man... Cooper. :ylsuper:

Which is all the proof anyone could need that the Sweet 16 is still very much a magical tournament where small schools can still compete in it, and that there is no need to spoil this magic with class divisions. The All 'A' Classic should be enough to keep everybody happy to avoid ruining a good thing. If the tournament were to no longer welcome the likes of a 75 student enrollment school like June Buchanan, then I don't think I'd be nearly as interested in it as I am now. The Sweet 16 is the greatest show in hoops. Why would anyone ever want to mess with that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. :thumb:

It's a little bittersweet to me to be moving to NKU. I'm very excited, after all these years, to take the tournament to a bigger stage. It feels like the 9th Region fan is being rewarded for all the years of working hard at getting a good seat by showing up early and being patient with the clearing of the gym at the Semi's. I also think it'll be a big help to the teams to play in that atmosphere to prepare them for Rupp Arena. I have many great memories of exciting packed 9th Region Finals at Holmes, Conner or Ryle that will be hard to replace and hope that this new era brings on just as many great memories in the future, however different. Who knows? Some folks who might've forgotten how awesome 9th Region Basketball can be just might be sparked into catching the fever again and help fill up the new arena at tournament time. Let's hope so. If the numbers don't add up, I guess we can always go back to the way it's always been, which wouldn't be so bad. One thing's for certain is there will always be great 9th Region B-Ball action in the future no matter where they hold it. :thumb:

Great effort, great game by the both teams. Two very good teams coached by two very good coaches. When is the last time a team posted a record as good as this years Bulldogs? Speaking of records!!!!

Coach Listermans record at CCH - 186 wins - 54 losses (.775 winning percentage)

Second only to Mote Hills at CCH - 195 wins - 52 losses (.789 winning percentage)

Not (31-2) but...

NewCath in 1999/2000 - 30-6

St. Henry in 2002/2003 - 30-5

With the exit of Simon Kenton in the 9th to the 8th a few years back, the 9th Region has no current teams that have ever won the state title. 90 years and our trophy case is completely bare. If that isn't the perfect case for you to seek out the bucks from the big city, I don't know what it. PLEASE HEAR OUR PLEA. We need you man. We really need you.:scared:

1981 - Simon Kenton over CovCath in the Regional Finals.

I'm just asking because I don't know, but did Kenny Shields ever win region as a player with CovCath? If so, then he can be tossed into the conversation. Anyone know what years he played? :confused:

You don't honestly think St Henry "let" Villa lead most of the game, and go into OT. Not giving Villa much credit with that statement. I think St. Henry was lucky to escape with a W. And unless Coach Listerman has a bout of compassion, CCH wins by 15-20.

Correct or incorrect, it was just a thought. You're free to disagree. I guess you're also free to misrepresent what is was that I said.

1. I commended Villa for playing their hearts out and the game of their lives, so I didn't take away credit from them by suggesting that Coach F might've not pressed more, to keep it closer.

2. I said that if Coach F was being classy and laying back a little, that Villa's heart might've taken them further than he would've have liked it to. Which means, I too think that St. Henry was lucky to escape with a W if his tactic was to not murder them but to let Villa have some excitement being their first time in the tourney and he knew that he could without a doubt win.

3. I said that in the CovCath/St. Henry game they'll be no humanitarians, meaning both teams are coming to kick some butt and that I was sure that Coach L was bringing his 'A' game.

Other than the fact that you disagree that Faust would've held back, everything else that you questioned me for saying, you misrepresented me for saying. I might be wrong with my curious assessment of the whole thing, but I don't know how much more wrong you can get with your assessment of what I said when your spin took it away from realizing that we were saying basically the same thing aside from my main point. That's cool. You're entitled to give your backward spin on the ball to what I said. But I know what I'm trying to say (or ponder). Do you?

As clearly as I wrote the post, I'm sorry that something in your perception prevented you from understanding it. :eek:

Is it just me or did anyone notice that Coach Faust didn't look too worried in the game against Villa? Sure, Villa played the games of their lives, and I commend them for that, but I'm thinking that Coach F played it classy and let the Blue Lightening have their day in the sun. He could've pressed more, which he didn't, and things might've been totally different. Did anyone notice how effective their press was when they turned it on? Villa's heart carried them further than he would've liked, but it sure made it interesting for the folks in attendance and the Cru get to move on. Just imagine a CovCath/Villa game... Who knows, but I'm guessing that the 9th Region fan will ultimately get a better game in the Semis with CCH/St. H. I know that I wasn't seeing a St. Henry team show what they were capable of. I don't mean to blow his cover, and I applaud him for making it fun, but I'm thinking that CovCath should know that there's more to the Cru than meets the eye and that a totally different team will likely be showing up to play in the Semis. Can they overcome the mighty Colonels?... I don't know. Can they stay with them for a good while? I'm thinking that they can. They'll be no humanitarians in this game and both teams will be will be fighting for their lives. I look to see a pretty nice game that doesn't get out of hand until the 4th period. But, during March Madness, I'm learning that my foresight mean absolutely NOTHING.

Considering that no one's going to bother reading this long post, there's probably little chance of CovCath catching wind from me of how they need not look past St. Henry, but I'm guessing that the staff at CCH is well aware of this and will without a doubt bring their 'A' game.

Two 20 point wins. But what St Henry did against Villa during the regular season is irrelevant to this thread as it's about CCH and St Henry.

I'm sorry. I thought that the flow of the thread was going to a logical and interesting place, discussing where you can't always determine by regular season games what the outcome will be. Dummy me. But just for kicks:

St. Henry 80 Villa 45

St. Henry 82 Villa 60

St. Henry 59 Villa 56 OT

hmmmm:confused:

O.K... back to the CCH/St. Henry game...

Don't mind me... :jump:

Maybe had Dixie not been blown out by Holmes during the regular season and St Henry not blown out by CCH during the regular season, people wouldn't be predicting the same thing to happen again. Both CCH and Holmes are playing good basketball right now and seem poised to meet again in the finals so why would anyone think otherwise after Dixie struggled with Conner and St Henry SURVIVED in OT against Villa?

 

It's just a prediction forum and thread. People will be wrong and people be right. Who cares if someone predicts a blowout? It has nothing to do with what will happen on the court.

How did St. Henry do against Villa during the regular season?:confused:

Insight isn't covering the Semi's this year...

But nky.com is...

You can't get in until the gym is cleared from the 1st game ( I think). But you could ditch in the restroom right at the end of the 1st game.

After years of running Regional tourneys, don't think they don't know that trick. They check under the stands too. If CovCath grabs an undeniable lead in the 4th (or St. Henry), that's the time to bolt for the doors, but then there's still a boat load of folks already waiting outside. Good thing though is that there are two entrances. That helps a lot. At Holmes and Ryle, with only one entrance, you could wait awhile. Can't wait for next year when they move it to NKU and there will also be less waiting between games. :thumb:

Would someone give the Jim Hicks resume that makes his team such a tough out come tournament time?

I honestly don't know how long Hicks has been at Conner, but in 2000 they stayed completely under the radar all season long, only to lose by 1 in the Regional Semis held at Ryle, to the favorite NewCath in Ronnie Dawn's junior year. This would've been Marcus Johnson, Terry Johnson, and Jeremey Stevenson's junior year for Conner as well. NewCath went on to beat Holmes in the finals I believe, but not before having a nice Cougar scare from a team that came out of nowhere. The following year the Cougars were well known because the secret was out and they played well all season long now that the aforementioned juniors were now seniors. In a very competitive 9th in this 2001 season, they eventually lost to Highlands in the Regional Finals, held at Holmes, in double-overtime after having beat a tough CovCath team in the 1st round and a very strong Ronnie Dawn's senior year Breds team in the semis. Just about every year since they have had average seasons, just to come again from nowhere in post-season play to play spoiler. Sure they've missed the Regional tourmament at times for having come out of a tough 33rd district, but they've been there more than not when nobody expected them to be. This trend seems to continue so much that I'm starting to expect it, and am no longer surprised when Conner comes to the Regional Tournament with a losing record.

Impressive effort Villa :thumb: I was pulling for ya. Just came up a little short, but you left the court looking like winners to me. :thumb:

Congrats to St. Henry for moving on. As you know, you'll have to play much better than that if you stand a chance against the Colonels. I think you have it in ya though to make a respectible game of it.

Then you wake up from your dream!!

I've been tossing around crazy scenarios all season long just for kicks giving different teams a glimmer of hope. I've given props to Dixie, Beechwood, St. Henry, Conner etc... I'm well aware of who the powerhouses are. Out of the top 4, 2 are now GONE, but the Cru still stands. It will be a tall order for them the get past CCH, but stranger things have happened. Like... Villa taking St. Henry to overtime. Just as most, I see a Holmes/CovCath final, but ultimately that's why they play the game because we really don't know. Stranger things have happened... Personally, at this point in the game, I wouldn't want to follow any other teams to Rupp than the Blue Colonels or the Bulldogs. No other teams left have better chances than them in the Sweet 16. Still, I'll take whatever happens and root for whoever comes out of the 9th no matter what. :thumb:

Link to Video Broadcasts of 9th Region Tournament games.

http://www.NorthernKentuckySports.com/index.asp

Link to Video Broadcasts of 9th Region Tournament games.

http://www.NorthernKentuckySports.com/index.asp

Link to Video Broadcasts of 9th Region Tournament games.

http://www.NorthernKentuckySports.com/index.asp

On further thought...Bellevue HAD to be in the 35 with Dayton and Newport, & NCC. HHS played (and got beat in triple OT) by Bellevue in the first round of the 1976 regional. Below was "stolen" from the Buddy LaRosa HOF web site. PS...Coach is writing a book of his memoirs!

 

Coach Ken Shields

St. Thomas/Highlands High Schools

 

1965-1988

 

 

Perhaps one of the most well-loved and well-respected basketball coaches in Greater Cincinnati over the last 50 years, Ken Shields may be regarded as best ever.

 

He has produced a staggering legacy of 39 years of coaching between the high school (23 years) and collegiate level (16 years) to compile 766 victories. The career total is believed to be the best in Greater Cincinnati amateur basketball history. His 460 career victories in high school rank No. 4 all-time in Greater Cincinnati history, while his 306 collegiate victories at Northern Kentucky University rank No. 2 all-time behind Bob Huggins (399).

 

Shields’ high school career began in Fort Thomas at St. Thomas High School where he coached for 10 seasons (199-113 record). The Tomcats won three 36th District championships. When the school closed, Shields moved to Highlands where he coached for another 13 years (261-144 record). The Bluebirds won five Ninth Region championships and nine 36th District titles. Overall, he had 16 seasons with 20-plus victories.

 

In 1988, Shields left Highlands to become the third coach in NKU history. In 16 seasons, he finished with a 306-170 career mark. His teams made the NCAA Division II national tournament seven times, including finishing as national runners-up in both 1995-96 and in 1996-97. Shields was named NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 1994-95.

 

Shields was an outstanding athlete as well during his high school career at Covington Catholic. A four-year starter in baseball, and a varsity starter in basketball his last two seasons, Shields was an All-Ninth Regional basketball star and was the CovCath Athlete of the Year in 1959-60.

 

Shields still teaches three days a week at NKU during the first semester.

Great Find. Nice Article:thumb:

I'd snatch up a copy of his book in a second.