NKYBOY1487

Deleted my original post.....PM me if you saw it and want to discuss.

Its kinda fun to see a NEW"CAT" in the fight for the regional title. This team has what it takes to cause some problems for the Dogs and even some teams down at the Sweet 16. Good Luck to my new favorite team, NEWPORT....now that my CRU is out with a tough loss to CCH.

Crusaders struggled early but in the 2nd half they got back in it with great D and much better rebounding in the 4th qtr. 2 things Coach Faust demands with his teams. Surprisingly this Crusader team usually puts up good numbers in the pts column by making 3pters and pushing the ball up and down the floor. Tonight just too many turnovers kept them from scoring "early and often". One note I'd like to make. Heroic effort by Ryan Anderson tonight. I've been saying for 2years Ryan is one the of most underrated players in the region and I think after tonight some will finally agree with me. And besides that Ryan is a first class student athlete on and off the floor that comes from a great family. Hope he continues getting better and would love see him playing ball in college next year. One BGPer knows where I'd like to see him do that at Last but most important. I want to say congrats and thank you to this years fabulous group of seniors at St Henry. You showed us this season what St Henry basketball is about. You played extremely hard every game. Gave your all and represented the St Henry program with lots of class. Im proud to say I coached most of you for 1 or 2 summers and got to know you each individually. You all are great young men on and off the basketball floor. Ryan Anderson Ben Bessler Will Gulla Jake Hils Tyler Jordan Danny Seifried Alex Thorburn Louie Tobertge

I don't think CovCath will beat Newport. I think Newport has the big bodies to match up w/ CovCath. I think Newport has much more talent. But with that said, Newport never really blew out St Henry in 2 matchups this year. Newport vs Holmes in the Finals

Not only did Newport win by this large margin. I thought almost every call went in Ryle's favor. Even some easy ones went the other way. Could have been worse.....

I guess I should have been specific and said they should improve on FT% and 3pt%. Just because you can't shoot much worse than that.

Im sure CovCath will improve on these shooting stats from the first game. COVCATH Field Goal %: 40.4 3 Point %: 14.3 Free Throw %: 43.8

Could easily see this happening. I think most people would agree these are all the favorites to win these games right now. But it makes the most sense and I would believe this is most likely out come. But every year we seem to be amazed by something.

2 comments real quick: 1) If Thelen is anywhere near guarding Bessler, Benny should go right around him. Bessler is way too fast to even need to shoot over Thelen. Bessler needs to be careful and stay out of foul trouble, but St Henry usually does a good job attacking big men and getting them in foul trouble also. Part of their game plan with a small team. 2) NCC is a whole new team since the CovCath game. They have since went 13-2. 1 loss was a 3pt loss to Holmes and the other a close loss in the ALL A Finals to Newport.

Lets talk about game plans real quick. CovCath: There is no doubt in my mind that Coach L is planning on pounding the ball inside to Thelen and Wellbrock. Especially Thelen! St Henry doesn't really have an answer for him on the post. Defensively I see CovCath trying to press a little bit, but mostly play straight up man to man. St Henry: The gameplan for them doesn't really change from game to game defensively. Coach Faust knows he doesn't have any height, but what he expects from his team is for them to compete and make every shot CovCath takes a difficult one. And if they do get an easy attempt to put the Colonels on the free throw line, where they really seem to struggle. Offensively this Crusader team, unlike others of the past, really strives on pushing the ball up the floor and getting quick easy buckets. I expect this will be the offesive game plan again Wednesday night. OUTCOME: I worry about the size difference for St Henry. Thelen is a beast and scored bunches in Game 1. But as for CovCath Id have to worry about becoming "one dimensional". I think Coach L could almost become obsessed with the size difference and that could lead to some struggles. Lets remember this, St Henry has been undersized all season. So this is nothing new for them. They are going to rely on speed and quickness to get on top. Bessler and Barnett almost have another gear that most players don't have. All in all I see this coming down to 2 things. 1. St Henry's 3pt shooting 2. CovCaths Free Throw shooting. If St Henry shoots the 3ball anywhere near the way the did against Dixie, Crusaders head to the final 4. CovCath will get to the line often I believe because of the size difference. If the Colonels can shoot better than 65-70%, I see them on top of this "Recent Rival".

Not a real big deal but looks like CCH is padding the height a little bit. Talked to some people from CovCath who told me its more like Wellbrock 6'3", Thelen 6'4", Connelly 6'3"

Aaah what the heck, no one else is picking my Crusaders, lets make a run Cru!!!!: Ryle over Newport St Henry over CovCath Holmes over Dixie Boone over NCC St Henry over Ryle Holmes over Boone Holmes over St Henry

No doubt NCC is the hottest team in the area. I've been saying it for 2weeks. But I would have never guessed this being a blow out. They have to go in to the tourny as the #2 favorite in my opinion. 9-1 in the last 10 and that loss was a 3pt loss to Holmes.

Best game of the year the Crusaders. So proud to see this group of young men peak at the right time. They seem to be clicking and really playing well together. They have not one player over 6'3" and they have now won the district. 4 guys on this team saw varsity last year. 1 starter has went from being cut 2 seasons ago to being one of the best rebounders in the region. They are lightning fast and when they are making 3's this team is very tough to beat. St Henry has now won 4 straight district Titles. 2 in the 33rd and now 2 for 2 in the 34th. Ryan Anderson had possibly his best game of his career tonight after a tough night in the semifinals. Zach Barnett has just been lights out in the past month. He even left the game with a gashed open chin, taped it up, and came back to knock down one more three on his frist touch. I can't say enough about Jake Hils. The kid is the best true PG the Crusaders have had since Matt Fabiani. And in Crusader land that name doesn't get thrown around lightly. He just gets it. He doesn't turn the ball over. He makes great passes. He runs the offense just how Coach Faust wants it. Now he's even attacking the basket, which is the exact opposite of what the opposing teams scouting report says. Oh and I forgot. MVP of the District Benny Bessler. You find me a player who can guard him. And I'll show you someone in foul trouble. The kid has a great mid range game. Blazing speed. And unreal energy. Very fun to watch this kid play. I don't care if you don't even like St Henry. You have to admire Benny Bessler on the floor. This team has been through a lot in this year. And its great to see them finally hitting stride and all their hard work paying off.

If I had to rank these teams I would rank them like this: 1. Holmes 2 TIED. NCC (WINNER TONIGHT would be my #2) 2 TIED. NEWPORT 4. Ryle 5. Boone 6. Dixie 7. CovCath 8. St Henry

Usually the bottom team is the home team I believe. Throughout the entire bracket.

Agreed and from what I've heard we don't know the whole story.

From the start it looked like St Henry knew what they had to do to win. Let Bryan play out of control. Contain Schuh. And shut down everyone else. Bryan got out of control early and picked up his 3rd foul in the first half. They double and triple teamed him most of the 2nd half and Bryan rarely found his other open teammates for easy buckets. The Cru did an awful job on Schuh and Coach Faust was not happy about that. He was very angry that Schuh kept getting open looks. Exact words from the St Henry scouting report. "Very good stand still shooter. Don't give him an open look. Make him put the ball on the floor" Wasn't a great game by St Henry but they did what they had to do to win. Tonight they will need their A game. They battled with Dixie earlier this year, but that was before some changes. Dixie is bigger and deeper than St Henry. But I think St Henry might have more speed. Look for Dixie to play some zone to slow down Bessler.

Is there a hotter team in the 9th right now other than NCC? 7-1 since the ALL A FINALS Loss to Newport. That only loss was a close game vs Holmes. I don't think anyone wants to see them on there side of the bracket at regionals.

NCC is playing as hot as anyone. But I'd love to see them not even make the region.

Please clarify what you mean with these schools? Do they not follow the rule? Because I don't ever recall 1 freshman in the past 10yrs to play at St Henry and play both Freshman and JV???? But I know thats not the case at SK.

Maybe I should explain why I think this is the biggest win in Cooper school history. This is a huge building block for this school and for Coach Sullivans program. This gives this freshman team confidence against any team they face from here out. This is huge tournament victory. Not a regular season win. This is something to build on. This shows all the kids in the up coming years that if they buy into Sullivans program they can compete with anyone. Many of us knew it wouldn't take Cooper long before they were competitive. But they do need steps. This is a huge step and thats why I think its the biggest win in the history of the basketball program. Can you name a bigger win? Besides the first win ever???

This is all I was saying. CovCath was one of THE favorites. So I guess you do agree then....as many would. Not a huge upset, but an upset none the less on someones home floor.

WOW! Had these 2 played in the Regular Season. I know Cooper has a good Fresh team, but CovCath had to be THE or one THE FAVORITES. Congrats to Cooper! Besides the Varsity's first win ever........this just might be the biggest win in the history of Cooper HS???? CAN WE SAY THAT???