Raiderbback04

Ryle must play consistently on offense all afternoon and avoid scoring lulls and they can hang around with a highly favored and more talented CovCath squad. The Raiders are playing better the last couple of weeks and they rely on scrap and hustle.

I think it was Big Stud who said very early in the season in November or December that this HC team is their best since the late 90's. He is correct and even the Big Zig would have to agree with that. The HC-CovCath game will be a nailbiter and HC has a chance for a huge upset on their home floor. I do agree CovCath will be slightly favored as they beat them earlier this year. However, HC is a very solid squad and CovCath knows they must play A ball to get into the regional.

The Holy Cross - CovCath matchup will be a fantastic game. Certainly, the great expectation to win will be on CovCath but the HC boys can play. The Community will be rockin and lockin (too many people, too few seats).

Boone Co. over Holmes in 2OT at Holmes

:eek: Can't wait to hear about this one. This loss at Holmes really shocks me. What a difference a week makes. Boone really struggled last Friday night vs. Ryle.

Congrats to HC - they are a very nice team. The first round district match-up with CovCath continues to loom as one whale of a game. The 9th region race continues to get more interesting.

With the game at HC, I look for margin of victory of 5 points or less. Could be an upset special. It will be a very good game to watch.

St. H must stay focused on Conner and Ryle must stay focused on Boone. If Ryle and St. Henry play, it will certainly be a winnable war for Ryle.

HC definitely has some great prospects. Ryle was very scrappy and overcame a lot of adversity to come from behind and beat a very good team. I look for a great championship game. I think CovCath won the regular season game at CovCath by 6, not sure of final margin.

:thumb: I look forward to seeing him play again in the regionals at Ryle. Dan will do well at WSU if he continues to work hard in the offseason. People will not be able to double and triple him up at the next level and he will be a great team player.

There are some interesting matchups in the first round of districts that will keep a couple of capable teams out of the region. HC plays on their home floor vs. CovCath and it is a possible upset special and a game that is one of the better first round matchups around. NewCath and Newport will be a war, too with the natural rivalry and Newport already having beat the Breds once. Noone in their right mind would possibly count out Holmes but the road for them is a bit tougher now. Should be a great tourney and I'm glad we get to host it. I agree that it is unlikely that 9th will do well at state but you never know.

Ryle took down HC 34-31 and I did not hear the final of the CovCath-Birds game other than that the Blue Colonels prevailed. Ryle vs. CovCath Saturday night at 7:30 at CovCath.

Rivalry game and Scott has had a week to rest and they need a win badly. This will be a very close game decided in the final minutes. I would be surprised by a double-digit margin of victory.

Also, it was basically Ryle's starters vs. Dixie's subs during a lot of the 2nd OT and Dixie ended up going for steals and having to foul and then launching lots of quick threes from NBA range. It was not a game for basketball purists.

Most of Dixie's starters fouled out in the OT's and thus the scoring barrage by Ryle, especially in the 2nd OT.

A rough game physically and Dixie shot poorly from the field and Ryle shot poorly from the stripe. It was 16-2 Ryle after one quarter and Dixie got their first lead of the game with a 3 to begin the overtime. Groneman, I think, made a great leaner from trey-ville to tie the game at 41 to send it into OT. It was one of those crazy games where both teams played not up to potential and found ways to keep the game close.

CovCath is playing well and peaking at the right time of the year and they will play inspired ball and enjoy a definite HCA. Scott Co. does not want to lose 3 of their last 4 and they will come in expecting a great battle. That is what they will get. I look for a final score within 4 points and I hope CovCath can pull the upset.

I would like to get back on topic to post-"humorously" nominate "Boogers" McGoo, the sharpshooting southpaw legend from Rabbit Hash. He graduated from Rabbit Hash High School (now Conner) in 1933. He could shoot the leather but had occasional problems with traveling because he had sticky mitts (pun intended to an honorable BGP member) due to excessive mucus substances on his fingertips at all times. He had a really bad habit. Anyway, he is now under 6' of dirt exactly 19 and 3/4 miles from my house and deserves consideration. God rest his booger-pickin' soul.

Scott had minor surgery after football and originally had planned to sit out the basketball season. He came back a week or two ago and his good attitude and scrappy play helps the team.

Boone will probably play much better in the district match-up than they did tonight. Ryle shot very well tonight, unlike most games this year. Hopefully, we can build on tonight's game and start playing better O the rest of the year. It's nice to have Scott Gray back on the court. He helps from a motivational standpoint with his great team-first attitude and hustle.

Raiders notch their second win of the season over Boone. They got balanced scoring with probably 8-9 players in the books and Boone had a poor night shooting the ball. Ryle grabbed an early 10-0 lead and was never threatened. Seemed like this was the first night in a while where the Raiders shot well from the field.

Hester is a very fine player and right up there as one of the top few point guards in NKY. He was the difference in the game. IMO, he just needs to keep improving in the area of keeping his emotions in check when things do not go his way and he will be a fine college player. He is a good leader for his team on the court and was definitely the best player on the wood last night. Congrats to Mike on a great career milestone.

I believe that Dan is the only 9th region 05-06 senior that will get a D-1 scholly for next year. That speaks for itself.

This will be a very close game that goes down to the wire. Either team could pull it out. With the home court advantage, I would pick the Birds by 2 points. This is definitely the game of the week and it should be a super battle to watch and potential regional final preview.

Typical rugged Ryle game with fairly low scoring. Lots of effort and good D from both teams. I thought Ryle actually outplayed Holmes during most of the second half after trailing 28-15 at intermission. The Dawgs forced a lot of TO's with their tremendous quickness. Ryle doesn't have the offensive firepower to get over the hump against a fine team like Holmes. I am surprised that sophomore Josh Morgan is not getting more PT in varsity - must be something behind the scenes. He plays AAU ball with some of the Holmes boys, hit a game-tying 3 near the buzzer in regulation in Ryle's JV win. Holmes will not win the region playing like they did tonight.