Ranger

Until/if/when Hester comes back, SK is going to struggle in tough games like these. Without him in there, it is an entirely different team. Boone by 8.

Hester did not play. Magley did not play and Parrott injured his ankle. Not a good week for the SK boys. Hester's status sounds questionable at best.

Hurd was in foul trouble and only ended up scoring 4 for the game. Hester is sick and then gets injured and is limited to 10 points. If someone told you these facts, it would be hard to believe that they led by 8 in the third quarter. Layne was high point man for SK with 14. Let's hope Mike's injury is not serious or the great seaon everyone is expecting...

This is definitely a strong team. I would like to see more production out of their two guard spot and a little more scoring from the bench. Most nights it is Hurd, Elbert and Hester. One of the biggest things I have noticed this year is Hurd is more consistent. He almost took nights off last year. 5/3 will be a good test for them. I believe that their undefeated record includes wins over 4 of the top 10 teams in the NKAC but things definitely take a jump next week.

That's a pretty strong field. Notre Dame should pretty easily advance. I think that the Boone/Shelby game could be a toss-up to meet NDA in the finals. I'll give Boone the edge but it should be a really good game. Shelby is coming off a 20+ point win over Mercy and played Scott Co very tough.

I believe that Hurd had 19 and Elbert with 15. In addition to Hurd and Elbert having a ton of rebounds, Hurd had a ton of blocks as well. The thing that I have noticed about Hurd this year is his game is much more consistent so far. That little hook shot he brought this year is tough.

Holmes' only loss is to Campbell County who just lost to Bracken County? You should find out this week how good they are. They are playing Boone and Shelby County (who just beat Mercy by 20 this past weekend).

It looks like the first of possibly three Boone Vs. NDA match-ups for this season could occur next week sometime. Does anybondy know if this would be on Saturday?

Just going on memory here but it seems like at the time it was announced, the newspapers indicated that the school (SK) did not plan on appealing the change in alignment which is different than making the decision to stay in the 9th. Remember, this was at a time when they moved a bunch of schools out of the 9th and into the 10th as well.

I was at the game. I figured the first 5 guys played just about one quarter of the game. Certainly did nothing to get SK ready for the 5/3 tourney. This was an ablsolute throw away game for SK AND for Williamstown. They do SK no good and they do the other teams no good. Not that this is the girls forum but the SK girls has been through the entire district and hasn't had a meaningful game yet- 30-50 point wins. Why is it that some districts play home and away games while others play single games for seeding purpose? Surely the 32nd district could be seeded with only one game. I guess it is possible for a team to accept the last seed in the district tourney? It has been stated that SK is happy/welcomed etc. the move to the 8th. I would say that from top to bottom that the 9th is without question better but I would also say that some of the top teams in the 8th have historically been better than the top teams in the 9th, as was probably true last year on both the boys and girls side. The 8th is more than just rural county schools of single A size. However, the one thing the move does do is give them a better chance to advance in the regionals.

Not making excuses for Scott but the SK and Mason County games were on back to back nights last Fri and Sat. Scott spent a ton of energy and emotions in the SK game on Friday. I can't imagine they had a ton of gas left in their tank. Scott will win a lot of games with their defense. It was much more disruptive than Holmes'.

Hester didn't really have a huge night statistically but it was his control of the game and executing the game plan that was most impressive. His passing ability was impressive. There were several times he penetrated the defense and got the ball to Hurd for the score or Elbert who drew the defense and dropped to Hurd. Defense oh Hurd wasn't bad. He showed a baby hook shot tonight that was quite impressive.

Hurd had 33 on an incredible 15 out of 19 shooting. SK slowed the ball down and worked until they could get the ball into him. Elbert must have had double digit in assists to Hurd. Hester missed a three that could have won in regulation that fell just short. SK finally turned in a performance this season that finally resembled the team people have been expecting. Ditto boost in confidence comment.

The refs that do Northern Kentucky games won't necessarily be from Northern Kentucky. If you watch a game at a 10th region site (Scott, Calvary, Brossart, Campbell Co etc.) you will get 10th region refs. The refs at the SK and Walton venues will be from the 8th region. I haven't been real impressed with the refs of the 10th region games I have watched this year but I will say the games I have seen witht the 8th region refs have not been that bad. The two man crew that did the SK/St. Henry game did a very good job.

Some districts require home and away for seeding tournaments so there isn't a way around scheduling inferior teams in some cases.

Not the prettiest of wins for SK but their depth as well as height was the difference. Elbert, Layne and Hurd were difference makers at different times during the game. No rebound bigger than Elbert's that kept things alive for the Hopkins shot. If I am not mistaken, it was his only bucket of the game. A neat thrill of victory and agony of defeat picture at http://simonkentonteamsblogpage.blogspot.com/

Blevins, the senior who struggled through injuries last year, was in the stands but was not playing for whatever reason.

SK wins 73-57. Simon didn't look so good the first half and was down at half by a score of 32-26. They came out blistering in the second half and put a run on St. H that the Crusaders couldn't overcome. Hester goes for 27 and Lenhoff 17. Definitely a tale of two games as SK looked like the team everyone had been expecting in the second half.

I saw some 8th Region Games at Henry County last year. The atmosphere in that place is awesome. The place just yells out, this is Kentucky and this is our sport. (Got to love those 20" ceiling fans up in the rafters doing absolutely nothing. Look up next time you are there, what is all of that stuff?) Great place though.

Besides the Cat’s Pause, which was written several months ago and is ancient history in some cases, does anyone know when the press is coming out with their prognostications for top regional teams and players? Courier Journal, Herald Leader, Enquirer, Post etc.

Isn't the Mason versus SK scrimmage on the 20th? Also, 5:00 seems like a strange time?

Without mentioning the name of the student athlete, can you say what school the SK transfer is from? They have an excellent foundation and coaching staff for a top notch program built there and I am surprised more kids haven't gravitated that way to play for Coach Stowers.

Last 15 minutes or so of the game were very, very phyical. It was surprising that there weren't more injuries besides Browning's. Just two teams leaving it all out on the field. Newman definitely deserved all tournament team. I watched Friday's game and Saturday's games. She made hustle play after hustle play during both nights. I had watched her a couple of other times this year and didn't realize how fast she is. The cross that she made to Barth started with her outworking the defender to take the ball in order to get the cross off. I would have voted for Newman as MVP of the tourney. (While Newman's cross was outstanding, the Erin Adams' cross against Highlands on Friday was simply amazing. She took the ball almost to the flag and lofted the ball high and to the center of the goal which seemd to catch Hiance off guard. IMO, Adams was probably the best female player in G-town this weekend.)

I have been going to the state soccer finals for several years. I don't ever recall a boys team with the foot skills and passing ability that the Purples possess. Maybe I am giving them too much credit but it was like watching a college team/semi pro team. (and I was rooting for Ryle.) Hard to believe they were just ranked #4 in the state going into the week of finals. This game wasn't as close as the score.

I have no idea how you consider a person enrolling in a private high school that has no middle school a transfer. Come to think of it, I don't know how any incoming freshman to any school that hasn't played a varsity sport is considered a transfer, especially with the open enrollment policies. The NDA thing is old news here last year. Didn't make sense then and doesn't make sense now. Jones was mentioned but I don't even think she plays -or did the person who mentioned Jones mean Jackson? Last time I checked, NDA didn't have a middle school up on the hill in Park Hills. My guess is most kids decide during their middle school years if they are going to attend a private school once they get to high school. It may be asking too much for parents to declare a high school for their child when they enter kindergarten. So much energy and ire spent here and very little on what is shaping up to be one of the best seasons in girls NKY hoops in recent memory. While I am just a fan of Boone, my guess is Behrens probably isn't in the opening day first five line-up but she is the most scrutinized person in these forums. Last time I checked, there were only 5 girls playing at a time and that may be Coach Fookes' biggest challenges this year.