wildcatfan

I don't think Boone will change from the style they have played the last couple of years. If I'm a coach, I start trying something different after the NCC upset. Hope they bounce back against Conner and that they have everyone healthy. Apparently, Popp was sick just prior to the last game and therefore, didn't play much and had some turnovers. Earls missed a couple of games from an ankle sprain, and Schulze is coming back from an injury. Not sure if all of those 3 are 100% right now.

Yes, and in different ways (hitting 3s against Boone and getting to the line against Dixie).

Pike didn't play?

Walsh University in Canton is what I have heard.

Surprising. If a team doesn't score more than 50-60, they are susceptible to get beat, as New Cath proved over Boone the other night.

Cotton is shooting about 50% from the field and scoring about 9 points a game. He hasn't been inside as much this year so far. He is mostly a catch and jump shooter. I don't think he has many assists or steals so far. Gabbard is averaging about 13 points after the last game, then Cotton and Popp are averaging about 8-9, then Montgomery about 7-8. Cotton is probably shooting the best percentage of the 4 so far. They need more production from Earls. If not, maybe, Brown will see more PT. They need more production inside, IMO to help open the outside up for the guards.

Montgomery has the best all around stats so far (not huge scoring or assists but a contributor, and several nice blocks and rebounds), followed by Gabbard, Cotton, and Popp. Those four are the stat leaders for Boone so far.

Scored 6 points, 5 rebounds. Giesler got the best of the Boone big men.

Forward

Yeah, I saw a couple. He seemed a little shaky with ball handling early but I thought played well the second time he came in. He had a couple of steals on defense. I think with Popp, he will sometimes have a couple of turnovers but will make up for it on the defensive end and in scoring.

Was he still sick Tuesday?

Basically, I don't disagree with you. It has been an issue. I think Earls had about 6 rebounds, and Montgomery about 7, and Cotton several, so I think Boone did rebound better than they have been in most games. Cotton also tends to play away from the basket and take fade-away jumpers, so he isn't going to rebound a lot of his own missed shots. Brown stays down low and rebounds well when he is in. He did not play much last night. I don't know how many rebounds Giesler for NCC had. Boone again missed at least a few bunnies inside. Earls stayed outside on offense a good part of the game. Can't be a good offensive rebounder from out there. Pangallo hit 6 3's, and NCC hit 8 total. W. Jessamine and Walton also both hit a bunch of threes. I agree that Boone can't ride their guards, nor their big men. They need good balance, and they need to be able to take/knock down some outside shots to open up the inside game, and vice versa. Even in Boone's victories, they haven't looked impressive so far. Hopefully, they get the kinks out before the important games come.

Dunno. I think he could have been an asset to Boone at the end because of his FT shooting and defense.

Boone is not playing like their preseason #2. They should drop to 4th.

Timeout was not called early enough. 3 seconds elapsed before timeout was called. If it is going to be called, call it earlier.

:thumb: Also add for Popp to drive more. That is a big strength for him, and he is Boone's best free throw shooter. Also, have Cotton and Montgomery roam the baseline and run more designed alley-oop plays to them.

I don't think rebounding was the issue in this game. It came down to guarding the threes, and Boone needs more balance and more than 1 person shooting/scoring on their own end. Pangallo was the difference in the game. He lit them up from outside. Boone let him sit outside and shoot as many threes as he wanted, and Boone clearly had an overall size advantage inside, especially in the second half. Boone tried pressing a couple of times, but Earls was at the front of the press, and it wasn't very effective. I guess it was because Lays was also in the game at the time?? Not exactly Boone's quickest players to run a press. It looks like Boone is going to struggle offensively this year. In fact, most of their games seemed close last year. They seem to play deliberately and conservatively and be content to keep the game close. It is an upset, but not a huge loss. One loss by 1 point isn't a big deal in itself. I'm concerned about the big picture offensively throughout the year. They miss McFarland's play making ability inside.

At Boone.

Gabbard, Cotton, and Popp were all averaging double figures coming into the game. However, as a team, they struggle to score many points in the half court set. One thing that Boone did against W. Jessamine to stop the 3 was play a 3/2. They didn't try that tonight.

You are dead on about NCC. Boone did not play good perimeter defense.

Didn't play much. Probably about 7 minutes.

Boone's personnel don't fit their half-court offensive system IMO. Earls had 6, Cotton about 4, and Montgomery about 8. Gabbard had about 20 or 22. Had 12 in the first quarter and cooled off afterward. Popp didn't play much and had 4. Earls Stayed outside most of the game. He missed an uncontested layup with 8 seconds left that would have put Boone up by one. Boone wins the game if they guard the 3-point shot.

Nice win for NCC. Boone started strong and looked lost offensively the 2nd through 4th quarters. Pangallo lit it up from 3 and finished as the game's high scorer with about 24 points, and Boone sat in a 2-3 zone most of that time. Boone missed a bunny with 8 seconds left that would have put Boone in the lead. Boone had maybe one person (Gabbard) in double figures. I think Boone was about 1 for 2 from three. They passed up at least one wide open three. Giesler also had a big game for NCC.

Thamann did not come back this year. I don't think McQueary is Earls backup. He plays more on the wing when he is in.

Boone has been playing a deliberate offense the last couple of years and relying on tough defense to keep their opponent's score low. They won't blow out many teams, and many of their games will be close, while following this approach. Boone has 7 seniors this year. 2 did not come back. Schulze and Earls are coming back from injuries. Gabbard, Popp, Earls, Schulze, Cotton, and Lay (all seniors) will still be the core. Junior Travis Montgomery has been playing well and deserves lots of minutes right now and is currently an integral part as well. Oppenheimer hasn't been sitting varsity yet. Brown will contribute this year. Burgess is an athletic, tall forward, but he hasn't gotten any varsity minutes yet. Crabtree has only played briefly. Sophomore Zane McQueary is an accurate catch-and-shoot shooter, and there are times when this is helpful when teams are focusing on stopping Boone's 4 seniors.