oral32

One thing I've noticed in the past with first region teams is that when they arrive at state they usually are not used to the physical style the officials let the games become. With the exception of a couple of teams (Graves last year & Tilghman 5-6yrs ago) that have excelled and probably because they traveled outside of the first region to play several games in those years. As a whole the first region officials call a tighter game not as physical of play occurs. The up state teams are used to a physical style of play because thats just the way the officials call it up there. If Tilghman looks for early whistles on bumps and knocks it could get in to their heads a little and make for a long night. An After thought: if you don't think St. Henry could not come to West KY and win the first region you are crazy. They are one of the finest coached teams I've seen in a while. Yes they probably would not run the table in the first but I'll guarantee you nobdy would want to play them a second time. Just ask Cov. Cath (loss to St.Henry) and Holmes (loss to St. Henry and win after trailing for three quarters in region semi's only to finally wear them down with their outstanding athletes relentless pressure).

Holmes bigger & quicker guards will be the huge difference. Tilghman has played in a very weak region where two of the normal powerhouses (Marshall & Graves) sturggled just to put points on the scoreboard at times. There is no comparison in the schedules the two of them have played with Holmes playing the much tougher of the two. After seeing the 9th region semi's and finals I'd feel confident saying that Holmes, Cov. Cath. Holy Cross, NCC, St. Henry, & possibly Boone Co. were better than any of the first region teams including Tilghman. Tilghman will have no answer for Mr. Henderson or Mr. Rice. Dawgs by 12-14 points.

Colud not agree more. I have been lucky enough to see both P.T. and Holmes play this year and Holmes is by far the better team. They are quicker, more physical and the bigger guards of Holmes will cause major headaches for P.T. Tilghman inside game is nice but they are not RICE and Hill and Nelson. Holmes by 12-14 in this one.

Any thoughts on this one. I can't believe no one has started a thread on this game yet. I'll say Holmes by 10-12.

You can go to NKY.com and it shows a link in highschool sports that will be broadcasting the games.

Don't look for the transfer to happen. The KHSAA probably told Holmes if they played the kid based on the court ruling and not their ruling and they indeed upheld up the original ruling of ineligible, they could possibly have to forfit games he played in.(just a possible guess at this point) As far as Hill & Rice both are probables to end up at JUCO's for reasons I don't think is fair to discuss here.

I agree 110% with your post!

EXECUTION down the stretch. Too much one on one and not enough TEAM ball that Cov. Cath. excelles in. They have enough talent ot beat 95% of teams they play despite this problem. They are committing the same mistakes they were making two years ago and for whatever reason refuse to or just can't grasp what it takes to be team players to beat the other 5%(really good teams). I hope they figure it out this week or it will be too late forever for this bunch of Bulldogs.

I really did not want to do that but it was one kid infact that was thirty minutes late to meet the team to travel to the district championship game and was being left behind as bus was pulling away only to come running up and the bus had to stop to let him board. So you tell me, with a game of this magnitude, who let who down? The team let one player down (waiting for thirty minutes past arrival time to leave) or 1 player let his teammates down because he could not follow the rules? If your going to be a team spokes person and give quotes to newspapers and be the face of team then lead by example. Now I'll say this, if there was an emergency reason for his being late, I believe the coaches have cell phones, and would have understood if there was a good reason to be late and it probably would not have cost him his starting position. If he can't follow the rules now in high school what makes you think that next year he can keep up with the demands of a Division 1 football program where I'm sure the demands are even greater. I don't imagine that Cov. Cath had any players show up late. It all comes down to self discipline and the Bulldogs as a whole don't seem to have it, but on this very important night all of them but one showed up on time.

Every body keeps comparing that these are two different schools, they are indeed. In fact when you compare the two schools , programs and kids they come from two very different worlds. Holmes inner city, majority of kids from poverty ridden families, probably not much home discipline. Cov. Cath. kids from moderate to well to do homes probably from two parent homes where discipline is instilled every day. So when you compare which kids do you think would be easier to coach and would actually listen to coaching. This is a no brainer, so which kids go home to a more stable home environment as well as school environment?

Too many egos on the team. The worst thing that could of have ever happened to them was making it to Rupp as sophmores. As a Coach you can do ever thing in your power but when they step on the court it is the players who make their own decisions that affect the game.

This is gut check time for Holmes! I hate to single out on kid but Mr. Jefferson needs a serious gut check. He is supposed to be the senior team leader, point guard, Quarterback and all those things. His team has awaited his arrival from a broken leg all season. Now that he's back what happens? Mr. Jefferson tells Enquirer in interview that nothing short of state title will be accpeted for this team. Somewhere between Tuesday's district game and Friday's championship game he manages to break a team rule getting himself bumped from the starting lineup. Then when he does manage to get into the game the Bulldogs after having to dig out of a 7 point first quarter deficit turns the game around in the second and lead the rest of the way until----- a very ill advised shot with under a minute remaining in the game. Jefferson is supposed to be a team leader and not acting like a freshman doing silly things i.e. brakeing team rules at tourney time, throwing up a shot (getting it blocked) under a minute left in game and his team leading. If this team really wants to make it to Rupp they need all parts of their team working together at 100%. A senior point guard needs to step up and lead his team in the fires of a heated game not lead them to self destruction. In my views his action off the court were very irresponsible as well on the court. The selfisness Coach Henley talked about in his post game interview has to end or Hlomes will be going Home!

:thumb: :thumb: Could not agree more.

If thse two can get to the championship game on March 13, Holmes finally gets Cov. Cath. on their home court. Cov. Cath has won by 1 on neutral court in O.T. by 4 on home court and by 3 on home court. They have got to wonder can we win on their home court and beat them for the fourth time in a season. Holmes has got to be salavating at the chance to get Cov. Cath on their home floor for a change.

My gut feeling is that the KHSAA will dig their heels in deeper at this point. I don't believe they like having their authority questioned by lawyers and court orders on eligiblity issues. Do not look for KHSAA to reverse their ruling at this point. Holmes will finish the season with team as is.

From the first region, not a state contender but a region contender St. Mary High over last years state semi-finalist Graves Co. in district play knocking Graves out of regional appearance.

Thank You for that comment. You are 110% correct about Coach Henley and this kid has not and I repeat has not been practicing with the team!

I've got a feeling your right about the series not being over tomorrow night. I won't be able to attend tomorrow night but I fully plan to be in attendance if they do hook up on th 13th. Will be a battle and I don't know if I would consider either team "the" favorite on that night but I believe their won't be a better region championship game in the state! (personal opinon)

Revels, non factor, won't be in uniform even if ruled eligible. As far as coach Henley wanting this a little more because he lost the first two, I know he is smart enough to know tomorrow night only means your district champ and March 13 would mean what? Region champ headed to Rupp so lets give him a little credit yea I'm sure he would like to win tommorrw night just like Cov. Cath. coach would like to but the true prize awaits the winner of March 13! A loss only serves to an be a extra motivation factor for either team.

As for your line Holmes may be taking on the KHSAA, They in fact are not. This was a decision by the Revels Family to hire an attorney and go to a court proceeding to try and get a ruling because of the slowness of the KHSAA. I truly don't believe the Covington School district would pay for an attorney to fight this kids battle unless he was the second coming of Michael Jordan.

The kid transfered right around Christmas break. He was with the team at a tourney in J-town in street clothes watching the game. His tranfer papers had been sent to Taft High at that time for his release. Shortly after they were sent to KHSAA for ruling and we all know what their decision was at that time. You are right the KHSAA and their Hitler mentality needs to get on the ball and not let situations like this one drag on. Holmes would have accepted him with open arms at the break, but now?

Don't look for Revels to join the team. From an inside source Revels has not been practicing with team in organized practices. Now if he has been playing pickup games with team members its been outside of a structured environment. After all he is a cousin to Rice so to say he has not played with some of Holmes players outside of Team practice well thats another story. The KHSAA prohibts players from practicing unless they are eligible. Its a long shot to sat the KHSAA would rule him eligible and I truly don't believe Coach Henley and A.D. Madrick would let him join the team this late in the game. In defense of the kid it is a shame that half of his senior year was wasted and that the KHSAA takes so long to decide these cases. Even if he is ruled eligible how could the coaching staff welcome him with open arms knowing that he had not participated in a organized practice also knowning this could upset the apple cart with the momentum Holmes has been building. Hopefully the KHSAA will step up and make the call taking the pressure off Holmes back, do we let him play or not?

I work with players that have played for Hatcher and they said if they had it to do over they would not do it again. One of which played both and was told if he played football he would lose his starting position. Hatcher's theory is win at anybodys expense right or wrong. Just look at last years star center, kicked off as a junior, played as a senior but was suspended for discipline reasons as senior and let back on the team, but Hatcher knew he could not win without him as evidenced by the 04-05 season.

I hear there are kids walking the halls that could beat the team. I Hear a lot of them don't want to play for Hatcher. Rumors are he doesn't really want kids to play two sports (football & basketball) and lets kids know they will be penalized if they do so.

Holmes 58-47. Typical Holmes, get a double digit lead and coast. They better get this out of their system or it will haunt them down the road. Holy Cross kept it interesting but Holmes never really tested. Assures Holmes of a chance AT A REGIONAL TITLE AND TRIP TO STATE TOURNEY ON THEIR HOME COURT. Rice did not have a big game look for him to come up big Friday Against Cov. Cath.