The selection of post labels is probably the most significant ongoing controversy here in the Kentucky Bureau of The Heath Post.
For example, today's quarterfinals participants in the KHSAA boys' basketball tournament (resuming today at Rupp Arena in Lexington and iHigh.com) include Eastern and Marshall County high schools. The schools have Louisville and Benton mailing addresses, respectively, but are located more precisely in Middletown and Draffenville.
The City of Middletown Kentucky explains at its Web site that "(t)he name is generally believed to be derived from its location near the mid-point between Louisville and Shelbyville. However, other sources indicate that Middletown was so named by its location as the 'middle' town between Westport and Shippingport, two important early settlements along the Ohio River. Merchandise was shipped down river to Westport on flatboats, unloaded onto oxcarts and drays, hauled to Shippingport, and reloaded onto flatboats headed downstream. 'Middle Station', mentioned in early court records before 1787, was the overnight stopping point between the two river ports. ... The city lost its original charter in the 1950′s but was re-incorporated in 1979 and was designated a fourth-class city in 1982. The 1990 census showed a population within the city limits of 4937."
Unincorporated Draffenville appears to have no officially maintained web site; given that its unincorporated, I guess it really couldn't. There is a Wikipedia entry (I need to find out more about Charlie Monroe Draffen). The Kentucky Opry has a site (hey, George Jones is coming April 1!). I'll also mention that I love Draffenville. My parents built a house there after I had moved away to college, and I had almost nothing but pleasant times there. My folks loved it, too--Mom (revealing the prejudices of the city girl from Evansville) said she was always surprised at how nice the dresses were at Gateway Shop-O-Rama.
So, in conclusion, the Kentucky Bureau has decided to include labels for Benton, Draffenville, Louisville and Middletown (as well as--what the hey--Westport and Shippingport) with this post. It's not the tidiest of precedents--unsustainable, in fact, given the facts that one could imagine a post with a dozen or so Easterns and Marshalls and that Blogger.com allows only 20 labels including no more than 200 characters per post. But those are bridges to be crossed then.
Here's what is on tap today:
Winchester George Rogers Clark (30-5) vs. Louisville Eastern (32-2), 11 a.m. Central
Christian County (22-9) vs. Lexington Catholic (27-7), 12:30 p.m.
Rowan County (28-5) vs. Wayne County (31-4), 5:30 p.m.
Bullitt East (29-5) vs. Marshall County (28-6), 7 p.m.
First round:
Winchester George Rogers Clark 56, Oldham County 39
Louisville Eastern 54, Warren Central 51
Christian County 83, Pikeville Shelby Valley 40
Lexington Catholic 69, Edgewood Dixie Heights 60
Rowan County 45, Daviess County 32
Wayne County 68, Perry County Central 58
Bullitt East 53, Bardstown 44
Marshall County 55, Bell County 33
I just wanted to mention that we correctly picked 7 of 8 first-round games. Our Sweet 16 bracket is looking much better than our NCAA bracket -- never again, Belmont and Utah State! You are dead to us.
ReplyDeleteMarshall County might've been "Wildcats." From the Twitter overnights:
ReplyDeleteNealBradley Neal Bradley
Marshall into Friday night with a 55-33 win over Bell County. Trivia: I was on student committee who helped choose orange. You're Welcome :)
12 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
heathpostdotcom The Heath Post
@NealBradley This is intriguing. What were the other possibilities? Why orange? Are you also responsible for "Marshals"?
10 hours ago Favorite Reply Delete
NealBradley Neal Bradley
@heathpostdotcom Wanted something nobody else in the area had. When fans saw Orange, we wanted them to think of 1 school. It worked I think.
2 hours ago
NealBradley Neal Bradley
@heathpostdotcom In a student survey, Wildcats was the #1 choice. We again went with unique when presented to the School Board.
2 hours ago
NealBradley Neal Bradley
@heathpostdotcom Once graphics were presented, the orange star on white helmet clinched it. They voted approval on all accounts.
1 hour ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
This is great and useful information on the Marshall Co. Marshals.
ReplyDeleteEastern is playing like the overwhelming favorite today. They led Clark Co. 19-4 after the first quarter, and they lead 51-34 with 4:43 left in the game.
ReplyDeleteEastern wins 65-50. So Clark County wins a blowout, loses a blowout, and is on its way home.
ReplyDeleteNext up is the game between Lexington Catholic and Christian Co. Can the Colonels man up and beat a true state power? Or will they be on their way back to the tobacco and soybean fields of their homeland?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, County hasn't reached the state semi-finals since 1979, when they lost in the championship game to Dirk Minniefield and Lexington Lafayette.
ReplyDeleteThe last team from the 2d region to reach the state semi-final was University Heights in 2005.
ReplyDeleteLex. Catholic last reached the state semi-finals in 2008.
ReplyDeleteAs for Eastern, this is their first trip to the state semi-finals since they won the whole thing in 1997.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, have you ever wondered what it would look like if the NCAA tournament was conducted like the KHSAA tournament -- with sixteen regions and one champ from each region? I have. I believe the states would be divided into the following regions:
ReplyDelete1. ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT (This year's regional champ: UConn).
2. NY (Syracuse)
3. PA, NJ, DE (Pittsburgh)
4. DC, MD, VA (George Mason)
5. NC, SC (Duke)
6. FL, GA, AL (Florida)
7. MS, LA, AR (Mississippi St.)
8. KY, TN (Kentucky)
9. OH, WV (Ohio St.)
10. IN, MI (Notre Dame)
11. WI, IA, IL (Wisconsin)
12. KS, NE, ND, SD, MN, MO, OK (Kansas)
13. TX (Texas)
14. AZ, NM, WY, CO, ID, MT (Arizona)
15. AK, HI, OR, UT, WA, NV (BYU)
16. CA (San Diego St.)
Using the pairings from this year's state tournament, the first round of the NCAAs would look like this:
Notre Dame v. Kentucky
Geo. Mason v. Mississippi St.
Syracuse v. BYU
Wisconsin v. Ohio St.
San Diego St. v. Pittsburgh
Kansas v. Arizona
Florida v. Duke
UConn v. Texas
Say goodbye to Tennessee (and maybe to Bruce Pearl). The Vols trail Michigan 45-31 with 15:34 left in the 2d half.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I think the team colors for the new McCracken County High School should be black and gold, and I think the team should be called the "Pirates."
ReplyDeleteTennessee's given up. The Vols are now losing 52-33 with 13 minutes to go. Scotty Hopson has 4 points. In my mind, at least, the whole "Darius Miller v. Scotty Hopson" debate has been settled in Miller's favor.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, NoVA's own George Mason Patriots are tipping off against Villanova.
ReplyDeleteI haven't really liked Villanova since they knocked King Rex out of the 1988 NCAA Tournament.
ReplyDeleteRock is hard but County is not. Catholic leads 15-8 with 2:41 left in the first quarter. County loves to blow out hapless teams like Shelby Valley or Fort Campbell, but they don't really like to play teams that are actually good at basketball.
ReplyDeleteSay goodbye to County. Scott Schuette of Lexington Catholic has already made 4 three's. He has 14 points, and Catholic leads 22-10 at the end of the first quarter.
ReplyDeleteCounty -- apparently stung by our mockery (Hoptown, we kid because we love) -- have roared back into this game. They are all over Catholic, they've forced the Knights into 9 turnovers for the game, and they've cut the Catholic lead to 27-25.
ReplyDeleteCatholic called time, settled themselves down, and now they have gone on an 11-2 run to end the 2d quarter. The Knights lead County 38-27 at the break.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Mason is losing to Villanova 23-17 with 7:59 left in the 1st half.
ReplyDeleteThe Vols -- who probably shouldn't have even been invited to this tournament -- are done. Michigan blew them out 75-45.
County scores the first seven points of the second half to cut the Catholic lead to 38-34. Catholic calls time with 6:10 left in the 3d quarter.
ReplyDeleteMason, on the other hand, looks turrible (as Sir Charles would say). They trail Villanova -- the 10th place team in the Big East -- 33-24 with 2 minutes before halftime.
ReplyDeleteCounty takes the lead! They make only their second three-pointer of the day to go up 41-39 with 5:19 left in the 3d. Catholic has been outscored 14-1 so far in this period. They take another time out.
ReplyDeleteCome on Christian!!
ReplyDeleteCatholic stopped the bleeding with that time out, and both teams have been going back and forth. Christian County outscores Catholic 19-7 in the 3d quarter, and with one quarter to go, County leads 46-45.
ReplyDeleteMason trails Nova 35-29 at the half.
ReplyDeleteThe announcers on WHOP-AM thinks this game will probably come down to the last shot.
ReplyDeleteWHOP will be covering both games in the evening session.
Donovan Kates -- who has 18 points for the Colonels -- hits two threes for Christian Co. Scott Schuette -- has 22 points for the Knights -- responds with a bucket. It's 52-49 for County with 6:20 left, and Catholic calls time.
ReplyDeleteWHOP refers to the state tournament as the "Dribble Derby."
ReplyDeleteKates scores again. WHOP reports that CCHS has a "nickel lead" at 54-49.
ReplyDeleteCounty has the ball but they weren't going anywhere. They call time with 4:23 left. They still lead 54-49. County's big hero today has been Anthony Hickey. He has 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Together, Hickey had Kates have 48 of County's 54 points.
ReplyDeleteKates scores again! County leads 56-49 with 4:09 left.
ReplyDeleteCatholic makes one of two FTs. County calls time with a 56-50 lead. Still 4:09 left.
ReplyDeleteHere's the stat of the game so far: Catholic has 24 turnovers to only 13 for County.
ReplyDeleteWHOP reminds us that the semi-final will start at 9 AM Central.
ReplyDeleteNow the Knights are pressing. They create a turnover and score. CCHS leads 56-52.
ReplyDeleteVeontae Lewis scores for County: 58-52.
ReplyDeleteAnother turnover by Catholic. CCHS ball with 3:17 to go.
ReplyDeleteKates misses. Catholic rebound -- but Hickey steals the ball. He's going into score -- WHAT! WALKING? -- "Oh, man, he didn't walk!"
ReplyDeleteCatholic ball. CCHS leads 58-52 with 2:53 left.
Now we're getting some commercials. Judge-Executive Steve Tribble wishes the Colonels good luck.
ReplyDeleteAs does Casey's Pharmacy at West 7th Street in Hopkinsville.
Another steal by County. They have the ball again. 2:43 left.
ReplyDeleteKates -- "getting grabbed all over the place" -- misses. Catholic gets a runout and is fouled.
ReplyDeleteCatholic misses both FTs -- but they get the rebound.
2:10 left.
Schuette hits his fifth three-pointer of the game. 58-55.
ReplyDeleteCounty has a runout but Lewis misses the layup -- and then fouls the Catholic player who got the rebound. Catholic ball.
Schuette misses a three-pointer. Battle for the rebound. CCHS has the ball. Foul on Catholic. Kates to the line for the 1-and-1.
ReplyDelete"Donovan, if you've ever made a free-throw, this is the time."
ReplyDeleteKates makes them both!
60-55 County nickel lead. "Can the band of brothers hang on?"
Catholic misses. County rebound. Foul!
ReplyDelete"Riley, if you've ever made two free throws, this is the time."
Riley misses.
Catholic ball with 75 seconds to go.
Catholic turns the ball over. Marcoreon Tandy is fouled, but misses the front end of a 1-and-1.
ReplyDeleteCatholic scores: 60-57.
Hickey is fouled. This time he'll shoot 2.
"They can't keep missing these free throws."
Hickey makes both free throws: 62-57 with 47 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteCatholic runs down and is fouled. They will shoot two free throws.
Catholic makes the first, misses the second, but gets the rebound!
ReplyDeleteSchuette tries a three that misses. Battle for the rebound. Hickey gets it and is fouled!
ReplyDeleteHickey makes 1 of 2. 63-58 with 27 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteCatholic is fouled trying for a dunk (WHOP thought it should have been a technical against Catholic for hanging on the rim).
ReplyDeleteCatholic misses both FTs -- but they get the rebound and score. 63-60 with 17 seconds left. Catholic calls its last time out.
ReplyDeleteState Representative John Tilley is proud of the Colonels and wishes them success at Rupp.
ReplyDeleteSo does Christian County Attorney Mike Foster.
ReplyDeleteCounty is only 7-14 from the line in this game.
ReplyDeleteKates is fouled with 14.6 seconds left. Schuette fouls out with 25 points.
ReplyDelete"I think I'm more nervous than they are."
ReplyDeleteKates's first FT rolls . . . in!
Kates makes the second.
65-60 with 14.6 seconds left.
Kates fouls the Catholic shooter with 10 seconds to go.
ReplyDeleteCatholic makes both free throws. 65-62 with 10 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteFoul on Catholic. Nick Riley (who has 2 points) heading to the line.
ReplyDeleteRiley makes both free throws!
ReplyDeleteCatholic can't score again. County wins 67-62!
"The Band of Brothers get it done!!!"
"A very happy recap from Rupp Arena in two minutes!"
My humble apologies to Christian County. This was a great, great victory. They outscored Lexington Catholic 40-24 in the second half. One of the biggest wins by a team from the western part of the state in many years.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Hickey finished with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in a spectacular performance for CCHS. Donovan Kates was almost as good -- 26 points and 4 rebounds.
ReplyDeleteAnd in other news, Mason comes roaring back, outscores Villanova 13-3 in the last two and a half minutes of the game, and beats Villanova 61-57. The Patriots march on to the second round!
ReplyDeleteWhat an afternoon!
ReplyDeleteHooray for basketball!
ReplyDeleteWith 2:26 left in the 3d, Rowan is killing Wayne Co. 50-29. I really underestimated those guys.
ReplyDeleteAn easy win for Rowan: 64-47. Another happy day in Morehead.
ReplyDeleteNow Bullitt East is having its way with Marshall Co. The score is 35-24 with 4:10 left in the 3d quarter.
ReplyDeleteThe Marshals are still hanging around. BEHS leads 43-37 after three quarters.
ReplyDeleteBullitt East wins 71-62, and the 1st region is eliminated once again. Our 52-year losing streak continues.
ReplyDeleteWow. This was a lot of fun to read through this morning, not knowing what happened last night. I could've checked scores late last night, got on Twitter for a second but then decided to just wait and read your stuff at The HP. Glad I did. My favorite parts were the mentions of Minniefield and Chapman and imagining Todd Hamilton saying "band of brothers," "nickel lead" and "dribble derby."
ReplyDeleteHooray for Christian County!