Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wednesday at the KHSAA Boys' Sweet Sixteen




The 2013 KHSAA Boys' Sweet Sixteen® State Tournament tips off in a little more than an hour. Today's games at Rupp Arena in Lexington are Wayne County vs. Richmond Madison Central at 11 a.m. Central, Covington Holmes vs. Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park at 12:30 p.m. Central, Graves County vs. Ohio County at 5:30 p.m. Central and Hopkinsville vs. Crestwood South Oldham at 7 p.m. Central.

Comments flow!

88 comments:

  1. You have an hour left to flip through your program before tipoff.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Joe B & Denny radio show is excellent, and every day that I've missed it is my loss.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have my two hot dogs, my medium Coke, and my bag of M & M's, so I am ready to go.

    ReplyDelete
  4. OK, so the first game features the Wayne County Cardinals (27-7), champions of the 12th Region, and the Madison Central Indians (28-5), champions of the 11th Region. You would expect Madison Central to be heavy favorites in this game, and so far you would be right. The Indians lead 28-18 with 4:32 left in the 2d Quarter.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oscar Combs is Tweeting that there is no printed program this year, and that does seem egregious.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wikipedia has a helpful entry on the history of high schools in Madison County:

    "The original Central High School was built in 1938 and was one of several small high schools in Madison County. Additions were made to the school beginning in 1953 and Madison Central (consolidated) High School was opened in the fall of 1954. Central was a consolidation of four Madison County system high schools (Central, Kingston, Waco and Kirksville). It was the lone high school in the county system until Madison Southern High School was opened in the fall of 1988. In 1989, Richmond's city high school (Madison) was dissolved and its students were moved to Central. Madison Central currently serves the citizens of Richmond and the northern sector of Madison County."

    ReplyDelete
  7. Per my come-apart copy of the 1989-90 KHSAA handbook, Madison Central had an enrollment of 960; Wayne County, 580. The Indians are red, white and blue; the Cardinals are red and white.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wikipedia says that Madison Central now has an enrollment of 2000.

      Delete
  8. In 1970, Richmond Madison made it all the way to the State Final, but then they were crushed by Louisville Male, 74-59.

    Madison Central has been to the State Tournament two other times. In 1987, the Indians went to the semi-finals. In 2006, they lost in the quarter-finals.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wayne County appeared in the state tournament in 2011, 2004, 2002, 1997, 1995, 1994, 1989, and 1943. The 1989 Cardinals made to the final, where they lost a heart-breaker, 75-73, to PRP.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Cardinals are not going to the final this year. At the half, Madison Central leads 43-23.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The next game will be between the Covington Holmes Bulldogs (31-2) and the Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers (25-7). That game should be a cracker.

    ReplyDelete
  12. PRP High School started in the fall of 1958. The Panthers have been to the state tournament in 2013, 2006, 2005, 2004, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1986, and 1970.

    The Panthers have reached the final three times. In 1986, they lost to Pulaski County 47-45. In 1989, they beat Wayne County 75-73. And in 1995, they lost to Breckinridge County 70-63.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Holmes has gone to the state tournament in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 1990, 1988, 1980, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1951, 1948, and 1939. (They may have gone in earlier years, but my list only goes back to 1938).

    Holmes has reached the final on four occasions. In 1978, they lost to Charles Hurt and Shelby County, 68-66. In 1990, they lost to Lou. Fairdale 77-73. In 2008, they lost to Darius Miller and Mason County, 57-48. And in 2009, they finally won it all, beating Louisville Central 67-63 in double overtime.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Madison Central is cruising. The Indians lead 59-31 with 3:43 left in the third.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tom Leach, the UK play-by-play guy, is being interviewed right now. I'm a huge Tom Leach fan, and I'm glad to know he's at the state tournament.

    Tom Leach tells us that he grew up in Paris, and he went to Bourbon County High School.

    ReplyDelete
  16. On the broadcast, they say that the people in Covington think that Holmes's spectacular sophomore point guard, James Bolden, could be the second coming of Dickie Beal.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm listening to this first game on WFTM "Soft 96" from Maysville. At halftime, the guest was Jason Hinson, Augusta's boys' basketball coach. Five days before ex-Panther George Clooney was winning the Oscar for best picture, <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/02/21/2525810/high-school-notebook-tiny-augusta.html>Augusta upset traditional power Mason County--at Mason County--in the 39th District tournament semifinals</a> and then beat Bracken County for the district championship. With a 62-59 loss to Covington Scott in the 10th Region tournament, Augusta's season ended with a 21-11 record. On the radio, Coach Hinson credited his freshman team for "setting the tone" for the varsity Panthers by upsetting Mason County in the district freshman tournament, too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The broadcast tells us that the UK assistant coaches are there to scout Dominique Hawkins, the Madison Central point guard.

    My own view is that UK should make an offer to any KHSAA player who is good enough to play in the SEC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am thrilled that Dominique Hawkins is a member of the Wildcats.

      Delete
  19. I messed up the link to that Mike Fields column about Augusta's big win. Here it is.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Madison Central leads 67-40 after three quarters. The Indians have a good chance to score 80 points, which is a lot of points in a 32-minute game.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Speaking of KHSAA players who are good enough to play in the SEC, Joe B was talking on his show today about Larry Stamper and how rugged a rebounder the 6-foot-6 forward from Lee County High was. Then at halftime of this first game, WFTM played a commercial in which "Norma Stamper" stumped for a local optometrist. I wonder if Larry and Norma are of the same Stampers.

    ReplyDelete
  22. WKYM News ‏@wkym1017
    On the Joe B. and Denny Show on WFLW, Joe B just said Wayne County was one of his "dark horse" teams to win State Tournament
    11:23 a.m. - Mar 5, 2013

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dan Rieffer ‏@drieffer
    81-56 Madison Central advances to Friday's noon game. Dominique Hawkins w/ 25 pts in front of Calipari.
    12:31 p.m. - Mar 6, 2013

    ReplyDelete
  24. And I think that's it for Soft 96's coverage of the state tournament. Now we have "Roseanna" by Toto playing. Back in hard '86, Toto sure felt like they would be a big deal for a long, long time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In fact, had you asked me in 1986 which musical act--the one that released "Roseanna" or the one that released the roughly comparable "Every Breath You Take"--was going to be a bigger deal on 21st-century FM radio for middle agers and Target-store overhead sound systems, I would've absolutely picked Toto.

      Delete
    2. Now Soft 96 is playing Journey. When I went to that Lake Cumberland radio station site to check on the status of Monticello's state-taken-over city school system, I noticed an item that Journey is apparently doubtful that it will be releasing any more new music.

      Delete
    3. And now Asia's "The Heat of the Moment," which was my all-time-favorite song for about six weeks in middle school.

      Even if Soft 96 doesn't throw the switch back to Danny Weddle at courtside in Rupp, I might not be able to tune away.

      Delete
    4. Well, heck ... didn't even get to the first chorus ... here comes Danny Weddle with pregame for PRP-Holmes ...

      Delete
    5. Wow ... been listening to that song for 30 years and never once paid a lick of attention to its lyrics ...

      Delete
  25. Holmes leads PRP, 10-6, with 2:48 remaining in the first quarter, and @BluegrassBball Tweets that WKU coach Ray Harper took UK coach John Calipari's seat on press row. PRP has a junior guard named Antonio McDaniels, so maybe he's another of Big Mac's nephews.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm now listening to the State Tournament on WVLK -- 590 AM in Lexington. They keep referring to James Bolden of Holmes as James "Beetle" Bolden. I was not previously familiar with that nickname. It reminds me of the first time I heard the folks on NBC refer to Jack Givens as "Goose."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A couple of days ago, right after Holmes won the regional, I saw something on Twitter where he was called "Beetle Bolden" on first reference. I thought that was pretty good.

      Delete
  27. Holmes is up 17-10 after one quarter.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Meanwhile, over on C-SPAN 2, Kentucky's Junior Senator, Rand Paul, is filibustering the nomination of John Brennan to be CIA Director. This is an old-fashioned, Jimmy Stewart type of filibuster. Paul is has been talking since 11:45 A.M.

    Paul says he is protesting the Obama Administration's claim that the U.S. government has the authority to kill Americans on U.S. soil.

    It is the first "talking filibuster" since 2010, when Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) protested the extension of the Bush tax cuts.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Both "#filibuster" and "Madison Central" have been trending among U.S. Twitter users this afternoon.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Holmes is 4-4 from three-point range; PRP is 0-5. That's the big difference. Holmes leads 24-16 with 5:08 left in the first half.

    ReplyDelete
  31. PRP point guard Antonio "Little Mac" McDaniels has gone to the bench with two fouls.

    ReplyDelete
  32. PRP is controlling Bolden -- he only has 2 points on 1-6 shooting. But the rest of the Bulldogs on fire. Holmes leads 27-18 with 3:08 before halftime.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Panthers fighting back now. Holmes leads 27-22 with 1:55 left in the half.

    ReplyDelete
  34. PRP has never lost in the first round of the State Tournament.

    ReplyDelete
  35. A lot of back-and-forth action right now. Holmes leads 31-25 with 33 seconds left in the half.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This is all still up in the air. Holmes leads 31-26 at the half. Great game so far.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Here's Norma Stamper again. She says she couldn't even read her Bible anymore before this cataract surgery. Good for Norma Stamper that she went through with the surgery.

    ReplyDelete
  38. This time, the halftime guest is going to be the coach at Union Randall K. Cooper.

    ReplyDelete
  39. On Twitter, Rand Paul is getting support from Amnesty International. Republicans don't often get support from Amnesty International.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Paul filibuster now entering its third hour. He says that America is not a battlefield. "These people don't believe that there is any limit to the war. There is no geographic limit. And there is no temporal limit."

    ReplyDelete
  41. Now Sen. Mike Lee, Republican from Utah, has taken the floor in support of Sen. Paul's filibuster.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Bolden is 2-10 from the field, with only 6 points, but Holmes leads 40-34 with 3:59 left in the 3d Quarter.

    ReplyDelete
  43. PRP is on a run now. Holmes leads by 40-39 with 2:36 left in the 3d quarter.

    Holmes has gone cold. They are now shooting only 38.2 percent from the field in this game.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Bolden scores to put Holmes up 42-39 with 1:59 left in the 3d Quarter. Officials' time out.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Paul's filibuster is the top story on the Drudge Report.

    ReplyDelete
  46. B.J. Coston, for Holmes, hits his 4th three-pointer of the game, and Holmes leads 45-39 with a minute left in the 3d Quarter.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Now Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) has joined the Paul filibuster.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Holmes leads 45-41 after three quarters.

    Holmes is 6-11 from three-point range.

    PRP is 1-8 from three-point range.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Holmes is also 13-16 from the line. PRP is 8-12 from the line. Holmes leads 47-45 with 7:06 left in the game.

    Told you this would be a cracker.

    ReplyDelete
  50. With Holmes up 49-47, Coston makes his fifth three-pointer of the day. With 5:32 left, Holmes leads 52-47.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Now no one can score. Holmes still leads 52-47 with 4:30 to go.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Holmes still leads 52-47 with 3:38 left. No one has scored in about 2 minutes.

    ReplyDelete
  53. PRP calls time with 3:24 left. They have gone 3 minutes without scoring, and they now trail 54-47.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Meanwhile, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has joined the filibuster.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Chris Englemon, a senior forward for Holmes, has 10 points and 17 rebounds.

    ReplyDelete
  56. PRP finally scores. The Panthers trail 54-49 with 2:42 left.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Holmes and PRP exchange free throws. Holmes leads 55-50 with 1:49 left. Holmes ball.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Coston makes a layup (he has 23 points) to put Holmes up 57-53, but PRP responds with an immediate 3-pointer to make the score 57-53.

    Coston is fouled. He goes to the line and makes both free throws. Holmes leads 59-53 with 1:09 to go.

    ReplyDelete
  59. But now PRP hits another three-pointer, and the score is 59-56 with 1 minute to go.

    PRP is now 3-13 from three-point range, but the Panthers have made their last two.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Holmes is fouled and makes both FT's. The Bulldogs are now 22-29 from the line. They lead 61-56 with 48 seconds left.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those two free throws were made by DaQuan Palmer, a senior guard. Beetle gets a lot of pub, but it seems like DaQuan Palmer has been associated with a lot of key plays in this offseason.

      Delete
    2. Palmer has been quiet today (only 7 points), but he was huge in the 9th Region final against Cov Cath.

      Delete
  61. This time PRP misses their three-pointer. Holmes has the ball, and Bolden is going to the line with 31 seconds left. Holmes leads 61-56.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Bolden makes one free throw to put Holmes up 62-56. PRP comes back and makes two free throws of its own. Holmes leads 62-58 with 17 seconds left.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Bolden makes two FT's to put Holmes up 64-58. PRP gets a quick layup to make the score 64-60 with 9 seconds left. PRP calls time. Holmes will have the ball.

    ReplyDelete
  64. The Paul filibuster is now four hours long.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Holmes makes one more free throw, and they win the game, 65-60. PRP loses in the first round for the first time in 13 tries.

    Holmes will move onto a quarter-final matchup with Madison Central on Friday. That should be a great game.

    Now we can all go shopping for the next few hours. Graves County and Ohio County tip off at 6:30 Eastern Time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well done, Go Heath. Poor Oscar Combs can't see in the virtual program that Rafferty's has an enticing ad ("Proudly Serving Kentucky for over Thirty years!"). He'll probably be stuck the next couple of hours perusing the inside-Rupp Arena options.

      Delete
    2. What could be better than going to Rafferty's and talking about the quarter-final game between Madison Central and Holmes that will take place on Friday?

      Delete
    3. Would be good. Eight Kentucky Rafferty'ses, per the program: Alysheba Way and Nicholasville Road in Lexington, Breckinridge Lane and Springhurst Boulevard in Louisville, Scottsville Road in Bowling Green, Dixie Highway in Etown, Turfway Road in Florence and, of course, Hinkleville Road in Paducah.

      Delete
  66. Bluegrass Basketball ‏@BluegrassBball
    Excited about watching some western Kentucky basketball!
    4:55 p.m. - Mar 6, 2013

    ReplyDelete
  67. I've started a new thread for the evening session.

    ReplyDelete