Some very exciting games yesterday, as McCracken County and Bardstown both pulled major upsets:
McCracken Co. 81, (10) Wayne Co. 74
Bowling Green 65, Knott Co. Cent. 58
Bardstown 75, (8) Lou. Pleasure Ridge Park 70
(4) Cov. Catholic 80, Clay Co. 78
So this sets up a very strong day of quarterfinals (all times Central):
11 A.M.: (1) Hopkinsville (31-2) v. (6) Lou. Trinity (30-5)
12:30 P.M.: (3) Scott Co. (33-3) v. Johnson Cent. (26-6)
5:30 P.M.: McCracken Co. (25-8) v. Bowling Green (28-6)
7 P.M.: Bardstown (27-6) v. (4) Cov. Catholic (30-2)
Trinity's out to a 9-2 lead on Hoptown in the first couple of minutes, but WHOP just reported that Tiger super-sub "Q" Cager has just entered the game.
ReplyDeleteAnd, just like that, Demarius "D" Henry throws in a couple of threes, and Q, D and the Hoppers are happening.
ReplyDeleteDrew Franklin of Kentucky Sports Radio after Wednesday's first round: "I won’t pretend to know a ton about the tournament field, but after watching Hopkinsville, I can’t imagine too many teams being much better. They’re loaded with talent and athleticism; just ask my Madisonville Maroons, who lost by 32 to the Tigers in the 2nd Region tournament. I’m still bitter about that, and yes, Madisonville has the better Ferrell’s."
ReplyDeleteAgain, he's right about Ferrell's.
With 2:55 left in the 1st quarter, Trinity leads Hoptown 11-10.
ReplyDeleteFirst lead for Hoptown: 13-11.
ReplyDeleteTrinity's big star, 6-foot-9 Ray Spalding, had sat momentarily, but he comes back on the floor after Hoptown takes its lead and immediately gets a dunk to tie things at 13. And now he has hit an 8-foot turnaround for a 15-13 Shamrocks advantage.
ReplyDeleteCoach Hall wouldn't pick a winner on this morning's Joe B and Denny Show from the cafe-court area of the Lexington Convention Center, but he seemed to think that the winner of this game would end up being the state champion.
ReplyDeleteI think whoever wins this game should definitely be the favorite.
DeleteGood. I like it when you and Coach Hall agree.
DeleteYou should know that I come into every state tournament assuming that the Seventh Region champion is the favorite.
DeleteQ for 2: 15 apiece.
ReplyDeleteWe're all tied at 15 after the first quarter.
ReplyDeleteTrinity leads in rebounds 13-3.
But Trinity has committed 7 turnovers to only 1 for Hoptown.
This is getting too depressing to watch. Trinity leads 25-17 with 4:34 left in the 2d quarter.
ReplyDeleteVery disappointing effort from Hoptown so far. The Tigers are being completely dominated on the boards, where Trinity has a 22 to 5 advantage.
Hoptown also can't shoot. They are 5-20 from the field and 4-8 from the line.
Trinity leads 36-27 at the half. I feel very bad for the Hoptown fans, who waited a whole year for another chance at the state title, and who must have expected better than this. It reminds me of how UK was blown out by UNC in the Elite Eight back in 1995.
ReplyDeleteThe Herald-Leader reports on how Kentucky's high number of snow days this winter discouraged some districts from canceling classes this week because of the state tournament.
ReplyDeleteQ fouls out. Trinity's up 20 with 3:24 to go.
ReplyDeleteIt's finally over. Trinity absolutely crushes Hoptown, 74-56. The Tigers averaged 82.4 points per game in the regular season, but they were completely overmatched today.
ReplyDeleteNow that Trinity is clearly the favorite to win the title, my interest in this tournament will wane considerably.
ReplyDeleteJohnson Central has trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half, but the Golden Eagles drew even with Scott County at 49 a few moments ago and are down, 56-53, with 3:13 to play.
ReplyDeleteBilly Hicks timeout ...
ReplyDeleteGood timeout ... Scott County closes with an 8-2 spurt to finish off a 64-55 victory.
ReplyDeleteThat's it for a few hours. Stangs and Purps get it on at 6:30 Eastern.
Finally, at 6:26 of the first quarter, McCracken County scores the game's first points: 2-0, MUSTANGS!
ReplyDeletePurples take their first lead at 12-10, and their full-court pressure is flummoxing the 'Stangs.
ReplyDelete12-10 holds as the score at the end of the first quarter. Bowling Green's defense, which is not the most intense pressure you've ever seen, has discombobulated the McCracken County offense. Even Marshall Toy, the WPAD color commentator, is surprised: "This is not the first time we've seen pressure all year."
ReplyDeleteChimes in the football coach of Nacarius Fant, who had eight of the Purples' 12 points ...
ReplyDeleteKevin Wallace @kwallacebg 41s
Purples are up 2 at the end of the 1st despite missing several easy shots. Good quarter for @RegimeFANT
5:51 PM - 21 Mar 2014
With 3:43 to play in the first half, McCracken County scores a jumpshot from just beyond the free-throw stripe to reel back within 16-12. That's the Mustangs' first points since 2:20 to play in the first quarter. Our boys twice hit field goals during that span, but both baskets were waved off for traveling violations.
ReplyDelete"Somehow, McCracken County is down by only one point in this game."
ReplyDelete1:28 to go in the second quarter: 19-18, Bowling Green.
57.7 seconds ... three-pointer and a foul ... "a little too much excitement from me here on press row," says Toy ... free throw good ... Bowling Green turnover ... THREE AGAIN!!! 25-19, 42.5 SECONDS TO GO IN THE HALF!
ReplyDelete#STANGGANG!!!
Half: 25-21, Mustangs! GO, MCCRACKEN COUNTY!!! GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteRapping Blue Tisdale banks in a reverse layup to open the second-half scoring, and Bowling Green is back within 25-23.
ReplyDeleteFant's third foul at 4:50 of the third quarter ...
ReplyDeleteI! Am! Kam! Chumbler!
ReplyDelete32-27, Mustangs, 2:56 to play in the third ...
ReplyDeleteBowling Green's defense is more intense than it was in the first half, but McCracken County appears to be more composed and sure of itself, too. 37-32, Mustangs, with 52.7 seconds to play in the third quarter ...
ReplyDeleteThrough three quarters: 37-34. Oh, my! OH, MY!!!
ReplyDeleteThe state-champion BGHS football coach ...
ReplyDeleteKevin Wallace @kwallacebg 19s
I keep thinking shots will start falling. Down 3, heading to the 4th. I know a few guys on that floor understand how to handle this
6:43 PM - 21 Mar 2014
6:02 to play … jumper and free throw by Bowling Green, foul is fourth on one of the Mustang starters … 38-37, McCracken ...
ReplyDelete5:44 to play, and Kam Chumbler is whistled for the first charging foul called in any basketball game anywhere in the last 11 months ...
ReplyDelete"We need Mustang Nation now more than ever," urges Toy!
ReplyDelete42 apiece ...
ReplyDeleteOur Kam at the line ... good ... good ... 44-42, 'Stangs ...
ReplyDeleteBank 3 from top of key by the Purples ... 45-44, Bowling Green ... first lead since the first quarter ...
ReplyDeleteChumbler fouled ... miss ... Purples' ball ... 3 ... 48-44 ...
ReplyDeleteOne of two free throws for a Mustang ... 48-45 ...
ReplyDeletePurples one of two free throws … 49-45 … under three minutes … missed McCracken 3 … Bowling Green fouled …
ReplyDelete"Right now, McCracken County is falling apart at the seams defensively," grimly notes Toy.
Media timeout, mercifully.
Purple free throws … good and good … 2:46, 51-45 ...
ReplyDeleteMcCracken miss …
ReplyDeleteUnder two minutes …
Bowling Green 3 … "that one might do it," says WPAD's Eric Chumbler, the play-by-play man … 54-45 ...
1:27 ... 56-49 on a McCracken 3 ... timeout, Burlin Brower ...
ReplyDeleteBowling Green one of two free throws … 57-49 … 1:20 …
ReplyDeleteMcCracken blocked … the Mustangs look exhausted …
Purples headed back to the line … great fourth-quarter comeback by Bowling Green …
Miss … make … 58-49 … under 1 minute ...
Good and good on McCracken County free throws … 58-51, 57.1 seconds …
ReplyDeleteBowling Green back to the line: good and good … 60-51 …
49.5 seconds … McCracken fouled … Purples timeout …
The football coach …
Kevin Wallace @kwallacebg 3m
What a year! Haters can hate but to answer "What's a Purple?" This year it's simply, "Winner"
7:06 PM - 21 Mar 2014
Miss and miss by Bowling Green … McCracken fouled at other end … good and miss … 60-53, 36.3 seconds … Purples fouled …
ReplyDelete34.9 seconds ...
Miss and miss by Bowling Green … McCracken fouled at other end … good and miss … 60-53, 36.3 seconds … Purples fouled …
ReplyDelete34.9 seconds … miss and good: 61-53 …
23 seconds … short banker by the Mustangs … 61-55 … last Burlin Brower timeout ...
17.7 seconds … Bowling Green free throws: miss … good … 62-55 …
ReplyDeleteMustangs three-pointer good! … Rupp Arena clock runs while the ball bounces around out of bounds … Brower unloads on official … no time put back on clock … instead, Rupp Arena clock does not run as ball is inbounded … 4.5 seconds to go … Bowling Green back to the line ...
Good and good …
ReplyDeleteThat's it. Bowling Green wins, 64-58, coming from three down after three quarters. McCracken County's season is over. Purples join Trinity and Scott County in the semifinals. Bardstown and CovCath will play the final game tonight to decide the fourth team to advance to tomorrow evening's games.
And, oddly, I just got a call and hangup from Fulton, Ky. Probably Oscar Bishop, initially planning to and, then--come on, we're 45--deciding against rubbing it in.
ReplyDeleteHeath Class of '87, I'm pretty sure ...
ReplyDeleteRon Ruggles @ruggles_ron 30m
@GoMcCracken We're so proud of our players, coaches and MustangNation. You made the Commonwealth sit up and take notice! Come on home!
7:19 PM - 21 Mar 2014 from Paducah, KY
Horrible news from the road back to Hopkinsville from the state tournament, via WKDZ. Dear Lord, please be especially near all of these people--the driver in his recovery, the two surviving boys in their recoveries, the families and friends of all recoveries in their grief and pain, the first responders, the other people on the highway, Hoptown, the people in Anderson County who live around the accident site, everyone around the state tournament ... all of them ... please help them all experience your close presence now.
ReplyDelete