Saturday, March 19, 2011

One and Done: Boys' Sweet Sixteen

As we come to the end of this year's tournament, it is important to emphasize what a great, great tournament it has been. There were some amazing battles in the regional tournaments -- including a four-overtime thriller in the Ninth Region finals, a great comeback by Marshall County in the First Region final, and a miraculous run by Shelby Valley through the Fifteenth Region. And although the state tournament has included a few clunkers (as usual), it has also featured some tremendous games: Eastern's three-point win over Warren Central, Christian County's amazing comebacks against Lexington Catholic and Eastern, and Rowan County's hanging on for a two-point win over Bullitt East. It is also important to point out that, for the most part, the fan support shown throughout the tournament has been spectacular. There were huge crowds at most of the regionals, and Rupp has been packed as usual for the state tournament. As far as I can tell, the tournament is just as popular now as it was when I was in high school -- if not more so. Traditions live because generations pass them along, and it's great to see how Kentuckians have preserved this tradition.

I also want to give the KHSAA credit for doing such a great job of using the Internet to promote its tournament. To be able to sit up here in northern Virginia and see and hear all the games live is a great, great thing.

Now, about the game. Like almost everyone else, I expected the final to feature two teams from the Louisville area. I don't think this was simply a question of hype: Eastern and Bullitt East have both been great all year. Christian County's accomplishment in beating Lexington Catholic and Louisville Eastern in back-to-back games -- after decades of coming up short on the big stage, and after a whole season of struggles against teams from outside western Kentucky -- is an amazing accomplishment. And Rowan -- trying to become the first team from the 16th region to go all the way since the days of Larry Conley -- has ripped through the tournament with surprising ease.

Normally, the finals of the state tournament feature two schools from the heart of the state -- Louisville, Lexington, Scott County, Mason County -- these are the places that normally show up on the big stage. But I come from one of the far ends of the state, and I am thrilled to see a final between the 2d and 16th regions. As a western Kentuckian, of course, I am particularly happy for Christian County -- which has always been such a great power in our part of the state, but has never gone all the way at state. And for them to do so in a year where they lost nine regular-season games -- and the district title to University Heights -- is particularly striking.

One final point. One of the many reasons why this is the greatest high school sports competition in America -- if not the world -- is that to actually win the title, you have to win three games in two days -- including two games on the last day. So you're not just battling the pressure and the other team; you're also battling fatigue. Who will prevail? Will eastern Kentucky capture its second consecutive title, or will the trophy come down to our end of the state. We will be covering it here.

47 comments:

  1. During the commercial breaks on iHigh, they keep running commercials about how great it is to attend UK. I really wish Matthew could see them -- or, to be more precise, I would love to watch them with Matthew.

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  2. County is in the white uniforms with red numerals and "COLONELS" on the jersey. Rowan has an odd combination; green uniforms with black numerals.

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  3. Neither of these teams has ever won the state title.

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  4. In the NCAA's, Temple and San Diego State are headed for double overtime -- tied at 61.

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  5. Both teams have been cold so far, shooting a combined 4-14. CCHS leads 6-5 with 2:51 left in the first quarter.

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  6. Eric would be interested to know that the best players for each team -- Anthony Hickey for CCHS and Adam Wing for Rowan -- are also the starting quarterbacks for their school's football teams.

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  7. Adam Wing is 3-3 from three-point range for Rowan, while CCHS is 2-7 from behind the arc. Those are the two key statistics so far. At the end of the first quarter, Rowan leads 13-8.

    Another key stat to watch: Rowan had only two turnovers in the first quarter.

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  8. Philly's NCAA Tournament is over. San Diego State beats Temple 71-64 in double overtime.

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  9. Adam Wing was 7-7 from the field today in the semis (5-5 from 3's), and he is 5-5 so far in this game (4-4 from 3's). He has 15 points, and Rowan leads 19-17 with 3:42 left.

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  10. CCHS ties the game at 19 with 2:50 left in the 1st half. CCHS is also turning up the pressure; Rowan has four turnovers in this quarter.

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  11. So far, the story of this game has been that CCHS has been cold (8-22 from the field), but they are making that up with hustle and defense. Rowan is staying in the game because Adam Wing has made every shot he's taken. Wing is 5-5 from the field, the rest of Rowan's team is 2-9.

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  12. Halftime. County was very close to blowing this thing open. Their press is working; Rowan has now made 8 turnovers (to only 3 for CCHS). The Colonels have taken 28 shots, compared to only 17 for Rowan. And they did outscore Rowan 15-8 in the quarter to take a 23-21 halftime lead. But County could have really taken control if they could have shot the ball well. Donovan Kates -- who had 24 or 25 points against LexCath -- hasn't scored at all, and the team as a whole was only 10-28 from the field.

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  13. Now we're getting a commercial about all the great food that's available on the UK campus. Before that we had a commercial about how great Lexington is.

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  14. In the NCAA's, BYU leads Gonzaga 45-38 at the half, while Pitt leads Butler 55-52 with 7:52 left in the game.

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  15. Now they have a commercial about how to pay for a UK education. I've almost been convinced to apply myself.

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  16. What I really find interesting about all of the Kentucky public service announcements is that they are constantly encouraging people to take steps to improve themselves. Up here in northern Virginia, no one gets any encouragement -- everyone is assumed to be self-motivated.

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  17. Adam Wing is now 6-6 from 3-point range, and I don't remember ever seeing anyone make 11 consecutive three-pointers at Rupp Arena. CCHS leads 28-27 with 6:47 to go.

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  18. Corey Hunter, Rowan's 6' 7" center, spent most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. He is now back and wreaking havoc on the CCHS defense. Rowan leads 31-30 with 4:30 left in the 3d quarter.

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  19. Nick Riley hits his third three-pointer of the game for CCHS, and the Colonels lead 33-31 with 2:53 to go in the third quarter.

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  20. Great back-and-forth action. We're all tied at 35 with one quarter left.

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  21. Wing makes two free throws to give Rowan a 41-40 lead with 5:40 to go. He has 20 points and 8 rebounds.

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  22. Still going back and forth. Nick Riley hits another 3 for CCHS to make the score 43-all with 4:16 left.

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  23. In the NCAA's, number one seed Pittsburgh loses to Butler 71-70.

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  24. County misses a long 3, but Hickey gets the rebound and saves it to Lewis, who hits a bank shot to give CCHS a 45-43 lead with 3:21 left.

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  25. Tonight's attendance: 14,644.

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  26. County goes up 47-43, but Wing makes two FTs to cut it to 47-45.

    Then Hickey gets a putback (he now has 17 points and 12 rebounds) to put County up 49-45.

    Wing then gets his own putback (he now has 24 points) to make it 49-47 with 1:15 left.

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  27. Rowan holds, gets the ball and ties the game at 49 with 1 minute left.

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  28. CCHS holds the ball for the last shot and ends up with Donovan Kates taking a 3. He is now 0-8 from three-point range in this game. We are headed to overtime with the score tied at 49.

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  29. Wing hits a 3 to open the over time. 52-49 for Rowan.

    Riley responds with a 3 attempt -- but it misses. Rowan has the ball and the lead.

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  30. Rowan is fouled and they will be heading to the line with 3:04 left.

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  31. Wing has 27 points and 10 rebounds. He is 7-8 from three-point range.

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  32. Rowan makes the FTs to go up 54-49. Then this happened:

    Veontae Lewis makes a three for CCHS: 54-52.
    CCHS gets a steal; Lewis gets a layup: 54-54.
    Lewis was fouled but missed the FT.
    Rowan misses and the rebound turns into a runout for Lewis.

    So County now leads 56-54 with 2:07 to go.

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  33. Rowan calls time, presumably to remind the players that Adam Wing is on the floor. He drives to the basket and is fouled by Nick Riley -- who is now out of the game.

    Wing makes both FTs and we are tied at 56.

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  34. With Riley having fouled out and Rowan all over Hickey, Donovan Kates -- who has been terrible all night -- takes a shot in the lane, and makes it!

    CCHS leads 58-56.

    Rowan comes back and, for reasons I do not understand, does not have Wing shoot the ball. The shot is blocked, and Hickey knocks the rebound off of a Rowan player as it's going out of bounds. County gets the ball and calls time with 36 seconds to go.

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  35. CCHS makes a FT: 59-56.

    Rowan comes back with a pass to Wing, who finally misses. County gets the rebound and Kates is fouled. He makes two FTs to put CCHS up 61-56.

    Rowan responds with a long shot that might have been a 3 but is called a two: 61-58. Time out with 10 seconds left.

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  36. CCHS is fouled and makes one of two FTs: 59-56.

    Wing comes back for Rowan and finally misses. Kates is fouled for CCHS and makes two: 61-56.

    Rowan responds with a long shot that might have been a 3 but counts as a two: 61-58.

    With 10 seconds left, Kates is fouled and goes back to the line. He misses, Rowan gets the rebound and ends up with Darrell Cross -- who has 6 points all night -- shooting a three.

    He nails it.

    We're all tied at 61 and heading to double overtime.

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  37. Lewis scores on a layup to put CCHS up 63-61, but Wing responds with two more FTs to tie the score.

    2:31 left.

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  38. CCHS misses a 3-pointer (they are now 8-28 from three-point range in this game).

    Rowan comes back, and D.J. Townsend runs over Hickey in the lane. He fouls out with 12 points. County has the ball. They call time with 1:30 to go.

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  39. Rowan is in a zone, so County holds the ball until there are only 12.7 seconds left. Then they call time.

    Still tied at 63-all.

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  40. Hickey holds the ball until there's about five seconds to go. He penetrates into the lane and when Rowan collapses on him, he flips it to Veontae Lewis, who is wide open.

    And Veontae Lewis will be talking about this moment for the rest of his life: he nails the 15-foot jump shot at the buzzer TO WIN THE STATE TITLE FOR CHRISTIAN COUNTY!!!! THE TITLE IS COMING BACK TO WESTERN KENTUCKY!!!!!

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  41. Hooray! HOORAY!!! THIS IS OUTSTANDING! I'm so happy for Christian County, Veontae Lewis, Anthony Hickey, Hopkinsville, The Heath Post, UK, ... the whole kit and kaboodle. HOORAY!!!

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  42. Continued ...

    "mjp18 Mary Jo Perino
    "Seeing the state championship game is crazy too! In OT! Riding back with Christian Co grad @photogzach18 and he's on pins and needles!
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply'

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Wow! Christian up 58-56 with 36 seconds left
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Hickey just blocked a shot and as ball going out of bounds somehow ran it down and threw it off a Rowan defender.
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "mcompton428 Micheal Compton
    "@kyhighs 2009 only time both title games went to OT
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "UK football signee Bubba Tandy with a huge free throw...Christian up 59-56 with 27 seconds.
    "10 hours ago

    "DindependentPG Aaron Snyder
    "Christian County 61, Rowan County 58 after Townsend buries long jumper. Christian to in-bound with 0:09 left.
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Oops they let a bad replay go on board. Rowan long jumper called a 2 and looked easy looked like a 3 on replay. Christian up 61-58 9.7 left
    "10 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

    "NealBradley Neal Bradley
    "61-58 Christian County with 9 seconds left. Colonels ball out of the timeout. An apparent 3 ruled a 2 by Rowan County. No video review in HS
    "10 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

    "kyhighs Jason Frakes
    "Darrell Cross' three-pointer at buzzer ties it at 61, headed to double OT http://bit.ly/hoHa2I
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Now the replay of the 3 called a 2 is HUGE
    "10 hours ago

    "mcompton428 Micheal Compton
    "If you are not watching the Boys' Sweet 16 title game right now, you are missing a GREAT game
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Can't believe what I am watching. Wow!
    "10 hours ago

    "stevewymt Steve Hensley
    "Going to double OT at the Boys Sweet 16!!! WOW!
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "shaunroberts shaunroberts
    "Double OT! Tied up @ 61 after Rowan makes two big buckets w/ less than 10 secs to go.
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "BTW, Darrell Cross was a first-team C-J All-State RB for Rowan County. I think he's looking at EKU
    "10 hours ago"

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  43. Continued ...

    "NealBradley Neal Bradley
    "Adam Wing of Rowan County 31 points and 13 rebounds. 63 all, 2:22 in 2nd OT #Sweet16
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "DJ Townsend called for charge on Rowan - fouled out. Ref under basket called a block and one out top called a charge. Guy 20 feet away won
    "10 hours ago

    "TUCoachLane Brian Lane
    "Only thing certain about this state title game is Lex Police having tough time deciding who is going to win & then storm court 2 celebrate
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Oh yeah, it was Anthony Hickey who took the charge.
    "10 hours ago

    "NealBradley Neal Bradley
    "If I wake up alive tomorrow, I will be living proof that you cannot overdose on basketball. (11 games in 1 day). #Sweet16 #NCAAT
    "10 hours ago

    "kyhighs Jason Frakes
    "Christian County runs clock down to 12.7 seconds, calls timeout: http://bit.ly/hoHa2I
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Christian County timeout with 12.7 seconds left. Tied at 63
    "10 hours ago

    "kyhighs Jason Frakes
    "Rowan has to double Hickey here, right? http://bit.ly/hoHa2I
    "10 hours ago

    "NealBradley Neal Bradley
    "Christian County milks clock from over a minute to :12. Calls timeout to set up final play. Tie game 63-63 2OT
    "10 hours ago"

    "RobertSampson Robert Sampson
    "Here we go.... http://twitpic.com/4b9m51
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Wow! Christian County 65, Rowan County 63.....Hickey drove and with 2.2 dished to Lewis in left corner.
    "10 hours ago

    "jdemling Jody Demling
    "Just wow!
    "10 hours ago

    "shaunroberts shaunroberts
    "Christian Co WINS! Christian Co has won the @KHSAA 2011 boys HS Basketball Championship, 65-63 on a last second shot!!
    "10 hours ago

    "stevewymt Steve Hensley
    "Christian County wins the Boys Sweet 16 with a shot at the buzzer in double OT... amazing game... ashame someone had to lose.
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "BriEldridge Brian Eldridge
    "Christian County is Kentucky's 2011 State Champions! HUGE shot from Veonte Lewis with a deep jumper with no time left. 65-63
    "10 hours ago

    "khsaaevents KHSAA Events
    "Christian County wins its first state boys' basketball championship. The Colonels had lost in the championship game in 1976 and '79.
    "10 hours ago

    "pennington_jl James L. Pennington
    "by APWillGraves
    "Christian Co wins state title for the first time in school history. Incredible finish to one of the best basketball games I've ever seen.
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "awireman Anthony Wireman
    "Outstanding state championship game. A lot of Rowan folks were saying the refs missed a point on a 3 ptr that was ruled a 2 but I don't know
    "9 hours ago

    "CameronMillz CAMERON MILLS
    "Christian Co wins KY State Championship on last second shot in a 2OT gem. 1 of best Sweet 16 games I've ever seen. I've seen a lot.
    "9 hours ago

    "Rupp_Arena Rupp Arena
    "Congratulations Christian County for winning the 2011 PNC KHSAA Boys Sweet 16 Tournament! Great work by all the teams though for making it to the tournament and representing your regions.
    "9 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "WarrenCentral Warren Central High
    "Congratulations to Christian County on their boy's state basketball championship! Love it when the trophy comes south!!
    "9 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "kyhighs Jason Frakes
    "Sweet 16 MVP Anthony Hickey averaged 22.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.5 steals and 4.8 assists in four state tournament games. Awesome week!

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  44. Postscripts:

    "Born2bBertha Rejetta Caudill
    "Heartbreaker for Rowan County. Great job Vikings!!
    "10 hours ago

    "BrandonHamm15 Brandon Hamm
    "Who means more to their team than Anthony Hickey? Reminds me somewhat of Kemba Walker.
    "10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "TheStevemo steven moore
    "Anthony hickey needs to go to WKU next year.. Then that will be a true team
    "10 hours ago

    "CharlesClark34 Charles Clark
    "Anthony Hickey freakin showed out at the KHS bball sweet 16 tourney. Game winning assist in route to State Championship.
    "10 hours ago

    "Bsaunders14 Brady Saunders
    "Anthony Hickey.. #Mr.Basketball
    "10 hours ago

    "KYAAllStars Ray Q. Valentine
    "Christian County wins Ky State Tournament 2011, Congrats to Donavan Kates,Anthony Hickey, and entire Team Great Job Fellas !!!!!!!!!
    "10 hours ago

    "hilltopperfan Barry Colley
    "WKU really needs Anthony Hickey !
    "10 hours ago

    "EDLacks Erich D. Lacks
    "My High School, Christian County, won the KHSAA (Kentucky) State Championship today! Go Colonels.
    "10 hours ago

    "CoachJimmyJ Jimmy Johnson
    "Congrats to kerry Stovall and the Christian County Colonels on an amazing run and the KY State Championship in double OT.
    "10 hours ago

    "HilljakLinbeard Tommy Morris
    "While I wore the Orange & Black, I'm still happy as can be for the Colonels of Christian County. Good ball from Hoptown, County, & UHA.
    "10 hours ago

    "carsonswartz Carson Swartz
    "I just witnessed the greatest high school basketball game of my life. Wish Rowan could have pulled off the win, Adam Wing was on fire...
    "9 hours ago

    "Fresh_Prince_14 keisten jones
    "Another #shoutout to my homies Anthony Hickey, Veontae Lewis, and Donovan Kates… I see yall!!!
    "9 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "TBthe2nd Tom Bower
    "Double OT game ended on a last second 3. Rupp was electric. Anthony Hickey from Christian Co is now a Kentucky legend
    "9 hours ago

    "carsonswartz Carson Swartz
    "Anthony Hickey is a black Richie Farmer lol
    "9 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "TBthe2nd Tom Bower
    "@dpg_35_3211 said it best "If Anthony Hickey gets out of Kentucky without a scholarship it will be a tragedy" listen @UKCoachCalipari!
    "9 hours ago

    JohnWa11tonsEgo Walt Askew
    Gotta throw it up to my boys! Christian County representing tonight 2011 State Champs. Way to go Colonels #getyourweightup
    9 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "joesned Joe Snedegar
    "Also a shout out to Adam wing for shooting the lights out in the first half. Way to represent the 16th region.
    "8 hours ago

    "SammieDee13 Sammie DeAnn
    "my home basketball team was cheated tonight...they are still winners in my heart<3 how about Adam Wing @ukcoachcalipari????????
    "7 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

    "WKAGTV WKAG Television
    "Hey all, come to Christian County High at 130 this afternoon to help welcome home the 2011 state basketball champs!
    "15 minutes ago

    "jonathanclark00 Jonathan Clark
    "@pfbarker I graduated from Christian county in 95. Sorry about Rowan co. Great kids there...at least back in your day.
    "5 minutes ago"

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