Wednesday, March 15, 2023

State Tournament: Day One

The greatest high school sporting event in the world tipped off at 10 AM Central with a game between the Woodford County Yellow Jackets (20-12), champions of the 8th Region, and the Jeffersontown Chargers (17-12), champions of the 6th Region.

At the half, Woodford County leads J-Town 31-30.

109 comments:

  1. Here's the list of winners since we started this blog:

    2011: Christian Co. 65, Rowan Co. 63 (2 OT)
    2012: Lou. Trinity 71, Scott Co. 53
    2013: Madison Cent. 65, Lou. Ballard 64
    2014: Cov. Catholic 59, Scott Co. 51 (OT)
    2015: Owensboro 74, Bowling Green 58
    2016: Lex. Paul Dunbar 61, Lou. Doss 52
    2017: Bowling Green 67, Cooper 56
    2018: Cov. Catholic 73, Scott Co. 55
    2019: Lou. Trinity 50, Scott Co. 40
    2020:
    2021: Ft. Thomas Highlands 79, Elizabethtown 60
    2022: Geo. Rogers Clark 43, Warren Cent. 42

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    1. Just want to note that Madisonville-North Hopkins was HP-declared state champ in 2020.

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  2. GRC and Warren Central could meet in the final again. That hasn't happened since Ballard and Clay County met in the final in both 1987 and 1988. No team has successfully defended its title since Fairdale won in 1990 and 1991.

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  3. With 3:23 left in the third, Woodford leads J-Town 40-38.

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  4. On the live broadcast, you can see some of the radio stations at the game. I see WSGS (Hazard) and WCYN (Cynthiana).

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  5. Meanwhile, the Dow is down 670 points so far today. Currently at 31,488.

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  6. Jeffersontown is wearing white uniforms with sky blue numerals outlined in dark red. Their jerseys say "JTOWN" in all slanted capitals. Woodford County has black uniforms with gold letters and numbers. Their jersey has "WOODFORD" above the numeral and "COUNTY" below.

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  7. After three quarters, J-Town leads Woodford 45-44.

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  8. I like that combination of dark red (the British call it "claret") and sky blue that J-Town uses. A number of UK soccer teams use it -- like West Ham and Aston Villa -- but you don't see it much over here.

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  9. I also see a sign for WFTM (Maysville).

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  10. I've decided that the NCAA should eliminate the shot clock, switch from 20-minute halves to 10-minute quarters, and keep the three-point line.

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  11. J-Town still leads 45-44 with 4:36 left in the game. Both teams have gone cold.

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  12. J-Town won it all in 2006. Woodford County has never won this tournament.

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  13. This is Woodford County's first appearance in the Sweet 16 since the Yellow Jackets won the 11th Region back in 1986.

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  14. Woodford leads 50-49 with 1:27 left. What a game!

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  15. Woodford leads 52-49 with 27.5 seconds left. J-Town ball.

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  16. Jeffersontown hits a three to tie the game! Woodford comes charging back down the floor, but loses the ball with about 10 seconds to go. Then J-Town loses it again, and in the scramble J-Town is called for a foul. Woodford to the line, all tied at 52, 5.9 seconds left.

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  17. Woodford's shooter is a 53 percent FT shooter. He misses the first. He misses the second. J-Town rushes up and misses a three at the buzzer, and we are GOING TO OVERTIME. J-Town 52, Woodford 52.

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  18. Woodford gets the tap. J-Town stays in its zone, so Woodford goes into a stall. After a minute, Woodford drives, misses, gets the rebound, misses, and finally loses the ball. J-Town comes down and they miss, and then Woodford MAKES A THREE with 2:14 left. Woodford 55, J-Town 52.

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  19. J-Town makes a STEP-BACK THREE to tie the game with 1:45 left. J-Town 55, Woodford 55.

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  20. With 1:11 left, Woodford attacks the basket and is fouled. The Woodford player is hurt and has to leave the game. So a sub comes in to shoot the FT's. He misses the first. He makes the second. Woodford 56, J-Town 55 with 1:11 left.

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  21. J-Town misses a three. Woodford gets the rebound, and J-Town fouls with 53.5 seconds left.

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  22. Jasper Johnson of Woodford makes the first FT. He makes the second. Woodford 58, J-Town 55 with 49 seconds left.

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  23. J-Town misses a layup, and Woodford gets the rebound. But J-Town does not foul. Instead they steal the ball back and make a layup. Woodford 58, J-Town 57 with 27.8 seconds left in overtime. Woodford calls time.

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  24. I think also I'd have the double bonus begin after 12 fouls, instead of 10.

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  25. With no shot clock, you'd need more 1-and-1's in college.

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  26. Santonio Wade goes to the line with 22.6 seconds left for Woodford. He misses the first one. He makes the second. Woodford 59, J-Town 57. J-Town ball. J-Town calls time with 13.9 seconds left.

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  27. Cameron Mills tells us that no team from Woodford County has won a game in the State Tournament since Midway H.S. won it all in 1937.

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  28. Out of the timeout, J-Town had a very clever play. They had a guy on the baseline who was going to pass it back to an open player in the lane. But it was a bad pass, and the ball skittered away to Woodford. Woodford goes to the line with 5 seconds left. Woodford makes 1 of 2. Woodford 60, J-Town 57 with 5 seconds left. J-Town ball. Timeout Woodford.

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  29. J-Town gets a good look at the buzzer, but their three-pointer bangs off the front rim and the game is over. FINAL SCORE: Woodford County 60, Jeffersontown 57. J-Town goes out in the first round for the second year in a row, and no team from the Sixth Region has gone all the way since 1994.

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  30. Next up, we will have the Elizabethtown Panthers (23-9), champions of the 5th Region, against the McCracken County Mustangs (29-5), champions of the 1st Region.

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    1. I know how this game comes out, but I still just want to say, "Go, McCracken County!"

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  31. E-Town won this tournament in 2000, and reached the final in 2021. McCracken County played in this tournament in 2014, 2018, and 2021, but has never made it past the quarter-finals. Of course, Heath High School (which was merged into McCracken County after 2013) won the whole thing in 1929.

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  32. Woodford County was formed in 1963 by a merger between the Versailles Yellow Jackets and the Midway Blue Jays.

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  33. McCracken appears to be big, strong, and slow. E-Town appears to be small, tough, and quick. Panthers lead 6-4 with 3:45 left.

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  34. When E-Town went to the final in 2021, they had a 32-minutes-of-hell pressing type team, and that appears to be their style now. With 2:52 left in the first quarter, E-Town leads 8-6.

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  35. E-Town is wearing white uniforms with gold numerals and purple trim. Their jersey identifies them as "ELIZABETHTOWN."

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  36. McCracken is wearing black uniforms with maroon numerals that are not easy to read. Their jersey identifies them as the "MUSTANGS."

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  37. Chris Lofton is the color commentator for this game. I don't remember him doing this before.

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  38. E-Town leads 14-12 after 1 quarter.

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  39. There's a lot of strategy in this game. McCracken wants to take its time and play a 1-3-1 zone. E-Town wants to press and scramble. We're tied at 17 with 5:31 left.

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  40. I'm now starting to think about my plans between this afternoon session and the night session. I'm probably heading over to Joseph-Beth to buy some books on Kentucky history.

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  41. McCracken's size is starting to tell, and the zone is causing real problems for E-Town. Mustangs lead 23-17 with just under 3 minutes left in the half.

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  42. In the last minute of the first half, E-Town finally solves the 1-3-1 zone by hitting two really long three point shots. At the half, the Panthers lead 25-24.

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  43. E-Town at the half:
    3-13 on 2-point shots (23.1 percent)
    5-9 on 3-point shots (55.5 percent)
    4-4 from the line (100 percent)
    6 rebounds, 5 turnovers

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  44. McCracken at the half:
    10-15 on 2-point shots (66.7 percent)
    1-4 on 3-point shots (25.0 percent)
    1-2 from the line (50.0 percent)
    16 rebounds, 11 turnovers

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  45. You would think that McCracken would be more likely to keep making 2-point shots than E-Town is to keep making so many 3-pointers. And you would think it would be easier for McCracken to cut back on turnovers than it would be for E-Town to improve its rebounding. But both teams really appear to know what they're doing, and I could see this going down to the wire.

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  46. With 4 minutes left in the game, E-Town leads 42-39 and McCracken has been forced to abandon the zone. Now the Mustangs are having to chase the ball, as the Panthers joyfully play keep away.

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  47. E-Town wins 48-44. The Panthers were just too quick for McCracken County, and once they got into the lead, and forced McCracken out of the zone, it was always going to be tough for the Mustangs.

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  48. E-Town stats:
    11-32 from 2-point range (34.4 percent)
    5-12 from 3-point range (41.7 percent)
    11-14 from the line (78.6 percent)
    19 rebounds, 6 turnovers

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  49. McCracken stats:
    16-30 from 2-point range (53.3 percent)
    1-11 from 3-point range (9.1 percent)
    9-11 from the line (81.8 percent)
    36 rebounds, 16 turnovers

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  50. When you are the bigger and slower team, as McCracken County was in this game, it is absolutely vital that you make some outside shots -- because working the ball inside will lead to a lot of turnovers. McCracken went 1-11 from 3-point range, and 0-7 in the second half, and they will have a long ride back to the Purchase to reflect on those facts.

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  51. Very disappointing outcome for McCracken, which on paper had about as good a chance to reach the semi-final as a team from the First Region is likely to get.

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  52. At 5 PM Central, we will get the number-1 Warren Central Dragons (32-1), champions of the 4th Region, against the Pulaski County Maroons (27-6), champions of the 12th Region.

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  53. Warren Central was formed in 1968 by merging the Alvaton Blue Birds with the Warren County Dragons.

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  54. Warren Central won the state championship in 2004, and reached the finals in 2005 and 2022. Last year, they lost to GRC in the title game by one point. This year, they beat Bowling Green in the Fourth Region Final by two points in overtime.

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  55. Pulaski County High School opened in 1950 and won the State Championship in 1986.

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  56. With 50 seconds left in the first quarter, Warren Central leads 17-3.

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  57. Warren Central is wearing white uniforms with navy numerals and a W logo over the numeral. The logo is a block W with the word "Central" imposed on the W in a small rectangle. Very clean look.

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  58. Pulaski County is wearing maroon uniforms with white numerals and the word "PULASKI" over the numeral on the front of the jersey.

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  59. Warren Central leads 20-3 after one quarter, and we probably won't have a lot of updates on this game.

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  60. Warren Central leads 45-19 at the half. Remember that Warren Central just barely survived OT against Bowling Green to get this far.

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  61. Next up we have the Owensboro Red Devils (19-10), champions of the 3d Region, against the Ashland Blazer Tomcats (22-11), champions of the 16th Region.

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  62. These are two legendary programs. Owensboro has five state championships: 1917, 1949, 1972, 1980, and 2015. Ashland has four state championships: 1928, 1933, 1934, and 1961. Ashland was runner-up in 1962 and 1996.

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  63. For the third game in a row, the team wearing the road uniforms is in maroon. Ashland Blazer is wearing maroon uniforms with white numerals, and the word "ASHLAND" across their chests.

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  64. Owensboro is wearing white uniforms with red numerals and black trim, and the word "OWENSBORO" across their chests. It's been a good day for uniforms. I didn't like the black and maroon look for McCracken, but everyone else has looked sharp.

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  65. For the third game in a row, we have a quick team in the white uniforms, and a plodding team in maroon. So far, E-Town and Warren Central -- the two quick teams -- have come out on top. Now, Owensboro leads Ashland 20-14 after one quarter.

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  66. Ashland is fighting its way back into the game. Owensboro leads 20-18 with 6 minutes left in the first half.

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  67. Chris Lofton is doing a great job on color commentary, by the way. He seems like a nice guy. Why did he go to UT?

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  68. All tied at 20 with 5:10 left in the half.

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  69. Ashland is not plodding -- they are keeping pace with Owensboro now. All tied at 25 with 3:25 left.

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  70. By the way, Warren Central is going to the final. No other team I've seen today can beat Warren Central.

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  71. With 2:20 left before half, Ashland leads Owensboro 27-25.

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  72. I think if I were Owensboro, I would go with "O H S," which they've used sometimes in the past on their uniforms. But to be fair, they have great uniforms. That red and black combination -- which Owensboro and Mayfield both use -- is one of the best high school uniform combos.

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  73. On the other hand, I don't understand why maroon is so popular.

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  74. Owensboro leads 30-28 at the half. Ashland's coach says the Tomcats have to do better on rebounds.

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  75. Ashland Stats at half:
    8-16 from 2-point range (50.0 percent)
    3-14 from 3-point range (21.4 percent)
    3-6 from the line (50.0 percent)
    24 rebounds, 8 turnovers

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  76. Owensboro Stats at half:
    10-25 from 2-point range (40.0 percent)
    2-6 from 3-point range (33.3 percent)
    4-5 from the line (80.0 percent)
    16 rebounds, 3 turnovers

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  77. Every year, they run this commercial trying to convince me that chocolate milk is an energy drink. I love chocolate milk, but I'm not convinced it should be used as an energy drink.

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    1. It's one of the most curious recent traditions of the Sweet Sixteen. It always feels like a joke from Wonder Years or That Seventies Show or something.

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  78. Clemson, who was the top-seeded team in Vandy's NIT Region, loses 68-64 to Morehead State. So the path is clear for the Dores.

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  79. Ashland is facing a situation similar to what McCracken had to deal with against E-Town -- the Tomcats need to make enough three-pointers to overcome the turnovers and other problems created by Owensboro's speed. McCracken went 1-11 from three-point range, and lost. Ashland is only 3-14 so far -- they need to do better.

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  80. Ashland and Owensboro have met five times in the State Tournament before tonight, and Ashland has won every time.

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  81. Ashland leads 41-39 with 2:47 left. The Warren Central game was a blowout, but the other three games today have been about as good as you could hope for from high school basketball.

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  82. Down 45-44 with 20 seconds left, Ashland had the ball and a chance to hold for the last shot of the third quarter. But they threw it away, and you could see the whole Ashland coaching staff cringe in agony. Sure enough, 20 seconds later Owensboro sank a three-pointer to end the quarter. After three, Owensboro leads 48-44 -- the same score by which E-Town beat McCracken.

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  83. These teams have played incredibly hard all night, and now they are playing harder than ever. Owensboro leads 57-52 with 4:23 left in the game.

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  84. Owensboro calls time with 2:11 left. The Red Devils have the ball and a 61-58 lead.

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  85. Owensboro scores out of the timeout to lead 63-58. Ashland comes back and draws a foul. They will go to the line after the media timeout. 1:41 left in the game.

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  86. With 1 minute to go, Owensboro has the ball and a 65-62 lead. Ashland calls time.

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  87. Owensboro misses the front end of a 1 and 1. Ashland makes one of two FT's, gets the rebound, and has its shot blocked. Owensboro is going back to the line with a 65-63 lead and 31.9 seconds left.

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  88. Owensboro misses again, and this time Ashland hits a three-pointer FOR THE LEAD with 25 seconds left.

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  89. Down 66-65, Owensboro does not call time. Instead, the Red Devils come down and take three or four different shots -- all of which miss. Finally, the time runs out and ASHLAND HAS WON THE GAME!

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  90. Ashland was down by 7 points in the fourth quarter and came all the way back for the win. Unbelievable.

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  91. Ashland final stats:
    17-34 from 2-point range (50.0 percent)
    8-25 from 3-point range (32.0 percent)
    8-13 from the line (61.5 percent)
    45 rebounds, 15 turnovers

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  92. Owensboro final stats:
    22-54 from 2-point range (40.7 percent)
    4-11 from 3-point range (36.3 percent)
    9-13 from the line (69.2 percent)
    33 rebounds, 6 turnovers

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  93. It's always fun to watch games between the Owensboro teams and the Bowling Green teams, and I would have enjoyed seeing OHS take on Warren Central. But the Red Devils missed their free throws down the stretch, and Ashland stole this game. Give credit to the Tomcats, who trailed almost the whole game but never gave up.

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  94. Excellent read. I didn't get to pay attention to any of the games in real time yesterday, so I really enjoyed your effort here.

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