A Different View
Jan 5, 2006 20:34:02 GMT -5
Post by Jim Wilson on Jan 5, 2006 20:34:02 GMT -5
A look at Clay County win over White County, Tennessee from south of the border
By: Tammy Wilhite - Sports Editor, Sparta Expositor
The White County High School Warrior basketball team dropped their first game of the Berea Classic in Kentucky, but bounced back to reel off three straight wins to finish fifth in the 16 team field. The Warriors managed to up their record to 10-6 overall despite playing the entire tournament without leading scorer, J.J. Taylor, who sprained an ankle in practice the day before the tournament began, and were also without Kurt Clark, who did not make the trip due to an ear infection.
WCHS opened the tournament against Clay County, Kentucky, a tradition rich program in the state who went most of the 90’s decade without losing a game at home. An alumni of their school is University of Kentucky standout, Richie Farmer. The Warriors were not phased facing off against the program and actually took Clay County to overtime before dropping the 78-73 decision. Four players fouled for WCHS in a game, which saw the Warriors whistled for 30 fouls compared to 19 by Clay County.
Clay County held a slim 16-15 lead at the end of one, but pushed out to a 31-27 advantage at the half. The Warriors went into the final quarter of regulation trailing 50-41. The Warriors mounted a comeback in the final eight minutes of regulation to force the extra period. WCHS outscored Clay County 24-15 in the stanza with 11 of their 15 points coming from the free throw line where they converted 11 of their 17 attempts. In that quarter, the Warriors knocked down five treys with three of those coming from Ross Jolly who hit five for the game.
In the overtime period, Clay County made good on nine of their 12 free throw attempts to go along with two field goals to take the victory. The Warriors also managed two field goals in the extra period, a trey by Jolly and a deuce by Colby Holman. The difference came at the charity stripe where the Warriors attempted only four shots making three of them.
For the game, the Warriors went 11 of 18 from the line, but knocked down 12 treys. In contrast, Clay County did not make a three pointer, but went 28 of 42 from the free throw line. As a team, the Warriors shot 59 percent from two point range and connected on 12 of their 31 three point attempts.
After the opening round loss, the Warriors took on another Kentucky team, Pike County Central, on Wednesday and came away with the 67-63 victory. The win over Pike County advanced the Warriors to a match-up with Jackson County, Kentucky. For the first time in the tournament, the game did not come down to the wire as the Warriors took the 67-55 win.
According to the Warrior coaches, perimeter pressure was the tone for all the games the Warriors played in the tournament. Despite turning the ball over a total of 75 times in the four games played, the Warriors still managed to post a 3-1 record in the tournament.
Coach Mitchell commented, "It was definitely an up tempo tournament. We pressed every team and every team pressed us. We committed a lot of turnovers, but we forced them into a lot, too. It is a different style of ball. The teams are a lot more physical on the perimeter than they are in middle Tennessee, but not as physical in the post.
"I was very pleased with how hard the kids played up there. We got a lot of young kids some important game time experience. With Kurt and J.J. being out, other players had to step up and they did. We shot the ball well and played well in general. Overall, it was a good tournament and a good experience."
Read the entire article at...
www.spartaexpositor.com/sportsdetail.asp?ArticleID=717
By: Tammy Wilhite - Sports Editor, Sparta Expositor
The White County High School Warrior basketball team dropped their first game of the Berea Classic in Kentucky, but bounced back to reel off three straight wins to finish fifth in the 16 team field. The Warriors managed to up their record to 10-6 overall despite playing the entire tournament without leading scorer, J.J. Taylor, who sprained an ankle in practice the day before the tournament began, and were also without Kurt Clark, who did not make the trip due to an ear infection.
WCHS opened the tournament against Clay County, Kentucky, a tradition rich program in the state who went most of the 90’s decade without losing a game at home. An alumni of their school is University of Kentucky standout, Richie Farmer. The Warriors were not phased facing off against the program and actually took Clay County to overtime before dropping the 78-73 decision. Four players fouled for WCHS in a game, which saw the Warriors whistled for 30 fouls compared to 19 by Clay County.
Clay County held a slim 16-15 lead at the end of one, but pushed out to a 31-27 advantage at the half. The Warriors went into the final quarter of regulation trailing 50-41. The Warriors mounted a comeback in the final eight minutes of regulation to force the extra period. WCHS outscored Clay County 24-15 in the stanza with 11 of their 15 points coming from the free throw line where they converted 11 of their 17 attempts. In that quarter, the Warriors knocked down five treys with three of those coming from Ross Jolly who hit five for the game.
In the overtime period, Clay County made good on nine of their 12 free throw attempts to go along with two field goals to take the victory. The Warriors also managed two field goals in the extra period, a trey by Jolly and a deuce by Colby Holman. The difference came at the charity stripe where the Warriors attempted only four shots making three of them.
For the game, the Warriors went 11 of 18 from the line, but knocked down 12 treys. In contrast, Clay County did not make a three pointer, but went 28 of 42 from the free throw line. As a team, the Warriors shot 59 percent from two point range and connected on 12 of their 31 three point attempts.
After the opening round loss, the Warriors took on another Kentucky team, Pike County Central, on Wednesday and came away with the 67-63 victory. The win over Pike County advanced the Warriors to a match-up with Jackson County, Kentucky. For the first time in the tournament, the game did not come down to the wire as the Warriors took the 67-55 win.
According to the Warrior coaches, perimeter pressure was the tone for all the games the Warriors played in the tournament. Despite turning the ball over a total of 75 times in the four games played, the Warriors still managed to post a 3-1 record in the tournament.
Coach Mitchell commented, "It was definitely an up tempo tournament. We pressed every team and every team pressed us. We committed a lot of turnovers, but we forced them into a lot, too. It is a different style of ball. The teams are a lot more physical on the perimeter than they are in middle Tennessee, but not as physical in the post.
"I was very pleased with how hard the kids played up there. We got a lot of young kids some important game time experience. With Kurt and J.J. being out, other players had to step up and they did. We shot the ball well and played well in general. Overall, it was a good tournament and a good experience."
Read the entire article at...
www.spartaexpositor.com/sportsdetail.asp?ArticleID=717