#1 vs. #2 for state championship

From pre-season to final game, the Scott Co. Cardinals and the Ballard Bruins were one and two all year long, and they will decide who is the very best on Saturday night after Scott Co. got by a very good Holmes team, 73-64, and the Bruins slipped past a tough Warren Central bunch, 61-55 in the semi-finals Saturday morning.

Thanks to some great, clutch foul-shooting, the Cardianls were able to hold on to a big lead down the stretch to beat the Holmes Bulldogs, at one point, making 17 in a row, before Matt Walls missed with only 93 seconds left in the contest. The Cards had only one field goal in the final quarter, and 3-pointer by Tyler Portwood.

For the game, Cam Hundley finished with 23 points, and was a perfect 13-of-13. Walls had a game high 25 points, and finished 12-of 16 from the line. Bud Mackey chipped in with 15 points ,and made 7-of-8 from the stripe.

Scott County gave themselves some big breathing room in the third quarter, turning a 1-point game into a 16-point deficit for the Bulldogs, outscoing Holmes 16-1 in the final 5:24 of the period.

Holmes would get no closer than 7 the rest of the way, coming at the 23 second mark of regulation, as Scott County sealed the deal with the red-hot free-throw shooting.

The Bulldogs put up a gallant effort, even when they were down in the second half, led by the great play of Greg Rice and Austin Hill. Hill didn't have his normal good game as he had done the 2 previous, but he never let up, despite some cold shooting.

Rice led his team with a game high 26 points, while Hill and Arrez Henderson each finished with 15 points.

In the other semi-final, the final score was the biggest lead of the day for either side, as Ballard and Warren Central traded punches, blow for blow in this heavyweight battle.

Warren Central outrebounded ballard, 44-32, and shot a better percentage from the floor, 41-36, but the Bruins hit more three-pointers, 8-4, and forced 21 turnovers while committing only 12, the big ones coming in the third quarter when Ballard trailed 40-38 midway though, forcing 6 straight by the Dragons to retake the lead, a lead they would not lose the rest of the way.

The win not only moves the Bruins into the championship game against the Scott County Cardinals, but is also their 26th in a row.

Johonne Hamilton and David Stanley each led Ballard with 13 points. Jonathon Gholson added 11. Wesley Cox came off the bench to provide a huge spark, hitting for 10 points in just 10 minutes played. Leading scorer Twany Beckham scored 9 points in the win.

For Warren Central, leading scorer Jeremy Anderson ends his career where it began, on the Rupp Arena court. Anderson was playing in his 5 consecutive state tournament, a feat matched only by Kentucky legend Richie Farmer.

Monie Hudson led the Dragons in scoring on this day with a double-double, 20 points and 11 rebounds. Anderson added 19 points, the only 2 to hit double figures for the Dragons. Avery Driver hauled down 12 rebounds for Warren Central.

So a classic will go down on Saturday night, as number one Scott County will battle number two Ballard for the state championship. Just the way it should be, every now and then.

Posted by: Marc Hall

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