03-16-2011, 12:57 PM
Rowan County vs. Daviess County
Noon Thursday
Winner plays Game 6 winner at 6:30 p.m. Friday
ROWAN COUNTY VIKINGS
Region: 15 | Record: 27-5 | Enrollment: 840
Coach's Résumé
Shawn Thacker, a graduate of Allen Central and Morehead State, is 51-34 in three seasons at Rowan. In 12 years overall, he is 212-138. Thacker coached Somerset to eight consecutive All "A" regional titles, finishing as All "A" state runner-up twice.
Starters
Corey Hunter6-7 Sr. 7.8 ppg
D.J. Townsend5-10 Jr. 14.4 ppg
Adam Wing6-4 Jr. 13.9 ppg
Jason Egan6-2 Jr. 8.6 ppg
Darrell Cross5-8 Sr. 9.9 ppg
Scouting report
Rowan prides itself on defense, giving up 48.7 points a game. In the region finals, Rowan held Ashland â averaging nearly 78 points â to 58. Rowan also has been a good rebounding team, according to Thacker. Start with Adam Wing, who averages 8.3 boards. "We've been pretty good defensively all year, and it's something we've gotten better at," Thacker said. "We have some versatility in how we do it. ... We have multiple ways to do it. We rebound the ball pretty well, too. Adam Wing's a great rebounder. We're kind of long around the basket, so we've had a lot of success in one-and-done." Having played a half-court style out of necessity the past two seasons, the Vikings are at ease in that mode but have added up-tempo spurts as well.
One for all
Thacker says team chemistry has made for a tightly knit team. Wing, a quarterback who is a potential Mr. Football candidate next season, plays much the same role with this team. "He's a great leader and when you watch him play, like a coach on the floor," Thacker said. "Somebody made the comment that they didn't know how he could get anything done on the floor because he's always telling everybody else where to go."
Player to watch
Point guard D.J. Townsend (14.4 ppg, 4.4 assists) has "been very difficult to double and make him give up the basketball, and Daviess County is going to try to do that," Thacker said. "They're a pressure basketball team, and they like to get after you. And the one thing we've learned with D.J. is kind of 'get out of his way and let him handle it on his own.' He's shooting the ball extremely well from the field, and his assist totals have increased as the year's went on."
Sweet history
Rowan County has made four previous trips to the Sweet Sixteen, the first in 1987 and the last in 2005. The Vikings have never made it past the first round.
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/03/16/16723...z1GmoX8xnZ
Noon Thursday
Winner plays Game 6 winner at 6:30 p.m. Friday
ROWAN COUNTY VIKINGS
Region: 15 | Record: 27-5 | Enrollment: 840
Coach's Résumé
Shawn Thacker, a graduate of Allen Central and Morehead State, is 51-34 in three seasons at Rowan. In 12 years overall, he is 212-138. Thacker coached Somerset to eight consecutive All "A" regional titles, finishing as All "A" state runner-up twice.
Starters
Corey Hunter6-7 Sr. 7.8 ppg
D.J. Townsend5-10 Jr. 14.4 ppg
Adam Wing6-4 Jr. 13.9 ppg
Jason Egan6-2 Jr. 8.6 ppg
Darrell Cross5-8 Sr. 9.9 ppg
Scouting report
Rowan prides itself on defense, giving up 48.7 points a game. In the region finals, Rowan held Ashland â averaging nearly 78 points â to 58. Rowan also has been a good rebounding team, according to Thacker. Start with Adam Wing, who averages 8.3 boards. "We've been pretty good defensively all year, and it's something we've gotten better at," Thacker said. "We have some versatility in how we do it. ... We have multiple ways to do it. We rebound the ball pretty well, too. Adam Wing's a great rebounder. We're kind of long around the basket, so we've had a lot of success in one-and-done." Having played a half-court style out of necessity the past two seasons, the Vikings are at ease in that mode but have added up-tempo spurts as well.
One for all
Thacker says team chemistry has made for a tightly knit team. Wing, a quarterback who is a potential Mr. Football candidate next season, plays much the same role with this team. "He's a great leader and when you watch him play, like a coach on the floor," Thacker said. "Somebody made the comment that they didn't know how he could get anything done on the floor because he's always telling everybody else where to go."
Player to watch
Point guard D.J. Townsend (14.4 ppg, 4.4 assists) has "been very difficult to double and make him give up the basketball, and Daviess County is going to try to do that," Thacker said. "They're a pressure basketball team, and they like to get after you. And the one thing we've learned with D.J. is kind of 'get out of his way and let him handle it on his own.' He's shooting the ball extremely well from the field, and his assist totals have increased as the year's went on."
Sweet history
Rowan County has made four previous trips to the Sweet Sixteen, the first in 1987 and the last in 2005. The Vikings have never made it past the first round.
Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/03/16/16723...z1GmoX8xnZ