03-09-2012, 05:44 AM
03-09-2012, 11:15 AM
Rowan Co. 60-46.
03-09-2012, 01:34 PM
Rowan by 18
03-09-2012, 11:49 PM
This is the game that I find most interesting just because you have two teams from Eastern Kentucky! I think Rowan will win but, I wouldn't put it past North Laurel to make this a close game!
Rowan by 12
Rowan by 12
03-10-2012, 01:00 AM
Rowan Co-53
North Laurel-38
North Laurel-38
03-10-2012, 12:10 PM
I believe North Laurel can play with Rowan Co. They have good size and a very quick PG in Carson. I believe Rowan will win because they played on the big stage last year and that does make a difference.
Rowan Co.- 54
North Laurel- 48
Rowan Co.- 54
North Laurel- 48
03-10-2012, 12:26 PM
Rowan County
03-10-2012, 06:37 PM
Rowan County by 15
03-10-2012, 11:45 PM
Rowan will win by a score of 18-12.
03-11-2012, 05:02 AM
Rowan by 10+
03-11-2012, 09:43 AM
RC moves on......wins by 14...
03-11-2012, 04:20 PM
NL by 2 in OT
03-11-2012, 10:29 PM
NL i hope wins Rowan not that good. RC 55 NL 51. In a slow game.
03-11-2012, 11:35 PM
Rowan County by 12
03-12-2012, 09:20 AM
Why is everyone all of the sudden "Rowan isn't that good"?
Rowan has had alot of close games this year against good teams.
Ashland is a good team.
West Carter is a good team.
Clark County is a good team.
Bullitt East is a good team.
PRP is a good team.
Dixie is a good team.
Orange Lutheran California feat. Gabe York is a good team.
Anything can happen when you get to Rupp ladies and gentlemen. The regular season doesn't matter (Ask Kentucky and Syracuse). For all we know Apollo could explode and win the whole thing. Big time players come to big time games and bet me that Wing, Townsend, and Egan plan on playing more than a game or two. :Thumbs:
Rowan has had alot of close games this year against good teams.
Ashland is a good team.
West Carter is a good team.
Clark County is a good team.
Bullitt East is a good team.
PRP is a good team.
Dixie is a good team.
Orange Lutheran California feat. Gabe York is a good team.
Anything can happen when you get to Rupp ladies and gentlemen. The regular season doesn't matter (Ask Kentucky and Syracuse). For all we know Apollo could explode and win the whole thing. Big time players come to big time games and bet me that Wing, Townsend, and Egan plan on playing more than a game or two. :Thumbs:
03-12-2012, 06:15 PM
RC takes this by 12. It will be a good game though.
03-12-2012, 06:58 PM
Rowan County
03-12-2012, 11:03 PM
Rowan County by 20
03-13-2012, 04:05 AM
Rowan by 14.
03-13-2012, 08:51 PM
Game 1
Rowan Co. vs. North Laurel
Rowan County
Region: 16th • Record: 25-7 • Enrollment: 883
Coach's résumé
Shawn Thacker is in his fourth season (79-42) at Rowan County. He previously coached at Somerset and has an overall record of 240-145.
Starters
Player Height Class Points
D.J. Townsend 5-11 Sr. 18.1
Trevor Newsome 5-10 Jr. 4.6
Matt Brown 6-11 Jr. 4.6
Adam Wing 6-4 Sr. 15.0
Jason Egan 6-3 Sr. 13.5
Scouting report
Thacker said Townsend, Wing and Egan, key players in Rowan County's run to the finals last year, have all improved their games. Townsend, a point guard best known for his mid-range jumper and taking it to the rim, now has a reliable three-point shot. Wing has gotten better at putting the ball on the floor. Egan is no longer just a catch-and-shoot guy. He's found other ways to score. Brown, Newsome and sixth man Tyler Thacker (the coach's son) have provided consistent play, too. The Vikings have ramped up their rebounding, and have been playing solid man-to-man. "We've kind of hit our stride with our defense and rebounding the last few weeks," Thacker said. "That's the main reason in us getting back to Rupp Arena."
Rupp remembrances
Rowan County's players were to be reminded of last year's state tournament run — victories over Daviess County, Wayne County and Bullitt East before a double-overtime loss to Christian County in the finals — the night before their opening game against North Laurel. Thacker has a highlight video of the Vikings in the 2011 Sweet Sixteen, and he planned to show it to the team Tuesday night. "We'll reminisce a little bit, and plant seeds that it's possible we can do it again," he said.
Player to watch
Can Wing come close to matching his epic performance in Rupp Arena last year? Wing had 73 points and 28 rebounds in four games, but is best remembered for hitting 12 of 13 three-pointers in the semifinals and finals. The Evansville signee is averaging 14.7 points (40 percent on threes) and 10.6 rebounds. "He's still too unselfish at times," Thacker said. "I think he's been waiting to get to Rupp Arena again. I look for him to step up and be ready for the spotlight again."
Sweet history
This is the Vikings' sixth trip to the state tournament. They lost to Christian County in double-overtime in last year's finals.
North Laurel
Region: 13th • Record: 21-14 • Enrollment: 1,381
Coach's résumé
Brad Sizemore is in his first season at North Laurel. He was an assistant to Steve Wright at South Laurel before becoming head coach at Garrard County. He was there one year before leaving for the Jaguars.
Starters
Player Height Class Points
Marcus Carson 5-9 Jr. 14.3
Ethan Eversole 6-1 Sr. 7.6
Ryan Shears 6-3 Sr. 6.9
Jake Allen 6-8 So. 14.2
Austin Rush 6-6 Jr. 4.6
Scouting report
It was often a struggle for North Laurel this season, but everything finally clicked for the Jaguars in the region tournament. "We put three great games together at the right time," Sizemore said. The Jags' win over Clay County in the region finals illustrated how far North Laurel has come. Clay County whipped the Jags 88-52 in late January, but North Laurel lost to the Tigers by only seven points in the district finals. In the region title game, the Jags wiped out a nine-point deficit and won 52-50 in overtime. Defense and rebounding, led by Allen, Shears and Rush, have been constants for North Laurel this season. The Jags' offense has improved, with Carson, Rush, Allen and sixth man Kendrick Henson providing the scoring punch.
Friendly foe
The pre-game handshake between Sizemore and Rowan County Coach Shawn Thacker will be genuine. When Sizemore played at South Laurel, Thacker was his freshman and AAU coach. Now they're coaching peers. "We've stayed in contact this entire time," Sizemore said. "I talk to him five or 10 times a season, asking advice about things. It's going to be neat to go against him in the state tournament."
Player to watch
Allen, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound sophomore averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds a game, has a big upside. "He's really skilled offensively," Sizemore said. "He plays like a European big man, able to step out and hit the three." Allen's presence inside and out has opened things up for his teammates.
Sweet history
This is North Laurel's first region title since the school opened in 1992.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/03/13/21083...rylink=cpy
Rowan Co. vs. North Laurel
Rowan County
Region: 16th • Record: 25-7 • Enrollment: 883
Coach's résumé
Shawn Thacker is in his fourth season (79-42) at Rowan County. He previously coached at Somerset and has an overall record of 240-145.
Starters
Player Height Class Points
D.J. Townsend 5-11 Sr. 18.1
Trevor Newsome 5-10 Jr. 4.6
Matt Brown 6-11 Jr. 4.6
Adam Wing 6-4 Sr. 15.0
Jason Egan 6-3 Sr. 13.5
Scouting report
Thacker said Townsend, Wing and Egan, key players in Rowan County's run to the finals last year, have all improved their games. Townsend, a point guard best known for his mid-range jumper and taking it to the rim, now has a reliable three-point shot. Wing has gotten better at putting the ball on the floor. Egan is no longer just a catch-and-shoot guy. He's found other ways to score. Brown, Newsome and sixth man Tyler Thacker (the coach's son) have provided consistent play, too. The Vikings have ramped up their rebounding, and have been playing solid man-to-man. "We've kind of hit our stride with our defense and rebounding the last few weeks," Thacker said. "That's the main reason in us getting back to Rupp Arena."
Rupp remembrances
Rowan County's players were to be reminded of last year's state tournament run — victories over Daviess County, Wayne County and Bullitt East before a double-overtime loss to Christian County in the finals — the night before their opening game against North Laurel. Thacker has a highlight video of the Vikings in the 2011 Sweet Sixteen, and he planned to show it to the team Tuesday night. "We'll reminisce a little bit, and plant seeds that it's possible we can do it again," he said.
Player to watch
Can Wing come close to matching his epic performance in Rupp Arena last year? Wing had 73 points and 28 rebounds in four games, but is best remembered for hitting 12 of 13 three-pointers in the semifinals and finals. The Evansville signee is averaging 14.7 points (40 percent on threes) and 10.6 rebounds. "He's still too unselfish at times," Thacker said. "I think he's been waiting to get to Rupp Arena again. I look for him to step up and be ready for the spotlight again."
Sweet history
This is the Vikings' sixth trip to the state tournament. They lost to Christian County in double-overtime in last year's finals.
North Laurel
Region: 13th • Record: 21-14 • Enrollment: 1,381
Coach's résumé
Brad Sizemore is in his first season at North Laurel. He was an assistant to Steve Wright at South Laurel before becoming head coach at Garrard County. He was there one year before leaving for the Jaguars.
Starters
Player Height Class Points
Marcus Carson 5-9 Jr. 14.3
Ethan Eversole 6-1 Sr. 7.6
Ryan Shears 6-3 Sr. 6.9
Jake Allen 6-8 So. 14.2
Austin Rush 6-6 Jr. 4.6
Scouting report
It was often a struggle for North Laurel this season, but everything finally clicked for the Jaguars in the region tournament. "We put three great games together at the right time," Sizemore said. The Jags' win over Clay County in the region finals illustrated how far North Laurel has come. Clay County whipped the Jags 88-52 in late January, but North Laurel lost to the Tigers by only seven points in the district finals. In the region title game, the Jags wiped out a nine-point deficit and won 52-50 in overtime. Defense and rebounding, led by Allen, Shears and Rush, have been constants for North Laurel this season. The Jags' offense has improved, with Carson, Rush, Allen and sixth man Kendrick Henson providing the scoring punch.
Friendly foe
The pre-game handshake between Sizemore and Rowan County Coach Shawn Thacker will be genuine. When Sizemore played at South Laurel, Thacker was his freshman and AAU coach. Now they're coaching peers. "We've stayed in contact this entire time," Sizemore said. "I talk to him five or 10 times a season, asking advice about things. It's going to be neat to go against him in the state tournament."
Player to watch
Allen, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound sophomore averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds a game, has a big upside. "He's really skilled offensively," Sizemore said. "He plays like a European big man, able to step out and hit the three." Allen's presence inside and out has opened things up for his teammates.
Sweet history
This is North Laurel's first region title since the school opened in 1992.
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/03/13/21083...rylink=cpy
03-13-2012, 10:19 PM
LEXINGTON — Before vacating an assistant coaching position at South Laurel to be Somerset’s head boys basketball coach in 1999, Shawn Thacker was made a promise.
Brad Sizemore and the rest of the Cardinals told Thacker that they would get him to Rupp Arena if he stayed with them.
Thacker left, simply because he couldn’t pass up a head coaching job, and poured fuel onto the fire when his Somerset bunch knocked off favored South Laurel in the district tournament to end all hopes of the Cards reaching the state tournament in 2000.
Sizemore was a junior at South Laurel then. Now he’s the head coach at North Laurel, which ironically meets up with Thacker’s Rowan County team on Wednesday at noon at Rupp Arena in the first round of the Boys Sweet Sixteen.
Thacker noted that “Little Bradley” did get his redemption.
“They got to the state tournament when Brad was a senior,” Thacker said. “He was a really good player.”
As for North Laurel, the first thing out of Thacker’s mouth was, “The Jaguars are well-coached.”
They’ve also got a good point guard — Marcus Carson averages 14.3 points per game — and two solid big men — the 6-foot-7 Jake Allen puts up 14.2 points per contest and brings down 10.9 rebounds, while Austin Rush adds a second post presence.
Four players — Kendrick Henson, Allen, Rush and Carson — cracked double figures in scoring as North Laurel defeated Clay County, 54-52, last week to capture the Jaguars’ first 13th Region championship since joining the region in 2005-06.
Rowan County (25-7) defeated Ashland, 59-56, for the second straight season to again claim the 16th Region title.
Adam Wing, D.J. Townsend and Jason Egan were all juniors during the Vikings’ journey to becoming state runners-up last season. All made the Sweet Sixteen All-Tournament team.
After the double overtime state final loss to Christian County, the same feeling permeated throughout the Rowan County locker room.
“We’ve got to do it again next year ... that’s what we were all thinking,” Wing said. “Being able to (win the region) for the second consecutive year is pretty special.”
That experience can go a long way, Thacker said.
“They know the routine. They know what to expect now,” Thacker said. “They know which door to go in at Rupp Arena. They know the locker rooms, and how bright the lights are.”
The school will have a pep rally to send the Vikings off to State today, and they are set to arrive in Lexington this afternoon.
Their approach will mimic that of last March: “One game at a time,” both Wing and Thacker said.
North Laurel (21-14) offers a well-rounded team that mixes up defenses, according to Thacker.
“They’re like us defensively,” Thacker said. “They’ll run it all.”
The Jaguars’ strategy is a far cry from Rowan County’s most recent opponent, Ashland — the Jags like to slow it down.
“Their tempo is on the other side of the spectrum as to what Ashland wants to do,” Thacker said. “They’d love to beat us 38-30.”
Allen has the ability to play both inside and out. Thacker said one can expect Wing to guard him. Rush primarily roams the paint, and Thacker hopes 6-11 junior Matt Brown or 6-5 junior Josh Barnard can counter him.
“(Barnard) came up monstrous for us in the championship game. A lot of people overlook that,” Thacker said. Barnard was out for most of the season with a foot injury.
The coaching reunion could continue if Thacker and the Vikings advance past North Laurel — if Southwestern takes down Hopkinsville on Wednesday, Thacker and coach Steve Wright will reunite. Wright was the head coach at South Laurel when Thacker was an assistant.
For Thacker’s success at Somerset, where he won eight All “A” regional championships before coming to Rowan County in 2008, he was recognized at the 12th Region championship game between Southwestern and Boyle County last Tuesday as a to-be inductee into the 12th Region Coaches Association Hall of Fame.http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...connection
Brad Sizemore and the rest of the Cardinals told Thacker that they would get him to Rupp Arena if he stayed with them.
Thacker left, simply because he couldn’t pass up a head coaching job, and poured fuel onto the fire when his Somerset bunch knocked off favored South Laurel in the district tournament to end all hopes of the Cards reaching the state tournament in 2000.
Sizemore was a junior at South Laurel then. Now he’s the head coach at North Laurel, which ironically meets up with Thacker’s Rowan County team on Wednesday at noon at Rupp Arena in the first round of the Boys Sweet Sixteen.
Thacker noted that “Little Bradley” did get his redemption.
“They got to the state tournament when Brad was a senior,” Thacker said. “He was a really good player.”
As for North Laurel, the first thing out of Thacker’s mouth was, “The Jaguars are well-coached.”
They’ve also got a good point guard — Marcus Carson averages 14.3 points per game — and two solid big men — the 6-foot-7 Jake Allen puts up 14.2 points per contest and brings down 10.9 rebounds, while Austin Rush adds a second post presence.
Four players — Kendrick Henson, Allen, Rush and Carson — cracked double figures in scoring as North Laurel defeated Clay County, 54-52, last week to capture the Jaguars’ first 13th Region championship since joining the region in 2005-06.
Rowan County (25-7) defeated Ashland, 59-56, for the second straight season to again claim the 16th Region title.
Adam Wing, D.J. Townsend and Jason Egan were all juniors during the Vikings’ journey to becoming state runners-up last season. All made the Sweet Sixteen All-Tournament team.
After the double overtime state final loss to Christian County, the same feeling permeated throughout the Rowan County locker room.
“We’ve got to do it again next year ... that’s what we were all thinking,” Wing said. “Being able to (win the region) for the second consecutive year is pretty special.”
That experience can go a long way, Thacker said.
“They know the routine. They know what to expect now,” Thacker said. “They know which door to go in at Rupp Arena. They know the locker rooms, and how bright the lights are.”
The school will have a pep rally to send the Vikings off to State today, and they are set to arrive in Lexington this afternoon.
Their approach will mimic that of last March: “One game at a time,” both Wing and Thacker said.
North Laurel (21-14) offers a well-rounded team that mixes up defenses, according to Thacker.
“They’re like us defensively,” Thacker said. “They’ll run it all.”
The Jaguars’ strategy is a far cry from Rowan County’s most recent opponent, Ashland — the Jags like to slow it down.
“Their tempo is on the other side of the spectrum as to what Ashland wants to do,” Thacker said. “They’d love to beat us 38-30.”
Allen has the ability to play both inside and out. Thacker said one can expect Wing to guard him. Rush primarily roams the paint, and Thacker hopes 6-11 junior Matt Brown or 6-5 junior Josh Barnard can counter him.
“(Barnard) came up monstrous for us in the championship game. A lot of people overlook that,” Thacker said. Barnard was out for most of the season with a foot injury.
The coaching reunion could continue if Thacker and the Vikings advance past North Laurel — if Southwestern takes down Hopkinsville on Wednesday, Thacker and coach Steve Wright will reunite. Wright was the head coach at South Laurel when Thacker was an assistant.
For Thacker’s success at Somerset, where he won eight All “A” regional championships before coming to Rowan County in 2008, he was recognized at the 12th Region championship game between Southwestern and Boyle County last Tuesday as a to-be inductee into the 12th Region Coaches Association Hall of Fame.http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...connection
03-13-2012, 11:09 PM
March 13, 2012 — All hands on deck Vikings fans, the state tournament is almost here, and the Rowan County faithful are prepping as we speak.
In case you haven’t noticed, we take great pride in our local sports here at The Morehead News, and we hope that you thoroughly enjoy the special section commemorating Rowan County’s second state tournament appearance we comprised for this edition.
Exciting, entertaining, and at times poetic…this is how I could describe my season of coverage with this year’s Rowan County squad.
The Viking insanity took center stage last Friday, as Rowan County Senior High School hosted the pep rally to end all pep rallies.
Twenty years is a long time, and during this pep rally a twenty-year memorial met its end at Warren H. Cooper Gymnasium…the mustache of head coach Shawn Thacker.
Should we fear that the famed mustache was shaved during last Friday’s pep rally? No. For it will take more than the mystique of a mustache to down this year’s run.
With almost 1,200 tickets already claimed by the fans sporting green, it is quite an amazing number to consider when those tickets will fill over two sections at Rupp Arena, and board 16 pep buses from the Rowan County School System.
These are the moments you live to remember, ones that you simply will never forget in your time on this Earth. I can see that I do not have to tell you to support your team, as this is something you already do with such passion and pride.
As the Viking players make their rounds around the local schools, speaking with future hoops’ hopefuls, the time to prepare is coming to an end.
Preparation itself will not be a problem Viking fans, for your team has proven itself the entire season.
I am confident they will continue this trend when they take the floor at high noon tomorrow for a showdown with North Laurel in the first round of the KHSAA Sweet 16.
It has indeed been fun.
http://themoreheadnews.com/localsports/x...the-troops
In case you haven’t noticed, we take great pride in our local sports here at The Morehead News, and we hope that you thoroughly enjoy the special section commemorating Rowan County’s second state tournament appearance we comprised for this edition.
Exciting, entertaining, and at times poetic…this is how I could describe my season of coverage with this year’s Rowan County squad.
The Viking insanity took center stage last Friday, as Rowan County Senior High School hosted the pep rally to end all pep rallies.
Twenty years is a long time, and during this pep rally a twenty-year memorial met its end at Warren H. Cooper Gymnasium…the mustache of head coach Shawn Thacker.
Should we fear that the famed mustache was shaved during last Friday’s pep rally? No. For it will take more than the mystique of a mustache to down this year’s run.
With almost 1,200 tickets already claimed by the fans sporting green, it is quite an amazing number to consider when those tickets will fill over two sections at Rupp Arena, and board 16 pep buses from the Rowan County School System.
These are the moments you live to remember, ones that you simply will never forget in your time on this Earth. I can see that I do not have to tell you to support your team, as this is something you already do with such passion and pride.
As the Viking players make their rounds around the local schools, speaking with future hoops’ hopefuls, the time to prepare is coming to an end.
Preparation itself will not be a problem Viking fans, for your team has proven itself the entire season.
I am confident they will continue this trend when they take the floor at high noon tomorrow for a showdown with North Laurel in the first round of the KHSAA Sweet 16.
It has indeed been fun.
http://themoreheadnews.com/localsports/x...the-troops