[jetpilot]

Replying to a post in the update thread...




The foul problems had a huge impact on Shelby Valley. Sam Stanley, after scoring 8 quick points at the start, picked up his second foul and sat much of the first quarter. He played a little in the second quarter, then got #3 and went to the bench again. He then got #4 about ten seconds into the third quarter. Amazingly, he played most of the final quarter without fouling out, but it was obvious he was playing very cautiously on defense trying to avoid the 5th foul.

Cameron Worrix also picked up #3 in the first half. His playing time in the second half was also limited, but SV had managed to withstand all the foul trouble and actually had a 8-point lead with about 3 1/2 minutes to go in the game. But then Worrix fouled out, and things went downhill from there.

Apparently the final foul numbers were 28 on Valley and 21 on Pikeville. I was at the game, and I can promise you there were not "several fouls at the end" on SV's part. They actually led most of the 4th quarter and it was Pikeville who had to start purposely fouling with about 3 minutes to go (a strategy which worked well, as SV shot free throws poorly at the end of the game). Then once Pikeville took the lead, SV purposely fouled a couple times at the main end. So a 7 foul difference sounds about right. I do know that early in the 3rd quarter, the count showed 8 fouls on Valley and only 1 on Pikeville.

The main issue is the fact that 2 of SV's starters had their minutes severely limited by all the fouls. Valley does not have a deep bench, so this was a major factor for them to overcome. Amazingly, they still had an 8-point lead toward the end, but their foul shooting and defense did let them down. So they played a part in their own demise.

Anyway, as others have said, it's now tied 2-2 on the season. SV has a 15th All-A region title, while Pikeville has a 59th district title. I believe there is a great chance we see the rubber match in a 5th game at the Expo next week.

Wow, are we really whining because a player finished with 4 fouls and had to be careful on defense? Because that only happens in almost every game. Truth is Hicks took a big gamble having players with 2 fouls on the floor in the first half and players with 3 fouls out there to start the 2nd half. That almost always leads to being a liability on defense and/or getting more fouls.
The gamble didn't work, it usually doesn't. SV got the benefit of a few questionable calls in this game as well. Also, saying it went downhill at the end because a player fouled out who isn't the go-to guy on offense, isn't one of the leading rebounders and isn't depended on for handling the ball is weak. Give Pikeville credit for coming back. They were the better team that night, period. A little stat for you, SV shot 85 free throws in the first 3 meetings while Pikeville shot 45. That's a massive difference and you didn't see people throwing a fit. SV even shot many more free throws in the game at Pikeville that Pikeville won. You can't count on that discrepancy to go on forever.

Having said all that, I'm hoping for a Pikeville/SV regional final. They have been the two best teams all year and have only lost to each other in the 15th.