[Stardust]

High-powered offense misfires against determined Rebels

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...2/90211041

The Boone County Rebels have proven they can play with some of the best boys' basketball teams in the state. On Tuesday night, it proved it can beat the best.

The Rebels upset Holmes, the top-ranked team in the state Associated Press poll, 45-38 at Boone County, atoning for a couple of near misses against similar competition earlier in the season.

"We've come close and we've been right there each time," said Boone County senior guard Steven McFarland, whose team previously lost to top-five squads Eastern and Ballard by a combined six points. "This was the third time. The third time was a charm, I guess."

Boone County, ranked second behind Holmes in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll most of the season, controlled the game throughout. The Rebels never trailed. McFarland scored on a tip-in at the first-quarter buzzer to give them a 14-8 lead. He then converted a layup late in the second quarter to give Boone County a 26-21 halftime lead.

"I don't think they knew what to do," Boone County guard Mikey Gabbard said. "Those guys aren't used to trailing."

The Rebels extended their lead to start the second half, going on a 7-2 run to start the third quarter. They led 37-27 entering the fourth quarter.

That's when the Bulldogs made their only real rally of the game. Using an effective halfcourt trap, they cut the lead to 39-33 with 2:29 to play.

But then McFarland put the game on ice. After missing a free throw, he grabbed the rebound and was fouled while converting a layup.

"I was just trying not to give up," McFarland said. "We were up, but we were still giving it everything we had."

The Rebels' effort was most apparent on the boards and on defense. They consistently outrebounded the Bulldogs and their stingy man-to-man defense held the Bulldogs to their lowest point total since a 39-37 loss to Barberton on Dec. 21, 2006.

"We were able to do some things defensively that gave them some trouble," said Boone County coach Greg McQueary, whose team has held its last five opponents to 45 points or less. "We were aggressive when we needed to be and we were passive when we needed to be. And we came across Holmes on a night when they didn't shoot it too well."

For the game Holmes was 4-of-13 from the free-throw line and 15-of-39 from the floor.

"We got whipped, that's all it was," Holmes coach David Henley said. "They just beat us. They've got a good team and they're just good. They outplayed us tonight. ... They were the aggressor."

For defending state runner-up Holmes, the game marked the first loss to a Northern Kentucky team since a 47-46 setback against Newport Central Catholic on Feb. 14, 2008. The Bulldogs had won 17 straight games against area competition.

McFarland led Boone County with 16 points and nine rebounds. Gabbard chipped in with eight points, five assists and five steals.

Holmes junior Elijah Pittman was the Bulldogs' lone bright spot offensively. He scored 12 points in the first half. But after leaving the game in the second quarter with an injured left wrist, he was largely ineffective and scored just two points in the second half.

Henley said the team will know more about their leading scorer's injury after an X-ray.

"It doesn't look good," Henley said. "We'll have to see."