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01-18-2009, 03:04 PM
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Boone County and Campbell County, top-five teams trying to end regional title droughts, squared off in a momentum-fueled non-regional contest Saturday night that featured excellent shooting from both teams in the face of stout defense.
Boone County, ranked No. 2 in the Northern Kentucky boys' basketball coaches' poll, held off the No. 5 Camels 69-67 while making all 10 fourth-quarter free-throw attempts, four coming from Steven McFarland (11 points) in the final two minutes.
The Rebels, looking for their first Ninth Region championship since 1996, received a team-high 17 points from Mike Gabbard and 16 points from Ryan Popp, who sank two 3-pointers and added five steals, tying Chris Fookes for the team high.
The Rebels shot 52.6 percent (20-for-38) from the field, 62.5 percent (5-for-8) on 3-pointers and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line.
"We tried to speed them up a bit and keep the ball out of their hands as much as possible to make them feel uncomfortable on offense," said Popp, who gave the Rebels the lead for good, 22-21, with a second-quarter transition basket. "They came back on us, but I think this game shows that we can play under pressure and make free throws when it counts."
The Rebels (12-3) also demonstrated they can beat a quality opponent without a major contribution from starting center Andy Earls, who was limited to 18 minutes, nine points and four rebounds while playing in constant foul trouble.
Earls picked up his fourth foul with Boone holding an eight-point lead with 4:40 to go in the third quarter. During the span of 8:08 with Earls on the bench, the Camels cut the lead to 49-46 on a stick-back by Pat Nerl, who finished with a game-high 23 points.
Despite a flurry of third-quarter activity by Camels junior Brady Jolly, who picked up three loose balls, converting one into a basket on the way to a 15-point night, Boone ended the quarter leading by six on a 3-pointer by Gabbard.
"Our depth has been a strength all season, so we can handle those situations like Earls getting in foul trouble," Boone coach Greg McQueary said. "If we're going to do anything in the district and the region this year, we'll need contributions from everybody."
The Rebels built the lead back to 11 early in the fourth quarter on a Popp 3-pointer.
But the Camels, who have not won a 10th Region title since 2001, went on a 13-4 run, with six points by Jolly, to pull within 65-63 with 1:34 to play. Jolly finished with six steals.
"If we play like we did in the second half, we have a chance this year in the region," Campbell coach Scott Code said. "But if we play like we did in the first half, we'll be one-and-out in the district."
Boone was leading 67-65 when McFarland stepped to the line and hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game with 9.2 seconds left.
Campbell's Cody Neises hit a jumper in the lane to set the final score with 2.1 seconds remaining.
The Camels (12-4) lost despite the better shooting night. They hit 58.9 percent (23-for-39) from the floor, 60 percent (6-for-10) from 3-point range and 78.9 percent from the line.
Boone's pressure defense forced 25 Campbell turnovers. The Camels forced the Rebels into 26 turnovers.
CamelPride, any comments, I believe you were going?
Boone County and Campbell County, top-five teams trying to end regional title droughts, squared off in a momentum-fueled non-regional contest Saturday night that featured excellent shooting from both teams in the face of stout defense.
Boone County, ranked No. 2 in the Northern Kentucky boys' basketball coaches' poll, held off the No. 5 Camels 69-67 while making all 10 fourth-quarter free-throw attempts, four coming from Steven McFarland (11 points) in the final two minutes.
The Rebels, looking for their first Ninth Region championship since 1996, received a team-high 17 points from Mike Gabbard and 16 points from Ryan Popp, who sank two 3-pointers and added five steals, tying Chris Fookes for the team high.
The Rebels shot 52.6 percent (20-for-38) from the field, 62.5 percent (5-for-8) on 3-pointers and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line.
"We tried to speed them up a bit and keep the ball out of their hands as much as possible to make them feel uncomfortable on offense," said Popp, who gave the Rebels the lead for good, 22-21, with a second-quarter transition basket. "They came back on us, but I think this game shows that we can play under pressure and make free throws when it counts."
The Rebels (12-3) also demonstrated they can beat a quality opponent without a major contribution from starting center Andy Earls, who was limited to 18 minutes, nine points and four rebounds while playing in constant foul trouble.
Earls picked up his fourth foul with Boone holding an eight-point lead with 4:40 to go in the third quarter. During the span of 8:08 with Earls on the bench, the Camels cut the lead to 49-46 on a stick-back by Pat Nerl, who finished with a game-high 23 points.
Despite a flurry of third-quarter activity by Camels junior Brady Jolly, who picked up three loose balls, converting one into a basket on the way to a 15-point night, Boone ended the quarter leading by six on a 3-pointer by Gabbard.
"Our depth has been a strength all season, so we can handle those situations like Earls getting in foul trouble," Boone coach Greg McQueary said. "If we're going to do anything in the district and the region this year, we'll need contributions from everybody."
The Rebels built the lead back to 11 early in the fourth quarter on a Popp 3-pointer.
But the Camels, who have not won a 10th Region title since 2001, went on a 13-4 run, with six points by Jolly, to pull within 65-63 with 1:34 to play. Jolly finished with six steals.
"If we play like we did in the second half, we have a chance this year in the region," Campbell coach Scott Code said. "But if we play like we did in the first half, we'll be one-and-out in the district."
Boone was leading 67-65 when McFarland stepped to the line and hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game with 9.2 seconds left.
Campbell's Cody Neises hit a jumper in the lane to set the final score with 2.1 seconds remaining.
The Camels (12-4) lost despite the better shooting night. They hit 58.9 percent (23-for-39) from the floor, 60 percent (6-for-10) from 3-point range and 78.9 percent from the line.
Boone's pressure defense forced 25 Campbell turnovers. The Camels forced the Rebels into 26 turnovers.
CamelPride, any comments, I believe you were going?
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01-18-2009, 03:04 PM
Boone County (12-3) - Gabbard 5 6 17, Popp 5 4 16, McFarland 2 6 11, Earls 1 7 9, Fookes 3 0 7, Cotton 2 0 4, Lay 1 1 3, Spalding 1 0 2. Totals 20 24 69.
Campbell County (12-4) - Nerl 8 3 23, Jolly 4 6 15, Albrecht 4 3 11, Franzen 3 0 6, Geiman 2 2 6, Smith 1 1 4, Neises 1 0 2. Totals 23 15 67.
3-pointers: B 5 (Popp 2, Gabbard, McFarland, Fookes), C 6 (Nerl 4, Jolly, Smith).
Campbell County (12-4) - Nerl 8 3 23, Jolly 4 6 15, Albrecht 4 3 11, Franzen 3 0 6, Geiman 2 2 6, Smith 1 1 4, Neises 1 0 2. Totals 23 15 67.
3-pointers: B 5 (Popp 2, Gabbard, McFarland, Fookes), C 6 (Nerl 4, Jolly, Smith).
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