Pioneer Boys with Good Effort but Just Fall Short

The Neer boys hoop crew took their turn travelling tonight to Edgewood and Dixie On the Heights. The crowd looked a lot more like a Friday night gathering as the parking spots in the Dixie lot were at a premium.

Inside, the game had somewhat of a tourney atmosphere. The crowd and pressure of the game perhaps had an effect on the game in the first quarter as neither team looked sharp. Shots weren’t falling and offense wasn’t moving as the teams seemed to be getting a feel as to how the game was going to shake. SK actually held a lead at the end of the first period at a score of 11-9. The teams started loosening up a little in the second quarter as shots started to fall. B. Hatton from Dixie started warming up as the Colonels came back and took a two point lead. SK would take a battering as the Colonels finished the quarter on a 7-0 run and took a 31-22 intermission lead. This run turned out to be the big momentum changer of the game as the Neers would never enjoy another lead. 

SK came out in the third quarter and scored 8 straight points thanks in part to a pair of Reidog Barnes’ triples. SK now trailed 31-30 forcing Dixie to take a timeout in the first minute of the quarter. The Colonels momentary shakiness settled as Dixie started slowly pulling away from SK. Dixie would stretch their lead at the end of the quarter to 50 to 41. The Neers would scrapdappery in the 4th quarter and get the final margin down to 6 and a final score of 69-63.

Overall, I thought a nice effort by the Neer boys over the number one ranked team in Northern Kentucky. They go down by two possessions but you can certainly look back and several chances where SK could have converted these possessions into big shot opps. You can’t really point to any one thing that kept SK out of the win column. They outrebounded Dixie but committed more turnovers and didn’t shoot the rock as good both from the field and line. The misses that plagued the Neers seemed to have the worst of timing as they never could get over the hump. Hatton from Dixie still got his 25 points but he certainly didn’t go off on SK like he has in previous meetings.  He was kept in check from the arc and he seemed to force some ill-advised shots when Dixie was trying to kill the clock. SK committed several fouls while trying not to foul as Hatton did a good job of drawing the contact and did get several old fashioned three point plays. 

The Neers were led in scoring by Cody Chambers with 20 points while Barnesey chipped in 14. It was good to see Barnes looking for his shot more tonight which I hope continues. I really think he has some untapped offense for the Neers.

SK did come out on top in JV action as Noah Robinson hit a foul shot with 2.8 seconds left in the game and the score tied at 31. 

The Neers will travel to South Oldham on Saturday night to take on the Dragons. The number one ranked team in the 8th Region.  SK certainly has not shyed away from a challenge this year. 

Ayers with 10 boards and some tough sledding inside.  He gets racked on this play.


Barnes with a trey over Hatton.


Hatton with a nice bucket in the first half.


Coach Steiner with some defense coaching to Barnes


The old tie over the shoulder get in there player trick.


Chambers with a late drive.


Monson with a second half bucket.


Coach confused me here; started the game with no jacket. 


Pregame meeting with Randall and his court.