SK PIONEER SPORTS: Neers with Thrilla Over South Oldham Dragons

If you weren’t at the Joe tonight, you missed a good one. The South Oldham Dragons headed north tonight for a prime time game with the Neers as two of the top 5 teams in the 8^th Region squared off for a mid-season test.

Both teams were trading punches early looking for flow of the game. SK jumped out to a 4-0 lead but failed to gain any type of maintainable mo. Montgomery and Morrison came in at the 3 minute mark and gave the Neers some energy on the glass.

The first period would end on a controversial play. The Dragons hit a bank shot three from 26 feet that I thought looked good and was initially counted. After a brief referee conference, the shot was waived off. SK would lead 14-10 after 1.

SO scored first 4 points of the second quarter to tie the game. South would get back to back treys to go up 22-19 for their first lead of the game. SO would go up 24-22 before a bucket by Montgomery and a Trey by Barnes would send the Neers back in the lead at 27-24. SK turnovers down the stretch of the half were turned into transition buckets for the Dragons as the visiting team would lead on the scoreboard 30-29 at the intermission. A good first half of basketball although neither team really established any type of offense or defense that looked sustainable.

SK would get the ball to open the third only to pass it to the Dragons that was converted for an immediate triple. The SK offense would go into hibernation as the Dragons would extend their lead to the biggest margin of the game to that point at 6, 38-32. After a full time TO called by the bench, SK would go on a nice spurt of 4 straight points to cut the SO lead to 38-37, forcing a SO timeout. The M&M boys would come in again for SK and scrapped and dapped all over the place. After some fast and furious action, SO would hold a 45-42 lead heading into the last scheduled 8 minutes.

The Dragons would open the 4th quarter on a 4-0 run, forcing a full TO by the Neers with just under 6 minutes to go. Foul shooting and lay ups would become a huge challenge for the Neers as SK went down by 8, the largest lead for either team for the entire contest. Back to back treys by Riley and Sampson would get SK within 2. Barnes' trey came off a strong rebound and very nice pass from Kuntz while the junior was trapped on the baseline. SO would call a timeout and like they did all night, hit a big shot coming out of the TO.

Sampson would tie the game on a nice take to the basket at the 1:51 mark. Kids from both teams were playing hard with bodies hitting the floor on both ends of the floor. South would go up again but Riley would tie the game from the throw line with 36 seconds. SK would come up with a loose ball on the missed shot with just under 20 seconds left, giving them a shot for the win and their first lead of the second half. SK's hesitancy to take a shot turned into an over and back call that gave South a final shot. No luck for Dragons and we go to OT.

After trading buckets, SK would get their first lead of the second half at the 1:41 mark. SK turnovers would give South a chance to put SK away but the Dragons would fail to capitalize althought South would take a lead by two. Sophomore Noah Robinson would look to the bench and then drive to the basket scoring a lay-up tying the contest once again. With 11 seconds left, both teams would have a chance to win but once again failed to score. Let’s play 5 more.

Kuntz was inserted by Coach Steiner to take the tip for the start of the second OT. The strategy worked as he got a long tip to Robinson, who was able to drive to the basket and get fouled. Robinson was only able to convert one foul shot but the play seemed to give SK a nice little shot of mo. Sampson then scored on a drive after a goal tending violation was called. Sampson was also fouled and converted the old fashioned 3 point play to give SK a 4 point lead. South would score, but a gutsy play by Morrison with as he came up with a strong rebound and a stick back. I’m not sure but I think the nice play got the junior a little hug from Coach Steiner. When it seemed like the Neers had things in control, they would struggle with prosperity once again. South’s quickness out front caused all kinds of havoc for SK. Turnover after turnover happened against what really did not seem like any type of aggressive pressure by South. The turnovers led to buckets as the Dragons went up 75-73 with two minutes left. With minutes and fouls stacking up, attrition took its toll on SK guards as Robinson and Swanson both fouled out.

The last two minutes of the second OT would seem to last 15 minutes. Barnes tied the game at 1:15 on a pair of throws. Sampson was fouled with 19.3 seconds left and made 1 of 2 free throws, giving SK a one point lead. South called timeout with 7 seconds left and had possession of the ball. Aggressive SK defense would force a 5 second call as the Dragons failed to inbound the ball. SK would get the ball inbounds to Sampson who was able to convert both of his throws and give SK a 3 point lead. South failed to convert on their next possession getting the ball back to SK and allowing Barnes to cap two more foul shots. Final score, SK 80 SO 75. Wow, what a game!

Thoughts? Exactly what bass-keet-ball is all about in Kentucky. SK did what it needed to despite missing bunnies and foul shots at key points of the game. Sampson scored consistently throughout the game (32 points) and Barnes was Mr. Big Shot (17 points) at the right time. Every player Coach Steiner used made some nice contributions. However, I'd have to give the game ball to Taylor Morrison who put his hard hat on, grabbed his lunch pail, jumped in his old truck and went to work. Nice work young fella. Congrats to the whole team on a hard fought W.

Sampson with a nice drive as the student section wills the ball through the hoop.

Although SK missed several lay-ups, it is safe to say they were contested shots.

As usual, a nice job by the Dance Team.

A take by Robinson.

Swanson celebrates with Morrison after a nice stick-back by Morrison.

Great student section. Would love to see a fraction of this many at the wrestling meet next Wednesday at Simon Keton as th SK wrestling Neers host Dixie and Scott in the Kenton County Championships.