A game that was exactly what we thought it would be. Fast, fun, high-flying, and competitive.
Now though, it will be remembered for the wrong reasons. At least, until a possible rematch.
Christian County competed on their home floor for the first time this season and took the Maroons of Madisonville for a twelve round heavyweight prize fight.
Final score 54-49 in favor of the Maroons, it was a one point game with just over three minutes to go. Madisonville just landed a few more blows down the stretch. The problem was, after the game, the blows did not stop.
After action concluded things got heated, or more accurately boiled over from a very competitive and chippy game, and multiple players had to be restrained as they went to their separate locker rooms and fans were subsequently escorted out in separate directions.
Credit to administration and law enforcement at Christian County High School for getting the situation resolved as quickly as they did, and credit both coaches staffs, who admittedly had also been very animated during the game, for corralling their teams and not furthering the issue.
That being said, it is a black mark on an otherwise incredible night of basketball and will remain a cloud over the game and matchup until a rematch ensues more than likely in the postseason.
Let’s talk ball though, instead of brawl, because there was a lot to break down and point out in this one.
First of all, as it is the most glaring issue, the Colonels needed to make their free throws. Down the stretch especially, they could have completely changed the complexion of the ball game with just a few more makes, and they had the opportunities.
Madisonville was definitely better at the line, but far from good enough I would say in their coaches minds which left the door open for Christian County. They went fifteen for twenty-three or sixty-five percent.
Second of all, the Colonels did a stupendous job overall defensively. Play to play yes there were breakdowns and things to fix. If coming into the game though I had told Head Coach Toby Miles that his team would hold TaMarcus Eaves to single digits, everyone to twelve or less, and Madisonville as a team to fifty-four points, he would have surely thought his team won and maybe by double figures.
Coach Miles though more than likely would have followed that up by asking me about rebounding, and that is glaring issue number two.
Eaves and star freshman Christopher Watkins had eight rebound a piece, which put the Colonels in tough situations on both ends of the floor, either denying them second or third chance opportunities, or giving the Maroons those chances.
Fundamentals matter. Any coach will tell you that. Plain and simple.
You can play the best defense and scrounge up some decent offense, but if you miss your free throws and fail to clean up the glass consistently and do both in a timely manner, you will lose the close games that are the difference between good and great seasons.
Christian County is 2-1 on the season now, just three games in there is still plenty of room to grow and I would expect them to continue to do so.
The Colonels are a very good collection of talent, in almost every way a basketball player and team can be. Now comes the time to take the steps from collection of talent, to team.
Next up is Paducah Tilghman on Friday night for the Colonels at home. Tip-Off at 7:30, we will begin pre-game coverage at 7:15 on 98.7 Lite FM.