LEXINGTON, Ky. – Holmes boys’ basketball coach David Henley questioned his team’s toughness during halftime of the state championship game against Louisville Central on Saturday night at Rupp Arena.
“We told them if they didn’t get a little bit tougher we weren’t going to get it done, and they sure got tougher,” Henley said.
The Bulldogs had to overcome a 10-point deficit and a couple of amazing comebacks by Central, but they came out on top, 67-63, in a double-overtime thriller before crowd of 15,632 fans.
“It seemed like it was never going to end, but I’m so happy that it’s over and we won,” Holmes senior guard JaMel Riley said amid his team’s victory celebration.
“This is the only way I wanted to go out, with the big trophy. I’ve been working for this my whole varsity career and we finally got it. I love my teammates for winning this.”
It was an historic win for the Bulldogs, who claimed the program’s first state title after going 0-3 in previous title games. The only other 9th Region team to win the championship trophy was Simon Kenton in 1981.
It was also an uplifting win for Henley, who played on the Carlisle County team that was runner-up in the 1983 state tournament.
“Our kids hung in there,” Henley said. “It’s all about mental toughness. When things don’t go your way you’ve got to fight or flight, and our kids got tough.”
The Bulldogs trailed by 10 points, 34-24, early in the third quarter, but they went on a 20-3 scoring run to take a 44-37 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Central made a late rally by hitting 3-point goals on three consecutive possessions and tied the score, 51-51, with 1:21 left in regulation.
Holmes worked the clock down to the final seconds before getting a pass inside to junior forward Jeremiah Johnson under the basket, but his layup rolled off the rim and the game went into overtime.
With 13 seconds left in the first overtime period, Riley hit a 3-point basket from the right corner to give Holmes a 60-58 lead. But Central senior center Ridge Wilson hit an off-balance shot in the lane as the horn sounded to send the game into double overtime.
Holmes outscored Central, 7-3, in the second overtime, but it was a one-point game until the final seconds when the Johnson scored back-to-back baskets to secure the victory.
“It was about toughness and who wanted it more,” Johnson said. “And we wanted to take the title and make history.”
The Bulldogs were a heavy favorite going into the championship game, but the Yellow Jackets nearly pulled off the upset.
“Of course, I’m not happy because we didn’t win, but I’m not disappointed with my team’s effort,” said Central coach Doug Bibby. “They gave me everything they had and that’s all I can ask of them.”
Holmes junior forward Ricardo Johnson was named the tournament’s most valuable player. He had four-game totals of 53 points, 32 rebounds and 12 assists during the tournament.
The other Bulldogs named to the all-tournament team were Riley and junior forward Elijah Pittman, who had a team-high 14 points and eight rebounds in the championship game.
With Pittman and Ricardo Johnson in foul trouble for much of the game, Henley was glad to get combined totals of 15 points and six rebounds from senior Brandon Housley and sophomore Kevon Rice coming off the bench.
“Those were guys who stepped in and gave us some good minutes,” Henley said. “I’m proud of them all.”
HOLMES 7-14-18-12-9-7—67
CENTRAL 13-17-7-14-9-3—63
HOLMES (36-2): Riley 2 0 6, J. Johnson 6 0 13, Pittman 4 6 14, Housley 1 6 8, D. Johnson 4 2 13, R. Johnson 2 2 6, K. Rice 2 2 7. Totals 21 18 67.
CENTRAL (19-15): Morrison 5 0 15, Brown 2 2 7, Robinson 4 0 9, Wilson 8 2 18, Patterson 4 1 9, Williams 2 0 5. Totals 25 5 63.
3-pointers: H-D. Johnson 3, Riley 2, J. Johnson, K. Rice. C-Morrison 5, Brown, Robinson, Williams.
BOEHMKER'S BLOG7:57 p.m.
The state champioship game between Holmes and Louisville Central
will be televised live on ICN 6 in Northern Kentucky.
The local station is picking up a live feed from WKYT-TV in Lexington.
KR Sports will provde a radio broadcast of the game on WCVX-AM (1050).
8:12 p.m.
Game not underway yet. Introductions and all.
8:17 p.m.
The pre-game festivities are winding down and players from Holmes and Louisville Central are getting ready to take the court for the championship game of the "Sweet 16" boys state tournament at Rupp Arena.
Holmes is making its fourth appearance in the state final and looking for it first title. The Bulldogs were runner-up in last year's tournament.
Central is making its first appearance in the title game since 1974 when the Yellow Jackets claimed their second state championship trophy.
8:33 p.m.
Central scored eight straight points to take a 13-7 lead over Holmes in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs are off to shaky start offensively, hitting only two of 15 field goal attempts in the first period.
Central got its last two baskets on stickbacks by 6-foot-4 junior center Tim Patterson and 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Marcel Williams.
8:59 p.m.
Holmes sophomore guard Kevon Rice hit a short jumper and a 3-pointer to cut Central's lead to 16-12 early in the second quarter.
But the Yellow Jackets kept their composure and scored on their last four possession of the first half to pull ahead, 30-21 at the break.
Shooting percentages told the story in the first half. Holmes shot 28.6 percent (8 of 28) from the field compared to Central's 52 percent (13 of 25).
The Bulldogs launched 17 shots from behind the 3-point line and connected on only three of them.
Central also has an 18-16 rebounding advantage.
The leading scorer for Central is senior guard Alex Morrison with nine points. For Holmes, Rice has scored a team-high seven points after coming off the bench.
9:29 p.m.
In the opening minutes of the third quarter, Central center Tim Patterson
scored a low-post basket to give his team a 34-24 lead.
It was the first time the Bulldogs trailed by 10 points during the state tournament, but they stepped up to the challenge and went on a 15-3 run to take a 39-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs made their run without junior Ricardo Johnson, who spent most of the third quarter on the bench after picking up his fourth foul on a charging call.
The rally was led by Elijah Pittman, who scored eight points including the go-ahead basket.
9:53 p.m.
The Bulldogs opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer by Dominique Johnson and a basket by Pittman to take a 44-37 lead.
But Central hit 3-point goals on three consecutive possesions and tied the score, 51-51, with 1:21 left on the clock.
Holmes worked the clock down to the final seconds before running a play and got a pass inside to Ricardo Johnson under the basket, but his layup rolled off the rim.
Central called a time out with four seconds left, but the Yellow Jackets weren't able to get off a shot on the ensuing possession and game went into overtime.
10:05 p.m.
Senior guard JaMel Riley hit a 3-point basket from the right corner with 13 seconds left in overtime to give Holmes a 60-58 lead over Louisville Central.
But Central center Ridge Wilson hit a driving shot from the lane just as the final sounded to send the title game into a second overtime period.
10:17 p.m.
Final: Holmes 67, Louisville Central 63.
The last area team to win a state title in basketball was Simon Kenton in 1981.
10:27 p.m.
Holmes outscored Louisville Central, 7-3, in the second overtime period to win the championship game of the "Sweet 16" boys state basketball tournament, 67-63, at Rupp Arena.
It was a one-point game until the final seconds when the Bulldogs scored back to back baskets to take a 66-61 lead.
It's the first state championship for the Bulldogs, who had a 3-0 record in previous state championship games.
The team celebrated the victory as a shower of confetti covered the court.
