© 2008 by Ron Harrison
Holmes Coach David Henley started the following lineup: 6-4 Jr. Ricardo Johnson, 6-3 Jr. Jeremiah Johnson, 6-6 Jr. Elijah Pittman, 6-1 Sr. Brandon Housley, and 5-11 Sr. Jamel Riley. Bryan Station Coach Champ Ligon countered with 6-3 Sr. Jeremiah Mabson, 6-2 Sr. Cameron Richardson, 6-11 Jr. Andrew Adams, 6-2 Sr. Charles Ashford, and 5-10 Sr. Montell Morones.
Holmes led 67-65 midway through the final period but Bryan Station finished the game with a 21-5 run to earn a 86-72 victory. This was a game of runs as Bryan Station held a 33-22 advantage in the second quarter before Holmes went on a 14-0 run to take a 36-33 lead. The score was tied 38-38 at halftime. Holmes led 58-54 in the closing seconds of the third quarter until Bryan Station's Montell Morones drew a foul attempting a three point shot at the buzzer. Morones connected on all three free throws, reducing the deficit to one, 58-57, entering the final quarter.
Holmes held a 67-65 lead until Bryan Station made their final run. Charles Ashford led the final quarter surge with 19 points including seven of seven from the free throw line.
Bryan Station shot 50.9% from the field including 11 of 16 from the three point line. The Defenders connected on 19 of 23 free throws, pulled down 26 rebounds, and scored 22 points off 17 Holmes turnovers. Holmes shot 43.9% from the field including six of 16 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs connected on 30 of 39 free throws, grabbed 27 rebounds, and scored 19 points off 14 Bryan Station turnovers.
Charles Ashford led Bryan Station with 35 points and seven rebounds. Ashford was 11 of 14 from the field including three of four from beyond the arc and 10 of 11 free throws. Montel Morones added 26 points including six three point baskets. Cameron Richardson chipped in with 16 points. Ricardo Johnson led Holmes with 26 points including three three point baskets. Elijah Pittman added 18 points and seven rebounds. Pittman was 12 of 16 from the free throw line. Brandon Housley and Jeremiah Johnson recorded 10 points each. Housley also pulled down six rebounds.
| Bryan Station | 86 | Holmes | 72 |
| School | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Holmes | 17 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 72 |
| Bryan Station | 20 | 18 | 19 | 29 | 86 |
| Holmes | (72) - | R. Johnson 26, J. Johnson 10, Pittman 18, Housley 10, Riley 5, Arnold 3. |
| Bryan Station | (86) - | Mabson 0, Richardson 16, Adams 2, Ashford 35, Morones 26, Fain 4, Blackburn 2, Ball 1. |
East Carter Coach Brandon Baker started the following lineup: 6-6 Sr. Devin Kawada, 6-4 Sr. Mark Pemberton, 6-7 Jr. Colt Barnhill, 6-1 Sr. Tyler Jackson, and 6-2 Jr. Kyle Bair. Tates Creek Coach Wayne Breeden countered with 6-2 Sr. Kelwin Cuyler, 6-3 So. Marcellus Barksdale, 6-4 Jr. Ezra Garner, 5-11 Sr. Jordan Hagan, and 6-2 So. Ryan Fucci.
Tates Creek trailed 17-12 early in the second quarter but went on an 22-0 run to take a 34-17 lead in a 62-46 victory over East Carter. East Carter rallied to pull with in five, 47-42, with 3:40 left in the game but Tates Creek closed out the game on a 15-4 run.
Tates Creek shot 50% from the field including one of six from the three point line. The Commodores were 15 of 21 from the free throw line and pulled down 30 rebounds. East Carter shot 33% from the field including five of 17 from beyond the arc. The Raiders connected on seven of 11 free throws and grabbed 33 rebounds.
Ryan Fucci led Tates Creek with 17 points. Marcellus Barksdale added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ezra Garner and Jordan Hagan added nine and seven points respectively. Tyler Jackson led East Carter with 21 points including four three point baskets. Kyle Bair and Colt Barnhill added seven points each.
| Tates Creek | 62 | East Carter | 46 |
| School | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| East Carter | 14 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 46 |
| Tates Creek | 10 | 21 | 12 | 19 | 62 |
| East Carter | (46) - | Kawada 5, Pemberton 6, Barnhill 7, Jackson 21, Bair 7. |
| Tates Creek | (62) - | Cuyler 0, Barksdale 16, Garner 9, Hagan 7, Fucci 17, Daughtery 6, Mack 2, Potter 5. |
Henry Clay Coach Daniel Brown started the following lineup: 6-5 Sr. Bradley Tilford, 5-11 So. Brandon Wilder, 6-3 Sr. T. J. Barnes, 5-8 Jr. Marquel Johnson, and 6-0 Sr. Prince Stewart. Christian County Coach Kerry Stovall countered with 6-4 Jr. Shaquille Wilson, 6-3 Sr. DaQuan Murden, 6-1 Sr. Elijah Gipson, 6-1 Sr. Cory Wilford, and 5-11 So. Veontae Lewis.
Henry Clay once led 38-24 but had to hold off a rally by Christian County to earn a 73-67 victory. Christian County cut the deficit to one, 68-67, with 24 seconds remaining on the clock but the Blue Devils outscored Christian County 5-0 in the closing seconds. Christian County was short handed tonight as four key players are still in football playoffs.
Henry Clay shot 45.5% from the field including six of 13 from the three point line. The Blue Devils connected on 17 of 26 free throws, pulled down 35 rebounds, and scored 21 points off 23 Christian County turnovers. Christian County shot 50.9% from the field including six of 17 from beyond the arc. The Colonels connected on seven of nine free throws, grabbed 25 rebounds, and scored 26 points off 20 Henry Clay turnovers.
Prince Stewart led Henry Clay with 30 points including four three point baskets. Stewart also pulled down six rebounds. 6-4 So. Daniel Keisling added 17 points. Cory Wilford led Christian County with 18 points. Veontae Lewis, Shaquille Wilson, and Elijah Gipson added 14, 13, and 12 points respectively. Wilson recorded three three point baskets.
| Henry Clay | 73 | Christian County | 67 |
| School | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Henry Clay | 23 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 73 |
| Christian County | 18 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 67 |
| Henry Clay | (73) - | Tilford 7, Wilder 2, Barnes 4, Johnson 9, P. Stewart 30, Trey Stewart 2, Nichols 2, Keisling 17. |
| Christian County | (67) - | Wilson 13, Murden 7, Gipson 12, Wilford 18, Lewis 14, Bowman 3. |
5-11 Jr. D'Carlo Hayes hit two free throws with two seconds remaining on the clock to give Male the victory. Tates Creek's Marcellus Barksdale was fouled with less than 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock. Barksdale missed the free throw and deliberately missed the second one but Tates Creek was unable to get the ensuing rebound.
D'Carlo Hayes and 6-0 Jr. Kevin Glenn led Male with 18 and 14 points respectively. 6-3 So. Marcellus Barksdale and 6-4 Jr. Ezra Garner led Tates Creek with 20 and 12 points respectively.
| Male | 59 | Tates Creek | 57 |
Although I was only able to attend the first day of the Commodore Classic I was very impressed with the organization and competition. There were excellent teams and players this weekend and the Holmes-Bryan Station game was as good an early season match-up as you will attend. The established stars lived up to their reputations and the Tates Creek soph duo of Marcellus Barksdale and Ryan Fucci could be special players before they graduate.
A special thanks to Tates Creek coach Wayne Breeden, WL Stats, and the Tates Creek stats crew for all their help this weekend.
Please feel free to send your comments and questions concerning the event, teams, or players to me at prephoops@yahoo.com.
Ron Harrison’s reports on this and other basketball events appear on http://www.kyprephoops.com.