Four Takeaways: LIT Championship
The 73rd Annual LIT Championship was Saturday, January 18th between the Fern Creek Tigers and the Ballard Bruins. Both of these teams are sitting on top of their respected regions and have a very good chance of making their way…
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Continue ReadingThe 73rd Annual LIT Championship was Saturday, January 18th between the Fern Creek Tigers and the Ballard Bruins. Both of these teams are sitting on top of their respected regions and have a very good chance of making their way to Rupp Arena for the state tournament. This game was full of runs. Fern Creek would go down by double digits but fight their way back. They even took the lead after being down 13 points. Ballard’s guards Jack Edelen and Lewis Richards came up big for them in the 2nd half as they combined for 19 of the team’s 25 points in the 2nd half. Ballard walks away as the 2020 LIT Champions as they defeat Fern Creek, 57-51.
Four Takeaways
Maker Bar (Ballard)
The 6 foot 9 sophomore big man was everywhere in this game. He ended up winning the LIT championship MVP trophy. He finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. I first got to see Maker Bar in the KOB and he was good but he has improved so much since then. His footwork and ball control in the post wasn’t great in the KOB but he showed what he is capable of in the LIT. If he can play like this all the time, the Ballard Bruins have a huge chance to win it all. I think they still do have a big chance to take home state but if Bar can keep up the good work, they’ll be a huge threat.
Jack Edelen (Ballard)
The freshman point guard didn’t do a whole lot of scoring in the first round, quarterfinals, and semifinals. But he sure did show up in the biggest game of the tournament. He finished with 17 points in their championship win over Fern Creek. His confidence and basketball IQ isn’t like any ordinary high school freshman. His ability to finish under the basket with speed and with both hands is truly remarkable for his size. In this game you just wanted to stop and appreciate what he was doing. He knew exactly where to be and when to be there. A great point guard for this very talented Ballard team.
Jaden Schooler (Fern Creek)
Although Fern Creek lost this game, they had a little bit of a bench spark from Jaden Schooler. The sophomore guard finished with 10 points and at times on the court it seemed he was being utilized as the first scoring option. He drove to the basket quite a bit and when he did he would draw contact because of his size. He isn’t scared of going in on the bigger defenders to draw a foul and go to the free throw line. This Fern Creek team is very talented with only one senior on the roster. This team is going to be something special next year when they are one year older and know how to play with each other. Excited to see Jaden and the rest of this team grow. They are still my pick to come out of the 6th region.
KOB Champs. LIT Champs. State Champs?
Ballard has won both the King of the Bluegrass and the Louisville Invitational Tournament. Will Ballard run the table and walk away as the 2020 State Champions? They have the depth, the talent, the coach, and much more. They are an unique blend that can score the basketball in many different ways. They play suffocating defense and are very hard to score on when they run their 2-2-1 press defense. Freshman Jack Edelen is a great floor leader. Senior Lewis Richards can light it up but can also facilitate for his teammates. Freshman Gabe Sisk is a shotmaker and the ultimate green light. Senior Terrence McDaniels is a bully down-low and can shoot the 3-ball. Sophomore Maker Bar is forming into a superstar and a real problem for the opposing teams. They have a very solid bench as well with Josh Minkins, Derrick Tilford, Rashad Bishop, and Chaunte Marrero. They are playing some of the best basketball in the state and if they keep this up, then they can win it all.