Final: Hazard 50, South Laurel 47
Posted by Mike Fields on March 20, 2008
See an audio slideshow with comments from both coaches.
Also: Hear Hazard Coach Al Holland’s postgame interview.
More: Read the game story from the Herald-Leader.
- Robert Warren hit one of two free throws with 19.7 seconds left to give Hazard a 50-47 lead, and South Laurel’s Jordan Bortnem missed a three-point try with one second left allowing the Bulldogs to hang on. Bortnem finished with a game-high 21 points for South Laurel. Josh Whitaker led Hazard with 17 points, and Warren had 9 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulldogs dominated the boards, 32-19.
- With 4:30 left in the game, Hazard is on top 42-34. Josh Whitaker has 14 points to lead the Bulldogs. Jordan Bortnem has 14 for South Laurel, which has gotten as close as 6 points this second half.
- Hazard’s 14-point lead has shrunk to 34-26 going into the fourth quarter. Matt St. John, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, has 9 points and 5 rebounds to lead South Laurel.
- Hazard outscored South Laurel 10-3 to open the third quarter and has taken a 34-20 lead with three minutes left. Josh Whitaker and Justin Jones have 8 points apiece for the Bulldogs. South Laurel is shooting 29% (9-for-31).
- Shown at right, South Laurel’s Jordan Price blocks a shot by Hazard’s Randy Lewis. Price was called for a foul. Photo by Mark Cornelison.
- Halftime: Hazard 24, South Laurel 17. Robert Warren’s 6 points lead the Bulldogs, who are shooting 38%, but that’s hot shooting compared to South Laurel’s 32% (7-for-22). Jordan Bortnem’s 5 points lead South Laurel. Both teams have 6 turnovers.
- Poor shooting and ball-handling has put South Laurel in a 20-6 hole with five minutes left in the first half. The Cardinals have missed 12 of 14 shots and have 6 turnovers.
- Hazard has a 14-4 lead after one quarter. Five Bulldogs have already scored. South Laurel is 2-for-12 shooting. The Cardinals were shut out for the first 4:50 of the game.
- Josh Whitaker hit a three-pointer off a turnover to give Hazard a 14-2 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter. South Laurel has missed 10 of 11 shots.
- South Laurel is 0-for-7 shooting and has fallen behind Hazard 9-0 with 4:15 left in the first quarter. Cory Martin’s three-pointer got Hazard off to its quick start.
For full coverage of yesterday’s action, see Kentucky.com’s high school sports page, and watch audio slideshows of every game including comments from coaches and players, at Heraldleaderphoto.com.
March 20, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Great picture of the blocked shot. No contact with the block or the body - Why was a foul called?
March 20, 2008 at 1:40 pm
[...] about Hazard’s 50-47 win. The Cardinals missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game. Read Mike Fields’ game notes from courtside. Share This 1 [...]
March 20, 2008 at 4:36 pm
In answer to JWH———–a foul was called because some incompetent official ‘thought’ he saw one. That’s the problem with the game today; too many incompetents running the show.
March 20, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I agree that at least a third of all calls in a game are completely anticipated calls. It seems to be getting worse, maybe because players are so athletic and the refs want to keep some sort of control. HOWEVER, c’mon … you cannot examine a still shot and claim that it supports or contradicts a call on the floor. Seriously, in this split second there may have been no contact, but what about half a second earlier or later?
March 20, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I agree with you Jay, concerning the still photo and what may have happened a second earlier. I, too, thought of that. But, there are still too many calls made where an official anticipates, or, is not in position to see exactly what happens.