Mason County crowned state champioin

Darius miller celebrates his team’s win and being named MVP

Photo by Mark Cornelison

 

ROYALS BEAT HOLMES 57-48

• Mason County was led by Sweet Sixteen MVP Darius Miller’s 24 points and 8 rebounds. It is the Royals’ second title in six years. Russ Middleton had 13 points and 5 rebounds. Keith Downing had 10 points. Holmes was led by Arrez Henderson’s 18 points, 9 rebounds. Mason County finishes 34-4; Holmes finishes 34-3.
• All-tournament team: Darius Miller (MVP), Russ Middleton and Ethan King of Mason County; Elijah Pittman, Arrez Henderson and Ricardo Johnson of Holmes; Coty Minnis and Tim Sanford of Shelby County; Taylor Stewart and Vee Sanford of Lexington Catholic; Isaac McClure of Paducah Tilghman; Josh Whitaker of Hazard; Landon Slone of Paintsville; Brock Moorman of Owensboro.
• Ted Sanford award: Landon Slone of Paintsville.
• Academic scholarships: Nick Gagel of Jeffersontown; Jackson Tolle of Mason County; LeeVaughn Morris of Central, and Logan Edelen of Bardstown.
• Victory is in Mason County’s grasp. It leads 57-46 with 26 seconds left.
• Timeout with 39 seconds left. Mason County will be at the foul line for 2 shots. It leads 53-46 with 39 seconds left.
• Mason County leads 52-46 with 46 seconds left and has the ball.
• Holmes’ Elijah Pittman’s three-pointer cuts Mason County’s lead to 51-45 with 2:11 left.
• Mason County is ahead 49-41 with 2:48 left. Holmes will have a free throw when time resumes. Darius Miller leads the Royals with 24 points, including 10 of 13 free throws, and 7 rebounds. Arrez Henderson has 18 and 8 for Holmes.
• Mason County had its lead trimmed to 6, but Darius Miller’s two free throws made it 47-39 with 3:50 left.
• Holmes is still alive. Arrez Henderson just completed a 3-point play to cut Mason County’s lead to 41-33 with 6:21 left.
• Mason County leads 41-27 heading into the fourth quarter. Darius Miller has been the go-to guy this half. He had 13 points in the third quarter and has 18 points and 6 rebounds for the night. Russ Middleton has 12 points. Holmes is having a miserable night shooting: 11-for-36 (31%) and is getting out-rebounded 30-16. Arrez Henderson has 13 points for the Bulldogs.
• Mason County’s second-half strategy is obvious: get the ball inside to 6-foot-7 Darius Miller. He’s scored 10 points in the third quarter on post-ups and free throws to give the Royals a 33-20 lead with 3:20 left in the period.
• Darius Miller scored the first 6 points of the second half, and Russ Middleton hit a driving layup after a turnover to give Mason County a 29-16 lead with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
• Halftime: Mason County 21, Holmes 16. Not exactly scintillating basketball. Neither team is shooting well. Mason County is 9-for-22 (40%); Holmes is 7-for-24 (29%). Russ Middleton and Keith Downing have 7 points apiece for Mason County. UK signee Darius Miller has 5 points and 4 rebounds. Arrez Henderson has 7 points and 3 boards for Holmes. Elijah Pittman has 6 points. The Bulldogs have only 2 turnovers; Mason County has 6.
• Mason County has regained the lead 20-16 with 2:21 left in the half. Darius Miller and Keith Downing combined for the Royals’ points in a 7-2 run.
• Arrez Henderson hit a three-pointer, then made a steal and a breakaway dunk to give Holmes its first lead of the night at 14-13 with 5:33 left in the half.
• Mason County leads 13-9 after one quarter. Russ Middleton, being guarded by Holmes’ defensive ace Arrez Henderson, has 7 points and 4 rebounds. Darius Miller has 2 points and 3 boards. Elijah Pittman’s 4 points lead Holmes, which is 4-for-13 shooting.
• Mason County is on top 9-5 at the media timeout break with 2:52 left in the first quarter. Russ Middleton has 5 points for Mason County. Darius Miller is scoreless. He’s missed his only field goal attempt and two free throws.
• Both teams open cold, combining to miss their first 6 shots. But Mason County finally broken the ice and leads 4-0 on baskets by Russ Middleton and Ethan King.
• The pre-game pomp is over — there were no fireworks or unveiling of the championship trophy this year.
• There’s a good crowd on hand in Rupp Arena, including UK Coach Billy Gillispie and UK freshman star Patrick Patterson.
• Mason County senior standout Trevor Setty will play in the title game. That’s a relief to the Royals. Mason County’s coaches were told just before 7 p.m. that Setty had been suspended for the finals because of his conduct in the Royals’ semifinals win over Shelby County. With 36.8 seconds left in that game, Mason County’s Ethan King was going in for a layup when he took an intentional foul from the Rockets’ Donovan Johnson. Setty, who was not in the game at that time, came off the bench and was several feet on the court before he was pulled back by a teammate. The referees huddled and decided not to disqualify Setty from the game. Later, however, KHSAA officials decided Setty should have to sit out the finals for leaving the bench. But upon further review, the KHSAA decided that a fight was not going to ensue, and Setty was cleared to play just before the team took the court for warmups.