‘Defensive-minded’ Lexington Catholic makes statement against Kentucky’s top teams
Lexington Catholic’s annual White, Greer & Maggard Holiday Classic tournament that finished Friday had a loaded field highlighted by five top-10 teams, according to the most recent Associated Press poll.
The host Knights were not among them.
But after winning four games in four days that included knocking off two of those five ranked teams — No. 5 Bowling Green and No. 10 Lyon County — and a 55-47 win over highly regarded North Oldham in Friday’s championship, Lexington Catholic (13-1) virtually assured itself of being on everyone’s radar in the New Year.
“I really thought we came out here and made a statement tonight,” said LexCath senior forward Hudson Sparks. “We just had to come out here and play our hardest and I think we did that.”
The Knights claimed those victories with a stifling defense Coach Brandon Salsman has been honing since the first day of practice in October. LexCath held North Oldham 24 points below its season average. On Thursday, the Knights held Lyon County more than 28 points below its average. The day before that, it held Bowling Green nearly 24 points below its average. You get the idea.
“I think if you go back and you look at every team that’s won a state championship or won games in Kentucky, the one common denominator is that they can guard,” Salsman said. “And we’ve been preaching to our guys since we lost last year that we have got to become a defensive-minded team first.”
The Knights have suffered consecutive first-round exits in the last two 11th Region Tournaments, losing 70-58 to eventual champ Henry Clay last season and getting stunned with a 101-97 overtime loss to eventual champion Madison Central the year before.
“We’re going to continue work on our defense,” Salsman said. “I think that’s the foundation of what we can build our season on. … “We’ve got a tremendous anchor in Reece (Potter) on the backside of it. And we’re so long in certain spots, that it’s just going to be really hard to score on us.”
Salsman acknowledged a December tournament trophy, even against a field like he assembled this year, doesn’t mean much compared to the postseason. The hope is that this tourney can help teams get ready for those games in late February and early March.
“I schedule these tournaments like this to get into a regional tournament-type atmosphere,” Salsman said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better tournament. Thanks to all the teams, the fans, the referees. It was so much fun to be a part of.”
Key acquisition for Knights
Tyler Doyle, a junior transfer from Woodford County, had 14 points, five rebounds and three assists against North Oldham and a team-high 19 points against Lyon County to help earn tournament MVP honors for the Knights.
“Getting him over here this summer, it took a while to kind of get him into his role,” Salsman said. “He’s such a great kid and consummate teammate that he didn’t want to ever be selfish, and we’ve had to teach him to be a little more selfish. And he started to become the player we all knew he was going to be.”
Doyle likes his options in the offense.
“It’s fun. It makes everything easy when you can give to it Reece, or drive and kick,” Doyle said. “It’s a really easy offense to play in.”
Potter recovers from rough first day
LexCath’s 7-foot center Reece Potter didn’t enjoy his team’s opening-round game Tuesday against Christian Academy-Louisville as he tried to shake off the lingering effects of a winter illness.
He had six points and six rebounds in just under 14 minutes as LexCath rolled over CAL 77-43
But a day later he led the team with 18 points and 13 rebounds in a 61-44 win over No. 5 Bowling Green.
“My teammates had my back yesterday, so it was my turn to repay the favor today,” Potter said Wednesday.
The Miami (Ohio) signee had 11 points and 13 boards against Lyon County and a team-high 16 points against North Oldham.
Another milestone moment
North Oldham senior guard Dallas Roberts had his own points milestone moment to add to an array at this week’s tournament.
On Thursday, Roberts became North Oldham’s all-time leading scorer, supplanting the record formerly held by his head coach, David Levitch.
“It means a lot, especially with Coach Levitch, who’s coached me all five years, it’s a tremendous honor that it was his record before me,” Roberts said. “I’m just blessed.”
Roberts led the Mustangs with 24 points against Lexington Catholic on Friday, bringing his career total to 1,927 points.
On Friday, Travis Perry became the state’s second-leading scorer all-time with 3,669 points, while earlier in the week, Bracken County’s Blake Reed topped 3,000 points for his career.
The other top-10 teams
No. 1 Warren Central fell 60-43 in the first round to Madison Central on Tuesday, but won three consecutive games in the consolation bracket, beating Fern Creek, West Jessamine and CAL.
No. 6 North Laurel bowed out in the second round, 81-67, against North Oldham and then lost a consolation game, 84-67, to Ballard. No. 8 Mason County lost to North Oldham, 65-51, in Thursday’s semifinals and then to Lyon County, 92-85 (2OT), on Friday in the third-place game.
