New Castle, KY – After surviving the "deep freeze" played by Bullitt Central in the first round of the 2002 boys’ 8^th Region basketball tournament, the defending champion Oldham County Colonels were undoubtedly relieved to be playing a more uptempo team in the semi-finals. Unfortunately for the Colonels, that team was the 4^th-ranked team in the state, the Scott County Cardinals.

On paper, the two teams were similar only in terms of records: Oldham featured the region’s best record at 26-2, and came into the game riding a seven-game winning streak. The Colonels’ two losses had both come as a result of last-second shots. Scott had also won 26 games, with just three losses. Scott County had won five straight since losing to top-10 Lexington Catholic by three points.

That’s where the similarities ended.

An offensive-minded team, Scott featured a ferocious full-court pressure defense that fed their high-powered offense. The Cardinals were averaging nearly 80 points per contest, and had eclipsed the 100 point mark twice and the 90 point mark four times. Three Cardinals had made the all-8^th Region team: Coy Zerhusen, a 6-4 senior forward, C3 Brown, a 5-10 senior guard, and 6-1 sophomore guard Tyler Hicks. Although they could bring some size off the bench in 6-7 Zack Van Guilder and 6-10 sophomore Justin Lee, the Cardinals primarily counted on their impressive team speed to create opportunities.

At the other end of the spectrum was Oldham County. The Colonels came into the contest featuring the state’s top-ranked scoring defense. Fourteen teams had scored fewer than 40 points against Oldham, and the Colonels were allowing just 46 points per contest. With impressive size – four starters ranged from 6-3 to 6-7 – Oldham County could contest nearly every shot from anywhere on the floor. Oldham also boasted their second "8^th Region Player of the Year" in as many seasons: 6-7 senior Donta Smith had followed in the footsteps of Eric Johnson to win this year’s award. Averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds a game, Donta still seemed to be teasing the fans with glimpses of his talents.

The game began exactly as Scott County wanted it. Oldham fumbled with the ball on offense, committing five turnovers in the first half of quarter one. Scott jumped out to leads of 6-0 and 11-4, with Zerhusen scoring nine of the eleven points. The Colonels finally seemed to come alive on a three-pointer by Matt Jacobson, but back-to-back baskets by C3 Brown and Hicks made it 15-7, Scott County, with just over three minutes to go in the first period.

That’s when the feathers came off the Cardinal bird. With 6-6 senior Travis Liedtke and Donta Smith leading the way, the Colonels stormed back. With the Cardinals attentions riveted on Donta – he was double-teamed the second he caught the ball – Oldham began to capitalize, hitting the open man under the basket with regularity. More often than not, it was Liedtke who benefited, as the senior scored five points during an 11-0 Colonel run to end the period, leaving Oldham County ahead, 18-15. During the run, Oldham sealed off the inside, dominating the rebounds. Donta Smith repeatedly displayed a remarkable interior passing skill, finding Liedtke and 6-5 Matt Jacobson for easy shots. For the night, the unofficial Sportszone stats showed Donta with a rare triple-double: double figures in scoring, rebounding, and assists.

Scott County added and abetted the run by repeatedly coming down court and launching jumpers. Against the taller Colonels, the Cardinals had trouble finding the range, and Oldham rarely allowed a second shot.

Overall, the Colonels went on a 20-3 run over a 7 and a half minute stretch ending the first and starting the second period. Scott County never completely recovered.

During the run, however, an old problem reared its ugly head: fouls. Donta Smith picked up his second foul with 37.9 seconds to go in the first period.

C3 Brown hit a three to start the second period, tying the game at 18. But Oldham wasn’t through with its run, scoring the game’s next nine points to push ahead, 27-18. The Colonels would ultimately lead by as much as eleven at 30-19 and 32-21, before settling for a nine point lead at the half, 32-23.

Despite the giddiness of the lead, Oldham coach Gary Forrest had plenty to worry about at the half. A nine point lead against Scott County was hardly a comfortable margin, the Colonels had committed 9 (unofficial) first-half penalties, and the Colonels were faring very poorly at the line, hitting just four of nine shots.

The Colonels continued to get strong scoring from several players as they pushed out to a 13 point lead in the third period at 40-27. Five different players scored in the period, including senior reserve guard Brad Koenig. Despite playing on a gimpy knee, the veteran had one of his best games of the year, scoring ten points, including four in the third period.

Scott County was definitely being forced out of its game by the Oldham defense, and Oldham was not having a tremendous amount of difficulty with the Scott press. Still, the Cardinals scrapped back to within nine by outscoring Oldham, 10-6, over the final 3:18 of the period.

Liedtke pushed the lead back to 11 to start the fourth with a basket, but a free throw and a three-pointer by Troy Harris pulled Scott back to within seven at 48-41. It was the closest the Cardinals had been since trailing 25-18 in the second period. But the Colonels quickly squelched the rally; a Donta Smith dunk was followed by a Donta Smith steal. Smith didn’t hit the basket, but he was fouled and hit both free throws. Seconds later, Brock Neal scored to push the lead back to 13 at 54-41 with less than six minutes to play. The Cardinals would not get any closer than ten after that.

Despite Scott County’s frantic comeback attempts, Oldham’s mastery of the backboards enabled the Colonels to increased the lead. A Donta Smith dunk pushed the lead to 15 at 60-45, and Ben Winters’ two free throws with 3.6 seconds left gave Oldham its biggest lead of the night at 80-63.

Oldham County improves to 27-2 and will play Shelby County (a 72-49 winner over Grant County in the other semi-final matchup) in the championship game at 7:30 pm on Saturday, 3/9/02. Scott County’s season ends at 26-4.

Oldham Co. – Smith 20, Neal 16, Liedtke 11, Koenig 10, Winters 5, Huddleston 4

Scott Co. (leading scorers) – Zerhusen 20, Brown 17

Boys’ 8^th Region Final: Saturday, 3/9/02

#18 OLDHAM COUNTY (27-2) vs. #7 SHELBY CO. (25-7)

AM 1600 WTSZ Oldham County coverage with

Mike Montgomery and Matt Simons

FM 105.7 WTSZ Shelby County coverage with

Scott Thompson and Mark Smith