OLDHAM COUNTY SURVIVES SECOND QUARTER LULL; WHIPS CARROLL COUNTY, 61-43 IN DISTRICT SEMIS

Crestwood, KY - The defending 8th Region champs looked like anything but champs in the second quarter of their district semi-final against the Panthers of Carroll County, but OCHS looked strong in the other three quarters to win going away, 61-43, advancing to their third straight 31st District championship game.

Oldham County looked unstoppable early against the Panthers, racing out to a 10-0 lead before the Panthers hit the scoreboard. By the time the first quarter ended, Oldham had a 15-2 lead. The Colonels, led by Brandon Gathof's eight first quarter points, appeared on the way to a dominating performance.

But Carroll re-grouped in the second period behind solid perimeter shooting and an aggressive defense. Trailing 17-5, Jerik Johnson hit a three to key a 9-0 Panther run that pulled Carroll to within 17-14. After an OCHS time out, Gathof scored to push the lead to five at 19-14, but the Panthers outscored the Colonels, 6-2 to draw within one at 21-20 at the half.

The Panthers used a twin tower approach toward slowing Oldham's leading scorer, 6'8 Max Kuiper. With 6'6 junior Ronnie Schaum and 6'6 freshman Eugene Wade boxing up Kuiper, the Colonels' leading scorer was held to just one first-half point on a free throw. He only took three shots from the floor, missing all three.

With the Panthers continuing to hit the three-pointer, Carroll County was able to stay close through much of the third. A Geron Harris three late in the third period pulled Carroll to within three points at 31-28 before John McCarthy personally took over for OCHS.

A McCarthy three pushed the lead to six, and he followed up with a layup to stretch the margin to eight at 36-28. Following a Jeffrey Harmon three pointer for Carroll County, McCarthy drained a second three deep in the right corner that splashed through the net with one second to play in the quarter, pushing the lead to eight at 38-31 heading into the final quarter.

A 7-0 Oldham run over the first four minutes of the fourth quarter all but put the game away. Ryan Beaumont scored to start off the period, and Gathof followed with two baskets. A free throw by Kuiper then gave OCHS a 46-31 lead with 4:07 to play. Jarrod Williams briefly gave Carroll hope with a basket and a free throw at the 3:56 mark to pull the Panthers to within a dozen, but Beaumont responded immediately with a layup and a free throw to push it right back to a fifteen point margin.

Schaum hit a basket with 1:48 to play to make it 53-40, but he missed a free throw that would have pulled the Panthers to within 12. The Colonels then put the game to bed with a 7-0 run. A Beaumont free throw, a layup by Gathof, a dunk by Kuiper, and two free throws by McCarthy with :39 seconds left to play gave OCHS an overwhelming 60-40 bulge.

Oldham advances to Friday night's championship game at 7 pm against South Oldham and improves to 22-5. Carroll County concludes its season at 15-12.

The boys' championship will be aired on WTSZ AM - 1600. It will be picked up in progress at about 7:20 - 7:30 pm.

Oldham County - 15 6 18 22 - 61

Carroll Co. - 2 18 11 12 - 43

OCHS - Gathof 22, Beaumont 16, McCarthy 12, Kuiper 10, Hundley 1

CCHS - Williams 12, Wade 6, Harris 5, Johnson 5, Stark 5, Schaum 4, Roberts 3, Harmon 3