Lucasville Valley (15-2; 11-0) @ Minford 11-5 (8-3)

[Bleeding Red]

Valley is last year's Oak Hill. They have a very athletic senior class that are good in all sports. It will vanish just like it did with most sports at Oak Hill when they lost all that talent. Not a knock on Valley, its just what is gonna happen. Hard to replace than many exceptional athletes in a smaller school.

Before you knock me, relax....that is a compliment to Valley's senior class.

They are here right now..so we'll worry about that then. But there are some VERY good kids coming up...

I agree completely. You only play with what you have. Valley has some really good kids. I am sure they will be hard to beat on the diamond this spring too. But its just really hard to replace that many kids that excel in all sports.

I think Minford will be loaded next year in bball. Just my opinion.

[coop]

Valley is last year's Oak Hill. They have a very athletic senior class that are good in all sports. It will vanish just like it did with most sports at Oak Hill when they lost all that talent. Not a knock on Valley, its just what is gonna happen. Hard to replace than many exceptional athletes in a smaller school.

Before you knock me, relax....that is a compliment to Valley's senior class.

Valley's JV is 16-1 and the 8th grade is 13-1.


Valley has 2 sophomores in their top 6. The Indians might not win the SOC next year, but they will be just fine.

we need a "like" button...LOL

[bluedude62]

Valley played THEIR game tonight and McCray couldn't stay out of foul trouble for Minford. Yates runs the team and is so unselfish it's not funny . He gets everyone in the game. Minford just couldn't stay with them tonight. Like an earlier post, I couldn't understand why Minford didn't press in the 4th qtr. Got to give Valley credit, they did it in football and with Waverlys loss tonight they have done it in basketball. Hats off to the Valley team...

[lrn4lf]

Who outcoached who?

[Jesco White]

Valley talent should carry them if they don`t get out coached.

Everyone in Lucasville (among other places at this point) already knows who you are. Do you really dislike Scott Rolfe and his assistant coaches so severely that you feel the need to insult them throughout a season in which they took a team that finished .500 last year and won an SOC Title outright? With the positions your wife and brother-in-law hold in the school system, I'm really stunned that you feel it necessary to continue to post the things you do. Why did you even bother with the position you held at home games? Don't you even feel remotely bad saying the things you've said of this coaching staff (and the football coach in the fall), while also being involved in a support role? Honestly, I think it's a horrible example to the kids (who also know what you really think of their coaches even though you and your family are supposed to be a part of the kids' extended "team"). Why can't you just focus on being positive for the kids' sake? If nothing else, man, why can't you just make this about the kids?

[Jesco White]

Definitely a nice win tonight for the Indians! I was very impressed with the way Robbie Dwyer played tonight. I thought it was perhaps his best overall game of the season. If Dwyer and Patrick Riehl can deliver performances night in and night out in the tourney like the way they played tonight, they are definitely a brutal duo to handle in the post. Not to mention the type of season Hayden Dunn has put together coming off the bench as a sophomore, giving the seniors rest without the team losing a beat. I also was really pleased with the play of Luke Keller, particularly in the second half after Minford jumped out quickly to their only lead of the game. Keller really stepped up at the offensive end, in addition to giving his typical solid floor game. Although Jordan West didn't have a big night offensively, I'm very happy with how much his defense has improved this year and I think he also contributed big in tonight's win with his defense and rebounding. According to the radio after the game, Valley outrebounded the Falcons 39-22. Personally, I don't remember Minford getting an offensive rebound until very late in the first half. On a night where the Indians struggled shooting from the perimeter (unofficially 0-11 from beyond the 3-pt line), taking advantage of our size and playing solid defense were huge differences in this game. As mentioned in an above post, Blake Yates did an excellent job (as always) of taking care of the ball and keeping everyone involved just as a point guard is supposed to do. I thought Will Howard also gave us some very quality minutes off the bench tonight, just as he has done all year.

Overall, this was one of the more complete total TEAM victories I've seen in a while. The Indians have been a lot of fun to watch this year (obviously winning is always more fun than losing ), and I think the balance this team has showed is a big reason. This team is very balanced and the results have proven that completely.

As for the match-up between the Indians and the Falcons in the upcoming Sectional Finals on the 24th, I expect an excellent ballgame just as many others have already posted. While I agree that it is difficult to beat a team three times in a season, I personally don't think either of these teams will be thinking about either of the regular season match-ups. By this point in the season, both teams know what works for their team and the strengths/weaknesses of their opponent. It's gonna come down to execution.

[Mr Basketball 14]

#

[yabbadabbadoo]

Keller 15 points
Yates 14 points
Dwyer 14 points
Rheil 14 points

WOW.

That is impressive. If they can do that throughout the tourney against the likes of Chesapeake, Portsmouth or Ironton, they could be the regional champs this year. Hard to beat a team with such balanced scoring.

[Bo_Diaz]

Who outcoached who?

I don't think there was much "outcoaching" by either side. To me Valley has more talent and they had 4 seniors step up and have big nights. Valley looked out of sorts in the first game against the Falcons but they were playing their 4th game in 7 days with only 5 or 6 practices under their belts. Minford had a great gameplan for the first game, Valley is a better more prepared team than they were in December. I expect the Falcons to play a hard and tough game in the sectionals, but they are going to need more scoring than just McBee. Valley has too many weapons for Minford as long as they stay out of foul trouble. It was great to listen to this game last night, especially the 2nd half while knowing that Burg had Waverly on the ropes!

Big congrats to Coach Rolfe and his assistants (my boys lol) on the conference title! Huge accomplishment and a great job of righting the ship after last year's mess. There's still a ton left to achieve but this team is a pleasure to watch!

[Eaglesnest]

Congrats to Valley on the SOC2 title. I am not sure I buy all of the coaching discussions. Give Rolfe a few years and see how he does (although I have heard Valley is loaded for the next 5 years) or better yet see what is done with an average or below average team. He may prove to be a great coach but give it some more time. IMHO, Valley has been more talented and/or deeper than everyone on their schedule. They should have won the league this year.

[Bo_Diaz]

This team was there last season. The adjustments, the style of play offensively and defensively are totally different. Under the old system I never seen the ball go to the post or even two post players on the floor at once. On defense this team plays mostly man and uses their size and their athletes, the old system was a bunch of run and jump press leading to lay ups and then followed by a quick shot on offense. It looks to me like Coach Rolfe has used his players strengths instead trying to fit them into a certain style of play.

[TheNatural]

Ha guys I thought Coach Rolfe did not have the experience to coach at this level since he came from Junior High. I was wrong. He has not been out coached one time all year. He has made all the right moves. His record speaks for itself. He has played Yates at the point which has not happened in the past years and last night Yates got everyone involved and ran the show, he should be playing college ball at a big school somewhere next year.. I don`t know which coach has been working with the forwards and centers but there moves are the best down inside I have seen at the High school level.This team does remind me of the Oak Hill team that won the state. Nolan has done an outstanding job at the JV level only losing one game. Valley is in great hands with these two guys coaching and this program should be good for the next 5 or 6 years. I do enjoy reading Jessco, Coop and Crab`s brothers comments on here. I don`t mean to jinx this team but I think they are going a long way in the tournament. I didn`t mean to offend anyone on here I just thought Coach Rolfe had a lack of experience at this level. I was wrong and I am man enough to admit it. No one roots harder for the Indians than I do. GO VALLEY STATE CHAMPS.

Congrats to Valley on the SOC2 title. I am not sure I buy all of the coaching discussions. Give Rolfe a few years and see how he does (although I have heard Valley is loaded for the next 5 years) or better yet see what is done with an average or below average team. He may prove to be a great coach but give it some more time. IMHO, Valley has been more talented and/or deeper than everyone on their schedule. They should have won the league this year.

IMHO. PLease correct me if I'm wrong but Rolfe applied approx. 14 or 15 years ago and wasn't hired because "he only had junior high experience," even though he has always been a Valley person and probably knows as much ball as anyone around. Instead, coaches with "varsity experience" were hired and looking back, these weren't the greatest of hirings. Obviously his talent has helped him this year and he will have more talent in years to come. You could also attribute some of this recent and upcoming talent to his work with these kids when in junior high.
Bottom line is that there are so many other factors in the hiring process other than varsity experience. I think he has the two most important factors being that he has always been true to Valley and is very knowlegeable about the game. His players always listen. There are no gimmicks to his coaching. It is all about playing smart, fundamental ball. Who knows what will happen in years to come but I'm extremely excited about Valley hoops future.

[Eaglesnest]

I agree with everything the Natural said and i am not knocking Rolfe in any way. Too many people get on here and put down coaches and players. I don't even know Rolfe and have only seen him coach 2 games and have no dog i nthe fight. My only point is that he walked into a job where he was better than all the teams he played. I wish the Indians well and hope they make a long tourney run.

[Rekans1]

Mr. Basketball 14,
You are entitled to your opinion and have voiced it freely. I can't speak for anyone else but if that was an apology to Coach Rolfe, his staff, and players then that was the right thing to do. That being said since it is clear that your identity is known by all, do you think given your position at the school, your wifes position at the school, and the fact that you have an inlaw that holds a very important position in the district that it is ok to make comments that may disparage the school, it's coaches or players in any way? I enjoy reading the posts here and the insight most of them bring, I think you have used this forum as a place to try to undermine and distract attention from the success of the teams, not only basketball but football as well. This is shameless. In fact I don't even think you wrote the last post I think you were told to. If you really want to be " man enough" put an apology on the sign in front of the school, I'm sure you know someone you could get to do that for you. Until then you can keep your comments to your self.

Let's not let the bias of one take away from a SOCII Championship. Congratulations to Coach Rolfe, his staff and all the players. Well done and good luck the rest of the way.

[OldBaller]

Don't really know this new coach very well, but he has had success this year. As an outsider, I thought the last coach knew what he was doing, but when your players arent with you 100 percent and other people talk down the coach, it is a recipe for disaster.

[blue53]

This would be so amusing if it wasn't so darn stupid. to have a team that is 16-2: 11-0, and has continued to show improvements, show heart and the character to not back down from a fight, and we are debating a coach. Only at Valley.
Yes these kids are very talented, but there is so much more to coaching than "match ups, x's and o's".

[coop]

This would be so amusing if it wasn't so darn stupid. to have a team that is 16-2: 11-0, and has continued to show improvements, show heart and the character to not back down from a fight, and we are debating a coach. Only at Valley.
Yes these kids are very talented, but there is so much more to coaching than "match ups, x's and o's".

No one is debating a coach...he has the support of 99.99% of the Indian community, and we've exposed the 00.01% so all SHOULD be good now. Scott has been in the Valley program for a long time, and there is no one I'd rather see running the show.

[ManitouDan]

couldnt get this new PM function to work , would someone PM who Mr Baskeball14 is --since it seems to be public knowledge. MD

[Hitops2.0]

This team was there last season. The adjustments, the style of play offensively and defensively are totally different. Under the old system I never seen the ball go to the post or even two post players on the floor at once. On defense this team plays mostly man and uses their size and their athletes, the old system was a bunch of run and jump press leading to lay ups and then followed by a quick shot on offense. It looks to me like Coach Rolfe has used his players strengths instead trying to fit them into a certain style of play.

I agree...this team has been there ..in a system that worked and didnt work ...to a point...were the athletes there to run a run and gun yes ...but were there pure shooters there when the game slowed and they were forced to run an offense..no ..and did we have "BIGS" on the bench that could produce ..yes ...and did they develop shooting touch and post moves for future ...no ...this team ran and ran and ran ...from what i heard and I'm close to things at Valley (but correct me if im wrong) ...didnt do shooting drills and practice wore the boys out so much that they could care less if they played at all ...Coach Villinger expected alot which is not a poor coaching philosophy ..but I think his system was a square peg in an round hole situation when you have 6'4 , 6'2 , 6'3 on the bench to pound the ball inside but we are running up and down the floor shooting 15 treys a game and hitting 3 of them and at the same time only making 30% of your layups too ....Scott is a match up coach (basketball is a game of matchups) and he absolutely will try to exploit it ...and he is and will have the team in a position to win the game...these boys he has today he had in junior high and trying to instill a half court offense and defense back into them from 3 yrs of 94 ft of hell took only about 4 wks after football ...and the shooting touch on some of these boys (even though I love them all ...LOL ) has really never been great ...but has gotten better.....but most of all they are seniors and have the experience and leadership to win in almost every situation ...Valley hired a coach who can and will coach the boys and they will get better from the one who needs alot of work but works hard to the athletically gifted .....my son is coming up into system and I for one am extremely glad that Scott is back coaching basketball and football ...I have known Scott a long time ....and he knows I wish him all best

[N B Heat]

HI TOPS...... POINT ON !!!!! Scott will be there for as long as he wants,and should have been there years ago ! Valley is in good shape with Scott at the helm !