Game Report: North Oldham 62 Walton-Verona 42

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The start of the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament threw off the boys' schedule this past week. There were far fewer games on Tuesday and Wednesday night while essentially nobody played on Friday evening and games tipped off in the afternoon on Saturday. However, there was a full slate on Thursday night. After taking in a couple of mid-week games, Prep Hoops Indiana decided to make the trip south of the border on Friday to catch some KHSAA action. We decided on this contest at Walton-Verona High School featuring the Bearcats taking on a very talented North Oldham squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately, quickly after arriving, it was clear that Class of 2027 Division I prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2392232' first='Tommy' last='Gregg'] was not in attendance for North Oldham. Admittedly though the primary impetus for this trip to Kentucky was to watch eighth grade superstar [player_tooltip player_id='2726857' first='Pierre' last='Rondo']. The Class of 2030 point guard certainly did not disappoint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While a lot of the hype was on the North Oldham side, Walton-Verona came out hot from three-point range on their home court. Deuce Shearer and Cole Dryden each connected on three-point shots in the first quarter while Adam Gutman converted a four-point play. Those buckets helped the Bearcats draw even with Mustangs in the opening period at 12-12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The game remained close going into the half time break as the slower, controlled pace seemed to favor Walton-Verona. Their size and physicality in backcourt was something for smaller North Oldham guards [player_tooltip player_id='2124541' first='Eli' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2726857' first='Pierre' last='Rondo'] to contend with as well. Tatum Thornberry especially took advantage off of the dribble in the paint as the host Bearcats trailed by just one point, 23-22, at the halftime break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Oldham wasted no time pulling away in the second half. 6'5" senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3246423' first='Colin' last='Daniels'] got going on the interior to solve the physicality problem. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='2726857' first='Pierre' last='Rondo'] continued attacking the basket while [player_tooltip player_id='1563825' first='Gus' last='Soule'] came up big as well. The Mustangs extended their lead to 42-29 after three quarters before Rondo took over in the fourth and led North Oldham to a 62-42 win. His back-to-back three-point shots in the fourth quarter put the game on ice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2726857' first='Pierre' last='Rondo'], an eighth grader playing at the varsity level for a Top 20 team in the state of Kentucky, finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in the game. He has all of the makings of a future five-star point guard in the Class of 2030. Junior sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='2124541' first='Eli' last='Green'] connected on three three-point shots and added 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->