Congratulations to the Hazard Bulldogs on a great game and a big win. Here's hoping you represent the 14th Region well at Rupp and bring home the title.

 

To our guys at Jackson City - the team, Coach Lively and Coach Turner: Thank You!!! This has been not only a wonderful basketball season and a great sports experience that won't be forgotten, but has also been just what this community has needed. Last night it didn't matter what school district you lived in, if you were from Breathitt Co. the chances were great that you were going to be rooting for the Tigers. The procession home and the welcome we received at the county line was a most amazing sight. Thanks so much to our police and fire departments for bringing our boys back in style. The lights and sirens and the line of cars that stretched as far as the eyes could see surely helped take a bit of the sting out of the loss. For anyone left at home or passing us on the road, if they didn't listen to the game, I'm sure they thought we had actually won!

 

To our seniors: Kyle, Randy, Chase and this fan's personal favorite, Jordan, we will miss seeing you in our purple and gold next year. Thank you for 4 wonderful - and yes, sometimes not so wonderful - years. Never doubt that though you did not make it to Rupp, you are champs in our eyes.

 

:thumb: Ditto from a lifelong Bobcat fan! You guys could teach a lot of teams about heart and teamwork, including two of my favorites (Kentucky and Breathitt). :thumb:

 

I look forward to seeing Coach Lively and Jackson finish what this team started at some point in the future...

Hazard returns to sweet 16 for first time since 2001, I think the 30th time????

Great job J. Hicks, Durrell,Chucky, Micheal, Matt, J-wall, Presley, Cameron, Jon, Josh C., Kidd, Lucas,J. Jones, and Randy, you guys worked hard, listened, and trusted coaches all year.

 

Congrats to Coach Spurlock on great, great job!!! Handled early season distractions very well, did not let these kids get down on themselves with dissapoitments in the H.I.T,WYMT, and All "A". Kept focus on the #1 goal of winning the 14th region and getting to RUPP. Did a great job under intense pressure from "higher ups". A great guy and class act.

Congrats to both teams on a fantastic season! Both coaches and their players did what few expected and should be commended.

 

Glad to see Hicks and his teammates earn the trip to Rupp! They deserve it and hopefully this will silence any politics regarding Coach Spurlock. He is a class act who got his kids in position to get the job done, and they did.

 

Hate that Jackson City had to lose. They had a magical run and were so close to playing at Rupp. Those kids should not hang their heads and should be very proud of what they accomplished!!! :thumb:

Not to take anything away from Hazard, as they are a great team and deserved to win, but after talking with many folks here in the community, I realized that very few were aware of Howard's injury. Howard was injured the night before against Leslie County and was playing with an ankle twice it's normal size and was about 50% healthy. Once agian, not taking anything away from Hazard at all, but IMO if Howard would have been 100%, I think the City would have made that trip to Rupp. I just think it would have been a different ball game. Congrats to Hazard though, and Good Luck against Madison Central.