Corbin is looking to knock off the defending 13th Region champions. Can the Redhounds do it?

This one will be a slobber knocker. I'll say this on a neutral floor clay is a double digit better team but it's awfully hard to win at Corbin, just ask perry central. Smith and Farmer must stay out of foul trouble, if this happens Clay wins by 5

I'll take Corbin. Winner is the early 13th Region favorite.

Will Clay Co. put Smith on Andrew Taylor to try and slow him down? If so, how will that affect his offensive game, and since Taylor slashes to the rim so much putting pressure on the defense, can Clay Co. afford the risk of Smith getting into foul trouble?

 

My guess is that Clay will have Smith guard Taylor at times, and also expect them to trap him to get the ball out of his hands. Corbin will need some others to step up tonight if they are going to knock off the Tigers tonight.

 

The big problem will be trying to stop Clay Co. offensively, I don't think that the Redhounds are ready yet defensively to do that effectively enough to get the win.

 

Clay Co. 73 Corbin 68

I don't think you will see smith doing what he did defensively last year as far as being the star stopper. Clay needs his offense too much. But I do think you will see Smith lock down on the other teams star during crunch time. And maybe at times throughout the game just to slow him down. And you are 100% percent correct about Clay not being able to afford losing Smith to foul trouble.

 

I expect Corbin to play a triangle and 2 face guarding Smith and Farmer all night. Problem with this is Wolfe and House should eat them alive. Clay's offense will really cause teams trouble this year, they have 4 kids that can get 25 on any night. And no one's been able to slow down Smith this year. So it will be interesting to see the game plans and the in game adjustments to each. I'll stick with Clay winning but it should be a battle at Corbin.