Lion Pride, how many players dress out for Cordia? Seems like I read on here that they only have 8 varsity players. If so, foul trouble could be an issue.

They dress 9 players.

They lost to Sheldon Clark.

Who's to say Renner isn't doing this to provide his kids with a cultural experience in addition to giving his team a test? What's the odds any member of his team has or will ever explore Eastern Ky?

Who's to say Renner isn't doing this to provide his kids with a cultural experience in addition to giving his team a test? What's the odds any member of his team has or will ever explore Eastern Ky?

 

It will definitely be a cultural difference for the city kids. Cordia is located deep into the southeast Kentucky hills. To get to the school you have to go down the Mountain Parkway to Campton in Wolfe County and get on Route 15 south to Hazard, them turn on the road that takes you past Perry Central High School. After about a 15 minute drive you turn to the right up a narrow road that eventually leads to Cordia, which is probably located closer to Hazard than to Hindman, County seat of Knott County. The gym sits down below the road, and the players will walk down some steep steps to get to the gym. The gym seats around 200, max. I don't know if they've changed things in the last few years but when I was helping with the Owsley team years ago our team dressed in a classroom below the gym.

 

The people/fans of that area always treated us very nice, always friendly and made us feel welcome. I'm sure they'll be the same way with Ballard.

So the gym isn't part of the school?

Cordia is better than people think. I'm intrigued to see how this plays out. I'm not saying Cordia will win but I don't think Ballard wins in a walk either.

Cordia is better than people think. I'm intrigued to see how this plays out. I'm not saying Cordia will win but I don't think Ballard wins in a walk either.

 

Agreed. I watched them beat West Jessamine at Southwestern and they looked solid. The big kid, Oumar Keita, has improved a lot since last year. He is still thin but is noticeably bigger than last year. He is also much more comfortable on the basketball floor. It is starting to look more natural to him where last year everything was forced. Chisolm and Mercado are both good guards, especially Chisolm.

So the gym isn't part of the school?

 

The gym is a block structure that is not connected to the school, but the school building is located just down the hill from it.

Not really the same kind of experience if playing it at home though. This game will be like a Super Bowl for Cordia. One of their last ones and gives them a chance to prove themselves against a top team and show everyone just how good they really are. Tiny gym, a community that really hasn't had a game of this caliber there probably ever. It will probably be a regional tournament like atmosphere, so it's good to expose your kids to that at this point in the year.

 

Kind of the same deal as Ballard going to Elliott County a few years ago. You are going way out on the road. The kind of game in a program's history that people will be talking about for a long time. Their team, their fans are going to be up for you. It's probably an unfamiliar environment for your team, or, at the very least, one that's not what you'd consider their comfort zone.

 

If they get to the Sweet 16, they'll usually draw a mountain ref or two due to their own officials being scratched. Most of the regions who let physical play go (i.e., the 6th, 7th, 11th in particular) are the ones in larger areas and whose teams typically go further in the State Tournament. You start cutting the pool of refs based on who conflicts out, then look how the odds shrink further with each time you advance, and it probably isn't the worst thing to get your kids used to being officiated in a way that you really don't see in the vast majority of your games.

 

Don't really know if that's going to be the case here, or if they even have mountain refs, how friendly they'd be to Cordia given, but another angle you could take.

 

Who's to say Renner isn't doing this to provide his kids with a cultural experience in addition to giving his team a test? What's the odds any member of his team has or will ever explore Eastern Ky?

 

Oh, if the kids are anything like me, I love to travel to new, out of the way places. Road trip, I'm there. My original comment kind of alluded to the fact that MOST coaches, given a choice of a home game or a looooong road trip, I think would take the home game. As would I believe most parents/fans. Obviously it seems the coaches don't mind traveling for it as a last minute addition, which is cool. Should/could actually be a pretty good game and I would bet they will probably have to turn people away at the door.

The gym is a block structure that is not connected to the school, but the school building is located just down the hill from it.

 

Anyone have a picture? Would be interested to see what this gym looks like.

Oh, if the kids are anything like me, I love to travel to new, out of the way places. Road trip, I'm there. My original comment kind of alluded to the fact that MOST coaches, given a choice of a home game or a looooong road trip, I think would take the home game. As would I believe most parents/fans. Obviously it seems the coaches don't mind traveling for it as a last minute addition, which is cool. Should/could actually be a pretty good game and I would bet they will probably have to turn people away at the door.

 

Oh, I'm sure they'll have to turn people away. I haven't been there in a while but if memory serves me correctly there's only around 4 rows of seats on each side of the gym. I would guess that it seats between 150 to 200.

Anyone have a picture? Would be interested to see what this gym looks like.

 

I don't have a picture if it. Lions Pride might have one.

It's a cinder block building. I don't know when it was constructed.

Anyone know If Ballard is staying the night before or the night of to offset that drive some? Isn't that about 4 hours by bus?

Nikeman49 you obviously have a personal issue with cordia. I am safe in saying you have not seen them play one single game this year you don't know what kind of team they have. They have enormous size and Richard chapman has lost about 30lbs from last year and is much more athletic than last year. He is a legit 6'6" and is extremely quick. He is a mid major player at the next level. But I have seen you post repeadily cutting on cordia. You must have been beaten somewhere down the road somewhere by cordia as a player or coach and can't get over it or you are jealous that Rod Rhodes was a bigger name than you in high school or college. Just for the record I think Ballard wants to see size and athleticism to get ready for the sweet 16. Cordia starting 5 is 6'6" 6'6" 6'11" 6'2" 5'10" that size can give any team a problem. Cordia may not win but I tip my hat to Ballard for coming down here to play them. I wish them nothing but the best.

I have no problem with Cordia......just simply stating my opinion just like you do...that's all