Didn't Warren Central also play a city rival the night before?

Didn't Warren Central also play a city rival the night before?

Bowling Green ... sort of a big rivalry, you know.

Did you know that January 27th is not March in Rupp? We have been over this. It seems that some don't believe that it counts for much to play in front of thousands of people on a college-sized floor instead of in front of 50 on a Saturday one night after playing a rival, but it does. I have seen the shock effect of playing in Rupp many times.

 

I think pretty much everyone that notes that score wasn't even there. You see, I know this, because barely anyone was.

 

Do not mistake this for completely throwing out that game. I believe that Shelby Valley has proven that they are capable of playing with the Dragons and they may well do it again should they face. I am merely reminding you that typically Warren Central plays their best ball in February and March and Rupp Arena is not comparable to North Hardin.

 

Given this situation means Shelby Valley has already defeated Elliott Co. Don't you think if that happens most of the shock factor will be gone? And hasn't Valley been to Rupp something like 3 out of the last 4 or 5?

Bowling Green ... sort of a big rivalry, you know.

 

No excuse for a six-straight region champion team led by one of the best in Tim Riley.

Well aware of it ... and, like DragonFire, I also know that it means very little now.

 

Not being at the game, I suspect that Shelby Valley took it a little more seriously than Warren Central did. The Dragons will be ready no matter who is put in front of them.

Mr Westsider sir, let me point out a couple more things to you. Shelby Valley also played the night before, a very solid 4-A school Paul Dunbar at Dunbar, so that played the night before excuse holds no water, and Shelby Valley was ranked in the top 20 on the 27th and to say that Shelby Valley took the game more serious than Central is just an Ignorant statement. Why dont you do a little more research before you go assuming such things about a game played 6 or 7 weeks ago and just give SV a little credit just because they deserve it. Central better not overlok JBS either, Mason County hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer to beat them BY 2 and they have beaten some quality teams also.

Mr Westsider sir, let me point out a couple more things to you. Shelby Valley also played the night before, a very solid 4-A school Paul Dunbar at Dunbar, so that played the night before excuse holds no water

I know all about Shelby Valley-Dunbar the night before. I'm not the one citing the Bowling Green game as a prime factor in Warren Central's performance.

Shelby Valley was ranked in the top 20 on the 27th and to say that Shelby Valley took the game more serious than Central is just an Ignorant statement.

Ignorant? You know that for a fact? You have an inside with the Dragons?

 

Warren Central has won a state title and been to another final four in the last four seasons and has been ranked in the top 10 all year. Shelby Valley, in spite of the somewhat-inflated Cantrall rating, isn't held in the same regard.

 

I would be hard-pressed to believe that the Dragons were just as hyped for the game as Shelby Valley's guys are ... that's my opinion, regardless of how ignorant you think it is.

Why dont you do a little more research before you go assuming such things about a game played 6 or 7 weeks ago and just give SV a little credit just because they deserve it.

Dude, I knew all about it ... heck, the schedule is just a couple of clicks away. Lighten up.

Bottom line ... every top contender would love to have Warren Central's draw. Anyone want to dispute that?

 

Still, the Dragons have to go out and win the games ...

My take is this -

 

WC is the most athletic and most experienced of the bunch.

 

The athleticism gap is not big enough to become a huge factor, but the experience is.

 

JBS has some size and very, very nice guards but to be honest they are very lacking in the team concept(when I watched) and much more lacking in the coaching department.

 

Shelby Valley is loaded with young athletes and high basketball IQ players that have played more games together than probably anyone in the state, IMVHO they are a big guy away from being the best of the 4 teams we are talking about.

 

Elliot Co. - has some good athletes for the mountains, but they got beat by a South Charleston team that looked flat out more athletic but not as good basketball IQ when I saw them and that was kinda of early and only one game.

Wasn't South Charleston the state runner-up to HHS and OJ last week in WVa?

Yeah, Warren central is the favorite out of the bracket and yeah, the favorites don't usually coast and certainly don't always win. Check with Mason County and a couple of other "shoe-ins" that will be watching the games. I wouldn't count the chickens before they hatch city boys.

Wasn't South Charleston the state runner-up to HHS and OJ last week in WVa?

By a mere 42 points ...

Personally, I think that any team that thinks they can "coast" through one game, much less an entire bracket, is in for a rude awakening. There are no bad teams at Rupp. I am not saying that blowouts don't occur, but if a team goes into any game thinking they have already won it, many times they get a big surprise when the final horn sounds. There is a big difference between being confident and cocky. Confident teams tend to do well, cocky teams, many times, fall on their face.

I think everyone agrees that Warren Central will have to play good basketball to win on Thursday and Friday. Can JBS, Elliott and/or Shelby Valley beat them? Maybe, but those three would have to play outstanding.

 

Bottom line is that Warren Central is habitually going to the state tournament. Yes Shelby Valley has went a few times lately, but their fans have been home by late Thursday night every time. JBS and Elliott are rookies. The Warren Central kids are prepared for the atmosphere; the other three might be, but it will be new.

 

I'm 100% for mountain teams in the state tournament. I love to see them succeed and I love Cinderella/Hoosiers stories. But my heart is seldom broken by the mountain regions; its never that close. I'll be pulling for JBS to beat Central on Thursday night, just because I like change at the top. If they don't win, I'll pull for either Elliott or Valley on Friday night. But I'm also realistic enough to know that when I get to my seat at 11:30 on Saturday morning, Warren Central will most likely be running onto the floor below me.

Such a long trip for 1 game ! Just kidding,they should not look to Saturday morning so quickly. It only takes looking past one team. It happens every year at every level.

But I'm also realistic enough to know that when I get to my seat at 11:30 on Saturday morning, Warren Central will most likely be running onto the floor below me.

 

If they aren't, I know about 1500 people from Elliott Co that might be willing to buy your ticket should they be playing.

Bottom line ... every top contender would love to have Warren Central's draw. Anyone want to dispute that?

 

Still, the Dragons have to go out and win the games ...

I would agree with you that Central got what appears to be a good draw for them, but I just think you should show some respect for the teams in their bracket like I know Central's coaching staff will. The thing that I really want to point out is that I have seen these teams play several times and I believe they bring a little bit more to the dance this year than teams from these regions have brought the last couple years, and through hard work and committment by a lot of people have built three very solid programs. Just a little respect is all I would like to see these guys get, and I am not from the 14th, 15th or 16 Region, I am a 13th Region guy