People seem to forget very quickly that South Laurel won the state in 2005 and they're considered a mountain team and to answer your question ... NO. Shelbey Valley and JB will not win a state title.

Don't consider SL to be a mountain team or a small school for that matter(far from it), would compare them to a Mason County.

These three are nice teams and will probably make repeat trips to the state tourney but I dont see any of them winning it all. Win a game maybe two and that will be the extent of it. Elliot was the feel good story of the tounament this year but if they had Ballard or Scott in the first round they would have got beat by 20. I'm a mountain guy but I dont see JR Vanhoose and Todd Tackett on any of these teams.

Those Paintsville teams were a whole different breed, that is for sure. Vanhoose and Tackett were great players and the schedule these guys played during the regular season was awesome as well, helped them get ready for the post season for sure.

These three are nice teams and will probably make repeat trips to the state tourney but I dont see any of them winning it all. Win a game maybe two and that will be the extent of it. Elliot was the feel good story of the tounament this year but if they had Ballard or Scott in the first round they would have got beat by 20. I'm a mountain guy but I dont see JR Vanhoose and Todd Tackett on any of these teams.

Anyone that got Scott or Ballard in the first round would loss by 20 !!??

Wow--You guys are really stretching it if you try to consider Mason or S. Laurel small schools--Both are the high end of 3-A if I'm not mistaken!!

Depending on the draw they get I could see Elliot making it to the semi final or possibly even the finals. If everything stays as it is in Elliot they would have a real good chance the 09 season with 5 starting seniors and Knipp coming off the bench as a sophomore.

 

I feel bad for Elliots coach trying to name a starting 5 next year with all that talent. I wonder if theres any chance that Maynard or Knipp will start next year ?

 

Who's place would he take in the lineup next year ? Of the 5 starting sophomores I know the Faulkner twins and Ferguson. I'll be honest, I dont know the other two that start.

 

T Knipp is only an 8th grader therefore will only be a freshman next year. His brother (Chris) is one of the starters. The other starter is Jonathan Morgan.

No.

No or NO!

Hope so but don't think so.

Many teams with talent, system, good health, have a chance but include the Sweet 16 draw and luck, as factors which also aid the smaller size schools.

Who's place would he take in the lineup next year ? Of the 5 starting sophomores I know the Faulkner twins and Ferguson. I'll be honest, I dont know the other two that start.

 

I will not put pressure on a kid or kids by naming names, but by the end of the season T. Knipp was getting more meaningful minutes than two starters.

Don't see it happening under the current system. This was the rare year when then mountain teams drew away from Lexington and Louisville and none of them could advance past the second round.

 

It really didn't matter that they drew away from the Lexington/Louisville schools. The fortunate, and unfortunate thing for the mountain schools is they drew each other. For one mountain team to advance (Elliott), one had to lose (Shelby Valley). The third best team in the state, Warren Central, was waiting to eliminate whoever emerged from that first round game.

Everyone keeps talking about what happened this year in the tourney, but the 4 teams that were playing on Saturday morning lose quite a bit with the expection of Scott Co. I look forward to seeing how Scott Co. responds without their glue guy, Matt Walls. Elliott Co. gained valuable experience this year, return their top 8 players, and have put together a very tough schdule next year to prepare these boys for another run. So with that said, I think Elliott could definatily be a contender next year.

Absolutely not. You have to remember that teams in the Louisville area always have talent and Scott, Mason, Warren Central, Ballard, PRP, and Lex Cath are always going to have great talent. I don't see any of these three teams having a legit chance to win the state title. Good post though.

NO!

 

Shelby Valley should get down on both knees and thank the basketball gods that they were fortunate enough to draw Elliot County in the opening round of the State Tournament allowing them to bow out gracefully, and while they are at it for supplying them with the cannon fodder schedule that allowed them to emerge 29-3 this season.

 

In order for them to compete outside of the 15th Region they will have to change their overall philosophy of how the game is played, obtain some quality athletes who are somewhat fundamentally sound, and get out and play some real competition.

 

I admired JBS and feel that they are a true Cinderella story. They played in the Fifth-Third tournament this season, and should be an exciting team to watch as their young players grow and develop. My hat is off to the Crusaders and best of luck to them in the future. As far as being able to run with the truly big dawgs in this state, that is probably somewhat unrealistic, but I think that they will die trying.