East Ky High Schools Hit Playoffs With New Hope

By - Ira D. Combs

Syndicated Columnist

Tri State Sports Media Services Inc.

The 2007 KHSAA football regular season is behind us and the most controversial part of Kentucky's new realignment lays just ahead this weekend for eastern ky.'s players , coaches , and fans to experience . That being the new format of teams playing within their own districts the first two weekends then playing a different district winner for the third round instead of their border district for the regional championship as in the past .

On paper it looks as though once again the #1 & #4 seeded matchups look to be ugly and embarrasing for some folks . I see a lot of bad football taking place this friday night but that's the cards we've been dealt . However , some of the #2 & #3 seeded matchups look to be intriquing . One that could have been very interesting was Clay Co. at Perry Central . But at press time it was doubtful that PCC's electric all purpose runner Demetri Travis would play due to his injury in the big win over Prestonsburg last friday . That will be a lot for the Commodores to overcome but they did beat Prestonsburg in coming from behind twice in the 2nd half without their best player .

Were going to wait until the end of the season before we list our Coach of the Year in football . It will be a tough decision between those undefeated teams and how can you not throw in the mix the jobs that Hilliard Howard & Bert Browne have done at their respective schools . We may have to hand out a coach of the year by class and that will still be extremely difficult especially in Class AAAAA .

Now onto a few items and random notes on the high school sports scene that's taken place since we last visited with everyone across the mountains :

**** Longtime eastern ky. referee Denver "Smoky" Jones passed away from a massive stroke / heart attack last saturday morning at his home on Napier Ridge Rd. just outside Hazard , Ky. , Jones was believed to be in his late 60's and had been relegated to just volleyball officiating in his last few weeks due to a couple of light strokes the previous year . "Smokey" as he was always referred to by players - coaches - fans across the mountains was best noted for his basketball officiating career and probably the most disappointing part of his life was that he was never provided the opportunity to officiate the Boys Sweet 16 State Tournament in either Freedom Hall or Rupp Arena due to the politics of high school sports in the mountains between the coaches , officials , and assigning secretaries . Our deepest sympathy goes out to his remaining family of three sisters and one nephew . As for "Smoke" "Rest In Peace" old timer and some how some way i've got a feeling UK will beat Tennessee later this month to full fill your last request .

**** Those rumors are starting to float across eastern ky. again concerning the doubtful opening of the newly consolidated Harlan Co. High School . Let me lay them to rest for good . In a telephone interview last week with a high ranking school official in the Harlan Co. system who must go nameless at this time , i was informed that a weekly meeting takes place each and every monday morning at 9:00 a.m. between the building contractor and Tim Saylor the Harlan Co. Superintendent and the latest report was unless a major major obstacle unfolds the main school building with the Gymnasium will be completed the first of May with plenty of time over the summer to move furniture in and the staff to familiarize themselves with the structure and grounds in & around . Also , it was explained that everyone in Harlan Co. associated with Cawood - Cumberland - Evarts high school who will be asociated with the football - baseball - softball teams were informed from the start that their facilities would come in the 2nd phase of the building process and their respective sports would be played at old Cawood high school the first year .

**** Harlan Co. school officials also were informed last week that they have to play Cawood's Class 2A football schedule next fall because it is the last year of the new 6 - A class realignment and scheduling any other way was impossible . School officials informed TSS that they are applying to be a Class 5A team in 2009 when the new cycle starts and to be placed in the district with Letcher Central - Perry Central - Clay Co. which could possibly move either or both North Laurel & Whitley Co. , also we were notified that school colors for Harlan Co. Hi will be Red - Black - Silver with the team mascot name being "Black Bears" . It is also a distinct possibility that Harlan Co. Hi will apply for admittance to the 14th region of the Sweeet 16 basketball alignment .

**** Mountain football teams who finished the 2007 regular season undefeated were : Bell Co. , Belfry , Hazard , & Breathitt Co. each have an excellent chance to make it to Louisville's Papa Johns Stadium for a state championship with the exception of Belfry & Breathitt Co. , chances are excellent that they will butt heads in late November and one will go home .

**** Only nineteen teams across Kentucky will not be afforded an opportunity to participate in the upcoming football playoff alignment . Only one Class 2A school will not be allowed to play . Fort Knox at 0 - 10 will be qualified to play as well as many 1 - 9 and 2 - 8 and 3 - 7 teams . Regardless of their record get out and support these young men because they have made a year long committment to their team & sport and that's a lot more than we can say about many of our teens after school activities in this modern day and age of corruption .

**** High school basketball coaches across the 12th thru the 16th regions should e-mail all dates , sites , and pairings of one day prep classics , Holiday Tournaments , or hoop - o - ramas to Tri State Sports offices at [email protected] as soon as possible .

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