I agree that right now, Rowan is the best team in the region, but I do believe that Ashland is right on their heels. This is why I WISH Ashland and Rowan played in the regular season. Remember also that Laisha Ward for Ashland (16 pts, 11 rebounds) did not play against Mason. Not to take anything from Rowan, but I saw Mason play earlier in the season and I believe they are a much improved team at this point of the season. I still think that Rowan is the best in the 16th, but the way Mason is playing right now, I don't know if any 16th regin team could beat Mason.

 

You talk as if they (Rowan & Mason ) played in November. It was less than 2 weeks ago. After the 1st 4 minutes of that basketball game, Rowan was in total control. Ashland, with all due respect, does not have a signature win this year and if they had played Rowan's schedule, I would venture to say they would not be 9-2 or whatever they are (and #1 in the region according to the ADI). I also don't believe Ward would have been the difference against Mason. Just an opinion.

Let's not get too carried away hoops gal. I agree with you as well that Rowan is the favorite to win the region but I will also say that I have seen them play and they are beatable on any given night by some of the other top teams in the 16th. We are not talking about Elliott's boys here.

 

They beat Raceland by 10 with Raceland's best post player at about 60% and Clark going down with an injury in that game. The lead was only 6 points inside the last minute. Now, you can say Rowan had an off night but Raceland is not in the Top 5 in the region right now so if they played like that against Ashland, Russell, East, or Elliott, they probably left the gym with a loss that night.

 

Again, they are the favorite but not head and shoulders above the other top teams.

Let's not get too carried away hoops gal. I agree with you as well that Rowan is the favorite to win the region but I will also say that I have seen them play and they are beatable on any given night by some of the other top teams in the 16th. We are not talking about Elliott's boys here.

 

They beat Raceland by 10 with Raceland's best post player at about 60% and Clark going down with an injury in that game. The lead was only 6 points inside the last minute. Now, you can say Rowan had an off night but Raceland is not in the Top 5 in the region right now so if they played like that against Ashland, Russell, East, or Elliott, they probably left the gym with a loss that night.

 

Again, they are the favorite but not head and shoulders above the other top teams.

 

Didn't say that at all. it just sounded like some folks were trying to downplay a very good win for RC and sct like Ashland would have definitely beaten Mason Co. with Ward...As far as raceland goes, they are a very good team. We'll tell a bunch in the next two weeks ... RC has Elliott and Russell, and have beaten East by 25 already. Give them a little credit...the Lady Vikes have BY FAR played the best schedule in the 16th.

Didn't say that at all. it just sounded like some folks were trying to downplay a very good win for RC and sct like Ashland would have definitely beaten Mason Co. with Ward...As far as raceland goes, they are a very good team. We'll tell a bunch in the next two weeks ... RC has Elliott and Russell, and have beaten East by 25 already. Give them a little credit...the Lady Vikes have BY FAR played the best schedule in the 16th.

I don't think that people are downplaying Rowan. Everyone in the 16th region knows they are the team to beat and have played the toughest schedule. I feel they are getting a lot of credit on here. I also feel that any difference between them and the other top teams in the region is not that much and they are very beatable. That's not being disrespectful or not giving them credit. It's simply the current state of affairs in 16th region girls basketball. There is NO dominant team like there is in the 16th region boys.

 

As for the Ashland argument about Ward not playing and the potential effect it had in the Mason game. You cannot play without your leading scorer and rebounder, lose by her point average, & not feel that having her in the game would have made a difference. It changes more than just the point total. Also, you cannot knock Ashland for feeling they are just as good as Rowan. They are one of the favorites to win the region this year as well. I know coach Bradley knows that little separates the top teams in the 16th this year. With that in mind, I'm sure he likes his chances if and when these 2 teams should meet. Why, because there is no clearcut favorite and on any given night his Kittens are as good or better than anyone. On the other hand, like all the other coaches he knows that there are a handful of teams out there who can beat him on any given night.

Fair enough...I'm sure the lady Vikings like their chances as well, b/c defense is a constant and that's one thing they do better than anyone else. And, they won't have inflated their record on the lower ranked teams in the 16th region, so IMO they will be better prepared come tourney time. The Lady Vikes still have Pike Central, Montgomery Co., and North Hardin left.

Didn't say that at all. it just sounded like some folks were trying to downplay a very good win for RC and sct like Ashland would have definitely beaten Mason Co. with Ward...As far as raceland goes, they are a very good team. We'll tell a bunch in the next two weeks ... RC has Elliott and Russell, and have beaten East by 25 already. Give them a little credit...the Lady Vikes have BY FAR played the best schedule in the 16th.

 

If you are referring to my post, then you are mistaken - I am not downplaying Rowan's victory against Mason. My post DID state that Rowan is the best team in the region (I have seen them 4 or 5 times), but I still hold on to my opinion that it would have been difficult for any 16th region team to beat Mason the night they beat Ashland. I have also seen Mason play several times. It is my opinion that Mason is steadily playing better and IS better than 2 weeks ago. By the end of the season Mason could very well be a solid top 20 team, something that I don't think the 16th region will have at the end of the season.

 

In a previous thread I said that Ward would have given Ashland a chance, but that Mason would have probably still won. But to say that Ward is not a true impact player when playing ANY 16th region team (including Rowan) is naive thinking.

If you are referring to my post, then you are mistaken - I am not downplaying Rowan's victory against Mason. My post DID state that Rowan is the best team in the region (I have seen them 4 or 5 times), but I still hold on to my opinion that it would have been difficult for any 16th region team to beat Mason the night they beat Ashland. I have also seen Mason play several times. It is my opinion that Mason is steadily playing better and IS better than 2 weeks ago. By the end of the season Mason could very well be a solid top 20 team, something that I don't think the 16th region will have at the end of the season.

 

In a previous thread I said that Ward would have given Ashland a chance, but that Mason would have probably still won. But to say that Ward is not a true impact player when playing ANY 16th region team (including Rowan) is naive thinking.

Very true!! Ashland is a good team without her but can be really good with her in the lineup.

If you are referring to my post, then you are mistaken - I am not downplaying Rowan's victory against Mason. My post DID state that Rowan is the best team in the region (I have seen them 4 or 5 times), but I still hold on to my opinion that it would have been difficult for any 16th region team to beat Mason the night they beat Ashland. I have also seen Mason play several times. It is my opinion that Mason is steadily playing better and IS better than 2 weeks ago. By the end of the season Mason could very well be a solid top 20 team, something that I don't think the 16th region will have at the end of the season.

 

In a previous thread I said that Ward would have given Ashland a chance, but that Mason would have probably still won. But to say that Ward is not a true impact player when playing ANY 16th region team (including Rowan) is naive thinking.

 

All this has nothing to do with how good or bad Rowan or Ashland are. Just sounds like RC is getting shortchanged for a very good win over a very good team on a NEUTRAL floor. Anyway, re-match in Morehead on Feb 1st.