Is Elliott the best 16th Region team ever?

[UKCATSFAN]

Is Elliott County the best 16th region team ever? I'm not saying they are this year but what about next year if they continue to improve like they have from year to year. I'm just looking for opinions on this. Maybe the older prepsters can compare them to teams in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. They are very impressive this year but just think about next year, WOW! If they continue to improve the sky is the limit for this team. What are your thoughts? Should they be considered one of the best ever?

[gchs_uk9]

Among the 32 trips they've made to the state tournament, Ashland won a state title in 1961 and was state runners-up in 1962.

 

Elliott County has won one regional title and won a game at Rupp mostly because they got a fantastic draw. They struggled to beat East Carter last night. Let's don't make any rash statements that we can't take back.

[bigblueinsanity]

Rose Hill was very good in 03.

[85lived]

Is Elliott County the best 16th region team ever? I'm not saying they are this year but what about next year if they continue to improve like they have from year to year. I'm just looking for opinions on this. Maybe the older prepsters can compare them to teams in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. They are very impressive this year but just think about next year, WOW! If they continue to improve the sky is the limit for this team. What are your thoughts? Should they be considered one of the best ever?

They are very good and COULD be mentioned with the all time best teams by the time they graduate if they continue to improve but they haven't proven that they deserve to be mentioned there yet. If they can make 3 straight trips to Rupp that will help. Keep in mind, this is a very down year in the 16th region and they got a major scare last night from East. There have been many seasons over the last 25 years where this team would have at least 4 or 5 losses within the 16th region. Like I said, while they are very good and may be one of the best when it is all said & done they do have the luxury of playing in the weakest 16th region in the last 25 years.

[Wireman]

Among the 32 trips they've made to the state tournament, Ashland won a state title in 1961 and was state runners-up in 1962.

 

Elliott County has won one regional title and won a game at Rupp mostly because they got a fantastic draw. They struggled to beat East Carter last night. Let's don't make any rash statements that we can't take back.

 

So those great Ashland teams never played any close games?

[Fastbreak]

I'm really sticking my neck out here to respond at all.

 

First let me say that I have nothing but admiration and respect for the boys at Elliott County, and they have already achieved something that they will be able to enjoy the rest of their lives. It may sound corny, but I genuinely love these kids. They are fierce competitors, and lay it all out on the floor. They are gentlemen off the floor. I wish them nothing but the best... with the possible exception of when they face one certain 16th Region team. :lol:

 

Elliott fans have every reason to be proud of their boys, and should do everything they can to support them. Even so, I don't have to go back to the dark ages to find teams that would present them serious match up issues.

 

The Morgan County team featuring 6' 6" AA Admir Algic and the West Liberty boys would give them fits. I'm not going to say Elliott couldn't beat them, but Morgan County could also win on any given night.

 

Last season's Russell squad with a healthy Jon VanHoose was a headache for Elliott... not invincible, but definitely a headache.

 

The 2002-2003 Rose Hill team would have given Elliott fits featuring 6' 4" All-Stater O.J. Mayo, 6' 5" 2nd team All-Stater Marques Dawson (who set a new state record with 16 steals in a game,) 6' 4" Mark King (who once scored 20 points in one quarter,) muscular 6' 3" banger Josh Magnuson, 6' 5" power dunker and rebounding machine Bill Walker, with eventual Huntington High standouts Michael Taylor and Jamaal Williams, future Russell stars Jonathan VanHoose and Austin Blair, Fairview playmaker Alex Barker, Greenup sharp-shooter Zach Gillum, Raceland scorer Jamison Sparks, Marcus and Matt Thomas and others.

 

As far as Regional dominance, the Ashland Tomcats in the four seasons between 1975 and 1979 under Paul Patterson did not lose one game to a Regional opponent, and went to Freedom Hall (pre-Rupp) four straight years. A feat that is unlikely to be repeated again.

 

Bottom line, enjoy the ride to the fullest. You never know when it might end, or how long it may be before it happens again... if ever. :thumb:

[southernkyhoops]

They will never be considered the best ever unless they win back to back state championships this year and next. The 60-61' ashland teams are considered the best ever in the state by alot of people. They might be the best in the 3 point era if they continue to improve.

[LRCW]

61 Ashland Tomcats. If I'm not mistaken the top 6 players from that team all received Division 1 scholarships.

[UKCATSFAN]

61 Ashland Tomcats. If I'm not mistaken the top 6 players from that team all received Division 1 scholarships.

 

I thought that some of the old Ashland team may have had a claim on the best 16th region team. They had a few really great teams back then.

[UKCATSFAN]

Among the 32 trips they've made to the state tournament, Ashland won a state title in 1961 and was state runners-up in 1962.

 

Elliott County has won one regional title and won a game at Rupp mostly because they got a fantastic draw. They struggled to beat East Carter last night. Let's don't make any rash statements that we can't take back.

 

Struggling against a good East Carter team means nothing. The fact that they did struggle but still pulled out the win is even more impressive to me. Great teams find ways to win and even the greatest teams have close games.

 

I'm thinking more about this team next year. They are a great team right now but they can be a very speacial team next year if they can conyinue to get better and stay healthy.

[madman]

NO!

[UKCATSFAN]

They will never be considered the best ever unless they win back to back state championships this year and next. The 60-61' ashland teams are considered the best ever in the state by alot of people. They might be the best in the 3 point era if they continue to improve.

 

Are you saying the 60-61' team is the best ever in the state or in the region? I'm talking about Elliott being the best 16th region team ever, not the best team in state history.

[CatsCatsCats]

Uh, heres an answer....no.

Very good team, but no.

Look back the last few years.

Rose Hill Regional Championship team, would have destroyed them 9 times out of 10. Mayo, Dawson, Gillum, Walker(when he was there), c'mon that JV team was so loaded it would have given the Lions a game. Greatest collection of talent in 16th region history on that team, in terms of 1-15.

Surgalski/Beach teams would have beaten them IMO.

In Morgan's wonder years it would have been a really good matchup.

I think Frank Lee's and then Tyler Zornes Boyd County teams would have beaten them, along with Casey Lowe/Roger Paynter's Comet teams, plus Jeremy Webb/Shay Berry/ Dennie Webb Comet teams, Most of the Ashland teams of that era would have beaten them, remember one of the Tomcat teams finished state runner up, 1996? maybe.

Im not big on comparing much older generations but the old Ashland teams would have beaten them.

[sportsdad]

Elliott Co. is a very good team. They have one regional championship to their credit and have great possibility of adding another this year. IMO at this point they are a good team and are on a great run, however to say they may be the best ever would be difficult to use any type of records, statistics or team data to make that claim. In 2 or 3 years maybe they will have had more successes that someone could stake that claim. But at this point they are a team with one regional championship, which probably more than half of the teams in the region can also claim. Ashland would have to have a team that is the best ever in the 16th. It probally is the state championship team, however they have had several others that made strong runs at the state championship.

[UKCATSFAN]

I'm really sticking my neck out here to respond at all.

 

First let me say that I have nothing but admiration and respect for the boys at Elliott County, and they have already achieved something that they will be able to enjoy the rest of their lives. It may sound corny, but I genuinely love these kids. They are fierce competitors, and lay it all out on the floor. They are gentlemen off the floor. I wish them nothing but the best... with the possible exception of when they face one certain 16th Region team. :lol:

 

Elliott fans have every reason to be proud of their boys, and should do everything they can to support them. Even so, I don't have to go back to the dark ages to find teams that would present them serious match up issues.

 

The Morgan County team featuring 6' 6" AA Admir Algic and the West Liberty boys would give them fits. I'm not going to say Elliott couldn't beat them, but Morgan County could also win on any given night.

 

Last season's Russell squad with a healthy Jon VanHoose was a headache for Elliott... not invincible, but definitely a headache.

 

The 2002-2003 Rose Hill team would have given Elliott fits featuring 6' 4" All-Stater O.J. Mayo, 6' 5" 2nd team All-Stater Marques Dawson (who set a new state record with 16 steals in a game,) 6' 4" Mark King (who once scored 20 points in one quarter,) muscular 6' 3" banger Josh Magnuson, 6' 5" power dunker and rebounding machine Bill Walker, with eventual Huntington High standouts Michael Taylor and Jamaal Williams, future Russell stars Jonathan VanHoose and Austin Blair, Fairview playmaker Alex Barker, Greenup sharp-shooter Zach Gillum, Raceland scorer Jamison Sparks, Marcus and Matt Thomas and others.

 

As far as Regional dominance, the Ashland Tomcats in the four seasons between 1975 and 1979 under Paul Patterson did not lose one game to a Regional opponent, and went to Freedom Hall (pre-Rupp) four straight years. A feat that is unlikely to be repeated again.

 

Bottom line, enjoy the ride to the fullest. You never know when it might end, or how long it may be before it happens again... if ever. :thumb:

 

 

 

You've brought up some great points! Some really great points. I'll say this though, I think Elliott is now a much better team than what they were last year. Russell did give them fits last year with a healthy Vanhoose and more than likely would have lost to them for the 3rd time in the regionals had Jonathan not gotten injured. But, they are a better team this year though with another year to under their belt and they will only get better next year.