I'm no 16th region expert, and I can't give any other contenders to the title of "best ever." But I will throw out this cliche: don't count your chickens. They are a great team so far this year, some 16 games in. But that leaves half a year to go, not to mention tournament play, which as we all know means one and done. If they don't make it out of region (or god forbid the districts), then obviously you can't mention them in a best ever thread. To me, a state title is the first thing that gets them into the conversation, and then you can start the debate against teams of the past. Seems to me this may be a bit too early to have a thread like this. Then again, that's just me.

No.

I'm no 16th region expert, and I can't give any other contenders to the title of "best ever." But I will throw out this cliche: don't count your chickens. They are a great team so far this year, some 16 games in. But that leaves half a year to go, not to mention tournament play, which as we all know means one and done. If they don't make it out of region (or god forbid the districts), then obviously you can't mention them in a best ever thread. To me, a state title is the first thing that gets them into the conversation, and then you can start the debate against teams of the past. Seems to me this may be a bit too early to have a thread like this. Then again, that's just me.

 

Very good point. Look what happen to Mason County last year they already had their party planned for Rupp, and got upset in the region.

No! 61 Ashland Tomcats, and don't think even many Elliott fans will dispute this. Lets wait and see what happens the next couple of years before this should even be discussed.

 

I don't know much about the 61 Tomcats being that was 10 years before I was even born, but the 2002-2003 Rose Hill team was by far the best I have ever seen in the 16th region.

Very good point. Look what happen to Mason County last year they already had their party planned for Rupp, and got upset in the region.

 

For reference, this was something planned by parents, not by anyone involved with the school or athletics department. But yes, I get your point.

I don't think anyone associated with Elliott County's team is counting any chickens yet.

As for the Morgan Co. match-up...the 2003 team may have been better suited at stopping this current 2008 Elliott team. Morgan didn't exactly blow everyone out, but when matched up with explosve offensive teams, they handled themselves pretty well...remember it's all about the indvidual match ups...

 

Just to compare a little bit....I do remember a night watching Justin Perry, who is probably one of the strongest natural PG's to ever play the position in the 16th region totally lock down Stephen Kidd on a couple of occassions, Perry had 9 blocked shots (all perimeter on kid) ALthough Kidd had one of the quickest releases I've ever seen, the burly and long armed Perry had his way. Nearly forgot, the 9 block shot game was when Kidd was at Rowan Co.

 

The 2003 team was not as offensively gifted as this 2008 Elliott County team, however, the trump card is that Morgan was Mega-Quick, Super Strong and very Big....Morgan Co. had two players who could bench press over 300LBS...Ryan Williams is as good a leaper has I have seen in a long long while and his strength was unreal. Havens a 6'5" forward and Aljic, who averaged 14ppg, 11rpg and shot 81% at the FT was a formidable unit.

 

The 2004 Regional Championship team was special in that all pieces of the puzzle clicked, they were lockdown defenders, and half court executioners...the 2006 team was the perfect season gone awry in 32 minutes...quite possibly the biggest upset in 16th history over the past 10 years...

 

As for comparisons, this Elliott County team is DARN good, very good, scary good, but depending on the "match up" they can be given fits, a strong, powerful, big team can trump some of their weapons...but who's really to say who is better. As of right now, Elliott Co. is proving that at least, the do indeed deserve to be mentioned with the best ever...

I've always heard from the old timers that the 1961 Ashland team with Larry Conley was one of the best the State has ever seen. What are others thoughts?