This was a 16 team tournament. 2 teams finished 0 and 3. 6 teams finished 1 and 2. 3 teams finish 2 and 2. 4 teams finish 3 and 1. 1 team finishes 4-0.

 

Elliott finished 3-1. Is that tied for 2nd? Is it 9th? Is it 7th? Is it consulation champions? Is it the luck of the draw? Could they have gone 4-0with a different 1st round opponent? Could they have gone 0 and 3 with a different first round opponent? Oh the questions! None of them really matter. I think that going to that tournament and finishing 3 and 1 is darn good and that would go for any team in our state.

 

They represented Kentucky wonderfully and I for one pat them on the back...that is if I can find a spot that hasn't already been stabbed by fellow Kentuckians.

Wonder who sideline coach is cheering for then? We can't help it if whatever team you are cheering for can't beat the Lions but to say that the tournament lost some of it's prestige it once had because a very good basketball team went 3-1. What you need to do is ask some of those teams that the Lions played while they were in that tournament how good EC is and I'm sure that they would tell you what most people would say. That Elliott WILL be a force in any tournament they play in. Dont' be a hater and maybe someday the team you're cheering for now can be as good as the Lions are.

EC just won 3 of 4 games in one of the premier holiday tournaments in the country. They beat two of South Carolina's defending state champions and one of the premier teams in Canada.

 

If not for a 31% shooting and unbelievable 4-30 three point game (13.3%) vs. Cedar Hills, TX they would have beat the #1 ranked 15-0 (CLASS 5A) team in Texas. Still with the worst shooting in some time it was a 2 pt. game inside 2 minutes. Having watched this tournament for 5 days there are 15 teams that could easily be in the Top 10 in Kentucky. All the teams (with the exception of Socastee) have the athletic talent, size, speed, quickness, and jumping ability of a Scott County or Holmes. And yes, I have seen Scott County 3 times this year and Holmes twice in Lexington.

 

What does the Cedar Hill game tell me?? That even if Elliott shoots 31% from the field and 13% from trey land the game against a top opponent the game is still decided in the last two minutes. There will be no 29 point games like at Mason last year. It also tells me that if they shoot anywhere between that terrible % and their average of 50% from the field and 40% from trey land that teams in the state of KY are in real trouble. And if they shoot their % than they are in for something worse than real trouble. These kids may lose in the first round of the state again and so may any top 5 team, but they are so gritty, seasoned, and determined it will take them shooting very poorly for a top flight KY team to put them away in the last 2 minutes. You wanted a up front honest evaluation after me watching about 20 games in this tournament and there it is. These kids will not go away easily come March. And yes, they will be a factor in Rupp in March.

I'll take this showing over the championship of the Erlanger Lloyd Tournament.

 

Just wondering, but how did Holmes come in to play here?? :confused:

 

Congrats to EC on a nice showing.

Spindoc, all I am saying is if Elliott were to be fortunate enough to win the Sweet 16 State Championship "The Greatest Show on Earth" what will we ever become of our great tradition of the high school basketball state tournament? Especially since Elliott's Consolation win has forever tainted the Beach Ball Classic in the minds of Kentucky high school basketball fans.

What place they finished in is not as important as the fact that they:

1. Went 3-1 against very talented competition.

2. Showed they can win close games.

3. Showed they can win games against good defenses.

4. Showed they can win games played at a slower pace.

5. Showed they can win games against teams with good post players.

What place they finished in is not as important as the fact that they:

1. Went 3-1 against very talented competition.

2. Showed they can win close games.

3. Showed they can win games against good defenses.

4. Showed they can win games played at a slower pace.

5. Showed they can win games against teams with good post players.

 

Good points.

 

A question in post #49 still looms though.

What place they finished in is not as important as the fact that they:

1. Went 3-1 against very talented competition.

2. Showed they can win close games.

3. Showed they can win games against good defenses.

4. Showed they can win games played at a slower pace.

5. Showed they can win games against teams with good post players.

 

6. Showed they can win games against teams with a height advantage over them.

By the way, congrads Lions on a great showing in South Carolina. Talking to many local Myrtle Beach residents and they fell in love with you and had 100 questions to ask about the team. Most said they had never seen such swarming defense and a team that plays any harder from start to finish. They also commented that they are a fun bunch to watch play.

 

They are right--I have never seen a team play harder or with more grit and desire. Whoever beats you down the stretch will have to do it on more than physical ability. They will have to bring their mental will, grit, and determination over yours inside the final minutes. That in itself will be a tough task for any team to do and I would never bet against this bunch!!!

Listen. I'm not taking anything away from anybody. I root for all Kentucky teams when they play out of state. I root for all 16th region teams when they play out of region. Elliott Co. is a great team. Top 5 in the state. I'm confident that they will win the 16th region, and have a great shot at winning the Sweet 16. I will certainly be rooting for them to do so if they come out of the 16th. They have a great bunch of young men playing for them. I don't know any of them personally, but know people that do, and have heard nothing but good things about them. I congratulated them on a very good showing in the tournament. It's a shame they lost the first game. I heard they had some sickness on the team. You never what they may have done if they had won that 1st game. Here's the thing though. You want to be recognized as one of the big boys, then start acting like one. Do you honestly feel that fans from Holmes, Lex. Catholic, Mason Co. etc.... would be jumping all up and down over a 7th or 9th place finish?

 

I don't believe any Elliott fans said "Great job on 7th place guys!" All they said was great job coming out of tough competition 3-1 and bringing home a trophy. Others are the ones who started the 7th and 9th place talk. And no Elliott natives said fans are going nuts over 7th place. Maybe they are going nuts on how cold the ocean was or because Elliott built the biggest sand castle! But I believe they mean they are going nuts over a solid 3-1 record in a very tough tournament.

Well stated Lion Mania!!! :ylsuper:

Wonder who sideline coach is cheering for then? We can't help it if whatever team you are cheering for can't beat the Lions but to say that the tournament lost some of it's prestige it once had because a very good basketball team went 3-1. What you need to do is ask some of those teams that the Lions played while they were in that tournament how good EC is and I'm sure that they would tell you what most people would say. That Elliott WILL be a force in any tournament they play in. Dont' be a hater and maybe someday the team you're cheering for now can be as good as the Lions are.

I took what he said as sarcasm.

Good showing by Elliott County, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

 

And let's be honest ... they finished in ninth place. It's a 16-team tournament. Eight teams were in the winners' bracket, and Elliott won the consolation bracket.

 

How good was the competition? Clearly, Cedar Hill is a legitimate power. Myrtle Beach was 3-6, so I'm not inclined to think they're a great team. Pickering is from Canada, which tells me very little. I've seen Canadian teams that were supposed to be good and were awful.

 

The Southside team, according to the boxscore, was 13-1 ... I assume that was their record before the game. That certainly sounds like a good win.

I knew it was, I just dont understand why.

I'm not raining on anyone's parade. I was rooting for Elliott County, and I applaud them for their showing in this tournament, but it's still a 9th place finish.

 

No it's not. It's a 7th place finish. Out of 16 Teams that's pretty good I say.

Lookout Rupp, here we come.