IMO: Holmes will be the heavy favorite in the 9th and will be back at Rupp next year to defend their title.

 

Define heavy. Do you think the gap was that far between them and Boone this year?

16th region I think as of now it is a 3 team race going into the season. Those three teams are East, Fairview, and Rose Hill not in any certain order with Russell, Lewis, and Ashland as dark horses.

McFarland will be hard to replace for Boone because of his versatility. Don't forget Boone's JV and freshman teams won the NKY JV championship. Holmes won't have quite as much depth IMO next year as they do this year. They are still the favorites and will be preseason #1 in every poll, but I still think that they won't be HEAVY favorites in the 9th. Holmes fans thought they would win every 9th region game by 15-20 this year. Take away Boone's missed layup in the final seconds in the regional final, and they likely would not have even made it to Rupp. I think the gap will even be a little closer next year.

 

I agree it will be tougher for them to get out next year. Highlands, Ryle, Conner, and Boone will all have very solid teams but I think Highlands is Holmes biggest threat. I see the Birds having a season similar to the one Boone had this year.

 

With that said though, with what Holmes returns next year it's hard not to like them to 4 peat and be considered heavy favorites throughout the season. Should be an exciting year of 9th region basketball, but I just don't see Holmes' 3 studs being denied a chance at defending their state title. That experience from this years' state tournament is going to go a long way next year now that they have tasted that success.

Define heavy. Do you think the gap was that far between them and Boone this year?

 

They will be heavy favorites with two pre-season 1st team all state players and most likely a 2nd team all state player. Plus, a very good JV team to throw along with the three I mentioned above. No other 9th region team had any honorable mention all state players this year and most likely won't have any next year either.

 

The talent gap between Boone and Holmes this year was a lot more than you think.

 

If Holmes played the way they did at Rupp last week, no 9th region team would have gotten within 20 of them this year.

The 14th region will come down to Hazard and Perry Central again. As it almost always does.

The 14th region will come down to Hazard and Perry Central again. As it almost always does.

 

What about Knott Co?

What about Knott Co?

 

Possibly. They certainly have a chance...but Hazard or PCC typically play their best in the postseason and any team that wants to break through likely will have to beat them both to get there.

 

I'm not discounting KCC chances. I just wouldn't pick them.

 

Of course, its a little early to say. Hazard and PCC aren't above having down years and these teams rosters may end up looking different than we project.

The 8th will prolly come down to Anderson/Shelby again.

 

Owen will be right there with them.:ylsuper:

They will be heavy favorites with two pre-season 1st team all state players and most likely a 2nd team all state player. Plus, a very good JV team to throw along with the three I mentioned above. No other 9th region team had any honorable mention all state players this year and most likely won't have any next year either.

 

The talent gap between Boone and Holmes this year was a lot more than you think.

 

If Holmes played the way they did at Rupp last week, no 9th region team would have gotten within 20 of them this year.

 

If the talent level was a lot more than I think, why did Boone win one game and only lose the second by 3 after missing a game winning layup?

 

Holmes did play well at Rupp, but Boone probably played better defense against them than any team in the state tournament.

If the talent level was a lot more than I think, why did Boone win one game and only lose the second by 3 after missing a game winning layup?

 

Holmes did play well at Rupp, but Boone probably played better defense against them than any team in the state tournament.

 

Boone had a great gameplan against them and that was why they kept it close. They weren't going to try and run with Holmes which was a smart move by the coach because as the state tournament showed, nobody in the state can run with them. I honestly think the night out in Florence was just one of those nights though. Didn't Pittman get hurt early in that game? I think that was the difference in the outcome.

 

Talent wise, Holmes was far superior to Boone this year. Boone had some work horses though in Gabbard, Brown, and Mcfarland and athletes in Cotton and Spaulding that helped make them what they were. I don't think some of the Boone fans realize what Mcfarland meant to this years' team. He made everyone around him better and was the reason, IMO, that Brown had such a big region tourney. I think the 9th comes down to Holmes and Highlands next year with what each team returns. Highlands may even surprise the Dogs.

I agree that talented trio along with Rice and Mayfield will go a long way for Holmes next year. I believe Rico will step up into a leadership role next year which I believe Holmes didn't have this year.

People have said the same things the past two years about Holmes. Last year they lost 7 seniors, including Henderson, Avery, and Clark. The year before they lost Rice, Hill, and Jefferson. This year they lose Riley, D. Johnson, and Housely.

 

This team continues to reload despite losing big pieces to their team each year. With Rice and Mayfield being inserted in to the starting lineup with the Johnson Bros and Pittman, I like their chances of 4 peating. I've become a believer of those three young men and I don't see them being denied their senior year.

 

:thumb:Winner winner....

16th region I think as of now it is a 3 team race going into the season. Those three teams are East, Fairview, and Rose Hill not in any certain order with Russell, Lewis, and Ashland as dark horses.

 

I would agree but I think you probably need to look at Rowan and Elliott somewhere in there.

 

:thumb:

Oh brother we have herd this for last 7 years+,And yes losing Russ and the the rest of the seniors will hurt.But so did losing Miller,Setty,King.Tolle etc and Lofton,Litzinger,Grutza etc just name of few over that time and we have done pretty well to say the least.Clark can be the favorite they were this year also according people,But we will just try and win a couple games,I mean who knows.

It probably depends on who transfers in.

They also lose James Rice, didn't play a lot, but a senior nonetheless.

 

And for all those saying they are "only" losing Riley, Housely, and Dom Johnson, you gotta realize that was a big part of their team. Yeah, Pittman and the brothers Johnson get all the pub, but Riley was deadly from three and looked like a floor leader, often pointing people into place, etc. Dom Johnson and Housely both were excellent defenders, which we all know is a big part of Holmes game; and if you look at their games the past few days, one of those two were always giving 8-12 points, and I think that is somewhat of a bonus for Holmes.

 

From what I understand they will insert Mayfield and K.Rice, but they will need some younger guys to step up to make a decent bench.

 

 

 

2 major D1 players doesn't always equal state success. See University Heights 2008. Not saying that they won't have success, but just saying that just because they may have two big time players, it takes an entire team to win...

I could really see somebody transferring in over the summer given there is a real need for a point guard or 2g to replace Riley.