How can you have 2009 Holmes ahead of 2008 Mason Co when they beat them in the finals the year they won it? And the 2009 team was without Arrez Henderson.

 

I remember back when the season first started, people were saying how Pittman had greatly improved. Maybe Pittman became better then Arrez? Not saying this is fact but maybe thats what they are getting at.

How can you have 2009 Holmes ahead of 2008 Mason Co when they beat them in the finals the year they won it? And the 2009 team was without Arrez Henderson.

 

Honestly that 2009 Holmes team with Riley, D. Johnson/Housely, J. Johnson, R. Johnson, and Pittman was better than the 2008 team with Henderson, Avery, Pittman, R. Johnson, and J. Johnson. They lost Avery and Henderson but made it back to the state championship despite a tougher road to the finals compared to last year.

 

I also think this years' team was a better defensive team as well and if you look at the match ups this year compared to last, I like Holmes chances.

 

Holmes had nobody last year that could match up with Darius and Trevor because of their size. When you look at Holmes size across the board this year compared to last, I just don't think Mason Co would have been able to handle their size and athleticism. I'd even go as far as saying Pittman and R. Johnson were better this year as juniors than Miller and Setty were last year as seniors.

How can you have 2009 Holmes ahead of 2008 Mason Co when they beat them in the finals the year they won it? And the 2009 team was without Arrez Henderson.

 

Ummm...Players improve? The 08 Mason Co. team beat the 08 Holmes team, not the 09 team.

1. Scott Co. 2007

2. Mason Co. 2003

3. Warren Central 2004

4. Holmes 2009

5. E'town 2000

6. Lafayette 2001

7. Mason Co. 2008

8. South Laurel 2005

9. LexCath 2002

10. J town 2006

 

 

I think there is a big drop off after #4 and the rest of the teams are really close.

What basis do people have for Holmes being #1? Besides the fact that they are the most recent winner and freshest in our minds.

 

 

What basis do teams have for putting Mason County '03 #1? Other than they had Chris Lofton, who had a big performance and is revered by some as the best player never to play at Kentucky.

 

 

Scott County in '07 has the best record of any of these teams, correct? A very valid argument could be made for them.

 

Of the teams I have seen play, I would put Warren Central of '04 at the top. They had 2 very big, athletic forwards & solid guards. During that era, they were a staple at the state tournament & they beat Mason in '04 pretty handily in the state championship game. That Mason Co. team was the defending state champions and was thought to be the favorite.

Of the teams I have seen play, I would put Warren Central of '04 at the top. They had 2 very big, athletic forwards & solid guards. During that era, they were a staple at the state tournament & they beat Mason in '04 pretty handily in the state championship game. That Mason Co. team was the defending state champions and was thought to be the favorite.

 

Also, they returned almost every player from the '03 title team.

What basis do teams have for putting Mason County '03 #1? Other than they had Chris Lofton, who had a big performance and is revered by some as the best player never to play at Kentucky.

 

I refer you to this post:

 

Time for the legion of Mason County fans to let us know which team is best*.

 

* - Best meaning largest fanbase on BGP.

I still say '04 Dub-C is on up there... I'm confident they would've shut down that '03 Mason squad.

 

:popcorn:

2002 LexCath was very, very good. They are in my top three for sure.

2002 LexCath was very, very good. They are in my top three for sure.

It's incredible that they never won again with those guys there. I blame coaching in '03, and to some extent '04 given that the injury to one of their big 3 came in a blowout of Western Hills.

How can you have 2009 Holmes ahead of 2008 Mason Co when they beat them in the finals the year they won it? And the 2009 team was without Arrez Henderson.

 

Pittman and Riley's improvement from 2008 to 2009 is a big reason why I would say that the 2009 team is better. I like Arrez and as a leader him, Brayon Avery , Terrence Clark, and Todd Humpheries were sorely missed. But Talent wise Pittman, Riley, Kevon Arnold/Rice, and Brandon Housely were better players. There was one legit college player at the end of last season and that was Arrez Henderson. There are 2 big time D-1 players in Pittman and R. Johnson, a mid major in J.Johnson, and another possible small school or D-2 guy in Riley on this roster. Yes, they were all there last year to, but not nearly as good as they were this season.

Scott County in '07 has the best record of any of these teams, correct? A very valid argument could be made for them.

 

2007 Scott Co was 34-2

2009 Holmes was 36-2

 

I would personally say that 07 Scott Co team was the best of the last ten years though. They were absolutely loaded. They split that year with an OJ Mayo/Patrick Patterson led Huntington team (SC was the only team to beat them I believe?). They also gave a Twanny Beckham led Ballard team their only two losses that year and beat a loaded Holmes team in the semi's.

Here's the records of the past ten state champions:

 

2008/2009- Holmes 36-2

2007/2008- Mason Co 34-4

2006/2007- Scott Co 34-2

2005/2006- Jeffersontown 32-3

2004/2005- South Laurel 32-4

2003/2004- Warren Central 29-7

2002/2003- Mason Co 35-2

2001/2002- Lexington Catholic 33-2

2000/2001- Lafayette 25-11

1999/2000- Elizabethtown 30-5

You of course are cautioned on how much you read into records. Obviously one reason I'm pointing that out is Warren Central's record, but take this year for example. Had Louisville Central been able to hang on, they would have been 20-14. But most of those losses came when the core of their team, football players were absent. The '04 Warren Central team started 8-7 in large part due to several of their players, including Dewalt and Sweet 16 MVP Brock Whitney, were absent at the beginning and didn't get really into the swing of things until January. Records are not the end all be all.

You of course are cautioned on how much you read into records. Obviously one reason I'm pointing that out is Warren Central's record, but take this year for example. Had Louisville Central been able to hang on, they would have been 20-14. But most of those losses came when the core of their team, football players were absent. The '04 Warren Central team started 8-7 in large part due to several of their players, including Dewalt and Sweet 16 MVP Brock Whitney, were absent at the beginning and didn't get really into the swing of things until January. Records are not the end all be all.

 

I wasn't trying to imply anything by posting the records of the past ten state champions. I was simply using it as a reference. See my top 10 and you'll notice I don't use a teams' record as an indication to how good they were. WC in 04 is a perfect example of why records mean nothing. Early season losses happen a lot due to the examples you mentioned such as football players out, kids not being healthy, and teams trying to find team chemistry.