Rainman11

KY Elite just lost 33-27 to Miss-Ill Elite in the finals. Miss-Ill slowed the tempo after losing by 24 yesterday and KY missed a lot of close looks in the first half. It was a one-point game late when KY had to start fouling. It was definitely a matchup of two of the better teams in the nation Without ever practicing as a full unit KY Elite still had a successful weekend. In the semis KY Elite beat the KY Gators by 14 but 15 missed FTs prevented it from being much worse. Miss-Ill Elite beat the Legends by 24 in the other semifinal.

It's actually Dakari Johnson (6-4 from Sayre) who you are speaking of. Charles Snoop Johnson is a guard from LTMS.

KY Elite beat Illinois-Missouri Elite - who had 3-4 kids from last years national champion Arkansas Mutangs and lost earlier this year to Houston Select by 1 - by 24 in their first ever game. The front line was 6-7 (Belter from Dorton), 6-4 (Johnson from Sayre) and Portwood. Johnson may or may not end up Elite all the way (his dad lives in NY and played nationals with the Gauchos last year). The entire team was pretty impressive. They won their second game by 32. Johnson had 14 and 9 in the first game and Snoop Johnson from LTMS was in double figures both games.

I can't get the brackets pulled up on my phone so I can't see matchups (BGP works well though). I just know Royal Spring is very average and will probably lose to whomever they play. I will provide predictions later.

Royal Spring is awful. Also Elkhorn will probably not be playing Friday night as the conference finals s that night and they are favored to be playing Scott County. Elkhorn beat SC by 3 last night. Portwood has been playing limited for 8th due to recent ankle issues.

I heard they lost twice to Elkhorn (once in OT), but I witnessed the loss to Sebastian in December.

Catholic has a few more losses other than Lincoln. I know they have lost to Elkhorn and Sebastian at a minimum and I believe they have a couple other losses just not sure eexactly who beat them.

Crosby's coach said this past Saturday he was not bringing his 8th grade group this year.

KY Elite 13U will be playing for the first time this weekend, also at MidAmerica. I believe the Legends are there as well.

I am not surprised Moss won, but I am by that many. But, basketball is a game of matchups. LTMS would have matched up better with Moss with anyone that played today. But, Knox, from what I heard, did an excellent job of slowing the pace. If Scott County would have beaten Johnson, they would have a had a better chance against Knox than they would have against LTMS because the pace would have been slower. I think the reason stayed with Johnson in the quarters is because Scott County got the pace where they wanted. I said before the quarters I expected Moss to win becuase they would be fresher in the finals (although I predicted they would be playing LTMS). For those that were at the game, did fatigue play a factor in the wide margin? It does appear, though, that the Moss-Crosby Round of 16 game Saturday night was probably a matchup of the best 2 teams this weekend. That was a heck of a game. Congrats to Moss!

Johnson by 3 over Knox and Moss over Clinton. Johnson vs Moss for the title.

Knox beat LTMS 32-30. Johnson 33 Scott 27. Clinton last second 3 to beat S Laurel by 1. Moss over Wayne. Johnson jumped on SC 11-0 but then 6th grader Hines Jones made 5 3's over 2 quarrters and SC led 15-14. It was 20-16 SC when Portwood went down with the ankle injury with just over a minute left in the 3rd. He missed 4 minutes and Johnson took the lead. SC cut it back to 28-27 with the ball late but a turnover then Johnson FT's sealed it. Johnson focused their entie defense on Portwood and SC never forced it to him and took the 3's Johnson gave them. Hall had a good game for Johnson and is a nice player. I heard Knox slowed the pace on LTMS and jumped to a 13-2 lead and hung on.

I like the same final of LTMS vs Moss but I like Moss to win it. I think Moss will have an easier road today to finals and the fatigue factor could make the difference. But having said I would not be surprised to see LTMS win it. No. 21 is a nice player for Moss. He reminds me of a poor man's Quin Richardson because he plays the 3 defensively but the point offensively and does a great job. The Crosby-Moss game was a great one but I thought the patience of Moss to always take a good shot was the difference in the end. Crosby panicked a little down the stretch. That w as definitely the best game of the day - a very physical game. Oh, a littl luck played into it. Moss banked a 3 late that kind of salted it away, plus they had a 5 point posession in the 4th (a 3 and a foul on 9rosby when the ball was in the air then a 2upoing FG) that gave them the lead for good at 31-30. Good luck to everyone this morning. My favorite team Scott Co has its hands full against Johnson this morning.

I see both points on this issue. But, I do definitely commend you guys for your commitment to the kids at Johnson Central. It will definitely show up down the road. Now, back to 7th grade and the Hall kid. I am really looking forward to watching him (and your entire team) play this weekend. I would love nothing better than to see Johnson Central and Scott County match up in the Final 8. Would be a great matchup between Portwood and Hall. But, the best part is I highly doubt the winner of the game comes down to who wins that battle, it would come down to the supporting cast. And, that's what a team game should be about. Good luck this weekend! Well, at least until the potential Final 8 game (lol) ....

Rumors are the combo team may be put together for good and they would make a heck of a group because the Truth have Jackson Davis (who is playing varsity at Lafayette) and of course Hatton, McNeil, etc. etc from the Tarheels. I think the 13U division is truly going to be wide open this year.

Not an oversight. Whomever posted last week McNeil was going back to the Tarheels appears to be correct.

If that is the case, then why do gyms have scoreboards?

My thought is no there shouldn't be a AA or AAA or whatever, but at the same time, I think there shouldn't be a Class A. For those who like the Class A but nothing above the Class A, let me ask - If it makes no sense to separate classes above A for their own tournament, then why does it makes sense for Class A to have its own tournament? If we don't want to spoil the greatest tournament in the US as was suggested on earlier posts, then doesn't the Class A tournament do just that?

From what I have heard, the plan is to play the middle school state in Frankfort in December. Same format as the state tournament -- one team from every region. That would knock out the Lexington schools since they don't begin until January, so the 11th Region middle school tournament would be diluted. This would be competition for the middle school state currently played at the KBA. The one thing I have not heard is whether it's 6th, 7th and 8th, or only one of the age groups.

From what I heard, the 8th grade team is also essentially the freshman team at Harrison, meaning most of the kids play up and play a lot for the freshman. I know you have some people that don't think you get any benefit from AAU/weekend tournaments, I think this 8th grade group is proving otherwise. 3-4 years ago, Harrison starting playing a lot of weekend tournaments and getting a lot of games in outside of the middle school schedule, playing through March. Before they started this, they were very average. Now, while they are not by any means world beaters, they compete and their kids know the game much more than they once did.

The 8th grade gruop is definitely the worst group that has come through the system in quite a while. I would be surprised in any of those kids ever contribute in high school. The Chambers kid has the most physical ability, but in the times I have seen him play doesn't appear to have the drive at this point to make a difference. I hope he finds it in the near future.

Congratulations to Wayne! They have a nice bunch of 6th graders. Size, ball handling, rebounding, shooting, defense and they know how to play the game. Even though they destroyed my favorite school, Scott County, it was a joy to watch them play. In the first half against SC, they dominated the inside. SC tried to adjust and take the big kid away and their shooters knocked down 5 3's in the 3rd quarter and I'm pretty sure none of them even hit the rim -- they were all pure.

I was just giving you a hard time. It's all good. But, you are right, so many different things are being said. I heard some more today, but I am done speculating.

LexCath won't be allowed to play in the state tournament, but they would be definitely be one of the top teams I have seen, along with Knox County, Scott County, Elkhorn, Harrison County, Georgetown Middle and Sebastian.

Better than hearing about the SOAS 14U league. J/K :jump: