LIVINGOUTADREAM

I think this is an absolute awesome trip that these kids get to be a part of. Kudos to the Mason County program and the leadership of the athletic department, Coach Ohearn and staff. I can assure you that things are done first class and respectable and all the I's are dotted and T's are crossed in compliance. I would like to look at it as a reward and recognition to the program and kids on developing a solid program through many years of hard work on and off the court. National recognition, support from the fans(around 100 fans made the trip) follows kids that do the right things, programs that do the right things, and that is why Mason County is in Hawaii and I hope that they represent the state of Kentucky in a way that we can all be proud of. Best of luck to the Royals.

Bracken County needs to dictate tempo, handle the Paris press, and work the ball inside to Ahrens to have any success against this quick Paris team. Could be a long night if the press is effective early. Run the bench in early and often to wear the opponent down if your in the game or not in the game. These kids need the experience to have any success come the Class A tournament.

How many games did they get in suspension?

mhighfield, I am surprised that your not with the team in Hawaii. I thought they would give you a free ticket to handle all the public relations duties that you give the Royals or at least discount the ticket. This would only seem fair to do.:lol:

No doubt, it doesn't matter where this game is played, when you score 61 and win and hold your opponent to 37, your playing some defense.

Agree with you Intentional Foul, the scoring is still balanced.

Focus will be a key here, the Royals need to stay focused with a travel trip and game tomorrow at Pikeville, and then off in the friendly skies to warmer climate.

Coaches don't win games, the players do. Bishop Brossart kids won that game, Mike Code didn't. When the loss is taken, the coach takes that responsibility. Talk with any coach, they will tell you that more times than not.

One of those must win games I believe for Bracken County. In looking at the schedule, if a win doesn't come Saturday, the Lady Bears have Paris waiting in the wings followed by Ryle, Harrison County, a much improved Lewis County squad, Campbell County and St. Patrick. All tough ballgames and without a win this Saturday, then confidence to win will go south. Those teams above are the opponents the Lady Bears have heading up to the All A. A 5-7 ball club would be pretty good momentum going into the All A, but a 1-11 club will leave many folks scratching their heads at that time. Best of luck Lady Bears!

Great individual accomplishment, pretty impressive when you have two players on the floor for Mason County with more than 2000 points in their career and another player in Litzinger knocking on the door. On the flip side, ten years down the road, these 3 great players won't be remembered for how many points they scored in their career as much as if they get to the state tournament. That is a far better accomplishment, something that each girl has been denied of the past 3 years. With that thought in mind, there seems to me like a sense of urgency in those three players this season to get it done. They better not take a day off, stay locked in, and hopefully they can ride off in the sunset in March with a team prize to hold onto, rather than just a individual accomplishment.

Trevor is taller than Darius, just much thinner. I agree, if you can go on to the next level , doing what you love to do and get your education paid for, where can you go wrong. Is Mr. Setty D-1, let the year play out and options could open up for a quality young man. I know I am comparing apples to oranges, but does Preston Knowles ring a bell.

Setty is a legit 6'7" and still growing according to doctors. Does he need to improve? Yes, but what high school player does not in some facet or another. He is a quality and complimentary player to Darius and believe me he will get better as the year goes longer. The schedule Mason County plays will only improve Setty and Middleton over the course of the year.

If a school such as Morehead offers, she better jump on it and run with it. I think she could play at this level, or she could play at the NAIA level such as a Georgetown, Cumberland, Campbellsville or a school like Transy. I have only had the chance to watch her the past couple of years. Lacey has great instincts on the floor, has great vision, and passing abilities. Hope she can make the right choice.

Three of the four losses have come to quality opponents in the 16th region. They have been competitive in all three of those region defeats, losing to Russell, Ashland which was rated 3rd in the preseason and East Carter which was preseason #1 in the 16th. Fleming County is not overly talented, but they play hard, they are physical, they scrap and they play within themselves and those are all qualities that you have to have to stay in ballgames. The record is a little deceiving.

Mason County defeated Bourbon County by a score of 71 to 35. They play this weekend in the Lexington Catholic tournament.

Anytime you get Coach Irvine and Coach Kelsch together, this will be a classic. It would be worth the price of admission just to hear these two talk about everyday life, throw a joke here and there, and then eat a little and then maybe get down to playing some basketball. Two great leaders!

What grade is # 50 for Bracken County? She had a nice JV game. Does she contribute on the varsity level very much?

Mason County 80 Fleming 62 Mason County pulls away with their experience and transition.

Agree, the 3-2 zone is designed to stop the outside game, and it simply didn't.

Mason County will be in for a little bit of a test as Fleming County is always a physical basketball team. They are disciplined and if they let the ball enter in the paint, Alex will put up some numbers. Lets just hope if its such a rivalry game that still exist that there are some people in the stands supporting. Games that I have attended have been a little disappointing in this area. I can go to a St. Patrick game and they could be playing anyone, weak or strong and they always have the attendance.

As a spectator tonight, I was surprised at the scheme on defense which almost worked in the favor of the Lady Bears. With the two post players that Scott High has, I was thinking that I would be looking at a 2-3 zone packed in, but seen a 32 zone and actually as the CountryBoy states shut down Tibbs and Brown, which is reverse of what it actually is supposed to do. I always thought the 32 would shut down the outside. In return Benzinger gets countless looks and knocks down the open 3's to prove to be too much and push Scott High over the top. Great effort and good game, Bracken comes up short in getting the game to go back and forth as they were never able to take the lead. Best of luck on Saturday to the Lady Bears.

I would hope that we could talk about Robin Kelsch and not some rumor.

I don't think anything you have said is anything that we have not already drove in the ground about Mason County and their lack of bench which has been something that has contributed to coming up just short in the past years. However, 9 kids are playing and although they haven't played in a big game yet, they are still playing the games. They are contributing, logging minutes, and that is why all kids play the game to gain valuable experience. I believe by the end of the season this will prove very valuable for the Lady Royals. Will it push them over the top, we won't know until that time comes if they have that opportunity to compete for the region title. That is a long way down the road and many things can happen in between that time. b

This final really shocks me, especially with Pendleton being at home. That is a tough place to play and win if you are a visitor. Tough pill to swallow for Coach Simms and his team.

I will always say this, Robin Kelsch is the most underated coach in the 10th Region. The guy is solid, his loyalty to Augusta, the school, the kids and the community is awesome. Robin with his knowledge of the game could go to a bigger program and lead them to the big dance. No discredit in that statement to Augusta. Augusta and the community should be very fortunate to have a guy like Robin Kelsch to lead their kids on the basketball floor and off the court. The guy brings great passion and respect to the game, characteristics that kids need once they walk off the court into life after the game of basketball. He is a solid coach, but more importantly a solid leader.