leg17

The ratings and rankings on both teams indicate that potential match-up to be a toss-up. Easy to believe that either will beat the other in a one game series. Hope that match-up becomes reality. (Rockcastle isn't rank No.2 for nothing.)

The Rock does have a serious opportunity. We have our hopes up. The Rebs sure did not lay down tonight, despite the score. The fact that they played tonight, with all that they have been through, says it all about Casey County. (Seeing the JV players in the game from both teams makes you wonder if it won't be Casey and the Rock again next year.)

Reb You make a good case for Coach Salyers. Coach of the Year in the twelfth will be a tough decision. There are a bunch of great athletes and great PEOPLE in the twelfth. Some of the teams pray regularly. The Rock had hugs all around for the Bowlin girl from Wayne after she played her last game. (Seems she's been there forever. Didn't she start as a seventh grader?) And tonight there will genuine hugs and tears all around no matter the outcome. I'll always remember Coach Salyers comments to the Rockcastle girls after their regional title in 2008. What a class act! I expect you all will fill the house tonight. Hope I can find a seat.

Boom It could be that way. Wondered why they didn't give it a couple of seconds on the play to try a steal under their own basket rather than foul as the ball was coming in play. (Good thing I don't coach!!)

Hey Reb Casey, with four in knee wraps and Coffman out, managed to regroup and keep the show on the road. What a great game! Of course the usual Southwestern self destruct act didn't hurt any either. Casey down by two and Coach Rice mouths off to the official and the two Technical shots tied up the game. Then with 15 seconds and Casey up by just one, Fothergill fouls away from the ball on the inbounds play and the Casey free throws ice the game. That program simply does not have the attitude or discipline to win. Too bad but, it is Rockcastle and Casey AGAIN for the trip to Diddle. Reb, you know how hard it is to win four games from the same team in the same season when that team is as good as Casey Co. The winner tomorrow night will earn their money. Let me say it again. Twelfth region girls BB. "That's what I'm talkin' about"

I think the last game we saw with Casey you had FOUR girls with their knees wrapped up and that didn't include Coffman. Wow, what a year.

Reb Well I hate that. She is a senior if I recall. Tough way to end a career. We are not gloating about here in RC. Just tough all the way around.

I never heard. How is Coffman? She got hurt right at the end of the game.

What happened to Coffman right at the end of the game??

Reb I hope you got to go last night. What a great, hard-fought game. Like your Lincoln game. You could see the soaking-with-sweat jerseys of the rebs and the rockets. Oh, and it only gets harder and better from here on out. Twelfth region girls basketball at it's best. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

Reb What a barn-burner you had against Lincoln last Friday!! How is Pittman? Didn't hear her name called on the radio as much as one would expect. I know the girls want to win all the time, but she might focus on the big picture. We had Johnna Abney blow out her knee a few years ago in her junior year. It was heartbreaking and caused UK to quit on her. She recovered and had a great senior year and went on to play at MTSU making the NCAA on TV a couple of years. Think big picture for Ms Pittman.

You really can't get too caught up in the individual stats. Lot's of girls around the state that have better scoring numbers than Hammond, for example. Well coached teams, like Casey and Rockcastle, make the best of their talents in trying to WIN because, remember, it is a TEAM sport. One of Casey's strengths is the scoring of Coffman, and hopefully Pittman, and Coach Saylor will work a game plan around ALL of his team's talents. Rock is the same and Lincoln has always been like that. You play the hand you are dealt as well as you can.

Reb you are making me nervous.

I can't find the "BY FAR" or "A LOCK" that you are commenting on. Are you on the right thread?

Rock by 9. Close enough for you?

Just saw the score posted. Didn't get to go to the game so I don't know how it went. But a good win for the Rock. just sayin

Thanks Rebel. We are very proud of her and the entire team. That same bunch won the NATION in seventh grade and have been playing together as a unit since the third grade. It shows. Glad to see Pittman back. I'm going to root for the Rock next year of course but it could be your turn again. Hey, it could be your turn THIS year! We will see. Casey and Rock to the final four last two years. Twelfth is looking pretty good!! (Mercer is liable to be pretty tough next year, to go along with all the other competition.) See ya at the regionals.

I don’t think anyone here thinks that the road to Saturday night will be easy. Not hardly. Even though Rockcastle has gone to diddle 5 of the last 7 years, it has ALWAYS been extremely difficult. The wars with Lincoln Co. have been legendary. This year will be no different. Lincoln is a rated team. Casey Co has been rejuvenated with the return of Pittman to compliment Coffman. Southwestern can have a big game sometimes. It will not be easy to survive the twelfth. As you know, we usually ‘root root root for the home team’ in the twelfth. Some here think we are the best. Half of Louisville thinks the same about a number of teams there. Perry county has opinions as well. Others across that state think theirs is the best. Rah Rah Rah. Fine and dandy. This thread was visited by a flame thrower from NKY where they loudly boo opponents. Each to their own, I guess. I’m sure he thinks his daughter is the best player in the state and that Ryle is the best team. That’s fine. Plenty of folks feel like that. But his ‘un-twelfth-like’ comments are designed to provoke response and, as you can see, we fell for it. Shame on us. Let me just stick to facts, rather than opinion. Hammond is the best in the state according to much wiser and more impartial folks than any of us. Rockcastle is ranked 2 or 3, pick your pollster. Rockcastle has beaten ranked teams this year, usually by about 20 points or so. Their chances are good. But, like all the other good teams, the champ will have to be on their game when it counts. It won’t be easy. Championships never are.

ESPN ranks Hammond 13th in the nation. Averee Fields of Calloway County, at 81st, is the only other Kentucky girl in the top 100. That’s their opinion. Boone Co. beat Franklin Co by 5. Rockcastle beat them by 34. Marion Co. beat Scott Co by 4. Rockcastle beat them by 25. Rockcastle has no 7th region opponents this year, and they are on opposite sides of the bracket at Bowling Green. No facts to compare.

Coach Noble generally gets the bench involved when the margin gets around 20 or so into the second half. She is pretty classy about not piling on when it is not necessary, although sometimes you do need to make a statement of sorts. Rockcastle will lose six seniors next year, the entire starting lineup. I expect that Coach Noble is also taking advantage of getting the JV athletes as much playing time as possible. Often they are in against the opposing starters for a while and usually hold their own. She was coach of the year a few years back and she really deserves another look this year. She is one outstanding lady.

Out early and never looked back. 47-22 at the half. Lawrence finished with 20. Hammond had 20 in the first half, finished with 26. Elizabethtown on Saturday afternoon ought to be a good'un!

Rockcastle plays Elizabethtown this Saturday. Top six matchup with one loss each, (as of today). Only common opponent is the always tough Lincoln County losing to the Rock by 9 and E-town by 4 and by 12 Should be a classic and a must-see game of the year.

The Rock up by about 20 most of the second half. The JVs finished for both teams for the 17 point victory. Out early and never looked back. There, I've said it again. The draw for Diddle has the 12th vs 11th first round. Rockcastle has played Scott County and Madison Central so far. Bryan Station is next week.

Under Par You are misreading me completely. I was defending the Rock against the "take Hammond away and they are very average" comments. I'm not knocking the twelfth at all. When Rock didn't go to Diddle we were very proud of Casey and Wayne. And if you look over my comments you will see I have always had a lot of respect for Lincoln County. Regionals battles between Lincoln and Rockcastle and Casey have been great for years. I'm not tearing anybody down.

One additional comment: Rock has won 14 of 18 wins by 18 or more points. Rock plays extremely tough man-to-man. That takes a lot more than just Sarah Hammond. First 7 or 8 players all play regularly and all play the man very well. They beat a lot of teams that have hot shots. Hammond may likely be player of the year depending on how they do at Diddle, (if they go), and she only averages 18 a game. She is a great playmaker along with everything else. But don't underestimate them as a one woman team. (And they have one of the premier coaches and coaching staffs in KY girls basketball.)