Lion Mania

My opinion too--About a year ago my opinion would have been the opposite and the same as many of you on here. I wouldn't drive from Garrard County to Paris (50 miles) much less a 127 miles (Sandy Hook) to see this bunch of 16th region gunners play who probably don't play anybody and are way overrated. But little by little I got hooked by the Hook. Didn't know one single person in Elliott County and probably didn't at that point care to know anyone in Elliott County. My how things have changed in a short amount of time. Now not only going to drive 50 miles to see them play but 550 miles come next week!!!! Come on some of you guys convert over and be believers as the preacher would say on Sunday morning. Try it you'll like it. Never a dull moment and the adrenaline rush is better than the first hill on the Beast at King's Island. I need a weekly fix to get by now.................

For the sake of those whom this concerns: Ferg came out of the game never to return with 3:56 left in the game. Starters one by one starting coming out at that point. All starters were out of the game with 2 minutes left. If one was concerned with Ferg leading the state in scoring and also trying to run up the score to a 30 point margin conventional wisdom says let him & the team play the rest of the game and Ferg hits two more bombs (10 treys) and hits the 40 point mark. With 3:56 left the game was over whether Elliott wins by 25 or 10. This was high octane basketball at its best. To those out there in the future. If you're going to beat them (and yes anybody can and will be beat) then you must slow the train down. Good luck, because right now it seems like a runaway train with no brakes and on a collision course with destiny.

Ferguson was on fire tonight 8 from 3 land, he finished with 34. Great win for the Lions. Up 12 at half SC came out and scored the first 10. Elliott went on a big run to finish with 30 points in the 3rd led by Ferguson with 14 and 4 bombs. The 4th the twins sealed it from the line. Huntington and Charleston Papers should read tomorrow morning--"#1 just got 107 laid on them". Ferg was drilling them from NBA 3 range. If somebody in the state can out shoot this kid than I have got to see them play. He simply buried SC in the third quarter with threes raining from all over. Most of them with two hands or more right by the ball before he released them. Had to be something like 8 of 14 from trey land which is way above 50%. Ethan is the floor general and coach on the floor and runs the ship. T. Knipp threw down another monster dunk on a lob and continues to show the touch on the long ball. These guys are warriors and don't back down from anyone. They will surprise a few of the nation's elite at the Beach next week.

Best player from Burgin High School was 6'8" Jack Coleman who led Burgin to its only State Tournament spot in 1938. Later played at the University of Louisville where today his jersey is retired and then for the Rochester Royals and St. Louis Hawks. He won 2 NBA Championship rings. One with Rochester and another toward the end of his career with St. Louis beating the Boston Celtics in 7 games. That Celtics team had Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinson, and Bill Sharman. In the 6th game in Boston Garden he hit the shot at the end of regulation to send it into overtime where St. Louis won and forced a 7th game back in St. Louis. He was the 6th man on that team while starting for Rochester. Just a little history from some 70 years ago. Today Burgin is still a school with about 350 students in grades K-12. My graduating class was 26 back in the 70s and today that is about the size of a graduating class.

Before they can take off to Myrtle Beach this Friday they must play Region Seed #2 East Carter on Tuesday night in Sandy Hook. You made it sound like that after this game they were off to the Beach. Let us not forget that the one close game (of the four) with East was in Sandy Hook last year. They won by a single point in that one, but won the other three going away by double figures (including at East, District, and Regional Final).

Whatever you tell me.

Probably not, but maybe you can get one of those crane helicopters like they have in the army and airlift the school to someplace like Greensburg, Lebanon, or Springfield all in the 5th. The scenery is beautiful and a whole lot less congested than Louisville. Just think---No more traffic jams!!!! Just empty rolling hills for miles and miles. Land spreading out so far and wide keep Manhattan just give me that countryside. Green acres is the place to be. Bib overalls and a straw hat to boot.

Got to hand it to them though. 5-1 is a big improvement from 3-22 last year. They probably have some hope that they can at least keep it interesting for a while. If I was from Frenchburg I would see just a little ray of hope popping through the clouds. Haven't been to that gym yet either, but heard it is a doozy. Elliott and Menifee both have something in common. Two of the smallest population counties in KY and both the county seats are tiny: Sandy Hook (700) and Frenchburg (500). SALUTE........

Many including myself thought the 5th was going to be a strong region. North Hardin and Bardstown not impressive in early season results. Maybe the 5th is not that strong this year. Adair is 5-0 but only beat Campellsville by 1 point. Any thoughts on that region??

I second that emotion (I mean motion). Both are 6'1' but can guard and defend much bigger players very well. Evan always gets the hard assignments with 6'8" Euton and players much taller than him. When he sees a little ole 6'3" guard his eyes light up. Not trying to boast, but Elliott's entire team defense with pressure, traps, and help side defense is among the best. And the few times they do get beat with the press you are usually left staring at a big 6'7" athletic sophomore who is chomping at the bits to swat it down. Against Hood in pre-season Elliott switched up with who guarded him and each one brought something different to the table, but Evan got the majority of the assignment.

Yes it is, but Cosby and Kennedy did not play. Two of J-Town's starters and top players.

Clint Stepp is still at JBS along with the big guy Garrison Collins. Noticed the other night that some kid named Hall had 32 or so points in a JBS win. Does anybody know who that is?? I don't think I ever heard of him or saw him play in Summer Ball??

I agree--MC is 5-0 and is off to a great start, but also it is the 12th just being the 12th. I was raised and live in that region and still it doesn't impress me. Wayne is one of many top teams in the 12th along with McCreary Central, Lincoln County, and probably a bunch of others. Trying to predict who will win that region is a roll of the dice. Whoever wins it will probably be one and done.

SV looks scary good right now. I probably won't see them until the All A in Richmond, but can't wait to see them. The way they are playing they may come to Richmond undefeated or with only one or two losses by a close margin. Only surprise was Pikeville leading them by 4 at halftime, but then they win on in the second half to win it by a big margin.

I only said the kind of things that make one go hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I put it on there for those who like to use it to get their knee jerk reaction. I've said in other posts that the math doesn't work & I agree it is about head to head match-ups. You also used the Covington Catholic lose last year by Elliott to your advantage in stating that Holmes would beat Elliott by xxxx number of points since Holmes beat Covington Catholic handily last year.

Menifee County was the doormat of the 16th last year finishing 3-22 and 0-13 in the region. Not anymore!!! They are 5-1 now and have already won 3 games in the region. Probably think they can beat Elliott in the all A Regional on January 20th. Why not if I was them?? Congrads to Menifee on turning things around and playing some good basketball in the early season. One more win and you have doubled your total wins from last year. Things are looking up in Frenchburg.

I can see a Shelby Valley vs. Elliott Game as a possible final in the All A Tourney in Richmond on Sunday Feb. 1st. Would be a great game of maybe two of the top 6 or 7 teams in the state. Shelby Valley has those impressive wins over Walton GA by 21 and Henry Clay by 35 (Bryan Station only beat HC by 5 pts.) I hope they draw in different brackets. The state brackets for the All A should be out anytime now as we are only about 39 days from the start. Right now a nice final four on Saturday would include Shelby Valley, Elliott County, Hazard, and Bardstown.

Got it and agree with you somewhat. Your definition of a signature win though seems very limited to include only the Top 3 in KY. But, I believe the signature wins are coming in the next 2 weeks and then after that later on a weekend in Richmond. I understand perfectly where you are coming from. Top 3 being Scott County, Holmes, and Bryan Station I assume. If you are judging or using those three as your definition of a signature win (or even J-Town) then we will have to wait until Rupp before we have any answers or a possible signature win and maybe even Saturday depending on the draw. Since Greenup Co. dropped Elliott is trying to replace with a Top 10 or Top 20 team is my understanding. I hope they can schedule a Manual or Franklin County like I've heard they are trying to do.

Yeh, that 41 pt. loss to Corbin is puzzling to me, especially after Corbin loses to Knox Central. That means that Corbin would beat Scott County and Elliott County by 20 pts. Don't think so.......................................... Just shows to me how young and erratic GRC is in the early season.

Searching the web I could find no player bigger than 6'3" Aaron Dobson who is their top player and leading scorer from last year at 17.5ppg. They return 4starters and the whole team is just coming off a 3A Football Championship win on December 6th. Everything I read what that at least 4 of the starters were integral parts of the football team. That tells me they have some very good athletes who are in the 5'11" to 6'3" range. Mostly a senior dominated team with the exception of Soph guard P. Henry who had 13 pts. against Huntington the other night and top reserve sophomore Josh Hudson who had 12 pts. in the 20 pt. win against Huntington. Dobson had 22 pts. the other night against Huntington. SC made the finals of 3A last year and finished at 25-2. Nickname is Black Eagles, colors orange, black, and white, enrollment about 1,150 students.

I believe GRC would beat Mason by single digits in a close game if they played tomorrow. If they played in March in NKY Bank of KY Center which they may I like GRC by double digits. By March these sophomores will be closer to juniors and playing like a Top 10 team.

Clark is really young with the heart and soul of the team sophomores. Their ranking in BGP at #16 is about right. They will move up as those sophomores get closer to being juniors. The pre-season hype that had them at #4 or #5 was a little too much to expect so quick. They may sneak back into the Top 10, but not until mid-Feb or so. Comparitive scores for those who like them. They don't really mean alot to be honest, but a few weeks ago Elliott beat GRC by 21 and tonight Scott beats them by 20. Kinda things that makes one go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........

Well I haven't made a comment on this thread. Was waiting for everyone else to get through. Kind of like the chow line in the Army!!! After 144 posts just about everything has been said and then some. Score speaks for itself. If Ferg played 28 or 29 minutes no doubt he would have had 55 points or more. T. Knipp is the key and right now the key is working in the lock. Back to back career high nights for the young man with 31 pts. If he keeps putting up anything remotely close to these numbers than Elliott becomes more dangerous as the year progresses and his level of play goes up for the young sophomore. He has more room for growth and improvement than any other player in my opinion. Ferg and the twins are constant, sterling, and we all know what we are going to get from them, but T. Knipp's maturity and growth as a young player is what makes Elliott an even better team. Now for Boyd and you would have to have been at the game to understand my compliments about them. First of all they were not scared and did not back down. They showed the ability to knock down open threes and shot them with confidence. They are much better than what I anticipated for having not won a game. May sound crazy by the 65 pt. win, but again you would have had to be at the game to understand what I'm saying. The next five or six games will be Elliott's chance to silence some of the naysayers (for a short while). I personally believe they can play with the national powers at the Beach. We will certainly find out in the next 8-10 days. Myrtle Beach has 3 teams ranked in the USA Today Super 25 in St. Patrick's (NJ), Wheeling (GA), and Arlington Country Day (FL). Paterson Catholic (NJ) was ranked #28 by ESPN and Boy's Girl's of NY #46 by ESPN. At last count there were about 35 either D-1 signees or players being courted by D-1 schools in this tournament. It is rated one of the top two or three tournaments nationally every year. Only one team from KY gets an invite each year. Who's who of college coaches are at this event and Michael Jordan has a habit of coming to this tourney.

It adds a little more perspective, but the math against comparative opponents just doesn't work in HS or College basketball anymore unless you are trying to use it to your advantage or make your opinion/prediction stick. But, thanks for the info as I didn't know West played an out of state team.

Just for the record and without disclosing private information: Racer4life like me is not from Elliott, but quite a distance away. I reside in the 12th region and yes I have seen Elliott and most of the top teams in the state. He has seen a lot of Elliott games and comes to many games despite being a fan of his own team. After playing basketball for 8 years including a final HS game with 29 (when we didn't have 3 pointers) and watching HS B-Ball for over 40 years, 12 straight years of never missing a state tournament game, and as a complete outsider 125 miles from Elliott County, here is the bottom line. ELLIOTT COUNTY BELONGS IN ANY DISCUSSION AS A TOP STATE TEAM AND IS A THREAT (WHICH IS THE WORD THAT SCARES THE NAYSAYERS) TO WIN THE WHOLE SHOOTING MATCH IN MARCH. JUST AS MUCH A THREAT AS SCOTT COUNTY, HOLMES, J-TOWN, MANUAL, BRYAN STATION, SHELBY VALLEY, AND SEVERAL OTHER POSSIBLE TEAMS. But, since we really won't know until March we will just have all this doubt & continued verbage until then that time comes.