Lion Mania

Not making a prediction. If Elliott plays like they did the last 3 quarters against Mason they should be fine and come away with a victory. If they shoot (for the sake of offending someone) or Ballard's lock down defense causes them to shoot like Cedar Hill/Shelby Valley then we will probably see a 5-10 point Ballard win.

I will say this, Ballard (like Bryan Station) is closer to Elliott's style with offense centered around their guards (Cox and Chiles) and not quite as big as the Shelby Valley's, Holmes, Mason's, and Scott County's of the world. I saw Holmes beat Ballard by 5 in the Bryan Station Defender Classic and also against another team in that classic. Jones at 6'4" (I believe) was the biggest and most consistent inside threat, but most of their offense centered around the perimeter and Cox and Chiles. Really don't remember too much about their inside game (only Jones) because of their guard play. Should be a good matchup with the Faulkner's who will be like pesty little bee's and sticking to them like glue from end to end.

Those Ferguson girls (Shae and Kelsey) are very good and Lakin Griffith has been putting up big numbers as of late. They have put together a great year against a very tough schedule that included a win over Scott County.

Congrats to the Lady Lions on a super season and hoping for a deep run in post season!!!

Congrats to ET as I like to call him. I have seen them all (PGs in the state) and you are #1 in my book my friend. Great leadership from this young man who is like a coach on the floor. Great desire and gives 110% at all times.

Plays the game the way it was meant to be played (just ask Joe B.). I have enjoyed watching him play and hope to enjoy it a while longer. NKU got one heck of a player!!!

Slow start for the Lions, but they picked it up in the 2d quarter. Ferg honored before the home fans before the game with the announcement of him joining an elite group in the 3,000 point club. What a big accomplishment for this young man from Isonville. Ferg I salute you and the whole county is proud of your accomplishment. Everyone was proud of him, but none glowed like the parents and grandparents and the look I saw on their faces. Then he proceeded to put up 30 points taking the ball to the rack with a vengenance and scoring over some tall timber at the rack. Also some beautiful spin moves and then his patent fall away jumper that tickles the twine. As Joe Dean would say a little string music in Sandy Hook KY. Twins were constant motion as always and causing chaos for the raiders all over the court. Don't bring the ball down because if you do they are like magicians swiping it away and heading the other direction before you know what hit you. Let the ride continue.

NEXT UP: The Mason Royals venture into the Lion's Den!!!

EC led 49-20 at the half and then just coasted and I mean coasted. EC and Raceland actually tied in the 3d quarter 16-16 and then Elliott outscored them by 10 in the 4th quarter. Very uninspired 2d half from the EC point of view. So many starter-sub combinations one couldn't keep up with them. Not a lot to say except EC took care of business. Better be ready tomorrow with East coming to the Hook.

Boyles is a terrific player and can really shoot the ball and also can really get off the floor with some tremendous jumping ability. Just needs some help for Raceland to be a good team.

I'll take Mason County in a nail bitter 68-67. I think this game will be decided inside one minute left. GRC has the home court advantage, but GRC is missing two good inside players with injuries. I agree that Setty needs a big game for Mason with probably 25-27 points.

I like Fairview to win by 11 points. Is this game still on for tonight?? Friend of mine said this area had a lot of snow last night?? Of course, Fairview to Raceland is only 15-20 miles I believe??

Used to think Seneca was the dark horse in the loaded seventh region. Now that Seneca is ranked pretty high in the state I now pass this dark horse title over to Waggener. Seems that Sloan and Bradshaw can really put up some nice numbers. How many other regions would Waggener probably win?? More than one I would say. Don't think they can win the region, but they can certainly ruin someone's party for one day.

Can we assume that the Ashland-Elliott County game will not be rescheduled? I'm sure Ashland would prefer this solution.

If the weather remained this bad for a few more days I doubt EC would play anymore 16th region games until the district. The long range forecast calls for temps in the 50s and 60s from Friday through next Wednesday so they may just play a few more 16th region games. Fishing around for out of region replacement games this late in the season is a difficult to almost impossible task with teams having no open dates that fit, travel/budget restrictions, or at the max number of regular season games allowed by KHSAA. I would cancel if at all possible and re-schedule for next season sometime.

Agreed it is a mute point and I'm hoping that other team gets to Sat morning.

It won't be easy for anybody though as the lower bracket has a bunch of possible quality teams right from the start.

I read your post. I was just saying that against the two biggest teams EC played their shooting percentage dropped considerably, which makes it more obvious that the other teams' defense had a lot to do with it. Shooting is an important part of the game, but at the same time couldn't Elliott's lack of defense also be a reason for the loss? Again, defense saves, when offense isn't working. Elliott can't expect to outshoot and run everyone out of the gym.

 

This is like :deadhorse: though. Good luck to you and your Lions the rest of the season. I look forward to making the trip to EC to see them against Mason County. :thumb:

Agreed:deadhorse: Come on down, but be careful as the last few miles is a beaten path with dirt road leading to the HS (not, but it is over the hill and through the woods to grandma's house so to speak)

I gave EC credit for beating AC and I do believe the BGP poll is most accurate.

 

As far as SV's size and beef inside, Pittman is a lot stronger than you think down low. He isn't a skinny rail anymore. He's added 3 inches and 25 lbs since last year. Anyone who has seen him will tell you he's put on some noticable strength and size. Just ask both Euton and Phares. I'd say both are pretty comparable to Tacket and Adams and Pittman had his way with the front court of SC and pushed Euton around the whole game. Let's also not forget Pittman went up against 6'8 Nichols of Ryle who has football offers from UC, Louisville, and Stanford as a TE/OL...Pittman also had no problem with him either. If Pittman can push around and be physical with a High D1 TE, I doubt very seriously Tacket and Adams would present anything he hasn't seen yet.

 

As far as the hard foul comment, honestly that shows a lack of class, but didn't Paintsville try to do that to Holmes last year in the state tournament? What was the outcome of that game? EKY teams are naturally going to be physical but both Holmes and Scott Co are much more physical than they're given credit for.

 

You should know I too respect your opinion as I've told you many times. Hopefully, as you said, we'll see our respective teams against one another on a Saturday morning in March. Good luck the rest of the way.

The hard foul comment was a bad way to get my point across, but in no way reflects on my class. My class speaks for itself in 24 years of commissioned service to the nation as a US Army Officer defending our country around the globe. Pittman may be a lot stronger since the two games I saw at BS and stronger than he appears. My point is that Adams and Tackett are very thick, take up space, and very strong & physical on the inside, besides being very tall and long.

What other top 20 team has Elliott beat besides Anderson?

Since Southside, Pickering, South Charleston, and Myrtle Beach don't count then how many have they played?? Not very many I guess since they have only played the number you can count on one hand. If Elliott would have beat St. Patrick's, Wheeler, or MLK those wouldn't have counted either I guess. It only counts if they are a mighty top KY team. Those others are just so so wins that don't count for much. Forgive us for ever going to a shabby tournament like Myrtle Beach.

Why is it that Elliott loses and automatically it's because they shot the ball poorly? It's no coincidence that the two biggest teams EC has played, they've lost to in Cedar Hill and Shelby Valley. Give the other team some credit. I'd say both teams' size and tough defense had a lot more to do with Elliott having an off night than EC just shooting poorly. I don't buy it considering how well they shoot from outside pretty much every other game.

 

Let's also not forget that each team pretty much scored at will against EC. I guess their lack of defense has nothing to do with why they lost though...right? When your offense isn't working, defense will save you. See Holmes last year against Lexcath and Paintsville in the state tourney. Has it ever occurred to anyone that maybe EC just isn't as good as some of us talked them up to be? Don't get me wrong, They are good but there's a reason they weren't ranked any higher than 4 or 5 in most polls BEFORE their loss.....

Did you not read my last post?? I do give the credit to Cedar Hill/SV defense and length causing shooting degradation. I just don't give it all (100%) the credit when they shoot such a miserable percentage. Yes EC is not going to shoot their average of 50% from the field and 36% from trey land against a Holmes or Scott County, but they don't have to shoot that high to be successful against them and compete. Why do we use shooting as a key (not an excuse)?? Because EC is four average size guards and one forward (who sometimes thinks he is a guard) and that is the one of the big keys to them being successful against a Top 5 team. They are not going to out rebound them or very unlikely (although some how they outrebounded Cedar Hills??).

There are more people in those three areas of the state...hence more talent and better teams.

 

 

 

I think the point is, over the past two years EC has managed to beat just ONE top 20 team and honestly that 3 point loss could have been much worse if SV makes their free throws down the stretch. It's tough to continue to put them in the 4-8 range when they probably wouldn't beat any of those teams.

 

Honestly, SV is probably the 7th or 8th best team in the state. I'd be hard pressed to believe they'd beat anyone in the top 5, especially Holmes and Scott Co. Holmes athleticism and length would give SV fits. (see Bardstown who is much less athletic than Holmes and a little smaller but gave SV all they wanted) Scott Co's overall size would overwhelm the Cats. SV has a nice team but just because they beat EC, doesn't mean they'd beat the top two teams in the state...or several other top 5 teams for that matter.

 

March is right around the corner my friend. EC will have a chance to prove us all wrong. Looking forward to the game against Mason County. :thumb:

Is Anderson not Top 20?? The beloved BGP Poll has them at #18. Thought you said the BGP Poll was the most accurate?? I was up close and personal in the three SV games I saw at EKU. Adams 6'9" and Tackett 6'7" are not only tall and long they have some beef & thickness and are very physical. Yes Holmes is athletic, but tall and thin and don't have that beef and strength that those two possess. Pittman tries dunking over those two it may not only be a hard foul, but a TKO in the 1st quarter. I respect your opinion, but also cherish mine. In the spirit of good sportsmanship March is just right around the bend and all will be put to rest before long. Yours may be right and mine wrong or vice versa. Probably not the first time one of us got something wrong. Here's hoping for a Holmes/EC semi on sat morning.

While I agree with the premise that most of the top-ranked schools are from "the golden triangle", I have yet to meet anyone from NKY or read a publication from NKY that claims Mason County.

How about if you hope a boat down the Ohio you are right there in a few minutes. :isurrender::jump: Oh well nice try. Actually I left Mason out of my thinking (no rhime or reason just forgot) and you are exactly right.

I don't think "hope" is the right word. I think defense can be a huge factor...

I know the thinking and mentality. Anytime EC plays a Holmes, Scott Co., SV the defense and length will hold them to these low shooting percentages. I am a little more balanced in my approach and happen to think it is a combination of both and not just the other team's dominant defense. EC shooting 40% from the field and 30% from trey land is pretty good defense against them and poor shooting for this team. If they get to those numbers they win. Pressure IMO is on the outstanding defense to produce those far below average low numbers. We only have 2 sample games to go by and that being Cedar Hill and SV. That is not good statistics to put all your eggs in one basket over just 2 games.

Take a KY map and draw small circles around NKY, Lexington, and Louisville and you have 6 teams left from the 90% of the state that remains; Christian, Bardstown, Anderson, Corbin, SV, and Elliott. Reminds me of the blue state, red state maps during the past few presidential elections. Red color has 80% of the land area covered, but blue covers all the big populated areas.

Elliott at #11 doesn't surprise me one bit. I actually thought they would drop to #14 or #15 after their first KY loss by a whopping 3 points.

SV is a Top 5 team. They can compete and beat anybody including the mighty Holmes Bulldogs and the birds from Scott County. They have size, are phsyical, guards are super quick and can shoot. When Justice is healthy and playing they can beat anyone in the state.

My first post in 72 hrs. I knew the dogs would be coming out after EC's first KY loss and I wanted them to have their day (s) in the sun. Surprised they didn't drop more than #7 in the AP and #11 in BGP?? I also remember a 29 pt. loss at Maysville last year and all the talk about this team being dead and gone. Well they are not dead and gone after this large margin 3 pt. loss to a Top 5 team IMO. Both losses this year have been 2 of the 4 games they shot under 40%. They shot under 40% against Anderson & Southside, but countered that with 12 treys (Southside) and 8 treys (Anderson). Both losses also included shooting under 30% from trey land. Cedar Hill they had 4 treys and SV only 6 treys. When Elliott shoots 40% and hits 9-10 treys in a game nobody beats them period. Even when they shoot under 40% from the field and under 30% (trey land) it is still a dog fight which speaks volumes about this teams resilence and determination. All I can say is if they make it to Sweet Sixteen the rest of the field must hope they have a poor shooting game and don't catch fire from outside.

It is not uncommon for an NCC game to be low scoring. They will work the ball and slow the scoring down. The more time off the clock, the less scoring, you get the picture.

 

I am not an Elliott County fan, only because I don't think they have a quality win that I can relate to. If they win on Sunday, that would be a start.

Wireman you are exactly right. I bolded the part above and not sure what he means, but I take a stab at the translation---I don't know anything about those out of state teams so EC has no quality wins. Makes sense to me. :confused:Unless you beat a top KY team you just haven't beat any top teams period.

I must say after seeing Shelby Valley the last two games (only time I have seen them this year) I expected to see much more in person than what I've seen. Their offensive numbers were bigger earlier in the year. They will have to score a lot more than 56 points (like they did today) to beat Elliott unless EC shoots like 25% from the field which I don't see happening. Do they have a talented team?? Yes, but I expected bigger offensive output than what I saw in the first two games of the All A. No prediction--just leave it at that.

Your constant analysis of the time the Elliott County players are in the game, is perplexing. If they played 20 min. in a 32 minute game, why is this an issue.

 

A coach develops talent in practice and he plays who he wants. I'm not certain but maybe these young men, who like all the other All A teams are excited about playing in the State. Perhaps the most important aspect of the game is not the minutes played.

I agree. Why is Elliott under such a fine tuned microscope where every single player's exact playing time to the minute is counted by people who root for other teams?? Simply amazing to me. As far as some of the questions why Rick Mays would do this or do that I can only say give him a call and ask him. Sounds like a lot of pole vaulting over mouse droppings from where I sit.:deadhorse::idunno:

If Rick Mayes was really greedy he would have broken the most points scored in a single game by one team in the All A State history which is 103 points by Lexington Catholic vs. Barbourville 103-49 which was the largest scoring margin (54). Elliott did break that by winning by 61 last night.

Ferg played 22 minutes (less than 3 qtrs by my math) and scored 25 pts. If the starters would have played the 4th quarter we would have blown away the old record of 103 pts.

If Pineville doesn't play better than last night, they may get 100 laid on them in 3 quarters. Sounds like pride--it's not just facts. Then again it could be a barn burner but we must play bad and they must play a whole lot better than last night with only 37 points scored.

Why would the starters play over 20 mins in this game?

 

Lack of class on the coaches part IMO. Sure does make it look like he tried running the score up.

Was at the game. No if we wanted to run the score up to 130 we could have. I think the starters that are seniors deserve a little playing time in this their final All A tournament. We could have won by 100 easily, but didn't.

That bottom half is a gauntlet. It's going to be very hard for any team on the bottom portion to win it, they will be dead by Saturday night IMO. With that being said, I think Holmes still wins it, they can match up favorably with any team in the bottom half IMO, Scott will be the toughest test, Elliott will be fairly easy IMO-Elliott Fans begin your bashing now.

BigSpikes--We used to get upset, but now it doesn't even cause us to blink. We now embrace and love the Rodney Dangerfield row. For all those others that want to--bash away. We love people taking us lightly and thinking they are going to wipe the court with us. When we are weak, then are we strong.

I agree we don't match-up with Holmes or Scott County, but then again we didn't match up with about every team at Myrtle Beach that I saw who looked like they had something close to college front lines. Again, keep on bashing and we will keep on smiling and being happy!!! Nothing we ain't heard by now anyway. To the naysayers and bashers--Love you guys.....