Cover Corner

With the new coach there is some excitement for the first time in a long time. They will have one of the best, if not the best, player in the 15th region in junior guard BJ Moore. Sophmore to be aware of is Chase Kirk. This kid could be special in the end. Several new athletes are coming out under Coach Spurlock that would not play for the old coach. Sheldon Clark should be right in the mix of things in the 57th district & 15th region when the time comes. Things are looking up in Cardinal Country.

I was always partial to the screw in for games and the molded in practice. If you are playing at ST. X & Trinity I am afraid it might not matter what types of cleats you use.

A big Good Luck goes out to all of Raceland Football from this Sheldon Clark fan.

The 16th region offical was not a he, so the person you spoke to may have been a bit confused.

But we do not live in that world. The bottom line is that team performance effects the individual awards. May not be fair, but it is what it is. If I am going to build a team and I have to pick between the 2 I would take Justice everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

If I had to make a list for this award it would look like this: 1. Justice - Valley 2. Sewell - Trinity 3. Johnson - Holmes 4. Polson - W. Jess. 5. Everyone Else

I was one who had said that Josh Sewell was the best player in the state all year, but after what happened in Lexington this past week I would have to vote for Justice. You can say regular season all you want, they vote on the award after the sweet sixteen for a reason. Justice has earned the award IMO.

It should rank well behind the tournaments you mentioned. The All A Classic seldom has more than 2 top 10 teams in the state while KOB, LCT, & LIT all normaly have several. The level of competition at the All A is average on good years and below average on most years IMO.

He plays against weaker competition. He is not the best player in the state this year. Sewell has played a better schedule and is the best player in the state. Justice beats up on Eastern Kentucky teams. If Justice played in the 11th, 7th, 6th, or 9th region he would not even be in this conversation. His career stats are better because he has started 4 years. Take him to Scott Co, or Holmes, or Trinity, or Ballard and he would not start as a freshman. He would wait his turn. Lets compare his stats this season with Sewell. Justice has been the center of Valley's offense for 3 years playing average teams on good nights and below average teams on most nights.

Elijah Justice has 0 State Championships. All A Classic does not count as state titles. Holmes was the state champion last year, not Valley. I'm pretty sure that Shelby Valley would not have won the 7th region, and I'm pretty sure that if Trinity had been in the 15th region they could have gone to Rupp. I'll tell you what why not let Valley play in the 7th regional tournament this year and Trinity in the 15th and see how well that works out. The bottom line is Justice wins against weaker competition. The 15th region is not the 7th. If Valley played a schedule like Trinity's they would have several losses.

1st Region: Pad. Tilghman 2nd Region: Christian Co. 3rd Region: O - Catholic 4th Region: Bowling Green 5th Region: Campbellsville 6th Region: PRP 7th Region: Trinity 8th Region: South Oldham 9th Region: Holmes 10th Region: GRC 11th Region: Scott Co. 12th Region: McCreary Central 13th Region: Corbin 14th Region: Perry Co. Central 15th Region: Shelby Valley 16th Region: East Carter Tiebreaker: 15th

If Shelby Valley can not pressure you into turnovers they can not beat you. They beat up on less athletic Eastern Kentucky teams, but when someone has athletes comparable to theirs or does not get rattled by pressure they struggle. That is why they can not win the State Championship. Elite level teams (Scott Co, Holmes, Trinity, etc) will not be bothered by kids that are less athletic than them pressing.

I was not there, but I am sure they were. Valley never calls the dogs off.

With a favorable draw (by that I mean not playing regions 11, 9, 6, or 7 in consecutive games) Christian Co. could find themselves playing the last Saturday of the season.

I'll go out on a limb and say: One of these three (Highlands, Trinity, or St. X) will win a state title.

Yes Austin is the best player in the Commonwealth. Yes. He is better than Miles. No point in thread jacking a thread about a great acomplishment by a great kid. Congrads to Austin and all the Highlands Bluebird Football family.

Game 1 Winner Bell County Game 2 Winner Bowling Green Game 3 Winner Lone Oak Game 4 Winner Prestonsburg Game 5 Winner Mayfield

I think Bell County is clearly the better team, but if Lawrence can keep the football and eat up clock they will have a chance to win in the end. The more possessions that Bell County gets the less likely Lawrence is to pull the upset. Control the TOP and Lawrence will be in the game. That said I don't think Lawrence can keep the football enough. They will hang tough at first, but the way Bell Co. hits you will wear on the Bulldogs and this game won't be in question come the 4th quarter. Good luck to both teams. These are 2 of my favorite teams in the entire state and I pull for them every chance I get. Bell Co.: 42 Lawrence Co: 8

Might want to go to the Sheldon Clark @ Pike Co. Central game. Should be a good one and looks to be the closest of all.

7... Sheldon Clark 5... Letcher Co. Central 3... Perry Co. Central 2... Whitley Co. 1... Southwestern TB... Perry Co. Central

I am hoping that the Tomcats can pull out a BIG WIN against Ironton, but I think they will come up a little short. Ironton seems to be getting back to being IRONTON. Ashland is working their way back to being the Tomcats of old, but they are not there yet. The game being at Putnam is always a plus. I think it is one of the hardest places for opposing teams to play. This will be a good test for the Tomcats since like Ironton, district foe Johnson Central will line up and come right at you. This will tell alot about Ashland's ability to stuff a power running game. My Pick: Ironton: 42 Ashland: 20

This is not your typical Highlands team. This Highlands team has a chance to be something very special. The talent is there to be one of the best Highlands teams ever, they just have to translate it to the field. Not taking anything away from Bell County, they are the best football team in Eastern Kentucky, but in my eyes they are not ready to play a team like Highlands just yet.

I did not see a thread on this one. Should be a physical football game. Whitley has lost a couple of games against some of the best teams in AAAA. Belfry has started slow but came up with a big win on the road at Letcher Co. Central. I think Whitley is to big and physical for Belfry to compete with this year. That coupled with the bus trip spells trouble for the Pirates IMO. I will take Whitley by 3 scores. Good luck to both teams.

Johnson Central will wear down M'boro with their size. I will be surprised if this one is not over by halftime. All Eagles all night.

I don't think Highlands would give Bell a game. I think Highlands would give Bell Co. a taste similar to what Alcola gave them. Nothing against Bell (They are hands down the best team in Eastern KY) but Highlands is a little out of their league.