Over And Back

Here are some stats for the local team's centers per the KHSAA website that are pretty recent (I also throw in some personal observations): West Carter - Stevens: 15 points, 13 rebs (Senior) One the hardest working and strongest centers in the region - good dribbler and spin move in the lane. Uses the backboard very well on post moves. Can use either hand when shooting Russell - Parsley: 11 points 9 rebs (as of January 7) (Junior) Not a power player but is really good at getting rebounding position. Has a nose for the ball. Also has a good shot underneath (soft touch around the rim). Rowan County - Riddle:13 points 4 rebs (Senior) Pound for pound probably the hardest working Center/Forward in the region. At only 5'7" Riddle uses her strength and grit to outmuscle much taller defensive players. She is a pretty good ball handler and can step back and hit the 3-pointer. Elliott County - Griffith: 19 points 11 rebs (Senior) A center/forward that can play outside or in. Great rebounder and very hard-nosed / strong player. A hard match-up for most teams. Always follows her shot. Ashland - Conner: 14 points 7 rebs (junior) A finese player that has an excellent shooting touch around the basket. If she would develop a power game she could be outstanding. Although behind the other region centers in terms of rebounds, she probably leads the region in blocked shots (in the games I have seen, she has averaged about 6 blocks a game) I couldn't get any info on Raceland's Keeton or Lewis or on East's Combs. Hard to say which is really the best center in the region looking at stats. Each player has their own individual strengths (and weaknesses of course). Who would a coach choose? Probably depends on the skills of the other players on the team and who would be the best fit.

Not saying that Ashland's Connor was the one being penalized - I believe that the refs call it too closely on all taller players of the region including Simpson and Parsley. I would have liked for Conner, Parsley, and Conner to have played the whole game. I believe that both teams can say that their taller players leaving the game was an advatage to the other team. I'm not saying that taller players should be given preferential treatment and allowed to make legitimate fouls and get away with it, but compared to the other regions in the state, the 16th region refs love to call the "touchy" stuff inside the lane. It almost seems that they don't believe that a 6 foot + girl can block a shot clean without fouling. JMO

Very good game. Russell has definitely improved since the beginning of the season. They could be a darkhorse for the tourney. Their size with Parsley and Simpson can give a lot of teams match-up problems. Ashland's Conner was impressive scoring 18 points in very limited playing time due to foul trouble. It seems like the 16th region refs just don't want to let the inside players play always calling ticky -tack fouls. But that is a possible topic for another thread......

I would definitely agree that this is an upset, especially with the game played at East Carter. Looks like things could get interesting come tourney time. I've seen Lewis play several times and with their senior leadership and scrappy play you can never count them out.

Were you at the game? I'm curious to know what the foul was for. Any details?

:laugh: Now that I will take you up on!

Why should I trust you?

I don't think Ashland lost him, I think he quit.

Hey a win is a win (even an ugly win). I am assuming that the Stevens girl for West had a big night. The few times I have seen her she has played very hard - in one game she had to have at least 20 rebounds. West may not have a sterling record, but I think they could pull an upset on any given night. Any team that overlooks West during tourney time might find themselves going home early. I would also like to hear some stats if anyone has them.

Big win by the Elliott girls. Looks like some teams are starting to heat up at the right time in the season. Things could get interesting in the next couple weeks.....

And they are AT Mongomery Co. this Friday. Should be interesting....

I agree that Parsley is a good inside player but saying she is the most dominant post in the region might be overstating it a bit. If she actually played in the post instead of outside the lane I might be more inclined to agree with you.

Excellent comments:thumb: Everything is "pre-season" until districts begin....

Sounds like a dominating performance by Montgomery Co tonight against Manual (final score 69-46)

A loss may help, but I don't know that a 34 point loss does. But as I said, I think that Tackett has a pretty mentally tough bunch - they will put this behind them and move on.

It doesn't surprise me that Lex Christian won but the margin certainly does, especially with the game being at Rowan. I'm sure that RC will bounce back.

Interesting score. Boyd beat RH 93 to 17 in their first meeting (first game of the season I believe. This second score MUCH closer. Is RH getting better, is Boyd not getting better, or a little bit of both. Can any of the Boyd or RH posters give their reasonings. Just curious.....

Final per the KHSAA website

Unfortunate suspension for Raceland. Raceland will have a hard time matching up with Ashland's Connor, but I'm sure Coach Trimble will come up with a good defensive gameplan.

Who was the player? Is she suspended for the next game and If so, who does Raceland play?

Congrats to the Lady Rams. Trimble has done a very good job with them this year and in years past.

Must not be much of a dream if the players quit after a lifetime of playing just because the coach doesn't "communicate" well with the players. High school kids need to get used to it - they may not be best friends with their boss later in life either. Just to add, if a player quits at the end or before the season begins so be it, they have fulfilled their committment. But I personally feel that if a player starts a season he should finish it - to do otherwise is not just letting the coach down, but also the team.

Now I am confused - if it wasn't playing time or starting positions why would they quit? What else can a coach do to keep players?

Did all these players quit under Biggs (I'm not close enough to the program to know)? If so, I have heard that Biggs does run very tough practices (of course, this is just what I have heard). If these players quit because the practices were too hard then it is not the coach's fault - these players would not be the "winning" players needed for the team to be successful anyway. If they left because of limited playing time then let 'em go. It is in a coach's best interests to play the best players. No coach is going to reduce a players clock if it hurts his chance of winning. The best players play the most, if you want more clock just play harder and earn it - or quit. Bottom line - too many high schoolers are spoiled and expect things they haven't yet earned. I respect coaches who do not cater to them or their parents. I guess I'm just old school

I hate to see this score. I really thought that Elliott had a chance of at least making it to the finals. Cantrell has done a great job with his team this year and I love their style - makes for an enjoyable game of basketball. I'm sure Elliott will be ready come districts.