My Two Cents

The game was a great one to watch. Gilbert and Watkins really took over the first quarter, only to see Corbin make a great come back before the half. The third quarter was action packed, but nothing like the fourth quarter. Wilson and Johnson took over and it looked like Corbin had put the game away until South Laurel made some big shots to cut the lead back to one as time ran off the clock. Officiating had nothing to do with the outcome of this game. The argument that fouls should somehow be equal between two teams every game carries no merit. Great job from both teams and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them meet again.

Corbin will have to add some depth. I felt last year that kids having to play on both sides of the ball really hurt them towards the end of the year. It would be nice to see some kids get a chance early and gain some experience for later in the year. It may cost them a few point early on in the season, but will pay dividends as the year progresses. Corbin will also have to open up some holes for the big boys to run through. As talented as the running backs are on this team it’s an impossibility to run through people on a consistent basis. Develop some sort of passing game. I would assume that most teams will load the line and force Corbin to go against their strength. I would like to see Matthew Taylor take some snaps at quarterback next season. He really seems to have a lot of athleticism. It would also give Coach Farris a chance to devise some options that would include Watkins, Fritts, and Taylor all in the back field at the same time. I’m looking forward to what could be a great season for the Hounds.

I guess it does matter, since you have continued to bring it up? The last time I checked this thread was about Corbin Football, and not a disgruntled parents attempt to convince everyone that her son was done wrong on a team that won their district and region and finished the season at 29-4. Shouldn’t you be happy that he was part of a team the experience such great success? I’m sure he was an asset in practice as well. A team has a variety of roles to be filled. I agree with 4CHS in the fact that he didn’t get back to basketball until late January, so it would have been hard for him to catch up with the rest of the team in such a short amount of time. I also think you need to reconsider you statements about the Corbin coaching staff not letting kids play other sports. As I said in an earlier post there have been numerous players that have done well in both. There were plenty of kids that could have played had they not been on such a talented team. Hopkins, Watkins, Freeman, Taylor just to name a few. Maybe you should reconsider things and tell Caleb to play next year as I would say he could help out.

I had a chance to meet Coach Elam a few times and he really seemed to have a love for Knox Central. They will be hard pressed to find someone that had a more vested interest in the success of the team and school. I wish him the best of luck and wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the sidelines at another school very soon.

Ledington is a great coach. I hope that he gets a chance to instill his values and work ethic at Whitley. I feel they have the tools needed to have an excellent baseball team.

Would love to catch the action today. Anyone know if the game/s are still giong on? Corbin has a chance to win the thing if their pitching comes around. I assume Blake has recovered from his injury?

I agree that Clay County will run the ball more and be much more hard nosed on the defensive side of the ball. Whitley will win the district, but there are a few teams that have a chance at them imo.

Great kid and it sounds like he has his head on straight. Life is about choices and I'm sure this was a tough one for him, but one that in the long run will probably pay off big time.

Corbin will have a very successful season with the talent they have coming back in the skill positions. I would like to see Travis at QB next season. He has a great eye at the position and would help open up some running lanes for the big boys in the backfield. It will be great to see Fritts and Watkins in the back field once again. Taylor and Foley will be great options as well. If the line can come around it will make a huge difference, but Corbin always finds kids that can fill those positions. Manns, Mills and Lewallen will help. As far as Coach P telling his players not to play football, I just don’t see it happening. Off the top of my head I remember Steven Cook, Brad Lawson, Ryan Tate, Josh Ware, Jeremy Brock, and Clint Cashen all playing major roles for the basketball team and they all where predominantly “football players”. Manns pretty much started from the day he came back out to basketball. When did Caleb get cleared to play? It would have been extremely hard for anyone to break into the rotation Corbin had this season, much less a kid like Caleb that was hurt half the season.

Game could have went either way, and both teams represented their schools well. Congrats to Hazard on the win.

Great job Elliott. I am looking foward to seeing you play in the sweet 16.

Congratulations to Corbin on overcoming last seasons Regional Championship demons and moving on to Rupp. South Laurel had an outstanding year, as most in the preseason said they wouldn’t be a factor in the 13th Region. Zac Smith and Wes Dean are two outstanding seniors that will be sorely missed by their team next season. They represented their team and school very well in their senior year. I also want to congratulate Corbin’s coaching staff on an excellent game plan. Their use of the half court trap seemed to really bother South Laurel and forced them to play at a speed that I don’t think they wanted to play at. Some said that this game would come down to coaching and I think this adjustment by Corbin’s staff made a difference in the outcome. Hope Corbin plays well in the state tournament.

Elliott by 25. Too much for Ashland.

I would think that South Laurel will cruise in this one, but if it gets tight they have uncharacteristically missed some crucial foul shots late in their last few games. Overall I think Middlesboro has the talent to play with South Laurel, but I just don’t think they have an answer for St. Johns in the middle.

Coach Hatcher has done a great job with this team. They will be very tough to beat as they understand the value of each possession.

Great win for West Jessamine. Danville is a talented team and should be commended on a good season. Great game from Polson.

St. Johns missed two fouls shots and Hooker had a 3-point attempt at the end for the win. Sounded like a great game.

If you look back since South Laurel joined the 13th I would disagree. 2005-2006 South Laurel was loaded with talent. Coming off their state tournament championship they had Walt Allen and the big three. Barbourville probably was the second most talented team. 2006-2007 South Laurel had the big three, and a host of talented role players. Bell was the second most talent team in the region, just behind South Laurel. Pineville, Cumberland and Corbin were a toss up this year in my opinion. 2007-2008 I actually think that Knox Central had the most talent in the region. I believe they beat south that year. (Williamson, Scalf, Miller, and Messer) South and Corbin were about equal in talent level, only because Crawford had the injury and seemed out of shape. Jones and Bortnum (sp?) both were great players and St. Johns was a load. 2008-2009 I think Corbin is tops in talent followed by Middlesboro and Knox.

Why is this so funny? :idunno:

Cardinals win this one. They have proven themselves over the past few years in the regional tournament. I would also think that which ever team wins this game will be the tournament favorite if both Knox Central and Corbin make it to the semifinals in the other bracket as most are predicting.

Middlesboro seems to have taken a bit of a decline late in the season, but is loaded with talent in every position. They will be tough to beat if they are making shots. Harlan County will be ready, as Coach Jones will have his troops well prepared. A low scoring game will give Harlan County the best shot at victory, and a high scoring game would be in favor of Middlesboro. Should be a great game to watch.

The draw for regional pairings is always interesting. This year will be no different.

No one likes to see a career come to an end, but it’s unavoidable. James was an outstanding player and in brief moments I brushed into him a fine young man. Coach Strange always does a great job, and it is sad to think that his time coaching his son has come to an end. I wish them both the best of luck in all their future endeavors.

Drawing on Sunday must be tough situation for some of these girls’ teams considering that they will have to turn around and play their first round game the next day. Is this common practice among all regions?

I'm sure it was a tough pill to swallow for Bell County with the region being on their home floor. Coach Morris does a great job and I hate to see them out of the tournament. I’m not sure that a lot of his kids recovered from the wear and tear of the football season. Zachery is an outstanding athlete and hopefully will have a good finish to his senior year in baseball. Coach Jones continues to prove himself as one of the better coaches in the state. I wasn’t sure that Harlan County would make it after losing their last three games of the regular season, but they proved otherwise. They should be proud of this accomplishment in their first year as a new school. They will give Middlesboro all they want in the finals. It should be good match up.