Bulldog_Chem

As a former official, i'd have to say its over and back. Many coaches don't understand the rule. Following a close second is the pro-hop or jump stop move. Is it traveling or not?

Danville and West are the class, but Mercer could surprise some people. They can run more than just Cinnamon to the mound. McRay and Honchel are both solid lefties.

Watts should be a fun kid to watch this season. He may be one of those rare athletes that could play at the next level in two sports. (Baseball and Basketball)

Hal Morris' take from amnews.com http://www.amnews.com/stories/2009/11/16/spo.384975.sto

Watts is as good as anyone in the 12th.

I know Coach Shope is stacked with pitching at Mercer this season, who else will compete for the 12 region? West Jessamine? Danville?

There is no speculation about the record. 3-22 last season. 28-99 combined record over the last 5 seasons. Now I'm sorry if I have offended you, but when I see a program that has a winning percentage of 22% over a five year period I think its being neglected. Its not like West Jessamine is a small 1A school like Sayre or Burgin, where the athletes are few and far between. Over that 5 year span, every team in the 46th district made it to the regional tournament at least once. Even tiny little Burgin made it a few years ago. Even if they were working, what they were doing didnt help and needed to be changed. Again I hope you are right about Coach Thomas getting a different Lady Colt this season, but I'm quite confident that that program is at least 2-3 years away from being competitive in the 46th district or the 12th region.

Coly -- Last season West Jessamine went 3-22. Over the last five seasons they are 28-99!!!! Just curious what your definition of neglect is??? The good news is that Coach Thomas is a very good coach, has a proven track record, and will come in and do what needs to be done. I just hope he sticks around long enough to make a difference. The 12th region and the 46th district are better off if west is competitive. As for MS basketball, I agree that if NO fundamentals are being taught at the middle school level, then the losing will continue at the high school level. However winning DOES NOT always transfer up! The reason it doesnt is because neither girls or boys are fully developed physically in middle school. The best basketball team doesn't win in middle school, the tallest or most physically developed does. If you want examples I could provide you with several successful middle school teams that never panned out at the varsity level and vice versa groups that never won in middle school, but turned around and had very successful varsity careers.

There are two lines of thought on this. Most coaches will put the best 5 players on the floor regardless of age. However some coaches are loyal to upperclassmen because they feel that seniors have "paid their dues." These coaches live and die with the older kids. Two philosophies, neither is right or wrong.

The hiring of Coach Thomas was a move in the right direction. I hope that West Jess fans give him time though. That program is not in a very good place right now. The program has been neglected. Also understand that success at the middle school level does not translate to wins at the varsity level and vice versa a losing team in middle school can have success at the JV and varsity levels.

I really hope the young man gets a chance to play at the D1 level

No argument from me about Polson's ability as a basketball player. I coach in the 12th region and he lit us up last season - twice. IMO he is not only the best guard in the region, but the best all around player. I'm suggesting that he is not getting looks from D1 schools because he is to small to play shooting guard at that level. Unless he has grown since the last time I saw him play, he is only 5'11'' maybe 6'0''.

Polson is a top notch guard in the 12th and IMO he is better than Watts, but because of his height D1 schools are not going to show interest in him.

Mercer does run some dribble drive, but from what I've seen over the past few years they primarily run a motion style offense. While we are talking about guards, they have several good ones, Flora is very good (if not top tier in the 12th she is very close), Freeman is at the point, and the sophomore Dedman is going to develop into a player.

I think you need to add Leah Flora from Mercer to that list of shooting guards.