First

Is Trinity still at that level with the loss of a key player due to injury? I still think Southwest is a top 10 team. Also, I'd move Scott County up a few to around 7th. Overall, it looks pretty good to me.

Nice job on the write-up. You see these guys much more than I do, but I'd put Blake Smith above both Andrew Taylor and Peyton Broughton.

Excellent job and, like has been said, thanks for the significant effort involved. It's very evident! Good to see Elkins in the top 5. He hasn't received as much attention this year as some of the others that made the list. His contribution is much greater than his points and rebounds would indicate. Also, I know he has missed some games due to injury this year but I think Stearns should be higher. As I've said before, I'm a fan of his game. He can score in multiple ways, is a good rebounder and is a good defender. That said, it's hard to pick anyone above him to move down the list.

Yes, he was. That's a fact. I really like the comment that some schools just end up with players while other schools recruit them. There must be some inside scoop that he has that we don't know about. Like the one he had on Jeremiah. All I can say with any degree of certainty is that I know the reasons as to how the two transfers ended up at Mercer. And I can assure you that neither were because of Coach Cook recruiting those kids. Both were due to personal cirumstances.

And the team that's favored to win the 8th this year got a 6'6" (senior) transfer that starts for them. Pretty nice player with big time numbers at his previous school last year. What? Can Owen's coach not win it with his own players? Before I get the Owen crowd after me, that's not my position! I truly don't say that about Owen to detract from them. It's just another example that helps make the point that there's a double standard when it comes to Coach Cook. Just curious. Given your disdain for transfers, who you pulling for in the 12th? SW, Wayne, Pulaski, Casey, Rockcastle, Boyle, Danville, West, Burgin or Mercer? Each of those 10 teams will have starters that weren't there in middle school. And if you look back one more year, you can add Lincoln and East to that mix. So will it be KSD, Mcreary Central, Garrard or Somerset? By the way, The Mercer girls' second leading scorer last year was a transfer. Same for the Boyle girls this year. And East Jess. And...well, you get the picture.

Spot on. All I hear is whining about transfers, which are the only "tactics" people complain about with Coach Cook and Mercer. The problem is, if transfers are an issue, Mercer is nowhere near the top of that list (in the 12th) over the past couple years. Double standard. At the end of the day, it's all about not liking the additional competition. The strong basketball schools that have controlled the region for years don't like a different school, that has little to no tradition, threatening the balance of power.

THIS

Having more votes does matter; it is huge. If a political candidate could buy a bunch of votes, with the only restriction being that they can't cast those for their self, they could effectively manipulate the outcome. They could do so by making sure votes went away from their true competitor and to a candidate that wasn't a legit threat. Or, if their goal was simply to blackball a candidate, that would be easy to accomplish as well by sending a large number of votes in a direction other than that candidate's. That said, given the dynamics at play, Cook probably wouldn't have won it even if each staff had just one vote. The anymosity would've still prevailed. But knowing some of the schools that had 4 & 5 votes, and given that they were some of the most bitter, it just made it that much easier for them.

Was wondering the same thing myself. I may have missed it but I would've thought some of the Owen fans would've made that point by now.

Well, since he wasn't deserving this year, shouldn't he have received it last year? Took over an 11-12 team with 1 returning starter and went 23-9. The last 3 COY's have gone to Wayne, Wayne and Lincoln after having (expected) stellar years. This year it goes to Rock for a nice turnaround. By that measurement, Cook should've won it last year. See the sudden inconsistency? Mercer may just fare better in statewide awards/voting, both coach and player, than they did in their own region. If that happens, what would that say about our 12th region KABC members?

I like Coach Blanton and think he's done a really nice job. 18-11 at Rock is strong. This isn't a dig at him at all. But, as Purple Pride said, how do you go undefeated against regional teams - including wins over all of the other top regional teams and Rock - and not get regional COY? Must have done poorly outside the region. Except that they were 28-1 overall and spent most of the year in the top 5, including time at number 1 in some polls. Just does not add up. Not at all.

Ok, good to know the rules. Next year, we need to see if we can have 15 assistant coaches that are "members." Just pay those dues and we should be able to really sway that vote! I-N-T-E-G-R-I-T-Y all the way.

For context, this was a reply to a post by BigRedMachine in which he took a shot at Mercer and Coach Cook. He stated that COY wasn't the guy who the best at getting transfers, only he didn't use the word "transfers." He used a word that got his post deleted.

So, let's expand it to AD's too. And associate AD's while we are at it - as long as they are willing to pay to vote, of course. Why not booster officers? Even if teams/schools only got 1 vote, there would still be issues. But this type of voting process is ridiculous. Sounds like a Russian version of a democratic voting process to me.

I didn't realize that the 12th region COY award was limited to the 4 schools without transfers: Rockcastle, Garrard, Somerset and Burgin. Those may have some too, I just don't know their rosters well enough to know. Now for a lesson about transfers in the 12th. And I will be using only the facts. West Jess - last year, they had McCorver and Ely, both from Lexington. This year Davis and Gilbert, also from Lexington. They also had Cam Jones to start the year, but he left for CA. East Jess - last year, they had Cam Jones (Mason County) and Rashawn Jackson (West). Boyle - both of their starting guards are transfers - Alexander from Burgin and Slone from Danville. Jeremiah Bell and Delcastillo last year. The year before, they got Garrad's leading scorer (Ray) for his senior year. The year before that, they got 6'7" Miiniard from Garrard. Danville - Darius Wilson (Lexington) and Ellison Stanfield (Mercer) last year. Zachary Thornton this year from Woodford. Gerald Miller this year from Lincoln/Mercer. Mercer - Dow last year from Louisville and James this year from Martin County. Southwestern - Gover last year from Pulaski. Also the African kid living with Gover that didn't get eligible. This year, the Clark kid and I think maybe he came from Pulaski. I'm not that familiar with others, but I recall the names of Kapinga and Collier from a few years back that beat a great Mercer team in region. Lincoln - not that familiar with their roster, but I do know they got Casey's best player Pittman, and he was a big part of their run the previous 2 years. Pulaski - Sylvester from out of state last year and Landon Powell from Somerset this year, along with his brother. They also had 2 brothers (this year) from out of state that played a couple games and left. Casey - DJ White from Western KY last year. This year, Max Reyes from New York and a kid from Russell County (not sure of his name). WAYNE- the only team in the region able to land a player from the world's premiere youth basketball circuit - Nike's EYBL. Yes, 6'8" Daniel Coldiron. You see, it's just that of late Mercer has become relevant, moving out of the ranks of those other 4 schools. And that, my friend, is something that the old guard can't stomach. Of course you'd be the first to respond, and I knew exactly what you'd say. Above all, please remember that if transfers are an issue for Mercer then they must be for everyone - including you guys, buddy. Are you familiar with the word hypocrisy?

Surprised by this one. Everyone play for Cordia?

Let's see. Coach Cook has been at Mercer for 2 years. The year before he arrived, they were 11-12. Last year, they went 23-9. This year, they are 28-1. And that's not worthy of coach of the year? Nothing against Rock, but 18-11 with a good win over Wayne? The more I learn about the POY and COY process, the more I realize it's a JOKE. It's pure politics. Assistant coaches have votes too? Are you serious? I'm told some of these teams have 4 and 5 assistant votes while others (like Mercer) have 2. That makes sense how? If it were meant to be legit, there'd be one vote per school. No one in there right mind can argue that. Too many old farts that don't like someone new messing with the alignment of power in the region. It's ok to vote for Rock because, let's be honest, they're not a threat. This shows some real character. NOT.

They are a different team without Young, but I really liked Goode.

I would disagree on the CVH comment. I'm more of a fan of his game now than in the past. I think he's letting the game come to him more so than he did in the past. The reason this team does so well is their balance. CVH can still score, but he's playing a role that that gives his team the best chance of winning this year. That should be applauded. Unfortunately, it usually isn't, but I bet his coach appreciates it.

This was a game of runs. Mercer led by 10 late in the second quarter. The momentum changed a little at the end of the first when there was a (shooting) foul called on a 3/4 court heave as time expired. SW then came out strong in the third and ended up taking a 5 point lead. Fast forward to late in the 4th and Mercer had built a 9 point lead with around 3 minutes left. Mercer then made a few bad decisions and SW took advantage. It ended up going down to the wire. Great game and environment in a showdown between two top 10 teams. Very fun game to watch!

Regarding not granting the timeout when the player attempted to call one while going out of bounds, didn't that rule change? That is no longer allowed, right? I know the rule changed in college and thought it had in high school.

I have all the respect in the world for SW's abilities. But I saw that game and that outcome was as much about how bad PCC looked as it was how good SW looked. I was shocked.

I've watched Mercer all year long. It's not athleticism that concerns me. It's teams that can drain three after three. SW is not nearly as athletic as Cordia, but man can they shoot the three ball!

It all boiled down to scoring - 21 PPG vs 15 PPG. There is no other explanation if you look at team and individual stats. Hager's PPG have gone a down each of the last 2 years. Obviously, the talent around him and his role as PG are the reasons, but ultimately that's what the everyone sees. Also, assists aren't a KHSAA published stat. If they were, that would have helped Hager's case. These are two players that couldn't be more different in every regard. The coaches chose Blevins's approach over Hager's. Then there is Stearns. I'm a big fan of his. Very smart, talented and efficient.

Anyone know if this one was as close as the score indicates?