outofbounds

Grant is athletic for the 8th region, but as Male showed there is a higher level of athleticism in the Louisville regions.

I've seen her play several times and you are right she will chuck'em from anywhere. Her shot selection is questionable. Her stats in this game bear that out.....4/20 from 3-point line isn't lighting it up.

I don't think that is much of an issue. Small schools look to schedule other small schools (especially in their region) now anyway. The small school close to where I live only plays schools similar in size. Only large schools they play are currently in their district. The rest of their games include schools from the Louisville Metro area all the way to Maysville and down to Berea. The small schools around the state know each other and seek each other out to play already.

We differ on that. IMO shortening the game is changing the rules. I wasn't clear. Keep the existing regions by geographic location and then re-shuffle the districts by enrollment. Also, KHSAA does it for football. Shouldn't be a heavy lift for basketball.

Like I said previously I don't think kids should be shielded. IMO it is more embarrassing that the clock is running, which to me is like changing the rules in the middle of the contest. As far as district games go I think the KHSAA should classify schools into districts based on enrollment and not geographic location. That would level the playing field (allowing some small schools a chance a getting to the regionals) but still allow a winner take all state champion. Your points are valid...but we will have to agree to disagree.

No. I think it was instituted to shield kids from embarrassment, which I think is sending the wrong message. If kids do not want to be embarrassed on the basketball floor or any other playing field then they shouldn't come out for the team or they should spend more time working on their games. Kids need to learn that what they get out of competing depends on what they put in to it. They shouldn't be shielded from the consequences.

I agree with you Colonel. Simply put it teaches kids how to respond to failing. If coaches can't handle the beatdown then they shouldn't schedule the game.

The 8th is a weird region in that it is sort of close to three major urban areas (Lou, Lex, Cincy) but far enough away that it doesn't reap the benefits of the talent existing in those areas. It actually was a more competitive region for the state title before consolidation (see Oldham and Shelby schools) and realignment (Scott County to the 11th). Simon Kenton and Grant County in NKy are large schools but have never done much (excluding Troy McKinley's 9th region Simon Kenton team) down state. Not much college-level talent year in and out.

No.

Grant had Harrison down by 20. Played well in first half with their best players on the floor. Johnson/Adkins were impressive getting to the basket. Grammer played a lot of reserves allowing Harrison to get back in the game and go up by 1. Pretty competitive scrimmage. To me Grant lost a lot in Hicks/Cummins. As the season progresses it will be interesting to see if they get the perimeter shooting they need to open things up for their bigs.

It is cool. Been 3 weeks now and no coverage of him by the local or Northern Ky news outlets. Seems as if social media is the only way to get exposure these days. I heard there were over a 100 people at his signing. You would think at least the local paper (Grant County News) would run a story about him. Nothing so far. College basketball signings are rare in the area I live. I would think it would merit some attention.

They have been too young for at least 5 years. Players have left (Sandlin, Beckham, DeZarn to Walton, Justice to Ohio) or given up the sport (Scroggins, Moss, Middleton). Seems like they have had talent there. Wonder why they can't keep it?

That isn't a vote of confidence for your program when the boy's coach sends his daughter to play elsewhere. Just saying...

News from Williamstown...there will be a signing ceremony for the Demon's David Jump this evening in the WHS gym at 6pm. Jump averaged 27.5 pts/gm (3rd in state), 82.3% free throws (12th), and 4.2 3's/gm (2nd) will sign with the Springfield, KY school that finished in the final eight of the NAIA National Tournament last season. Congratulations to him, his family, Coach Harden and the Williamstown staff!

My mistake....I was referring to post WWII. :isurrender:

I live in the 32nd and know that he will only be a freshman. Already has 2 years of varsity experience under his belt. Exceptional ball handler and good quickness. Needs to continue to develop his perimeter game. Tough kid who will only get better. Needs some help next season with the loss of Jump. School only has around 120 boys in grades 9-12. Will always have a difficult time competing in the 32nd with Simon & Grant. Harden is about as good a coach as you will find in this area given the situation he is in at Williamstown, which has no athletic tradition and little support from the administration/community. This past season he was relying on 8th & 9th graders, along with Jump. They beat Walton twice even though Walton was clearly more talented. Lost by 2 at Owen where Jump put on a show scoring 50 to Carson Williams 30. Almost all of their games were respectable scores. Even the blowouts were no more than 30, which is an accomplishment when you consider SK was beating them by 60 or more only a season or two ago.

IMO attendance was down and will continue to be down due to several factors: 1) Winners of the Wed/Thu games are usually predictable based on match ups. The real match ups don't usually occur until Friday quarters. 2) Ticket prices are out of line based on the product. $13/session for upper arena? C'mon. I have a family of 6. That is over $600 if I attend all 8 sessions, not including parking & concessions. Make it more affordable for fans to attend. 3) Schools from the 6th, 7th, and 11th (outside of Madison Central) regions do not have large fan bases. Most years one or more schools from these 3 regions are still in the hunt as the tournament progresses. Safe to say casual fans from the rest of the state traditionally stay away when schools from these 3 regions advance. 4) KHSAA web broadcasts allow fans to stay home and watch. Much more economical alternative if you live out in the state. 5) Continued perception that the same cast of characters dominate (i.e., Scott Co, Ballard, LexCath, etc.).

IMO school consolidation has done more to hurt the Sweet 16 than anything else. The large high schools and the private schools that draw students from everywhere are now the only ones who can compete year in year out. To me 1979-1995 was the "Golden Age" for the Sweet 16. Back then you had schools like Edmonson County, Earlington, Paintsville, Virgie, MC Napier, Buckhorn, Paintsville, Middlesboro, Harlan, Hazard, Maysville which brought teams having a legit chance at the title. Unfortunately you can't return to that. Who wants to see the big schools duke it out just about every year? Not me. For me the Sweet 16 is at its best when you have some Davids consistently challenging Goliath. School consolidation has eliminated most of the Davids. I could care less about seeing Scott Co./Billy Hicks go for another title against a private school. That's like rooting for the dealer at a casino black jack table. These schools are supposed to win. Not saying this to advocate for a class system. Just saying the Sweet 16 will never be what it once was. And I think that is reflected in the attendance numbers. It is no longer drawing casual fans. I was there this week and there was hardly anyone in the upper arena (which makes sense at $13 a pop). Didn't used to be this way.

1983 final was the best game I've ever seen at any level. Every possession meant something to both teams. Never seen Rupp like it was that night with everyone in the building on the edge of their seat. A David vs. Goliath match up as true as the Bible itself! Some other games/teams/players I remember fondly: 1995 - Breckinridge Co. 1988 - Ballard v. Clay Co. (Richie) 1986 - PRP v. Hazard 1984 - Jeff Royce 1982 - North Hardin v. Laurel Co. 1982 - Mason Co. v. Virgie 1981 - Troy McKinley/Manual Forrest/Todd May 1979 - Lafayette Generals (Minniefield, Wilson, Johnson & Co.)

I think the KHSAA has always given too much weight to geography instead of enrollment in drawing up districts. Schools travel all over the state during the season to play anyway. It would not be any more of a burden to travel for district games.

Bengal Maniac, agree with what you are saying re: Trimble. Maybe the answer is to group teams into districts based on enrollment. It wouldn't be class basketball but it would allow small schools a chance at regionals. I live in the 32nd. Simon is the largest school in the 8th region by enrollment. Grant is very large. The 32nd district tourney is usually a forgone conclusion. Small schools can only compete if they have a once in a generation player (like Augusta with Brent Bach). I would align the 8th something like this: 29th - Oldham, North Oldham, South Oldham, Collins 30th - Anderson, Shelby, Henry, Spencer 31st - Grant, Simon Kenton, Gallatin, Owen 32nd - Carroll, Trimble, Eminence, Walton-Verona, Williamstown

Some pretty good talent on display at this tourney. Anyone one know who is recruiting McMurtry from Oldham? Thought she was very impressive in the two games I watched.

Super. I've enjoyed watching Brooke since I noticed her as a Soph. Plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. Doesn't force things, good handle, and has the best shooting form (boy or girl) I've seen in several years. She was obviously taught by someone who knows a little about the game.

Anyone know if either of the Dossett's are being recruited for basketball? Brooke is very fundamentally sound. Her size hurts her college prospects. It was evident in the game last night. Shelby had some size Brooke had difficulty dealing with.

I could see him at a Berea or a Campbellsville. Just depends on what a school is looking for. He could make someone a solid spot shooter in college. Williams definitely will. From what I've seen of him he will probably end up a solid mid-major player. Needs to improve his perimeter skills. That will decide whether he makes it to an elite D1. Owen's coaches are not doing him any favors by playing him with his back to the basket.