The Double Deuce

@FrankNicodemus, you're a NKY Treasure!!!

Quick (and hopefully correct) look at common opponents this year: Cooper was 13-0 against common opponents: Butler, Highlands, Conner, McCracken County (by 12), Boyd County (by 9), Dixie, Campbell County, Ryle (by 6), Simon Kenton, NewCath, Notre Dame, Ryle (by 11), and Bellevue. Holy Cross was 11-3 against common opponents: Ryle (L), Dixie, Highlands, Boyd County (L), McCracken County (L), Butler, Bellevue, NewCath, Notre Dame, Campbell County, NewCath, Simon Kenton, Conner, and Notre Dame.

A) I'm re-surfacing this poll / thread previewing the Game of the Year in NKY. B) I couldn't be more surprised at this poll result (HC currently has more of the votes to win) if I woke up tomorrow morning with my head sewn into the carpet. C) If you are not a religious follower of NKY / KY Girls' high school basketball, and you're wondering just how good this Cooper Lady Jags team is, here is some empirical data to help you: Cooper beat Mt. Notre Dame (OH) by NINETEEN points this year....AT MND. Last night MND beat the Ohio D1 defending state champs, Princeton, and are now in a very real position to win the Ohio D1 State Championship. Hope that helps. Holy Cross has had an AMAZING year, their 4-0 record against Pikeville, Notre Dame, and Franklin County is very impressive, and their ascension into the KY Top 5 was on no one's radar in October. However, they are a decided underdog in this game and they need some things to go very right for them to win on Friday night. But......man, what a story that would be, so I'm hoping like heck it happens. P.S. -- the winner of this game likely still has to beat Ryle in the finals, a State Top 15 team, and a team with more winning pedigree over the last 10 years than any other team in this area. #Gauntlet

Corbin plays really, really hard, they aren't any to match-up with. They aren't flashy, but they are tough-minded, and don't beat themselves.

Some really stacked regions! Especially the 7th, the 9th, the under-the-radar 13th, and 3/4th of the 16th! A lot of REALLY good teams are going home over the next few days.

Really strong year for Grant County, and one I expect them to build upon. Lot to like about the Lady Braves' future.

Congrats to the Lady Camels! They have a great chance to make it to the 10th Championship vs GRC. Very solid season for the young Lady Camels.

Coach Kelsch!!!!! Atta way! Has to be their first Region win in a lot of years.

Of all sports cliches, this is easily my least favorite. If I'm better than you 3x, than the chances are good I will be better than you 4x. If Anderson County plays Spencer County (and them beating a fringe Top 20 team is more than a mild upset, IMHO) again than Anderson County will be cutting down nets. Spencer is yet to score more than 31 points in 3 tries, that isn't getting it done.

Welcome aboard, Chief!

Am I mis-remembering, or was there some fireworks in the post-game handshake line last year between Lloyd and Newport after their Regional Semi game in 2023? Could make Sunday's early game must-see, I'm all for a little deep-seeded hatred. 😇

That is for sure. They bow to the whim of some families on a very consistent basis. If Coach Kayed learned one thing, don't keep a senior just to be nice but then think you'll get away with not playing her.

Why did the Kirtley girl quit mid-year this year after being a big contributor last year? Why did Rosemary Miller leave for Ryle? I don't think soccer and volleyball are the culprits in those two cases. Maybe there are great reasons that have nothing to do with Coach Murphy and his style and the way he communicates with the girls....or maybe there aren't. I'm not close enough to know the "why's", but I see the same things you do as an outsider. Then I see Kes' comments at the players and parents, and you can certainly start to see that there is smoke billowing around.

I do wonder how Kes' quotes in the article on LinkNKY have played out with the girls and their parents in the program. Parents don't get the "big picture". Not even saying he is wrong, but I am certain things like that should be in individual conversations and not said in frustration after a season-ending loss.

Never mess with a piano, an organ, or a synthesizer! 😎 #IYKYK

*biting my tongue*

I am with you fully! Mason is such a mature and talented young man, I'd give him the keys and let him lean on Gregg next year and then slowly mix in more of the route tree as the season unfolds and Mason gets more comfortable. Seems like it has been a while since Dixie had a tall QB back in the pocket, and one equipped with a big and accurate arm. They will be intriguing to watch this upcoming season.

This.

Wanted to surface this Final Statewide Poll so we can track how many of these Top 15 (per the statewide Media, who I think did a pretty good job all year) make it to Rupp. As of this morning, all 15 of these are still playing (#16 [highest others receiving votes] was Notre Dame, so they are out), but there are some big games upcoming for several of them. Here is the Top 15 from the poll and their next game: 1. Sacred Heart -- 3/6 vs Central in the 7th Region Semis 2. Cooper -- 3/8 vs #4 Covington Holy Cross in the 9th Region Semis 3. GRC -- 3/8 vs Mason County in the 10th Region Semis 4. Covington Holy Cross -- 3/8 vs #2 Cooper in the 9th Region Semis 5. Owensboro Catholic -- 3/5 vs Grayson County in the 3rd Region Quarters 5. Pikeville -- 3/8 vs Prestonsburg in the 15th Region Semis 7. Anderson County -- 3/5 vs Trimble County in the 8th Region Quarters 8. Franklin-Simpson -- 3/7 vs Bowling Green in the 4th Region Semis 9. McCracken County -- 3/5 vs Marshall County in the 1st Region Quarters 10. Ashland Blazer -- 3/8 vs #13 Russell in the 16th Region Semis 11. Franklin County -- 3/7 vs Henry Clay in the 11th Region Semis 12. North Laurel -- 3/8 vs South Laurel in the 13th Region Semis 13. Russell -- 3/8 vs #10 Ashland Blazer in the 16th Region Semis 14. Butler -- 3/7 vs PRP in the 6th Region Semis 15. Ryle -- 3/8 vs Highlands in the 9th Region Semis

I don't think that is his point, Sixer.

Massive upset in the 8th!!!!! Down go the very young Lady Neers. Anderson County has a very easy path now to the Sweet 16....and on their own court.

Yes. In spite of the poll. Sullivan is solid, but they don't have the dudes for a motivated Lloyd team, which I assumed Coach Walker could muster up in the 9th Region Tourney.

Very interesting.

If, and that is a big if, but IF Highlands can get hot and stay hot from the arc, it could be a game. Cooper isn't a finished product yet with the pieces just getting back together, but they are live to win the 9th and this game will likely not see them yet at their best. Highlands' only chance is blistering from the arc, and hope that Cooper is still feeling out the roles, but even then, Sully's guys would likely still have enough to get their noses across the finish line.

One way traffic.