The Professor

The PRP semifinals win over Hazard in 1986 State Tournament was extremely controversial. It appeared the officials missed several obvious fouls on PRP late in the game and other odd decisions that swung the game to the Panthers. The crowd stood and booed and covered the court with debris for 30 minutes post game. The Lexington Herald -Leader received so many letters to the editor for the next several weeks from irate Hazard fans complaining about the game that they finally issued a statement in their newspaper requesting no more letters be sent.

Leary has had a crazy amount of passes deflected this season. He’s already had 2 in this game.

His team went 33-0 the next season and Covid canceled the state tournament. So I suppose he didn’t have anything to do with the undefeated season, just rolled out the balls and let them play??? No development, game preparation, scouting, strategy, etc… Well, okay. I didn’t know it worked that way. Learn something new every day.

Yes. I was referring to the Hazard game. Powell County is not a bad team by any means, particularly on their home court. They have all their players back from a district championship team. The Pirates had a great night and Montgomery didn’t. The Indians also rely on several young players. Mays’ first year at Ashland they were .500 going into the middle of January and then caught fire and won the 16th region and one game at state. I’m not saying they will repeat that in his first year at Montgomery but people need to have some patience and not rush to judgement after just a few games.

Mays’ team has battled injuries quite a bit. His top 3 players are out right now with injuries, I believe two are ankles and one is a hand injury.

They have a basketball museum there in one of the adjacent buildings. Also, a short distance from the Wayland Gym is a restaurant that has a 1950’s theme and appearance. It has a jukebox with the old ‘50’s music and has tables and booths and stools and menu that will take you back in time.

This game was played in the historic Wayland High gymnasium in Floyd County where the Wasp’s King Kelly Coleman played his home games in the 1950’s.

When are these two schools consolidating? It’s been talked about for several years.

The ‘63 Carr Creek team starred future ABA guard Glen Combs, coached by his dad Morton Combs. He led the ABA in 3 point shooting several times and was also named to the All Star team several years. Phenomenal shooter.

The Black Bear’s Noah had 54 points. That might be a WYMT Mountain Classic game scoring record.

I heard that the coach at Hazard may be his replacement. But it was one of those “that’s what they’re saying but who knows” type comments, lol.

Boyd is darn good. Whoever plays them had better be ready to contain a 6’4 center and the 6’ Biggs girl. They are also a very physical team.

Bilas is killing it tonight, lol. ”He’s going to reach a higher octave”

“The only thing Reed hasn’t done tonight is deliver me my ice cream.” Lol

Mitchell has had Reed open a couple times for a kick out and chose other options. Anytime he is open he should get the ball.

I’m not sure about this season but Larry Gritton Jr is back coaching OBI and I have a feeling he will build them back into a competitive program. However, I’m not sure how long he plans on doing this job because he is also the school’s president. He may just be filling in for a year or so. He was a standout himself at OBI playing for his dad back in the ‘90s, and I think this is his second stint as head coach. I think this year he has a young team and a very good middle school team that had a successful season., Actually, OBI is in a perfect system to build a powerhouse if they chose that route. They are a boarding school with students from all over the U.S. and the world. They could theoretically build an Oak Hill Academy type program and do it legally. They have a beautiful campus and have been renovating buildings or building new structures for the past few years. The school has a lot of upside.

UK needs a change. Her results will put a damper on getting quality recruits.

Montgomery County and the Rising Stars coordinator hosted some good games Saturday. I don’t have exact scores but Ashland defeated Simon Kenton handily, Corbin defeated Pulaski County around 10, Pikeville defeated Boyd County by 1, Owsley County defeated Mercer County by 12 and Montgomery County defeated CAL by 9.

Without their Bigs I don’t see UK beating KU. I’m predicting Jayhawks by 7.

Montgomery County is hosting a bunch of scrimmages Saturday the 18th. Owsley County plays Mercer County. I don’t know who else will be there or who Montgomery plays.

Good analysis of the region! By the way, what is the year that the Christian County-Hopkinsville consolidation and new school will begin? And what has been chosen as a school name and mascot. I haven’t heard much about that merger lately.

The region is weak this year when compared to the rest of the state’s regions but someone still has to win it and head to Rupp in March. That someone will most likely be Perry Central, Breathitt County or Knott Central.

Bama won’t have any problems winning this game. By guess by 3 touchdowns or more.

I respect Knight for his coaching abilities and his successes on the hardwood (3 national titles) but as a person he was a bully and tyrant. I doubt if he was a very pleasant person to be around and I’m sure those that were had to be on guard constantly for fear of saying or doing something that would trigger his temper.

If Georgia can take care of business they will soon move back to the number 1 spot. They will play three ranked teams in the next 3 weeks.