Red Shift

Oh, and on a side note, don't make this too serious. This is meant to be a kind of fun thing, with a little truth attached.

We are in the throws of intra-regional action in the 16th Region and each year I hear a great deal of debate over who exactly is one school's biggest rival(s). So to help myself and others, I have devised this flow chart of malice so that perhaps we can all understand. Notice how the different thicknesses represent different amounts of dislike; specifically the amount of repugnance that Greenup has for Russell and the eveness of negative spirit between Ashland Paul Blazer and Boyd County, as well as the eveness of other logical pairs in the region. Interesting to this chart is the off and on rivalry of Ashland and Rose Hill. I think there is a bit of disdain from one side there, but I don't know if it is (or philosophically can be) returned. Also, left out of this chart are the schools in the lower right hand corner. I don't really know their place in all this if they have one. So what does everyone think? Is this about accurate? Surely everyone can benefit from (and critique) such a chart for a greater understanding of our region.

I know of at least one game where the Tomcat student section was vastly out-spirited this season. I thought that Greenup County's was at least equal to Ashland's (though I've only seen each of them once, and both were in rivalry games, so perhaps it is not the best indicator). I hear that East Carter's student section is also pretty good. But this debate is very subjective and with the exception of a few schools whose student sections are top of the line every time their teams play and have been good consistently for a few years now, (I. E. CovCath) student section "rankings" vary greatly from night to night. With all this being said, every indication showed that Ashland's student section was very good tonight. And so, if the Tomcat nation has improved their student section from the last time I saw them, it should make for a fun game on Senior Night at Anderson gymnasium with two of the best teams, and two of the better student sections, in the 16th region. :thumb:

What was the final score of the game by the way? (I'm sitting here in Spartanburg, SC, hogging the hotel's computer.)

*In a very deep and loud voice* "Hoose!" (about 1678 times over)

At the last Russell - Ashland game: "Flynn was better!" *clap* *clap* *clap clap clap*

Boys or girls, the 16th has been pretty good quality and very wacky this year. Congratulations to the Rams. What kind of defense were they in tonight?

Lots of parity in the 16th Region. Only the second loss for Rose Hill intra- Region. Good win number 7 for the Lady Rams within the 16th.

Good to see a big crowd for a Thursday night game, just wish the Lady Devils could have sent the home fans home happy. Russell with a big game coming up Saturday against Montgomery County, one wonders if the Lady Devils were looking ahead. Knew coming into this one that Rowan was tough (last game between these two was 52-46 Russell). Hopefully the Devils can rebound big against the ladies from Mount Sterling.

It may be another one of those that has the pollsters scratching their heads, but Rowan County was on and for one reason or another Russell was not.

Not positive on this score, somebody needs to check me for certain. Big upset for the Lady Vikings. Congratulations on a terrific defensive effort. Russell could not buy a bucket tonight and had problems with Rowan County's press. Rowan also shut down Russell's inside game with double and triple teams on Okoro. #45 for Rowan County had an excellent game.

The Lady Devils take this one. Fortman led all scorers with 30 points. This game was much closer than the final score would indicate, as Boone County led the game by ten at the half. In the first half, both teams were flat early, but Boone had success late with the press. Russell then went to the press in the second half, turning up their intensity in the process, and finally got shots to start falling.

I believe it was Tom Roten (sp?) who does a morning show on 1230 WIRO.

Coach Dodd NOT happy with the rebounding effort or the shooting or the passing. He did seem pleased with defense and the FT at least.

Congratulations to Boyd on the win. Selvy (sp?) was a huge factor in the game. When he was in, I thought Harvey did a good job defending / neutral- izing him, but Harvey just doesn't have the stamina at this point to guard a guy for an extended period of time.

Not a complete (or official) box but: Russell Van Hoose 26 pt. 9-15 (one for six at the line) Robinson 22 pt. 7-10 (I believe 4 of 7 at the line) Blair 8 pt. Frazier 2pt. I won't attempt individuals for Boyd Co. but I believe they had 12 turnovers and 32 boards (to Russell's 27). Don't jump all over me for this, but I really thought the last two fouls (at least the last foul on Boyd) was a little inconsistent with the way the refs had called the rest of the game. I would have liked to see it played out on the floor, but without a doubt Russell still lost this game at the line. I believe they were around 60% from the field, which is phenomenal, but they were only something like 6-15 from the line.

A couple of games tonight that were closer than expected in the 16th. It looks like things will be interesting in early March. Good win for Rose Hill.

A big thumbs up to everything Statmaster just said.

I think Van Hoose (radio announcer) said there were 48 fouls in the game. With both teams having played in out of region tournaments last week, it kinda gives creedence to the argument about 16th Region officials being a bit whistle-happy.

Marcus Frazier had a big ballgame. He hit a pair of huge threes to get the Russell offense going late in the 3rd quarter. Van Hoose had a big second half and I believe (though I'm not sure) he played with four fouls for a majority of the third and fourth periods. A nice bounceback win for the Devils after a tough loss in OT and of rough game without two of their starters.

Have we had any reliable word on Hicks at Greenup? All I've heard is rumor, and I haven't been keeping up lately.

I know we've kind of moved passed it but anyone who uses the phrase, "And he was hacked in the act," and thinks its Shakespearean prose on radio needs some work. While I must admit he's better than he used to be, the Russell play-by-play guy is very much sub-par. I believe Jim Forrest at Greenup (who is the same guy who was at Morehead) was teamed up with a veteran broadcaster (whose name escapes me right now.) This seems to have helped him along this year. Aside from his overuse of the phrase "GCHS Athletics" he does a good job, one that, in time, may rival the play-by-play of a one Dickie Martin, though right now I would give Dickie the edge. Not to take away anything from Mr. Van Hoose because he is very knowledge- able about the game, but he interrupts the play-by-play guy, thus retarding the growth of the lead broadcaster. I like the insight, I don't like the timing. I think 107.1 could take a play from the Greenup station and either hire a good play-by-play man or at least put the current one with a broadcasting veteran to develop his skills because the Russell games on radio are very unprofessional at this point as evidenced by his adoption of the Van Hoose nickname system (i.e. It's okay for one to do it, but not both of them.)

Russell from the line (unofficially): 4-11

(I can't believe I'm saying this but...) Oh, to have lived in 1972! I think Mason County is a fairly deserved #2. They are undefeated and have played Scott at Scott, June Buchanan on a neutral floor, and putting away quite easily an up and coming Ashland team is more impressive than a couple of losses by Warren Central.

As relayed to the Russell fans per Rob Van Hoose, Russell played the matchup zone after those first two timeouts. Central was never able to get the three pointers going and it sounded like Russell was tough on interior defense. (Due to both execution and relative size.)