napster

The 16th Region has their tournament at Morehead State University's Gym. I think this is a good idea.

Friday night, February 17th I believe.

Great thread! It's good to see some credit given to officials. I usually find myself defending them on these threads. It's so easy to criticize. And most of the criticisms show ignorance more than anything else. It's funny. I was going to post my first negative comments on officiating based on a game I saw last night. Having seen this thread, I'll keep it to myself. Kudos to the officials !!!

Best all around game I've seen this season by the Hornets. Brandon Shepherd and Eric Arnett played outstanding defense on Brandon May. That was probably the key to the game. Good game also from Devin Rice and Wes Helton. Another key was that the Hornet's took care of the ball during cruch time when Sheldon Clark was making a run. Great game!

I've given up on trying to predict games involving either of these teams. Magoffin has so much potential it's ridiculous. Sometimes they play to that potential. And sometimes they play like a middle school team. I have no idea which Hornet team will show up Friday.

I agree with Dark Horse. Two predictions: Packed House Great Game In fact, although I live in Magoffin County and follow the Hornets, I may choose to watch Paintsville @ Central instead of Sheldon Clark @ Magoffin!

Excellent win for Pikeville. Congratulations. What happened to the Hornets? They score mid 70's at Johnson Central and can't break 50 at Pikeville! With the seasons Magoffin County has posted the last few years, you'd think they'd come into a game like this hungry for a win. But it's like they think they are supposed to win some games just because they show up. Their record this year should shoot that notion down immediately! I know they are a much better team this year. But I simply don't understand why they wouldn't come to play against Pikeville (or Cumberland, or Estill County, etc.).

Magoffin definitely came ready to play. They surprised JC with a 3/4 trapping press that caused some turnovers. That's why Central looked a little sluggish in the first half. Central turned it around in the second half and finished strong in the 4th quarter as Magoffin fell into their trademark "two minute brain dead period". Only this time - to their credit - the Hornets only went brain dead for about a minute. But it was costly! The key was a two-possession 8-point run by the Eagles. They had fought hard for a 2 point lead. Then Magoffin's point guard made a silly foul on a made basket (2 points). The Eagles rebounded the missed free throw and hit a 3 point shot (5 points). Magoffin answered with a silly play on their offensive end that gave Central the ball back. JC hit another 3 point basket to give them 8 points in two possessions. What was a hard-fought 2-point lead was now a 10 point lead in a matter of less than a minute! Still, the Hornets fought hard and, with the aid of some quick shots by Central, had a shot to get back into the game. Several players on both teams had good games. I'd say that might have been Brandon Shepherd's best game of the season. Keep it up Shep! I was really impressed with something I saw after the game. Wes Helton and Kyle Rice were ejected for fighting in their first matchup this season. And you could see them trash talking each other during this game. It was pretty intense. But both players kept their heads in the game. After the game I saw Helton walk over to the table where Kyle Rice was doing a post-game radio interview. Helton congratulated Rice on a good game and Rice reciprocated the gesture. Very classy, guys! I wish everyone could have seen that! The 57th District Tournament is going to be great! 3 very good teams are going to go home. And 2 very good teams will represent their district well in the 15th Region Tournament!

Amen!

I agree this is a great season for the fans in the 15th. No team is dominant although several teams have played better than all the others in short stretches. The nice thing for the fans is that even if their team isn't favored, they can win on any given night. That is sooooo cool!

:cry: :cry: :cry: It was very touching when the crowd roared as Wes Helton came out of the locker room with a bandage on his eye ready to return to the game. That is a moment he and his family will likely never forget. Way to go Hornet fans! :ylsuper: :ylsuper: :ylsuper: Your reaction inspired the entire Hornet team. You (the fans) sparked the boys to play the best full court pressure I've ever seen them play! This was a truly story book finish! Did I say, "Way to go Hornet Fans!"? :ylsuper: :ylsuper: :ylsuper:

It certainly appears so from my post. And I must admit a time out in that situation could have changed the outcome of the game. but I have absolute confidense in Coach West. I don't think Magoffin could have hired a better coach without going outside the mountains to get one. Coach, I'm for you 100%!

When the lead was cut to 6 after two consecutive turnovers was a great opportunity for a time out to re-focus the troops. "We've got this game, guys. Right here's where we win it. Keep your heads. Don't rush. Take care of the ball. (Call a specific offensive play to force the players to focus on their positioning and passing.) You're doing great! Let's go!"

It's going to be close. I predict the Pike Central game is the game where Magoffin finally begins to play the complete game that's eluded them the entire season - the beginning of an impressive run by the Hornets!

Great win for Paintsville! Magoffin played with more intensity most of the game. But Paintsville still played well enough to trade leads with the Hornets most of the way. The Hornets had the game in hand with a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter with all the momentum going their way. Then 3 or 4 straight turnovers (Aaaaarrrrrggghhh!!!) gave Paintsville an 8-0 run to get them back into the game. The Tigers then pulled ahead by 6 or 8. I don't think Magoffin's most effective players in this game, Helton and Rice, even touched the ball during that stretch. Magoffin battled back and at the very end and had a drive to the basket to attempt to tie the game at 74 each with 6 or so seconds left to play. It was exactly the right play at the right time. An UNBELIEVABLE charge was called on Eric Arnett who was CLEARLY FOULED by Kevin Williams. Instead of shooting 2 foul shots to tie the game (not a given considering the free throws the Hornets had already missed in the game), the Tigers were given the ball with 4 or so seconds to play. Game over. TERRIBLE INJUSTICE TO AN OTHERWISE GREAT GAME! I agree it was not a well-called game. But that last call simply took the game out of the hands of the players. I don't mind that if it's the right call. But it wasn't even close! Still, that call - as horrible as it was - DID NOT cost Magoffin the game, the inexplicable turnovers giving Paintsville and 8-0 run did, as well as the few silly turnovers and rushed shots near the very end of the game. Without that, the refs would not have had an opportunity to decide the outcome of the game. Once again, Wes Helton dominated the game. He simply couldn't be stopped! He kept his head in the game the whole time and helped keep his teammates in the right frame of mind. Devin Rice has become another force for the Hornets in the post over the last 4 or 5 games. Lately he and Helton have played extremely well together (19 each @ Breathitt, 18 and 29 tonight). This was a great high school basketball game! Both teams stood toe-to-toe the entire game, each one delivering staggering blows and neither caving in. Hats off to both teams! Paintsville really is a good team. Anyone claiming they are over-rated is ridiculous. True, they are weak inside. But their guard play and toughness makes up for that. You don't win the Paintsville Invitational Tournament accidentally! A word of encouragement to Magoffin County fans: You still haven't seen Magoffin play to their potential. With the exception of their first scrimmage game against Leslie County (WYMT Champs!), the Hornets haven't been firing on all cylinders this whole season. But they will. When Helton, Rice, Arnett, Shepherd, and Hunley all have a good games at the same time, they will beat whatever team they are playing from any of the Mountain Regions! It's gonna happen! Great game. Congratulations Tigers!

I'll be right hear - well actually in the new thread that will be created about the results of the game. Besides, my prediction wasn't so dangerous. I simply picked Magoffin to win. I then stated that it wouldn't be a "mild" upset as stated by another poster. I pointed out that Magoffin always savors a win over Paintsville. And I also noted that even if Paintsville plays poorly, Magoffin hasn't really played to their potential either this season. I guess the "dangerous" part might have been when I said something like, "Watch the place go nuts when Magoffin wins." I was merely repeating my prediction of a Hornet victory along with what I expect to be an emotional release of shear joy from players and anxious fans alike. No taunting intended. It was meant to show a measure of respect for the Tigers. But I certainly hope the place "explodes". I expect it to.

Fantastic post !! :ylsuper: :ylsuper: :ylsuper:

Magoffin by 8 or 10. But as far as this being a mild upset... Watch the reaction when Magoffin wins this one. The place will go nuts! I don't care if Paintsville is down or not, a win over Paintsville is ALWAYS a good win. Magoffin has been down for several years now. There are no mild upsets for the Hornets this year. Also, the Hornets have not always played to their capabilities this season. So a solid game for them that produces a victory over anyone will be a great relief to the players and fans; something worthy of celebration.

Sounds like Starns did a great job! He seems to be a very nice guy to boot. Also: Mike Walker, Wendell Wallen, and Todd Duff are all three top officials in the 15th region. It's good to see such a premier game get the best officials. Glad to hear they did well.

VERY ugly first half by both teams. Magoffin must have had 20 turnovers in the first half. But the Hornets turned it completely around in the second half with excellent offensive rebounding, passing, and pressure defense. The only thing that kept Magoffin from completely blowing BC out was #30 sophomore Justin Hollan for Breathitt. He was hitting from everywhere. I think he scored 26 points in the game.

OUCH!

OUCH!

Magoffin should win this one. But I agree with DoubleDribble. If Breathitt wins it will only be a mild upset. Magoffin simply hasn't been getting it done like they should this season.

Only 1 according to the KHSAA web site. Coach Starns may add to that as an internal discipline, though. By the way, I met coach Starns for the first time the other day. What a nice guy. I liked him instantly and I wish him much success at Johnson Central.

I might believe Pitino lost the SEC Championship to Arkansas on purpose as a motivator for winning his first NCAA National Championship. But there's no way BMR lost this game on purpose as part of a master plan for the season. The suggestion is laughable. I will say that Slone is a very good high school player. He will play at the next level. At this point I'm thinking for a strong NAIA team. But he's just a sophomore. He may work his way onto an NCAA team. He really is good. On top of that, he's a good kid.