Quagmire

Final from the Panthers Den. Maddox paces Augusta with 28 points, Burden leads Robertson County with 21.

Augusta received word on Tanner Pugh on Wednesday. He is eligible and practiced after school with the team.

Last season, I'm sure you remember, the Royals entered the 10th region tournament 27-2, were ranked, heavily favored, and talented. Although the wheels fell off in their quarterfinal matchup with Harrison County that's a lot to live up to. JV success is great but there's no given it carries over especially when facing veteran, senior-led teams.

We'll see how it all shakes out in the end but going into the season I've got the district like this: 1. Augusta 2. Mason County 3. Bracken County 4. St. Patrick Augusta returns a trio of seniors that have known nothing but success. Too bad they lost Jason Hinson as their coach but he couldn't take their talent with him and I like Brian Kirk and look for him to have the Panthers in the thick of things in late February. I put Mason County at #2 due to their lack of post-season and varsity experience. In the past three seasons the Royals have had a ton of talent but couldn't get it done come tournament time. Now this season with less talent, Coach Biggs will have his hands full. I've put Bracken County in the #3 spot because I just can't put them ahead of the Royals right now. I think Coach Hinson will improve the Polar Bears this season but I feel they are still a year away from that dream season they've been waiting for in Brooksville for a long time. St. Patrick comes in at #4 but I applaud Coach Taylor for sticking around and having his boys ready to play every night. It won't take long to find out how the district is shaping up. Dec. 8 Augusta @ Bracken Co. Dec. 15 Mason Co. @ Bracken Co. Dec. 21 Augusta @ Mason Co.

Thought maybe we might see Maddox and his 18ppg on the list. He's got a knack for big games and I was thinking his past would gain him some credit. But as we all know this is just fodder for us to debate until we get down to business next month.

Great to have Brian back in orange and black! Looking forward to this upcoming season and the future at Augusta!!

Just merely stating an opinion. I do know that rumblings really started up after BC's district loss. I hope I am wrong because that is absurd. And there may be more to the story but when you go 127-70 and are shown the door and there aren't many details, people will come up with ideas as to why. So we are where we are now, guessing and discussing. Not looking to start trouble, just can't figure it out.

Sounds like BC is letting the inmates run the asylum from what I've heard. I don't know PK's overall record out there but I'm guessing it's pretty good. He's a young man that sacrificed more than most of us ever would to make that program successful. IMO had it been MaCo that eliminated the Lady Bears last season maybe we aren't having this discussion. Pretty unfortunate to take credit away from a group that put it all together one night to beat the odds just because of who they are. I don't know what "different direction" they are going in but they just left Successville...

Exactly. And another thing that helps it be so special is that you get the crowds there. You have to get there early!! Other venues at this time of year just don't fill up like the Fieldhouse. And the home court advantage argument has gone out the window as a result of 2 of the last three seasons.

Along with all the choices at the Augusta concession stand you can watch the game while you are up there on the televisions mounted on the walls. The popcorn is good but there was a time when it was really good. AHSPanther23 can back me up on that.

Was good to meet mcpapa after the game. As far as the game goes, it certainly wasn't pretty. But I give Pendleton County credit for holding on when Augusta made a push in the 4th quarter and I give Augusta credit for showing the grits, guts and determination that they have all season to battle back and make it a game before fading. So excited for next year when the Panthers will be at full strength and contending for the big prize!! Best of luck to Pendleton County on Monday night!

Love Augusta, of course, especially when we play Bracken County. The atmosphere is so awesome. But when March rolls around, you can't beat the Fieldhouse. It's central location in our region makes it perfect. I have been to Henry County's gym and the crowd was pretty small so I didn't get the full effect of how it is when packed. The one thing I took away from Henry County, it didn't feel as big as it is, just my thoughts.

Ok, it just really bothered me that the teams didn't shake hands. I understand that they knocked off a ranked team that had only lost 2 games all season and none within the region. I was rooting for them to win. At the same time, celebrate the win, I don't question that at all. But remember when they said no more handshakes and people lost their minds? It's part of the game and should happen after each contest. Mason County, who had to feel awful after the loss, stood by their bench and waited but then gave up when it didn't happen. I just would have liked to see it happen. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Also as far as shaking hands after the game, I don't think it was avoided on purpose. Harrison County's celebration went across the floor and kept building and while that happened Mason County got tired of waiting, don't blame them, and they went to the locker room. It was a big win, over the favorite, but it only put the 'Breds in the semifinals. Celebrate like that when you win the region. Until then, have a little more class.

I mentioned in another thread that Mason County had no region experience on their team and I believe that really showed coming down the stretch. Although they were able to keep it close they could not hit the big shots to win the game. There were numerous late turnovers that they could not overcome. It seemed eerily similar to the 2013 and 2014 district games. Looked like no one wanted to shoot and Henry looked out of sync the whole night. Nice group of seniors that the Royals will miss but they just weren't a "big game" group as the last three years have shown. Congrats to Harrison County, they picked a helluva time to put it all together for a win!

When Scott comes to play they are a hard team to beat but they have to want to. I'm guessing they have driven Coach Carr crazy this year. You can tell by watching them that they are very well prepared on game day but if they don't want to play they'll just throw in the towel. If Paris has more guys show up offensively besides Garrard it could be a long night for the Eagles. Garrard needs the help to stay fresh so he can be effective down the stretch. So IMO it comes down to this, if Paris has multiple guys in double figures, they win.

Neither of these teams are the same as they were back in December. Augusta has suffered the most major injury between the two squads but Pendleton has had to deal with them too. So we can't say that they are 100% but are in much better shape than the Panthers. Augusta didn't shoot the ball well in the first meeting and didn't rebound well either so you know they know what they need to work on. Pendleton should be favored in this contest but Augusta has had ample time to prepare for this one and even gotten extra time thanks to mother nature. Everyone is talking about how hot the Wildcats are but will this long layoff cool them down? I guess we'll see on Saturday afternoon. I like Augusta's grit and guts and scrappy play this time of year. I'll take the Panthers in a close one.

Should be there for the whole tournament. When you get a pass, might as well use it.

I don't think there's any advantage or disadvantage to where either team sits. I understand the argument because one is the home bench and one is the visitor's bench and you should follow the setup of the tournament but, at the same time I think it's all just any kind of attempt to make Mason County uncomfortable because they just happen to have the absolute best venue for the 10th region tournament. I will add though that where the student section is and where particular people sit should never be a factor and I don't think it would be. As for myself if I'm not calling an Augusta game from scorer's table #2 I want to be sitting at half court on the opposite side. Gotta love the unobstructed view of the floor.

Harrison County is the last district runner up that Mason County wanted to see. No player on Mason County's roster has any region tournament experience. They do get the luxury of playing on their home floor, the best 10th region venue, but this is win or go home against a quality opponent on the big stage. That could be a bigger factor than people may think.

I'm not sure I'd call Augusta/Mason County a rivalry. This is just a period of time when the two face each other that it's a big game. Been like that since the 2012 district final. That one got people's attention and since then every time the two teams face people get excited for it. If it were a rivalry Augusta would be making the trip to the fieldhouse on a Friday night during the regular season.

We'll deal with that when it comes. At Augusta you have to rebuild sometimes and we just might have to then. But until that time comes we are contenders. It's taken a long time for Mason County to realize that there is a school just 20 minutes down the road that they have to take seriously. That won't always be the case as seen on Thursday night but, while we are in the conversation, and we will be next year, you're going to have to deal with us.

Never said we run the district and I'm very well aware of the all time record. But at the same time I feel confident about the team we have coming back next year.

Could very well be. The more the merrier.

We aren't going to win the district title every year. But we want it back next year.