Old School Dr.

Good post, I was thinking the same thing and almost posted something similar to what you are saying, but I wasnt sure they were going to Florida this year. If they are in a tournament in Florida and their own tournament a 3rd tournament would IMO be too much tournament stress and could effect how much they would have left for the District and Regional Tournaments. Some programs however I am sure would argue that the more tournament play they participate in the better prepared for a late season tournament run. Opinions vary on this subject I would guess

The District and Regional Tournaments was what I was thinking of as down the stretch. They did hit a stretch after the All A State in February where they seemed to maybe lose focus a little, then regrouped nicely for a strong tournament run. Hopefully as you noted all their experience, along with their much improved inside game will help them avoid this same type of problem next season

Bearden played their varsity against Cumberland and Pineville and their JV against Middlesboro and Red Bird

These kids havent gotten where they are by accident, they have worked extremely hard through weight lifting, spending time in the gym together and playing basketball year round. I think being one of the Region favorites is something they welcome and expect, they got a taste of it last year and down the stretch played extremely well. They will miss Kyle Simpson, he is a great kid that was a pure shot, and played tremendous on ball defense. Johnson, Leisge and Hogue will provide tremendous leadership and the addition of Wilson will make them a bear of a team to deal with inside. Johnson and Crawford from Corbin will probably be the two best players in the Region and Leisge may be the best all around point guard in the Region, Hogue and Wilson will also be among the top players in the 13th Region.

The Skin veterans and Garfield Wilson are just starting to get used to playing together,they are also developing 3 or 4 young kids to give them the depth they didnt have last year, and are also playing without Paul David creech, a probable starter that is a very good outside shooter and excellent athlete, due to injury. Playing 20 plus summer games including the State AAU Tournament will bring this team closer together and when they get everyone healthy and have some depth developed I think they can be very strong this up coming year

Cumberland showed signs of what they are capable of being next year, especially with a 68-54 win over a highly rated Knoxville Bearden team that has 3 starters back from a team that won 25 games last year and I heard made it to the state 3A finals in Tennessee. Immediatlely after the Bearden game which was Cumberland's 2nd game of the day, they played Pineville in their 3rd game and were not very sharp and struggled to the close win. After the Cumberland/Pineville game, Pineville then played the Knoxville Bearden team and got beat by 25.

I would love to see a 35 second shot clock. Every level of basketball including College, International and NBA have a shot clock and I believe it would add a little more excitement to the game along with a little more strategy. It would keep the game more interesting late in games when you would be forced to keep playing and not just be able to sit on the ball. I would also like to see the clock stopped after every made basket during the final minute of the game. I just hate to see the situation late in a game when a team has made a great comeback and hit a big shot to cut the lead to 1 or 2 with no timeouts left and 4 or 5 seconds left on the clock, and the opposing team be able to just stand with the ball out of bounds until the game ends. I believe the game should end on the floor with the ball in play, and not with a guy standing with the ball out of bounds for 4 or 5 seconds.

I heard that Ryan Whitaker signed with LMU either yesterday or today. If this is true they got a heck of an all around basketball player that will bring some Kentucky fans with him to the Tennessee school. Good job LMU and I hope Ryan has a great career over there. Can anyone confirm this signing?

I dont see a man with his win loss record and 10 straight District Chamionships at his age stepping down to a position as an assistant at another school in the 13th Region. He has proven he knows how to run a high quality High School basketball program and will surely be a very good head coach somewhere else for several more years.

Who is that

IMO Yes

I believe Simpson should be on anybody's top 20 players in the 13th Region list (coaches or sportwriters). Where he fits on the list opinions may vary, but he should definitely be in the top 20. This kid was the leading scorer on a top 4 Region team that won the 13th Region All A Championship and almost knocked a South Laurel team that did not lose a Region game in 2 consecutive years out of the Regional tournament in the semifinals. He averaged 17 points a game in 2 All A State games and had to be considered very seriously for all tournament team down there, and would probably have surely made it if Cumberland had advanced to the Semifinals. He was one of the best shooters and also one of the best on ball defenders in the Region, a key element in Cumberland's #1 defense in the 13th Region, and a 3 year starter for the Redskins.

To say that Central didnt take the game as serious and that they were not as hyped about the game IMO is being disrespectful to Shelby Valley in regard to the game on 1-27-07. This has been a good discussion and I think we all agree that Central is the favorite to come out of this bracket, but it may not be as easy as some people that dont know much about any of the 4 teams would think, just by looking at recent sweet 16 history and rankings this year.

I would agree with you that Central got what appears to be a good draw for them, but I just think you should show some respect for the teams in their bracket like I know Central's coaching staff will. The thing that I really want to point out is that I have seen these teams play several times and I believe they bring a little bit more to the dance this year than teams from these regions have brought the last couple years, and through hard work and committment by a lot of people have built three very solid programs. Just a little respect is all I would like to see these guys get, and I am not from the 14th, 15th or 16 Region, I am a 13th Region guy

Mr Westsider sir, let me point out a couple more things to you. Shelby Valley also played the night before, a very solid 4-A school Paul Dunbar at Dunbar, so that played the night before excuse holds no water, and Shelby Valley was ranked in the top 20 on the 27th and to say that Shelby Valley took the game more serious than Central is just an Ignorant statement. Why dont you do a little more research before you go assuming such things about a game played 6 or 7 weeks ago and just give SV a little credit just because they deserve it. Central better not overlok JBS either, Mason County hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer to beat them BY 2 and they have beaten some quality teams also.

No sir I have not, but I am giving them credit for their record their ranking and their recent history in the sweet 16 and I am not saying that they will not get to the final 4. What I am saying is that these 2 mountain teams are very good basketball teams and they are capable of playing with a lot of highly ranked teams. They have both been building these teams for 3 or 4 years now and they are seasoned, talented teams that are capable of winning a game or 2 at the sweet 16 and regarless of whether or not they win a game or 2, they will play very well and the fans will appreciate them.

I am having a hard time NOT mistaking this for you completely throwing out that game for reasons that only a Dragon fan could come up with. (give us a break from the excuses) the game is what the game is, a 63-60 win for Warren Central. As for the part about the shock effect of playing in Rupp Arena, I dont think you will have to worry about that bothering JBS and especially not Shelby Valley. Those Shelby Valley boys have played so many basketball games over the last 3 or 4 years (and at a very high level of excellence) in AAU and other off season tournaments that they will be ready and they will already have one game at Rupp under their belts if they get to the 2nd round and IF Central also gets there. So if you want to go ahead and pencil your mighty Dragons in the final four, but remember that The Old School Dr. warned you Beware of the mountain boys in 2007. Actually Dfenz gets credit for warning you first. (nice job Dfenz)

That is a very good point HDE. IMO this issue is something that should be addressed in the off season. If you remember when Cumberland played Hazard in the All A state Tournament, they scored a bucket with around 6 or 7 seconds left that got them within 1 and it appeared as though the coaches and one or two players signaled for a TO, but didnt get it until 2.8 left on the clock and there was NO EXTRA time put on the clock for the Skins.

The same way they coasted to that 63-60 victory over Shelby Valley on 01-27-07. IMO they will not coast into the semi's, but will have a very tough time getting there if they get there at all.

Did you know that on January 27th on a neutral floor the mighty Dragons only beat Shelby Valley 63-60

I agree that most people across the state, especially in Central and Western Kentucky believe that Warren Central will not have much problem getting to the final 4, but having seen 2 of the 3 other teams in their bracket multiple times I believe they will have their hands full winning these 2 games. As I stated in another post, if I had to pick a team to come out of this bracket I would take Warren Central, but I do believe they will have to play very well in both games to come away victorious. I haven't seen Elliot County, but I have seen JBS and Shelby Valley and they are 2 excellent teams that are very well coached and they will test Central in a big way. Just like in many cases, fans may be overlooking these teams, but I guarantee Central's coaches are not. I really believe the Rupp Arena fans will enjoy what JBS, Shelby Valley and Elliot County will bring to the dance.

I will be there for the whole tournament for for around the 20th year in a row in section 16

I believe the Redskins did as I said they would "give a great effort", ONE that EVERYONE WOULD and DID Appreciate, wouldnt you agree Les.

They may rather play in the Sweet 16 at Rupp, but I would bet you that every one of those players would rather win an All A State Championship than just play in the tournament at Rupp. I know myself personally I would rather have an All A State Championship than just get to play in the Sweet 16 at Rupp.

The Class A is absolutely not a joke and I am sure you would not speak such foolishness if you had a son or daughter participating in the All A Classic.