Kingfish Stevens

As a bit of an olive branch to Golden Gopher, I am going to say that Matt Thomas is the best senior in the region. In my mind, there is no doubt about it. He is a very deserving young man. However, in the spirit of honesty and at the risk of bending the olive branch, I have to add that there is no way by any stretch of partisan imagination that Bonner is a top ten player. Coleman may contribute more to the maroonies than will Bonner. Bonner will miss the bumping and shoving of McDavid.

The region has a number of decent coaches but no "great" ones.

Too bad Mars is not a new member of the 64th District. We could possibly reverse the ill-advised vote by Rose Hill to seed.

The previous playoff meeting score is irrelevant. What was the score when they played this season? I believe it was LCA 42 Raceland 7.

As a long distance fan of CovCath, I used the link to listen to the game on the radio. After about seven minutes of babbling with no mention of the score, I gave up. These guys are miserable. At least, from BGP, I found out that CovCath is ahead with less than seven minutes left. If I didn't appreciate Dickie Martin before I sure do now.

It is always a big event for the participants. I'm glad to see that three of the 16th Region teams (Bath County, Rowan County, and Rose Hill) are in it.

The best coach in the region will undoubtedly be the one who has the most talent that performs to its capabilities. With very few exceptions, it is the successful performance of talented players that makes a coach look brilliant. If the talent and personal motivation of the players is sufficient, the coach can roll out a ball and retire to the teachers's lounge for a nice Diet Pepsi and a nap.

I would agree with Fastbreak that there is a lot of passion in the 16th Region. Those associated with a particular school passionately support their favorites. No doubt about it. However, I believe an equally present ingredient in the mix is that many passionately dislike some of their neighboring schools. To put it another way, there is not a high level of love in the 16th Region. There is, in many cases, even less trust and respect. So, why do so many 16th Region threads get closed down? Undoubtedly, it is passion of one kind or another. And, this passion is not limited to BGP by any stretch of the imagination. The 16th Region is not likely to host a "family picnic".

Sounds like what goes around often comes around, so to speak. From your posts, I know that you are a great supporter of the coach and the program there in Westwood. Your Eagles may surprise a lot of people in the district and region this year.

Godfather, did you forget Arliss Beach?

Actually not. The teams are school teams and the event is considered by most to be the middle school state tournament. Nothing else would remotely qualify since it features 28 of the top teams from all over the state. Possibly if Ashland ever entered such tournaments, you would feel differently. Participation sure couldn't hurt your programs- boys and girls.

Thank you for the list.

Excellent analysis from a first time poster.

Sorry, Golden Gopher. I merely intended to state the obvious. I didn't intend to hit a raw nerve. Sometimes the truth is uncomfortable.

That 1994 Boyd County team was a fine team. It was probably the best team in the region during that decade.

AHS (not PGB) had a rich tradition as did CCNY, LIU, and NYU in basketball and Army, Navy, and Lehigh in football. However, times change and they certainly have in this area. Those who controlled mainly because they were bigger than everyone else and had cooperative local employers have now lost those advantages. Put Matt Thomas on Elliott County or Rose Hill and he would be all state. Of course, if he had played football at Russell, he would also be all state. Too bad but you have to have talent around you in order to get recognition. Nonetheless, he will still be a top player in the region.

You are correct. I believe the point has been proven in this sidebar so we should return to the original subject. I'm sure Golden Gopher agrees and appreciates the rescue effort of his/her fellow Ashland advocate. Ashland is fortunate to have him/her and his/her blind faith and support. Whether right or wrong, he/she is loyal to the effort. I applaud him/her. As for the top players, I would put Matt Thomas near the top. If he were playing on a more talented team, he would probably be the top player in the region. He would excel at Elliott County or Rose Hill were others could carry much of the load.

I was not aware that KHSAA listings of records was infallible. If that is the case, why isn't Rowan County listed since Breckenridge Training no longer exists and those students were absorbed into Rowan County? Also, why is Clark County's championship listed as Clark County instead of George Rogers Clark High School? Inez was consolidated into Sheldon Clark so Sheldon Clark should be listed. Thyere are many others but this should suffice to make the point. It goes for all or it goes for none. Thus, I still conclude that Blazer hasn't won squat.

Ashland Blazer has never won a state basketball championship. Ashland High School did so in 1928, 1933, 1934, and 1961. Also, Clark County won in 1951 and Breckenridge Training in 1946. Both were in the 16th Region.

Breckenridge Training won in 1946. You don't want to leave them out, do you?

Remotely close? How about the 2006 Rose Hill girls. I feel sure that you both supported them and remember them. Championship? Well, it could be said that, if you are referring to Blazer rather than the "old days" of Ashland High School, the only state championship in the last forty years was won by the West Carter girls. If you want to get ancient about it, Clark County was a member of the 16th Region for a long time. The Cardinals won the state championship in 1951. Not as recent as 1961 maybe but somewhat more recent than the 1930s.

Who is in it?

With all due respect to the two teams you mentioned, neither was remotely held in high regard around the state. In fact, the 1996 Ashland team wasn't either. They weren't expected to do much in the state tournament and were really considered to be a surprise (shock) to reach the finals where they were thrashed soundly by another somewhat surprise team, Paintsville. The more high profile teams, like PRP, were upset earlier in the tournament. Although you didn't like them, and still don't, the 2003 Rose Hill team was well known around the state and even nationally to be a team with some exceptional talent. My point is that such a reputation is rare in the 16th Region. No offense intended.

Excellent post based on reality and not "regionalism". Truthfully, the only 16th Region team to make any real kind of impression in the state tournament in the last ten years was the 2003 Rose Hill team which lost to Ballard in the second round.

As long as Trinity and St. Xavier make the championship game, nothing else really matters.