Kingfish Stevens

Yes. Conley would most likely by considered as the best by those who won't choose Mayo. I gave my opinion as to comparing the two in a post above. I am basing my opinion on Conley as a senior and Mayo as an eighth grader. If you have personal knowledge of both of them at that stage of their development, feel free to dissect my analysis. Please remember, I am in no way taking anything away from Larry Conley.

Since you saw both play in high school, unlike others you do have personal knowledge of the two. Using your criteria of attitude, team player, and self discipline, all three of which are Conley's strongest attributes, I would hardily agree with your assessment. I, too, would give the nod to Conley. However, using a somewhat more inclusive criteria, I believe Mayo clearly prevails. As for Mr. dinoradja, I am interested in where you saw "tape" of Conley playing for Ashland. I would be surprised if it exists. Of course, there may be some old 8mm home movie somewhere. For the sake of discussion, let me throw out how I rate the two: Attitude: Conley Team player: Conley Self discipline: Conley (but closer than you think) Passing ability: Conley Rebounding: Mayo Foul shooting: Mayo Inside shooting: Mayo Outside shooting: Mayo (Larry was never a good outside shooter) Strength: Mayo Defense: Mayo Ballhandlling: Tossup Desire to win: Tossup Flair for the dramatic: Mayo Work ethic: Tossup Ability to dominate a game: Mayo (by a goodly margin)

With all due respect, there is no confusion on the part of The Kingfish. You said your opinion was based upon "personal knowledge" which means that you saw him play. Now, if others told you about Conley or if you read something or if you just have certain loyalties/prejuduces, that is not "personal knowledge". Nonetheless, you are entitled to your analysis regardless of any lack of real personal knowledge. There is no need for us to spilit hairs and no one has more regard for the accomplishments of Larry Conley than do I. However, I believe most would agree (many reluctantly) that Mayo was better. You, for whatever reason, see otherwise which is absolutely fine with me.

Sounds good to me. Each person is entitled to establish his own criteria and you have certainly done so. I'm just happy to read that you got to see Conley play in person during his high school days. Not too many on BGP can say that.

According to Jerry Tipton in this morning's Lexington Herald-Leader, the Mountaineers and Coach Huggins have offered a scholarship to sophomore-to-be, Chad Jackson, of Rose Hill. Tipton says that Jackson hopes for an offer from UK. Tipton also had a nice article about Dakotah Euton of Rose Hill in which he discusses Euton's great worth ethic. If Rose Hill can produce a good supporting cast, the schools in the region will make a lot of money from Rose Hill's latest group of primetimers. I hope Rose Hill has learned to schedule home games rather than providing cash cows to their less than appreciative associates.

As a unit, the 1960-1961 Ashland team may well be the best to ever play in Kentucky. They featured five D-1 players (Conley, Sergent, Hilton, Cram, and Smith). The two top reserves (Sexton and Daniels) would have started for most any other team in the state. The coach, Bob Wright, was outstanding.

I certainly respect your opinion. Is it based upon personal knowledge or on word of mouth from others? Larry Conley is the second best to ever play in the region. You can discount his accomplishments during the 1960-1961 season because he had six other exceptionally capable teammates on that team who would have likely won the state tournament without him. However, in the 1961-1962 season, he carried Ashland to the championship game because he had a clearly inferior supporting cast. It was his finest effort. Nonetheless, I feel sure that unbiased observers who are familiar with both players will, by a large margin, tell you that Mayo, even as a middle schooler, was superior to Conley. That is no knock on Conley. The player of the 1960s was just not nearly as strong and athletic as the player of the 2000s. It was a different and less intense game. Conley in his prime was a delight as was Harold Sergent. However, neither compares to Mayo and I'll bet both of them would quickly agree. The others you name are somewhere down the line but not near these three.

These 16th Region selections are hilarious. The best basketball player to ever wear the uniform of a school in that region is clearly O.J. Mayo. Most of those named ahead of him are not remotely in his class. Being partisans is fine. Being blind is something else. The best to play in that region, in my opinion, are: O.J. Mayo (Rose Hill) Larry Conley (Ashland) Jerry Ravenscraft (Breckenridge) Harold Sergent (Ashland) Mickey Sydenstricker (Russell) Linville Puckett (Clark County) Bert Greene (Olive Hill) George Carroll (Ashland) Jeff Hall (Fairview) Earl Adkins (Ashland) If Bill walker had made more than a cameo appearance, he would have to be in the top group. These are in no particular order other than for the first two with Mayo over Conley.

I agree with Mr. Log Mountain Boy and Mr. rojas4. The political atmosphere at Greenup County makes the coaching job at most any other school look good. Bath County is clearly a step up because my contacts in Owingsville tell me that they want a winner and that Hicks is a step in that direction. Many believe that, other than cheerleading, Greenup County does not have a winner mentality.

Hazard: Mickey Gibson Ashland (PGB): Larry Conley and Earl Adkins Lone Jack: Bobby Slusher Leslie County: Tim Couch Corbin: Frank Selvy with honorable mention to Jerry Bird Wayland: The King Flat Gap: Cyclone Charlie Osborne Inez (Sheldon Clark): Billy Ray Cassidy McKell: Don Gullett Rowan County: Jerry Ravenscraft West Carter (Olive Hill): Bert Greene followed by Gayle Rose Clark County: Linville Puckett

Good news and a good hire for Bath County. Coach Hicks has taken a step up. A good program can be built in Owingsville. That will likely never happen at Greenup County where cheerleading is king (or is it queen?).

Lexington Lafayette: Vernon Hatton Tough choice

It would be a great hire by Bath County and a good opportunity for Coach Hicks. Although he would be coaching at a school located in the traditionally weak 16th Region, he would be close enough to stronger regions (9th, 10th, and 11th) to compete with some of those schools.

Were they really playing their third game in a row with a group including upcoming eighth graders (mdddle schoolers) or was that also fantasy? I would still like to hear a ballpark estimate of the final score and a few details. Rose Hill beat Spring Valley by 12 without three of its guards. I have ascertained that this is true. I merely want some facts, not fantasy, about PGB's loss to SV. Although this is only June, we can at least ascertain where the teams are at this point of the journey. From what I have heard, RH beat SV fairly easily and without a starter or two. What is the true story on the PGB-SV game? I believe that I can get the formula for Coca Cola Classic easier than I can get facts on that game. Are the details a secret? Is my question unreasonable?Can twofakind offer any information?

Absolutely. Nothing of relevance can be concluded from Spring Valley's win over PGB when you factor in the fact that Thomas and Bonner didn't play and that PGB was playing its third consecutive game with a group which included many middle schoolers. Under the circumstances, I don't understand why Coach Biggs, a fine coach, would be upset at all. But, my information is second hand so it may have been exaggerated. I still believe that those who automatically rate Rose Hill above PGB in the "early assessments" are incorrect. When the time comes, I would bet on PGB.

Well, if what you imply is true and not exaggerated, the loss is understandable. I think most would have understood that I was, and am, seeking the final score or at least an indication as to how badly these eighth graders and up lost. Of course, if you really did play the game with Spring Valley with a bunch of kids many of whom will still be at your middle school this fall, any loss is understandable.

Sorry Zonebuster23, I reread your post and see where you did manage to mention that PGB lost to Spring Valley. Still not a responsive reply but a start. Are you at liberty to add any details or will this be it? You people shouldn't be so sensitive.

If Zonebuster23 is the typical example of a PGB poster, I can understand why they are perceived as they are by others. He has now informed me of most everything about PGB's performance other than which players suffer from hemorrhoids and how the game turned out. On the other hand, think I can gather who won the Spring Valley game. It looks like you boys in the "Greater Ashland Metropolitan Area" have an interesting year ahead of you. I appreciate mhighfield's post since it adds some background for the evasive behavior of Zonebuster23.

I checked with my "source in attendance" and he said that Thomas, Bonner, and the others were all present and accounted for for the game against Coal Grove. I'm not looking for an argument and I certainly don't want to enter the constant Rose Hill-Ashland eternal battle. All I asked was for a report about PGB's performance- particularly against Spring Valley. My source says he didn't attend the game but understands that the Tomcats got beaten pretty badly and that Biggs was not too happy. I am merely trying to learn from someone who has more direct information. Since Zonebuster23 seems to want to skirt the question, I guess, until I hear otherwise, I must conclude the initial report I received is true and that PGB did get thumped. If so, I am surprised since he also said PGB had no one of any materiality missing. I will say that I am acquainted with Coach Biggs and any lack of achievement wasn't because of poor coaching. Coach Biggs is top notch. Maybe, since Zonebuster23 won't do so, someone else will step up and fill us in on what happened.

I was really looking for information about how PGB did, particularly against Spring Valley, than for a rebuttal of Rose Hill's performance. I'll bet Zonebuster23 is a Tomcat fan so it is natural that he would downplay Rose Hill. Nothing wrong with that and it should be expected since the center of power seems to be changing again up there in the "Greater Ashland Area". Maybe Zonebuster23 can tell us about his team's performance in all its games. The Coal Grove game is the only one I have seen reported. I know that they have a couple or so starters returning but have heard that the cupboard is fairly bare of real talent after that and extends all the way to the elementary schools. I was told this be a PGB insider who asked not to be directly quoted. Of course, he may have been blowing smoke.

According to an "eye witnerss" report from an attendee, Rose Hill, with 8th grader to be Kyle Bush playing much of the game at guard, beat Spring Valley by 12. Rose Hill had three guards who were weren't present. In the next game Rose Hill, with the same lineup, easily disposed of Rowan County. I know that many say that this is June and that all of this means nothing. I disagree. Really, the only ones who say that are the supporters of the teams who are doing poorly. These events give us a good idea of what to expect. All teams have missing players but all have the great majority of their players there. The coaches are there so they are not pickup games. I have read little about PGB's performance. How did they do? How did PGB do against Spring Valley. I heard they cleaned Coal Grove but, as I recall, CG was winless last year and not expected to be much this coming year. My source told me that Elliott County, Rose Hill, and Spring Valley were the top three teams playing. Since my information is second hand, I would like to know what others thought.

Euton's decision will mean that many more people will want to attend Rose Hill games. Since Rose Hill is a very small private school, I would assume that money is always in short supply for the funding of the basketball program. Therefore, I would urge the school to schedule as many home games as possible. Create big paydays for yourself rather than unjustly enriching the opposition.

The last 16th Region player to make any impact at UK was, of course, Larry Conley (1962-1966). In, I believe the late sixties, UK signed Clint Wheeler and the late Benny Spears- both of Ashland Blazer. Neither played much. The only other 16th Regioner to play at UK was Mike Scott from Greenup County. Prior to Conley, UK had Ashland's Earl Adkins who played for the 1958 Fiddlin' Five National Champions. When you consider all of this, you realize how significant it is to have Euton recruited prior to his sophomore year in high school. I would hope that Chad Jackson is able to join his friend and teammate at UK. Regardless of petty jealousies, and there are many, all in the northeastern part of Kentucky should rejoice at having one of their own courted by UK. It has been a long dry spell.

Euton is most deserving of whatever he receives. No one this side of Mayo works any harder at improving his game. As for transfers to Rose Hill, I would recommend that the people at Rose Hill keep their collective mouths shut. Don't go around advertising for trouble because with the schools you have in your area, you will get it. Bring in whomever you can and do so in a way that cannot be disputed. You must remember that, because of all the publicity a few yars ago, you really are treated as guilty until proven innocent in regard to the KHSAA. PGB still watches every move you make and will make every effort to cause you trouble and a few other lesser lights up there are always snipping at your heels. So, therefore, be smart enough to cover your bases. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Scott Blair was a good man. May God comfort his family.