[Granny Bear]

Final.

Congratulations Black Bears!!

I'm glad Bell will also play at The Arena.  They deserve it!

[Black Bear Cuz]

Black Bears played and shot well, were up 56-40 with 3:17 left and got a little sloppy late, but still get the double digit win! Huff is just a tremendous player, not only made big shot after big shot, but also did a great job defensively on Bell’s leading scorer Buell. Huff’s supporting cast played really well also! They all hit big shots! Dominant win for HC……

[Gridiron_Raid]

Bell didn’t shoot. They lost. Repeat repeat REPEAT!!

I counted 6 attempts and one was blocked. That includes the 3 attempts with under a minute in garbage time. 2-6 when you shoot 46% is not the key to victory. HC played amazing they were going to do whatever it took to win. I know they made their first 5 shots and didn’t look back. Probably shot 75% in the second half. Anytime Bell got any momentum or big shot, it followed with a miraculous bucket on the other end. They were impressive.

Bell county run this team out of the gym when they went 13-22 from three. Maybe it was the small floor. Maybe it was a gameplan i don’t know… but you can’t repeat 13-22 if you don’t shoot the ball. Driving in and playing the free throw game isn’t going to win championships.

I would say HC did a good job guarding Bell, but they didn’t. There was at least 10 times bell should have let it fly and they chose to pump fake and drive. HC let it fly, this is the result. Congrats Bears they deserved to win.

[Black Bear Cuz]

Hey GR to not give HC credit for Great defense on a night they played great defense is just a little ridiculous sir! Give credit when it’s due pal, HC came into the game with the goal of showing us all who the best team is and they did a pretty good job of it lead by all state guard Mr Huff. Instead of making excuses about shooting more 3s and what not just show a little respect for the winning team tonight. Maybe Bell didn’t have their best game but these battle tested Black Bears you better believe had a whole lot to do with that……

[HCS]

When the best shooting team in the state shoots 35 percent (18 of 52), someone played good defense.

[Old School Hound]

Very disappointed in Bell HJigh. Looks like they peaked too soon. Damn shame...

[Gridiron_Raid]

A lot of the threes Henson did on his stats I believe were long twos in the first half. Way too many midrange shots for my tastebuds in the first half especially 2 feet in front of the line and off the dribble. I was not a fan of that shot selection.

Harlan County played better defense in the last 3 games than tonight in my personal opinion. The last three games was filled with turnovers and fast break points for HC. They didn’t force Bell into turnovers tonight like they had in the past. Reggie Cottrell did a very good job guarding Hall. Blocked him a few times. He is one I give credit to for on-ball defense. Other than that Bell did get to the rim rather easy, and then didn’t finish. Buell and Burnett got into the lane and had 1 on 1, and missed shots.

The article I just read from John Henson, which I don’t know how he does live stats including rebounds and missed shots live during the game like he does, said Bell abandoned the three. Now here is my counter to people that say it’s because HC’s defense. Maddox Huff was doubled most the second half, he was tightly face guarded throughout, that doesn’t change the gameplan. The gameplan is get that killer the ball and that doesn’t change. If you willingly let another team change your gameplan because of how they play, you have lost. Bell had chances to let it fly and chose not too until it was far too late. Instead of drawing up plays for 45%+ three point shooters to get good looks, I watched Iso ball.

Btw for you fans that obviously do not know how to take a compliment, I said Harlan County deserved to win, played amazing, and played hard. I just said in my opinion it wasn’t their defense that made the difference, it was the offense for them and the offensive philosophy for bell. Even in a slug fest, HC shot 50%.

---

Hey GR to not give HC credit for Great defense on a night they played great defense is just a little ridiculous sir! Give credit when it’s due pal, HC came into the game with the goal of showing us all who the best team is and they did a pretty good job of it lead by all state guard Mr Huff. Instead of making excuses about shooting more 3s and what not just show a little respect for the winning team tonight. Maybe Bell didn’t have their best game but these battle tested Black Bears you better believe had a whole lot to do with that……

I gave them credit for playing great offense, executing late down the stretch, and said they deserved to win. I mean I’m sorry I don’t agree that the defense is the reason they won, do yall expect every bell county fan to get on their knees and praise every aspect of Harlan County. 

And btw, They are 2-2. Bell won at Harlan County. Only team to do so in 3 years. Not too long ago I remember watching a Bell County team be up by 20 at home to Harlan County. I don’t think anyone has established themselves as being the best team. Best player, yeah that’s not debatable. 

And finally, for you even mentioning my three argument, I will let you in on a little secret. Harlan County hit 3 more threes than Bell. There’s the game. Plus long shots means long rebounds and chances to get offensive boards. It’s hard to rebound a missed layup when there’s 4 guys on the perimeter.

---

Reggie Cottrell blocking that three was a momentum, gameplan, mental, whatever you wanna call it game changer. It took the finger off the trigger for the bobcats and you have to give that kid the credit he deserves. His effort especially on offense if what propelled that victory. He’s very fun to watch.

[Black Bear Cuz]

I don’t have the time to write a Dr Seuss short story in here like some folks do, responding with every thought (some reasonable, some not so much) but let me say this, in 2 games with championship titles on the line (2A region and 52nd district) HC is 2-0 against this Bell team. All the talk by some about putting up enough 3s seems a little foolish to me, Bell got up as many as they could last night and went 4-16, you can spin that a lot of different ways, but I would recommend giving the opponent a little credit in your spin….

[Granny Bear]

I LOVE watching Reggie play!!! That boy has so much heart!!

[Old School Hound]

I don’t have the time to write a Dr Seuss short story in here like some folks do, responding with every thought (some reasonable, some not so much) but let me say this, in 2 games with championship titles on the line (2A region and 52nd district) HC is 2-0 against this Bell team. All the talk by some about putting up enough 3s seems a little foolish to me, Bell got up as many as they could last night and went 4-16, you can spin that a lot  of different ways, but I would recommend giving the opponent a little credit in your spin….

Reggie is the Bear
The Bear with the Hair
Don't poke the Bear
The Bear with the Hair

Ethan is the Cat
The Cat with no Hat
Don't block the Cat
The Cat with no Hat

"No Threes For You"
Said the Bear with the Hair
To the Cat with no Hat
"You poked the wrong Bear..."

"The Bear with the Hair."

[Black Bear Cuz]

That’s really good OSH, my better half is cracking up! She loved it!!

[Gridiron_Raid]

I don’t have the time to write a Dr Seuss short story in here like some folks do, responding with every thought (some reasonable, some not so much) but let me say this, in 2 games with championship titles on the line (2A region and 52nd district) HC is 2-0 against this Bell team. All the talk by some about putting up enough 3s seems a little foolish to me, Bell got up as many as they could last night and went 4-16, you can spin that a lot  of different ways, but I would recommend giving the opponent a little credit in your spin….

“As many as they could” buddy you crazy. Harlan County doesn’t hesitate and I love that. Even Carter will not hesitate letting it fly. Bell County was hesitant on pulling it and decided to drive. They scored 14 in the 1st and attempted 6 threes. 14 in the 2nd and 3rd COMBINED and attempted 5 in those quarters combined. When they played the iso game they got beat, and I disagree with them doing that. How much more credit should I give HC than saying they played great and giving individual players their praise? I think Bell County did not do what it takes to win, and Harlan County did. That’s where the credit is. You can say I need to give my opponent credit yet even single post and even the radio announcers from when Bell won AT HARLAN COUNTY is about how maddox was sick. You didn’t hear me pull the sick card this week, or when they went to HC for the 2A and half the team had the stomach virus. Its pretty hypocritical of any fan to come up with an excuse when they lose and expect opposing fans to be on their knees any time they win. 

It’s 2-2, none of those wins matter including the 2A and district. All that matters is round 5 if it comes to that, which I hope it does since they are the two best teams in my opinion.

[Black Bear Cuz]

All wins matter my friend, some just more than others! Tough draw for Bell this morning, they get the team arguably playing the best in region currently and they have a star player in Mabe.

[shottaker23]

All wins matter my friend, some just more than others! Tough draw for Bell this morning, they get the team arguably playing the best in region  currently and they have a star player in Mabe.

Not to mention SL is playing some of the best ball in the state right now finishing up against a monster schedule plus Steele is 100% now. I do not believe we will have to worry about a 5th meeting. Region is laid out for SL versus HC(Corbin plays like they did last night they will give HC a run) just like we all said at the start of the season.

[Old School Hound]

All wins matter my friend, some just more than others! Tough draw for Bell this morning, they get the team arguably playing the best in region  currently and they have a star player in Mabe.

Not to mention SL is playing some of the best ball in the state right now finishing up against a monster schedule plus Steele is 100% now. I do not believe we will have to worry about a 5th meeting. Region is laid out for SL versus HC(Corbin plays like they did last night they will give HC a run) just like we all said at the start of the season.

What's the bracket look like?

Do the best four teams (HC, South, Bell, Corbin)play each other in the opening round?

[shottaker23]

All wins matter my friend, some just more than others! Tough draw for Bell this morning, they get the team arguably playing the best in region  currently and they have a star player in Mabe.

Not to mention SL is playing some of the best ball in the state right now finishing up against a monster schedule plus Steele is 100% now. I do not believe we will have to worry about a 5th meeting. Region is laid out for SL versus HC(Corbin plays like they did last night they will give HC a run) just like we all said at the start of the season.

What's the bracket look like?

Do the best four teams (HC, South, Bell, Corbin)play each other in the opening round?

HC vs Knox, NL vs Corbin, SLvs Bell, and Pineville vs Clay.

[Old School Hound]

All wins matter my friend, some just more than others! Tough draw for Bell this morning, they get the team arguably playing the best in region  currently and they have a star player in Mabe.

Not to mention SL is playing some of the best ball in the state right now finishing up against a monster schedule plus Steele is 100% now. I do not believe we will have to worry about a 5th meeting. Region is laid out for SL versus HC(Corbin plays like they did last night they will give HC a run) just like we all said at the start of the season.

What's the bracket look like?

Do the best four teams (HC, South, Bell, Corbin)play each other in the opening round?

HC vs Knox, NL vs Corbin, SLvs Bell, and Pineville vs Clay.

Thank you, friend.