[kittycat]

Any knowledge heading into the final month, where are you Dookie?? You've been awful quiet lately. hh:


3 team race to the finish. Thoughts?

BC- Still is a top team. Loads of talent. Are they playing their best basketball? Lost big to a good WV team ..kind of a shocker.

Ashland- Is Paintsville the best win since Dec? Are they starting to come around at the right time? Big game at Ironton against 16-0 Waynesville will tell lots.

Russell- Very hot team right now. Scary really. Post players are startintg to flex their muscle. LS is becoming a major factor.

WC- Kind of looks like they arent a major contender. Lost big lately and wasnt even close. Maybe next year?

[nekysportsfan]

1. Boyd
2. Ashland
3. Russell
4. West
5. Rowan
6. East
7. Menifee
8. Lewis

These are the teams that will be playing in the region tourney. Should come down to Boyd and Ashland. Boyd will win.

[Dookie]

I'd just about gave to agree with NEKY and the above post. Haven't seen Kittens up close since loss to Boyd and that was ugly. I'm sure they've gotten better since then. Boyd's loss to Park South wasn't really shocking- Park South is a very physical well coached team loaded with talent. They stand a very good chance of winning the big school division in WV. When Boyd gets defended well by a team that can play good D and is physical it hurts them. Savannah is the only shooter that can create her own shot from 3 on this team and Park South made her earn it. I've said all along that Russell is a scary team. They have all the tools plus depth and when clicking on all cylinders they may well be the best "traditional" team in the region. And I wouldn't count out WC just yet. The young guns have played a lot of games in a short period of time. Still think they're a year away- plus Berry will limp through the rest of the season. I think it shakes out to Boyd-Ashland-Russell and the draw has a lot to do with it. One of the teams will have to get past a tougher semi- final game. Russell has multiple kids that can score. Boyd has 3 that can score. Ashland has 2 and Parker can be guarded and not as effective when has to put ball on floor plus Bradley offense looked stagnant against Boyd with Robinson being watched by other 4 players. Fraley creates looks for his players and takes advantage of match ups. Russell runs more motion to get all involved plus Darnell can take over if need be. Watched the WC-Russell game and Russell looked extremely efficient. I'd say the team that is best coached and plays the best defense will win it. Coming down to the last month and it definitely looks like a 3 team race. And with Wheeler/Robinson/Darnell leading their teams- anything is possible. Should be fun to watch!

[Passtheball]

Got to watch the 2nd Boyd / Ashland game... Think Robinson had close to 40 in that one. Boyd has a good team and if they are making shots really tough to defend them.. will be a battle to make it out of the 16th for sure..

[kittycat]

Another loss for BC last night ...was this a shocker Dookie? Seems like BC is not heading in the right direction. Whats happening?

Ashland won again and beat SV by 20pts on SV home floor last night. Solid Win this was followed by the huge win aginst Waynesville last week ..#5 in the state of OH and undefeated. Kittens might be getting together at the right time.

Russell BC lurking just around the corner. What will happen? Will Russell shake up the 16th predictions.

WC lost again to BC by 30 pts. They just cant compete with the top 3.

[Dookie]

BC loss at St Joe was not a shocker- game was closer than final score/Fraley was out with flu/St Joe has about 5 or 6 D1 girls/St Joe tiny gym tough to play in/and the grand daddy of them all- we got the calls at BC🤔- and in return they got the calls at St Joe🤔 As for WC game it was 20 points and I was impressed with how WC competed with us. Again- they are probably a year away and Berry not fully healthy but these kids can play. Putting up 74 was impressive. When we shoot like we did and the 3's fall it's a tough night for anyone. Kittens have put together a nice run and it seems to have come at the right time. Spring Valley a decent team as is Paintsville. Waynesville being a D3 team in Ohio and undefeated and ranked 6th was the big win. Having Robinson makes Kittens dangerous against anyone. She seems to have hit her stride and Kittens are following her lead. I'll get to see big game with Russell. Should be a good one. Russell seems to have hit their stride as well. They can create match up night mares for teams with their size and length- and they have the 1 kid I have seen slow down Robinson- I'd say this game will be decided by someone other than the big names-could be a nail biter and a good indicator heading toward tourney time. Also Kittens game at St Joe- well- you'll see what it's like to play against that caliber of talent in their home gym coached by one of the area's top coaches. Plus Kittens have WC coming up- don't take them lightly- I'm telling you- these kids can play and are fearless. Rayburn in my eyes is one of the best young coaches in the area and handles those kids well. As for predictions- it'll all shake out in the next couple of weeks- and I love watching these young ladies play and compete. It's so much more exciting to have a region with 4 teams capable of winning it all as compared to 1 dominant team. I know KittyCat enjoyed the A-Rob era of that dominance but this is what I like to see- 3 or 4 teams battling it out to see who gets to represent the 16th Region in the Sweet 16. Love my Lady Lions but also love watching good girls basketball! Good Luck Ladies!

[kittycat]

Dookie- BC you have to admit isnt playing well lately... with or without Fraley the kids look out of sink. Wheeler is shooting so many shots, its becoming all based on what kind of night she is having. Could others be getting frustrated? Their defense is not good average at best. They have the athletes but like to play all on one side of the floor.

St Joe has 2 -D1 kids Bailey and Paige the other guard signed with I thought a DII school. With that said maybe 3 not sure I see 5 or certainly not 6. I'll give you the gym is small and hard to play in. Shannon does do a good job, well see how the Kittens match up. It will be hard though. Good challenge!

Cant wait to see Russell and BC go at it. This as you say will tell lots about tourney time. I predict the Lions are going down this time. Which means again we have a solid 3 man race for the title. Its going to be interesting for sure. Fun times in the 16th again. The excitment is starting up and we fans are feeling it!

[WILDCAT NATION]

1. Boyd
2. Ashland
3. Russell
4. West
5. Rowan
6. East
7. Menifee
8. Lewis

These are the teams that will be playing in the region tourney. Should come down to Boyd and Ashland. Boyd will win.

Just like on the boys side Boyd Co and Ashland are well above the rest. Russell is close 3rd. But from there it's not close. District winners will be Boyd, Russell, Rowan, and West but Ashland will bounce a winner in round 1.

[david5164]

The game tonight at Russell between Ashland vs. Russell was an outstanding and close game. The final score was 47-45 with Robinson hitting the game winner with no time left on the clock. Russell jumped out to 30-19 halftime lead with Lakie Sanders leading the way with 12 points. Then Ashland came out to start the 3rd quarter and outscored Russell 20-4 to take a 39-34 lead heading into the 4th quarter. Russell came back and took the lead but Ashland and Robinson hit the game winner with no time left on the clock 47-45.

I would say at first of the season when Russell and Boyd County played to an overtime game with Boyd County winning 75-72, this game with Russell and Ashland going to the last shot for Ashland winning, and the Boyd County wins over Ashland during the regular season looks like a toss-up in the Regionals for the 16th Region to go to State. I thought West Carter was going to be a major player and that would be the 4th team in the regionals but Russell beat them by 30 in probably Russell's best game of the year and Boyd and Ashland both has beaten West Carter so it looks like the BIG 3 in the 16th regional and I will make a prediction that whichever the 2 teams in the 16th region Final will probably come down to a game winning shot at the buzzer. These 3 teams are so close and I will say the overall best team ball with 7-8 players contributing is Russell. They do have Darnell Madison that will put up 20-25 points but Ashland and Boyd both have players that will score 40 points on any given night. It will be an interesting 16th Regional and any of these 3 teams could make a run in the State Tournament.

[Dookie]

Ashland and WC have not played yet this year and the girl from Russell is Madison Darnell not Darnell Madison. I do believe that Darnell can put up 25 and is a stud player- but until Russell utilizes everyone in the big games I don't see outcomes changing. I felt I watched a game of 2 on 2 for most of the night! I realize rivalry games can get tight and players get tight but that was a very boring game of checkers- and I say checkers- not chess because both coaches would make a move to help the team and it would work and then they would go back to square 1. Square 1 for Ashland is get out of Robinson's way and let her play- and I'd have to say that's not hard to do with her talent level- she's unreal and a talent that doesn't come along often. I thought for the most part Russell did a good job last night defending her and not letting Parker get loose at all. But again- Ashland has no movement on offense. Rymer was the key for Ashland last night as she hit some key shots at key times and made enough defensive plays to "slow" down Sanders in the 2nd half. Fulton neutralized Mitchell and was in her grill all night and I thought Mitchell would be the key for Russell in this game with her ability to get to the rim and her athleticism but Lane for whatever reason didn't make that move. Lane went to their flex offense and Russell missed wide open cutters that were open and then she went away from it. Bradley pressed Russell coming out to start the 2nd half and Russell fell apart- and then Bradley went away from that. My daughter even asked me why Ashland quit pressing. In the end Ashland wins these types of games because they have the best 1 on 1 player maybe in the state and in a tight game she has the ability to do that(not sure why Lane chose to play M2M on last possession). I'm sure Russell is griping about a couple of calls or non-calls costing them but in the end they did not take advantage of their opportunities. Both of these teams have the ability to win the region and are very capable and it is a 3 team race right now with BC being the favorite but- not by much. I'd bank on Fraley making the right decisions in these types of games. BC has won tight games when their shots don't fall but Robinson has proven she can score and carry the load also in these tight games. Wheeler is a stud also who can carry her team in tight games. Darnell also has that ability. WC again- young and fearless and very capable. Some of their losses(Russell by 30) are a sign of youth and a lot of games played in a short period of time- but- I'm sure some of these coaches are smart enough to not take them lightly. Fraley causes teams trouble by match ups and having Wheeler- he spreads the floor and makes you guard corner to corner. Ashland can guard that better than Russell can. If Lane utilizes Sanders and Hill and Darnell down low and slow the game down and not get in a track meet with Boyd they have that advantage. Again- it's a chess match- I just feel like some teams are playing checkers! BC in a big game today and have the rematch with Russell looming- let's go Lady Lions! Good luck to all!

[kittycat]

AHH Dookie its always good to hear your wisdom. I enjoy reading your info, I truly do. And for the most part I agree. Ashland came up with the key play and down went Russell ..the best kid on the floor is a nightmare to stop! They Russell played good enough to win for sure. It wasnt looking good till Ashland came out in the 2nd half and got some turn overs. Pressing is a great weapon but it cant be used too much, especially with Ashland . The Sanders kid is really playing well. A new weapon for sure.

BC in my opinion is going to have trouble with the size and ht of Russell. They have no one that is strong enough to match up with Darnell. However BC does have a key advantage ,they can spread you out and do have weapons that must be guarded. I agree that its going to be a dog fight at Region. It will be a blast to watch!

[Skip Pass]

I agree that BC is still the team to beat. I can respect Dookie's loyalty to Fraley...he is a whale of a coach, but IMO, Bradley is right with him. Bradley makes the game adjustments he needs to win games. Also I feel Bradley places more emphasis on defense than offense. Ashland's opponents are averaging in the low 40's. Ashland beat Russell by holding them to only 15 points in the 2nd half. Boyd is not a great defensive team. They are just outscoring teams, which is not a bad strategy when it is working for you. My point is, both coaches are coaching their teams, and winning, due to their strengths. The next game between Boyd and Ashland will be very interesting...definitely a game of 2 "opposites". Also, it was obvious to me that Ashland intentionally began pushing the ball and went to a hard press in the 2nd half to gain the lead. Robinson who was guarding Darnell and also being the focus of the press was becoming spent. Ashland had to back off the press (even if they didn't want to) to give Robinson a breather. Of course, this is just my opinion which won't by ya a bowl of soup at a cheap diner. I think this regional will be very entertaining with some very close heartbreaking games for players and fans. Whoever the regional winner, I think the 16th will be well represented at State.

[Luther Rackley]

Looks like the Lady Devils and Ashland prefer a grind-it-out type of game, which suits their personnel and Boyd wants an up-and-down version, which fits their roster pretty well. West Carter is very dangerous. Since Boyd Co. are defending champs they are a slight favorite. Looking for first back to back since Ashland had their four-peat. Good luck to all teams.

[Dookie]

Some points to ponder concerning coaching......

1.Kittens had to press to get energy because their offense puts so much pressure on Robinson to drive or Parker to come off screens- gets real stagnant and no movement to get other kids involved at all. Russell proved to guard Parker just make her put it on floor. We did the same. Why not run some motion and make the other team guard everyone to open up scoring opportunities to take pressure off Robinson. Robinson can get hers anywhere and anytime. 5 out does not fit Kittens personnel. They have 3 kids capable of getting to the rim but don't utilize it much.
2.Robinson was tired- why not get her out last minute or 45 seconds of each quarter to rest. That would realistically give her about 3 minutes of rest. They have a very capable couple of kids to handle the ball and run some offense. Work for 1 shot at end of each quarter.
3.Kittens defense is good on the ball with Robinson and Fulton 2 of the best defenders in the region and Martin makes up for lack of foot speed with her shot blocking ability-but off the ball Fraley's sets puts their help defense in trouble to create open looks for his players- all 5 of them. As well as creating mismatches using screens in his sets.
4.WC does the same- they put pressure on you by their sets to guard all 5 kids and it makes them dangerous.
5. Lane for whatever reason never got Ross-Mitchell-Michael involved in offense. It literally was a 2 on 2 matchup. Darnell and Sanders vs Robinson and Parker. Russell shut down Parker and Rymer stepped up big. Also Russell was horrendous at the foul line in this game and it was their main players who missed. Not sure the percentage but it cost them the game.
It all boils down to this- we can all talk about coaching and critique what we think they should do different- but- sometimes it comes down to the horses you have in the stable. There is an old saying they use in boys basketball that I've heard for years- Zornes used to say it a lot-" sometimes it's not about the X's and the O's- it's about the Jimmy's and the Joe's". And I'd say each team has a couple of those kids as well as a complimentary stable. Nice win at Scott for my Lady Lions- Wheeler is so fun to watch when she's feeling it- and I swear that kid has been feeling it since 8th grade!

[kittycat]

Big win last night at ST Joe WV. It was a great game for the Kittens and shows how hot they are heading into the post season. WC at home tonight wont be an easy task after a great win. Just two more games to tune it up and on to the District tourney.

BC Russell game tonight. This will tell us something on where these teams are heading into District play. Its heating up the race to the 16th region champs is getting close.

[Dookie]

Boyd-Russell a dandy! 2 teams trading punches all night with Lady Lions up 5 at half. Talent on both teams!

[nekysportsfan]

Well, we have learned about all we are going to learn about the teams before the districts and regional tourneys. Looking back at my preseason rankings, I have to say I got it wrong about West Carter and Ashland, but got it right about Boyd and Russell.

Boyd is the clear favorite and is about 10 or so points better than anyone else. Ashland is the clear number 2, particularly after closing their season on a big winning streak. Russell is the only team capable of beating Ashland or Boyd. The draw will be interesting as always because either Ashland or Boyd will be in for a battle with the Devils before the finals. West got routed by all 3 teams. They aren’t close to the top teams yet. It will be fun to watch any combination of Boyd-Ashland-Russell playing in the regional. The only district game worth watching will be the Boyd-Ashland final, although it really doesn’t matter other than pride.

[Dookie]

Game last night was a back and forth doozie. Lady Devils seem to like the grind it out games. Boyd likes to get up and down the floor. After watching Russell play the Kittens last week I thought they did a better job tonight if utilizing every one- but it's tough to slow down Boyd. The only thing that makes Boyd vulnerable is if they aren't hitting 3's as a team. Impressed with The Kittens run down the stretch and I wouldn't count Russell out for a second. Having a kid the caliber of Robinson makes the Littens dangerous! Wheeler is just a winner and competitor that never ceases to amaze. I still think Russell has the most complete team with a star in Darnell- but I feel like when they grind it out they under utilize their talent(see Kittens game). I agree with NEKY's post - one of the semi - final games will be a good one! Good luck to all and go Lady Lions!

[kittycat]

BC win wasn’t a shocker. I thought that Russell would play with them and from the sounds of it they did. As you said, when they hit it might be too much for anyone. It will be a battle come Regional for sure. The draw might be key to the Championship I agree.

Kittens are VERY hot heading into post play. Can they beat BC when it counts? Robinson is playing like a person ready to take on whoever- whenever and even 5 at times lol. The others are starting to find their way.. it will be a will of def vs Off. I like the way the Kittens are playing defense and it might prove to be key.

Russell is a very interesting team that I wouldn’t want to have on my side come Regional. They are very capable of spoiling the party.

Last week and here we go!!