[Hoot Gibson]

Bell County and Knox Central are both replacing outstanding coaches. There is almost always an adjustment period when a new coach is hired while players and staffs adjust to a new system. Maybe Bell and Knox will continue to play at the same level that they did last season but I am skeptical that there will not be at least a short term drop-off in both programs.

I think that with the loss of J. K. Hall, Tanner Bratton, D. J. Ousley, and some other key players that Johnson Central will probably get off to a slower start than last season but Coach Matney has replaced key players before and finished with strong playoff runs almost every season that he has been coaching in Paintsville.

I see Harlan County being the best Mountain team early in the season, followed by Bell County, Johnson Central, Belfry, and Knox Central but the impact of coaching changes is impossible to predict. Depending on how quickly Johnson Central's line develops, the Golden Eagles could finish the season at the top of the heap but Coach Larkey returns a lot of talent and he has proven that he is capable of coaching a team to a state title.