[Scotty doesn't know]

Okay, so Pikeville is a very gutsy bunch of players and I have a feeling that they will be completely up for this one. Valley should be coming up with schemes and sets that will throw Pikeville off guard. Valley as of lately has seemed to make the offensive production work through Belter, which is not a bad thing at all. However, one has to believe that with another week to adjust and more coaching Pikeville will have a little of a better way to play off of him rather than just go straight one on one. Valley has the size advantage but Pikeville should be able to come up with multiple ways to shift down on Belter and frustrate his game. I am guessing that Friday may be a little bit of a harder game for Cody. But this is the beauty of zeroing in on Belter because Valley has Newsome, which also has to be accounted for in a big way. Ultimately I think that Pikeville getting killed in the interior game last Friday will push them further inside to the point that they will give any outside shot up for chance. So Richardson, Lucas, etc. will be big factors in how this one plays out.

Pikeville in my opinion is still a little bit of a better team, the experience allows for them to know how to play when the game is slowed down or if they get down. They just have to deal with a home crowd and the big game environment of the district showdown. I think that they will respond well and should make this game about as even as you can get. Pikeville will not "win" the battle in the paint but they can slow down Belter/Newsome and fight for rebounds leading to some fast break points. Rebounding will be the most important stat of the night.

Speed: Pikeville
Interior: Valley
Experience: Pikeville
Shooting: Pikeville
Coaching: Valley
Energy/Crowd: Valley

So close to call, but I will have to say Valley wins this one at home by 3 or 4.
Belter with a sub-par game scoring 12 points/ 7 rebounds/ 3 blocks.
Newsome picking up the slack a little bit scoring 16 points/ 8 rebounds/ 1 block
Richardson continuing to manage the game well scoring 12 points/ 4 assists/ 3 rebounds/ 4 turnovers