[Leaping Lee]

1. The selection of referees for the AIT was done solely by Ashland.
2. The assigning of referees for each game was done solely by Ashland.
3. In recent years, Ashland has become quite dependent upon Kouns in important games.
4. The NCC game was never close enough for Kouns to assist Ashland. Still, although Ashland, from the beginning, played from behind and had to play catch up and had to press almost the entire game, the teams shot the same number of foul shots and NCC committed one more personal foul than Ashland.
5. Kouns seems to perform his magic in both halves. The most blatant example was in the opening round of the district tournament in 2009.
6. Kidwell is wise to blackball Kouns. Others should be wise enough by now to do the same.
7. I agree with most of what was posted directly above by Leaping Lee (other than the part that is Ashland spin). Leaping Lee is a good man although we don't always agree on specifics.

Truth, I agree with most everything you have said about Kouns, I cannot confirm or deny your claims about the game in 2009 but I have heard the same things from my friends in Elliott Co.

#2 is greatly misleading. Yes, the host school of all tournaments assign the officials but the must honor any strikes against officials. The point is, when Ashland and Russell both won then Kouns had to call the Ashland games. If Russell had defeated NCC the Kouns would not have called the finals.

Also, Ashland did not trail the entire game. They lead 25-20 midway through the second quarter. The lead expanded when 3 of Ashland's starters picked up two fouls and went to the bench. I don't think for one second that foul trouble was the reason for NCC's victory it just spend up the process. NCC was the class of the field and deserved the championship trophy. I'm willing to bet it won't be their last.

So there is no "Ashland spin" I'm just stating the facts as they are it might not go along with your take or Harry's take but that's how it Is