[Black Bear Cuz]

I went and looked up the schedule since this came up. Harlan Co. plays Montgomery Co. which is a top 25 rated team, Fleming Co. which was preseason top 25 and Perry Central which was rated 13th going into last week. They also play Hazard the first game ofthe WYMT, which only loss I believe was in OT to Knott Co. That is some pretty good teams left on Harlan Co.'s schedule. That is not to include 13th region games like Clay Co. at Clay Co.

Montgomery County is the only one of these teams mentioned that is ranked in the Dave Cantrall top 25, Former Lynch High School product Happy Osborne is the coach at MC which is big reason this game got scheduled. Regarding the other teams mentioned Hazard, Perry Central, Clay and even Knott County that just doesnt qualify as competing against high caliber in state competion. In the past when 13th region teams Clay and South Laurel had strong teams they competed against the Lexington schools and Louisville schools in the Louisville Invitational and the King of the Bluegrass tourneyinlexington, not to mention always a big tournament in Myrtle Beach. Shelby Valley and Elliot county also scheduled top notch teams when they were strong and playing this great competition helped all of the teams become great Mountain teams. I am not down on HC I just wish they had a higher quality schedule, which come March would make them a much stronger team. Go Black Bears!!!