[baseball1974]

Their is never such thing as a good loss. Not sure how to take it. I know we can regroup and try again or put our head between our legs and wait for season to end. I look at my son and all I see is a stunned look. Mentally they wasn't ready. That wasn't coaches the fault. Players need to be ready and not take teams lightly. I never saw any player try to get each other going last night. If someone doesn't step up to lead the ship will sink.

Losing does take a huge hit to the ego, but this could be the best thing that ever happened to Belfry this year? The best example is when UK faced Mississippi State I think in the SEC championship in basketball in 96. Coach Pitino has the best college basketball team of all-time and he is running through the season spanking everyone. The SEC championship comes up and they run through it as well all the way to the championship game. Nobody gave Mississippi St. a chance, but UK came out flat and never recovered. After that loss they regrouped and refocused and nobody could play with them during the NCAA tournament. In every interview Pitino did after that year he said the only reason they won was due to the loss against Mississippi St. He has said time after time they learned more from that game than they did at any practice all year.

With that in mind, this game not only gives Haywood a chance to address their weaknesses, but it gives Pikeville the confidence their going to need down the stretch. It was a classic game and both teams will end up benefitting from it. On this given night, Pikeville wanted it more and they executed a game plan.