[Black Bear Cuz]

Bell has no depth right now, I love four quarters constant bashing when it's obvious he hasn't watched the team much if at all this year. Bell played 7 people last night and really only went to the 7th when it became an absolute must situation. London is very fast and one of the most gifted athletes I've ever seen, but he can get out of control when you get to playing too fast and that has happened on occasion. The game was tied with a minute or so to go, so it's obvious they had a plan that gave them a shot to win, for a first year coach I don't know how much more you can ask for. WHYLIE is also up there advocating for a coach that lost by 40 last night in the opening round, and oh by the way the team that won by 40 over WHYLIE's choice lost to Harlan County by 7. Fact of the matter is some people just have an axe to grind with Madon or have their feelings hurt that their choice didn't get the job and they are just intent to stir the pot at every turn. This season was always going to be a building year, Partin and Collett both graduated last year and they accounted for about a third of the points in the previous year. But the kids developed and got better as the year progressed, it's hard to ask for a lot more than that in year one.

Not sure if you noticed, but HC actually only played 6 players last night and the 6th man only played about 2 minutes I believe. Having pointed that out however I am not criticizing the Bell coaching or giving you a hard time for making excuses for the coaching strategy. After watching the game I simply believe myself that Bell had good enough players to go toe to toe with HC last night and would have had the same chance to win the game as they did choosing to hold the ball for the time that they did. I believe both HC and Bell have solid starting lineups with very little depth and are pretty evenly balanced teams. IMO would have been a more enjoyable game to watch if Bell had come out prepared to take it to HC. I do believe that the two best teams in the district both won last night and I have to say that I am happy about that. Friday night should be another of many great games to remember between HC and Harlan this year and over the next few years.