[LOOKAYANNER]

Little Schools in the 14th don’t like to challenge themselves very often even when they have a good team.  Owsley and Leslie like them big 20 win seasons even if it’s 2 wins vs Cordia, 2 against Red Bird, 2 against Breathitt, 2 vs Jackson City.  It really don’t matter who you play I don’t guess but if I had a good team that I thought could get to state and win a few game, I’d grow a sack and play some competition.

Owsley lost a 2 point game at Knox Central, a team that is presently undefeated with wins over Harlan Co and South Laurel (in London). Owsley had a 16 point lead at one time but that team is very good.

Owsley’s schedule has them playing their 6 district games for the seeding of the tournament. They also have a good schedule with two games with Knox Central, West Carter, a tough Houston Erin HS from Nashville in the Gatlinburg Christmas tournament and 2 more I assume worthy opponents to be named later. They also play Leslie probably 2 and maybe 3 more times. Letcher Central is on the schedule as well as a game at Floyd Central. They played at Hazard earlier and might play them again in the All A. They have games with Middlesboro and Whitley Co. I’m sure they could have added a few high power teams from the Central or northern Kentucky but I don’t know what it would have proven. There’s not a team in the 14th region, the weakest region in the state in both boys and girls basketball, that could defeat GRC, Sacred Heart, Bullitt  East, Notre Dame, and the likes. 
Any team in the region can reach out and play a killer schedule which adds nothing to their chances of winning their home regional tournament.

The 14th has won two KHSAA titles, the last about 25 years ago. The likelihood of the region winning one this year is slim to none. Just to get there and maybe win one or two games (with a good draw) is the goal of most in the region I assume. It’s easy to make a goal to win the state championship but sometimes we have to give in to reality. So, a team doesn’t have to load up with a behemoth schedule to win the region. Can’t play a soft schedule either to get tournament ready but I believe Owsley and Leslie have a tough enough schedule. 
Long post but I’m sometimes long winded, lol. Just my humble opinion.

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Perry vs Leslie final this year.  Good thing Owsley has a guaranteed trip to Region or they wouldn’t get there.  Owsley has no depth.

Owsley has 7 players they can use. The starters and Kenzie Grubb and Blakesley Whitaker (who hasn’t played much lately while healing up a knee). That’s all a team needs. I’m addition, no team in the region is in better condition than the Lady Owls. They’re just as deep as they need to be. Whitaker played quite a few minutes in last year’s regional tournament at Perry.