[Cactus Jack]

I think most would agree that Lyon County had more talent top to bottom than Harlan County. They were tough to stop when they were on-- you had to pick your poison when it came to containing Perry's dribble penetration and staying up in him when he was looking to get his shot off, giving up catch and shoot opportunities from three to Reddick, and/or letting Shoulders drag your big out onto the floor and look to duck in behind everyone and catch it for an open look.

I think Harlan County had played a variation of a pack-line defense most of the season, which was a really good defense for their personnel, but it's something that a team like Lyon County would have the tools to exploit and if you're Harlan County, you can't change what you've done all year, especially when you are getting out of Rupp Arena at 4 pm and having to be back for a 7:30 pm tip.

None of this is to imply that Kyle didn't have his team prepared, just to say that despite the fatigue factor, Lyon County had a lot that would go into making them favored in this one. Always stings to see a mountain team get so close, especially when it's such a humble kid like Noah, but the Lyons had a very tough offense for anyone to truly pitch a shutout against and they did an excellent job rebound the ball against Harlan County and that's why they came out on top.

This Black Bears run will be talked about and remembered for years to come. Excluding South Laurel, who was in the 12th Region when they won the 2005 State Championship, I think that this is the first time a 13th Region team has reached the finals since Clay County went in 1988.