[Red and Black]

Looking like this is Martin Co.'s region to lose.

I think Pikeville might be the only team that can beat them. Martin is the most athletic team in the region, but they play sloppy on offense sometimes. Their defense annd athleticism usually carries them through it, but it’s a weakness that can be exploited, I think. But even when they aren’t hitting shots they’ve always got Watts slashing to the rim for dunks or FT’s, which usually opens up the shooters, and Watts is great at finding open guys when he gets doubled. They don’t block out particularly well and it seems like their offense outside of Watts usually doesn’t get red hot until the 2nd half. I think if pikeville matches their physicality, blocks out and keeps Watts from penetrating by drawing charges to get him in foul trouble early then they can win. The biggest problem teams have with them is you can’t double him because they’ve got 2-3 guys that will get hot quick if they’re left to shoot open threes. I’d like to see Pikeville play straight half court man on them with Onkst on Watts and see what happens. That would be worth the price of admission, I think. When teams try to play zone against them it just opens up the 3’s for their guards and when they play man MC just out-athletes you to the rim. Pikeville can do it but it’ll be tough.