[firetubbyplease!]

Different times, different styles, different opponents. I have always heard Coach Runyon say that if they could have just beat Louisville Ballard (and Allen Houston) that they would have won it all that year. They had already beat Clay County that year and that is who they would have faced in the finals.

As far as which team was the best, it seems that we were almost similar to each other - with the 96' team with the advantage. John Pelphrey - Myself; Joey Couch - Josh McKenzie; Keith Adkins - Todd Tackett; Mike Minix - Matt Ratliff; so what player from the 87' team matches up (size wise, skill wise) with Craig Ratliff from the 96' team? Slight edge for us I guess!!!

JR, ... comparing the 87 and 96 PHS teams is like comparing diamonds and platinum...it's all good man! I had the pleasure of watching both teams play several times and both were in my opinion the top two teams to come out of the mountains in the past 40 years. However I differ in opinion with you on somethin...the comparisons are Pelphrey/Ratliff; Counch/McKenzie; Adkins/Tackett; Minix/M.Ratliff. I think the 87 team had no one to match up with you. Pelphrey's game and yours are different..he played more like Craig. I also think that PHS would have won it all in 87 if they had had one player in the 6'3' to 6'6 range who was a quick footed and physical defender...he wouldn't have even had to a starter..just someone to come in and focus on shutting down the other team's best shooter and maybe grabbin a board or two. He wouldn't have had to be a scorer---PHS had plenty of fire power! If PHS had had another defensive minded player to put against Houston the score probably would have gone the other way.