[Lucky7]

Just to answer a couple of things here and in previous posts: with the exception of a run of talent at the guard position in the last few years Estill has not had a notoriously strong basketball program in it's recent history. It has struggled to gain consistency. Talent like in any Rural community runs in cycles. There aren't holdbacks as in other eastern Kentucky powerhouses, and many of our boys never get a chance to play basketball at a young age. We have two First year players starting at post right now that haven't played organized basketball since seventh grade. Estill lost 8 seniors last year and and has had many injuries and quitters this year including 3 starters out for extendend priods of times. Yes this includes Riley who is "one" of Estill's leading scorers and helps to score inside and outside and rebound as well. Still remains to be seen as to his return date or if he will. The real story here is perserverance and work ethic of the boys and coaches that could pack it in and stop working hard but haven't. There are many teams like that and I applaude them. This team is the one I see the most. Sometimes we reduce things to a simple inhumanistic game that only matters on the scoreboard. Sometimes you win - when the scores says you do - sometimes you win when it says you don't - as I get older I realize this more and more.

That is not an excuse for Estill County. With a school this large they should be cosistenely a top team in the region. If you cant start players early Estill should look into a youth foundation. They seem to have good ones for baseball and softball as these teams are among the tops in the region and the softball has been in the state for a while.