[Lleyton21]

This is the second time in recent years that I can remember it happening in the 15th and I predicted it on another thread: All district champions lost in the first round of the regional tourney. I was just wondering if this ever happens in other regions across the state. It seems so improbable, but yet it happens again!

[Granny Bear]

Any team can win during the tournaments for a number of given reasons. The 13th certainly had their share of surprise wins.

That's tournament season, and that's what makes it great!!

[ballboy]

A sign of a weak region.

[pikevilleout]

Why weak...
Why not parity in region...
All the teams are so evenly matched...
They may not be as strong as in the past few years, but I see alot of young talent
coming through and they have the makings of being some very good teams.

[EKYHoops]

weakest region in the state this year! If East Ridge can win a game in the region after not winning their district, you have a very weak region. I mean they lost to Cordia from the 14th. Sorry.

[ballboy]

this region is the weakest in ky. and was last year, untelling who win this region, one and done in the sweet sixteen.

[ballboy]

The 14th will not be stong either Knott,Breathitt,Buckhorn or Powell will be one and done also.

[Never Graduate]

Question? Why do teams (especially the 14th) win their region, go to state and just lay down? I mean most of the time the team will play better teams, just getting to the state tourney, then they lose in the first round. I mean you take away Shelby Valley from a couple of years ago, and when was the first time a mountain team has made it past the first or second round? So my question is, are we settling for a regional title? Is that what us as fans let our teams do? settle for a regional title?

[foriegn flatlander]

Question? Why do teams (especially the 14th) win their region, go to state and just lay down? I mean most of the time the team will play better teams, just getting to the state tourney, then they lose in the first round. I mean you take away Shelby Valley from a couple of years ago, and when was the first time a mountain team has made it past the first or second round? So my question is, are we settling for a regional title? Is that what us as fans let our teams do? settle for a regional title?

This is 100% accurate and leads into the main problem with competing in the state (I am speaking strictly in basketball terms) It seems if you beat your main rival or win your district this somehow validates your team. To compete statewide you must play statewide.

[EKYHoops]

I believe Coach Hatcher at Perry and Coach King at Knott both traveled a lot more this year to get their teams ready for the state tourney, however Hatcher did not have his team ready to play and got knocked off by Buckhorn, that happens. Knott is still playing, but are not playing well and looks like if they do make it to state, it could be another 1 and done year for the 14th. I guess it's just the big stage these kids can't handle or something, don't really know what anyone can do to change the mind set, but wish someone could. It really gets aggrevating seeing our teams go and lay an egg against teams that they could beat 8 times out of 10.

[Hillbilly Heartthrob]

Question? Why do teams (especially the 14th) win their region, go to state and just lay down? I mean most of the time the team will play better teams, just getting to the state tourney, then they lose in the first round. I mean you take away Shelby Valley from a couple of years ago, and when was the first time a mountain team has made it past the first or second round? So my question is, are we settling for a regional title? Is that what us as fans let our teams do? settle for a regional title?

I agree to a certain extent.

too make it to the final 4 in the state tourny is quite a feet, and takes a special group of kids and a special coach.

Teams such as The 08 Paintsville team (which if I'm not mistaken won a couple games in the tourny) and the Hazard teams a couple years ago, and of course the SV state championship team.......They were all special teams with special coaches.

Making it to the final 4 in this state is NO cake walk.

[Micro-Brew]

Most schools from areas such as Lexington and Louisville are bigger than most of our mountain schools, which obviously gives more kids to choose from. Also as a whole most of the kids are more athletic kids, now before I'm attacked we have plenty of great athletes here in the mountains just probably fewer of them, so therefore it makes the area competition slightly weaker on a nightly basis. Also in the more urban areas it seems more kids really concentrate on 1 or 2 sports at most, whereas most of our mountain kids play 2 sometimes 3 sports, which can limit their effectiveness as a team against kids who are probably playing that 1 particular sport year around. Our teams here in the mountains just can't afford to have kids just playing 1 sport. So there are multiple reasons its tough for our teams year in and year out go and dominate a Sweet 16 tournament, now there will be exceptions ( Shelby Valley and Paintsville), and I truly feel thats what makes the state of Kentucky's basketball tourny so "SWEET". I would like to point out I have no facts for my above statements, they are simply my opinions.