[Black Bear Cuz]

Another really embarrassing loss for HC to put it kindly! I am at a loss for words regarding this game and this HC team!!!

[Mountain]

Missed free throws and turnovers late really hurt Harlan Co., when Corbin was making that run. I am not going to give up on the Bears or be negative. They just need to put 4 quarters together.

[EKYBubbaWatson]

1. Clay Co
2. Jackson Co
3. Corbin
4. Harlan Co.
5. Rest of region.

[HAROLD]

Corbin doesn't have that "Star" that they are accustomed to but these boys are the real deal. They play really well together and are fun to watch. Like I said, they lack the star power of a Bo Roaden or Tony Pietrowski but they remind me of some of those old Billy Hicks Runnin' Redhound teams.

[EKYBubbaWatson]

Wouldn't call them the "real deal". 80-31 to Trinity is pretty rough, even if it was towards the beginning of the season. They do play well as a team and when you play them in the half court they will win a lot of close games. Up the tempo and turning them over is the key to taking down Corbin.

[FIRST]

Most even I have seen the 13th region in a long time. This should be a great show to see who makes the trip to RUPP.

[TedRoosevelt]

Another really embarrassing loss for HC to put it kindly! I am at a loss for words regarding this game and this HC team!!!

I definitely have to disagree. Corbin has emerged as a contender in the 13th Region. This was not an embarrassing loss for HC. The Black Bears are a better team than Corbin, but you can never count out a Tony Pietrowski coached squad.

I think this just further solidifies the fact that the 13th Region is wide open this year - again! I still give the nod to Harlan County because they are hosting the tournament (which I'm in favor of).

Embarrassing? I think not.

[Granny Bear]

Congratulations to the Corbin Redhounds!!
I can't wait to see their scoring percentage and free throw ratio.
I don't believe they missed more than 3 free throws all dang night!!!

At one point Harlan County missed 8 consecutive free throws. Every single one was the front end of the bonus.

Mountain hit the nail on the head; we gotta get some consistency or we won't make it out of district!

[UKFan8]

This game is a tough one to swallow for Harlan Co. but the good news is that they do have the best talent in the region. However, these guys need to start listening to Coach Jones and his staff instead of just hearing them. Coach Jones hit the nail on the head with his post game comments; it's all mental and about mental discipline.

I still think when all is said and done somebody will have to beat Harlan Co. at their place on Saturday, March 2. It may seem far-fetched right now Black Bear fans, but remember, there are no trophies handed out for regular season victories. The Bears will be there this year when it counts!

[FIRST]

I would agree, but Clay Co. is at that same talent level with Reed back from injury.

[OutsideLookingIn]

Mike Jones, come on Mike Jones!!!! get those bears going. Charles Thomas is coaching at LCA??

[EKYBubbaWatson]

Clay County is more basketball talented than Harlan Co. Talent doesn't get you much though, just take a look at Clay's team in 2011 that lost to an undersized, much less talented Corbin team. With that said this years Tigers seem to be peaking at the right time. Harlan County does not. As long as they can win district I think HC will be there when it counts. They'll probably have to go through Bell Co first though.

[FIRST]

I agree, winning the district is KEY for both Harlan Co. and Clay Co. this year.

[EKYBubbaWatson]

I think it is more for HC but I do agree FIRST. Both teams will have to earn it.

[Curveball 24]

Hard Loss For Harlan Co.!
Clay Co. looking more like the odds on favorite to win the region!!!

[Mountain pride 10]

To me this is the most interesting stat for this season, Corbin was 10-4 before the new year and 11-2 since, Clay Co was 10-3 before the new year and 9-3 since, Harlan Co was 11-0 before the break and is 9-7 since with a three game loosing streak at home where the 13th Regional will be played.

[EKYBubbaWatson]

Mountain Pride, awesome stat at the end. Looks like the HC home advantage isn't all that great. Fatigue from the 2 hr bus trips could be a factor in teams coming out slow or sluggish. I think HC is still a contender because of their athleticism and senior dominated team but they will have to play their A game to compete with Clay and beat the teams such as Jacksons, Corbin, NL, SL, Bell, Pineville, and KC.

[UKFan8]

Mountain Pride, awesome stat at the end. Looks like the HC home advantage isn't all that great. Fatigue from the 2 hr bus trips could be a factor in teams coming out slow or sluggish. I think HC is still a contender because of their athleticism and senior dominated team but they will have to play their A game to compete with Clay and beat the teams such as Jacksons, Corbin, NL, SL, Bell, Pineville, and KC.

For that matter, I could say that Clay better play their A+ game to COMPETE with Harlan Co. since in their only meeting this year which was AFTER Christmas, the score was HARLAN CO. 58 Clay Co. 47.

Thus, how all of a sudden Clay Co. is the favorite and have pretty much dominated the whole 13th Region is somewhat of a mystery to me.

Someone please send me some statistics that prove that Clay Co. is now miraculously better than when Harlan Co. manhandled them by 11 while it was worse than that until the very end of the game.

The bottom line is Harlan Co. is much more talented than Clay Co. at virtually every position, they PROVED it when they played them, and it will REMAIN that way until Clay Co. can prove otherwise in the Regional Tournament.

[-_-]

i think jackson is as talented as Clay and HC or anyone else in this region and may shoot the ball better then anyone from the 3 but as we have seen in recent year the best team has not won this region last year Clay was the best team and lost to north which out of the 8 teams that made it to the region to me was the worth so i think anyone of the 8 that make it to the region has a shoot to win it....

[FIRST]

This is going to be a great regional in my opinion.

[JerryGarcia]

Im a little surprised by this one. Real season starts next week,still think HC will be team to beat.

[UKCC]

UKFan8 - You wouldn't give any credit to Clay County losing a heartbreaker to Perry Central the night before would 'ya? Just saying. And they didn't have Reed. Come on now. Manhandled, Lol.

[HDE]

I'm sure the Harlan County game was one of the worst for Clay County this season, but Harlan County did lead 12-0 to start the game and Clay never got closer than six, I don't believe. Clay could just as easily reverse it the next time but I don't get the theory that Harlan County has to play its "A game to compete." Harlan County was coming off a tough loss to Hazard.

The "A game" statement though did make me think. I don't know if Corbin could play a lot better than they did in the second half (two turnovers). I'm guessing Bell and Barbourville also played at the top of their games to beat Harlan County. Harlan County should be used to seeing teams at their best by now. It's one of the prices of being ranked at the top of the region.

[nedreader]

What most of the average fans fail to realize/comprehend is that 12 pts. equals 6 possessions during a game. That could be holding the team you're playing to no points on 6 possessions or your team scoring on 3 possessions and holding the other team on 3 possessions. 6 possessions really isn't a lot during the course of a game. Home court has to mean at least 6 pts. in my opinion...but some teams play worse at home for whatever reason. It could be the pressure of having more family members present, distractions, etc. You have to remember these are 15-18 yr. old kids too. Anything can happen. The coach that is able to get his team to focus the best will come out on top.

[Granny Bear]

To me this is the most interesting stat for this season, Corbin was 10-4 before the new year and 11-2 since, Clay Co was 10-3 before the new year and 9-3 since, Harlan Co was 11-0 before the break and is 9-7 since with a three game loosing streak at home where the 13th Regional will be played.

I think this is an amazing stat!

What do you think has made this difference?

[Black Bear Cuz]

I'm sure the Harlan County game was one of the worst for Clay County this season, but Harlan County did lead 12-0 to start the game and Clay never got closer than six, I don't believe. Clay could just as easily reverse it the next time but I don't get the theory that Harlan County has to play its "A game to compete." Harlan County was coming off a tough loss to Hazard.

The "A game" statement though did make me think. I don't know if Corbin could play a lot better than they did in the second half (two turnovers). I'm guessing Bell and Barbourville also played at the top of their games to beat Harlan County. Harlan County should be used to seeing teams at their best by now. It's one of the prices of being ranked at the top of the region.

nice to finally hear from HDE! I don't really agree with all of your logic though, it is pretty clearly very biased.. I believe HC playing poorly has had a lot to do with everyone seemingly playing their best against the struggling Bears! Just doesn't seem like anyone has any control of this team? Just my opinion sir and I'm sure many will disagree with me...

[EKYBubbaWatson]

UKFan8 obviously hasn't watched Clay Co play other than the game against Harlan Co when NONE of the boys wanted to be there after the tough loss the night before. Clay beat Breathitt by 12. Does Harlan have a win that is close to this quality? And Harlan isn't superior at any position besides the fact that they are bigger with Miller and Caldwell. Clay's Forwards are much more athletic and have been playing with a different passion of late. McDaniel's worst game of the year and I think he still had a handful more points than Brewer. Time will tell. Harlan Co still hasn't beat Clay when it counts and if the Black Bears expect to come this March they better find another gear... Quick.

[UKFan8]

UKFan8 - You wouldn't give any credit to Clay County losing a heartbreaker to Perry Central the night before would 'ya? Just saying. And they didn't have Reed. Come on now. Manhandled, Lol.

I watched the Clay Co.-PCC game and I thought the referees absolutely STOLE the game from Clay Co. It was embarassing how bad they wanted an all-14th Region final.

However, I could not understand after that loss and the way it went down, why Clay Co. didn't come with a vengeance the next night against Harlan Co. especially seeing as how Harlan Co. and Clay Co. are the top two teams in the region!

I think Clay Co. has a good shot to win the region, but to imply that Harlan Co. would have to play their "A" game just to compete with Clay is completely biased and absurd. Clay Co. is the one with something to prove; Harlan Co. has already clearly proved they can beat Clay with a relatively convincing win over the Tigers.

Harlan Co. needs to have amnesia. Forget about the last three games, forget about the bad memories from last year's Regional Tournament, and focus on the next play and the next game...because that's the only way to recover.

[EKYBubbaWatson]

Now I will agree with you on some things. Clay did not come out with any energy or vengeance. Why?? You'll have to ask the boys. If Clay plays there A game and HC plays there A game I say Clay by 10-12. At HC, probably more like 5 point game. And you're right on HC. They better forget the last week or so and try to recover. This group has had high expectations for 3 years and they have yet to accomplish even a district title.

[00delk]

there`s not a real favorite in the 13th.region, any of the teams that get thru their district tournaments could win it.i think its pretty obvious the harlan co. has problems at this point in the season.they were up 17 points against corbin last night and lost the game...at home, isn`t harlan county playing with a lot of senior`s ?