[JeanClaudeVanGraham]

Final from the Arena. Corbin hung around for three quarters but the black bears are just too strong. Congratulations to Harlan County as they advance to the semi-finals.

[E's Army]

Congrats to Bears

[panther nation]

Congrats black bears

[BearsFan]

Way to go Bears.

[64SUR]

Congratulations Black Bears. :Cheerlead

[Granny Bear]

The game was closer than the score indicates. If HC could make fouls shots, we would've won by 40!

The big games usually boil down to the fundamentals of free throw shooting, passing and rebounding.

[walterwhite]

Black Bears pull away for the win. Should be tremendous game Saturday.

[SEKYFAN]

The game was closer than the score indicates. If HC could make fouls shots, we would've won by 40!

The big games usually boil down to the fundamentals of free throw shooting, passing and rebounding.

Harlan Co. was 18-32 at the line, which could get you beat in a close game. The good news for Harlan Co. was that Corbin shot the ball really badly, 18-52 from the field, including 2-10 on 3 pointers and 10-15 at the FT line. The Black Bears did play good defense and were not giving Corbin anything easy though.

Congrats to the Black Bears!

[TheProfessor33]

Shooting was definitely an issue at the arena Thursday night. Both teams, including the respective stars from each team, struggled to make shots.

[Granny Bear]

Yes, they certainly did!

I love the Arena as a venue for entertainment programs, but for basketball games, I dearly hate it. I have to wonder if the openness was a contributing factor to the free throw shooting. It wasn't just us, it happened in the next game as well. And most of the misses were off the front rim. Crazy!!

[Dorlon70]

HC is playing well right now! Best PG in the region and probably the best defensive team in the region. They may win the whole thing...Girls and Boys!!!

[TheProfessor33]

I agree, the arena is a great facility. However, not a good place to play/watch basketball.

[thehills]

The HC/CC semifinal may be an instant classic!

[Joker's Wild]

The sight-lines must be terrible for shooters. When I saw Carmical's first shot was an airball that wasn't even close to anything, I knew there had to be problems for the shooters. Watching a game there is even worse--its an absolutely terrible place to watch basketball. Add that to the fact that I had spent $30 for 2 people before I even sat down ($20 on admission and $10 at concessions) and I would much rather see these games at a high school.

[thehills]

I'd have to agree with the sight lines. The Arena is so deep behind the basket and at angles that it takes players who are used to shorter depths in HS gyms time to "sight in" their shots. Plus I think the rims are really tight. Not a lot of touch on them.

[TheProfessor33]

Also a ton of missed free throws in both games. I watched very good free throw shooters go to the line and miss over and over. The free throw line beat Barbourville in the 4th quarter, and I feel bad for those kids. Harlan county is a good free throw shooting team, and I think they missed 17.

[callmecrazy33]

I agree that the Arena is a terrible place for basketball games. But I don't think that it is as much the depth perception, as much as it is the rock hard rims. Even soft layups bounces around the rim for 5 seconds. After talking to several players about the actual shooting and playing on the floor, they don't seem to think it's any different as any other gym, but they despised the rims.

[JerryGarcia]

Gotta disagree on the venue. Yes it would be nice to have it at a high school but I think having it at the arena helps the winner a bit when they go to Rupp. They are gonna see openness at rupp and this way they will at least see it before they go to rupp

[Granny Bear]

The HC/CC semifinal may be an instant classic!

I can not wait!! It's the match up I've been wanting to see all year, and their regularly scheduled games were snowed out.

The sight-lines must be terrible for shooters. When I saw Carmical's first shot was an airball that wasn't even close to anything, I knew there had to be problems for the shooters. Watching a game there is even worse--its an absolutely terrible place to watch basketball. Add that to the fact that I had spent $30 for 2 people before I even sat down ($20 on admission and $10 at concessions) and I would much rather see these games at a high school.

I thought I was gonna throw up when he missed that shot. Then the free throw debacle. It was deep into the game when I noticed Corbin was having a difficult time at the free throw line, too.

Also a ton of missed free throws in both games. I watched very good free throw shooters go to the line and miss over and over. The free throw line beat Barbourville in the 4th quarter, and I feel bad for those kids. Harlan county is a good free throw shooting team, and I think they missed 17.

I knew Collins would have them ready. They have been a dynamite team all year, and their free throw shooting was one of the top percentages in the entire region. They played a great game and never gave up. Gotta admire that grit and determination.

[Magic Johnson]

Yes, they certainly did!

I love the Arena as a venue for entertainment programs, but for basketball games, I dearly hate it. I have to wonder if the openness was a contributing factor to the free throw shooting. It wasn't just us, it happened in the next game as well. And most of the misses were off the front rim. Crazy!!

Couldn't agree more The Arena has a horrible atmosphere for high school basketball, seats are just too far away from the court. Especially the girls games when the crowd is not as big, it has 0 atmosphere. I for one am for moving it back to respective high school gyms.

[walterwhite]

I would much rather see the regional tournament in a high school gym any day. Nothing like "elbow to elbow" and so loud you can't talk to the person next to you. I never minded split sessions and parking. Just part of the atmosphere. The arena is a nice facility but the atmosphere is just not the same.

[walterwhite]

Gotta disagree on the venue. Yes it would be nice to have it at a high school but I think having it at the arena helps the winner a bit when they go to Rupp. They are gonna see openness at rupp and this way they will at least see it before they go to rupp

A good point and I understand the reasoning. In reality, has it helped any of our champs win at Rupp? If you really want to acclimate to that type of arena, set up a shoot around in a similar arena, after you win the region. No disrespect, I just miss the old atmosphere at the high school gyms.

[Granny Bear]

Couldn't agree more The Arena has a horrible atmosphere for high school basketball, seats are just too far away from the court. Especially the girls games when the crowd is not as big, it has 0 atmosphere. I for one am for moving it back to respective high school gyms.

Well good luck with that!

The only place the regionals have been held in recent past, aside from The Arena, was when Harlan County was bold enough to hold it there.

I LOVED it!! Most folks didn't.

We actually got death threats!
nicker:

[ky_boy]

Most folks feel its too far to drive from Corbin to Harlan.

I'm glad it's not nearly as far to drive from Harlan to Corbin.

[thehills]

Most folks feel its too far to drive from Corbin to Harlan.

I'm glad it's not nearly as far to drive from Harlan to Corbin.

That will preach right there!nicker:

[walterwhite]

I'll be surprised if Clay County doesn't host at Bobby Keith Gymnasium when their turn rolls around. They've never been in favor of playing at the Arena.

[TheProfessor33]

Would play at Bobby Keith Gymnasium any day of the week over The Arena.

[SEKYFAN]

I agree that the Arena is a terrible place for basketball games. But I don't think that it is as much the depth perception, as much as it is the rock hard rims. Even soft layups bounces around the rim for 5 seconds. After talking to several players about the actual shooting and playing on the floor, they don't seem to think it's any different as any other gym, but they despised the rims.

Harlan actually shot a higher pct. on their FG attempts last night than their yearly pct. They hit 45.7% last night and 43.2% on the year. Their FT pct. was down from 68.2% in the regular season to 56.3% last night, although they did hit 14-19 in the 4Q for 73.7%.

[BearsFan]

I think next year is Harlan Ind. turn to host. Rumor is that they have been talking with Harlan County to use their gym. Don't know if it is true, but I hope so.

[TheProfessor33]

The fg% is misleading. The teams combined to shoot 4-22 from three point range and Harlan County missed 15 freethrows. Most of Harlan County's FG's were layups or in close. No one watching that game can say that those teams shot the ball well last night.