[LOOKAYANNER]

I have to agree with Dogfather and Dukeboy.     I have always found the local "experts" to be extremely biased to what ever school and area they cover.   Some of them do not even try to hide it.    The publications that are not from here have absolutely no clue.  I actually like Owsley and think they have a great team but all the excuses are pretty funny.   We didn't get any fouls?  Do you actually believe that officials from a different region gave Letcher all the calls?  Go back and watch the game...   there are tons of fouls on both teams that were not called.   Owsley shot a ton of threes...  Letcher drove the ball to the basket and played in the post...   Pretty obvious who is going to get more fouls. 

This season has a ton of parity and its honestly going to be who is playing the best and hitting shots to see who goes to Rupp this year.    Knott, Letcher, Owsely and Perry all have a very good chance of winning it.   As i have said before until someone can beat Knott and Letcher I think those two have a slight edge because they have a culture of winning that tournament.  As far as ranking players(which is ridiculous at the high school level) If the best players from Knott and Letcher are not at the top of that list you just might be ranking based on what you want instead of what is real.    

This is all JMO and i do think its going to be a very competitive and fun season to watch unfold.    Lets get it started and see where it ends..

Some Numbers
LCC took 33 2 point shots. Owsley took 29 2 point shots. 

Not as obvious as you say, may want to watch that film a little closer.  If you watch film Owsley attacked basket over and over.  Letcher went a half with 1 foul, I think.  No team plays that clean.  Owsley drivers were fouled over and over at rim.  

LCC shot 19 ft and Owsley 5.

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So you say that history doesn't matter....  Every year for the past 5 years or so, we see posts about how Owsley are the region's best team.  Let's take a look at the past 5 years.

18/19 District Champs; 0-1 Region lost to Letcher
19/20 District Champs; 1-1 Region lost to Knott
20/21 District Champs; 1-1 Region lost to Knott
21/22 District Champs; 2-1 Region lost to Letcher
22/23 District Champs; 0-1 Region lost to Letcher

Owsley can be HYPED up all they want, but in reality, they haven't proved anything.  I do have a lot of respect for the players as they are a solid team.  However, respect needs to be earned by cutting nets down.  Not preseason chirping.  Good luck to this team and to all 14th region teams this year.  Let's see how it plays out.

18-19 district runner up.  Young team

19-20, 20-21 District Champs. Lost in semis. 

21-22 Beat Knott, Leslie in first and second round.  Lost in finals on last second shot to LCC. 

22-23 Lost a close Game to LCC

At a school with 200 students total over the past five years I think Owsley should be proud of their accomplishments.  And will be in conversation next 4 years.  Not a bad place to be sitting.  Could break through and cut nets anytime. 

I will say that LCC and Knott have a huge advantage in District they play in.  Play opposite each other every region.

I am sure you have it correct.   It was the officials that cost Owsley the game.  haha.    Same ole story.

I don’t recall anyone saying Owsley ”was the best team” in any of the past 5 years. Some have mentioned it this season. Owsley has never been rated 1 in the region in the past to my knowledge but they have been top 4 or 5 in the last few years. They’ve been competitive and part of the mix.

Letcher Central beat Owsley last year in the region and that is final. Congratulations to them. Owsley had defeated them earlier in the season but I knew this game was going to be a difficult one to advance to the next round.  And it turned out it was.
 In my original post I came across in a way that is unusual for me and I apologize for that. I made excuses and that’s not me. I’m sure there were plenty of things Owsley could have done to have won the game, namely defend Couch in the paint better and double her more. She went off for 27 and part of that was achieved on a bad ankle. I like her game a lot. She is also the player that made the last second basket to beat Owsley in OT in the 2022 championship game. Ms Couch is to be commended. She put her team on her shoulders and pulled them through and almost back to Rupp again. 
One has to be careful when judging games and not allow their bias and fandom to affect their analysis. There’s an old saying “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” and that saying can also be used for basketball games ….what one sees as a bad call is seen by others as a great call. Lol. That’s just human nature. 

There is no question that Harlan has played a great schedule and they have beat some very good teams. I agree with the statement they are a Top 25 team.

I know Ashland is only 4-4 on the young season but their schedule is brutal as well. The four teams that have beat Ashland is a combined 31-5 (86.1%) and all the teams are outside the Region. (Harlan 8-0, Bracken Co. 8-1, GRC 6-2 & Great Crossing 9-2) If Ashland doesn't get discouraged with the wins and losses during the regular season, come District & Region time they will be very well prepared.

District and Region?  This year?  My humble opinion is that their season will end before post season play.  Can’t see KHSAA allowing them in.

If that was going to happen it would have already been done. The KHSAA concluded their end of it with the one month recommendation for the coaches’ suspension. Ashland’s superintendent, however, decided to remove the coach and everything has gone forward since. Ashland will be in post season. 100%. But you’re entitled to your humble opinion. I’m sure you mean well.

If the KHSAA "concluded their end", why does the KHSAA respond with it's still an ongoing investigation when questioned?  There has never been a recommendation.   I mean well for the rest of the region that is still unfairly playing against recruited players.