REDHOUND RALLY

 The 2010-’11 season is over for the local teams after Monday night’s 13^th Region Championship game.

The game between the Corbin Redhounds and Bell County Bobcats had a “Hoosiers” feel to it. Although Corbin has had very much success in the past six years, they seemed like an underdog to me most of the season. I guess it was because of losing so much talent off last year’s team. I didn’t see this year’s team as dominating as it turned out to be.

Even after sweeping the three other district teams, I didn’t see this type of a run in the regional tournament by the Redhounds. This was supposed to be the year of the Colonels, Tigers and Bobcats.

I figured the Redhounds would run past Barbourville, but I thought they would run into trouble against Clay County. Corbin was definitely the better team in Saturday’s win. And, I did have the Redhounds picked in my office pool. Not because they were a team I enjoy covering, but I have watched Clay County several times this season and always left feeling unsure about the Tigers.

It came down to all the marbles Monday night. I thought Bell County would be the team to beat after watching them play during the season. I have been more impressed with Kyle Lee than I have Ben Madon. But, for some reason, Lee hadn’t really showed up in the first two games like I thought he would.

He and Tanner Lefevers had a big night the first time the two teams played at Bell County, but we all know that was a fluke game.

I was surprised by Bell County’s deliberate game Monday night. I know they are one of the best defensive teams in the region, but they downright slowed the ballgame to a crawl. I expected more of a fast-paced, physical game from the Bobcats.

After Bell County took the 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, I thought it was going to be a 15-20 win by the Bobcats.

Then here comes the Redhounds. It was like watching “Hoosiers” and I expected that type of finish. The three-point play by Brody Freeman and the steals by Travis Smith couldn’t have been scripted better. And, then the game-tying shot by Hunter Sizemore.

Even in overtime, I expected Corbin to pull out the victory. That’s where the movie went wrong for Corbin and right for a team that has not seen the state tournament since 1980.

What a great year for the Redhounds. Corbin won 17 of their last 20 games to finish as the region’s top team in the win column with 24. It will take two state tournament wins for the Bobcats to catch Corbin, but Bell County may make their own Cinderella story in the tournament.

It’s been a fun year to watch these Redhounds emerge from the shadows of Isaac Wilson, Madison Johnson, Aaron Manns, Lee Crawford, Blake Hendrickson, Josh Smith and Josh Crawford.

Matthew Taylor turned heads and became a dominant player in the region right after a great senior football season. I remember how well Freeman played in the 8^th grade tournament when he was younger and thought he was going to be awesome to watch in high school. He didn’t disappoint anyone.

Taylor Jones made the switch from an outstanding tennis player to a good basketball player in no time at all. And, I can’t help but remember when Sizemore transferred from South Laurel that he would be accepted by the Corbin family. He was very successful in that venture. I think you saw the real Sizemore standout in Monday’s game. At least that’s the little boy I remember playing in London several years back.

I know the sting of the loss to Bell County will last a lifetime for those seniors, but I also know that have a lot to be proud and a lot of memories made.