Shelby Valley vs. Betsy Layne pregame notes
Tonight’s 15th Region championship features the best of the present (Shelby Valley) and perhaps the future (Betsy Layne).
There’s no question that defending 15th region champion Shelby Valley is the favorite when the two teams collide tonight with a berth to the Sweet Sixteen on the line.
After all, the Wildcats (27-4) has made easy work of their regional opponents this season, posting an unblemished 15-0 mark. The only team in the 15th Region to come close to even competing with Shelby Valley was Johnson Central, a team that failed to even get out of its district (57th).
The result? A 20-point win (89-69) in January.
The Bobcats and SV met earlier this season.
The result? Much of the same domination. Valley cruised to a 76-53 win at Betsy Layne on December 23, 2009.
Betsy Layne (20-6) is playing in its first regional title game since 1988 and a win would earn the school’s first trip to the Sweet Sixteen since 1980 (the year I was born).
The common theme in all of this is Bobcat head coach Junior Newsome. The veteran coach led the Bobcats to the regional title in 1980 and was on the sidelines in 1988. He returned to Betsy Layne two years ago and has rebuilt the program in a hurry, instilling his old-school basketball habits of discipline, stifling defense and transition baskets.
Betsy Layne, which won the 58th District title two weeks ago, is led by led senior Bryce Adkins (15 ppg.), junior Nathan Martin (14 ppg.) and senior Jordan Newman (10 ppg.).
The Bobcats earned a spot in the championship game by ousting last year’s regional runner-up, Lawrence County, 64-58. Newman and Casey Adkins led three BL players in double figures with 16 points. Newman also hit 5-of-6 attempts from the free-throw line. Bryce Adkins finished with 10.
Regardless of tonight’s outcome, it will be the last hoorah for a group of Shelby Valley seniors that have wowed crowds and brought national attention to the tiny community of Robinson Creek and surrounding areas.
Senior Elisha Justice could perhaps land the state’s most coveted honor as Mr. Basketball, but this team is much more than Elisha Justice. It is a group of seven seniors, including Ashley Hatfield, who by many accounts is the front runner for the tournament’s Most Valuable Player honor coming into tonight’s matchup, Taylor Newsome, Cody Varney, Tanner Tackett, Tyler Newsome and Dillon Tackett.
Over the past four years, this group has compiled an impressive 111-16 record, including two regional championships (2009 and 2007). This group was a part of 53 consecutive home wins/ The streak was snapped on January 22 by Christian County, 69-66.
Averaging 90 points per game in their two regional tournament wins, it will be hard for Betsy Layne to slow down what many fans see as something destined to happen.
But that’s why you play the games.
We are hours from tipoff.
Enjoy!
See ya at the game…
