ADAM VANKIRK: Elliott knows how to win big

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December 18, 2008

Anonymous The Daily Independent Thu Dec 18, 2008, 11:47 PM EST

I’ve already started to hear some grumbling.

Elliott County’s beating up on people, right? I just wonder why it took so long — four games into the season — for word to start getting out.

Or maybe word’s been out and it’s just now working its way to my ears.

Either way, after Tuesday’s lopsided

132-67 victory over Boyd County, I’ve been hearing the “running-it-up” label being applied to Elliott County, which is now 4-0 in four easy wins against the region.

So, the two-time defending 16th Region champs are, I guess, just a bunch of showoffs trying to beat the competition into the ground. They’re trying to leave a lasting impression of how good they think they are by embarrassing their opponents with an average winning margin of 47 points per game so far this season, right?

Pretty ridiculous, huh? I mean who do these guys think they are — the best?

And are they going to keep doing that?

Well ... you better believe they are.

And, if you don’t like it, frankly, that’s just too bad.

They are the best — at least in the region, and maybe even the whole state and beyond. And if you really want them to back off, you need to take a lesson in Competition 101.

You don’t ever tell your team to lay off the throttle. Not in basketball especially. How would you do that anyway? Don’t shoot the ball? Don’t play defense? Let that guy have a layup?

Come on!

Why not just ask Elliott County if each one of its players will hit the floor with one arm tied behind their backs or their shoes untied? That ought to even things up a bit.

All their starters can’t just sit on the bench, either, as games start to get out of hand. They’d never get any real work in that way and there is a goal beyond beating region teams in the regular season, you know.

Look, before I get you too worked up, let me clear a few things up. Elliott County doesn’t have a bunch of prima donnas on its team. It doesn’t have showboats — in the way I’ve come to learn what a showboat is — either.

They’re not out to get you. Or embarrass anyone.

They’re not running it up or smearing dirt in anyone’s

face.

They’re just going out and doing what they’ve been doing together for years — play basketball.

And, as a tiny public Class A team from the middle of nowhere, they do it the right way.

And they’re the best out there. That’s all.

It’s really that simple.

So instead of trying to call them hot shots who are running up the score, I say you should try to look a little closer next time the Lions come your way.

Elliott County has earned its mark as the elite of the area and should wear it proudly. With that, it has certainly earned the right to play each game to its end, even if that mean beating teams by 50 or 100 points.

Whether you’re with me or not on this one, it’s all just grumbling. The Lions are the ones roaring. And I hear them, just like I hear you.

ADAM VANKIRK can be reached at avankirk@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.

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