As we speed our way into 2009, leaving behind those holiday tournaments and hospitality rooms full of goodies, not much has changed in the 16th Region.

If anything, it’s been reaffirmed that the favorites for the regional basketball titles – Elliott County’s boys and Rowan County’s girls – look better than ever.

Everybody else is playing for second.

While I understand there’s still a lot of basketball to be played and upsets do happen, these teams seemingly have distanced themselves even further from the pack, if that’s possible, through the first month of the season.

Elliott County went to Myrtle Beach and became the most popular thing since suntan oil with their all-out, hustling, 3-point shooting style of play.

The Lions went 3-1 in the Beach Ball Classic, winning the consolation championship after losing the tournament opener 63-53 to Cedar Hill, Tex., in a highly unusual 4-for-30 shooting performance from 3-point range. If that hadn’t happened, if the Lions had shot say only 10-for-30 from long range, it’s hard telling how far they may have gone.

Fans who attended the Beach Ball Classic, the announcers who broadcast games over the Internet and the committee who selects all-tournament honors, left with a healthy respect for Elliott County’s fabulous basketball team.

Evan Faulkner was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament and twin Ethan Faulkner won the tournament’s Individual Hustle Award. Elliott County’s team won the Team Hustle Award.

By the way, Scott County, with Rose Hill transfers Dakotah Euton and Chad Jackson, will be going to the Beach Ball Classic next season. Another Kentuckian team is supposed to be on the invite list as well.

The Lions mostly have 16th Region competition remaining, including the All “A” Classic in Frenchburg later this month. Elliott County and Fairview are in the same side of the bracket with host Menifee County. Bath County will be the favorite from the other side, which includes Rose Hill and Raceland.

Like last year, the All-A competition should be good. With Menifee County much improved and being the host school, there’s not a bad team in the bunch.

Elliott County and Bath County don’t play during the regular season so if the matchup occurs in the All-A regional finals, it should be a good one. Bath County isn’t mentioned much as a region contender, but that’s only because of its proximity with the rest of the region.

Believe me, Bath County is no worse than a top five team.

When the season started, Rowan County’s girls were considered a slight favorite to repeat as region champions with Ashland and East Carter among the top threats.

But the Lady Vikings were 8-0 in December, finishing off the month with a 67-57 victory over previously undefeated Manual on Tuesday. That came after Rowan County won the Northern Exposure Classic in northern Kentucky just before Christmas.

Coach Scott Tackett has Rowan County playing like a champion with something to prove. The Lady Vikings, behind Amber Riddle and Jennifer Brockman, may well be a state contender like the Elliott County boys.

It’s been a long time since the 16th Region’s boys and girls were a factor in the state tournaments in the same season. But this may be the year.

The bad news is the rest of the region may be left in the rearview mirror as Elliott County and Rowan County race toward the finish line.

Upsets do happen, but it will take some monumental efforts to keep these teams from representing the region in the Sweet Sixteen.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.