Eastern pike has won 20 straight games. How far can they go in the tourney??

[EagleNut14]

I've heard from a couple different people that Eastern may stay in the SOC 1 and will be D4 next year.

[OSU Alumni 2000]

I've heard from a couple different people that Eastern may stay in the SOC 1 and will be D4 next year.

I know for sure they will be DIV next year.
But haven't heard anything about them staying in the SOC1. Hope that isn't true.

[GoAt 10]

I think the best scenario long term is Eastern moves to SOC2, and goes back to D4. That will have them better prepared for tournament time. They will take some bumps and bruised over the next few seasons but they have some talented kids coming.

[bbjunky81]

Eastern is going to be in a world of hurt next year as they enter SOC 2 while graduating a massive chunk of their talent. JV team wasn't exactly good, either.

If Barrick stays, they'll sneak out some wins in the league. But if he leaves, I could honestly see Eastern battling for the bottom spot in the league next year with Northwest.

SEVERAL teams return a good chunk of talent.

[OSU Alumni 2000]

I think the best scenario long term is Eastern moves to SOC2, and goes back to D4. That will have them better prepared for tournament time. They will take some bumps and bruised over the next few seasons but they have some talented kids coming.

Agreed. Next Season will be a struggle, but by playing in a tougher league, and some players getting more time on the varsity level, might prepare them for tournaments.
Hunter Cochenour is going to have to put up the shots. I think this years team lacked getting him the ball. And when you are one of the top shooters in the area, you have to get more than 5-8 shots a game. Next year, if they want to compete, Cochenour is going to have to shoot....a bunch.
Dillon Maddox will also be another that will have to step up. The kid has some skill, decent ball handler, and shooter. Only thing I seen was he may have lacked confidence and Not having much varsity experience prior to this year may have contributed to that. But I think he will be fine.
Overall, Next years team may get bumped around, but might turn some heads come tourney time. Either way, im looking forward to it and im sure coach Barrick will be up to the challenge.
Go Eagles!

[smurray]

If it does it won't happen for a while, they lose to much and with the move to SOC2 quite frankly you could see Eastern looking at a 6-8 win season next year.

It will def. be rough for Eastern next year. They lose way too much as they enter the SOC2.

Yeah and I've heard the jump to SOC2 means Eastern doesn't want to participate in the Pike County Holiday Classic and I'm hearing Piketon as well could be out. That's such a good little county tourney I hate to see it go away.

What does jumping to SOC2 have to do with the Classic. They currently play Western 3 times a year when playing them in the Classic, so the only thing that would change is possibly playing Waverly 3 times, not Western. Will they even schedule Western non conference.

[HumbleObserver]

I think the move to the SOC II for Eastern will help, especially come tournament time playing schools who are D III on a nightly basis.

If it does it won't happen for a while, they lose to much and with the move to SOC2 quite frankly you could see Eastern looking at a 6-8 win season next year.

I understand that, but in the long run as long as Eastern is a D III team playing in the SOC II will benefit them better in the long run as to being in the SOC I playing DIV teams on a nightly basis other than non conference games. If the Eagles were DIV this year they would be at the convo and predicted to win a district title with this team. Playing a major part of DIV teams could have hurt as playing East and Notre Dame did not help as it would be playing against the bottom teams in the SOC II would have.

I've never agreed 100% percent with this line of thinking. Yes, playing tougher competition on a consistent basis can make you better and in a sense prepare you for tournament play but trust me, if in the process you get 5-6 more losses and a much lower seed, the benefit of "being prepared" won't do you a lot of good. I will take the higher seed year in and year out over the idea of a more "seasoned" team with a low seed. Seeding matters a lot most of the time.

[bbjunky81]

If it does it won't happen for a while, they lose to much and with the move to SOC2 quite frankly you could see Eastern looking at a 6-8 win season next year.

I understand that, but in the long run as long as Eastern is a D III team playing in the SOC II will benefit them better in the long run as to being in the SOC I playing DIV teams on a nightly basis other than non conference games. If the Eagles were DIV this year they would be at the convo and predicted to win a district title with this team. Playing a major part of DIV teams could have hurt as playing East and Notre Dame did not help as it would be playing against the bottom teams in the SOC II would have.

I've never agreed 100% percent with this line of thinking. Yes, playing tougher competition on a consistent basis can make you better and in a sense prepare you for tournament play but trust me, if in the process you get 5-6 more losses and a much lower seed, the benefit of "being prepared" won't do you a lot of good. I will take the higher seed year in and year out over the idea of a more "seasoned" team with a low seed. Seeding matters a lot most of the time.

Typically I would agree.... but teams like Valley make that argument difficult. Pretty tough schedule in the SOC 2, some tough games out of conference. Then the #10 seed knocks off the #2 seed Eastern Brown, who came from a weaker conference.

South Webster in D4 is another one that always comes to mind.

Ironton in D3 now is proving that difficult schedule's can help prepare them. Besides being in the OVC they play a VERY tough out of conference schedule. They're easily the 2nd best team in D3 in SE Ohio but got the 5 seed. Look what they just did to the 4 seed.

Really though, it just depends. Basketball is a game of matchups. Some teams matchup great with one team, but matchup poorly with another. Chesapeake was a bad matchup for Eastern Pike, but I think Pike would have matched up much better with Alexander/Fairland. So who knows!

[OSU Alumni 2000]

I understand that, but in the long run as long as Eastern is a D III team playing in the SOC II will benefit them better in the long run as to being in the SOC I playing DIV teams on a nightly basis other than non conference games. If the Eagles were DIV this year they would be at the convo and predicted to win a district title with this team. Playing a major part of DIV teams could have hurt as playing East and Notre Dame did not help as it would be playing against the bottom teams in the SOC II would have.

I've never agreed 100% percent with this line of thinking. Yes, playing tougher competition on a consistent basis can make you better and in a sense prepare you for tournament play but trust me, if in the process you get 5-6 more losses and a much lower seed, the benefit of "being prepared" won't do you a lot of good. I will take the higher seed year in and year out over the idea of a more "seasoned" team with a low seed. Seeding matters a lot most of the time.

Typically I would agree.... but teams like Valley make that argument difficult. Pretty tough schedule in the SOC 2, some tough games out of conference. Then the #10 seed knocks off the #2 seed Eastern Brown, who came from a weaker conference.

South Webster in D4 is another one that always comes to mind.

Ironton in D3 now is proving that difficult schedule's can help prepare them. Besides being in the OVC they play a VERY tough out of conference schedule. They're easily the 2nd best team in D3 in SE Ohio but got the 5 seed. Look what they just did to the 4 seed.

Really though, it just depends. Basketball is a game of matchups. Some teams matchup great with one team, but matchup poorly with another. Chesapeake was a bad matchup for Eastern Pike, but I think Pike would have matched up much better with Alexander/Fairland. So who knows!

I would also throw in creating one big sectional.

[vcgrad]

Not too far this year---must have played a few weak teams.

[bbjunky81]

Should have happened years ago!!!

End of the day, it's all about the $$$ and for whatever reason SEO doesn't think it will be feasible with some pretty far drives being possible.

[OSU Alumni 2000]

I've never agreed 100% percent with this line of thinking. Yes, playing tougher competition on a consistent basis can make you better and in a sense prepare you for tournament play but trust me, if in the process you get 5-6 more losses and a much lower seed, the benefit of "being prepared" won't do you a lot of good. I will take the higher seed year in and year out over the idea of a more "seasoned" team with a low seed. Seeding matters a lot most of the time.

Typically I would agree.... but teams like Valley make that argument difficult. Pretty tough schedule in the SOC 2, some tough games out of conference. Then the #10 seed knocks off the #2 seed Eastern Brown, who came from a weaker conference.

South Webster in D4 is another one that always comes to mind.

Ironton in D3 now is proving that difficult schedule's can help prepare them. Besides being in the OVC they play a VERY tough out of conference schedule. They're easily the 2nd best team in D3 in SE Ohio but got the 5 seed. Look what they just did to the 4 seed.

Really though, it just depends. Basketball is a game of matchups. Some teams matchup great with one team, but matchup poorly with another. Chesapeake was a bad matchup for Eastern Pike, but I think Pike would have matched up much better with Alexander/Fairland. So who knows!

I would also throw in creating one big sectional.
That would also give those teams who play a tough schedule and end a season with 5 or 6 losses potentially not getting matched up with a 1 or 2 seed. I hate seeing some of the weaker teams make it to the Convo because one sectional is a lot weaker than the other. Then you have mismatched district games which normally result in blowouts. Unless your Southeastern 2 years ago.

[vcgrad]

Must have played in a weak conference

[OSU Alumni 2000]

Should have happened years ago!!!

End of the day, it's all about the $$$ and for whatever reason SEO doesn't think it will be feasible with some pretty far drives being possible.

There are teams now driving over an hour or better now. Waverly and Jackson are not too far apart from one another. 20 min or so.

[OSU Alumni 2000]

Must have played in a weak conference

Eastern did play in a weak conference. But they had IMO a fairly tough non conference schedule.
All im saying is don't penalize good teams because one sectional is a lot weaker than the other.

[greygoose]

It will def. be rough for Eastern next year. They lose way too much as they enter the SOC2.

Yeah and I've heard the jump to SOC2 means Eastern doesn't want to participate in the Pike County Holiday Classic and I'm hearing Piketon as well could be out. That's such a good little county tourney I hate to see it go away.

What does jumping to SOC2 have to do with the Classic. They currently play Western 3 times a year when playing them in the Classic, so the only thing that would change is possibly playing Waverly 3 times, not Western. Will they even schedule Western non conference.

Oh I agree with you, but have been told by multiple ppl within the program they don't want to play Waverly 3 times. The piketon thing caught me off guard though that they may possibly be out as well. We'll see though 10 months away on that tourney.

[HumbleObserver]

I understand that, but in the long run as long as Eastern is a D III team playing in the SOC II will benefit them better in the long run as to being in the SOC I playing DIV teams on a nightly basis other than non conference games. If the Eagles were DIV this year they would be at the convo and predicted to win a district title with this team. Playing a major part of DIV teams could have hurt as playing East and Notre Dame did not help as it would be playing against the bottom teams in the SOC II would have.

I've never agreed 100% percent with this line of thinking. Yes, playing tougher competition on a consistent basis can make you better and in a sense prepare you for tournament play but trust me, if in the process you get 5-6 more losses and a much lower seed, the benefit of "being prepared" won't do you a lot of good. I will take the higher seed year in and year out over the idea of a more "seasoned" team with a low seed. Seeding matters a lot most of the time.

Typically I would agree.... but teams like Valley make that argument difficult. Pretty tough schedule in the SOC 2, some tough games out of conference. Then the #10 seed knocks off the #2 seed Eastern Brown, who came from a weaker conference.

South Webster in D4 is another one that always comes to mind.

Ironton in D3 now is proving that difficult schedule's can help prepare them. Besides being in the OVC they play a VERY tough out of conference schedule. They're easily the 2nd best team in D3 in SE Ohio but got the 5 seed. Look what they just did to the 4 seed.

Really though, it just depends. Basketball is a game of matchups. Some teams matchup great with one team, but matchup poorly with another. Chesapeake was a bad matchup for Eastern Pike, but I think Pike would have matched up much better with Alexander/Fairland. So who knows!

I don't necessarily disagree with you, as I said, it "can" prepare you. I am talking about year in and year out beating your head against a wall of playing higher seeds. Yes, South Webster is an example because they are an SOC II school playing DIV 4 in tournaments but that's rare. As we know, it's not the school's decision what division they are because it's based on the numbers of boys/girls. So you can always find examples. I actually think your best point was something I forgot to mention and that is MATCHUPS! And sometimes you just play a team at the wrong time. I've seen teams make it deep (District Finals for example) that weren't that good but got hot at the right time. I think we forget about that variable as well. Are you playing your best when it matters most.

[greygoose]

I've heard from a couple different people that Eastern may stay in the SOC 1 and will be D4 next year.

They may go back to SOC 1 but it's already been put out there for the 2019 season. I have t heard anyone say anything about staying SOC1 but I seen numbers and does look like they will drop to D4 next year

[greygoose]

I think the move to the SOC II for Eastern will help, especially come tournament time playing schools who are D III on a nightly basis.

If it does it won't happen for a while, they lose to much and with the move to SOC2 quite frankly you could see Eastern looking at a 6-8 win season next year.

I understand that, but in the long run as long as Eastern is a D III team playing in the SOC II will benefit them better in the long run as to being in the SOC I playing DIV teams on a nightly basis other than non conference games. If the Eagles were DIV this year they would be at the convo and predicted to win a district title with this team. Playing a major part of DIV teams could have hurt as playing East and Notre Dame did not help as it would be playing against the bottom teams in the SOC II would have.

Now they'll be DIV next year

[Truth Serum]

Yeah and I've heard the jump to SOC2 means Eastern doesn't want to participate in the Pike County Holiday Classic and I'm hearing Piketon as well could be out. That's such a good little county tourney I hate to see it go away.

What does jumping to SOC2 have to do with the Classic. They currently play Western 3 times a year when playing them in the Classic, so the only thing that would change is possibly playing Waverly 3 times, not Western. Will they even schedule Western non conference.

Oh I agree with you, but have been told by multiple ppl within the program they don't want to play Waverly 3 times. The piketon thing caught me off guard though that they may possibly be out as well. We'll see though 10 months away on that tourney.

This entire line of thinking is a joke. Eastern and Western have had to play 3 times before I believe (we all thought 4 times this season). This would be a big mistake in my opinion and I don't have any dog in the fight. But, using possibly playing 3 times as an excuse is no excuse at all when it has been that way the entire time with Eastern and Western both in the classic.

As to the game, I was a little surprised by the outcome. I figured Peake would keep it close. Eastern just dribbled around the perimeter and didn't feed the ball into Miller or Weaver or seem to make any effort to get the ball to the hot hand. It did not look like a Barrick team. The eagles played with no real intensity? The second half was a carbon copy of the first half. I don't follow the Eagles much , but I will say I was shocked at the conduct of the bench and the refs should have issued at least one technical or more.