Comets looking to complete final step in banner year – Journal-Times

When looking at the totality of what West Carter has accomplished during the 2016-2017 campaign, it would be hard-pressed to find a way for any team to top it.

In addition to the 11-game winning streak that West Carter accumulated to end the regular season, there's the 23 regular-season wins which are tied with Boyd County for the region's best as of last Friday.

There's the 19 wins that have been accumulated across regional play, which are also the most wins for any team in the 16th Region.

And then, there's the EKC Regular Season and Tournament Championships that West Carter obtained as a unit all while going a perfect 13-0 against its competitors within the conference realm.

However, there's still one goal left to accomplish that would truly set the West Carter community on its heels. That goal is winning the 16th Region Championship for the first time since West Carter High School came into existence in 1974.

Jeremy Webb certainly believes the goal is attainable.

We feel like we've made progress from early in the season to where we are at now, Webb said. I believe that we've gotten better on understanding what we need to do, both on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Ben (Jordan) has done a really good job of making it difficult for teams to score in and around the basket, and have made sure shots are contested there so that teams don't shoot high percentages on us.

And it's worked.

While West Carter is known for its offensive firepower they've scored 80 points or more six times this season and have won all six of those affairs the Comets' defensive prowess has been what has helped spirit its own success this season.

Over the course of the year, West Carter is 13-0 when it gives up 60 points or less. The Comets then only gave up more than 70 points one time during its 11-game winning streak, with the one affair coming against defending regional champion Elliott County in a breakthrough 73-71 victory in Sandy Hook.

In Webb's eyes, the results are a microcosm of different things.

Teams will try to pressure us sometimes by trying to space the floor and establish pressure up on the front ends to try to create turnovers, Webb said. Our guys have done a very good job of getting their heads up and looking up and down the floor. Hadyn (Roe) and Ben are very good at finishing on the back end against presses, and that leads to good results as a whole.

Then, on the flip side, you'll have a team that wants to play a half court game with us. In the half court sets, we like our size advantage in the half court when we're getting quality possessions. Sometimes, we'll settle for a jumpshot when we should've worked it inside to Ben in the post, or when we should've taken the ball to the rim. However, our guys are adjusting and doing a good job of that.

The overall numbers represent that fact, as well.

Roe and Jordan, the team's two cogs in the low post, have done nothing but alter the outcome of games from their positions, with the former averaging a staggering 22.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per contest and the latter putting together 14.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per night.

They have allowed West Carter to establish the region's best rebounding average, and the state's second-best overall, with their play.

However, the pair are far from the only figures who have helped make the team go.

Dalton Brown, who is averaging 13.6 points per contest, has handled the point guard position in fine fashion despite taking over the full-time duties for the first time this year. Dalton Roark is one of the region's most underrated two-way players and has proven himself as a force in man or zone defense looks.

Then, there's Ethan Adkins, Rodney Evans, Tanner Glancy, and Blake Skaggs, who all have given the Comets excellent minutes throughout the year. And that's not even counting JT Johnson, who nailed five three-pointers en route to 15 points against Bath County on Feb. 11.

We've had some guys that have really stepped up throughout various times and points in the season, Webb said. All of those guys have done a great job understanding their roles on the basketball team, and they've played well. I've been proud of what they've been able to do.

It takes a lot for teams to overcome adversity throughout the course of a season.

But if one thing is clear for the players on the West Carter, it's the fact that they have done their part in clearing the hurdles that have presented them.

And it could lead to the regional championship that the Comet faithful have long been waiting for.

From the beginning of the season to the end, we've developed an identity on both ends of the floor, and have gotten very competitive in regards to fighting on every possession and for every loose ball, Webb said. I'm happy with where we're at right now heading into the postseason.

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Comets looking to complete final step in banner year - Journal-Times

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