Where have the student sections gone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can count on one hand \u2014 and still have a few fingers left over \u2014 when it comes to the number of schools that brought strong student section support to cheer on their teams this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three that stood out the most were Corbin, Clay County, and Barbourville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A bigger question, though, is where has North Laurel\u2019s student section been? I\u2019ve always considered North Laurel\u2019s one of the best student sections not only in the 13th Region but in the entire state. Yet this past week it has been largely absent, even with both the boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 teams making runs all the way to their respective regional championship games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hopefully both Bell County and North Laurel bring big-time student section support for Monday night\u2019s boys\u2019 title game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Boys\u2019 Title Game Tidbit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s an interesting nugget heading into Monday night\u2019s 13th Region boys\u2019 championship game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We all know Bell County and North Laurel have seemed destined to meet in the title game since the start of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But did you know Bell County coach Brad Sizemore and North Laurel coach Nate Valentine were teammates at South Laurel High School?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both were Cardinals and helped guide South Laurel to its first-ever regional championship in 2001, along with an Elite Eight appearance in the KHSAA Sweet 16 before falling to Michael Bush and Louisville Male.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Media<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most encouraging things to see this year has been the growth of media coverage across the 13th Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several high school media groups have been involved in covering the boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 regional tournaments and have done an outstanding job, joining the many radio, print, and online outlets that regularly cover our area teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again \u2014 no region in the state receives the level of coverage that 13th Region student-athletes do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that said, the continued growth of media coverage also means it may be time to consider having a 13th Region Media representative serve as a liaison to the 13th Region Policy Board, helping communicate the needs and concerns of media outlets throughout the high school sports seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A designated media liaison could provide several benefits for both the media and the schools involved in regional athletics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One major benefit would be improved communication between media and administrators. A liaison would create a direct line of communication between the Policy Board and the outlets that regularly cover the region\u2019s teams and athletes. This would help ensure that important information, rule changes, and tournament procedures are clearly communicated while also giving the media a structured way to share feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It could also lead to stronger coverage of student-athletes and programs. Media outlets play a key role in highlighting the accomplishments of athletes, coaches, and schools. Having a representative involved in discussions could help coordinate coverage, promote events, and ensure student-athletes across the region receive the recognition they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another important area is media access and logistics. A liaison could help raise and address issues related to credentials, seating, broadcast access, photography locations, and overall tournament operations. By bringing these concerns directly to the Policy Board, solutions could be developed that benefit both the schools and the media covering their events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It would also help create consistency in media policies across the region. Different schools and venues sometimes handle media procedures differently. A liaison could help establish clearer and more consistent guidelines, making coverage smoother for everyone during both the regular season and postseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, a media liaison would help foster a stronger partnership between schools, administrators, and the media organizations that cover the region. The goal would be to enhance coverage, improve communication, and continue promoting the student-athletes and communities that make up the 13th Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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