CORBIN — By Les Dixon / Sports Editor

Corbin coach Tony Pietrowski is ready to go back to to work coaching on the sidelines as his team prepares for the state tournament.

He has had a couple of days to reflect on what his team has accomplished so far and he likes what he sees.

He should.

The Redhounds are 27-3 and finished with a perfect 19-0 record against 13th Region opponents, while capturing their second straight 13th Region championship for the first time since 1952.

“The fact that we are back to back champions is an exciting twist to this year’s victory,” Pietrowski said of this third regional title as Corbin’s coach. “Being the first team to achieve this since the 1952 team is very special. This group of seniors cemented their place in Corbin Basketball history. 

“I really think years from now people will still look back and talk about everything they have accomplished,” he added. “They will be mentioned in the same breath as some of the all time greats in Corbin history. Each region title has its own stories and memories and this one is no different.”

Corbin will face a tall task next week during the first round of the PNC Bank Sweet Sixteen against top-ranked Scott County, but Pietrowski said that hasn’t stopped his kids from enjoying what they have accomplished so far this season.

“We are excited about everything that we accomplished this far in the season,” he said. “We are proud to represent the 13th Region again and feel like we have one of the better teams in the field. We’ve spent the last few days enjoying everything that comes with the victory, but we will get back to work Thursday and start preparing for the state tournament.”

Pietrowski said getting back to the region title game and then winning it wasn’t an easy task.

“It’s always a challenge to win a region title,” he said. “We were considered one of the teams that might have a chance to win the region early in the year and then we distanced ourselves and became the team favored to win the region. I thought we played both roles extremely well. 

“We had the worst possible draw we could have gotten and had the bull’s eye square on our backs,” Pietrowski added. “I thought our kids showed poise and determination throughout the season and worked extremely hard to repeat as 50th District champions and 13th Region champions.”

Pietrowski also pointed out just how big it is to repeat as regional champions.

“It’s huge,” he said. “This team will be mentioned with some of the greats in Corbin basketball history. It’s an honor to be the first coach since 1952 to reach this accomplishment. Look back at all the great players and coaches that have come through the program since then and for this group to reach that milestone is special.

“The special thing about this team is its willingness to except roles and take coaching,” Pietrowski added. “Each player has sacrificed for the betterment of the team in their own way. From day one they have done whatever was asked of them. They had a group of common goals and did what was necessary to reach them.”

With the celebration of being region champs again over, Pietrowski said it’s time for his team to refocus and get ready for former Corbin coach and now Scott County coach Billy Hicks and his No. 1 ranked Cardinals.

“We have had really tough draws in the last two years in the state tournament — last season with Eastern and this year with Scott County,” Pietrowski said. “I feel that we are one of the top tier teams in this year’s field, but the bad thing is we might be playing the best team in the state. With that said, we haven’t had an easy road all season long, so we will do what we do and try to figure out every way in the world to beat Scott County.

“Isaac (Wilson), Madison (Johnson), Luke (Stewart) and Aaron (Manns) have been underdogs before and responded extremely well,” he added. “I don’t expect this time to be any different.”

Pietrowski also admitted he’s excited to be able to coach against Hicks, who was his former coach at Corbin.

“Early on in my career, it would have been very difficult, but I feel like I have established myself as a good coach and don’t have to try to compare myself to his accomplishments,” he said. “Coach Hicks is without a doubt one of the best in the business and he was instrumental in putting Corbin basketball back on the map. To me, Corbin basketball is about tradition and he’s a big part of that tradition, so I embrace this opportunity and think that our kids will as well.”