article Inside the 1st Region - Week 6

Not a whole lot changed this week in the region. There was some movement at the bottom of the rankings as Carlisle County is starting to play a whole lot better. Shout out to Christian Fellowship with a 4 game winning streak and a chance to continue that into February. Other than that, the Region 1 All “A” Classic has started and will continue over the next few days. Mayfield is the strong favorite to win and advance to the state tournament this year, but don’t count out Murray completely.

Huge game this Friday when McCracken County visits Marshall County. Both teams are contenders for the Region 1 title. Should be a great game. The Marshalls won the earlier game this year at McCracken.

1. McCracken County Mustangs

Overall record: 12-4

Record this week: 1-0

Key Contributors: Cameron Cartwright (12.3 ppg), Nathan Stonecipher (9.2 ppg), William Sivills (12.4 ppg)

 

McCracken County only had one game this week against rival Paducah Tilghman. The Mustangs dispatched of the Tornado 59-53. They were led with 17 points from Stonecipher and 15 from Sivills. Tyce Daniel helped a lot inside by pulling down 13 boards. The Mustangs solidified their place as a top tier team with the win.

McCracken has been playing some great basketball and this week will be a very busy week. They will play Calloway County, Cairo, Marshall County, and McLean County. The Friday game against Marshall County will be an important game for Regional seeding. Marshall is a very good team and the game will be in Marshall.

 

2. Graves County Eagles

Overall record: 13-5

Record this week: 1-0

Key Contributors: Chris Vogt (14.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg) Ryan Mathis (11.8 ppg), Jordyn Noranjo (12.3 ppg)

The Eagles also only had one game this week, but it was a big one. Marshall County came to town in a battle of top teams in the region. The Marshalls did a good job holding Chris Vogt in check, but Ryan Mathis went off. Mathis scored 25 points en route to a surprising domination of the Marshalls 69-38. Nobody saw a 31 point victory in this game. It was supposed to be close and entertaining, but it didn’t pan out that way. Graves County has once again made their case that they are the best team in Region 1, but in order to do that, they will need to beat McCracken. They get that chance at the end of the month.

For now, the Eagles need to take care of business in the Superman Classic in Massac County, IL. After that they play a tough 4 games.

 

3. Marshall County Marshalls

Overall record: 12-5

Record this week: 2-1

Key Contributors: Dylan Walters (14.7 ppg), Aaron Reed (11.6 ppg), Houston Harvey (11.3 ppg)

 

The Marshalls lost only their second game to a Kentucky team, but it was a big loss 69-38 to Graves County. Marshall County has played well this year and that game was supposed to be the game that showed they were the top team in region 1, instead they were dominated in surprising fashion. Its not the end of the road, because they defeated Paducah Tilghman and South Warren this week as well. The Graves County game stings though, however they will get the chance to redeem themselves in February.

The Marshalls have a big game against McCracken County on Friday. They beat the Mustangs in Paducah earlier this year. McCracken has much improved since that game and it should be a dandy! Hopefully there is no residual effects from the Graves County performance and they can put that behind them and play well.

 

4. Mayfield – Cardinals

Overall record: 11-5

Weekly Record: 2-0

Key Contributors: Carson Guthrie (16 ppg), Conner Guthrie (16.5 ppg), Anton Lumson (13.6 ppg),

 

The Cardinals didn’t need the Guthrie brothers to lead them to victory this week, they have Anton Lumson. Lumson turned in two great performances to help Mayfield defeat Ballard Memorial and Webster County this past week. Lumson scored 18 and 19 points respectively in those games. With Lumson coming on strong and the Guthries continuing to play well, Mayfield is looking to have 3 capable scorers on the floor.

Mayfield will play Fulton City this week for their opening to the Region 1 All “A” classic. Should be an easy win for the Cards. In fact, the Cardinals will be the front runner to win the Region 1 classic and have a good chance to go far in the state “A” classic as well.

 

5. Paducah Tilghman – Blue Tornado

Overall record: 9-8

Weekly Record: 0-2

Key Contributors: Jerome Reed (16.6 ppg/7.3 rpg), Rodriguez Thomas (13.2 ppg/), Joe Workman (13.3 ppg)

 

The Blue Tornado continue their downfall this week losing both games to top tier Region 1 teams. PT needed to win at least one of those games to show they can play with the top teams, but they couldn’t do it. They did keep the games close and hopefully they can learn and work from there. Marshall County defeated them 48-43 and McCracken County defeated them 59-53, both were away games.

This is the most puzzling team in Region 1. They have the talent to be a top tier team, but first year coach Roderick Thomas is struggling to find the right game plan to do it. They will play in the Superman Classic this week, so hopefully they can gain some confidence back and get on a winning streak again.

 

6. Calloway County Lakers

Overall record: 11-6

Weekly Record: 2-0

Key Contributors: Kamden Price (20.0 ppg), Payton Johnson (11.1 ppg)

 

Calloway had a rough week to begin the new year, they righted that ship well this week. Losing both their games to open the year, Calloway won both of their games this week. They defeated Trigg County in a closer than expected game 53-51, and then beat crosstown rival Murray 50-39. Price didn’t have his best game against Trigg, but had a much better game against Murray. Johnson picked up Price against Trigg and did his part against Murray too.

 

Calloway has a very tough game to open the week. They will go to McCracken County, and that will be a hard game to win. If they do, it will really shake things up in Region 1 and put the Lakers on the right path to contention.

 

 

7. Murray Tigers

Overall record: 10-7

Weekly Record: 0-1

Key Contributors: Preston English (26 ppg/ 10 rpg), Zach Flener (13.6 ppg)

 

Murray had a tough game against Calloway County only scoring 39 points against their crosstown rival. The Lakers held Region 1 scoring leader Preston English to only 10 points, but he was still able to grab 10 boards for the double/double. Losing 50-39 wasn’t what the Tigers were looking for, especially coming off the 3 wins last week, but they have a big tournament to look forward to. They will be defending their All “A” Classic Region 1 title from last year. Who they will play hasn’t been revealed yet, but whoever it is, they need to play tough and stay focused.

 

8. St. Mary Vikings

Overall record: 11-6

Weekly record: 3-0

 

The Vikings have played great in their 3 wins this week. They were expected to win those 3 games and that is part of being a successful team, winning when you are supposed to. They soundly defeated Fulton City, Fulton County, and CCA. A good warmup going into the All “A” Classic where they open against Ballard Memorial.

 

9. Carlisle County Comets

Overall record: 7-10

Weekly record: 2-0

Key Contributors: Trey Wilson (20 ppg), Michael Thomason (12 ppg)

 

The Comets have won three straight games and looked pretty good in doing so. Granted the teams they played were not top tier competition, but they did what they were supposed to do, win. Trey Wilson is averaging 24 points during their win streak. They will need him to continue to score as they will play a rematch with Hickman County in the opening round of the Region 1 All “A” Classic.

 

10. Fulton City Bulldogs

Overall record: 6-10

Weekly Record: 2-1

Key Contributors: Devontae Alexander (9.8 ppg), Brenden Walker (19.1 ppg)

 

Fulton City has played pretty well since the start of the new year, however this week was a little tougher. They lost big to St. Mary showing they aren’t ready to move up in the standings as much, but they defeated Hickman County handily but then had a major scare by squeaking by Community Christian who hasn’t had a close game this year. It would have been an complete let down if CCA would have taken this game from them in the first round of the region 1 All “A” Classic. That win however sets them up in round 2 with Mayfield.

 

11. Fulton County – Pilots

Overall record: 7-7

Weekly Record: 0-2

Key Contributors: Davis Major (14.7 ppg), Andreous Smith (14.5 ppg), Kahari Miller (13.8 ppg)

 

Fulton County lost two more games this week bringing their losing streak to 4 and pulling them to .500 on the year. They lost big to St. Mary at home and a close one to Carlisle County at home as well. Davis Major continued to impress as he averaged 19.5 points in those two games. They play at Trigg County this week, and that is the only game they have.

 

12. Ballard Memorial Bombers

Overall record: 3-10

Weekly record: 1-2

Key Contributors: Jamarrion Williams (10.9 ppg)

 

As stated last week, the Bombers won their game against CCA, but then they were soundly defeated by Mayfield. They will open the All “A” Classic against St. Mary which again will be a difficult matchup for the Bombers.

 

13. Hickman County Falcons

Overall record: 6-9

Weekly record: 0-1

Key Returners: Dalton Jewel (20.2 ppg), Logan Pittman (10.0 ppg), Grant Davis (10.2 ppg)

 

Hickman lost their only game they played this week, and that was to Fulton City at home. They will open the All “A” Classic against Carlisle County which is a winnable game considering they only lost by 6 a few days ago to Carlisle.

 

14. Christian Fellowship Eagles

Overall record: 4-10

Weekly record: 2-0

Key Contributors: Jordan Choate (12.8 ppg), Brice Etheridge (12.6 ppg)

 

The Eagles lost their first 10 games of the season, they have won the last 4 since. Two of those wins came at the expense of CCA, and the other two against out of state teams, but still, congrats to the Eagles for getting the wins. They do not have a game this week, but will play Calvary Christian on Jan 20. In fact, if the Eagles play well, they could run their winning streak into February.

15. Community Christian Warriors

Overall record: 0-17

Weekly record: 0-2

Key Contributors: Logan Browning (14.7 ppg), Jonathan Rogers (10 ppg)

 

It is tough being a basketball player at CCA. They have only won 2 games in the last 2.5 seasons. They almost got their 3rd win this week against Fulton County at the Region 1 All “A” Classic. It would have been a huge upset and got them a match with Region 1 contender Mayfield. Instead they lost by 7 in the closest game they have had this year. Unfortunately, looking at the schedule, they may have been the best chance they had at a win this season.

 

Top 5 Performances of the Week

 

Payton Johnson , Calloway County

Johnson averages 14.5 points a game for the Lakers carrying his team to 2 wins.

 

Ryan Mathis, Graves County

Mathis scorched Marshall County for 25 points in their dominant win.

Anton Lumson, Mayfield

Averaged 18.5 points a game in Mayfield’s 2 wins. Showed the Cardinals have a 3 headed monster.

 

Trey Wilson, Carlisle County

Averaged 24 points in 3 wins for the Comets this week.

 

Nathan Stonecipher, McCracken County

Stonecipher had 17 points to lead the Mustangs over crosstown rival Paducah Tilghman.

 

 

Games to Watch:

McCracken County @ Marshall County – 1/20

Region 1 All “A” Classic Tournament Games

I was at the PT @ McCracken game and PT looked talented but poorly coached in the first half and even part of the second. They trailed by 12 at half. They didn't really start attacking offensively until the second half. From my point of view they were out of position a lot on defense which led to unnecessary fouls. With that said I've seen them about a half dozen times this season and I really like this PT team and I think coach Thomas knows the game and can be a very good coach. Also Graves beat Vienna (IL) by 39 at Massac (IL). PT plays Massac (IL) Tuesday. I'll go ahead and let everyone know I always root for PT but I didn't go to school there or even in the 1st region for that matter.