article Inside the 16th Region - Week 12

1.West Carter (23-5):

The Comets are blazing right now and at the right time. West Carter has won 11 straight to end the regular season. Their latest victim was Ashland. Although the Comets had to go in OT to get the job done, they came away with a 63-61 victory over the Tomcats. The Comets will now turn their attention to Morgan County and district tournaments. The Comets won both regular season meetings but less than 15 points in both games.

2.Elliott County (21-3):

The Lions won both of their remaining games last week, cruising by both Boyd County 82-59 and Russell 69-47, with both wins that pushes the Lion win streak to 6 straight. Elliott County has had both a 6 game and 9 game win streaks this season but every time they get in the win streak range of 6-9 games they usually lose. Will that be the case this week when they open up district play with East Carter or will the Lions advance to the district championship and regional tourney? The Lions won both regular season games 82-59 and 73-49.

3.Boyd County (23-6):

The Lions took 2 out of 3 last week defeating both Chesapeake OH 64-61 and East Carter 66-63 but falling to regional foe and favorite, Elliott County 82-59. The Lions shouldn’t have a problem advancing to the district championship and regional tournament as they open up district play with Rose Hill, a team they crushed twice during the regular season 88-24 and 90-43.

4.Greenup County (20-9):

For the first time since 1998/99 season, the Musketeers have won 20 games (21 back in 98/99). Greenup County has beaten Raceland twice this season 93-70 and 76-53 this season and these two will open up district play this week against each other.

5.Rowan County (22-8):

The Vikings were riding high going into last week, carrying an 8 game win streak and had won 11 of their previous 13 games but back to back losses to end the season sent that momentum down the drain. The Vikings got clobbered by Greenup County 91-69 and Cordia 56-53, both losses on the Vikings own home floor.

6.East Carter (14-14):

Despite finishing the season off 1-2 in their final 3 games, the Raiders do have some pretty impressive wins this season; Boyd County, Greenup County and not to mention, taking crosstown rival and #1 West Carter to the limit in both meetings this season. The bad news, the Raiders open up district play with #2 Elliott County who defeated the Raiders by 20+ points in both games this season.

7.Ashland (12-17):

Ashland has been slumping as of late, losing 4 of their final 7 games but 3 of those losses could have easily been wins. The Tomcats’ 3 game losing streak came to 2 of those top 5 region teams and 15^th region powerhouse, Johnson Central, all under 5 points. Ashland keeps this up and they very well could be hanging a regional championship banner up but they have to get past Fairview first, a team they split with during the regular season.

8.Russell (12-17):

Russell finishes the season on a 3 game losing streak and having lost 4 of their final 6 games. The Red Devils will open up district play with Lewis County, a team that they won both regular season games against, both were by 3 points.

9.Lewis County (9-20):

Lewis County ends the season on a 3 game win streak, picking up wins over Augusta 58-52, Bath County 63-50 and Bellevue 71-56. Lewis County will meet #8 Russell in the opening round of the 63^rd district tournament, can the Red Devils get revenge on the Lions from two earlier losses or will Lewis County make it 3-0 against Russell this season?

10.Bath County (14-16):

The Wildcats have split their last 6 games at 3-3. The Wildcats open up district play with Fleming County, a team they took 2/3 from this past season.

11.Fleming County (7-22):

The Panthers have struggled this entire season. Have ended the season losing 6 of their final 8 games.

12.Fairview (11-15):

The Eagles have now lost 3 of their final 5 games.

13.Morgan County (9-19):

Morgan County defeated Jackson City 67-50 last week to end their 8 game losing streak. Bad news, they open up with West Carter in the opening round game of the 62^nd district tournament.

14.Raceland (7-21):

Raceland ends the season on a 7 game losing streak and have lost 9 of their final 11 games.

15.Rose Hill Christian (11-19):

The Royals have struggled horridly the second half of this season, in fact, they’ve lost 13 of their last 15 games.

16.Menifee County (8-20):

The Wildcats finally picked up a win last week over Owsley County to snap their 3 game losing streak but they finish the regular season going 1-4 in their final 5 games.

If you had to pick an upset in the first round of district, who would it be?

I have East Carter over Elliott.

Elliott is the team to beat.