article BluegrassPreps.com's Seventh Region update and rankings - 12/11/17

Trinity showed why it is top-ranked in the Seventh Region (and in the state) in its 76-67 defeat of Sixth Region favorite Fern Creek on Saturday. As MentschTrachtGottLacht said in the thread about the game, it was big boy basketball.

 

Perhaps the second most notable game of the week in the Seventh Region was Waggener’s 83-70 win over the St. Xavier Tigers. While St. X was playing without two expected starters who are just returning to the hardwood after the end of the football season, the win improved Waggener’s record to 4-0 and moves them up to third in this week’s rankings.

 

At 5-0, Male is the third of the three remaining undefeated teams in the Seventh Region. They have twice needed overtime, but 5-0 is an impressive start for the young Bulldogs.

 

Just as there are three unbeaten teams, the Seventh Region has three teams yet to hit the win column. Ballard has played only once. Seneca has yet to win, but has played a monster schedule. Central has also yet to win, but its most recent game, an overtime loss to Male, suggests that the young Yellow Jackets will get in the winning column soon.

 

Holiday tournaments start this week with Collegiate hosting the Louisville Collegiate Classic, the participants of which include fellow Seventh Region members Brown and Walden. Ballard and Eastern both head to Pike County, with Ballard playing in the Pikeville Invitational and Eastern playing in the Buffalo Wild Wings Shootout at Pike County Central. St. X will play in the Barron Hoops Classic. Other games of note this week are Fern Creek at Male on Tuesday, Central at Manual on Friday, and Bullitt East at Waggener, also on Friday.

 

1. Trinity Shamrocks (5-0)

 

A 70-57 win over Seneca early in the week may not have been that impressive, but the 76-67 win over Fern Creek Saturday night was. Trinity trailed Fern Creek at halftime by 10 after a sluggish first half in which they committed way too many turnovers. The second half, in which Trinity outscored Fern Creek 50-31, was a complete turnaround. Trinity’s big three (David Johnson, Jay Scrubb and Justin Powell) all played well, but so did others, including Stan Turnier, who hit back-to-back 3’s at a crucial time. Through the first five games, Jay Scrubb leads the way offensively at 20 ppg with David Johnson scoring at a 16.6 ppg clip. The Shamrocks are off this week and will get back into action in The King of the Bluegrass tournament at Fairdale the following week.

 

2. Ballard Bruins (0-1)

I have not gone back to check, but this might be the latest point in any season that Ballard has remained winless. Of course, that is the result of the Bruins having played only one game so far, a close loss to Scott County the first week of the season. Ballard plays Christian Academy on Tuesday before heading out of town to play in the Pikeville Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

 

3. Waggener Wildcats (4-0)

After a 77-59 victory over the Moore Mustangs, Waggener came up big against St. X, beating the Tigers 83-70 to go 4-0 on the season. Sophomore Dallas Rufus came off the bench to lead the Wildcats with 17 points. In fact, Waggener showed its quality depth by playing 12 players in the first half and having six players score in double figures, with J.J. Kalakon not being one of them (he scored 8). Kalakon (14.8 ppg) and Rufus (10.3 ppg) are both averaging in double figures, as is Kevion Hudson (11.8 ppg). On the schedule this week are games with Atherton and Bullitt East.

 

4. St. Xavier Tigers (3-1)

While football season is over, Evan Walker, Sam Boarman and three other footballers have yet to hit the floor for the basketball Tigers. Their continued absence wasn’t a problem this week against Central, which St. X beat 79-53, but on Friday night the Tigers lost to the Waggener Wildcats 83-70. Through the first three games, Pierce Kiesler was averaging 21 ppg and James Taylor averaging 15.7 ppg. The Tigers have home games with Seneca and Christian Academy before hitting the road to play Barren County in the Barren Hoops Classic on Saturday.

 

5. Male Bulldogs (5-0)

Male remained unbeaten this week, beating North Oldham 65-37 and then needing overtime to beat Central 69-65. The Bulldogs are young and seem to be a little up and down, but so far have found a way to win every game. Up this week are Butler and Mason County. I am hoping to get out to see the Bulldogs when they play Mason County.

 

6. Manual Crimsons (1-4)

 

Manual lost all three of its games this week, two of which were to teams ranked in BluegrassPreps.com top 20: a 81-58 loss to no. 11 Pleasure Ridge Park and a 83-59 loss to no. 14 John Hardin. The other loss was to Iroquois by a 71-62 margin. The Crimsons hope to get back in the win column this week with games against Southern and Central.

 

7. Christian Academy Centurions (2-2)

 

Christian Academy beat Shelby County 42-39 and Country Day 65-56 this week before losing to Lexington Lafayette 84-58. The Centurions are still coming together as a team and should continue to get better. They shot the ball well against Country Day, which was a good sign. Games this week against Ballard and St. X will be challenging for the Centurions.

 

8. Seneca Redhawks (0-4)

 

Seneca continued its tour through the top teams of the Sixth and Seventh Regions last week, playing Pleasure Ridge Park (a 81-41 loss) and Trinity (a 70-57 loss). Through its first three games, Carl Parker (14.7 ppg) and Richard Ninamou (12.3 ppg) were leading the Redhawks in scoring. Things barely get better for the Redhawks this week with games against St. X and Doss.

 

9. Eastern Eagles (1-4)

 

The Eagles lost both of their games this week, losing to Jeffersontown 59-50 and Henry Clay 80-59. Jacob Robinson has been the key contributor on offense for Eastern, averaging 13.2 points per game (including 13 out of 22 three-point shooting). The Eagles travel to Pike County Central at the end of the week to participate in the Buffalo Wild Wings Shootout.

 

10. Atherton Rebels (1-2)

 

The Rebels lost to Jeffersontown 63-47 in its only game this week. Jordan Pulford leads Atherton in both points (11.7 ppg) and rebounds (8.3 per game). Atherton looks to get over the .500 level with games this week against Waggener, Western and Kentucky Country Day.

 

11. Central Yellow Jackets (0-4)

 

The Yellow Jackets are young and still trying to find their way, which is hard to do against the level of competition they have been playing. After falling to St. X 79-53, the Yellow Jackets took Male into overtime before losing 69-65. A close overtime loss to a quality Male team is reason for optimism. The Yellow Jackets play Manual Friday night in their only game this week.

 

12. Kentucky Country Day Bearcats (3-2)

 

KCD won two out of three this week. After beating Whitefield Academy 64-54, the Bearcats played hard but fell to Christian Academy 65-56. On Saturday, KCD earned their best win of the young season when they beat Bullitt East 71-69. That win was impressive enough to keep the Bearcats ahead of Collegiate and St. Francis in this week’s rankings. This week, the Bearcats travel to Shelby County for a game with the Rockets before returning home to play the Atherton Rebels Friday night.

 

13. Louisville Collegiate Titans (5-1)

 

The Titans got to 5-0 with wins over St. Francis (59-49) and Evangel Christian (74-39) before falling to Bullitt Central 48-36. Chez Moore leads the Titans in scoring at 17.8 ppg with Eli Allen, who is shooting 42.5% from the 3-point line, adding 13 ppg. Collegiate will look to get back on the winning track when it hosts Brown, Walden, and Villa Madonna in the Louisville Collegiate Classic from December 14 to December 16.

 

14. St. Francis Wyverns (5-1)

 

The Wyverns had a very busy, and successful, week. After falling to Collegiate 59-49 early in the week, St. Francis beat three public schools: Shawnee (75-46), Fleming County (67-63) and Hancock County (52-49). Pretty sure St. Francis has never won three games in a row against public schools, and also pretty sure it has never started a season 5-1. The Wyverns play only one game this week, a Tuesday night matchup with the Portland Christian Eagles.

 

15. Portland Christian Eagles (1-1)

 

Portland Christian was off this week. Through its first two games, junior Quincy Dye is averaging an impressive 29 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. Up next for the Eagles are home games against St. Francis and Heritage Academy and a road game against Fort Knox.

 

16. Shawnee Golden Eagles (2-3)

 

With its 53-45 win over Beth Haven, Shawnee already has doubled its win total from last season. Marcus Berry leads Shawnee in scoring at 10.5 ppg. The Golden Eagles are scheduled to play 4 games in 6 days this week, with games against Moore, North Bullitt, Glasgow and Elizabethtown.

 

17. Brown Bears (2-4)

 

The Bears went 1-2 this week, beating Evangel Christian 71-54 before losing to Whitefield Academy (67-51) and Whitesville Trinity (75-72). Through its first three games, Jai’rus Bibb was leading the Bears in scoring at 18.5 ppg. The Bears will play this week in the Louisville Collegiate Classic.

 

18. Walden Wolverines (1-2)

Walden fought hard but eventually fell to the Burgin Bulldogs 57-52 in their only game this week. The Wolverines next play in the Louisville Collegiate Classic from December 14-16.

An update - there now has been posted on the KHSAA website a game result from December 8 in which Atherton beat Shawnee 82-54. That would improve Atherton's record to 2-2 and change Shawnee's record to 2-4.