article BluegrassPreps.com 1st Region Week 2 in Review

BluegrassPreps.com 1st Region Boys Basketball Review Week 2

No huge games this past week to decide who sits atop Region 1, however that changes this week with a few big games. Paducah Tilghman vs Graves County, and Mayfield vs McCracken County. The top 4 square off against each other to see who will rise to the top, and who will have to continue looking up. Here are this week's rankings in Region 1.

 

1. Paducah Tilghman – Coach Roderick Thomas

2017-18 record: 3-2

Weeks record: 1-1

Last Week’s Rank: 1

 

There are a lot of arguments to be made on whether the Blue Tornado deserve to be in the number one spot right now in region 1. We are going to keep them here for this week. They will get the chance to prove that worthiness this week. They have played very well since the loss to Christian County the first game of the season. They absolutely dominated Murray to the tune of 79-38. Michael Laster came up with a big 20 points and Jerome Reed added 15, with Thomas getting 12. Ten different players scored for Tilghman in this one.

In the game against an undefeated Warren Central, it was a series of runs. PT started out 5-0, but were then outscored 18-3 before they closed the half on a 17-0 run of their own to lead 25-18 at halftime. The game went back and forth then till about half way through the 4th when Warren Central pulled away with an 8 point run. Final Score 61-54 in a very good game.

Paducah Tilgman only play one game this week, but it will decide who is number 1 in the Region one. The Tornado will host Graves County on Saturday at 7:30 for anyone wanting to come. It should be good.

 

2. Mayfield – Coach Chris Guhy

2017-18 record: 1-0

Week’s Record: 1-0

Last Week’s Rank: 2

 

Mayfield finally got their season started in a win over Caldwell County. Carson Guthrie scored 20 points and 10 rebounds while Connor Guthrie added 18 as the Cardinals won 66-50. Play was a little sloppy at times, but that is to be expected for the first game of the year. Especially when so many players were focused on a football state championship game.

Mayfield will make up for their lack of games on the year this week. They will play at St. Mary and Christian County, while hosting McCracken County and Carlisle County. They should have no problem with St. Mary and Carlisle. They will be favored in their game against McCracken, but they will play the underdogs against Christian County, but that game is winnable. Especially if they find a way to contain Ware (who has started the year on fire).

They will drop a spot to Graves, just because they haven’t played enough games to really project where they should be. They very well could be the best team in the region.

 

 

3. Graves County – Coach Joshua Frick

2017-18 record: 5-1

Week’s Record: 3-0

Last Week’s Rank: 3

Vogt who? That is the way Graves County has played this year. It is like they haven’t missed a beat since Region 1 POY Chris Vogt took his talents to college. They have played lights out and are making a real push to be the top team in the region. GC defeated Murray 69-33, Calloway Co. 56-27, and Hopkins County Central 85-64. The Eagles have been led this year by Jacob Savage who is averaging 16 ppg. Jordyn Naranjo is adding 13 ppg, but the leader of this team Ryan Mathis is only pouring in 10ppg. Big man Brenden Young has been surprising down low to the tune of 9ppg and 10.3 rpg.

Graves is playing very balanced basketball and will have their strongest in state test of the year on Saturday versus Paducah Tilghman. They should have no problem with Ballard Memorial, but they shouldn’t overlook them because they are 4-1 right now.

 

4. McCracken County – Coach Burlin Brower

2017-18 record: 5-0

Week’s Record: 2-0

Last Week’s Rank: 5

McCracken is one of only two unbeaten teams in Region 1 (Mayfield). They have two quality wins in that span against Henderson County and Marshall County. This week they beat rival Marshall County and defeated Fulton County 73-59 as well. Cam Cartwright led the Mustangs with 21 points against Marshall County, Jackson Sivills added 18 points.

The Mustangs have a busy week, but have a chance to make a huge statement in Region 1 as they will go to Mayfield, who many think is the best team in the region. They will play Muhlenberg County Friday and a team out of Jackson, Tn on Saturday.

 

5. Marshall County – Terry Birdsong

2017-18 record: 3-2

Week’s Record: 1-1

Last Week’s Rank:4

Marshall County had an up and down week. After playing BGP top 10 Lexington Catholic to a close game, they soundly defeated Carlisle County behind 21 from Bryce Flatt, but fell to rival McCracken 60-54 in a tough loss. The latter game gives a good idea of where the Marshalls stand in the district right now. It was an away game and could have gone either way. Tyler Powell led the Marshalls with 17 points and Aaron Reed scored 15 in the loss.

Marshall only has one game this week at Murray before traveling to Orlando for the Amusement Park Classic.

 

 

6. Murray – Coach Dior Curtis

2017-18 record: 3-2

Week’s Record: 1-2

Last Week’s Rank: 6

Murray was the first team to realize the vast difference in the top teams in Region 1 and the 2nd tier of teams. Murray was 2-0 going into games against Paducah Tilghman and Graves County. They were trounced in both, 69-33 to PT, and 79-38 to GC. They were able to pull out a win against a decent Union County team. The Tigers will host Marshall County which could be closer then first glance, and a then will play in the Murray Bank Christmas Classic over the weekend.

 

7. Carlisle County – Coach Brian O’Neil

2017-18 record: 3-2

Week’s Record: 2-1

Last Week’s Rank: 8

The Comets had a up and down week. They took a loss to Marshall County, but then came up with a big win at Hickman County 81-69. Michael Thomason had a career high 39 points in the win, including 6 from downtown. Trey Wilson added in 17.

Carlisle also beat up on bottom dweller CCA 74-46. Every single player on the Comets roster scored in the game. Carlisle will play host to Fulton City before having to travel to Mayfield (eek) and then Lyon County on Saturday.

 

8. Calloway County – Coach Brad Cleaver

2016-17 record: 2-3

Week’s Record: 0-3

Last Week’s Rank: 7

The Lakers were another Region team brought back down to earth after starting 2-0 to the season. McCracken co, Graves Co, and Hickman Co all soundly defeated Calloway. 27 points against Graves County is a tough wake up call on offense. They did a little better against Union, scoring 64. They were led by Jeremy Darnell and Aaron Dawson both with 18 points.

The Lakers look to get back in the win column when to face Fulton County and Caldwell County this week.

9. Ballard Memorial – Coach Marla Cooper

2017-18 record: 4-1

Week’s Record: 2-0

Last Week’s Rank: 9

Ballard has started out the year very well in region play. That is the good news, but the bad news is those teams were on the bottom of the region. They should have won those games. This week they will play some tougher competition in Hickman County and then Graves County before travelling to McCracken County after that.

Right now Ballard has 4 players averaging 10+ ppg. They are led by Dequin Donlow who is getting almost 18ppg this year.

 

10. Hickman County – Coach Jimmy Long

2017-18 record: 3-3

Week’s Record: 2-1

Last Week’s Rank: 10

Not sure what to make of Hickman at this point in the year. They opened the season getting blown out by a Murray team, but then cruise to a win against Carlisle County only to get dropped by Calloway County.

The Falcons should have an easy game against CCA before hosting Ballard Memorial and then going to Livingston Central. They could be 6-3 by next week’s rankings.

11. Fulton County – Coach Jamie Madding

2017-18 record: 2-2

Week’s Record: 1-1

Last Week’s Rank: 12

The Pilots defeated winless Christian Fellowship 62-40, but then played McCracken County surprisingly close in a 59-73 loss. Caleb Kimble scorched the Mustangs for 29 points (6 three pointers) while Andreous Smith add 16 points. It is not often a loss will move a team up in the rankings, but this one will.

Fulton Co will play at Calloway early this week before playing 2 teams in Illinois.

 

 

12. Fulton City – Coach Jon Dillard

2017-18 record: 1-4

Week’s Record: 0-2

Last Week’s Rank: 11

The Bulldogs lost 2 games against out of state teams in Illinois and Tennessee. The Bulldogs are really struggling to find offense and anyone who can lead. The team does not have single player who is averaging over 10 ppg on the season.

 

 

13. St. Mary – Coach Greg Overstreet

2017-18 record: 1-4

Week’s Record: 1-2

Last Week’s Rank: 13

St. Mary got their first win of the season against CCA before falling to Ballard Memorial and Livingston Central. Things will not get any easier this week as the Vikings go up against Mayfield and Dawson Springs.

 

14. Community Christian Paducah – Coach Daniel Durrett / Rhet McMullen

2017-18 record: 0-6

Week’s Record: 0-6

Last Week’s Rank: 14

 

Community Christian is still looking for their first win since springs of 2016. Unfortunately they haven’t been competitive in any game since the first one of the year. They will look for that elusive win this week as they play Hickman Co, Burgin, and Metcalfe Co.

 

 

Player of the Week

Michael Thomason, Carlisle County – 39 points on 14-21 shooting from the field including 6 of 10 from 3 point range.

From my understanding, Tilghman played without JJ Reed because he was taking an ACT exam.

From my understanding, Tilghman played without JJ Reed because he was taking an ACT exam.

 

Yes, they were without Reed