article Bluegrasspreps.com Inside the 14th Region Week 5 Re-Cap

1. Knott County Central (9-3): The Patriots were hit hard in the Traditional Bank Classic at Lexington Catholic over the past week. Knott Central fell in the opening round game to Henderson County 71-56 and then fell to Floyd Central 65-55 in the consolation bracket. Knott Central would bounce back though and defeat Wolfe County fairly easy, 73-50 in this tournament as well. During this tournament, the Patriots seen their 6 game win streak snapped but the start of a new win streak if the Patriots can keep things going. Knott Central travels to Hazard on Thursday and then kicks off the 14^th region all a tournament against Jackson City on Saturday.

2. Perry County Central (8-4): After a rough start to the season (0-2), the Commodores have gone 8-2 since. The Perry Central Commodores won the Mountain Schoolboy Classic at Belfry this past week, defeating Magoffin County 72-63, Johnson Central 82-55 and Shelby Valley 74-63. Perry Central has 3 big games this week; Tomorrow at home against Harlan County, Friday at home against Harlan Ind and Saturday against Mercer County in the Patriot classic at Lincoln County.

3. Estill County (7-6): The Engineers mental mistakes costed them the CSI classic tournament this past week at Bath County. The Engineers opened up with Robertson County and didn’t have a problem getting past the Black Devils as they routed Robertson 80-45. This would set up a showdown with Paris who is one of the top teams in the 10^th region. Estill County had a 4 point led with 20 seconds to play and a mental mistake costed the Engineers the game as they would foul a Paris player on a 3 point attempt which would turn into a 5 point play as they would miss the free throw but get the tip in. Paris would go on to win the game 57-53 in overtime. Estill County would get the host team, Bath County for 3^rd place and it was a close game throughout but in the end Estill County would come out on top 68-56. Estill County is scheduled to host district rival, Lee County on Friday.

4. Cordia (7-8): The Lions made the trip to Pulaski County this past week to participate in the annual Lake Cumberland Holiday Classic. The Lions had a good showing as they went 2-2 in the tournament. Wayne County got the best of the Cordia Lions 64-53 in the opening round game but Cordia would bounce back and pickup two straight wins over Roger Bacon OH 47-45 and East Jessamine 78-57 but the Lions would fall in the final game of the tournament to Paducah Tilghman 71-54. Cordia travels just down the road to June Buchanan on Thursday night.

5. Powell County (6-5): Even tho the Pirates went 1-2 this past week, they had a really good showing in the Gateway Holiday Classic at Montgomery County. The Pirates fell to Woodford County in the opening round game 82-75. Powell County would fall to Highlands in a heart breaker 49-48 in the consolation bracket but would bounce back and win a thrilling game against Worthington Kilbourne OH 71-70 to finish 7^th in the tournament. The Pirates will host Hazard tomorrow and travel to Owsley County on Friday.

6. Hazard (6-3): Hazard seems to have gotten things straightened out this past week when they won the Hyden Bank Holiday Tournament at Leslie County. Hazard would defeat McCreary Central 75-72 in OT, Middlesboro 52-41 and the host school, Leslie County 52-48. Hazard has three huge games this week, @ Powell County tomorrow night, at home against Knott Central on Thursday and a re-match with Leslie County in the 14^th region all a tournament at Perry Central on Saturday night.

7. Wolfe County (5-7): Wolfe County is really struggling, after being considered one of the top teams in the region, the Wolves find themselves looking for answers to their struggling problems. The Wolves started the season 2-1 but have since gone 3-6 (1-4 last 5 games includes a 3 game losing streak). Wolfe County fell to Daviess County by 27 71-44 in the opening round game of the Traditional Bank Classic at Lexington Catholic. Wolfe County would face Franklin County in the consolation bracket and another beat down against Wolfe County as the Flyers throttled Wolfe County 74-46, this same Franklin County team, Estill County didn’t have a problem with a week or so ago. Wolfe County would get region foe, Knott Central in the final game of the traditional bank tournament and again, another beat down as the Patriots ran past the Wolves 73-50. Can Wolfe get things turned around this week when they face Leslie County and Riverside Christian? Only time will tell.

8. Leslie County (6-5): The Eagles came up just short of winning their own tournament. Leslie County had defeated Middlesboro 50-34, McCreary Central 61-60 in OT but would fall to district foe, Hazard 52-48 in the final game of the Hyden Bank Christmas Tournament. Leslie will have 3 huge games this week; 2 on the road and 1 on a neutral court. Tomorrow at Wolfe County, Thursday at Letcher Central and Saturday a re-match with Hazard at Perry Central in the 14^th region all a tournament.

9. Breathitt County (4-10): The Bobcats continue to struggle. Their losing streak has reached 8 straight. 3 of those 8 losses came in the Ashland Invitational this past week.Two of those 3 losses were blowout losses to Ashland 71-50 and Dixie Heights 64-46. The Bobcats then would lose a heart breaker to Mason County on a 3 pointer at the buzzer 66-64. Can Breathitt stop the bleeding this week? Harrison County and Owsley County should be good tests for the Bobcats.

10. Letcher County Central (3-11): The Cougars continue to struggle. Having lost 6 straight with 3 of them being in the Central Bank Classic at LCA. LCA would get the best of Letcher Central 78-42 in the opening round game, Letcher Centra lwould fall to Lou. Central 61-48 in the consolation bracket and Tates Creek would edge out the Cougars 63-58 to finish 7^th as LCC finished 8^th in the tournament. Letcher Central will host Leslie County on Thursday and @ Phelps on Friday.

11. Owsley County (5-6): The hustlin’ Owls started the season off good 4-0 but have since went complete backwards, losing 4 straight (including 3 in the Southeastern Christmas Invitational at Jamestown TN) (Red Boiling Springs TN 61-33, Cherokee AL 70-15 and East Hickman TN 64-34) and have lost 6 of their last 7 games. Owsley does get Lee County (0-12) tomorrow night but after that it’s another date with Powell County for Friday.

12. Buckhorn (3-10): Buckhorn went 1-2 this past week down in Freeport FL in the Hilton Sandestin Beach Blowout picking up a 66-52 win over Whiteplains AL. The wildcats were blownout in their other two games in the tournament.

13. Jackson City (3-11): Jackson City has now lost 10 straight games, with most of them being blowouts.

14. June Buchanan (4-7): The Crusaders picked up another win over Piarist on Saturday 64-42.

15. Riverside Christian (2-7): Riverside was off last week, in fact, their last game was Dec. 15^th. Their next game isn’t until Wednesday against Wolfe County.

16. Lee County (0-12): The Bobcats were also off last week and will return to action tomorrow at Owsley County.