article BluegrassPreps.com 11th Region Final Rankings and District Predictions

The regular season has come to a close and the 11th Region sets at the top once again as the toughest region in the state of Kentucky. Weve had a lot of ups and downs in the rankings this season but one thing has remained the same....the Scott County Cardinals are the class of the region. Having said that their is a handful of teams that have proven they can compete with anyone in the state and will surely give the Cardinals a run for their money in the next few weeks!!

 

Team of the Week

Lexington Christian Academy - What a week for the Eagles. Possibly the best week any team in the 11th has had all year!! The Eagles hit the road 3 times this week and picked up 3 impressive wins over Lafayette, Bryan Station, and Trinity. The All A champions look primed for a postseason run!! Congrats to the Eagles on a great week!!

 

Player of the Week

Marques Warrick - Henry Clay - Marques Warrick picks up our player of the week for the past week. Helping lead the Henry Clay Blue Devils to 2 wins. Against GRC he poured in 27 points helping Henry Clay spring the upset and then had another stellar performance against Taylor County to end the week. Congrats to Marques on a great week!!

 

Final Team Rankings

1. Scott County (29-1) - What a great season for the Cardinals! Undefeated against in state competition and 15-0 against 11th Region teams. This past week the Cardinals picked up 3 blowout wins against Adair County, Covington Holy Cross, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. The Cardinals are the #1 seed in the 42nd District and await the winner of Sayre and Frederick Douglass in the 1st round. Look for the Cardinals to get to the district finals with relative ease.

 

2. Lexington Christian Academy (23-7) - At the beginning of the season the Eagles were one of the top ranked teams in all of the state. They had a slow start to the year and at one point were 7-6. Since that time all LCA has done is go 16-1, win an ALL A State Championship, and established themselves as a serious contender for Scott County's Region crown. This past week they picked 3 impressive wins all on the road over Lafayette, Bryan Station, and Trinity. The Eagles are the #3 seed in the 43rd District tournament and will face off against Lexington Catholic in the 1st round, a team that has beaten them twice! For the Eagles to challenge for the region crown they first have to get by the Knights!

 

3. Madison Central (22-7) - The Indians hot streak finally came to an end this week as they fell at home to a great Covington Catholic team. That loss does not take away from an absolute awesome season for the Indians. They are another team that looks ready to take a shot at Scott County. They start the postseason off with a first round district game against Berea and then look to take back the district tournament championship they lost last season. Expect to see the Indians right there at the end of the season challenging to go to Rupp Arena.

 

4. Bryan Station (22-6) - The Defenders came into the season relatively quiet, not many people around the state or region were saying much about them. They had an amazing year and picked up a lot of good wins. Last week the Defenders beat up on Taylor County before falling big to LCA. They will have to erase all that as they prepare for arguably the toughest 2/3 game in the state of Kentucky as they will face off with Henry Clay for the right to advance to the regional tournament. Eric "Boss" Boone will have to come ready to carry his team for the Defenders to get over that hump for the third time this season.

 

5. Henry Clay (18-11) - At the beginning of the season I said I wasn't sure what the Blue Devils would look like this season. They've had some really good wins(Madison Central) and some head scratching losses(twice to PLD), but Henry Clay seems to be playing its best basketball at the right time. Last week, Henry Clay picked up 2 wins over GRC and Taylor County. The win over GRC broke the Cardinals 15 game winning streak. As mentioned above the Blue Devils will face off with Bryan Station to begin the district in what could be an epic encounter.

 

6. Lexington Catholic (18-9) - The Knights have had an interesting season. They've beaten LCA twice, played 2 games in a 2 1/2 week span, and lost some games by huge margins. Last week the Knights split against a pair of 12th region teams, first beating Lincoln County and then falling at Wayne County by 6. Unfortunately, we may not know how good the Knights could've been at the end with the loss of Zan Payne. The Knights start out the district tournament against LCA in another awesome 2/3 matchup. The Knights have beaten LCA 2 times this season but without Zan it will a tough road to get win #3 but never count out the Knights.

 

7. Lafayette (19-8) - At one point this season an argument could be made the Generals were the 2nd best team in the region, and some nights they are. Lately they haven't looked the part though. This past week they got blown out by LCA and hung on for a narrow victory over Frederick Douglass. Lafayette did take care of business in the regular season district play and came away with the #1 seed. They will play the winner of Tates Creek/Dunbar in the first round. If the Generals overlook that game they could be in for a long night. As always the 43rd District is a beast!!

 

8. Paul Laurence Dunbar (11-14) - The Bulldogs are probably the most improved team in the 11th Region from the beginning of the season until now. After starting off a dreadful 2-10 PLD has bounced back nicely to finish the season 9-4 and picked up some nice wins along the way. Last week the Bulldogs got by a nice West Jessamine team before falling hard at Scott County. PLD starts out postseason play against Tates Creek in the 4/5 game of the 43rd District tournament and then would face Lafayette in what could be a sleeper of a game in the district tournament.

 

9. Frankfort (15-12) - The Panthers have had an up and down season but like I have said all year, when they have their full team they can play with almost anyone in this region. Last week the Panthers picked up 3 wins on the road over Berea, Madison Southern, and Thomas Nelson. Frankfort is the #1 seed in the 41st District and will play host Western Hills to start off the postseason. Expect to see the Panthers at the 11th Region tournament looking to spoil someone's season!!

 

10. Frederick Douglass (13-16) - The Broncos inaugural season saw some ups and downs. With only 1 senior on the roster its safe to say Frederick Douglass over achieved in my book. Last week the Broncos came away 0-2 but challenged two good teams down to the wire with close losses to GRC and Lafayette. The Broncos will start off with Sayre in the 4/5 game of the 42nd District tournament and then will face off with Scott County if they advance past the Spartans.

 

11. Franklin County (13-16) - The Flyers enter the week looking for their 4th straight district championship but have a tough road to get there. Last week they picked up 2 home wins over Harrison County and Anderson County to end the season. They will start out with Woodford County in the 2/3 game of the 41st District tournament. The two teams split this season so expect round 3 to be a slugfest!!

 

12. Woodford County (15-13) - The Yellow Jackets were the hottest team in the 11th Region to start off the 2017-18 season. Starting the season at 11-2!! Since then they have gone 4-11, not the direction you want to be headed this time of year. Last week the Jackets lost a heartbreaker to Mercer County on a last second shot and then throttled Bourbon County. As mentioned above they start the post season off with Franklin County in what should be a great opening round district matchup!

 

13. Model (17-10) -The Patriots had an excellent year and have themselves in prime position to advance to the 11th Region tournament. Last week they went 1-1 with a win over Nicholas County and a loss to Jackson County. The Patriots will face off with Madison Southern to start district play. Model beat Madison Southern close in the regular season and if they can do it again they will be in the 11th Region tournament for the first time in a while!!

 

14. Sayre (13-16) - The Spartans have had an up and down year as expected by all they lost to graduation a year ago. Last week Sayre picked up wins over Western Hills and St. Francis before falling to East Jessamine in a close one. Sayre starts out the postseason with a 4/5 game against Frederick Douglass in the 42nd District Tournament.

 

15. Tates Creek (5-24) - The Commodores have risen from the depths of the rankings this week after a win over Madison Southern for only their 2nd win over regional competition this season. Tates Creek couldn't celebrate for long as Paris beat them down in their last regular season game. This week the Commodores face off with Paul Laurence Dunbar in the 4/5 game of the 43rd District tournament. Can Tates Creek pick up their first win over a city foe in almost 3 years? We shall see.

 

16. Madison Southern (11-18) - The Eagles have had a tough year but after graduating 95% of your scoring from a season ago what can you expect. Last week the Eagles dropped 3 games to Tates Creek, Frankfort, and Whitley County. Madison Southern will face off with Model to begin district play and don't be surprised if you see them at EKU when the region tournament starts.

 

17. Western Hills (10-20) - The Wolverines once again find themselves towards the bottom of the region and with the 4 seed in the district tournament. Western Hills has 1 41st District regular season win in the past 6 seasons. Last week they fell to Sayre, Wolfe County, and Garrard County but picked up a win over Louisville Collegiate to get to the 10 win mark. They will face off with Frankfort to being district play.

 

18. Berea (14-11) - The Pirates did win 14 games this season, although it wasn't against the best competition but there is nothing wrong with that when you are Berea. Last week they went 1-1 with a loss to Frankfort but a win over Frankfort Christian Academy. They will start out the district tournament against Madison Central.....

 

Next week I will preview the regional tournament and give my All Region Teams.

 

District Tournament Schedule

41st District @ Western Hills

Tuesday Feb. 20th - Western Hills vs. Frankfort

Wednesday Feb. 21st - Franklin County vs. Woodford County

Friday Feb. 23rd - District Championship

 

42nd District @ Frederick Douglass

Monday Feb. 19th - Sayre vs. Frederick Douglass

Wednesday Feb. 21st - Henry Clay vs. Bryan Station

Wednesday Feb. 21st - Winner of 4/5 vs. Scott County

Friday Feb. 23rd - District Championship

 

43rd District @ LCA

Monday Feb. 19th - Tates Creek vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar

Tuesday Feb. 20th - LCA vs. Lexington Catholic

Wednesday Feb. 21st - Winner of 4/5 vs. Lafayette

Friday Feb. 23rd - District Championship

 

44th District @ EKU

Monday Feb. 19th - Model vs. Madison Southern

Tuesday Feb. 20th - Berea vs. Madison Central

Friday Feb. 23rd - District Championship

 

Players to Watch in the Post-Season

 

1. Eric "Boss" Boone - Bryan Station - Player of the Year

Easily the most valuable player to any team in the region this season. Eric Boone was a stat sheet stuffer for the Bryan Station Defenders. Numerous times he led the team in all statistical categories. Finished the season averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds a game.

 

2. Michael Moreno - Scott County

Another huge season for Scott County's best player Michael Moreno. Year after year he just continues to improve and impress. Moreno led the 29-1 and #1 ranked Cardinals with 20.2 points per game and 10.4 rebounds a game this season.

 

3. Carter Hendrickson - Lexington Christian Academy

The North Florida university signee had a HUGE year for the Eagles. The leading scorer on a team full of offensive weapons, Carter paced the Eagles with 19.1 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game all while shooting a blistering 39% from the 3!!

 

4. Dustin Geralds - Madison Central

Not the first name you think of when you think about the Indians but by far their most valuable player. Pouring in a team leading 16 points a game and 9.3 rebounds a game, his worth on the defensive end of the floor cant go unmentioned.

 

5. Marques Warrick - Henry Clay

A relative unknown at the beginning of the season, Warrick became an offensive force for the Blue Devils as the season progressed. Averaging 17.8 points per game and 7.8 rebounds, Warrick announced his presence as a must see player for the next 2 seasons.

 

2nd Team

1. Cooper Robb - Scott County

The "head of the snake" that is Scott County basketball, Cooper Robb had another outstanding year. Averaging 14.8 points and 5 rebounds a game Cooper continues to be steady force that leads the potent Cardinal attack.

 

2. Isaiah Cozart - Madison Central - Defensive Player of the Year

Good luck getting a clean look in the paint against the Indians this season with Cozart lurking. The all time single season block shot leader in KHSAA history continues to improve his overall game. Scoring 13.7 points per game and pulling down 9.7 rebounds a contest, Cozart still has another season and the all time career block shot record in his sights.

 

3. Kyle Rode - Lexington Christian Academy

A kid that seems like he has been playing for 10 years, Kyle Rode produced another stellar year for the Eagles. The junior guard did it all for LCA scoring at a clip of 14.9 points per game and pulling down 7.9 rebounds a game. His ability to run the offense is what really makes him special.

 

4. Eric Powell - Lafayette

The Generals main scoring threat, Powell can shoot it from deep but also take you off the bounce if you don't respect him. Scoring 13.8 points per game and pulling down 4.5 rebounds a game, Powell stroked it from deep at a 40.8% clip!!

 

5. Zan Payne - Lexington Catholic

A season ending injury cut the career of Zan Payne short but what a year he had prior to that. Scoring at 19.8 points per game and pulling down 8.7 rebounds per game, Payne will be sorely missed by the Knights in the postseason.

 

Coach Of The Year

Tommy Johnson - Bryan Station

Coming off a mediocre year last year where the Defenders finished at 13-13 and lost kids to graduation and to redistricting, no team had a more marked improvement then the Defenders. Picked middle of the pack in the region preseason, Bryan Station had an outstanding season finishing at 22-6 and thrusting themselves into the discussion of regional champions.

Edited February 20, 2018 by True blue (and gold)

Great write up. :thumb: