article BluegrassPreps.com 12th Region Final Rankings and Postseason Review 2/19/18

2017-2018 12th Region Final Update

The regular season has ended and the postseason is ready to start. Teams have been prepping all season for this moment. By the end of the week, only half of the teams in Kentucky will still be playing and the others will be turning in their uniforms. There are sixteen teams ready to leave it all on the court, but only one will be crowned 12th Region Champion. Let the playoffs begin!

12th Region Postseason Preview:

45th District Tournament at Danville

The 45th District will be the most competitive and closely watched tournament amongst 12th Region teams going on this week. There are four teams that could win this tournament with Boyle County being the favorite.

Garrard County will face Kentucky School f/t Deaf in the opening game of the 45th District Tournament. Garrard County had a 1-5 record in district play while KSD did not compete against district foes in the regular season. The Golden Lions come into the tournament playing their best basketball of the season. The Colonels have struggled to find victories this season but did find that win in their last weekend of play. These two teams did not play in the regular season. Garrard County should cruise to the next game where they will face the #1 seed Boyle County Rebels.

Garrard County and Boyle County played twice this season with the Rebels winning both contests 70-54 and 77-61. The Golden Lions have improved dramatically since those contests so this could be an interesting matchup. The Rebels have the capability of advancing far into the 12th Region Tournament but they cannot overlook this first game as it has the potential for a major upset. Look for the Rebels to win this game but it may be uncomfortably close.

The other matchup pits the Lincoln County Patriots against the host of the 45th District Tournament Danville Admirals. Lincoln County beat the Admirals both times they played this season 47-46 and 76-67. With this game being played at Danville it may be hard for the Patriots to pull out a victory for a third time this season. This looks to be one of the best first round match-ups this week with the best chance for a lower seed to upset a higher seed in the first round.

Prediction:

Garrard County 65 KSD 21

Danville 55 Lincoln County 53

Boyle County 62 Garrard County 58

Finals: Boyle County 58 Danville 54

46th District Tournament at West Jessamine

The 46th District Tournament will have the Mercer County Titans playing the Burgin Bulldogs in the first Matchup of the night. Mercer County went 6-0 in district play during the regular season and earned the #1 seed. The Bulldogs did not compete in regular season district play. Burgin will have an uphill battle from the start, as the odds are very much against the small school in this game. Look for the Titans to advance without worry.

The second game of the night will bring crosstown rivals West Jessamine Colts versus East Jessamine Jaguars. These two teams met twice this season with West Jessamine winning on the road in a close game 81-75 but easily getting the victory at home 78-55 over East. West has played one of the toughest schedules in the region getting them ready for the postseason. This could start out a close game but West Jessamine should prevail.

The likely match-up in the championship game should be West Jessamine versus Mercer County. These two teams met twice this season with Mercer County beating West Jessamine both time 89-77 and 80-73. Being a district championship game and the game being played at West Jessamine, this could be a very exciting game.

Prediction:

Mercer County 78 Burgin 37

West Jessamine 71 East Jessamine 56

Finals: Mercer County 75 West Jessamine 74

47th District Tournament at Casey County

The Pulaski County Maroons will open up the 47th District Tournament against the host team Casey County. Pulaski County has been dominate against the Rebels this season winning both games they have played by an average of 37 points. The Rebels have struggled all season only winning three games in this rebuilding year. If the Rebels were to pull off this upset, it would go down as one of the biggest in 12thRegion history. Look for the Maroons to advance.

The second game of the 47th District Tournament pits the Somerset Briar Jumpers against the Rockcastle County Rockets. The Jumpers won both meetings against the Rockets by an average of 29 points. The Rockets have only won five games this season after advancing to the 12thRegion Tournament the past two seasons. The Jumpers have their strongest team in years and should get their first postseason win since the 2012/2013 season.

Of all the district championship games, this one should be the easiest to predict who will be playing. Pulaski County versus Somerset. These two teams have met in the 47thDistrict finals three times since the 2006 alignment change and Pulaski County won all three. This season they split the regular season matchups with each winning on their home court. This game will be on a neutral court and should be a good one to watch.

Prediction:

Pulaski County 78 Casey County 45

Somerset 65 Rockcastle County 48

Finals: Pulaski County 76 Somerset 68

48th District Tournament at Wayne County

The first game of the 48th District Tournament matches the Wayne County Cardinals versus the McCreary Central Raiders. They have faced each other twice this season with Wayne County winning both games 54-48 and 57-56, respectively.

McCreary Central is 0-19 versus Wayne County since 2010. The last time McCreary beat Wayne County was the 2010 district finals. It has been even longer since the Raiders have beaten the Cardinals at Wayne County. The last time McCreary Central stepped on the Cardinals home floor and came away with a victory was over ten years ago on January 8, 2008.

But, this year was as close as the meeting has been in a very long time. The Cardinals squeaked by at home with a 57-56 victory just two weeks ago. So, is there an upset in the making? Quite possible. This has all the makings of the best first round game of the postseason in the 12th Region.

The winner of the Wayne County/ McCreary Central game will face the sharp shooting Southwestern Warriors. The Warriors won the district last season and would like to repeat as champions. Wayne County won the 48th District title three consecutive years prior to last year and the last time McCreary Central cut down the nets was in 2010. Who will win the 48th District title this season is up in the air as all three teams are capable of bringing home the trophy. But, Wayne County has been playing some of their best basketball this past week and look to be peaking at the right time.

Predictions:

Wayne County 53 McCreary Central 49

Finals: Wayne County 64 Southwestern 60

12th Region Final Ranking:

1) Mercer County Titans (23-5) - The Titans finish the regular season with the best record in the 12th Region and have won 14 of their last 15 games. They did not lose a game against 12th Region competition this season going 13-0. Last week they beat Woodford County 61-58 and Southwestern 73-69. In the win over Woodford County, Trevon Faulkner scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the double-double.

This week the Titans play the Burgin Bulldogs in the opening game of the 46th District Tournament.

2) Pulaski County Maroons (19-9) - The Maroons finish the regular season beating Corbin 66-58 but lost to West Jessamine 59-61. Pulaski has the talent to sweep through the 12th Region in the postseason. When they are on, there is no team in the region that will beat them. But, they could just as easily lose in the first round of the region when they are not in sync.

This week the Maroons open the 47th District Tournament against Casey County.

3) Boyle County Rebels (17-7) - Last week the Rebels split a pair of games to end the regular season. They lost to Wayne County 64-67 in overtime but beat Oldham County 67-61. In the loss to Wayne County, Jason Alexander scored a game high 29 points. In the win over Oldham county Bryce Slone scored 22 points to lead the Rebels.

This week the Rebels will play the winner of the Garrard County versus Kentucky School f/t Deaf game in the 45th District Tournament.

4) West Jessamine Colts (17-9) - The Colts finished the regular season splitting a pair of games last week. They lost to Paul Laurence Dunbar 54-63 but turn around and beat Pulaski County 61-59. In the win over Dunbar, Dalton Bruner scored 16 points to lead West Jessamine. Skyler Cannady was leading scorer in the win over Pulaski County with 18 points.

This week the Colts play crosstown rival East Jessamine in the 46th District Tournament.

5) Somerset Briar Jumpers (23-7) - The Jumpers ended a three game losing streak this week as they beat Danville on Senior night 65-57. They lost earlier in the week to Garrard County 58-62. In the loss, Kross Grundy was high scorer for the Jumpers with 16 points. Grundy was also leading scorer in the win over Danville with 23 points.

The Jumpers will face Rockcastle County this week in the 47th District Tournament.

6) Southwestern Warriors (15-13) - The Warriors split a pair of games in the final week of the regular season. They beat Jackson County 50-43 but lost to Mercer County 69-73.

This week the Warriors will play the winner of the Wayne County versus McCreary Central game in the 48th District Championship game.

7) Wayne County Cardinals (17-13) - The Cardinals had a great week to end the regular season. They beat Boyle County in overtime 67-64 then beat Lexington Catholic 66-61 on Senior Night. Jakson Baker scored a game high 26 points in the win over Boyle County. Jakson Baker, Kameron Gehring, and Stetson Simpson each had 14 points in the win over Lexington Catholic.

This week the Cardinals take on McCreary Central in the opening game of the 48th District Tournament.

8) Lincoln County Patriots (13-17) - The Patriots lost to Lexington Catholic 57-71 but beat Casey County 73-41 in the last week of the regular season. In the loss to Lexington Catholic, Blake Smith lead in scoring with 19 points.

This week the Patriots play Danville in the first round of the 45th District Tournament.

9) Danville Admirals (14-14) - The Admirals ended the regular season by beating East Jessamine 84-69 on Senior Nights. Earlier in the week they beat Russell County 76-43 but lost to Somerset 57-65. In the win over Russell County, Jared Southerland scored a game high 21 points. He also led the Admirals with 14 points in the loss to Somerset.

This week the Admirals play Lincoln County in the 45th District Tournament.

10) Garrard County Golden Lions (11-18) - The Golden Lions are hitting their stride at the right time. They went 6-2 in the month of February and 2-0 last week. They beat Somerset on Senior Night 62-58 and also beat Western Hills 62-45.

This week Garrard County opens the 45th District Tournament against Kentucky School f/t Deaf.

11) McCreary Central Raiders (13-15) - The Raiders finished out the regular season splitting a pair of games last week. They beat Casey County 75-59 but they lost to Lynn Camp 74-80.

This week they open the 48th District Tournament against Wayne County.

12) East Jessamine Jaguars (13-17) - The Jaguars won one out of two games last week. They beat Sayre 60-57 but lost to Danville 69-84 to end the regular season.

This week they play West Jessamine in the first round of the 46th District Tournament.

13) Casey County Rebels (3-27) - The Rebels closed out the regular season with three losses last week. They lost to McCreary Central 59-75, Taylor County 45-71, and Lincoln County 41-73.

This week the Rebels open the 47th District Tournament against Pulaski County.

14) Rockcastle County Rockets (5-24) - The Rockets ended the regular season with losses against Whitley County 61-73, South Laurel 36-60, and Russell County 59-70.

This week the Rockets play Somerset in the first round of the 47th District Tournament.

15) Burgin Bulldogs (10-16) - The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a win over Riverside Christian 51-28.

This week Burgin will take on Mercer County in the opening game of the 46th District Tournament.

16) Kentucky School f/t Deaf Colonels (1-17) – The Colonels did not play last week. They will play Garrard County in the opening game of the 45th District Tournament this week.

2017-2018 12th Region Coach of the Year:

Jeron Dunbar (Somerset) - In his first season at the helm of the Briar Jumper’s Boys Basketball program, Coach Dunbar tallied 23 wins and 7 losses. This is the first twenty win season for the Jumpers since 2013 and only the second in over ten years.

2017-2018 12th Region Players Rankings:

1) Trevon Faulkner (Mercer County) Senior – 12th Region co-player of the year. Trevon averaged 26.4 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game for the Titans. Trevon has signed with Northern Kentucky University to play basketball for the Norse.

1) Steven Fitzgerald (Pulaski County) Senior – 12th Region co-player of the year. Steven averaged 31.5 points per game and 8 rebounds per game for the Maroons. He has signed with Samford University to play basketball for the Bulldogs.

3) Hunter Stevens (Southwestern) Senior – Excellent shooter who averaged 25.3 points per game while shooting 48.1% from 3-point range.

4) Bryce Slone (Boyle County) Senior – Outstanding shooter who averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 48.2% from 3-point range.

5) Jakson Baker (Wayne County) Senior – After overcoming injury at the beginning of the year, he averaged 13.3 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game.

6) Jason Alexander (Boyle County) Senior – Floor general for the Rebels who averaged 15.9 points per game while shooting 56.9% from the field.

7) Kross Grundy (Somerset) Senior – Averaged 18.2 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game.

8) Dalton Bruner (West Jessamine) Junior – Averaged 18.3 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game.

9) Danny Butt (Pulaski County) Senior – Averaged 13.8 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game.

10) Derrick Paige (McCreary Central) Senior - Averaged 17.6 points per game while averaging 8.0 rebounds per game.

11) Chase Phillips (Lincoln County) Senior - Averaged 15.1 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game.

12) Jared Southerland (Danville) Senior - Averaged 14.2 points per game.

Honorable Mention:

Carter Baughman (Mercer County) Junior

Jacob Bradshaw (East Jessamine) Senior

Skyler Cannady (West Jessamine) Senior

Drew Cook (West Jessamine) Senior

Ty Devine (Mercer County) Senior

Jonathan Gallagher (Southwestern) Senior

Kade Grundy (Somerset) Freshman

Trae Harmon (Somerset) Senior

Hunter Jones (McCreary Central) Senior

Braden Sebastian (Garrard County) Sophomore

Stetson Simpson (Wayne County) Senior

Reese Smith (Boyle County) Sophomore

Blake Smith (Lincoln County) Junior

Aubry Weaver (Wayne County) Junior

Great write up. Very detailed!

Wayne County 74 McCreary Central 64 in double overtime!

The field is set for the 12th Region Tournament. One of these eight teams will move on to Rupp Arena. The drawing for the 12th Region Tournament will be Saturday morning but first the district championships will need to be played.

45th District: Boyle County vs Danville

46th District: Mercer County vs West Jessamine

47th District: Pulaski County vs Somerset

48th District: Southwestern vs Wayne County

The field is set for the 12th Region Tournament. One of these eight teams will move on to Rupp Arena. The drawing for the 12th Region Tournament will be Saturday morning but first the district championships will need to be played.

 

45th District: Boyle County vs Danville

46th District: Mercer County vs West Jessamine

47th District: Pulaski County vs Somerset

48th District: Southwestern vs Wayne County

All 8 teams are really good not a single easy game against any of these teams. If Mercer or Boyle were to get beat in the district championship it could set up interesting 1st round games also. Who do you think will win the 48th?

All 8 teams are really good not a single easy game against any of these teams. If Mercer or Boyle were to get beat in the district championship it could set up interesting 1st round games also. Who do you think will win the 48th?

I would pick Wayne Co. since the game is being played there. I think the 45th Champ. will be a dandy. Danville shot the ball very well last night.