article Bluegrasspreps.com 1st Region Final Rankings & District Previews

BluegrassPreps.com 1st Region Boys Basketball Review Week 10

There are 4 legit teams that can win Region 1 and make a splash at Rupp. 2 of those teams have separated themselves from the field, Mayfield and McCracken County. Paducah Tilghman and Graves both have the talent to win the region tournament but need to improve play in order to do so. Fulton County has been playing great basketball lately and moved up to number 6 in the rankings.

 

1. Mayfield – Coach Chris Guhy

BGP #15

2017-18 record: 25-5

Preseason Rank: 2

 

Mayfield won both their games this week finishing off a great regular season. The Cardinals started off the year ranked 2 and moved up to the top spot. Carson and Connor Guthrie have had fantastic junior years as well as Desean Jones. All three are averaging more than 13 ppg and cause all kinds of problems for teams. No teams in Region 1 were able to solve them, however their game against Paducah Tilghman was cancelled.

Mayfield is the defending Region 1 champions and with the way they have been playing (17 wins in last 18 games), they have a great chance of repeating.

 

2. McCracken County – Coach Burlin Brower

2017-18 record: 23-6

Preseason Rank: 6

The Mustangs lost their final game to Hopkinsville by 3 points. They missed a shot as time ran out, hoping to tie. McCracken didn’t play well in this game. The Mustangs live and die by the outside shot, when they are on, they are a very difficult team to beat.

McCracken started this season ranked 6 because they lost so much last year. They had guys step up (Sivills) and play big this year and Cartwright and Stonecipher improved greatly over last year. They have become the real leaders of this team. The Mustangs have a great chance to win this region.

 

3. Paducah Tilghman – Coach Roderick Thomas

2017-18 record:18-8

Preseason Rank: 1

Paducah Tilghman is the most talented team on paper in Region 1, however, they have not played like the top team over the past month. They have lost 4 of their last 7 games including twice to McCracken County. PT have had these same problems over the past few seasons, but after doing so well throughout the year, it had seemed that was behind them. However since the Superman Classic, they have not been the same team we have seen all year.

The Tornado will need to find their game again. Reed, Rodriguez, and Workman need to step up and lead this team to play like they are capable or they will again be watching someone else go to Rupp.

 

 

4. Graves County – Coach Joshua Frick

2017-18 record: 22-8

Preseason Rank: 3

Graves County is the last of the top tier teams that have a chance to win Region 1. They finished their season by defeating Carlisle Co and Marshall Co. They are still without their leading scorer Savage, but the Eagles have plenty of other weapons in Mathis, Naranjo, Grant, and Young. Graves in the only team in Region 1 who has 5 players averaging 10+ ppg. While not having Savage has hurt, the Eagles have enough talent to win the Region.

 

5. Marshall County – Terry Birdsong

2017-18 record: 17-11

Preseason Rank: 4

Marshall County is the final team that may have a realistic chance to win the region. They would be a long shot, but considering they are able to keep the score close against the region’s other top teams, they can pull some upsets. They only lost to McCracken by 4, Mayfield 7, and Graves by 3. While Marshall does have balanced scoring, nobody on the team is averaging more than 10 ppg.

 

6. Fulton County – Coach Jamie Madding

2017-18 record: 16-11

Preseason Rank:

The Pilots climbed higher in the rankings than any other team. This was solidified in their loss to Mayfield which they held their own before bowing out and losing by 15. They then blew out Ballard Memorial to end the season. Fulton County is led by Andreous Smith who averages almost 20 ppg and Caleb Kimble and Brandon Walker who both averages almost 14 ppg. This is a team that could pull some kind of upset if the cards fall correctly.

 

 

7 Carlisle County – Coach Brian O’Neil

2017-18 record: 13-15

Preseason Rank: 5

The Comets had the largest drop for the top teams in region 1. They were considered the top of the middle tier teams, but it didn’t seem to work that way. While McCracken County got in a groove, Carlisle just couldn’t find one. Their longest winning streak was 3 games, and that was in December. They will have their hands full in the first round of the districts as they will play Hickman County who they only beat by 4 at home.

 

8. Murray – Coach Dior Curtis

2017-18 record: 13-16

Preseason Rank: 8

Murray is another team that could have had a little better record, but struggled in some puzzling games this season. They finished the year where they started in 8 position, although they had moved up and down throughout the season. They will play Calloway county in the first round of district. They are 1-1 against them this year.

 

9. Calloway County – Coach Brad Cleaver

2016-17 record: 11-16

Preseason Rank: 9

Calloway ended their season with a close win against Ballard Memorial. Taking both games for the year. They will play Murray in the District.

 

 

10. Ballard Memorial – Coach Marla Cooper

2017-18 record: 12-15

Preseason Rank: 12

Ballard started the year well, but ended it struggling for wins. The Bombers lost 9 of their last 12 games after reaching the finals in the All A Classic for region 1.

 

 

11. Hickman County – Coach Jimmy Long

2017-18 record: 10-19

Preseason Rank: 7

Hickman was one of those teams who seemed would have had a better year than they did. There were some good ups and some really bad downs as well. They play Carlisle County to open 1st District play.

 

12. St. Mary – Coach Greg Overstreet

2017-18 record: 9-19

Preseason Rank: 13

St. Mary lost to Lyon County to end the season. They will play Paducah Tilghman in the 2nd District tournament.

 

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

2017-18 record: 2-25

Preseason Rank: 14

 

It took 63 games for the Warriors to get a win. They it only took them 3 more to get their 2nd win. They are not the last ranked team in region 1 for the first time in 2 years.

 

 

14. Fulton City – Coach Jon Dillard

2017-18 record: 1-23

Preseason Rank: 13

The Bulldogs won their first game of the year and that ended up being the only game they won.

 

 

 

 

Top Players to Watch in Region 1

 

Jerome Reed, Paducah Tilghman (Center/Forward) Senior

Arguably the most talented player in Region 1, Reed averaged 18 ppg and 5.7 rpg in his senior year. He also received the 2018 Region 1 Player of the Year Award. Exciting to watch and could play at the next year.

 

Connor Guthrie, Mayfield (Guard) – Junior

Conner is probably the best shooter in the region and should be considered one of the best in the state. He lives for the outside shot. He averaged 16.8 ppg and hit 89 threes this season. He also averaged 5.8 boards a game throughout the year. Is a very good compliment to his brother…see next.

Carson Guthrie, Mayfield (Guard/Forward) - Junior

Carson averaged 14.6 points a game but really shined down low where he averaged 9.1 rpg. He compliments his brother’s game and that is what makes the two of them so dangerous.

 

Nathan Stonecipher (Forward) Senior

Stonecipher played the role of big man for McCracken averaging 14.5 ppg and 7.8 rpg. He did attempt 10 threes, but missed them all.

 

Rodriguez Thomas , Paducah Tilghman (Guard) Junior

Thomas averaged 13 points per game this season and hit 67 threes. He has a pretty good outside shot, but shoots better from a set position than he does off the dribble. He knows his way around the basket and moves well away from the ball to get open.

 

Dalton Jewel, Hickman County (Center/Forward) Senior

Dalton Jewel really flexed his muscles at time this year and led the Region in scoring with 24.5 ppg. He averaged more points this year than last, however his rebounds per game decreased to 7.4 per game.

Trey Wilson, Carlisle County (Guard) Senior

Wilson is a scrappy player who knows his way around the floor averaged 15.1 ppg for the Comets. He was the leader of the team and will be missed next year.

 

 

Jordan Noranjo, Graves County (Guard) Junior

Noranjo has really blossomed into a very good player this year. He led the Eagles in scoring at 13.4 ppg and had 5.2 rpg. He has done a great job leading the team without big man Vogt this year.

 

Cameron, Cartwright (Guard) Senior

Cartwright became a real factor in leading McCracken to the top of the rankings this year. He averaged 15.1 ppg and hit 62 threes.

 

Andreous Smith, Fulton County. (Guard/Forward) Senior

Smith averaged 5 ppg more this year than last at 19.2 ppg. He is a big reason for Fulton County’s surge this year. He also led the team in rpg at 7.9.

 

District Previews:

 

1st District:

Fulton County vs Fulton City

Carlisle County vs Hickman County

 

2nd District

McCracken Co vs Community Christian

Paducah Tilghman vs St. Mary

3rd District:

Graves County vs Ballard Memorial

Mayfield – Bye

 

4th District:

Murray vs Calloway County

Marshall County – Bye

Mayfield is not the defending region 1 champs. FYI.

 

Graves won last year

Mayfield is not the defending region 1 champs. FYI.

 

Graves won last year

 

You are right, GC won region last year, Mayfield won the All A Classic, got it mixed up somehow.

@silo11, Trey Wilson of Carlisle is a junior.