article 13th Region Week 4 Review

1. South Laurel (9-1 overall, 3-0 vs. 13th Region opponents)

The Cardinals were impressive during their stay in the Simon Kenton Invitational Tournament. They recorded wins over Dixie Heights and Scott before beating previously unbeaten Simon Kenton in the finals, 80-67.

Senior JJ Ramey had 33 points in the title game, and coach Jeff Davis is also getting solid play out of Matt Cromer, Brett Norvell, Alex Hostettler, Matt Dalton and Landon Wombles while the bench continues to come along.

2. Clay County (11-0, 3-0)

Clay County defeated Pulaski County in the semifinals and Southwestern in the finals of the M&W Shootout to pick up the championship win.

Glenn Gray’s squad will have a shot at the Cumberland Falls Invitational Tournament championship this upcoming week, but they’ll have to beat some very good teams to do so.

3. Knox Central (8-1, 2-1)

Knox Central has been rolling, outscoring teams by double digits during their five-game win streak.

Tony Patterson’s squad has defeated Harlan, Ashland, Belfry and Cordia during the run along with a 77-74 victory over Georgia’s Campbell (Smyrna) High School.

4. North Laurel (7-4, 3-2)

The Jaguars snapped a four-game losing skid by defeating both Paris and Harlan County to capture the Smoky Mountain Classic Championship.

The two teams could very well meet again in a couple of days when both teams participate in South Laurel’s Legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Classic.

5. Harlan County (9-3, 4-1)

The Black Bears saw their seven-game win streak come to an end after falling 64-62 to North Laurel in the finals of the Smoky Mountain Classic title game.

6. Corbin (5-2, 3-1)

Tony Pietrowski’s squad has a chance to move up in the rankings this upcoming week if they can capture the Cumberland Falls Invitational Tournament championship.

To win the title, the Redhounds could very well have to beat regional foes Bell County and Clay County during the process.

7. Barbourville (7-3, 5-1)

Cody Messer’s squad could be challenged this week during Pineville’s Pine Mountain Classic with games against Williamsburg and Pineville.

The Tigers already own a 66-44 win over the Yellow Jackets, but haven’t played the Mountain Lions yet.

8. Williamsburg (5-4, 3-4)

I believe The Yellow Jackets’ 72-66 loss to Corbin actually jumpstarted their season.

Since the six-point defeat, Williamsburg has won three in a row, which includes wins over Oneida Baptist, Claiborne, Tenn. and Bell County.

9. Bell County (4-5, 2-4)

The Bobcats defeated North Laurel earlier in the week with a 62-58 win at The Jungle, but dropped a double digit loss to Williamsburg later in the week.

This team is good enough to beat almost anyone in the region, but if Bell County isn’t on top of its game, it it could very well lose to most teams in the region, too.

10. Middlesboro (6-3, 3-3)

Middlesboro has won six of its last seven games, which includes wins over Lynn Camp (59-3-), Oneida Baptist (73-52), and Leslie County (69-41).

11. Harlan (7-5, 3-4)

The Green Dragons are winners of three straight after winning the Sayre School-Jim Lankster Classic.

Harlan recorded wins over Sayre, Model and Belfry.

12. Lynn Camp (7-2, 4-1)

The Wildcats are also winners of three straight after defeating the likes of Oneida Baptist, Whitley County and Knoxville Catholic, Tenn.

13. Whitley County (7-5, 0-4)

The Colonels saw their three-game win streak get snapped in the finals of the Barren Hoops Classic after falling to Clay County, Tenn., 78-66.

Whitley County has been improving as of late and will look to make noise in this week’s Oneida Christmas Classic.

14. Red Bird (5-4, 3-3)

The Cardinals haven’t played in over a week, but saw their three-game win streak come to an end after falling to Barbourville, 61-38, on Dec. 14.

15. Oneida Baptist (2-6, 2-4)

The Mountaineers are are losers of four straight with hopes of getting on track soon.

16. Jackson County (3-8, 0-5)

The Generals are improving, but haven’t found a win against a 13th Region team yet this season.

17. Pineville (4-7, 0-5)

The Mountain Lions are another team that looks to be improving. Pineville is winless against 13th Region teams, but has hopes of ending the skid soon.