article 3rd Region Week 5 Review: Wide Open

With the Holiday Tournament season in the books, this region looks as wide open as ever. While last weeks #1 Owensboro doesn't quite have the record of a top team, their strength of schedule is by far the toughest of any other team in the region. Middle of the pack teams like Muhlenberg, Butler County and Ohio County all had a very good holiday tournament season. Expect these rankings to continue to be fluid from week to week.

1. Breckenridge County Tigers (11-2) UP 2

The Tigers have now won 7 straight games and picked up 2 holiday tournament trophies along the way. This past week they went 3-0 in Daytona Beach, winning the Sunshine Classic. They scored wins over Letcher County Central, Sunland Baptist,FL and South Doyle, TN. Their schedule is setting up to go on a long run. Their lone game this week is vs Cloverport on Friday.

2. Owensboro Red Devils (7-6) DOWN 1

Owensboro only went 1-2 this week in Bowling Green, but scored the nicest win of any team in the region, with a 71-57 victory over Madisonville. Darrion Wimsatt scored 34 in the win. They did drop consecutive games to Bowling Green and Bullitt East to close out tournament play, but competed well in both defeats. The Devils look to get back on track this week at Owensboro Catholic on Friday and vs Whitesville Trinity on Saturday.

3. Owensboro Catholic Aces (9-3) DOWN 1

The Aces had a solid week, going 2-1 in Allen County and coming up just 1 point short of winning their tournament. They opened with a win against Franklin Simpson 68-64. John Parker led the Aces with 21 points and 8 boards. Catholic followed that up with a win over Greenwood 62-52 before falling in the championship to Allen County 72-71. Owensboro Catholic continues its tough stretch this week hosting a huge district contest vs Owensboro before traveling to John Hardin on Saturday.

4. Muhlenberg County Mustangs (9-3) SAME

The Mustangs had a very successful week in LaRue County, winning 3 games in the Magnolia Classic. Looking at the stat lines for each win, it was a total team effort every night. Braydon Lovan scored 14 in each of the wins over Louisville Collegiate, Carlisle County and Bullitt Central. Thoughts go out to Mustang senior Trey Boggess, as he undergoes ACL surgery this week. Muhlenberg continues its run against tough teams this week as they take on Henderson County and Bowling Green on Friday and Saturday.

5. Ohio County Eagles (8-7) UP 2

It sure seems like Coach Tony Hopper is doing what Tony Hopper does right now in Ohio County. The Eagles are starting to get going, as they reeled off 3 straight wins against Russellville, Chattanooga School of the Arts and an impressive 73-69 win over Warren East in the Danny Annis Classic Championship. Trey Lewis went off for 35 in the championship. They have a big district game on Friday against Mclean County before hosting Hopkins Central on Saturday.

6. Butler County Bears (8-5) SAME

The Bears stayed hot this week, picking up 2 more wins. They knocked off Portland Christian to start the week. Senior Justin Elms emerged, leading all scorers with 14. Butler followed that up with a double digit win over St Francis. Elms again led the way with 20. Hurt added 19 and Rice had 18. The Bears look to keep the momentum going this week in a big district game at Grayson County.

7. Whitesville Trinity Raiders (7-4) DOWN 2

After winning the Hancock County Christmas Tournament last week, the Raiders were upset by Mclean County in their lone game this week, 72-57. They will look to get back on track with a huge 12th district game against Edmonson County on Friday, before traveling to OHS on Saturday.

8. Meade County Greenwave (6-7) SAME

The Waves had a nice run in the Nelson County Holiday Tournament, winning games against Boyle County, 54-42 and Nelson County 74-62. Chaney Weick led the Waves in both wins by scoring 19 against Boyle and 18 against Nelson. They fell in the title game to Logan County, 74-62. They have a tough game this week at Bullitt Central.

9. Daviess County Panthers (5-7) SAME

The Panthers had a good week in Allen County, picking up wins over Todd County Central and Greenwood. Chase Luckett put up 20 points in the win over Todd County and hit the game winner against Greenwood in overtime. Dakota Walden continued his tear, scoring 25 against the Gators. They did sandwich a loss to host Allen County between the wins. The Panthers are back in action this week with a 9th district rivalry game against Apollo.

10. Edmonson County Wildcats (6-8) SAME

The Wildcats scored 2 wins this past weeks. Both wins were total team efforts. They placed 5 players in double figures in wins over Cloverport and St Francis. Eli Booker led all scorers against St Francis, scoring 15. They host Whitesville Trinity on Friday in a 12th district showdown.

11. Mclean County Cougars (4-7) UP 1

Mclean County has competed well all season, but look like they may be turning the corner a little bit. They scored 2 wins this past week against Bethlehem and an impressive 72-57 win against Whitesville Trinity. Logan Patterson has been one of the regions most consistent players through the first half of the season and always gives Mclean a chance. They host district rival Ohio County on Friday.

12. Grayson County Cougars (4-10) DOWN 1

The Cougars dropped a pair of games to open tournament play in Campbellsville this past week before closing out with a 53-46 win over Green County. Grayson gets back home this week with a district game against Butler County on Friday and Henderson on Saturday.

13. Apollo Eagles (1-14) SAME

Apollo continues to show improvement, even if the win column may not reflect it. They have competed much better over the last few weeks, even in losses to Valley, Hopkins Central and Marshall County. They look to break their 14 game losing streak this week at home against Daviess County.

14. Hancock County Hornets (3-10) SAME

The Hornets took a major step up in competition this week, playing in the Tradition Bank Tournament at Lexington Catholic. They dropped games to Franklin County, Bardstown and Robertson County. They have winnable games this week against Tell City on Friday and Walden on Saturday.

15. Cloverport Aces (0-10) SAME

The Aces dropped their lone game of the week against Edmonson County. They will look for their first win of the season this week with games against Walden, Breckenridge County and Cannelton, IN.

3rd REGION PLAYER OF THE WEEK - - Braydon Lovan - Muhlenberg County Mustangs - 14 ppg average in 3 wins in the Magnolia Bank Classic

GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK:

FRI - Owensboro at Owensboro Catholic, Henderson County at Muhlenberg County

SAT - Owensboro Catholic at John Hardin, Muhlenberg County at Bowling Green, Whitesville Trinity at Owensboro

No consistency. The Berg got dropped 3 spots for a 1 point OT lose 3 weeks ago. Red Devils Dropped 2 this week and the Aces have dropped 3 games over Christmas break. I know your an Owensboro guy but in the words of Chris Carter, C’mon man!

I nearly bumped Muhlenberg up to the 2 spot this week but it’s about quality wins and losses to me, at least thus far. No doubt it was a mistake to drop them 3 spots on that OT loss and I bumped them back up the next week. Tough to rank these teams without a legit standout. Any given night anyone in the top 8-9 teams could beat anyone or lose to anyone. Throw a blanket over them honestly. Should make for one heck of a tournament season.

Love the debate though. Wish more people would interact with the Region conversation! What’s your top 5?

Muhlenberg’s future looks good. They have some good young talent.

I nearly bumped Muhlenberg up to the 2 spot this week but it’s about quality wins and losses to me, at least thus far. No doubt it was a mistake to drop them 3 spots on that OT loss and I bumped them back up the next week. Tough to rank these teams without a legit standout. Any given night anyone in the top 8-9 teams could beat anyone or lose to anyone. Throw a blanket over them honestly. Should make for one heck of a tournament season.

 

Love the debate though. Wish more people would interact with the Region conversation! What’s your top 5?

This coming week should really separate the top 3 from the rest of the region.

Breck is hands down the #1 team.

Let’s reconvene Sunday.

Agree that the region is the top three and then the rest. If OCath gets a W over ohs this friday, I'd put them back on top since they would have wins over breck and the devils. This is the time of year that OC starts to slow their pace and revert back to crawl ball which has been brutal to watch the last couple of years. If they keep up the fast pace, they should stay around the top of the region.

Agree that the region is the top three and then the rest. If OCath gets a W over ohs this friday, I'd put them back on top since they would have wins over breck and the devils. This is the time of year that OC starts to slow their pace and revert back to crawl ball which has been brutal to watch the last couple of years. If they keep up the fast pace, they should stay around the top of the region.

OC’s schedule thus far has been soft at best. The only quality win is over Breckinridge County. If OC goes 2-0 this week they deserve to be at the top. My gut says they will go 0-2 but maybe with a Hail Mary split hairs at 1-1. OC is going to be heavily tested the coming weeks.

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