article 3rd Region Week 10 Review - Devils Emerge as the Favorite

Owensboro emerged from Breckenridge County High School on Tuesday night as the favorite to win the 3rd Region. Its a position they have been in a few times since winning the state title in 2015, but have failed to make it out of the 9th district tournament in each of those years. With only 2 weeks left in the regular season, it looks like there is Owensboro, with a slight drop off to Catholic and Breckenridge and then a huge drop off to everyone else in the region.

1. Owensboro Red Devils (15-7) UP 1

Owensboro moved to 11-0 inside the 3rd region and 5-0 inside the 9th district with their big 40 point win over Apollo on Friday. Darrion Wimsatt had a monster week, putting up 27 vs the Eagles and 29 against Breckenridge County on Tuesday. Against the Tigers, Owensboro controlled the game throughout but Breckenridge scrapped a clawed until the end and had a shot to win it rim out. Guys like Jaden Greathouse and Amari Wells are coming on strong to help take the pressure of Wimsatt. Its easy to see that Owensboro is the deepest, most talented team in this region. They face tough tests this week at Bowling Green and at home against Owensboro Catholic.

2. Breckenridge County Tigers (19-3) DOWN 1

Even in the loss to Owensboro on Tuesday night, you had to come away impressed with the toughness of this squad. There were many times it looked like Owensboro was going to put the game away, yet the Tigers would always bring it back close. At one point they erased an 11 point deficit in less than a minute, tying the ballgame late. Kobe Poole scored 31 in defeat. They bounced back with a blowout win against Ohio County, 76-58. Poole poured in 20, and Tanner Whitworth knocked down 4 3's. Breck wil be at home the rest of the way, with games this week against Muhlenberg, Hancock and Mclean Counties.

3. Owensboro Catholic Aces (14-8) SAME

The Aces up and down season continued this week, starting with a heartbreaking 1 point loss to Madisonville at the Sportscenter on Tuesday. They were able to put that loss behind them to keep pace with Owensboro in district play by defeating Daviess County by 13. 4 Aces reached double figures in the win. They couldn't keep the momentum alive however, losing to Greenwood on Saturday. This week they host Webster County on Tuesday before traveling to Owensboro. A win would force a coin flip for the #1 seed in the 9th district.

4. Muhlenberg County Mustangs (12-8) UP 1

The Mustangs have turned around their misfortunes over the past 2 weeks and have now won 3 straight. This week they defeated Mclean County 55-51 in a 10th district elimination game preview. The teams split the regular season series. Nolan Davis had 15 and Trey Lovell added 13. They look to stay hot this week with games at Breckenridge and home against Logan County.

5. Ohio County Eagles (13-12) DOWN 1

Since winning the all important district bye against Muhlenberg a few weeks back, its been all down hill for Ohio County. They have lost 4 of their last 6. They sandwiched a win against Butler County in between 2 losses to Apollo and Breckenridge. They look to get back on track this week with a pair of 12th district games in Edmonson and Trinity.

6. Daviess County Panthers (9-11) UP 2

While it may not show in the record, Daviess County is a team that continues to improve. They dropped a tough district game on Friday to Owensboro Catholic but bounced back on Saturday with an impressive win against Barren County. Dakota Walden scored 20 but got a lot of help in game MVP Gavin Ray. Ray finished with 19. This week they travel to Mclean County before returning home against Apollo.

7. Grayson County Cougars (9-13) UP 1

The Cougars stayed hot this week, running their win streak to 4 games. Friday, Jaxson Higdon knocked down a game winning 3, as Grayson defeated Edmonson County in district play. The win kept the Wildcats from taking the #1 seed in the 12th. On Saturday they got 22 from Nolan Shartzer and 19 points and 14 rebounds from McHenry to knock off Holy Cross at the Sportscenter. They look to keep the streak alive this week with games at Mclean and Meade before returning home against Trinity.

8. Edmonson County Wildcats (10-12) UP 3

In the logjam known as the 12th district, the Wildcats were a buzzer beater away from taking the #1 seed. That alone bumped them up past the other 12th district teams this week. They started the week with a win over Trinity before falling in the closing seconds to Grayson County. This week they have games against Caverna, Allen County and Ohio County.

9. Butler County Bears (13-8) DOWN 3

The Bears split games this week, defeating Todd County before falling to Ohio County on Thursday. In the win over Todd County, Elms, Hurt and Rice all scored 14 each. This week they head to the road to take on Franklin Simpson and Mclean County.

10. Whitesville Trinity Raiders (12-11) DOWN 1

The Raiders went 2-1 last week with wins over 11th district foes Hancock County and Meade County. On Saturday, they lost to Mclean County at the Sportscenter. They will host Cloverport this week before traveling to Ohio County and Grayson County.

11. Meade County Greenwave (10-12) DOWN 1

Seems like Meade County can't catch a break this season. Just when they got healthy and started to turn the corner, more injuries took their toll. They have proved in past seasons, if they can get healthy before the tournament run, they can be a different animal. A fully healthy Meade County is better than #11. They face Grayson County, Shawnee and North Oldham this week.

12. Apollo Eagles (3-21) UP 1

The Eagles come up a spot this week, after knocking off Ohio County on Tuesday. With Malik Wilson back in the fold, they could challenge anyone in the region, outside the top 3. They continued with a great first half against Owensboro before the wheels came off in the 2nd half. They have also played a much tougher schedule than most anyone outside the 9th district. They continue that trend this week at Henderson County before heading to Daviess County. An Apollo win at DC would force a coin flip for the #3 seed.

13. Mclean County Cougars (7-12) DOWN 2

Mclean County split games this week, losing a close one to Muhlenberg before bouncing back with a nice win against Whitesville Trinity on Saturday. AJ Cline led the Cougars with 18. 13 may be a little unfair for Mclean, as they to could compete with anyone 4-15. They have home games against Grayson, Daviess County and Butler before hitting the road against Breck County.

14. Hancock County Hornets (5-18) SAME

Hancock went 0-3 this week, dropping games to South Spencer, IN, Trinity and Madison Hancock, IN. They get ready for 11th district play with a game against Breck this week before hosting St Francis.

15. Cloverport Aces (0-22) SAME

The Aces are still seeking their first win of the season after losing 4 more games this past week. They've got Whitesville Trinity, Cannelton, IN and Kentucky Country Day this week.

3RD REGION PLAYER OF THE WEEK - DARRION WIMSATT - 28ppg in wins over Breckenridge and Apollo

GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK

TUE - Muhlenberg County at Breckenridge County, Owensboro at Bowling Green

FRI - Owensboro Catholic at Owensboro

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