article Sixth Region Week 7 Review: Fern Creek Solidifies Its Spot At The Top

The Fern Creek Tigers remain at the top spot in the Sixth Region this week based on its run to the championship game of the Louisville Invitational Tournament, where the Tigers fell 57-51 to the Ballard Bruins. Fern Creek actually took the lead over the Bruins near the end of the game but Ballard came back to claim the victory.

 

The top spot is about the only one in which I have any confidence. Perhaps some clarity will emerge over the next few weeks at the teams play more intra-region games.

 

And congratulations to the Holy Cross Cougars on winning the Sixth Region All A Classic tournament. The Cougars looked good in the tournament and certainly will represent the Sixth Region in the upcoming week's All A Classic state tournament.

 

TEAM RANKINGS

 

1. Fern Creek Tigers (13-6)

 

Fern Creek remains in the top spot with its impressive performance in the Louisville Invitational Tournament, making it to the final where the Tigers fell to the Ballard Bruins 57-51. Fern Creek got to the LIT final with wins over Waggener (72-54), Seneca (61-49), and Trinity (54-45). In the final against Ballard, Fern Creek fought back from a 42-26 deficit to take a lead late in the game before Ballard scored the last 7 points to beat the Tigers by six. Jaden Rogers and Zek Montgomery were named to the LIT all-tournament team. Fern Creek has games against Moore and Seneca on its schedule this week.

 

2. Butler Bears (9-6)

 

With Jadon Lamb scoring 21 points, the Bears opened play in the LIT with a nice 68-50 win over the St. X Tigers. Willard Minter led the way with 18 points in the second round against Ballard but the Bears fell to the Bruins 85-72. Lamb was named to the all-tournament team. Butler plays Fairdale and Moore this week before an interesting match up with the undefeated Elizabethtown Panthers on Saturday.

 

3. Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers (11-5)

 

The Panthers won their first round game in this week’s LIT against Manual by a 58-44 margin. James Taylor led the way in that one with 26 points. Josh Williams had 25 the next night in PRP’s 67-61 loss to the hot-shooting Trinity Shamrocks. Taylor was named to the LIT all-tournament team. Games with Moore and Fairdale are on this week’s schedule for the Panthers.

 

4. Jeffersontown Chargers (9-5)

 

The Chargers, the no. 6 seed, were the only higher-seeded team to lose in the first round of the LIT, falling to the 11th seeded Trinity Shamrocks 48-39. Up this week for the Chargers are Western and Central.

 

5. DeSales Colts (8-6)

 

I got to see DeSales play in person for the first time in its first round LIT match up against Ballard. While the Colts looked good, the Bruins got the better of them 64-51. The Colts play Bullitt Central and Doss this week.

 

6. North Bullitt Eagles (13-4)

 

North Bullitt came up short against the Eastern Eagles in the first round of the LIT by a 68-65 score. Logan Steinmacher, who led the Eagles with 22 points in that one, was named to the all-tournament team. The Eagles will be extremely busy this week, with games against South Oldham, Franklin County, Doss, and Dixie Heights on their schedule.

 

7. Doss Dragons (10-7)

 

The no. 15 seed in the LIT, the Doss Dragons played no. 2 seed Seneca to the wire before falling to the Redhawks 51-49. Inslee Carroll hit a 3-pointer to tie the game near the end, but Seneca was able to get down the floor and hit a game-winner at the buzzer. Doss can show they belong in the upper tier of Sixth Region teams this week with games against DeSales and North Bullitt.

 

8. Holy Cross Cougars (12-5)

 

Congratulations to the Holy Cross Cougars, winners of the Sixth Region All A Classic. The Cougars beat Bluegrass United, a home school team from Lexington, 64-44 early in the week before claiming the All A regional crown with wins against Portland Christian ((78-44) and Shawnee (67-47). Sam Bearden, Chaz Gerahgty, and Alonzo Coleman were named to the all-tournament team. The Cougars will travel to Richmond for the All A state tournament, where they will face the Metcalfe County Hornets in the first round.

 

9. Fairdale Bulldogs (9-6)

 

The Bulldogs played once this week, getting the best of the Central Yellowjackets 57-46. Similar to Doss, Fairdale has a great opportunity to show where they stand in the hierarchy of Sixth Region teams with games this week against Butler and PRP.

 

10. Iroquois Raiders (11-7)

 

Iroquois went 2-1 this week. The wins were against Trimble County (84-60) and Eminence (72-17) while the loss came at the hands of Carroll Country by a 68-59 margin. Up this week are games against Valley, Western, and Christian Academy.

 

11. Bullitt East Chargers (3-13)

 

The Chargers did not play this week. They will get back into action on Tuesday with an away game at Whitefield and then will host the Bullitt Central Cougars on Friday and then play at Breckinridge County on Saturday.

 

12. Bullitt Central Cougars (6-12)

 

Bullitt Central lost to Nelson County 62-47 in its only game this week. The Cougars face the DeSales Colts and Bullitt East Chargers this week.

 

13. Western Warriors (9-8)

 

The Warriors won the only game it played this week, beating the Atherton Rebels 67-63. Western plays Jeffersontown and Iroquois this week.

 

14. Moore Mustangs (7-9)

 

With Dowan Green leading the way with 16 points, the Mustangs picked up a nice 68-55 win over the Central Yellowjackets on Monday. The Mustangs have a busy week ahead as they face three of the top teams in the Sixth Region with games against PRP, Fern Creek, and Butler. That’s a tough trio of teams for anyone to face in one week.

 

15. Southern Trojans (3-11)

 

Southern did not play this week. Next up for the Trojans are Valley on Friday and North Hardin on Saturday.

 

16. Whitefield Academy Wildcats (6-7)

 

The Wildcats suffered a tough 52-50 loss to Kentucky County Day in the Seventh Region All A Classic but bounced back to beat the Louisville Tigers, a home school team, 92-54. Up this week for Whitefield are games against Bullitt East, Evangel Christian, and Richmond Model.

 

17. Valley Vikings (1-10)

 

The Vikings were competitive and came close against Atherton on Monday but in the end fell to the Rebels 63-59, Valley’s 9th straight loss. The Vikings have home games this week with Iroquois and Southern sandwiched around an away game against the Male Bulldogs.

 

18. Beth Haven Bearcats (4-9)

 

Beth Haven lost in the semi-finals of the Sixth Region All A Classic to Shawnee by a 70-62 final score. The Bearcats have three games this week, facing Walden, Frederick Fraize, and St. Francis.

 

19. Evangel Christian Eagles (1-10)

 

Evangel Christian started the week with a 73-49 loss to Portland Christian in the opening round of the Sixth Region All A Classic. The Eagles also lost the other two games they played this week, falling to Heritage Academy (72-62) and Berea (66-37). Evangel Christian will look to end its 9-game losing streak with games this week against Portland Christian and Whitefield Academy.

Bump.

Bump.