(January 4th - January 6th & January 16th/January 19th.)

 

 

 

Schedule

 

 

Friday Jan. 4th

 

6:30 pm

 

Pikeville vs. East Ridge

 

8:00 pm

 

Betsy Lane vs. South Floyd

 

 

Saturday Jan. 5th

 

10:30 am

 

Lawerence County vs. Maggoffin County

 

12:00 pm

 

Phelps vs. Piarist

 

1:30 pm

 

Shelby Valley vs. Sheldon Clark

 

 

Sunday Jan. 6th

 

 

Paintsville vs. TBA

 

Prestonsburg vs. TBA

 

Betsy Layne vs. TBA

 

 

 

All games at East Kentucky Expo Center (Pikeville)

Who's the favorite here? Betsy Layne? Shelby Valley?

Almost mid way through the high school basketball season, there's still a lot we don't know about the 15th Region. We know some teams are good, we know some teams "can be" good, but right now we really don't know very much about the region aside from it's wide open. Looking at the schedules every team has been beating up on each other in the 15th. Johnson Central and Betsy Layne may be the top dogs up to this point, but both have in region losses to Sheldon Clark and Prestonsburg respectively. Both have also beat numerous teams throughout the region thus far. For Betsy Layne, one of those teams will have a shot at revenge in the opening round as they are scheduled to play South Floyd. The Bobcats of Betsy Layne beat the Raiders of South Floyd on Dec. 14th by a score of 57-34. Although you wouldn't think the outcome would be different this go around, anythings possible in a tournament format. Johnson Central on the otherhand is not classified as a class "A" school, thus they will not be playing in the event. Also absent is the Belfry Pirates who are off to a 6-2 start. With those two teams aside, we should really get a good look at how the region stacks up against one another in this year's All-A.

 

The opening match-up may as well be the most intriguing. East Ridge (7-6) will be making their first appearance in the 15th Region "All-A", they will be squaring off with district foe Pikeville (6-7). If being county and district rivals was not enough fuel for the fire, this also marks the first time the two teams will meet since the transfer of former East Ridge talent (canadian transfer) Ray Kasongo. Kasongo transferred from East Ridge before the season and after appeal was awarded eligibility for Pikeville. At first the inside out duo of Kasongo and Ethan Rowe looked to fight for one of the top spots in the regional rankings. However, after starting 5-1, the Panthers are 1-6 in their last seven games. East Ridge on the otherhand still hasn't fully recovered from losing Kasongo, as well as fellow canadian Tony Wolter. With Kasongo and Wolter East Ridge made it to the regional championship game a season ago, this season they will be fighting just to make the regional tournament. They still have sophomore standout Johnny Miller, but as young as the Warriors are they still have a long way to go, and the learning curve has been steep. This matchup will give a great look at where these teams are heading as we dip into the latter part of the season.

Who's the favorite here? Betsy Layne? Shelby Valley?

 

If I had to bet my own money I would go with one of these two, but you can't count out Sheldon Clark or even Pikeville.

We will have a preview for Saturday's games a little bit later.......

Dolamite, after this weekend we'll know the final four, correct? But then the semifinals aren't until Wednesday, January 16 if I'm not mistaken. Lots of time for teams in the semifinals to prepare.

Dolamite, after this weekend we'll know the final four, correct? But then the semifinals aren't until Wednesday, January 16 if I'm not mistaken. Lots of time for teams in the semifinals to prepare.

 

Yep, a lot can change in two weeks. The way the 15th Region usually plays out a team can be on fire one week, but garbage the next, and vice versa. Would not surprise me to see a team that may miss the semifinals come on strong at the end of the season, as well as a semifinal team from All-A fizzle out at the end of the year and doesn't even make it to regional tournament. Just the nature of the 15th, but thats what keeps it interesting.

 

KHSAA has Betsy Layne already listed in the semi finals, so not sure if they have an automatic bye since they won last year or what the deal is there, I will have to find out more. I couldn't imagine them losing a game or two this weekend and still be in the semifinals/finals, but I don't know. The format is really mixed up this year, I guess it's because of such an odd number of teams (13). Prestonsburg and Paintsville seemingly get a bye as they will play their first game against a team who has already played. Betsy Layne has two games scheduled this weekend, one tonight against South Floyd and another TBA on Sunday. Really mixed up format.

Edited January 4, 201313 yr by dolamite

If we had to rank the teams who are most likely to win entering the "All-A", the favorites would look like this.......

 

 

1.) Betsy Layne

2.) Sheldon Clark

3.) Shelby Valley

4.) Pikeville

5.) Paintsville

6.) East Ridge

7.) Prestonsburg

8.) Lawerence County

9.) Maggoffin County

10.) South Floyd

11.) Allen Central

12.) Phelps

13.) Piarist

Here is a link to the bracket. You can't always trust what the KHSAA shows when it comes to in-season tournaments. Betsy Layne opens with South Floyd and then will play Paintsville if they win.

 

http://www.allaclassic.org/Boys%20Brackets/15th%20Region%20Boys%20Brackets.pdf

Here is a link to the bracket. You can't always trust what the KHSAA shows when it comes to in-season tournaments. Betsy Layne opens with South Floyd and then will play Paintsville if they win.

 

http://www.allaclassic.org/Boys%20Brackets/15th%20Region%20Boys%20Brackets.pdf

 

They must have a lot of confidence in Betsy Layne then because they have them in pretty much every round. They are even giving them TBA opponents. :lol:

Thanks for posting the bracket as well, much cleaner than what was on KHSAA. :thumb:

(January 4th - January 6th & January 16th/January 19th.)

 

 

 

Schedule

 

 

Friday Jan. 4th

 

6:30 pm

 

Pikeville vs. East Ridge

 

8:00 pm

 

Betsy Lane vs. South Floyd

 

 

Saturday Jan. 5th

 

10:30 am

 

Lawerence County vs. Maggoffin County

 

12:00 pm

 

Phelps vs. Piarist

 

1:30 pm

 

Shelby Valley vs. Sheldon Clark

 

 

Sunday Jan. 6th

 

 

Paintsville vs. TBA

 

Prestonsburg vs. TBA

 

Betsy Layne vs. TBA

 

 

 

All games at East Kentucky Expo Center (Pikeville)

 

Will the SHeldon Clark vs Shelby Valley game be at 1:30 or at 9 am like it says on the bracket

Will the SHeldon Clark vs Shelby Valley game be at 1:30 or at 9 am like it says on the bracket

 

9:00 am.

 

 

 

Sorry, wasn't listed on KHSAA and somebody told me it was the last boys game of the day, instead they are the first game of the day.

Scores from last night...

 

 

Pikeville 62 East Ridge 53

Betsy Layne 66 South Floyd 64

So far through Saturday....

 

Shelby Valley 47 Sheldon Clark 45

Lawerence County 70 Maggoffin County 48