Top 10

1. Harlan Co.

2. Clay Co.

3. Jackson Co.

4. Corbin

5. Barbourville

6. South Laurel

7. North Laurel

8. Knox Central

9. Bell Co.

10. Pineville

 

Player of the Week

If the Corbin Redhounds are going to contend for a 13th Region championship, they must get solid play from big man Robbie Igo and right now, Igo is supplying some of the best play from a center in the region.

He’s scored in double figures in three straight games while averaging 15 points a game during the process., which in return, is good enough reason to give Igo this week’s 13th Region Player of the Week award.

 

Closer look at the 13th Region Boys All ‘A’ Tournament

Before I get to predicting who will win the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament, let me just say, I totally missed the boat last week on the girls’ tournament, so let’s hope, for my sake, I’m right on target this time around.

Dinky Phipps’ Barbourville Tigers enter the tournament as defending champions and, after the way they have played so far this season, they have to be considered as one of the teams to beat, along with 51st District rival Pineville.

Before the season began, many believed the Mountain Lions were the hands-down favorite, but after a slow start, many started to back off on J.D. Strange’s squad, but things can change quickly in the 13th Region.

After picking up big wins over Lynn Camp and Knox Central, Pineville is gaining lots of steam heading into the tournament and could very well win the whole thing.

But in the end, it’s Jackson County’s tournament to lose. One team to keep an eye on is Middlesboro. The Yellow Jackets have two good scorers in Donnie Foister and Austin Poindexter and could surprise.

 

The 40-point man

Red Bird’s Erik Young hit the 40-point plateau for the fourth time this season by scoring 43 points during the Cardinals’ 90-46 win over Riverside Christian Friday.

 

Boys top games this week

Tuesday, Jan. 15

South Laurel at Knox Central

North Laurel at Corbin

 

Friday, Jan. 18

All ‘A’ title game

Harlan County at Bell County

Corbin at Knox Central

Clay County at North Laurel

South Laurel at Whitley County

 

Boys top games this past week

Barbourville 44, Knox Central 42 overtime — The two 51st District rivals hooked up in a classic, as Devon Mills managed to hit a shot at the buzzer in overtime to give the Tigers a 44-42 win over the Panthers. Knox Central trailed throughout the contest before outscoring Barbourville 7-2 during the fourth quarter to force overtime.

 

Perry Central 46, Clay County 43 — The Tigers held a slim 37-33 lead going into the fourth quarter against the Commodores before Kevin Spurlock’s squad rallied.

Perry Central used a 13-6 run during the game’s final eight minutes to pick up the win during first round action of the WYMT Classic.

 

Harlan County 58, Clay County 47 — The WYMT Consolation matchup between both Harlan County and Clay County could be a preview of things to come in the 13th Region Tournament. If so, it the Black Bears could be well on their way to their first-ever 13th Region crown. Mike Jones’ squad jumped out on Clay County, 18-10, and led 30-20 at halftime before pulling away in the second half.

 

Harlan County 51, North Laurel 43 — The first time these two teams met this season, the Black Bears cruised to an easy win. It wasn’t that easy this time around.

The game was tied at 35 apiece early in the fourth quarter before Harlan County managed to pull away and pick up an eight-point win.

 

Individual highlights

The trio of Bryon David Asher (15 points), John Simpson (14 points) and Seth Jeffrey (14 points) combined to score 43 points to help guide Pineville past Lynn Camp Monday, 72-46, in a 51st District battle. Justin Hammonds led the Wildcats with a 15-point effort.

 

Matt Slavey scored 17 points during South Laurel’s 57-47 50th District win over Williamsburg Tuesday. Skylar Griffith added a 20-point effort for the Yellow Jackets.

 

Robbie Igo scored 17 points while Kevin Goins added 16 during Corbin’s 68-51 win over Middlesboro Tuesday. Austin Poindexter led the Yellow Jackets with 14 points.

 

Devon Mills’ last second-shot gave Barbourville a 44-42 overtime win over Knox Central Tuesday, as he led the way with 18 points. Dustin Hensley led Knox Central with 13 points.

 

Harlan County’s Tyler Brewer led the way with 13 points while Alex Sergent added 11 during the Black Bears’ 60-44 loss to Hazard Tuesday in the WYMT Mountain Classic.

 

Clay County’s Tyler McDaniel scored 16 points during the Tigers’ 46-43 loss to Perry Central Tuesday in the WYMT Mountain Classic.

 

North Laurel’s Austin Rush and eighth grader Peyton Broughton took charge during the fourth quarter Thursday to lead the Jaguars past Betsy Layne, 59-50. Rush scored eight of his 15 points during the final eight minutes while Broughton added seven of his 10 points during the time span. North Laurel eighth grader Bryson Asher added 10 rebounds in the win.

 

Red Bird’s Erik Young scored 25 points Thursday while teammate Jamie Wilder added 16 points during the Cardinals’ 70-36 win over Kentucky School for the Deaf.

 

Aaron Cladwell’s 17-point effort led the way during Harlan County’s 58-47 win over Clay County. The Tigers were led in scoring by Stephon Lyttle, who had 17 points while Tyler McDaniel added 13.

 

Red Bird’s Erik Young torched the net for 43 points to lead the Cardinals past Riverside Christian Friday, 90-46.

 

Knox Central’s Jeffrey Adams scored 22 points during Friday’s 69-47 win over Lynn Camp. Zach Smith led the Wildcats with a 21-point effort.

 

Skylar Griffith dished out a 32-point, seven-rebound effort during Williamsburg’s 79-69 loss to Jackson County on Friday.

 

Whitley County’s Michael Powers poured in a 21-point effort during Friday’s contest against Corbin, but the Redhounds’ Hunter Grubb scored 22 points to help guide Corbin to a 68-52 win. Zach Farley added 15 points for the Redhounds.

 

South Laurel trailed by seven points with less than two minutes left Friday, but received a 19-point effort by Matt Slavey, as the Cardinals managed to pull out a slim 55-54 victory.

 

Chad Massingill came up big against North Laurel Saturday by scoring 16 points to lead the Harlan County Black Bears past the Jaguars, 51-43.

Les, I'm hearing South Laurel's, Blake Sanders, will return tomorrow night againest Knox Central.:thumb: This should help South Laurel, if he can stay healthy down the strerch for their remaining games.

Yep. Will be big addition for South Laurel. He was playing at a high level before he got hurt.