49th District Tournament

at Jackson County High School

 

Seeds — No. 1 Clay County (21-6); No. 2 Jackson County (18-10); No. 3 North Laurel (14-14); No. 4 Oneida Baptist (1-17); No. 5 Red Bird (7-17)

 

Schedule

Monday, Feb. 18

First Round

Oneida Baptist vs. Red Bird, 7:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Semifinals

Jackson County vs. North Laurel, 7:30 p.m.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 20

Semifinals

Oneida Baptist/Red Bird winner vs. Clay County

 

Finals

Friday, Feb. 22

TBD at 7:30 p.m.

 

49th District Top Players

1.Chip McDaniel, Clay County — Leads Tigers in scoring with a 17.9 scoring average while shooting 36.6 percent (56-of-153) from three-point range.

2. Jordan Fox, Jackson County — Can easily take over a game at any minute.

3. Marty Bowling, Clay County — One of the most underrated players in the region. He’s averaging a double-double on the season with a 11.7 scoring average and a 11.2 scoring average.

4. Jake Allen, North Laurel — Looks to be coming on at the right time after missing some of the season due to an injury. He scored a season-high 27 points during North Laurel’s final game of the regular season.

5. Steven Wagers, Jackson County — If he is healthy, the Generals could make a deep run in postseason play.

 

Best of the rest

Red Bird’s Erik Young leads the state in scoring with a 29.6 scoring average and scored 47 points during the Cardinals’ final regular season game. He has scored at least 40 points in a game five times this season. You also need to keep an eye out on North Laurel guard Marcus Carson along with teammate Peyton Broughton. Clay County’s Stephon Lyttle is averaging 11.3 points per game while teammate Kody Reed is scoring 10.1 points a game. Jackson County’s Zach Lawson is a player to keep an eye on as well.

 

Preview of the tournament

Clay County is the team to beat with a perfect 5-0 record against District opponents, but Jackson County isn’t far behind. The Generals are 4-2 against district foes with both losses coming to Clay County (both losses were by one point). Jackson County will face-off against defending 13th Region champion North Laurel in an elimination game, as the Jaguars will enter with a 14-14 record. It’s been an up-and-down season for North Laurel, as Brad Sizemore’s squad finished the regular season going 4-6 during its last 10 games. Oneida Baptist enters the tournament with only one win and that’s against first round opponent Red Bird at home, 87-61. The Mountaineers have also lost to the Cardinals, too, dropping a 68-65 decision.

 

Predictions

First Round

Oneida Baptist 78, Red Bird 67

 

Semifinals

Jackson County 48, North Laurel 45

Clay County 74, Oneida Baptist 44

 

Finals

Clay County 66, Jackson County 63

 

50th District Tournament

at Williamsburg High School

 

Seeds — No. 1 Corbin (22-6); No. 2 South Laurel (12-15); No. 3 Whitley County (8-21); No. 4 Williamsburg (6-14)

 

Schedule

Monday, Feb. 18

Semifinals

Corbin vs. Williamsburg

 

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Semifinals

South Laurel vs. Whitley County

 

Finals

Thursday, Feb. 21

TBD at 7:30 p.m.

 

50th District Top Players

1. Hunter Grubb, Corbin — Grubb has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Redhounds. He’s one of the best three-point shooters in the region and he’s a solid defender.

2. Zac Baxter, South Laurel — Baxter leads the Cardinals in scoring and can flat out shoot from the inside.

3. Robbie Igo, Corbin — Igo’s size and solid outside shooting gives opponents fits.

4. Skylar Griffith, Williamsburg — Solid shooter and scorer.

5. Michael Powers, Whitley County — Another solid scorer, who is very versatile.

 

Best of the rest

South Laurel’s Blake Sanders is another player to keep an eye on. He can take games over at times with his driving ability. Teammate Matt Slavey is a solid outside shooter for the Cardinals. Williamsburg’s Corey Shelton is another good shooter, who can light the scoreboard up. Corbin’s Zach Farley, Kevin Goins and Kaleb Maguet can score 20 points at anytime for the Redhounds. If Whitley County gets past South Laurel, it might be because of the play by post player Boston Bryant.

 

Preview of the tournament

Corbin (5-1 in district play) enters as the team to beat once again. The Redhounds are searching for their fifth straight 50th District title, but did lose a district contest this year, 77-75, in double overtime. South Laurel (4-2) is looking to regain its district dominance it had when the Cardinals won district titles from 2006-08. South Laurel’s lone district losses came against Corbin (69-68) and Whitley County (44-36). The Colonels split a pair of games with the Cardinals this season and will face-off against South Laurel once again in an elimination game while Williamsburg (1-5) will try to pull off the upset at home against Corbin. It’s been 15 years since the Yellow Jackets have reached the 13th Region Tournament.

 

Predictions

Semifinals

Corbin 78, Williamsburg 64

Whitley County 49, South Laurel 47

 

Finals

Corbin 77, Whitley County 67

 

51st District

at Barbourville High School

 

Seeds — No. 1 Barbourville (18-10); No. 2 Pineville (14-8); No. 3 Knox Central (15-13); No. 4 Lynn Camp (16-14)

 

Schedule

Monday, Feb. 18

Semifinals

Barbourville vs. Lynn Camp, 7 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Semifinals

Pineville vs. Lynn Camp, 7 p.m.

 

Thursday, Feb. 21

Finals

TBD at 7 p.m.

 

51st District Top Players

1. Devon Mills, Barbourville — The most underrated player in the 13th Region. He hasn’t scored under 20 points this season.

2. John Simpson, Pineville — Solid post player for the Mountain Lions, who is averaging 15.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

3. Matt Barger, Knox Central — Has been injured some this season, but when he’s 100 percent, he’s hard to stop.

4. Zach Smith, Lynn Camp — One of the few players averaging a double-double in the region with a 14.9 scoring average and a 11.4 rebounding average.

5. Jeffrey Adams, Knox Central — Has turned into one of the best scorers in the region. You better not leave him open from the outside, or he’ll make you pay.

 

Best of the Rest

Barbourville’s Alexander Phipps can drain the outside shot while Knox Central’s Tobie Merida and Chad Marsee can be solid in the post. Lynn Camp’s Matt Trosper has recorded two triple-doubles this season while Jordan Hammonds is dangerous from the outside. Pineville’s Byron David Asher is a force in the post along with teammates Jacob Skinner and Seth Jeffrey.

 

Preview of the Tournament

No. 1 seed Barbourville has been a pleasant surprise and is the favorite after going unbeaten at 3-0 in district play. The Tigers also have impressive wins against Harlan County and bell County this season. It took a while for J.D. Strange’s Pineville squad to get going after a 4-4 start, but the Mountain Lions have rebounded, winning six of their last seven games, including a double-digit win over defending region champ North Laurel. Lynn Camp recovered from a three-win season last year to 16 victories this season. The Wildcats face a tough task in upsetting Barbourville, though, losing twice to the Tigers, 80-50 and 76-37.

 

Predictions

Semfinals

Barbourville 72, Lynn Camp 59

Pineville 52, Knox Central 49

 

Finals

Barbourville 68, Pineville 64

 

52nd District

at Harlan High School

 

Seeds — No. 1 Harlan County (21-7); No. 2 Bell County (13-13); No. 3 Middlesboro (14-12); No. 4 Harlan (9-19)

 

Schedule

Monday, Feb. 18

Semifinals

Harlan County vs. Harlan

 

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Semifinals

Bell County vs. Middlesboro

 

Thursday, Feb. 21

Finals

TBD at 7 p.m.

 

52nd District Top Players

1. Tyler Brewer, Harlan County — Can take over a game at any time.

2. Tyler Potter, Bell County — Top-notch scorer for the Bobcats.

3. Alex Sergent, Harlan County — Sergent can hurt opponents with his outside shooting.

4. Austin Poindexter, Middlesboro — Solid defender and scorer.

5. Donnie Foister, Middlesboro — One of the most versatile players in the region.

 

Best of the rest

Harlan County’s Chad Massingill and Aaron Caldwell are very good on both sides of the ball for the Black Bears, while Harlan’s Isaiah Johnson is very athletic. Bell County’s Josh Asher is another solid scorer.

 

Preview of the tournament

Harlan County enters the district tournament with a 5-1 mark along with Bell County. You don’t know what you’re going to get out of the Black Bears. They were picked as the team to beat during the pre-season, but dropped three games to region opponents this season. The Bobcats have the talent to make a run, they have lost five games this season by two points or less. Middlesboro is athletic, but struggled during the end of the regular season, going 2-5 during its last seven games. Harlan is improved, but will face an uphill battle against Harlan County.

 

Predictions

Semifinals

Harlan County 82, Harlan 56

Bell County 57, Middlesboro 55

 

Finals

Bell County 59, Harlan County 58

Bump.

The Tuesday, Feb. 19 matchup should state Pineville vs. Knox Central. Sorry about that.

Good work Les. I agree with most.Harlan Co will beat Bell Co in the finals IMO.The Blackbears need to win the district to avoid another district winner and make it more diffcult for them to win that first regional win in school history. However, any team could win this region. It is wide open, 10-11 teams could represent this region at Rupp in March.

Thanks. Harlan County should be the team to beat in the district, but the Black Bears aren't shoe-ins over a team that has beaten them this season by any means. Especially the way Harlan County has played the past two weeks.

Bump.

Excellent stuff Les! :thumb: Looking forward to seeing how it turns out in the 13th!

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

Les, I see you're selling those Corbin, news papers in Southern Whitley County:D South Laurel's, "Rodney Dangerfield", I see with you're perdiction:ohbrother: May be deserving at times this year... I wouldn't bet against them tonight :thumb:

Actually we are a Tri-County paper - cover Barbourville, Corbin, Knox Central, Lynn Camp, North Laurel, South Laurel, Whitley County & Williamsburg.

Humm, :idunno:

Humm, :idunno:

 

Yep, we sure do. Have been for a long time.

Good breakdown Les, but after seeing all the scores from the districts tonight.....this region is truely wide open.

Middlesboro sends the Bell Co Bobcats home early for the second straight year.

Thanks. It might be a good breakdown, but my predictions are horrible.