I'm looking forward to seeing both teams play at some point this year. I'm not going to Japan until after the season is over this year!!!!

 

A nation is grateful.

I'm looking forward to seeing both teams play at some point this year. I'm not going to Japan until after the season is over this year!!!!

 

WOO HOO!!!!

1. Ballard

2. Hopkinsville

3. Newport Central Catholic

4. Trinity

5. Holmes

6. Knott County Central

7. Warren Central

8. Doss

9. Pleasure Ridge Park

10. Scott County

11. Lafayette

12. Perry County Central

13. Montgomery County

14. Cordia

15. Henderson County

16. Elizabethtown

17. Henry Clay

18. Wayne County

19. Covington Catholic

20. Collins

 

 

 

Agree with Ballard at 1.

 

Trinity, Hopkinsville, and Holmes would be on my next tier at 2-4.

 

Would drop NCC down from 3 to the 5 slot (maybe on Holmes' tier, maybe on the next, probably on their own tier for now).

 

Replace Knott County Central at 6 with Lafayette.

 

Scott County at 7, on a tier with 8 Warren Central, 9 Doss, 10 PRP, and 11 Cordia.

 

12 Montgomery County, 13 Perry Central, 14 Knott Central, 15 Henderson County, 16 Wayne County, and 17 Henry Clay on the next tier.

 

18 Covington Catholic, 19 Bowling Green, 20 Elizabethtown, 21 Thomas Nelson, 22 Clay County, and 23 Male on the last.

 

 

 

I know Cordia lost to a team on a tier below them already, but they don't have all their kids and have a higher ceiling than practically every team on the list.

 

I think Lafayette is pretty underrated. I think Knott is pretty overrated (considering their ceiling).

 

I don't know what to make of Male besides they lost to Ballard by 3 and had some names in that box score that weren't in others. I don't look too hard at them losing to Betsy Lane in Pikeville.

 

If Henry Clay can develop some help to go with Green and Tisdale, they'll be alright, but they can't expect to beat the best with only 3-4 kids scoring. They'll beat teams who just can't match a kid like Green personnel wise, but the jury is out on how much more they do.

 

May be a homer thing to say, but I think Clay County has a claim for a fringe top 25 team in the state. They beat North Laurel worse than Perry County Central did. Not saying they are better than Perry Central, just that they are undefeated and their closest game was against Corbin, when big Jake Allen played the 2nd half with foul trouble (4 early in the 4th) and was disqualified (5th personal) with 1:40 left.

Agree with Ballard at 1.

 

Trinity, Hopkinsville, and Holmes would be on my next tier at 2-4.

 

Would drop NCC down from 3 to the 5 slot (maybe on Holmes' tier, maybe on the next, probably on their own tier for now).

 

Replace Knott County Central at 6 with Lafayette.

 

Scott County at 7, on a tier with 8 Warren Central, 9 Doss, 10 PRP, and 11 Cordia.

 

12 Montgomery County, 13 Perry Central, 14 Knott Central, 15 Henderson County, 16 Wayne County, and 17 Henry Clay on the next tier.

 

18 Covington Catholic, 19 Bowling Green, 20 Elizabethtown, 21 Thomas Nelson, 22 Clay County, and 23 Male on the last.

 

 

 

I know Cordia lost to a team on a tier below them already, but they don't have all their kids and have a higher ceiling than practically every team on the list.

 

I think Lafayette is pretty underrated. I think Knott is pretty overrated (considering their ceiling).

 

I don't know what to make of Male besides they lost to Ballard by 3 and had some names in that box score that weren't in others. I don't look too hard at them losing to Betsy Lane in Pikeville.

 

If Henry Clay can develop some help to go with Green and Tisdale, they'll be alright, but they can't expect to beat the best with only 3-4 kids scoring. They'll beat teams who just can't match a kid like Green personnel wise, but the jury is out on how much more they do.

 

May be a homer thing to say, but I think Clay County has a claim for a fringe top 25 team in the state. They beat North Laurel worse than Perry County Central did. Not saying they are better than Perry Central, just that they are undefeated and their closest game was against Corbin, when big Jake Allen played the 2nd half with foul trouble (4 early in the 4th) and was disqualified (5th personal) with 1:40 left.

 

 

All of the 9th Region experts and fans have NCC higher than Holmes. You also can't discount how NCC has been beating people and the personnel problems they create for every team in the state. You could make an argument that they are the second best team in the state after Ballard.

 

Trinity sputtered against BG when BG didn't have Fant on the court and they were missing other quality football players as well. I'd rank them lower myself.

 

Lafayette has gotten off to a good start but their start isn't as impressive as Knott County Central. No way would I move Lafayette all the way up to 6 let alone allow them to replace Knott. Knott is undefeated with double digit wins over Cordia and LexCath. Lafayette is undefeated with a win over Dunbar. Hardly grounds for an elevation in the rankings for Lafayette.

 

Cordia is not in a tier with Scott County, Warren Central, Doss and PRP. Not at this point. There is also an underlying feeling that Warren Central may be better than we think.

 

Your 12-18 tier is fine once you move Knott County Central out and replace them with Cordia. KCC is top 10.

 

Collins is in that last tier as well. Elizabethtown handled Bowling Green better than Trinity did so they don't belong in the bottom tier. Male lost to Betsy Layne.

All of the 9th Region experts and fans have NCC higher than Holmes. You also can't discount how NCC has been beating people and the personnel problems they create for every team in the state. You could make an argument that they are the second best team in the state after Ballard.

 

Trinity sputtered against BG when BG didn't have Fant on the court and they were missing other quality football players as well. I'd rank them lower myself.

 

Lafayette has gotten off to a good start but their start isn't as impressive as Knott County Central. No way would I move Lafayette all the way up to 6 let alone allow them to replace Knott. Knott is undefeated with double digit wins over Cordia and LexCath. Lafayette is undefeated with a win over Dunbar. Hardly grounds for an elevation in the rankings for Lafayette.

 

Cordia is not in a tier with Scott County, Warren Central, Doss and PRP. Not at this point. There is also an underlying feeling that Warren Central may be better than we think.

 

Your 12-18 tier is fine once you move Knott County Central out and replace them with Cordia. KCC is top 10.

 

Collins is in that last tier as well. Elizabethtown handled Bowling Green better than Trinity did so they don't belong in the bottom tier. Male lost to Betsy Layne.

 

 

 

Lafayette is serious good. It's like this: check my Sweet 16 in November picks for State Champs. I started a streak with Christian County. It went on with Trinity. Madison Central last year? Check. I follow the 11th and went public with a bold prediction of Lafayette to come out of the 11th this year. I believe. Maybe it's luck, maybe not, but I'm feeling better about that pick as the days pass.

 

 

No way Knott County Central could match up with them athletically. No way. I don't see what Knott does to beat them. It's not going to be shutting Davis completely out. Even if they could, their guards couldn't pressure Lafayette's in a way that would bother them, but I don't think the same works in reverse.

 

Sophomore Harrison Lane (son of Transy's Lane) is making his shot and you have to play them honest. Don't hold your breath though, kid seems to know his role.

 

So that's on? Then what do you do with Lance Blakley (6'3) and Dequise Robinson? Who mans them up from Knott? Oh yea, and those are just their Seniors. If even if you can stop them, you've got sophomores Lucky Johnson (6'1 all-city type wideout) and Ross Jenkins (6'6).

 

How does Knott stop them? Play a zone and let Jackson Davis go to the high post, Lane spot up on the wing, and their bigger, more athletic guards start back-cutting to oblivion? I can hear Knott's coaches yelling "rotate" and "watch the back cut" in my sleep. You think they aren't going to see tougher zones in the 11th than what Knott can throw at them?

 

Play them man and let their kids try to stop penetration and guards posting? Doubtful.

 

Press them and force the tempo? Please.

 

Neutral floor, both teams playing their best, Lafayette probably DESTROYS Knott Central.

 

Not saying Knott couldn't pull it off, especially if Davis got in foul trouble or something, but let's be real here.

 

 

 

Cordia is all 11th on potential. Just hedging, but they haven't played together much and some of their better players are awaiting rulings. If we're on ESPN playing buy or sell, I'm buying. They'll probably progress as much as anyone in the State because they have the kind of talent that gives them room to grow and they aren't even close to hitting their form.

 

 

Obviously haven't seen Warren Central, but I'll take your word on them. It wouldn't be the first time they're better than expected.

Lafayette has a recent history of underachieving. Maybe this is the year they buck that trend. However, Lafayette has zero answer for Cam Justice.

It'll be easier to see where Cordia is once the rulings are completed.

 

I'll get to see Lafayette at least once this year.

I'll get to see Lafayette at least once this year.

 

I believe the nightcap in Thursday's King of the Bluegrass games is Trinity vs. Lafayette. Really looking forward to it.

^ You going to update that one? I hope so.

Lafayette has a recent history of underachieving. Maybe this is the year they buck that trend. However, Lafayette has zero answer for Cam Justice.

 

 

You didn't just compare Cameron Justice to Trent Gilbert. Trent drops 40 on Ballard. Justice drops 40 on June Buchanan. If I think Lafayette has an answer for Gilbert, then I think they have one for Justice- all things considered. Cam is definitely for real and is a better college prospect, but has less help around him than Gilbert.

 

If I'm Mendenhall and I think I can't guard Justice with what I have (which I wouldn't if I were him), I'd rotate Jackson and Blakley on him and tell them to use their fouls. Chase him full court, deny in, make him work for everything, make someone else beat you, heck, play a little borderline dirty and rough him up if you have to. They've got the athletes to throw fresh bodies at him and make him work for everything he gets while the defense tries to make one of his teammates the star. Make him wear himself out doing it, especially if it's the 2nd or 3rd consecutive day of a tournament.

 

 

Christon won't hurt Lafayette on offense and Davis can handle Hall, plus make Cam think twice when he gets in the paint. Think Cam won't have trouble getting by Jackson, Blakley, or whomever else is rotated on him, only to find Davis helping off and trying to deny him once he gets in the paint. Lafayette has athletes that can press him well enough, but they've got a nice security blanket if they lose a step.

 

 

Underachieving? 2001. Underachieving? What schools lead the state in Boy's Basketball Championships? Now they have Mendenhall on the sidelines after he's had some time to put his own stamp on the program. He has a Mr. Basketball candidate, a solid senior class, and an emerging sophomore class. They've lost one of their better players (who played with the Travelers) but still managed to come through. That's destiny to me.

 

LAFAYETTE is for real this year.

 

Some teams might be able to exploit Harrison defensively or catch their sophomores on a down night, but I don't think it's Knott Central.

 

Will the 11th Region title go back to it's familiar home with the Lexington-Fayette Publics? Maybe. No one saw Bobby Madison coming, but I'm calling the Generals making noise this post-season.

I believe the nightcap in Thursday's King of the Bluegrass games is Trinity vs. Lafayette. Really looking forward to it.

 

I think that's going to be one hell of a game. Szabo is going to grit-n-girind and make them earn everything they get. How do you see the two teams matching up?

 

Will Davis and Spalding even try to guard each other?

^ You going to update that one? I hope so.

 

 

Don't ask. You tell him that is what he is going to be doing.

Don't ask. You tell him that is what he is going to be doing.

 

I believe the nightcap in Thursday's King of the Bluegrass games is Trinity vs. Lafayette. Really looking forward to it.

 

Yeah Getslow...you're going to have an update thread on that game.

You didn't just compare Cameron Justice to Trent Gilbert. Trent drops 40 on Ballard. Justice drops 40 on June Buchanan. If I think Lafayette has an answer for Gilbert, then I think they have one for Justice- all things considered. Cam is definitely for real and is a better college prospect, but has less help around him than Gilbert.

 

If I'm Mendenhall and I think I can't guard Justice with what I have (which I wouldn't if I were him), I'd rotate Jackson and Blakley on him and tell them to use their fouls. Chase him full court, deny in, make him work for everything, make someone else beat you, heck, play a little borderline dirty and rough him up if you have to. They've got the athletes to throw fresh bodies at him and make him work for everything he gets while the defense tries to make one of his teammates the star. Make him wear himself out doing it, especially if it's the 2nd or 3rd consecutive day of a tournament.

 

 

Christon won't hurt Lafayette on offense and Davis can handle Hall, plus make Cam think twice when he gets in the paint. Think Cam won't have trouble getting by Jackson, Blakley, or whomever else is rotated on him, only to find Davis helping off and trying to deny him once he gets in the paint. Lafayette has athletes that can press him well enough, but they've got a nice security blanket if they lose a step.

 

 

Underachieving? 2001. Underachieving? What schools lead the state in Boy's Basketball Championships? Now they have Mendenhall on the sidelines after he's had some time to put his own stamp on the program. He has a Mr. Basketball candidate, a solid senior class, and an emerging sophomore class. They've lost one of their better players (who played with the Travelers) but still managed to come through. That's destiny to me.

 

LAFAYETTE is for real this year.

 

Some teams might be able to exploit Harrison defensively or catch their sophomores on a down night, but I don't think it's Knott Central.

 

Will the 11th Region title go back to it's familiar home with the Lexington-Fayette Publics? Maybe. No one saw Bobby Madison coming, but I'm calling the Generals making noise this post-season.

Gilbert is fantastic, but I think Justice in on a different level. And let's not forget the 60 he dropped last year. Google that one.

I liked what I saw last year but from seeing Newcath, Holmes, and Trinity already, as well as Ballard, if they are the 2nd best team in the state, they have improved a lot from last year.

 

I should have a better after I see them in Jan.

By Jan. 1 after all the holiday tournaments things will be a lot clearer. Until then, who knows.