Player of the Week

Boys

Tyler McDaniel, Clay County — The junior guard has averaged 14 points per game this past week, including a 20-point effort to lead Clay County to an 81-55 win over Fort Knox.

 

Surprise, surprise?

We’ve got Clay County sitting atop the 13th Region with an impressive 7-1 mark while Bell County and Barbourville are 6-2 on the season.

Many were ready to write the Bobcats off after they began the season with an 0-2 mark. They dropped a 64-61 decision to Whitley County at home and were blitzed by Jackson County, 90-63.

But since then, Bell County has been on a roll.

The bobcats captured the Bowman Invitational Classic by going 3-0 while garnering wins against Harlan (Twice), Cumberland Gap, Tenn. and Williamsburg.

So how are they doing it?

Well, it’s pretty simple — the offensive play of Tyler Potter has helped the Bobcats in a big way. He’s averaging more than 20 points a game during the six-game win streak.

Just how surprising has Barbourville’s start been?

Well, they lost one of the top players in the region last season in Devon Mills, who graduated, but so far so good.

The Tigers’ lone losses have been against Whitley County and South Carolina’s Carvers Bay by a combined seven points.

Not too shabby at all for Dinky Phipps’ squad.

 

Milestones

Congrats goes out to Harlan County coach Mike Jones who picked up his 600th win while South Laurel’s Zach Baxter scored his 1,000th point this past week.

 

Dominating the rivalry

Not too long ago, the Corbin-South Laurel match-up was THE BEST rivalry in the 13th Region, and maybe the state, but things have changed the past few years.

The Redhounds are 12-2 against their 50th District counterparts during the past 11 meetings and Corbin has won 11 of the last 12.

Corbin continued its dominance of the series this past week by defeating the Cardinals, 66-61.

Redhound coach Tony Pietrowski continues to show why he is considered one of the best coaches around by throwing a zone at South Laurel, and the Cardinals responded by knocking down only five-off-22 shot attempts from three-point range and 18-of-52 shooting from the floor for the game, leaving South Laurel coach Jeff Davis with this to say — "They executed their game plan," he said. "Give Corbin credit. They forced us to do what we can't do very well right now and that's shooting from the outside.

"We settled for shots," Davis added. "You've gotta have an idea of what you want

to do and execute it, and we didn't do that."

 

 

13th Region Power Rankings

Boys

1. Clay County – The Tigers continue to roll up impressive wins and stay atop the rankings.

2. Corbin – Tony Pietrowski continues to work wonders with the Redhound program. This team is going to be dangerous by season’s end.

3. Jackson County - The Generals have played the toughest schedule in the region so far this season.

4. Bell County – After starting the season 0-2, Bell County has righted its ship.

5. Knox Central – A 3-5 start isn’t what I expected out of this young and talented Panther group.

6. Harlan County – The Black Bears have surprised many this season, but haven’t played a tough slate so far.

7. North Laurel – The Jaguars are talented, but inexperienced. The duo of Bryce Asher and Peyton Broughton will haunt 13th Region opponents for many years to come.

8. Barbourville – Dinky continues to work his magic.

9. South Laurel – The Cardinals are talented, but have struggled at times this season.

10. Williamsburg – The Yellow Jackets will get better as the season progresses.

Whitley County has a winning record at 7-4 with a bad loss to Wayne County, they have wins over Bell County and Barbourville, a close loss to South Laurel by 4 when they were tied with less than a minute to go and an double overtime loss when it was their 5th game in 5 days and they don't make your top 10? They blew out Lynn Camp by 40+ and Williamsburg only beat them by 12 and you have them in the top 10. It is power rankings and I won't disagree the Jackets may get better but I would say that the Colonels are a better team RIGHT NOW. Williamsburg has not beaten a team in your "Top 10" but Whitley defeats two, it would appear that you are driving the Williamsburg bandwagon.

 

Whitley plays two juniors, a Soph at point and bring an 8th grader off the bench. Luke Woods the point guard for the Colonels is averaging 18 points over the last 6 games. I think it is fair to say that the Colonels deserve a ranking more than a team with potential to play better.

I could care less about bandwagons, but it looks as if your on Whitley County's.

And still didn't answer the real question....

8-4 pretty good

First off I don't have to answer to you. Second off, I'll do my rankings the way I want. Don't agree with them? Do your own rankings and put your favorite team where you'd like. Maybe it would make you a bit happier & feel better.

Will Griffith be able to make a return to the court at any point this season?

 

I'd originally heard he'd be out, but that was right when news of him not playing in the State Final had started to leak, and I didn't know if the prognosis had changed any.

First off you can't answer it because there is no way to defend it. Second it should be about not liking a particular team but doing a credible ranking.

 

1. Clay County

2. Jackson County

3. Knox Central

4. Corbin

5. Bell County

6. South Laurel

7. Whitley County

8. Barbourville

9. Harlan County

10. North Laurel

 

When you put stuff out there and want to act like it is the gospel you should at least have the guts to defend it it instead of just saying you don't have to answer questions......especially being a sports writer like you, being a guy who watches all the games like you do.

Griffith is a very talented player and will be able to lift his team when he returns in about 3-4 more weeks. His return will make Williamsburg a legit contender.

First off, it's not gospel. Never said it was. Second off, I'm wasting enough time bickering back & forth with you. Whitley County has improved. I'm happy for them. Coach Overbey is a great guy. Third off, I don't have to answer to you. Like I said, you don't like the rankings, that's your opinion. Personally, I believe your rankings are a sign of being a homer, but hey, it's your poll, you don't have to explain anything to me because honestly, I don't care. So have a good day and be looking for the new rankings tomorrow.

Region: 13 Win-Loss Records

Points

Won Lost Season Region District

Clay County 737 568 9 - 1 - 0 5 - 0 - 0 2 - 0 - 0

Barbourville 817 680 8 - 3 - 0 1 - 1 - 0 0 - 0 - 0

Whitley County 743 730 8 - 4 - 0 4 - 1 - 0 0 - 1 - 0

Jackson County 868 720 7 - 4 - 0 2 - 1 - 0 0 - 0 - 0

North Laurel 851 763 7 - 5 - 0 2 - 2 - 0 1 - 1 - 0

Bell County 513 507 6 - 3 - 0 5 - 2 - 0 2 - 0 - 0

Harlan County 795 726 6 - 6 - 0 2 - 1 - 0 1 - 0 - 0

Harlan 415 368 5 - 2 - 0 4 - 2 - 0 0 - 2 - 0

Corbin 530 572 5 - 4 - 0 2 - 1 - 0 1 - 0 - 0

South Laurel 547 544 4 - 5 - 0 1 - 2 - 0 1 - 1 - 0

Knox Central 544 572 4 - 5 - 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 - 0 - 0

Pineville 553 585 4 - 6 - 0 2 - 4 - 0 1 - 0 - 0

Williamsburg 583 604 4 - 6 - 0 1 - 2 - 0 0 - 0 - 0

Middlesboro 662 803 3 - 8 - 0 2 - 4 - 0 0 - 1 - 0

Lynn Camp 493 593 2 - 7 - 0 1 - 5 - 0 0 - 1 - 0

O B I 294 342 1 - 4 - 0 0 - 4 - 0 0 - 2 - 0

Red Bird 144 285 0 - 4 - 0 0 - 2 - 0 0 - 0 - 0

"Points Won" are total points made by team.

"Points Lost" are total points made by opponents.

District records indicate teams are aligned in the same district and do not necessarily correspond to official district ranking.

 

Not a homer at all when you look at the KHSAA/Riherds score board.

 

Just Saying.......

Rah, rah!

Trinity beat Corbin 69-37 and Trinity beat Bowling Green 62-57 and Bowling Green beat Whitley by 4.....just saying. I know a loss is a loss but.......

 

You are right...RAH RAH!!!!!

Well, Williamsburg beat Whitley County. Guess my rankings at this time were spot on, huh?