1.Patriots go 2-2 in Republic Bank Classic @ Lexington Catholic

Knott County Central made the trip to Lexington Catholic to participate in the annual republic bank holiday classic.

Knott County Central got things started in the first round by demolishing Henry Clay 74-44. Evan Hall led the Patriots with 24 points while Tennessee commit Camron Justice added 23.

 

Knott County Central would advance to the second round were they met up with NKY Power, Dixie Heights. A back and forth game ended up with Knott County Central winning 54-52. Evan Hall led the Patriots with 22…Camron Jusice added 21.

 

Knott County Central would face the host school, Lexington Catholic in the semi-finals…This game would go the complete opposite that the Patriots was hoping for as the Knights would cruise past Knott Central 65-47. Camron Justice led the Patriots with 22.

 

Knott County Central would face the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds. This game would not go the Patriots way either as the Thoroughbreds would pull it out 56-53. Camron Justice led the Patriots with 24.

 

 

2.Cordia goes 3-2 in Republic Bank Classic @ Lexington Catholic

Just like Knott County Central, Cordia also made the trip down to Lexington Catholic from the mountains to participate in the Republic Bank Holiday Classic.

 

Cordia would open up with a win over Warren Central, 60-54. Felix Frimpong led the Lions with 17 points. Christen Cunningham added 15.

 

Cordia would go on to play Newport Central Catholic in the second round of the republic bank classic, The Lions was hoping for the same result as the Warren Central game but that was to no avail as Newport Central Catholic would win a double overtime thriller 64-63. Anthony Tagaloa led the Lions with 21.

 

Cordia would face Bryan Station in the losers bracket and yet this would be another close game, this time however the Lions would pull it off 45-44 over the Defenders. Felix Frimpong led the Lions with 11 points.

 

The Lions would meet up with 14^th region rival, Hazard in the republic bank classic. Cordia was able to find a way to win another thriller 58-57. Fritz Lucien led the Lions with 16…Christen Cunningham added 12 and Oumar Keita added 11.

 

Cordia would go on to face Louisville Male on the final day and that didn’t go the Lions way as the Bulldogs cruised past the Lions 71-51.

 

 

3.Hazard goes 1-2 in Republic Bank Classic @ Lexington Catholic

Another 14^th region team that made the trip down from the mountains to the big city of Lexington to participate in the republic bank classic @ Lexington Catholic.

 

The Bulldogs would go 1-2 with the lone win over Augusta 95-72…Hazard would lose the opening round game to Scott County 67-47 and would lose on Dec. 29^th to Cordia 58-57.

 

 

4.Wolfe County wins Red River Classic

Wolfe County made the 35-40 minute drive down the mountain to Stanton to participate in the Powell County Red River Classic.

 

Wolfe County would open up with a 71-62 win over Tates Creek….Wolfe County would go on to face Anderson County in the semi-finals, a team they just beat a week ago on a last second shot, this game however wouldn’t need a last second shot as the Wolves would cruise past Anderson County 87-64…Wolfe County would face Paris in the championship game and like the Anderson County game, the Wolves would cruise to victory, defeating Paris 75-58.

 

Junior guard, Bradley Lawson led the Wolves in two of the three games…raking up 27 against Tates Creek and 34 against Anderson County.

 

 

5.Breathitt County goes 2-1 in TECO Coal Commodore Classic @ Perry Central

Breathitt County made the trip over to Perry Central to participate in the first ever, TECO Coal Commodore Classic…Breathitt County got things started with a 69-59 win over Harlan County….Bobcats would squeeze out a win over Lakota East OH 54-52 and would go on to face Greenwich CT on the last day…that game didn’t go as the Bobcats had planned as Greenwich would pull out a thriller 51-50.

 

 

6.Commodores go 2-0 in their own TECO Coal Commodore Classic

Perry Central got two good wins in their own TECO Coal Commodore Classic, defeating Lakota East OH 65-56 and Greenwich CT 71-50.

 

 

Upcoming Games:

Jan. 2…Letcher County Central @ Knott County Central

Jan. 3…Wolfe County @ Breathitt County

Jan. 3…Estill County @ Lee County

 

 

14th Region Rankings (Jan. 1) (New Year’s Edition):

1. Knott County Central (9-2)

2. Perry County Central (8-3)

3. Cordia (8-5)

4. Hazard (7-4)

4. Breathitt County (8-3)

4. Wolfe County (8-2)

7. Buckhorn (6-4)

8. Estill County (7-7)

8. Powell County (6-6)

10. Letcher County Central (6-6)

Anyone agree/disagree with the rankings?

Only change I'd suggest is just make Hazard #4, Breathitt #5, and Wolfe # 6, instead of the ties. That's probably about the order they should be.

Buckhorn is difficult to place. They beat Breathitt handily about 3 weeks ago. You have them pretty accurate at 7 but they have the ability to beat anyone in the region with the exception of the top 4 ranked teams. Those 4 have separation between themselves and the rest of the region.

Things I've learned this week: Chris Hudson is a GAM. Kid can play. I'd take him on my team any day.

Things I've learned this week: Chris Hudson is a GAM. Kid can play. I'd take him on my team any day.

 

Cordia would probably love to still have him. He originally came to Cordia from Texas amongst much grumbling from other schools in the 14th, similar to what they've had this year due to the Canadians and other transfers. Then Hudson moves over to Hazard to play after one season at Cordia and not much noise was made about it. Go figure.

1.

14th Region Rankings (Jan. 1) (New Year’s Edition):

1. Knott County Central (9-2)

2. Perry County Central (8-3)

3. Cordia (8-5)

4. Hazard (7-4)

4. Breathitt County (8-3)

4. Wolfe County (8-2)

7. Buckhorn (6-4)

8. Estill County (7-7)

8. Powell County (6-6)

10. Letcher County Central (6-6)

 

Cats Pause preseason rankings:

1. Knott County Central

2. Perry County Central

3. Hazard

4. Cordia

5. Letcher County Central

6. Wolfe County

7. Buckhorn

8. Breathitt County

9. Estill County

10. Leslie County

Cats Pause preseason rankings:

1. Knott County Central

2. Perry County Central

3. Hazard

4. Cordia

5. Letcher County Central

6. Wolfe County

7. Buckhorn

8. Breathitt County

9. Estill County

10. Leslie County

 

That's about as accurate pre-season prediction as one can make. Other than Letcher County Central being a little high at #5 that's a good job.

Cordia beat Hazard on a neutral court...If at Hazard, Hazard wins, if at Cordia, I'd say Cordia wins but on Neutral court, Cordia is 1-0 on Hazard this year..

Cordia beat Hazard on a neutral court...If at Hazard, Hazard wins, if at Cordia, I'd say Cordia wins but on Neutral court, Cordia is 1-0 on Hazard this year..

 

 

I'm curious about your thoughts now after your earlier comments about Wolfe and Breathitt being ranked too high in the preseason.

I honestly thought they were. I didn't expect them to be where they are. I figured Breathitt would be down with everyone that they lost last year and returning Noble, which I believe was the only starter they returned.

Cordia would probably love to still have him. He originally came to Cordia from Texas amongst much grumbling from other schools in the 14th, similar to what they've had this year due to the Canadians and other transfers. Then Hudson moves over to Hazard to play after one season at Cordia and not much noise was made about it. Go figure.

 

I have thought the same thing, thought he was one of Rhodes transfers from Texas that was wanting to play for him only, thought if he transferred at all it would never be to a 14th region school. Are all those original Texas kids that came to Cordia all gone now?

I have thought the same thing, thought he was one of Rhodes transfers from Texas that was wanting to play for him only, thought if he transferred at all it would never be to a 14th region school. Are all those original Texas kids that came to Cordia all gone now?

 

I'm not sure, but I think Hudson is the only Texas player still playing in the 14th of the original transfers. His Hazard transfer was probably due to Cordia not having a football program, but that's just a guess on my part.

I'm curious about your thoughts now after your earlier comments about Wolfe and Breathitt being ranked too high in the preseason.

 

HDE, are you able to observe the mountain schools during the summer play? I know you do a good job keeping up with mountain high school sports and most the time your prognostications are very close to what it turns out to be. I was just wondering.

HDE, are you able to observe the mountain schools during the summer play? I know you do a good job keeping up with mountain high school sports and most the time your prognostications are very close to what it turns out to be. I was just wondering.

 

 

 

Thanks.

I love summer basketball. I usually spend part of my vacation at the AAU tourney at the KBA and go to camps at LMU, Hazard etc...

I always think it's funny when people start with the line "you can't tell anything from summer basketball." I pick my top 10 every year after watching teams and talking to coaches in the summer. There are always some surprises, both good and bad, but you can always get a good idea.

Thanks.

I love summer basketball. I usually spend part of my vacation at the AAU tourney at the KBA and go to camps at LMU, Hazard etc...

I always think it's funny when people start with the line "you can't tell anything from summer basketball." I pick my top 10 every year after watching teams and talking to coaches in the summer. There are always some surprises, both good and bad, but you can always get a good idea.

 

To be fair, when I say it, it's more in the sense of saying "x beat y this summer" doesn't have a lot of value because you don't know if football players (or others) were there, how many games a team had played in a row that same day, etc.