The favorite

The Jackson County Generals enter this year's 13th Region All 'A' Classic Tournament as the team to beat, and rightfully so.

The Generals (11-5) have been ranked near the top of the 13th Region the entire season, and will enter the tournament as the top-ranked team in the 13th Region for the first time this season.

Coach Greg Parrett isn't a stranger to guiding Jackson County team's to All 'A' success. He was coach of the Lady Generals when they made continuous runs in the 13th Region and All 'A' State Tournaments.

Jackson County is led by Jordan Fox, who is one of the top players in the 13th Region along with Zach Lawson and Isaiah Collier. The trio of Fox, Lawson and Collier are one of the best in the region.

 

The contenders

° Dinky Phipps' Barbourville Tigers have enough talent to make a run at the All 'A' tourmnament crown. Barbourville is sporting an impressive 12-5 record in which many thought this would be a rebuilding year for Phipps' squad.

The Tigers are led by Brandon Gray, Alexander Phipps, Tanner Moor and Jason Mills.

 

° Williamsburg doesn't sport the best record around (6-10), but they remain a dangerous team. The only bad thing for Williamsburg is the fact they face-off against Jackson County in first round action.

The Yellow Jackets are led by hot-shooting Corey Shelton and Andrew Griffith.

 

° Harlan is a team to keep an eye on. The Green Dragons have enough talent to surprise Barbourville in first round action and with Tyler Miller on the roster, Harlan can make some noise.

 

° Another team to keep an eye on is Middlesboro, who so far has had an underachieving-type of season by going a dismal 3-12. Many expected big things to happen for coach Russell Thompson's team this year after a 13th Region Tournament semifinal appearance last year, but things just haven't went well even though players such as Donnie Foister and Austin Poindexter returned from last season.

 

Teams that could pull off a win

Oneida Baptist, Pineville and Lynn Camp will be hard-pressed to put three straight wins together this week, but they could pull off an upset here or there.

 

The schedule

Monday, Jan. 20

Oneida Baptist vs. Pineville, 6 p.m.

Harlan vs. Barbourville, 7:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 21

Lynn Camp vs. Middlesboro, 6 p.m.

Williamsburg vs. Jackson County, 7:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, Jan. 23

Semifinals

6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

 

Friday, Jan. 24

Championship

7 p.m.

 

Predictions

First Round

OBI 51, Pineville 48

Barbourville 67, Harlan 64

Middlesboro 71, Lynn Camp 60

Jackson County 74, Williamsburg 62

 

Semifinals

Barbourville 66, OBI 54

Jackson County 81, Middlesboro 64

 

Finals

Jackson County 71, Barbourville 63

I really liked Jackson Co when I saw them this year. Don't know much about the rest of the region, but I think they are a team that could make a run to the semis of the state All A.