Players of the Week

 

Colin Ferguson, Kentucky Country Day

Ferguson had an outstanding showing in KCD’s victory in the first round of the Louisville Invitational Tournament this week, scoring 21 points, including three three-pointers and making 10 of 10 free throws in the Bearcats’ upset of Butler. It was KCD’s first ever win in the LIT in their first appearance in the tournament since 1991. He followed it up with an 11 point performance against Ballard in the Round of 16. His play is one of the big reasons KCD is favored to win this weeks 7th Region All A Classic.

 

Jalen Perry, Ballard

Much has been made all season long about the play of Ballard’s power duo of Quentin Snider and Kelan Martin, but it is Ballard’s other starters, including Perry, that make the Bruins so dangerous this season. Perry’s presence was especially felt when Ballard was at their best this week in the LIT, a 20-point performance in the Bruins’ win over Doss in the quarterfinals. He also put up 11 against KCD in the Round of 16, nine vs. Trinity in the semifinals and 13 against PRP in the championship game. His ability to have games like Friday’s are a big plus for Coach Chris Renner, not only for this year, but looking ahead to next season and a team led by him and fellow underclassman Malik Dow.

 

 

LIT Wrap-Up

 

In the end, the best of the Sixth got the best of the best of the Seventh with PRP’s impressive 81-73 overtime victory over Ballard in the championship game. Ballard was certainly tested in the tournament, facing one of the Sixth Region’s best in its quarterfinal game against Doss, the state’s No. 2 team, Trinity, in the semifinals and, of course, that big championship against reigning Sixth Region champion PRP. It was a bit of a fitting end to a week in which the Sixth seemed just a hair better in several of the big matchups.

 

Waggener had not been in the LIT since 2000 but was riding high on excellent play and a 10-3 record entering the tournament. They fell just short to rising Sixth Region team Fern Creek in a Round of 16 game, 80-79 in overtime.

 

Iroquois defeated Manual and Eastern fell to Doss elsewhere in the Round of 16. St. Xavier’s win over Fairdale and KCD’s upset of Butler were the best moments for the Seventh in the first two rounds.

 

The highlight of the tournament from the Seventh Region’s perspective was without a doubt the semifinal matchup between two of the region’s – and the state’s – top teams, Ballard and Trinity. The Shamrocks ultimately fell to the Bruins in overtime, with a middling performance from the free throw line and several missed layups taking much of the blame. The two will not play each other during the regular season but can be expected to meet at some point in the Seventh Region tournament.

 

 

Games of the Week

 

Friday, January 24

Eastern at Manual, 7:30 pm

Each team is coming off a Round of 16 loss in its opening game of the LIT but can boast about good wins and an impressive start to the season. Eastern is regaining some of the form that made it a power in the Seventh Region for many years and Manual has consistently shown itself to be one of the region’s best this season. This game is one of several in the next few weeks that will begin to sort out the pack of three to four teams chasing Ballard and Trinity in the Seventh.

 

Waggener at Iroquois, 7:30 pm

Another team coming off a Round of 16 loss, the Waggener Wildcats are still having their best season in probably a decade. Iroquois has shown itself to be among the better teams in the Sixth so this should provide another good test for Waggener’s young team to gain valuable experience heading toward March and what they hope to be a trip to the Seventh Region Tournament for the first time since 1999.

 

Saturday, January 25

Trinity vs. Holmes, Joe B. Hall Prep Classic at Montgomery County, 6:45 pm

Following that disappointing semifinal loss to Ballard in the LIT, Trinity will again be tested against one of the top teams in Northern Kentucky which boasts one of the commonwealth’s top players: James “Beetle” Bolden. Trinity will certainly be battle-tested heading into the final stretch of the season, having played many of Kentucky’s best already.

 

Wednesday, January 22 through Saturday January 25

Seventh Region “All A” Classic at Kentucky Country Day

There will be more information about this tournament and what to expect in a dedicated All A preview that will be released later today.

The title of this thread would make more sense if I could remember what year it was.

As always, great stuff getslow. Love reading about the 7th. Last year it was Jody Demling. Now that he's gone, it's you. Big shoes to fill, I know.