The Weekly Top Ten

 

1) Trinity

A solid win over the No. 8 and defending state champion Colonels of Cov Cath and a resounding victory over the preseason favorite to win the Fifth Region keep the Shamrocks riding high atop the Seventh.

Last Week: 12/12 W vs. Covington Catholic, 60-49; 12/13 W vs. Bardstown, 58-38

This Week: City of Palms Tournament, Fort Meyers, FL

 

2) DuPont Manual

Manual remains No. 2 after a couple very convincing wins. Because he’s not getting a specific mention below, Dwayne Sutton was expected to be a serious leader for this team and he’s exceeding even his lofty expectations. He’s been absolutely unstoppable for the Crimsons so far. They’ve got a big set of games ahead with a trip to Georgetown looming at the weekend.

Last Week: W vs. Bardstown ,77-43; 12/12 W at Seneca, 88-70

This Week: 12/16 at Butler, 6:00 pm; 12/19 vs. Lafayette at Scott County, 6:00 pm; 12/20 at Scott County, 7:30pm

 

3) Ballard

The Bruins hold steady at No. 3 but they seem to be moving up the ladder and gaining ground on their climb up the Seventh Region rankings with every single game. A convincing win this week over a good Male team. We’ll know more about just what this team’s ceiling might be after this weekend’s always-outstanding King of the Bluegrass at Fairdale.

Last Week: 12/22 W vs. Male, 82-65

This Week: 12/16 vs. Christian Academy Louisville, 7:30 pm; King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at Fairdale

 

4) Eastern

After a shaky start to the week and nearly dropping a game to KCD, the Eagles picked up a nice road win in Lexington. Eastern remains unbeaten but with a lot to prove at this weekend’s tournament in La Grange.

Last Week: 12/10 W vs. Kentucky Country Day, 66-61; 12/12 W at Henry Clay, 74-72

This Week: 12/16 at Moore, 7:30 pm; 12/19-12/21 Best in Hoops Classic at Oldham County

 

5) Male

Thanks to a nice win over an admittedly struggling Elizabethtown team, Male remains No. 5 despite the loss to Ballard. This is so for two reasons: 1) losing to Ballard is something to which most teams have already become accustomed, and 2) there’s probably a fairly decent gap between the top five and the next five of the region at this point.

Last Week: 12/12 L at Ballard, 65-82; W at Elizabethtown, 64-46

This Week: 12/16 at Fern Creek, 7:30 pm; 12/17 at Brown, 7:30; 12/19-12/21 Best in Hoops Classic at Oldham County

 

6) Waggener

The win over Fairdale was impressive. The win over Collegiate: resounding. The loss to Central: puzzling. Still trying to find an identity, Coach Bryan O’Neill’s Wildcats don’t have much time to seek it out with one of the Commonwealth’s toughest midseason tournaments coming up in just a matter of days.

Last Week: 12/8 W vs. Fairdale, 68-44; 12/10 W vs. Collegiate, 70-24; 12/12 L vs. Central, 67-69

This Week: 12/16 at Jeffersontown, 7:30 pm; 12/19-12/22 King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at Fairdale

 

7) St. Xavier

The Tigers are likely better than their record suggests at this moment, having played a tough schedule. Two losses didn’t do them any favors in the rankings, but they could easily move up with a nice weekend at the Best in Hoops Classic.

Last Week: 12/12 L vs. St. Xavier (OH), 46-49; 12/13 L vs. Covington Catholic, 55-61

This Week: 12/16 vs. Atherton, 7:30; 12/19-12/22 Best in Hoops Classic at Oldham County

 

8) Seneca

Holding steady at No. 8 is probably too tough a result for a team with a fantastic win over Fern Creek on Tuesday. They’re 3-2 but those two losses are to the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the Seventh. They’ll play PRP and host a nice event on the weekend that’ll give them a chance to show just how good they may be.

Last Week: 12/9 W vs. Fern Creek, 87-86; 12/12 L vs. DuPont Manual, 70-88

This Week: 12/16 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park, 7:30 pm; 12/20-12/22 Wes Unseld Classic at Seneca

 

9) Central

A blowout win against an outmatched opponent and a bit of a surprise win over Waggener means the Yellowjackets stay in the top ten. There could easily be a LOT of movement at spots 5-9 in the next couple weeks.

Last Week: 12/9 W at Portland Christian, 77-39; 12/12 W vs. Waggener, 69-67

This Week: 12/18-12/21 Best in Hoops Classic at Oldham County

 

10) Kentucky Country Day

After a big opening week, the Bearcats came back to Earth with a hard-fought district loss and a terribly lopsided loss to Oldham County. However, the Bearcats remain in the top ten because there’s just that much of a gap between them and No. 11. Atherton is probably next in line and is 1-4 after playing a brutal schedule. As was mentioned above, things could easily shift around before the first of the year.

Last Week: 12/10 L at Eastern, 61-66; 12/12 L at Oldham County, 66-100

This Week: 12/16 vs. Whitefield Academy, 6:00 pm; 12/19 vs. Sayre, 7:30; 12/20-12/22 Wes Unseld Classic at Seneca

 

The Week’s Top Players

 

Cameron Reed, Eastern

Reed’s offensive outbursts helped power the Eagles to two close wins this week. After a game-high 24 points to lead Eastern past Kentucky Country Day on Wednesday, the University of New Orleans commit had a monster all-around outing on Friday, posting 23 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists as the Eagles snagged a road win in Lexington.

 

Chris Coffey, Seneca

In two games this week against very talented opposition – Fern Creek and DuPont Manual – Coffey had a total of 48 points and 23 rebounds. He’s been as good as hoped for and will continue to put up big games in the Seventh.

 

 

This Week’s Games to Remember

 

No specific games this week. If you’re in or around the Louisville area, there are three tournaments well worth your time to go out and see the best teams and players from the Seventh Region, around the Commonwealth, and across the country.

 

Thursday, Dec. 18 through Sunday, Dec. 21

Best In Hoops Classic at Oldham County HS

The Field:

St. Xavier

Central

Male

Eastern

Paul Lawrence Dunbar

Oldham County

Simon Kenton

Ashland Blazer

 

BGP: Schedule and Discussion of the Best in Hoops Classic

 

Saturday, Dec. 20 through Monday, Dec. 22

Wes Unseld Classic at Seneca

I’m still looking for complete info on this one. I’ll post it all as soon as I can get hold of somebody who knows all about this event.

 

The Field:

Seneca

Kentucky Country Day

Pleasure Ridge Park\

Fern Creek

Butler

Bryan Station

North Hardin

???

 

BGP: Wes Unseld Classic Discussion

 

Friday, December 19 through Tuesday, Dec. 23

King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at Fairdale

 

The granddaddy of all Christmas tournaments…

 

The Field:

Ballard

Waggener

Fairdale

Doss

Bullitt East

Newport Central Catholic

Wayne Co.

Taylor Co.

Bardstown

Owensboro

Hopkinsville

Holmes

St. John’s (DC)

South Shore Brooklyn (NY)

De La Salle (IL)

Christ Presbyterian (TN)

 

BGP: Schedule and Discussion of King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic

Seneca's win over Fern Creek is probably the best win by any team outside the top 3. I'd move them up to 6.

The region could have anywhere between 4-7 top 25 teams in the state.

Seneca's win over Fern Creek is probably the best win by any team outside the top 3. I'd move them up to 6.

The region could have anywhere between 4-7 top 25 teams in the state.

 

Everyone Nos. 6-9 I'm a little fuzzy on right now. Seneca's got a great win over Fern Creek, but St. Xavier also feels like they're the victim of a tough early schedule.

The last team I could not remember in the Wes Unseld Classic field is Valley, out of the Sixth Region. Should be a fun event.

I watched Waggner tonight.. They are truly missing something. They have great size. They rebound well on both ends of the court. Their offensive schemes don't make sense. I think they are missing a true point guard and some Senior leadership.

Interesting their PG transferred to Central and lost two seniors from last years team. Also the Washington kid went to fern creek and is doing really well, he did not play much for Waggener last year. They lost to central (with out Centrals football players) on Friday. They do not have a good win all year, and playing Taylor County in KOB. Maybe they are not ready to take the next step.

Butler just about got duPont Manual last night. Nothing is a gimme in the 6th and 7th regions. Still think Manual has the best squad that they have had since Coach Just got there.

Waggner is definitely not ready for next step. They have great size and some players as well, but they are not where they should be at this time..

I haven't seen Waggener this year. Who's starting at PG for them now since Wells is gone?

I haven't seen Waggener this year. Who's starting at PG for them now since Wells is gone?

 

Jacquess Hobbs (Soph) is the main guard but he is out hurt. So they have Sr Guard Trevon Jackson running the show.