We’re into the new year and mid-way through the season. Several teams began district play while other teams were still playing in holiday tournaments and the beginning of the year classics. Here’s a recap from the action across the 14^th region.

 

 

Knott County Central wins 4 out of 5 games after being on the road since Christmas day.

The Patriots showed just how well they play together and how much heart they have when they left on Christmas day for Myrtle Beach and the Beach Ball classic. The Patriots would win 3 out of 4 and finish fifth in the Beach Ball Classic before making their way through Tennessee back to the western part of Kentucky to face Muhlenberg County in the Mustangs First Security New Year’s Bash. The Patriots and Mustangs would do battle with the game going back and forth before going into overtime. In the extra time frame, the Patriots seen themselves trail by as many as 5 before coming back to defeat the Mustangs 56-55 on a game winner by Simon Christon.

 

Knott County Central will now gear up and go battle in the WYMT Mountain Classic. The Patriots will open up the classic on Tuesday with Harlan County. Game time is scheduled for 6 PM. Winner will face winner of Hazard and Clay County

 

 

Perry County Central pulls an upset after losing three straight

The Commodores got off to a good start in the republic bank classic by defeating Louisville Male but after that the Commodores would go on a 3 game skid heading into their date with Taylor County in the Cardinals’ Clem Haskins Classic, looking to pull the upset. An upset is exactly what the Commodores would do as they’d defeat highly rated Taylor County 78-70 in regulation. Braxton Beverly would lead Perry County Central with 32 while Quentin Goodin would lead the Cardinals with 26.

 

The Commodores, much like the Knott Central Patriots, will also gear up and go battle in the WYMT Mountain Classic. The Commodores will play Knox Central on Wednesday. Game time set for 8:30 PM. Winner will face winner of Buckhorn and Lawrence County

 

 

Leslie County ends their 4 game skid with win over Pike County Central

The Eagles began their four game skid in their own post-Christmas tournament with losses to Meade County and Letcher County Central but it wouldn’t stop there as they’d lose to Hazard by 33 and lose to a Breathitt County team 70-58, a team they had defeated earlier in the season by 24. The Eagles would welcome in Pike County Central on Saturday night, looking to end their skid and that they did in a thriller of a game, 56-51.

 

Leslie County will welcome in Harlan Independent on Monday night before going into battle in the 14^th Region All “A” classic.

 

 

Buckhorn bounces back with win over Jackson City after two straight losses.

The Wildcats and coach John Noble would make their way to Jackson City to face the Tigers, who were coming off an 18 point, 54-36 over region rival, Estill County in the Berea Invitational. Buckhorn, would come into this game on a two game skid but was 3-2 in their last 5 games. The Tigers play well in their gym but it wasn’t enough to upset the Wildcats as they would run away with a 74-60 victory over the Tigers.

 

Buckhorn will go into battle in the WYMT Mountain Classic. They will open up with Lawrence County on Wednesday. Game time set for 6:30 PM. Winner will face winner of Perry County Central/Knox Central.

 

 

After a hot start, June Buchanan gets cooled off

June Buchanan, not known for their basketball success in several years, got this season started off on the right foot by winning 3 straight and 4 of their first 5 games but has since started to cool off as they are 2-3 in their last 5 games. The Cougars would get throttled by Knox Central 100-61 on Saturday night, ending the Crusaders 2 game win streak.

 

June Buchanan will travel to Letcher County Central for a huge 53^rd district battle on Tuesday night. Game time set for 7:30 PM.

 

 

Hazard continues to struggle, goes 2-3 in their last 5 games

Hazard, known for always being a region contender in the 14^th region, has been struggling this season. The Bulldogs opened the season with a 66-65 loss to Cordia but winning 3 of their first 5 games but they would start to struggle as they’d win two, lose two, win two, lose two and so on and has been that way the whole season. Hazard would make their way to Breathitt County to face a 2-9 Bobcats team that has struggled this season. Hazard was looking to push their win streak to 2 games but that wouldn’t be the story for this game as Breathitt County would upend the Bulldogs 76-65.

 

Hazard will prepare to do battle with Clay County in the first round of the WYMT Mountain Classic on Tuesday. Game time is set for 8:30 PM.

 

 

Estill County ends four game skid, defeats Powell County

Estill County would take a 2 game win streak into the Berea Invitational tournament before going on a 4 game skid. Estill County would head to Stanton on Saturday night to face the Pirates in a boy/girl double header, district game, looking to end their skid. Powell County would get the best of Estill for a quarter and half before Estill would turn the tables and go on a 19-0 middle of the second quarter and into the third quarter and the Engineers wouldn’t stop there as they’d capitalize on Powell County turnovers and grab rebounds on their way to a 54-42 win to remain perfect, 2-0 in district play.

 

Estill County will host Garrard County on Tuesday (7:30 PM) and Owsley County on Friday in another boy/girl district game double header.

 

 

14th Region Top 10 (1/4/15)

1. Knott County Central (12-1)

2. Perry County Central (10-5)

3. Cordia (7-1)

4. Letcher County Central (8-4)

5. Buckhorn (7-4)

6. Hazard (7-8)

7. Leslie County (8-7)

8. June Buchanan (7-4)

9. Jackson City (6-10)

10. Estill County (6-7)

 

Outside looking in: Powell County (4-9), Breathitt County (3-9) and Jenkins (3-7)

This article is from last week. The one I done Friday is from two weeks ago.