The past week really showed how crazy this season has been. It is almost impossible to rank or analyze teams because the performance from one game to the next for most teams is just so unpredictable. The last week saw the #1 ranked 6th region team blow out two teams and get blown out themselves in a third game during the week. That is just an example, many teams had key games that left you scratching your head. So here goes the new rankings:

 

Top 10

 

1.) Doss

After a 2-1 week, Doss is now 17-4 and still undefeated in the region at 8-0. After two lop sided victories, a late addition game added at the last minute was in hindsight ill advised. Trinity absolutely demolished Doss and to make matters worse there was some team chemistry issues that blew up after this game that could either help Doss in the long run or continue to plague them if they do not come together. Still, they beat a top region team in DeSales by over 20 points last week to show how they are the clear cut favorite to win the 6th region. The only game this week is a rematch of the LIT final versus Ballard. We will get a good idea on how quickly the Dragons are able to put the Trinity fiasco behind them.

 

2.) PRP

The rankings changed again up at the top (#2-4), leaving PRP right behind Doss where the Panthers are now steadfastly anchored. PRP has a King of the Bluegrass Showcase game against Covington Catholic on Friday and follow that up with a Saturday game against John Hardin. They are 13-4 overall and only a opening season loss to Doss keeps them from being undefeated in their regional schedule. Until they potentially lose a 6th region game, they will remain ahead of the rest of the pack that for a short time had moved in front of them (DeSales & Bullitt East).

 

3.) DeSales

15-5 with a 8-2 record in the region keeps DeSales at the #3 spot. Last week DeSales beat 6th region foe, Bullitt Central, in a score that left you wondering if they only played a single half, 36-34. Had they lost to Bullitt Central they would have dropped considering they also had previously lost to Doss by 22 earlier in the week. However, margin of victory seems less important this year when teams are being upset on a regular basis and they finished the week at 1-1. Getting that victory is all that matters, not the style points. They face non-region opponents their next several games which should be victories on paper.

 

4.) Bullitt East

13-7 and 3-2 in the region will keep Bullitt East near the top, but going 1-2 for the week was the catalyst to swap back places with PRP at the #2 spot. All three games were out of region play, but it was disappointing to see the Collins loss especially after BE made it to the Final Four of the LIT. They also lost a rematch with Manual who they had beaten at the LIT a week earlier. They finished the week with an easy victory over Nelson County who has been getting beat on a pretty regular basis by large margins. Bullitt East has a big game with Fairdale on Tuesday and that will be a game to keep our eye on as Fairdale is 6-1 in regional play.

 

5.) Fern Creek

12-7 and 6-2 in the region keep Fern Creek at the 5th position, but both region victories the past week were very close games against teams outside of the Top 10. The Jeffersontown victory was a district rival so the close game was expected, but Butler pushed Fern Creek to a 2 point game which leaves some question whether Fern Creek can challenge the teams above them. Tonight Fern Creek gets a chance to play 7th region Waggner who like Fern Creek is 12-7, but has quietly been rising up the standings in the 7th region by winning 8 out of their last 10 games. This is a very big test for Fern Creek and will give some idea on how able they are to compete against teams of equal or better talent. Fern Creek also plays 13th region Knox Central in the King of the Bluegrass Showcase later in the week.

 

6.) Western

Oddly, Western has only played 13 games compared to many more games played by other teams. They are now 7-6 overall and 4-3 in the region. They won their only game last week against 6th region opponent, Jeffersontown. They play Central in their only game this week. Perhaps they strategy of fewer games will pay off in the district and regional tournaments with fresher legs late in the season.

 

7.) Fairdale

Fairdale moves up a spot after losing to St. X and beating Moore in a close 1 point game last week. Despite a sub .500 record at 8-9, they have taken care of their regional schedule and have a 6-1 record to date. However, starting with Bullitt East on Tuesday they still must face the tougher part of their regional schedule in the later part of the season with games against DeSales, Fern Creek, PRP, and Doss still remaining. One bright spot is the play of freshman, Glenn Queen who scored 17 this week when they beat Moore. He hit several key three pointers down the stretch and was very instrumental in the comeback victory. He deserves mention as he is a very strong and confident guard who is one of the best young players in the region along with the three freshmen from Fern Creek.

 

8.) Southern

Southern is at .500 on the season with a 9-9 record after losing to PRP last week by over 20 points, but also beat the previously higher ranked North Bullitt team 62-54. They are now at 4-6 and 2-1 in district play. They play three Region 7 teams this week starting with Shawnee tonight followed by Waggner & Eastern later in the week. It will be tough to get a win over any of those teams, but Southern fights in every game and can not be counted out.

 

9.) Whitefield Academy

Whitefield Academy is above.500 with a 11-9 record and is 1-2 in regional play splitting a pair of All "A" Classic games by beating Walden and only losing to KCD by a 55-51 margin. KCD is pretty good so Whitefield may be finding themselves and will get two victories as they take on district foes Jeffersontown and Bullitt Central this week.

 

10.) North Bullitt

After rising to 6th in the last week rankings, the North Bullitt team drops down to 10th. Despite an impressive 11-7 overall record and 4-2 in the region, the drop in rankings is a result of a loss to Southern, 54-62. The only two victories on their schedule over Jefferson County opponents were over Moore and Iroquois who are both struggling this season. Their other three games with Jefferson County teams resulted in losses to Holy Cross & St. X in addition to the recent loss to Southern. Until they can prove to be competitive with the top tier teams in the 6th region, their record will only get them so much credibility. They have only scheduled one more 6th region opponent which is Bullitt East in mid-February which makes it difficult to move them any higher unless they score an upset at that time.

 

Top Player

PRP Big Man, Drew Glass, gets the player of the week honors. Drew had a double double with 20 points and a double digits effort on the boards in the victory over Southern which was the only game for PRP last week. PRP needs the Senior post player to produce efforts like that if they have any chance to repeat going to the Sweet 16 in March. Richard Gaines is the player everybody keys upon when facing PRP and if Drew can deliver like he did against Southern then it will be much harder to contain Gaines if you have to account for Drew.

 

All "A" Classic

In an odd situation, the representative from Region 6 is Shawnee who is listed as a KHSAA Region 7 team. Only for the All "A" Classic purposes, Shawnee competes in Region 6 for some unknown purpose. Oddly, Whitefield who is from Region 6 according to KHSAA actually competes in Region 7. Anyway, good luck to Shawnee as the representative from Region 6.

If seems that Whitefield beat Southern in overtime (although Whitefield schedule is questionable for a ranked team). I would placed them above Southern. If they beat Jeffersontown this week, Moody's future should be questioned. Jeffersontown program has fallen on hard times and there is nothing major in the system for the future.

 

Southern has a good week of basketball this week. Hope they do well.

 

Doss has got to figure things out before tournament time. Hope those guys come together or PRP will represent the region for a 3rd year in a row.

If seems that Whitefield beat Southern in overtime (although Whitefield schedule is questionable for a ranked team). I would placed them above Southern. If they beat Jeffersontown this week, Moody's future should be questioned. Jeffersontown program has fallen on hard times and there is nothing major in the system for the future.

 

Southern has a good week of basketball this week. Hope they do well.

 

Doss has got to figure things out before tournament time. Hope those guys come together or PRP will represent the region for a 3rd year in a row.

 

I pretty much agree with everything you state. Whitefield did beat Southern at home in 3 overtimes so they are obviously close. I just have some bias when Whitefield has only 3 games against 6th region opponents while Southern has played 10. Southern has 4 regional wins compared to the lone win over Southern for Whitefield. That will change some as Whitefield will have Jeffersontown, Fern Creek, Bullitt Central, and DeSales over the next several weeks starting with Jeffersontown.

I absolutely agree with the comment about Jeffersontown and Moody. He has shown to be a good coach in the past and one would have thought being the Coach at Jeffersontown would be a better job than taking over the job at Fern Creek like Coach Schooler did before last season given the recent state championship at JTown and Fern Creek has never been to a state tournament ever. Those schools are significant rivals very near each other and the future for these schools seems completely opposite.

 

I feel Doss will figure it out, they have so much more talent than anybody else when they are focused.