I agree

That Lincoln JV team may have been led by Noah Young who this season was the 6th man for the varsity team. Having seen both SW and Lincoln's JV teams this season I give the nod to SW as far as having more total talent. Chase Phillips for Lincoln County is going to be a great player for them.

 

Noah Young didn't play any JV this season. I only saw Southwestern JV twice so I can't speak on them much.

I'll go with Will Hager

 

He is tough. I like his game A LOT. Very heady!

Noah Young didn't play any JV this season. I only saw Southwestern JV twice so I can't speak on them much.

 

That's what PP meant when he said it would have been led by. If you saw Lincoln's JV team play, you saw everyone but Young. Their JV team was good, now put a key varsity contributor with those JV kids and you have an idea what their team will be like next year.

Mercer County gets the #1 spot for me. They return pretty much their whole team and they have region tourney experience. This will be a hungry and talented team next season.

 

Assuming Malik Dow doesn't "decide" to move back to Louisville or somewhere else!!

Noah Young didn't play any JV this season. I only saw Southwestern JV twice so I can't speak on them much.

When you said last season I thought you were referring to 2013/14. This season Boyle's JV should have defeated Lincoln's JV. Boyle's JV was mollywhoped by SW's JV.

Assuming Malik Dow doesn't "decide" to move back to Louisville or somewhere else!!

 

He ain't going anywhere.

He ain't going anywhere.

 

You never know. I'm sure Ballard and Butler thought that last year as well. Anyway that is off topic. Hope 12th region continues to play good basketball which I'm sure it will. I'm an 11th region guy but I have really liked watching hagen tyler, peyton woods and the lincoln county kids over the past few years.

 

Good basketball!!!

Don't sleep on West Jessamine... Lose three starters but they're deep. West JV won the 12th Region JV tournament, return their leading scorer (Holifield) and PG (Seater) and will probably have a transfer come in.

Don't sleep on West Jessamine.

 

I never sleep on West. They always seem to be better than expectations. I suspect next year will be no different.

I never sleep on West. They always seem to be better than expectations. I suspect next year will be no different.

 

West Jessamine is extremely well coached and always seems to get transfers from Fayette County. Those kids seem to slide in under the radar but they always play a significant role for West. Both Ely and McCorvey (2 of their top 3 players) were transfers.

My pre-season rankings:

 

1) Mercer - Hager, Faulkner, Dow, Davis and Mink- their top 5 players return. In Hager and Faulkner, there's the potential to have two "first team" 12th region players. Likewise for Wayne, but I don't think they have anyone like Dow, another probable all region performer. Davis stayed healthy towards the end of the year and was the X factor as to why they played their best ball at the end of the year (ignoring the Lincoln game). Depth is a concern as they will go 6 to 8 deep depending on development. Outside shooting is a concern as well. As the year progressed, Hager seemed to go away from his mid-range jumper. The extent to which he takes that shot will determine how well they fare against zones.

 

2) Wayne - I give them the edge over Southwest. They lost their BEST PLAYER in Woods. I wouldn't have said that 2 years ago but he became much more well rounded. They are better when Blevins shoots a few less shots; when he lets the game come to him. Gillespie is the X factor for them as he will be the second tallest kid in the region. The intangible for Wayne is their tradition which can't be overlooked.

 

3) Southwest - they lost their 2 most important players. The good news is they have a ton of depth which is their biggest advantage. Fitzgerald is a very nice player and will continue to get better. I see him as their leader for the next 3 years and a can't miss all region player next year. I would expect Gover to make it as well.

 

IF rosters stay the same, I think those 3 should be above the rest. Beyond those 3, I expect Danville, Casey, West in some order. Curious to watch Boyle's development and to see how Garrard does. Then maybe Pulaski, Lincoln and Rockcastle.

Wasn't sold on Mercer County the other night, I mean they scored 34 points against a mild Lincoln Defense for peat sake, while also showing virtually no sign of life from the perimeter. Simply put, i feel like Mercer's size will hinder them next season if it comes down to a dual between them and wayne. Timmy Taylor chewed up their defense the other night. Trey Blevins would do the same, with an even greater 3pt shooting threat, and that could be dangerous against Mercer. Southwestern without a 15 ppg center next year will not beat Wayne County. I like their young guard talent, but they can't hold a candle right now to 2 guys who are consistently good, and have 2 regional championships to their name. I am interested to see what Garrard County will have in store for us next season!

 

I'm not sure how much stock I'd put in one game - they looked really good against SW (after a good win at West in the district championship) and awful vs Lincoln. Lincoln had the better team, no question. But those boys for Lincoln won't be back next year. Mercer shot around 33% from both the field AND the line against Lincoln - never seen a performance like that. If this were a recurring problem, that'd be cause for concern. But, for the year, Mercer shot 52% from the field and 70% from the line. In the SW game they shot 53% from the field and 55% from the line (still below their average). I would contend that, if anything, the Lincoln game was more of an aberration and SW more in-line with the norm.

Pulaski will struggle, they lose their leading scorer in Shaun Ross, best defender and a 10 ppg scorer in Blake Burton, and a Good shot blocker/Rim protector in Cameron Ellington. Rockcastle loses a great point guard in Sam Pensol. And Lincoln basically starts from scratch.

Pulaski will struggle, they lose their leading scorer in Shaun Ross, best defender and a 10 ppg scorer in Blake Burton, and a Good shot blocker/Rim protector in Cameron Ellington. Rockcastle loses a great point guard in Sam Pensol. And Lincoln basically starts from scratch.

 

I would expect Pulaski to be just fine. They return two key starters that will be two of the better players in the region.. The 47th district should once again be a battle.