Inside the 15th Region (Week 1)

Week 1 of the 2015-2016 Boys’ Basketball Season is in the books with a few key changes from our preseason prediction. Many 15th Region teams saw their football programs make deep playoff runs and are subsequently getting key players back at the beginning of week 2. We will know much more about the depth and talent of the 15th Region come mid-January, but here is where they stack up for now.

 

1. Lawrence County (1-0) – The Bulldogs opened with a road win vs. East Carter (79-65). Timmy Dalton led LC with 27 pts and 10 rbs, while Austin Chaffins and Robert Dalton also hit double figures with 19 points each. Lawrence County will play a very good June Buchanan team at home on Friday (December 11th) and face a solid Boyd County team on the road Saturday (December 12th) in week 2. Until someone knocks them off, the Bulldogs are the team to beat in the 15th and will only get better as they get their basketball legs under them post football.

2. Magoffin County (1-1) – The Hornets could be scary good this season. They have a solid PG in Jaren Lovely, the big time scorer in Trenton Russell, a monster of a man in the middle in Jacob Issacc, and key roles players in Dalton Peters and Leighton Hensley. With newcomers such as Brady Whitaker hitting big 3’s the Hornets are looking good early in the season. Magoffin opened with an overtime loss on the road to a solid out of region Knott Central team (73-79: Russell with 35 pts) and followed up with a big win against East Ridge at home (61-38: Lovely with 17 pts). Magoffin will have South Floyd at home Tuesday (December 8th) and a huge matchup with Pikeville on the road Friday (December 11th).

 

3. Pikeville (0-0) – After completion of a Class A Football State Championship run, head coach and Bart Williams and the Panthers have yet to play a game, but should be very good this season. With Wyatt Battaile emerging as one of the best players in the region the Panthers could make their first sweet sixteen run since 1999. Pikeville opens this week with four games on the slate. Piarist at home on Monday (December 7th), Besty Layne on the road Tuesday (December 8th), Magoffin County at home Friday (December 11th), and East Carter at Boyd County Saturday (December 12th). This week will tell us a lot about Pikeville.

 

4. Johnson Central (1-1) – The Golden Eagles opened week 1 with a tough 70-74 vs. a much improved Greenup County squad (Mason Blair 27 pts 9 rbs) and followed up with a win against Jackson County 66-61 (5 players in double figures led by Mason Blair with 15 pts – Luke Vance recorded first career double-double with 14 pts and 13 rbs). JC is without Senior swing man Josh Hitchcock after knee surgery (practice injury in early November – surgery has been done and he should return late January to early February – meniscus injury), Senior big man Tyler Pack (football), Steven Gound (football), Tyrese Allen (football), Evan Adkins (football). Right now JC is getting valuable experience for younger kids, but are thin until their football players and injured players return. When at full strength, JC will be a tough out in the tournament, but right now they are still defining roles. Tommy McKenzie and the Golden Eagles will host a very good team in Perry Central Tuesday (December 8th).

 

5. Shelby Valley (2-0) – The Wildcats opened with wins vs. Piarist 59-14 and Jenkins 74-27 (stats unavailable at this time). SV has one of the best players in the region in Hunter Swindall, but its hard to tell how good they will be until they play better competition (granted Piarist is a district opponent). For now we will slate them at #5, but will note they could move up in future weeks. Week 2 should see Valley record another win against Prestonsburg squad that is in rebuild mode. They host the Blackcats Tuesday (December 8th).

Close to getting in the top 5:

Pike Central (1-1) – Win vs. Betsy Layne at home 57-47 (Teddy Smith 15 pts, 12 rbs). Loss vs. North Laurel 53-74 (Teddy Smith 14 pts). The Hawks will only get better as they are playing tough competition early this season.

 

South Floyd (1-1) – The Raiders defeated Sheldon Clark 86-68 at home (Jacob Collins 23 pts, Andrew Tackett 22 pts 12 ast 5 stls) and lost on the road to Powell County 55-65 (Jacob Collins 22 pts, Clifton Trammell 15 pts 12 rbs). South Floyd has very strong guard play that will take them along way this season.

 

Agree or Disagree?

Are those rankings or just a list of teams?

Are those rankings or just a list of teams?

 

Those are rankings after week 1.

Those are rankings after week 1.

 

I got you; I posted before I seen the bottom of the article :thumb: