The top 4 teams from our last rankings switch things up, including a new #1, but teams 5-17 remain the same as we prepare to turn the calendar to 2016.

 

#1 - Montgomery County (9-3)

Matt Daniel's Indians were impressive in taking the Mike Murphy Classic title last week in Maysville. MoCo drained 12-19 3's in a tournament opening 78-66 win over Simon Kenton. Art Walker scored 22, Brennan Canada 20, and Caswell Fuller 18 to lead Montgomery. In the Tuesday semifinals, the Indians found themselves down to Lawrence County--ranked 18th in the BGP Kentucky poll--by as many as 13 points in the 1st half. The Indians rallied in the 2nd half and broke a 62-62 tie with an Art Walker trey in the game's closing seconds to win 65-62. Walker's 21 led MoCo, while Jerryd Jones added 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Indians then claimed the title on Wednesday, pulling away from host Mason County in the 4th quarter to win 84-71. Fuller scored 24, Walker 17, and both Jones and Canada chipped in 10 for the victors. Montgomery County then kept things rolling in their own Gateway Holiday Classic, besting Ballard Memorial 72-47 on Sunday. Jones and Walker paced Daniel's club with 19 and 17 points respectively.

#2 - Paris (6-2)

 

The Greyhounds drop a spot after splitting a pair of games from this past week. On Tuesday Paris led visiting Wolfe County 60-26 at halftime, eventually prevailing 84-53. Junior Jekobi Wells was one of four Hounds in double figures, leading with 19. James Clark added 13, Koebe Garrard 12, and Marcus Ashford 10. Terence Brooks' squad got another solid start in Sunday's game vs. Madison Central in Mt. Sterling. The Greyhounds were up 15-4 before the Indians scored 7 straight points to close the opening quarter. It was all Central from there on, beating Paris 71-57. Garrard scored 15 and Ashford 13 to lead in a losing effort.

#3 - Campbell County (4-6)

 

The Camels drop a spot after an 0-2 finish in the Holmes Bulldog Classic. Campbell and the host Bulldogs went to Overtime in the Monday night game, but Holmes edged the Camels 71-66. Matt Wilson's 20 points and 19 rebounds led in defeat. Cole Hegyi also scored 20 for the Camels. Tuesday saw Aric Russell's bunch fall to North College Hill (OH) 65-57. Wilson had another splendid performance of 33 points and 12 rebounds, while senior point guard Trent McGovney contributed 11 points.

 

#4 - Mason County (8-2)

 

Pig Williams scored 26 points to lead Mason County in Monday night's 77-66 win over Augusta in the final 1st Round game of the Mike Murphy Classic. Additionally, Conner Sweeney scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Royals, who were in control most of the game. Darren Williams also had 14 points and Isiah Garrison 12. On Tuesday Mason County outscored St. Henry 24-2 in the 3rd quarter to pull away for a 60-44 semifinal victory. Sweeney had another double-double of 15 points and 10 boards, with Garrison adding 14. The Royals fell in the finals to Montgomery County 84-71, despite getting 27 points from Garrison. Sweeney tossed in 18 and Pig Williams, who battled foul trouble, finished with 15.

#5 - Scott (4-5)

 

Scott suffered another lopsided loss to start last week's action, a 71-36 pummeling at the hands of Lexington Christian in the Woodford County Invitational. The Eagles trailed 36-26 at intermission, but managed only 10 points the rest of the way. Jake Ohmer paced the Eagles with 19 points. On Tuesday Ohmer poured in 31 points, but his squad dropped one 77-71 to West Jessamine. The Eagles were able to get a pre-Christmas win, however, by upending Tates Creek 87-72 on Wednesday.

#6 - George Rogers Clark (3-5)

 

The Cardinals lost a tough one in their only outing last week. GRC led 14-10 after the 1st quarter, 30-27 at intermission, and 46-44 after 3, but Peyton Broughton (32 points) and North Laurel outlasted Scott Humphrey's club with a 65-60 triumph on Tuesday. James Cornelius led GRC in defeat with 13 points and Jyles Anderson chipped in with 12.

#7 - Pendleton County (5-6)

 

Keaton Belcher's Wildcats headed to the beach--Hilton Head, South Carolina to be exact--just before Christmas to participate in the Seahawk Holiday Classic. The Cats finished 1-2 in the tourney, losing on Monday to Beaufort (SC) 39-35 in a low scoring affair. Freshman Dontaie Allen scored 20 of his team's 35 and also grabbed 9 boards. Pendleton lost game #2 on Tuesday to fellow Kentucky squad Harlan County 66-51. Allen's 14 and Hunter Wood's 10 paced PC in defeat. But Belcher's Bombers grabbed a W before heading home, outlasting North Forsyth (GA) 58-55, led by Wood's 17 points. Wade Browning scored 12 and Tanner Daugherty 11 in the victory.

#8 - Augusta (8-3)

 

The Panthers couldn't overcome 58% FG shooting by Mason County in Monday night's Mike Murphy Classic opener. Connor Maddox scored 23 points (12-12 FT's) as Augusta lost 77-66 to its 39th District rival. But Brian Kirk's boys regrouped to win their other two games, beginning with Tuesday's 58-53 edging of Lewis County. Maddox again led with 17, while Jared Shoemaker scored 13, Camryn Snapp 11, and Tanner Pugh 10. Maddox would score 30 and Owens Crawford 13 on Wednesday as the Panthers dealt Simon Kenton a 63-59 defeat.

#9 - Bracken County (5-3)

Jason Hinson's Polar Bears did not see any action last week, but will tip things off in the Ashland Invitational Tournament on Monday, squaring off with defending 16th Region champ Elliott County.

#10 - Bishop Brossart (6-3)

 

Mike Code and the Mustangs took part in Bellevue's Swauger Holiday Classic last week, finishing 2-1. The Stangs eased past Dayton on Monday 66-51, led by Joey Hickman's 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jacob Zai was the team's top scorer for the game with 17 points. On Tuesday Brossart pounded the host Tigers 57-24, with Jackson Crawford scoring 23 points and Zai adding 13. In the tourney's final game, the Mustangs were defeated by Newport 51-41--a team they had defeated by 10 on the road on December 3rd. Logan Schultz led in a losing effort with 11 points.

#11 - Harrison County (6-4)

 

The Thorobreds won the Beechwood Tiger Classic on Monday and Tuesday. Larry Kendall's squad got past Lloyd 64-58 on Monday, thanks in large part to Zack Pulliam's 29 points (5-5 3pt FG's). Jovon Williams added 15 points for the victors and Keishon Gilkey scored 10. The Breds then beat the host Tigers on Tuesday 61-52, with Pulliam turning in another strong performance with 20 points. Gilkey and Leon Commodore chipped in with 10 apiece.

#12 - Bourbon County (2-8)

 

The Colonels went 1-2 in last week's Mercer County Clash of Titans Tournament. Bourbon lost to Meade County 69-57 on Monday, with Ameryon Blackburn scoring 20 points in a losing effort. The Colonels were then narrowly nipped by Danville 57-56 on Tuesday, with Blackburn the high man again with 25 points. Senior big man Billy Orcutt had 16 for Nick Sosby's team. But Bourbon finished the tourney on Wednesday by beating Boyd County 65-62, snapping an 8-game losing streak. Blackburn scored 26 points and drained 7-11 3-pointers. Orcutt contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds.

#13 - St. Patrick (4-5)

 

The Saints wrapped up their play in Breckinridge County's Christmas Tournament by losing to Grayson County 54-40 on Monday. Jakaar Frey led St. Patrick with 15 points and 10 rebounds. On their way home, Matthew Taylor's squad stopped by Brown and handed the Bears a 61-24 loss. Ben Swolsky topped the Saints with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Frey added another double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard Brennan Bauer also had 11 points for the winners.

#14 - Nicholas County (2-7)

 

Elijah Barnett had a monster performance in Nicholas County's only game last week. The senior forward finished with 37 points (16-19 FG's, 5-6 FT's) and 10 rebounds as the Jackets kept host Menifee County winless in a 73-63 victory. Trent Letcher added 14 points in the win.

 

#15 - Calvary Christian (8-2)

 

The Cougars had their 6-game winning streak halted on Monday in Portland Christian's Holiday Classic. Calvary lost 60-48 to Evangel Christian, despite getting 20 points from Aikeem Riley and 15 from Justin Wade. Calvary came back strong on Tuesday, beating Latin for a second time this year, this time by a score of 52-35. Riley scored 25 points, while connecting on 7-11 treys. Wade had another solid outing of 14 points and 7 rebounds.

#16 - Robertson County (2-9)

 

The Black Devils also participated in Bellevue's Swauger Holiday Classic, and it wasn't an ideal three-day stretch for John Brown's club. Robertson lost to host Bellevue 72-39 on Monday, then 69-49 to Dayton on Tuesday, and then ended the tourney with a 66-30 defeat at the hands of John McGregor, Chatham Ontario Canada on Wednesday.

 

#17 - Silver Grove (0-8)

 

The Big Trains joined Bracken County in remaining idle last week. Howard Brownstein's club will look for its first win of the year on Tuesday in a contest with Marist College Canberra, Australia.

Well done! Does your mommy know you were up that late?

I think I'd slide Scott to 7 and move GRC and PC up one each but other than that, looks good to me.

I look forward to your rankings each week, RP; however, my top 7 would look like this.

 

1.) Paris

2.) Campbell County

3.) Montgomery County

4.) Mason County

5.) Scott

6.) GRC

7.) Pendleton County

I look forward to your rankings each week, RP; however, my top 7 would look like this.

 

1.) Paris

2.) Campbell County

3.) Montgomery County

4.) Mason County

5.) Scott

6.) GRC

7.) Pendleton County

 

I can see that, given (fairly) recent head-to-head results. IMHO, Montgomery is playing head and shoulders above the rest at this point in time.

The 10th is completely wide open, but at this point you can rank 1-3 and 5-8 anywhere you want and have perfectly good reasoning behind it

Moco and Paris game will ultimately determine the 10th region fav.

Moco and Paris game will ultimately determine the 10th region fav.

 

Think everyone will be watching the outcome of this game. Also a big district game.

Moco and Paris game will ultimately determine the 10th region fav.

 

Wouldn't count CC out. They are getting things worked out and a lot of talent and depth. I'm still predicting CC wins the 10th in the end, despite their weak start to the season

Wouldn't count CC out. They are getting things worked out and a lot of talent and depth. I'm still predicting CC wins the 10th in the end, despite their weak start to the season

 

Too good not to get things together and be right in the thick of things.

Wouldn't count CC out. They are getting things worked out and a lot of talent and depth. I'm still predicting CC wins the 10th in the end, despite their weak start to the season

 

I don't know if they'll win it, but I do think it will ultimately be Montgomery or Campbell.

I don't know if they'll win it, but I do think it will ultimately be Montgomery or Campbell.

 

Tourney is at Moco and will give them the advantage.

Tourney is at Moco and will give them the advantage.

 

I think that can make a difference.

I think that can make a difference.

 

I have always believed that playing on your home court gives them the advantage.

I have always believed that playing on your home court gives them the advantage.

 

I think playing at home can sometimes provide an advantage and sometimes not.