14th Region Rankings - Week 1

One week of the 2016/17 basketball season has came and gone and what an exciting first week. We’ve seen some blowout games and we’ve seen games that’s came down to the last minute / last shot. Let’s take a recap of the 14^th Region.

1.Perry County Central (1-0):

The Commodores had just one game but it was against district foe Buckhorn. Commodores were out to get some revenge for being upset by the Wildcats in the regional championship game last season. First half was all Buckhorn. Wildcats took a 26-19 lead into halftime but the second half was a different story as the Commodores would take the lead and go on to win the game 59-44.

The Commodores will be on the road this week traveling to Clay County on December 6^th and Harlan County on December 10^th.

2.Knott County Central (3-0):

Knott County Central picked up 3 big wins this week, 2 on the road and 1 on a netrual floor. The Patriots would have little trouble out of Jenkins as they cruised to a 85-37 victory but the next two games would be a tell of a different story. The Patriots escaped the Wolfe County Wolves in the Wolves Den 92-87 in OT and then they would go on North Laurel to participate in the Legacy Nissan Shootout against Casey County and yet again the game would go down the stretch but it would be the Patriots holding on to the win 80-77.

The Patriots will have 2 home games this week and another netural game. December 6^th home against June Buchanan, December 8^th against Leslie County and December 10^th against one of the states top teams, Scott County in the Mountains to Metro Classic @ Breathitt County.

3.Cordia (2-0):

Despite the coaching change Cordia suffered over the summer, the Lions are off to a good start to begin the 2016/17 season. The Lions went to Paris to take on the Bourbon County Colonels. This game would be one of the better ones, going into 3 OT’s before the Lions pulling out a thrilling 78-75 victory. Cordia would then also play in the Legacy Nissan Classic @ North Laurel against Lafayette with the Lions winning 74-64.

The Lions travel to Clay County on Saturday Dec. 10^th to take on the Tigers in the Bobby Keith Classic.

4.Letcher County Central (1-1):

Letcher Central opened up the season on the wrong foot, taking a 64-42 beating at the hands of Harlan County. However, the Cougars would bounce back in a big, big way as they would crush Jackson City by 42 at 73-31. Top ranked region player, Torrell Carter led the Cougars with 21 points in the win.

Letcher Central will host Betsy Layne on December 6^th before traveling to Jenkins on December 9^th and playing Shawnee in the Mountains to Metro Classic @ Breathitt County on Saturday.

5.Breathitt County (2-1):

In all 3 games for Breathitt County this season, have been decided by 15+ points. The Bobcats opened the season up by defeating Prestonsburg 76-55, then demolishing Riverside Christian 79-29 before falling @ North Laurel 85-67.

Bobcats will have a tough task on Saturday when Estill County comes to town for the Mountains to Metro Classic but the Bobcats have Jackson City on their radar before that on December 9^th.

6.Wolfe County (1-2):

The Wolves opened the season with arguably 2 of the toughest opponents anyone could open up with. The Wolves traveled to Lexington, Clay Mills Road to battle the Lexington Catholic Knights and it wouldn’t be much of a contest as the Knights would roll to a 87-58 win. Wolfe County would travel to Riverside Christian to face the Rams, this game wouldn’t be much of a contest either as the Wolves would run away with a 87-41 win. The Wolves would welcome in the Patriots of Knott County Central in what would be one of the best games in the entire region with the Wolves coming up on the short end of the stick falling 92-87 in OT.

Wolfe County will travel to Leslie County on December 6^th before going to Model to participate in the Central Bank Heroes Classic against Bethlehem on Saturday.

7.Leslie County (3-0):

The Eagles are off to one of the best starts in school history, standing at 3-0, but that’s not the main point, all 3 games, the Eagles have won by 10+ points. Leslie County opened up the season @ Jackson City, picking up a 74-57 victory over the Tigers. Leslie County would return home Friday hosting Owsley County in what wouldn’t be much of a contest as the Eagles would run away with a 78-57 victory. Leslie County hosted the Pendleton County Wildcats on Saturday, scoring their 3^rd straight 70+ point game on their way to a 75-63 win.

Leslie County will host Wolfe County in a big showdown on Tuesday Dec. 6^th, then traveling to Knott Central on Thursday Dec. 8^th and playing Portland Christian in the Central Bank Heroes Classic @ Model on Saturday.

8.Estill County (2-0):

The Engineers are off to one of the best starts in school history, 2-0. The last time they started off the season 2-0 was the 2002/3 school year when they defeated Paris and Prestonsburg. The Engineers opened up the season against Somerset, in what would be a thrilling back and forth game, Somerset led by 10 at one point in the second quarter before the Engineers would make a run to end the half. Engineers would hold on to the lead late as they went on to a 52-47 win over the Briar Jumpers, their first win over the Jumpers since 2013/14. Estill County would host the Bell County Bobcats on Saturday looking to revenge a 56-39 defeat to the Bobcats last season and what a game by the Engineers this would be. Estill would run out to a 13-3 lead going into the second quarter and they wouldn’t look back as they would demolish the bobcats on their way to a 37 point win, 67-30. Engineers were hot from 3, going 12/19 from behind the arc.

Estill County will travel to Nicholasville on Thursday to battle the Jaguars in the Jungle, then the Engineers will face another Bobcats team, this time Breathitt County Bobcats on Saturday in Jackson in the Mountains to Metro Classic @ Breathitt.

9.Powell County (2-1):

Powell County got off to a great start, picking up a big 83-67 victory @ Buckhorn, defeating the defending region champs. Powell County would fall in their second game, first home game of the season though falling 76-52 to Sheldon Clark. Powell County would travel to Model to battle the Patriots in what would be another thrilling game in the region as the Pirates would ease out a 70-65 win in OT.

The Pirates have a tough test coming up as they travel to Georgetown to take on Scott County on December 6^th before traveling to Model to take on Frankfort in the Central Bank Heroes Classic on Saturday.

10.Buckhorn (1-2):

The defending region champs are off to a bad start to begin their season after winning the region crown last season. Buckhorn opened up the season at home on Nov. 29^th at home hosting Powell County. Nothing went right for the Horn as they fell to Powell County 83-67. Buckhorn would bounce back and defeat Lee County 108-58. Buckhorn had 6 different players to score double digits, including a triple double by senior guard Shannon Blank with 11 points, 16 boards and 10 assists. Buckhorn traveled to Hazard on Saturday to play Perry Central (Perry Central’s season opener), Buckhorn done everything right in the first half but Perry Central adjust and took off in the second half on their way to a 59-44 victory over Buckhorn.

Buckhorn travels to Jackson City on Tuesday, Sheldon Clark on Thursday and will participate in the Mountains to Metro Classic @ Breathitt County on Saturday against Iroquois.

11.Hazard (0-0):

The Bulldogs open up the season on December 6^th against Lee County.

12.Lee County (1-2):

Both of Lee County’s losses have been by 30 or more points. Their only win came against Red Bird, the bad thing? It was only a 6 point victory for the Bobcats on their own home floor 94-88.

13.Jackson City (0-2):

Jackson City has lost both of their games by 17+ points. Not a good start to the Corey Hoskins coaching career.

14.June Buchanan (0-2):

Another team that has took beatings so far this season. The Crusaders had a good season last year but not so much this year.

15.Owsley County (0-3):

The Owls took a beating to Menifee County 91-45, a team that scrimmaged eachother during the pre-season and only lost by couple of points. Owsley lost to Red Bird 60-58. Leslie County would hand the Owls another loss on the season.

16.Jenkins (0-3):

The Cavaliers, again, one of the teams that have took beatings this season.

17.Riverside Christian (0-3):

Riverside has already had 2 district losses in their first 3 games on the season.