article Inside the 15th Region (12-5-16)

[15th Region]

Overview: The morning air is getting colder and basketball is back in the mountains. Week 1 opened with a few surprises as one of the favorites has been hit by sickness and it showed. Overall the top 4 have not changed. Let’s see how the rankings pan-out early in the season.

 

1. Johnson Central (2-0) – The Golden Eagles opened the season with a big road win at Greenup County 80-74. JC was powered by their dynamic backcourt as Cole Crace (32) and Mason Blair (31) each went for 30 plus in the game. It was the first time since the 1969-1970 that two JC players had done that (Howard Wallen and Mike Castle). JC followed up that win with a dominating performance against a down June Buchanan team 76-47. Mason Blair scored 20 points in the first quarter on his way to a team high 23 in under 14 minutes of play. Cole Crace added 12 points and a dunk while foreign exchange center Leon Moshefy also had his first career dunk. JC will be in action in Week 2 as they travel to Lawrence County on Thursday and then travel to Allen Central to play Rowan County on Saturday. Look for big games out of Mason Blair and Timmy Dalton on Thursday as the two POY candidates and M.A.T.T.S. Mustangs AAU teammates will look to out duel each other.

 

2. Sheldon Clark (1-1) – The Cardinals opened the season on the road by defeating a solid Powell County squad 76-52. POY Candidate Dylan James recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds while his teammate Dave Cantrell did the same (16 points 10 rebounds). SC would next face a very good North Laurel team on the road, falling 60-72 (James 11 points, 5 rebounds). This week the Cardinals welcome in Buckhorn on Thursday for their home opener then travel to Breathitt County where they play Tates Creek in the Breathitt County Classic. The tough schedule will pay huge dividends come tournament time. Look for James to continue his stellar play throughout the season!

 

3. East Ridge (2-0) - You are never out of the game with Randy McCoy at the helm and East Ridge proved that in week 1. With a deliberate and controlled tempo, the Warriors defeated Grundy, VA 58-29 (Dawson Clark 17 points) and one of the 15th Region favorites in Magoffin County 39-38 (Matt Millers 14 points); both games were at home. This week East Ridge has Lawrence County at home Monday and Belfry on the road Thursday. They are a disciplined team under coach McCoy and will be in every game they play with his style.

 

4. Magoffin County (1-2) – Magoffin opened with a 63-56 win at home versus a scrappy South Floyd team. They then fell on the road to East Ridge 38-39 and Oldham County at Paris 28-86. Despite the near 60 point loss, there is no need to panic for the Hornet faithful as Magoffin County was without several key players due to illness and injury in the Oldham County game (POY Candidate Trenton Russell, although sick, did play in all games and had 24 in the South Floyd win [complete stats yet to be posted] – several other starters were out sick and Dalton Peters is still recovering from an intestinal injury suffered during football). The Hornets are still very good and as they recover should move back up the leader board. This week they have Betsy Layne on the road Thursday and Mason County at Robertson County on Saturday.

 

5. Lawrence County (3-1) – The Bulldogs continued their winning ways from last season by defeating Morgan County on the road 73-35 (Timmy Dalton with 35 points, 12 rebounds), East Carter at home 85-65 (Timmy Dalton with school record 51 points), and Russell on the road in overtime 74-70 (Timmy Dalton with 32 points). Lawrence County did lose to Boyd County at home 57-80 (Timmy Dalton 24 points) as they seemed to run out of gas. Timmy Dalton came out guns blazing as he looks for the POY award come seasons end. This week LC plays East Ridge on the road on Monday, Johnson Central at home on Thursday, then Allen Central on the road on Saturday. The East Ridge and Johnson Central games will tell us more about them, but the hot start in week 1 was somewhat of a surprise.

6. Pikeville (0-0) – The Panthers were idle in week 1 but did get the Watkins and Hamilton kids eligible as expected. Pikeville opens with Phelps at home on Thursday and Piarist at home on Saturday. Look for two wins as they will not be tested early.

 

7. Pike Central (1-0) – The Haws looked good in an opening road win as they defeated Betsy Layne 58-35. Ryan Eads and Seth Conn did not disappoint. This week have Allen Central Tuesday at home, Paintsville Thursday on the road, and Prestonsburg at Allen Central on Saturday.

 

8. South Floyd (0-1) – Look for the Raiders to move up the list as the season progresses. They have excellent guard play and excellent post play. South Floyd lost to Magoffin County on the road 56-63 in week 1 (Roger Tackett 20 points, Brady Conn 10 points and 14 rebounds). This week they play Jenkins at home on Tuesday and Allen Central on the road Friday in the 58th district opener. They will be favored in both games.

 

9. Paintsville (0-0) – The Tigers were idle in week 1. On Thursday they Pike Central then Friday Betsy Layne. We will see what style of play new Head Coach Landon Slone brings very soon!

 

10. Shelby Valley (4-0) - Defeated Piarist and Phelps at home 68-8 and 78-51 respectively then defeated Jenkins on the road, 54-44 and Harland at home 51-29. Cody Potter has had multiple 20 point outburst during the run. We might see Shelby Valley move up the list as the season goes on and their competition gets tougher. Right now they are on the right track, with a very young squad.

 

11. Belfry (0-0) – The Pirates usually don’t get their basketball legs until late December/early January as they are busy winning football state titles. They open Tuesday with East Ridge at home and Thursday with Bath County at home. Austin Woolum will give them a major lift now that football is over.

 

12. Allen Central (3-0) - Defeated Jenkins 85-58 at home, Piarist at home 83-28, and Betsy Layne on the road 49-34. Tuesday Pike Central on the road, Friday South Floyd at home and Saturday Lawrence County at home. Ethan Smith-Mills is very good young player. As the competition gets tougher we will know more about Allen Central.

 

13. Phelps (0-2) - Lost to Shelby Valley on the road 51-78 and lost to Jackson County at home 61-79. This week Pikeville on the road Thursday, Prestonsburg on the road on Friday, and Pineville at Jackson County on Saturday. Looking to overcome key injuries to their best players.

 

14. Prestonsburg (0-1) - Lost to Breathitt County 55-76. Shelby Valley Tuesday at home, Piarist Thursday at home, Phelps Friday at home, Pike Central at Allen Central Saturday. The Blackcats play hard, but have a long way to go before they can be considers contenders in the region.

 

15. Betsy Layne (0-2) - Lost to Pike Central at home 35-58 Lost to Allen Central at home 34-49. Letcher Central Tuesday on the road, Magoffin County Thursday at home, and Paintsville Friday on the road. Gonna be a long season for the Bobcat faithful. They are young and will get better as they take their lumps this season.

 

16. Piarist (0-4) - Scored no more than 28 points in any game. Could be the start of back-to-back zero win seasons.

 

Agree or Disagree?

[Equaltonone]

Thank you for all your hard work.

[Cash-Money]

Nice write up 15th.

I agree that JC is the best team in the region but it is still early in the season and March is a long way off. I still think Pikeville will be the team to challenge them, if the new coach developes them into a TEAM. They have several transfers that will have to gel with the players they have returning and that can be hard to do sometimes.

If JC can develop a consistent third scorer I like their chances though. I just don't think you can let two players(although they are scorers) take all the shots and be successful. One off night by one and the other getting locked down and the season can end quickly come March.