article 15th Region Week 3 Review: Shelby Valley Dominates Top Competition.

[15th Region]

Overview: Shelby Valley is steam-rolling all competition, Johnson Central brings home the first Holiday Tournament to the region, Paintsville picks up a controversial win at the buzzer and Pikeville finally opens the season in the week three. Listed below is the updated rankings for the 15th Region

 

Rankings (overall record):

1. (Up 3) Shelby Valley (5-0) – Shelby Valley is laying waste to everyone in their path and rise to the top spot this week. In fact, their closest game being a 19-point win on the road. Week three saw them knock off the top team in the 15th region in Johnson Central 80-61 and then dismantle the top team in the 14th region in Knott Central 87-57. The Wildcats play very hard and are well coached. With stars like Cody Potter (25 points 16 rebounds vs. Johnson Central) and Cameron Worrix (averaging 16 ppg) leading them way, this team is showing why they are one of the top overall teams in the mountains. In week four Shelby Valley will play in the Hi-Tech signs and graphix holiday classic at Prestonsburg where they will face Prestonsburg, Perry Central and Cordia.

 

2. (Down 1) Johnson Central (3-1) – The Golden Eagles drop from the top spot after losing at home to Shelby Valley (61-80) to open week three. Johnson Central bounced back by winning the Rebel Classic at Tolsia, WV with wins over Huntington High, WV 80-72 in OT (trailed by 16 with 6:40 in 4th) and Lawrence County 87-56 (Championship game). In the classic, standout sophomore Isaiah May was named tournament MVP as he had 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 dunk in the championship. Cory VanHoose and John King were also named all-tournament from JC. In week four, the Golden Eagles will face Lawrence County again, but on the road this time, followed by three games in the Hi-Tech signs and grahix holiday classic at Prestonsburg. In that event they will face Perry Central, Cordia and Pike Central.

 

3. (Down 1) Pikeville (2-1) – The Panthers opened the season with a district win on the road over Jenkins 88-40 (Connor Roberts 21 points). That was followed by the longest running tournament in the state in the Pikeville Invitational where Pikeville would drop their opening game to Louisville Central 54-74. The Panthers would finish the week strong with a consolation win the P.I.T. over Covington Holmes 89-62. In week four, Pikeville will host Harlan Independent before traveling to the Smokey Mountain Classic in Gatlinburg over the weekend.

 

4. (Down 1) Paintsville (4-2) – Paintsville posted a perfect 3-0 record in week three with wins over Powell County (86-55), Sheldon Clark on the road in 57th district action (55-51) and North Laurel (77-76) on a controversial buzzer beater. Freshman Colby Fugate is leading the Tigers in scoring this season and continues to impress. In the North Laurel game, however, this mid-range jump shot appeared to be after the horn (per Paintsville radio announcer and social media video), but was counted nonetheless. Paintsville is young and extremely talented, but appear to be working out some internal issues. Junior standout Seth Williams seems to be assessed technical fouls every game, and some players are on the bench one night and gone the next. Once the rotations are established and roles defined, look for Paintsville to put a much more consistent product on the floor. Improving an already very good one. Week four will see Paintsville host another 57th district foe in Magoffin County before traveling to Raceland for the Derby Classic where they open with Anderson County.

 

5. (Up 2) Lawrence County (6-3) – The Bulldogs went 3-1 in week three with wins over Belfry, Lewis County on the road, and Tolsia, WV on the road and a loss the Rebel Classic Championship to Johnson Central (56-87). In the Johnson Central game freshman Cody Maynard scored the first five points of the game, but injured his wrist and did not play the entire second half. Cody scored a career high 30 points in the previous game versus Tolsia, WV. Week four will see Lawrence County again play Johnson Central (home) before hosting East Carter.

 

6. (-) Sheldon Clark (2-3) – The Cardinals lost both games in week three. The first was an extremely close contest at home versus Paintsville 51-55 in which they fell behind 11-0 to start. The region’s top prospect, Trey James, was impressive in the win with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Sheldon Clark had a chance late to win the game, but an untimely turnover and missed 3FG is how the game would ultimately end. Following the Paintsville game, SC would travel to Perry Central where they would fall 47-74. Week four will see the Cardinals head to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic where they have four games scheduled.

 

7. (Down 2) Belfry (1-3) – The Pirates were 0-3 in week three with losses to Knox Central, Letcher Central and Lawrence County and all by double digits. The Pirates need to find to find a consistent second scorer behind Dezmon Roblee. In week four Belfry will participate in the Sayre School Classic where they will face Model, Sayre and Harlan Independent. Hopefully the three game losing streak will not continue.

 

8. (Up 1) Phelps (3-2) – The Hornets lost their only contest in week three in form of an overtime defeat to Morgan County at home 52-53. Trey Francis continues to shine as he surpassed the 1,500-point mark for his career. Phelps has no games scheduled for week four and will be back in action after Christmas.

 

9. (Up 2) Prestonsburg (4-2) – Prestonsburg has won three in a row and four of their last five to include going 2-0 in week three. Wins over Magoffin County (50-43) and Floyd Central (56-40) have the Black Cats 2-0 in 58th district play and above .500 this far into December for the first time in a long time. Brent Rose has his boys playing together and growing as a team. The schedule gets much tougher in week four as Shelby Valley, East Ridge and Perry Central come to town for the Hi-Tech signs and graphix holiday classic. They will be heavy underdogs in all games expect East Ridge.

 

10. (-) Pike Central (5-2) – The Hawks were 2-0 in week three with wins over Mountain Mission, VA and Buckhorn both at home in the Buffalo Wild Wings Shootout. Pike Central is struggling with pressure early in the season, but continues to win against a weak schedule. In week four they have Magoffin County, Jenkins, June Buchanan and Johnson Central. Expect at least two wins.

 

11. (Up 2) Magoffin County (4-4) – After and 0-3 start to the season, Magoffin has won four of their last five to include going 2-1 in week three, pulling their record back to .500. This past week the Hornets lost to Prestonsburg, then defeated both June Buchanan and Letcher Central by double digits. Senior Brady Whitaker is leading the region is scoring at nearly 28 per game, and the rest of the team seems to be falling into their rolls. Magoffin will look to keep it rolling in week four as they have Pike Central at home and then 57th district foe Paintsville on the road.

 

12. (Down 4) Floyd Central (2-6) – Floyd Central has lost six of their last seven with the only win coming in the form of a 79-35 final over Piarist (late addition to schedule). In week three, the Jaguars went 1-2 with the aforementioned win and losses to Prestonsburg (40-56) on the road and Hazard (45-64) in the Buffalo Wild Wings shootout at Pike Central. Kevin Spurlock returned to the sidelines after serving his suspension, but the fallout from the previous weeks has Floyd Central at the bottom of the region. Perhaps a voluntary team building “movie night” will help this weekend as the Jags have nowhere to go but up (per Coach Spurlock’s twitter). In week four they will face Betsy Layne in a very important 58th seeded game, then Nelson County, Christian County and First Love Christian Academy, PA in the Pop’s Chevy Classic at Floyd Central. One bright spot is junior Ethan Smith-Mills has been consistently putting up 20 point nights during this tough stretch.

 

13. (Up 1) Betsy Layne (4-3) – Betsy Layne picked up wins over Piarist and East Ridge in week three. The Bobcats host Floyd Central in a huge 58th District seeded game in their only contest this week.

 

14. (Down 2) East Ridge (2-3) – The Warriors went 1-1 in week three with a home loss the Betsy Layne 73-77 and a district win over Jenkins 75-54. Taylor Kane and Cameron Hess continue to lead East Ridge as the team scoring has increased this season compared to those in recent past. Week four will have East Ridge face Hurley, VA, Grundy, VA and then Prestonsburg in Hi-Tech holiday classic.

 

15. (-) Jenkins (0-9) – Another 0-3 week for the Cavaliers. They host Pike Central and Jackson City in week four and will not play in any holiday tournaments after that. They will get at least one win this season as they play Piarist after the new year.

 

16. (-) Piarist (0-7) – The Knights were 0-2 in week three and will not play again until January as they have no holiday tournament’s scheduled.

 

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[theguru]

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