I keep hearing statements about the 12th region being the weakest basketball region in the state and that any school can win this region. i have seen several games in this region over the past few years. And have some opinions on the reasons. But first I would like to see or hear some of yours. Is the competition REALLY THAT CLOSE?

I keep hearing statements about the 12th region being the weakest basketball region in the state and that any school can win this region. i have seen several games in this region over the past few years. And have some opinions on the reasons. But first I would like to see or hear some of yours. Is the competition REALLY THAT CLOSE?

 

Yes I believe the competition in this region this year will be very close. I think Lincoln, Southwestern, and Somerset all have shots at the title this year. THere are also many other teams that will be able to sneak up on these teams. Im not sure about the WEAKEST region, but I think this will be a good region to watch.

I agree with Pride50. The competition will be great this season and most of the games will be extremely exciting. I think the 12th is far from the worst region. The top three, four, five teams in the region could really keep up with any team in the other regions (minus bigger city schools; Lexington, Louisville, possibly more). I think they could stay with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th's premier teams and possibly the few regions in between. I think the records from the top three or four schools will be amazing because most are from different districts and have schedules that won't be too difficult for most. From the top five's win/lose column together, it will be better than any region's top five.

I do the Cantrell Rankings, as far as avg. the ranking. When the 2 Laurel Co. schools were in the Region in 04-05, the 12th was the 6th strongest Region in the state. Most years it has been between 11th and 14th, as far as strength. This year, I do not know yet. The one thing positive about the Region is, it is very competitive year in and year out.

I do the Cantrell Rankings, as far as avg. the ranking. When the 2 Laurel Co. schools were in the Region in 04-05, the 12th was the 6th strongest Region in the state. Most years it has been between 11th and 14th, as far as strength. This year, I do not know yet. The one thing positive about the Region is, it is very competitive year in and year out.

 

I dont really think the 12th region is the weakest region in the state myself.

 

Losing South & North Laurel hurt the strength of the region, considering they had been two of the top three teams or so in the region over the past few years. They gained Rockcastle, who appears to have dropped down a little from the level they had been playing at when the Cash brothers were there and also the Jessamine Co. schools who could easily develop into regional powers eventually.

I think it hurts that there no "metropolitan" (and I use that term loosely) areas in the 12th Region. The percentage of African-American players is always small and the only schools that have moderate African-American populations are Danville and what used to be Harrodsburg. Plus, after losing the Laurels, the "big schools" in the region really aren't very big. Keeping all of that in mind, it makes it difficult for the region to have much success at the statewide level.

 

What really bothers me about the region, however, is that it doesn't seem like there is very good basketball being played within the region. Does the fact that there are several solid football programs and a couple decent baseball programs take away some good basketball players?

I dont really think the 12th region is the weakest region in the state myself.

 

Losing South & North Laurel hurt the strength of the region, considering they had been two of the top three teams or so in the region over the past few years. They gained Rockcastle, who appears to have dropped down a little from the level they had been playing at when the Cash brothers were there and also the Jessamine Co. schools who could easily develop into regional powers eventually.

 

You nailed it. Losing South & North Laurel hurt the regions strength. Those 2 played in a couple of the district and regional title games. It helped the 13th, but since the 12th teams wanted the Laurels gone, so be it.

Don"t really care if the Laurels are gone or not but I am glad that the rest of the Region will not have to put up with the "tricks" they have pulled in the last several years.

I think it hurts that there no "metropolitan" (and I use that term loosely) areas in the 12th Region. The percentage of African-American players is always small and the only schools that have moderate African-American populations are Danville and what used to be Harrodsburg. Plus, after losing the Laurels, the "big schools" in the region really aren't very big. Keeping all of that in mind, it makes it difficult for the region to have much success at the statewide level.

 

What really bothers me about the region, however, is that it doesn't seem like there is very good basketball being played within the region. Does the fact that there are several solid football programs and a couple decent baseball programs take away some good basketball players?

 

Southwestern has lost some players in the past that were persuaded to "focus" on Football. Which amazes me because the agility, competition, and conditioning they get in basketball would only enhance their football ability. Coaches tell these kids they have to focus on football year around in order to get scholarships, but most of the the " Big time" recruits in football from these parts played basketball as well as football."

This region doesnt have a big time team that is dominate in the state. But it as balanced as any region in the state. Last year there were about 9 teams that could win the region and I dont think this year will be any different. Teams to look out for in no particular order:

Boyle, Lincoln, Somerset, Pulaski, Casey, Mercer, East and West Jessamine, Southwestern, McCreary. ON any given night any one of these teams can beat another.

I've never heard the 12th called the weakest region in the state, and I don't believe it is. However, I think it's probably in the bottom one-fourth of the 16 regions based on overall level of play and on the quality of its champions in recent years. (The 2005 South Laurel team was an obvious exception to the rule.)

 

But South Laurel (and North Laurel to a much lesser extent) were only really strong for the last five years, and South really only raised the profile of the region for a couple of years. The year before South won its first title in 2001, the 12th sent a team with a losing record to the state tourney. The region was considered weak for most of the '90s -- the 12th had only one win at the Sweet 16 during that decade -- and hasn't had a sustained period of strength since the '80s, when Laurel County and Pulaski County dominated and Wayne County rose to power late in the decade.

 

Gchs_uk_9 might be right to a point about the region being hurt by a lack of larger cities, but there other regions without big cities that are clearly better (I'm thinking 2nd, 5th and 13th off the top of my head.) One difference is that those regions and most others have more large schools. Lincoln County is the only school in the 12th aligned in 4-A for football, and most of the schools are medium-sized.

 

The 12th hasn't generally fared well at the state tournament, and it hasn't fared well when it goes outside the region to play the better schools in nearby regions or tournaments like the Fifth Third Classic. I don't think that'll change this year. The region will be highly competitive once again, but that won't make it better. Still not the worst, but way down on the list.

 

Of course, as a former coach once told me, the 12th Region championship means just as much to the team that wins it as any of the other 15. If this were the NCAA, the 12th would be an "automatic bid only" conference, but in this setup it gets the same number of bids as the power conferences, and the trophy is just as shiny.

Nevermind

What happened to Ty Perkins at Pulaski, did he move? I thought this kid athletically was the best freshman I ever saw play. I heard his brother John is still at PC. I was just wondering where it went?

What happened to Ty Perkins at Pulaski, did he move? I thought this kid athletically was the best freshman I ever saw play. I heard his brother John is still at PC. I was just wondering where it went?

Not positive, but I think he moved to Indiana to live with his mom..

This should be a very good region to watch basketball this year. There are a lot of good teams. Which should set up some good games. However when you do stack this region up to the state is is weaker probably. I think mainly because there is so many teams that just dont match up to other regions. To say that it is the weakest region in the state. I don't see it at all. I've watched it for a while. There are many good teams and is very good basketball.