This will be an interesting year in the Sixth Region. There already has been some substantial movement from the preseason rankings, and I suspect that trend will continue. Some of the first week’s results that caught my eye were DeSales’ season-opening win over the defending state champions Trinity Shamrocks, the Doss Dragons’ wins over Bullitt East and Bullitt Central, and Western’s close loss to Fern Creek (76-73). I am sure there will be many more interesting results in the weeks to come. It is going to be a fun season in the Sixth.

 

TEAM RANKINGS

 

1. Fern Creek Tigers (2-1)

 

The Tigers beat Western 76-73 before falling to the Ballard Bruins 76-70. Fern Creek bounced back with a narrow 70-68 win over Waggener. While losing to Ballard was not unexpected, the closeness of the other two games caused me to consider dropping the Tigers from the top spot. I have left Fern Creek in the number 1 slot for now. The Tigers face a trio of Seventh Region teams this week with games against top-ranked Male, Manual and Trinity.

 

2. Butler Bears (2-0)

 

Butler took care of business to start the season, beating Bullitt Central 86-52 and Seneca 74-56. The Bears perhaps deserve to be ranked in the top spot based on how the season has begun, but I have held off making that change, at least for now. Butler plays Western, Male, and Mercer County.

 

3. Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers (2-0)

 

Coach Larry Kihnley has taken over for the legendary Dale Mabry and has the Panthers off to a good start, beating Doss 86-79 and Holy Cross 76-57. Up this week for PRP for games against J’Town, Bullitt East, and Valley.

 

4. DeSales Colts (3-2)

 

The Colts have started the season strong, beating defending state champion Trinity Shamrocks 53-52 in their opener. DeSales then went to California and went 2-2 in a tournament in Stockton, California, playing against teams from California and Washington. The Colts return to the Commonwealth this week to face the Eastern Eagles in the South End Shootout on Saturday.

 

5. Jeffersontown Chargers (2-0)

 

The Chargers are off to a 2-0 start with wins over Eastern (68-60, with Trevis Ogelsvy scoring 26 points) and Muhlenberg County (71-46). This week’s schedule has J’Town playing PRP and Doss.

 

6. Fairdale Bulldogs (1-1)

 

With Stephen Moore leading the way with 30 points, Fairdale handled Southern 74-58 in its season opener. The Bulldogs then fell to Larue County 61-51. Fairdale faces Beth Haven and Holy Cross this week.

 

7. Doss Dragons (2-1)

 

The Dragons move up in the rankings based on their good start. After losing to PRP 86-79, Doss notched victories against Bullitt Central 57-49 and Bullitt East 61-46. So far, the Dragons are being led in scoring by Tony Moss (17.3 ppg) and Jeremiah Glover (17 ppg). The Dragons have a single game this week, traveling to J’Town on Friday.

 

8. Bullitt East Chargers (2-1)

 

With Zak Perdew scoring 32 points, Bullitt East started the season with a solid 80-69 win over Scott County. The Chargers then fell to fellow Sixth Region member Doss 61-49 before ending the week with a 67-63 win over Logan County. This week’s schedule includes games against Collins, PRP, and West Jessamine.

 

9. Bullitt Central Cougars (2-2)

 

The Cougars had an interesting week, winning two games in overtime and dropping two games. The overtime wins came against Taylor County (86-81, with Jacob Mann leading the way with 32 points) and Bardstown Bethlehem (56-54). The losses were to Butler (86-52) and Doss (57-49).

 

10. North Bullitt Eagles (2-1)

 

The Eagles won two out of three this week, with wins over Shelby County (61-38) and Central Hardin (78-64) and the only loss being to the strong Collins Titans, 81-50. Up this week are games against Moore, Bullitt Central, and Bardstown.

 

11. Western Warriors (2-1)

 

Western is off to a good start, with wins against Eminence (89-36, with six players scoring in double figures) and Southern (60-51) and a close loss to Fern Creek (76-73, with Neairon Finisson scoring 21 points). The Warriors play Butler, Kentucky Country Day, and Collegiate this week.

 

12. Moore Mustangs (3-0)

 

The Mustangs are off to a 3-0 start with wins over Valley (64-54), North Hardin (84-78), and KCD (83-63). On this week’s schedule for Moore are games against North Bullitt, Meade County, and North Oldham.

 

13. Holy Cross Cougars (2-1)

 

The Cougars beat St. Francis (75-35) and Brown (68-20) before falling to PRP (76-57). Sam Bearden is averaging 12.3 ppg while Josh Minor is contributing 12 ppg. Holy Cross has games against Iroquois, Fairdale, and Sayre this week.

 

14. Iroquois Raiders (2-0)

 

With Quintel Walter leading the way with 25 points, the Raiders beat North Oldham 73-52 and followed that game with a 59-54 win over Boone County. Iroquois faces Holy Cross, Seneca, and Ryle this week.

 

15. Southern Trojans (1-2)

The Trojans dropped games to Fairdale (74-58) and Western (60-51) while beating the Brown Bears 87-46. The Trojans face Bullitt Central and Waggener this week.

 

16. Valley Vikings (1-1)

 

The Vikings fell to the Moore Mustangs 64-54 before taking care of Beth Haven 91-52. Valley has just one game this week, playing PRP on Friday.

 

17. Whitefield Academy Wildcats (0-1)

 

Whitefield lost to Collegiate 80-63 in its only game this week. Clayton Judd led the Warriors with 23 points. Up this week are games against KCD, Brown, and Adair County.

 

18. Beth Haven Bears (1-1)

 

Beth Haven bested Highlands Latin 67-45 before falling to Valley 91-52. The Bears play Fairdale and Danville Christian this week.

 

19. Evangel Christian Eagles (1-1)

 

Evangel Christian opened the season with a loss to Walden (86-35) but bounced back to beat Heritage Academy 74-70. The Eagles are off this week.

Nice report, thanks.

Bump.