I almost flipped a coin to decide who to put in the Number 1 spot this week. Jeffersontown has been playing well and was undefeated but then got beat by Fern Creek, who is very talented but already has four losses, including a loss to Manual, who lost to Pleasure Ridge Park this week, and while PRP had a good week it earlier had lost to J'Town and lost this week to Seneca, which can't be considered a bad loss because Seneca also beat Fern Creek and DeSales but who earlier in the year lost to Butler by 18 points. So you tell me who should be number one.

 

I ended up moving Fern Creek back up to number one. With the addition of CeArius Warren this season, the Tigers are the most talented team in the region and this week dealt J'Town its first loss of the season. But that all might change a week from now. Stay tuned.

 

A final note: I was able to get out to see some of the Century Mortgage Derby City Jam, a first time event hosted by PRP and Fern Creek. I hope it was considered a success and that it becomes an annual event. Thanks to everyone who played a role in getting that event off the ground.

 

And congratulations to Fairdale on another well-run King of the Bluegrass tournament. It concludes today with four games, including the championship game between Ballard and North Oldham. It was great to get out to Fairdale for a part of that.

 

TEAM RANKINGS

 

1. Fern Creek Tigers (7-4)

 

The Tigers had a very busy week. After beating Whitefield Academy 89-62 earlier in the week, the Tigers advanced to the finals of the inaugural Century Mortgage Derby City Jam with wins over Valley (88-48), Central (64-46), and Jeffersontown (61-51). I was able to make it to the J’Town game, and can report that Jaden Rogers was spectacular. I did not make it to the championship game, where the Tigers lost to Seneca 57-52. In light of the win over J’Town, I have moved the Tigers back into the number one spot. Fern Creek plays at Simon Kenton on Saturday.

 

2. Jeffersontown Chargers (7-1)

 

The Chargers kept their season-opening win streak intact with an 87-79 overtime win over Iroquois and with wins in their first two games in the Century Mortgage Derby City Jam against Waggener (69-46) and Owensboro (64-34). That streak ended in their third game in the Derby City Jam, a 61-51 loss to Fern Creek. The Chargers have the good fortune of traveling to Palm Beach, Florida to play a team from Florida on Friday.

 

2. Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers (7-2)

 

The Panthers went 3-1 in this week’s Century Mortgage Derby City Jam. After losing to Seneca 67-60 in its opening game in pool play, PRP reeled off three wins, beating Paintsville (81-50), Manual (78-73), and Waggener (76-64). Beginning on December 26, the Panthers will participate in the Campbellsville High School Holiday Classic.

 

4. Butler Bears (5-3)

 

Butler beat Doss 71-49 before heading to the Kentucky Bank Challenge at Rowan County where the Bears went 1-1, losing to the host Rowan County 58-49 and beating George Rodgers Clark 89-59. Butler will play in the Ashland Invitational Tournament, one of the longest-running tournaments holiday tournaments in Kentucky, starting on Friday.

 

5. DeSales Colts (6-4)

 

The Colts had a good week, going 3-1. The victories included close wins over fellow Sixth Region member Bullitt East (56-53) and a strong Manual Crimsons squad (48-46) along with a win against the Glasgow Scotties (76-61). The loss was a close 49-47 loss to Seneca, which beat three Sixth Region teams on its way to the Century Mortgage Derby City Jam championship. DeSales is off until after the first of the year.

 

6. Fairdale Bulldogs (5-4)

 

Fairdale started the week with an 82-69 double overtime victory over the Moore Mustangs and then did a magnificent job hosting the King of the Bluegrass tournament, where the Bulldogs went 1-2. The win came in the opening round against Martin County (66-48) while the losses were to North Oldham (78-64) and to McCracken County (54-53). After Christmas Fairdale will be in Daytona Beach to participate in the Sunshine Classic.

 

7. North Bullitt Eagles (7-2)

 

The Eagles had a good week, going 3-0. Two of the wins were against Sixth Region opponents, a 66-62 win over Doss and a 85-66 win over Southern. The Southern win came in the Independence Bank Classic in Henderson, where the Eagles also beat the host Henderson County Colonels 78-68. North Bullitt heads to Gulf Breeze, Florida to participate in the Innisfree Hotels Beach Basketball Tournament starting on Friday.

 

8. Doss Dragons (3-4)

 

After falling to Butler 71-49, the Dragons headed to Henderson County to play in the Independence Bank Classic. Doss easily prevailed over Grayson County 71-36 but lost to North Bullitt 66-62. The Dragons travel to Breese, Illinois to participate in the Mater Dei Christmas tournament starting the day after Christmas.

 

9. Bullitt East Chargers (2-6)

 

The Chargers lost both of the games they played this week, falling to DeSales (56-53) and Spencer County (58-49). The Chargers have now lost five in a row. Up next for Bullitt East is a trip to Miami to play in the Junior Orange Bowl Classic.

 

10. Bullitt Central Cougars (4-6)

 

The Cougars beat North Hardin 67-62 before going 0-3 in the M & W Shootout at Pulaski County, losing to Danville (76-69), West Jessamine (71-45), and Pulaski County (72-58). Bullitt Central will participate in the Nelson County Classic starting the day after Christmas.

 

11. Holy Cross Cougars (7-1)

 

With Sam Bearden leading the way with 23 points, Holy Cross beat Valley 51-48. The Cougars then got a close 54-53 win over Rock Creek Academy from Sellersburg, Indiana. Holy Cross is riding a 5-game win streak as it travels to Pigeon Forge, TN to participate in the King of the Smokies tournament beginning on Friday.

 

12. Western Warriors (6-4)

 

Western was 3-0 for the week, beating Valley 76-50 and winning two games in the Dental Designs of Owensboro Christmas Classic at Whitesville Trinity, beating the host Whitesville Trinity Raiders 81-45 and Frederick Fraize 86-51. Beginning on Thursday, the Warriors will be playing in the Panther Holiday Shootout by Bingham Tire at Knox County Central.

 

13. Moore Mustangs (4-3)

 

Moore battled mightily but came up short in the only game it played this week, falling to Fairdale 82-69 in double overtime. The Mustangs are off until after the first of the year.

 

14. Iroquois Raiders (4-4)

 

Iroquois had an interesting week. It played well against J’Town and took the Chargers into overtime before losing 87-79. The Raiders followed that game with an easy win against Bardstown Bethlehem (58-35) but then lost to Louisville Collegiate 50-49. The Raiders play in the Dan Swartz Classic at Bath County starting the day after Christmas.

 

15. Southern Trojans (2-7)

The Trojans went 1-3 for the week, the sole win being a 73-62 victory against Shelby County in the Henry Clay Holiday Invitational. The losses were to Waggener (83-67), North Bullitt (86-66), Bourbon County (75-58), and a team from Lake City, Florida. The Trojans travel to Pikeville to play in the Pikeville Invitational starting on Friday.

 

16. Valley Vikings (1-6)

 

Valley had a tough week, losing all four games it played this week, with losses to Western (76-50), Fern Creek (84-48), Holy Cross (51-48), and Central (64-52). The Vikings are off until January 7.

 

17. Whitefield Academy Wildcats (4-4)

 

After losing to Fern Creek (89-62), Calvary Christian (71-58), and Bell County (60-41), Whitefield bounced back to beat Oneida Baptist Institute 78-71. The Wildcats host the Whitefield Down Syndrome Classic on Friday and Saturday, with games scheduled against Shawnee and Christian Fellowship.

 

18. Beth Haven Bearcats (1-3)

 

Beth Haven did not play this week. The Bearcats play Walden on Monday and then play Russellville in the Roy’s Bar-B-Que/1st Southern National Bank Classic on Friday.

 

19. Evangel Christian Eagles (1-5)

 

Evangel Christian had a bad week, dropping all four games it played, losing to Burgin (71-61), Berea (91-26), Eminence (64-40), and Owsley County (78-46). The Eagles host Christian Fellowship on Saturday.

Bump.