I give teams in the Sixth Region a lot of credit - a good number of them were in Florida this past week playing in tournaments. A few are still there. While the temperatures have been mild here, I must admit I have been jealous of the teams that were in Florida.

 

There is not much change in this week's rankings. Top-ranked Fern Creek did not play, and it is always hard to evaluate both wins and losses against out-of-state teams. There will be more data on which to base the rankings once everyone is back in Kentucky and gets back to playing each other. However, congratulations are in order for the Iroquois Raiders, champions of the Dan Swartz Classic at Bath County.

 

This week has some good matchups, including two on Friday when PRP plays Ballard and DeSales plays Elizabethtown. And then on Sunday the field for the 73rd Louisville Invitational Tournament will be announced. The LIT will give the top teams from the Sixth Region and the Seventh Region the opportunity to claim supremacy in Louisville high school basketball this season. It is always a great tournament.

TEAM RANKINGS

 

1. Fern Creek Tigers (7-4)

 

Fern Creek was idle this week, and remains in the top spot. The Tigers will play in the Champions of Kentucky Hoopfest at North Oldham on Friday and Saturday.

 

2. Jeffersontown Chargers (8-2)

 

Jeffersontown went 1-1 this week in the Holiday Basketball Classic in Palm Beach, Florida, losing 64-47 to Westminster Academy from Fort Lauderdale and beating Cincinnati Woodward 79-74. The Chargers are led in scoring by Brandon Rayzor-Moore at 14.2 ppg, with Travis Ogelsvy (14 ppg) and Jalen Fairmen (13.6 ppg) not far behind. The Chargers do not play this week.

 

3. Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers (9-3)

 

The Panthers went 2-1 in the Campbellsville High School Holiday Classic, beating Washington County (78-40) and Campbellsville (72-48) while losing 84-74 to the still-undefeated Elizabethtown Panthers. PRP has an opportunity to get some attention when it plays Ballard on Friday.

 

4. Butler Bears (7-4)

 

Butler traveled east to play in the Ashland Invitational Tournament, where the Bears advanced to the championship game with wins over Christian County (53-39) and Boyd County (86-66). Butler got off to a hot start against the host Ashland Tomcats in the championship game but eventually fell to the Tomcats 67-58. Trey Minter and Cam Underwood were selected to the AIT All-Tournament Team. The Bears are off this week.

 

5. DeSales Colts (6-4)

 

The Colts did not play this week but will get back into action on Friday against the undefeated Elizabethtown Panthers.

 

6. Fairdale Bulldogs (6-5)

 

The Bulldogs are in Daytona Beach competing in the Sunshine Classic. After losing to Port Orange from Spruce Creek, FL 80-72, Fairdale bounced back to beat a good Larue County team 53-46. The Bulldogs complete play in the Sunshine Classic on Monday with a game against Breckinridge County and then play at Central Hardin on Saturday.

 

7. North Bullitt Eagles (9-2)

 

The Eagles so far are 2-0 in the Innisfree Hotels Beach Basketball Tournament in Gulf Breeze, FL with wins over teams from Tennessee and Louisiana. North Bullitt has now won five games in a row and complete play in Florida on Monday before playing Iroquois on Friday. Logan Steinmacher is having a big year for the Eagles, averaging 23.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg.

 

8. Doss Dragons (6-5)

 

The Dragons had a successful trip to Breese, Illinois this week to participate in the Mater Dei Christmas Tournament, going 3-1 there against teams from Illinois, the wins coming against Edwardsville Metro East Lutheran (68-48), Hampshire Central (58-48), and Trenton Wesclin (62-40). The loss was a 50-43 overtime loss to Nashville (IL). Doss plays North Hardin on Saturday.

 

9. Holy Cross Cougars (8-2)

 

The Holy Cross Cougars are in Pigeon Forge, TN participating in the King of the Smokies tournament. Holy Cross won its first game there, beating Friendship Christian from Lebanon, TN 55-49, but then fell to Russell 60-44. Holy Cross will finish up in Tennessee on Monday and then plays Collegiate on Friday before traveling to Covington Holy Cross to take on South Dearborn from Aurora, Indiana, in an event entitled the Not Quite Hawaii Challenge. The Collegiate game may have consequences as to who gets in the Louisville Invitational Tournament.

 

10. Bullitt East Chargers (3-7)

 

Bullitt East so far is 1-1 in the Junior Orange Bowl Classic in Miami, losing to Schoolhouse Prep from Miami 76-53 and beating Centerville, OH 68-59. The Chargers finish play in Florida on Monday and then will participate in the South Oldham Classic starting on Thursday.

 

11. Bullitt Central Cougars (5-8)

 

Bullitt Central participated in the Nelson County Classic this week, going 1-2. The win was against Frankfort (71-63) while the losses were to Anderson County (60-55) and Nelson County (63-59). Jacob Mann leads the Cougars in scoring at 18.5 ppg. The Cougars host Allen County-Scottsville on Monday and then play at Meade County on Friday.

 

12. Iroquois Raiders (7-4)

 

The Raiders had a great week, going 3-0 and being crowned champions of the Dan Swartz Classic at Bath County. Iroquois forged its way to the championship game with wins over Fleming County (68-41) and Elliott County (72-62). Playing host Bath County in the championship game, senior Antoine Butler banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Iroquois the 57-54 victory. The Raiders play North Bullitt on Friday and Shelby County on Saturday.

 

13. Western Warriors (7-6)

 

Playing in the Panther Holiday Shootout by Bingham Tire at Knox County Central, Western beat Cordia in impressive fashion by a 85-53 margin but then fell to Knox County Central (71-58) and Seneca (55-52). The Warriors will seek revenge on Seneca when they host the Redhawks on Friday.

 

14. Moore Mustangs (5-5)

 

Moore was off this week. The Mustangs have games against John Hardin and Waggener on their schedule this week.

 

15. Southern Trojans (3-8)

 

Southern split the two games it played in the Pikeville Invitational, beating Pike County Central 65-53 but falling to the host Pikeville Panthers 77-57. The Trojans play North Hardin on Thursday.

 

16. Valley Vikings (1-7)

 

Valley did not play this week and does not play in the coming week. The Vikings will be back in action on January 7 against Central.

 

17. Whitefield Academy Wildcats (5-5)

 

The Wildcats split the two games it played this week as part of the Whitefield Down Syndrome Classic, losing 74-65 to Shawnee but bouncing back to beat Christian Fellowship 80-60. The Wildcats are off this week.

 

18. Beth Haven Bearcats (1-6)

 

The Bearcats kept it close against Russellville in the Roy’s Bar-B-Que/First Southern National Bank Classic but eventually fell to the Panthers 74-69. The Bearcats also lost to Hart County 102-63 and Cumberland County 93-80 in that tournament. Beth Haven hosts the Beth Haven Holiday Classic starting on Friday.

 

19. Evangel Christian Eagles (1-6)

 

Evangel Christian lost the only game it played this week, losing to Christian Fellowship 77-52. The Eagles do not play again until January 7.

Bump.