Girls Top 5

 

1. Clay County (11-3)

What’s the scoop: The Lady Tigers are winners of six straight after capturing the Applebee’s Winter Classic in Boyle County this past week.

Clay County is going to be tough to beat in the 13th Region.

 

Surprise, surprise: After losing to Apollo on Dec. 21, the Lady Tigers have outscored their opponents by an average margin of 19.4 points.

 

What’s ahead: Clay County will host Wayne County Friday and Hazard on Saturday before traveling to play Breathitt County Monday.

 

2. Whitley County (9-4)

What’s the scoop: The Lady Colonels have hit some bumps in the road the past couple of weeks, but still remain as the No. 2 team in the 13th Region.

 

Surprise, surprise: Whitley County could easily be 13-0 on the season. In the Lady Colonels’ four losses, Whitley County has lost by an average of only five points a game.

 

What’s ahead: It doesn’t get any easier for Larry Anderson’s squad. Whitley County travels to play Corbin Friday and will host South Laurel Monday.

 

3. Corbin (8-4)

What’s the scoop: Jennifer Parsons’ squad continues to make a believer out of me.

Corbin has improved tremendously since the beginning of the season.

 

Surprise, surprise: Corbin hung tough against both West Carter and Belfry in the Boyd County Classic.

That shows me this team is improving.

 

What’s ahead: The Lady Redhounds will host 50th District rival Whitley County Friday before traveling to play Middlesboro Monday.

Corbin lost its first meeting against the Lady Colonels, 41-37.

 

4. South Laurel (8-5)

What’s the scoop: South Laurel looks like it is beginning to hit form. The Lady Cardinals turned ina solid effort in both the Berea Holiday Classic and the Bourbon County Shootout.

 

Surprise, surprise: Since starting the season with a 2-3 record, South Laurel has won six-of-eight games.

Konnie Snyder’s squad, just like every other team in the 50th District, looks to be hitting stride right now.

 

What’s ahead: The Lady Cardinals will travel to play red-hot Williamsburg today before hosting rival North Laurel Friday, in what should be a good game.

 

5. North Laurel (8-3)

What’s the scoop: Roy Bowling’s North Laurel Lady Jaguars had a couple of setbacks in the First Priority Tri-State Basketball Classic, but did manage to turn in a solid showing.

 

Surprise, surprise: It seems as if North Laurel can’t put games away right now. Bowling’s squad squandered leads against both Bell County and Betsy Layne last week.

 

What’s ahead: The Lady Jaguars will travel to play cross-town rival South Laurel Friday before hosting Estill County Monday.

 

The Best of the Rest

 

No. 6 Knox Central (7-7)

What’s the scoop: The Lady Panthers are winners of three straight and picked up some big wins over teams such as Bell County and Middlesboro.

 

No. 7 Bell County (5-9)

What’s the scoop: The Lady Bobcats might be four games under .500, but Bell County has quality wins over regional foes North Laurel, Cawood, Barbourville and an impressive 31-point win over Cumberland.

 

No. 8 Harlan (5-5)

What’s the scoop: Welcome back to the Top 10 Lady Green Dragons.

 

No. 9 Williamsburg (6-3)

What’s the scoop: The Lady Yellow Jackets are winners of five straight - including a win over Barbourville.

 

No. 10 Barbourville (7-4)

What’s the scoop: The Lady Tigers are 7-2 against 13th Region teams, but suffered a setback Tuesday by losing to McCreary Central, 56-25.

 

 

Les Dixon is the Sports Editor and can be reached at [email protected]. The Fear ‘Les’ 13th Region boys and girls ratings will be published in every Thursday edition of the Times-Tribune.

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