BluegrassPreps.com 9th Region - Week 1 - Review and Rankings:

 

Good grief. It’s going to be one of those seasons in the 9th Region. A will beat B, and B will beat C, and C will beat A, and so on, and so on. Determining a true top 10 from week to week is just going to be nuts. Sure, it’s early, but we’ve already seen some shake ups making us question what we first thought about a variety of teams. This region is mostly wide open. We’re already seeing top dog Covington Catholic validly playing like a number 1 team, but this season things are too close to call to be simply a foregone conclusion. Certainly the Colonels will be the favorite going into every contest, but there are a slew of teams that will face off with them with something to say about it. 

 

Take this week’s rankings with a grain of salt, and also likely in the coming weeks. I literally will be pulling my hair out trying to find a suitable Top 10, and no doubt I’m not going to be able to satisfy everyone. With the way teams will beat up on each other, people will have valid reasons  why said teams should be higher or lower on the list. With that said, my rankings will be comprised from a combination of things, such as “what have you done for me lately”, “body of work”, “early season considerations regarding football players, or players eligibility, “head to head”, and so on.

 

9th Region - Week 1 - Top 10 Rankings:

 

1. Covington Catholic - (3-0) 

With a combination of experience, and newer faces, the Colonels have reloaded, and are showing that they haven’t missed a beat even with not being able to suit up any bigs on this season’s squad. Lead by the ever steady senior guard Evan Ipsaro who stirs the Colonels drink with about the best efficiency as one could want making him debatably the top player in the region not named Meyer. This bunch is lightning quick, and will run circles around their opponents. Many players have stepped up showing their worth with nice perimeter shooting, proving that the Colonels are not in the least a one trick pony.  

 

In Week 1 they beat Simon Kenton 67-44, Top 5 team Great Crossing 75-60, and Paul Laurence Dunbar 87-58. 

 

2. Highlands - (3-0) 

             Lead by the sharp shooting senior Will Herald, the Birds are well stocked with         experience, and have already displayed that this year’s version of the Birds are a quick and furious high scoring bunch that will run to death their opponent, and wear them out. They will no doubt be in the thick of things all season, and are just as valid as any of the top teams in the region. 

 

In Week 1 they beat Scott 102-75, Boone Co. 85-58, and Tates Creek 82-71

 

3. Lloyd - (0-0) 

            Did not play in Week 1

 

4. Holy Cross - (2-0)

            The Indians are picking up from where they left off last season led by arguably the best player in the Region, Jacob Meyer who averages nearly 40 ppg. With him they have the quick and great shooting of senior Javier Ward, and well as the new and improved play of senior 7 foot monster Sam Gibson. Look for Holy Cross to be flying high with the best of them all season long. 

 

In Week 1 they beat Atherton 80-58, and Ryle 91-62

 

5. St. Henry - (2-1) 

            The Cru started pre-season at number 7, and most weren’t sure if they were as strong as the majority of other Top 10 teams bunched in the cluster, but they immediately silenced the critics in their first game of the season by taking down many people’s number 2 team, the ever tough Cooper Jags. They followed that up with a win over my preseason number 2 Conner Cougars putting them solidly into the thick of the conversation. The word now is, “Don’t sleep on the Cru”. 

 

In Week 1 they beat Cooper 53-50, Conner 71-61, and lost to NewCath 70-57

 

6. Cooper - (1-1)

            The Cooper Jags came into the season as many’s number 2 team in the region, and right out of the gate they took one on the chin by the hands of the highly versatile St. Henry Crusaders. No one should think that they’re not as billed, but they’ve simply found themselves in a region so close in parity that on any given night one of the Top 10 teams will take down just about any other Top 10 team. They’ve got many guns lead by big boy senior Caleb Brooks, and the impressive quick as lightning guard play of sophomore Yamil Rondon. 

 

In Week 1 they lost to St. Henry 53-50, and beat Campbell Co 56-52

 

7. Newport - (1-1)

            This young talented bunch of Wildcats aim to turn heads this season en route to building an empire over the next few seasons. If they weren’t already strong enough, they’re soon to acquire a dynamite junior playmaker in Jabari Covington who will undoubtedly be a game changer. 

 

In Week 1 they lost to Bishop Brossart 81-75, and beat Augusta 72-57

 

8. Conner - (0-2) 

            The Cougars, who I personally had as preseason Number 2, have taken some early season lumps with a couple of losses right out of the gate. I expect them to still be in the thick of things moving forward, and especially when they get the services of senior Landon Hamilton who began the season with an ankle injury. 

 

In Week 1 they lost to Henry Clay 61-49, and lost to St. Henry 71-61

 

9. Newport Central Catholic - (3-0) 

            The Breds began the season under the radar as not many knew just what to expect from them. They immediately have shown that they’re worth more than anyone had given them credit for, and they should be able to compete with the best of them. They look like a NewCath team and one that will get at you defensively, and they’re not too shabby in the shooting department either led by dependable dynamic playmaker Jase Isles. When no one was looking, they took down the St. Henry Crusaders 70-57, who were already getting accolades of being a hot team in the region. 

 

In Week 1 they beat Boone Co. 85-78, Dayton 78-37, and St. Henry 70-57

 

10. Dixie - (0-2) 

            The Red Colonels due to graduating numerous seniors find themselves in a rebuilding year who will likely struggle a bit,  and as of now they really can’t throw their hat in the ring this season with all of the quality teams in the region. 

 

In Week 1 they lost to Campbell Co 63-59, and lost to Simon Kenton 50-42

 

11. Boone Co. (0-3)

12. Ryle (0-2)

13. Beechwood (0-3)

14. Holmes (0-1)

15. Ludlow (1-2)

16. Villa Madonna (0-2)

17. Dayton (0-2)

18. Bellevue (1-0)

19. Heritage Academy (2-0)

20. Covington Latin - (0-2)

CCH will walk away with the region unless Lloyd is much improved. About the only contender I haven’t seen yet. Seems like last year we’re everybody is a step below the colonels beating up on each other for 2nd.

Thanks for your work on rankings. It's way early, Cch looks mid season form. I personally would rank Holy Cross 2nd or 3rd. Always enjoy your thoughts. 

Key games in Week 2:

CovCath @ St. Henry Tues Dec 6 @ 7:30

CovCath @ Bracken Co. Sat Dec 10 @ 7:30

 

Highlands @ St. Henry Fri Dec 9 @ 7:30

Highlands vs. Jeffersontown Sat Dec 10 @ St. Xavier @ 3:15

 

Villa Madonna @ Lloyd Wed Dec 7 @ 7:30

Ryle @ Lloyd Fri Dec 9 @ 7:30

 

Holy Cross vs. John Hardin @ Georgetown @ 7:30 - (Billy Hicks Classic - 3 games Dec 7, 9, 10)

 

CovCath @ St. Henry Tues Dec 6 @ 7:30

St. Henry @ Highlands Fri Dec 9 @ 7:30

St. Henry vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati) @ Newport @ 12:00 (John Turner Classic)

 

Elder (Cincinnati) @ Cooper Tues Dec 6 @ 7:30

Newport Central Catholic @ Cooper Wed Dec 7 @ 7:30

Cooper vs. Linton-Stockton (IN) Sat Dec 10 @ Newport @ 3:00 (John Turner Classic)

 

Newport @ Boone Co. Tues Dec 6 @ 7:30

Newport @ Campbell Co. Thur Dec 8 @ 7:00

Scott @ Newport Sat Dec 10 @ 7:30 (John Turner Classic)

 

Dixie @ Conner Tues Dec 6 @ 7:30

Beechwood @ Conner Fri Dec 9 @ 7:30

Conner vs. Elder (Cincinnati) Sat Dec 10 @ Newport @ 6:00 (John Turner Classic)

 

Scott @ Newport Central Catholic Mon Dec 5 @ 7:30

Newport Central Catholic @ Cooper Wed Dec 7 @ 7:30

Newport Central Catholic vs. Campbell Co Sat Dec 10 @ Newport (John Turner Classic) Time=TBD

 

Dixie @ Conner Tues Dec 6 @ 7:30

Holmes @ Dixie Thur Dec 8 @ 7:30

 

Ravencraft for St. Henry will be out with a injury for a few weeks.

1 minute ago, Bluesport said:

Ravencraft for St. Henry will be out with a injury for a few weeks.

That stinks for Rhet, his senior year appeared to be off to a good start, and he is in many ways the engine that makes them go.  I HATE to hear this.  

I'm not exactly sure where Highlands will end in the rankings, but they will not have a boring game all year.  Such a fun team to watch.  Can get white hot at any time.  If they can guard and rebound, they will be a tough beat for anyone.

Nathan Vinson looks more and more like his older brother every time I see him, and that's scary for the rest of the 9th.