BluegrassPreps.com 5th Region Week 2 Review

Week 2 provided several district matchups, a few upsets, and an instant classic in the Central Hardin-Elizabethtown matchup. There remains only one unbeaten team in the region, and four teams still looking for their first win. Here’s the rankings for this week:

Week 2

1.       Washington County (LW:4)

2.       Elizabethtown (1)

3.       Taylor County (2)

4.       Bethlehem (5)

5.       Central Hardin (6)

6.       North Hardin (7)

7.       Bardstown (3)

8.       Larue County (8)

9.       Adair County (9)

10.   Hart County (10)

11.   Campbellsville (11)

12.   Caverna (16)

13.   Green County (12)

14.   Nelson County (14)

15.   John Hardin (13)

16.   Marion County (15)

17.   Thomas Nelson (17)

18.   Fort Knox (18)

1.       Washington County (4-1)

The Commanders go 2-0 this week with wins over district rival Bethlehem and a gritty come from behind win against Campbellsville. Beau Baker led the Commanders with 22 points and Noah Reynolds added 20 against Bethlehem. Baker had 11 points and 8 rebounds, while Reynolds led WC in scoring with 15 against Campbellsville. This week WC travels to Bardstown and then to Nelson County for a pair of district games. They finish the week off with a home game against Danville.

2.       Elizabethtown (3-3)

The Panthers go 1-2 on the week, and drop from the top spot in the rankings to No. 2. No doubt the Panthers would have liked to have gone 2-1 or even 3-0 this week, but they played tough competition. The dropped their first game of the week to Bowling Green, 59-58. Ayden Evans had 20 points and 9 rebounds. They had an instant classic against Central Hardin at the Old East Hardin School, in front of a packed house. The game had that big game feel and was more than likely a preview of the 17th district final and easily could be the 5th Region Championship game. Evans had 27 points in the overtime loss. Etown righted the ship on Saturday with a win against CAL in the Ky Straight Apparel Classic. JuJuan Williams led the Panthers with 16 points in the three-point win. The Panthers don’t take floor again until Friday night at district opponent John Hardin.

3.       Taylor County (4-0)

The Cardinals are the only remaining undefeated team in the region. It’s hard to imagine that they went 2-0 and dropped a spot in the rankings. At the end of the day a win is a win, but their wins were less than impressive against crosstown and district rival Campbellsville 33-30. And against winless Marion County, 60-51. Layken Lyons had 16 points against Campbellsville and Keeton Clements had 22 against Marion County. This week the Cardinals host Adair County on Tuesday night and then travel to PRP for the MAC’S Holiday Classic. They’ll matchup against St. X in their first game.

4.       Bethlehem (4-1)

Bethlehem goes 2-1 on the week and moves up one spot in the rankings. The Eagles lost by 14 to Washington County to start the week. They rebounded well though as they defeated Thomas Nelson by 23 and Apollo by 11. Casey Steadmon had 23 points against Washington County. Steadmon didn’t play against Thomas Nelson or Apollo. The Eagles got big contributions from Zack Wickliffe and Nicholas Osborne in the games against Thomas Nelson and Apollo. The Eagles hit the court this week hosting Anderson County and then traveling across town to play Bardstown.

5.       Central Hardin (3-3)

The Bruins bounced back from an 0-3 start and have won 3 in a row. The Bruins had 2 blowout wins this week, a 27-point win against Hart County, with Ace Jaggers leading in scoring with 24 points. And then a 28-point win against John Hardin with Brett Decker leading in scoring with 32 points. The game of the week though was highlighted by maybe the shot of the year for 5th Region teams. With only a few seconds remaining in regulation and down 3 to Elizabethtown, the Bruins had to go the length of the floor. A baseball style pass that Decker had to really elevate to catch and then drained just an incredible shot at the buzzer to tie and force overtime. Central Hardin would win by 4 in OT. Decker had 32 points in that game as well. The Bruins host Grayson County, visit Boyle County and then travel to Rowan County to face Boyd County this week.

6.       North Hardin (4-2)

The Trojans had a good week going 2-1 on the week with wins over Larue County and Fort Knox and dropping a 10 point decision to Barren County. The Trojans seem to be a much different team than we saw at the end of the season last year. They seem more focused and disciplined. They defeated Larue County 62-56. Taveon Smith had 22 points. In the 46-point blowout of Fort Knox, Shaun Boykins had 28 points. Boykins contributed 33 points and Smith 25 points in their 68-78 loss to Barren County. North Hardin has just one game on the schedule this week as they will host Meade County on Tuesday night.

7.       Bardstown (3-3)

The Tigers had a tough week. They were beaten 73-44 by Trinity. Then they lost to district foe Nelson County 63-46 and ended with a loss to Green County 64-58. The Trinity loss is understandable. Trinity is loaded and the game was competitive for a half. However, the losses to Nelson County and Green County have to be considered upsets. Things don’t get any easier this week for the Tigers as they host two district games with Washington County and Bethlehem.

8.       Larue County (3-2)

Larue County stays at number 8 this week. They went 1-1 on the week dropping a game to North Hardin and then defeating Southwestern 61-38. Carson Childress scored 17 points in the loss to North Hardin. Daniel Allen led the scoring with 17 against Southwestern. Freshman Jagger Mardis scored 14 and 13 points respectively. The Hawks have what could be a very tough week coming up. They travel to Green County for a district matchup and then will participate in a loaded King of the Bluegrass Tournament. It could be a short stay for the Hawks in Fairdale.

9.       Adair County (5-1)

Deron Breeze’s squad lost their first game this week to district opponent Campbellsville. The 9-point loss was sandwiched between a 6-point win against another district opponent, Marion County and a blowout win over Somerset Christian. Connor Loy paced the Indians scoring attack averaging 17 points in the three games. Adair County travels to Taylor County, hosts Glasgow and then hits the road again to Grayson County this week.

10.   Hart County (2-1)

Hart County only played one game this week. A 27-point loss to Central Hardin. Jaxson Shoulders had 24 points and 16 rebounds in the loss. The flu was the big story in Munfordville. Hart County was out of school after Monday and postponed remaining games in the week. The Raiders return to the court this week with 3 games. At Edmonson County, and then home games with Russellville and Green County.

11.   Campbellsville (2-4)

Campbellsville goes 1-2 on the week but were competitive in both losses. They lost a 3-point game to at the time 2nd ranked Taylor County. They scored a 9-point win against Adair County and then dropped a 6-point loss to Washington County in a game that led much of the way. Each game saw a different player lead the Eagles in scoring. If the Eagles are going to compete in the district and region this year, they are going to need consist efforts every night from Landon Colvin, Chase Hord and Taylor Spaw. This week the Eagles visit Marion County, host Caverna and then travel to Apollo to finish the week.

12.   Caverna (4-2)

Caverna makes a big move up the ratings this week from 16 to 12. They played in 4 games, winning 3 of them. They defeated Shawnee and Glasgow on the road to start the week and then took a district win from Green at Green County. Their only loss this week was a 23-point loss to Webster County. The big kid, Meek Ater, gets most of the attention from opposing teams and with good reason, but teams better not forget about Tayden Logsdon and Jaylin Crane. Forget about them, and they’ll make you pay. The Colonels host Barren County on Tuesday night and then travel to Campbellsville and Nelson County.

13.   Green County (2-4)

The Dragons get their first wins of the season this week under Jordan Gilbert. They go 2-1 on the week but drop one spot in the rankings. Green County defeated Marion County 61-39. Led by Kelson McKinney and Jayden Marr with 15 points. They dropped a district game to Caverna, 71-54. Eli Bishop had 18 for the Dragons. And then scored an upset win against Bardstown 64-58. Hayden Blakeman had 23 in the win. The Dragons will have the same issue as Campbellsville. Consistency. They need consistent efforts every night from Blakeman, Marr and McKinney.

14.   Nelson County (1-4)

The Cardinals go 1-1 this week. They dropped a 21 point decision to Mercer County, but scored a huge 17-point upset over district rival Bardstown. Landon Scott had 16 points for Nelson in the win against Bardstown. Havin Carothers nearly had a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Nelson County, this week heads across town to Thomas Nelson, then hosts Washington County and Caverna.

15.   John Hardin (0-6)

It was another rough week for the Bulldogs. 3 games, by an average of 28 points a game. The Bulldogs are 0-6 but to their credit have played a very tough schedule to this point. However, it doesn’t get any easier for them. They’ll be looking for their first win of the season on Tuesday night as they travel to Fort Knox, but then they go to St. X and host Elizabethtown.

16.   Marion County (0-5)

The Knights went 0-3 this week in losses to Green County, Adair County and Taylor County. The silver lining should be that they were competitive in those 3 losses. The Knights are on a 12-game losing streak going back to last season. Their last win was a 9-point win over Nelson County on Feb. 5th of last season. If Markell Bell can stay out of foul trouble, he has the potential to take over just about any game that he plays in. Marion County has one game this week, a home game against Campbellsville.

17.   Thomas Nelson (0-5)

The Terrance Miles era hasn’t started the way any Generals fans would’ve liked. They went 0-2 this week, suffering a 58-point loss to Desales and a 23-point loss to Bethlehem. This week they host Nelson County and look to get in the W column with a game against the Central Ky. Homeschool group.

18.   Fort Knox (0-3)

The Golden Eagles went 0-2 this week, dropping a 21-point loss to Beth Haven and then a rout to North Hardin. Fort Knox plays only 1 game this week as they host John Hardin on Tuesday night in a game where one team will get their first win of the season.