The first wave of holiday tournaments is now in the books. There were some strong performances out of 12th region teams including some thrilling games and eye-catching individual feats.

Rankings

1. Pulaski County - Undefeated no more. The Maroons fell for the first time this year in the championship of the Lee's Famous Recipe Holiday Classic to host Madison Southern after close wins over Lloyd Memorial and Bryan Station. They now travel to Daytona, Florida to play in the Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic.

2. Danville Christian - DCA opened up the week with a big win over rival Boyle County. The Warriors also participated in the Madison Southern Lee's Famous Recipe Holiday Classic, defeating Bryan Station and losing to Madison Southern. Titus Boyd averaged 19.5 points between the two games. DCA now competes in the Campbellsville Holiday Classic, opening with Oldham County.

3. Danville - The Ads went 2 -1 in Gatlinburg, finishing with a thrilling one point win over Kentucky Country Day. They now head to Mercer County for the Ellis Trucking Christmas Classic where they open with Central Hardin before facing Lafayette and Rockcastle County.

4. Lincoln County - The Patriots went 1 - 2 in LCA's Central Bank Jim Rose Classic. They now make the trek to Ashland to compete in the legendary Ashland Invitational where they open with Perry County Central.

5. Wayne County - The Cardinals went 2 - 1 in McCreary Central's Arby's/KFC Classic with wins over Somerset and Barbourville. They now host the Monticello Bank Classic where they open with Russell County.

6. West Jessamine - The Colts throttled Calloway County and defeated host LCA before falling in the championship game of the Jim Rose Classic to Vestavia Hills (Alabama) 93 - 88 in double overtime. Daniel Waters had 33 in the loss. They now go to Lexington Catholic for the White, Greer & Maggard Holiday Classic where they open with North Oldham.

7. Garrard County - The Golden Lions went 1 - 1 in Montgomery County's Gateway Holiday Classic. They now head off to South Oldham for their tournament where they open with Iroquois.

8. McCreary County Central - The Raiders hosted the Arby's/KFC Classic and went 3 - 0. They now head off to Wayne County's Monticello Bank Classic.

9. Somerset - The Briar Jumpers went 1 - 2 in the Arby's/KFC Classic.  They play two regular games this week against Logan County and Somerset Christian.

10. Boyle County - The Rebels played just one game, a double digit loss to Danville Christian. The Rebels try to pick themselves up as they begin play in the Ellis Trucking Christmas Classic at Mercer County.

11. Mercer County

12. Casey County

13. Rockcastle County

14. Southwestern

15. East Jessamine

16. Somerset Christian

17 Burgin

18. Trinity Christian

19 Kentucky School for the Deaf

I think it is Pulaski’s to lose this year. The biggest threat to them is Lincoln if they can get it together. And with one of the best coaches in the region for years now, I think they will. After that, I think Danville and DCA could possibly make a run, along with West Jessamine. They too have to get things together but like Lincoln have one of the top coaches in the region.

We have a lot of games played by this point and I don’t see any of the other teams being good enough to put together the back to back wins it takes to win the region.

3 hours ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

We have a lot of games played by this point and I don’t see any of the other teams being good enough to put together the back to back wins it takes to win the region.

This is well said. There are about ten teams capable of beating each other in the region but how many are capable of winning three games in the region? That number is usually smaller. 

Boyle is playing 10-11 kids right now. Once they get that number down to 7-8 I think they’ll be more competitive. 

Pulaski could easily have 2-3 losses too.  I don’t see a great or dominant  team in the region this year, and that creates parity.  Should be very excited district/regional tourneys! 

1 hour ago, LethalPG said:

Pulaski could easily have 2-3 losses too.  I don’t see a great or dominant  team in the region this year, and that creates parity.  Should be very excited district/regional tourneys! 

I agree, but still think they’re one of only about 4 to 5 teams that could win 3 in a row in region to get to state. I don’t see any of the other teams having enough talent to do so. They and Lincoln are the two most talented teams.
 

 

If I had to pick today the 8 teams making it to the regional tournament, it would be:

45th - Lincoln & Danville

46th - West Jessamine & Mercer

47th - Pulaski & Somerset

48th - Wayne & McCreary

I think if it was different in the 46th, 47th, or 48th it would be a surprise. However, I would not be shocked if there were two different teams out of the 45th. That one is going to be wild and though Lincoln is good and has one of the best 3 players in the region, if they are the 1 (and that is still a big if) they could certainly lose to either the 4 or the 5. That's how much parity there is in that district. And the crazier thing to me is that I would probably say the two teams out of that district, whoever they are, have the second and third best chances to win the whole thing behind Pulaski.

West Jessamine is a team I wouldn't want to play in the Regional tournament. They are my dark horse. They have all the pieces. 

 

There are 5 teams that really stand a good chance at win it all IMO at this time. In no certain order Lincoln, West Jessamine, Pulaski, Danville & DCA. These teams if playing well could beat anyone if the pieces fall correctly. If poor shooting, rebounding or foul trouble hit they could be beat in this region. That is the fun part of playing in the 12th this year. You had better bring your A game every game because everyone is playing to knock you out. Can't wait for District and Regionals. 

1 hour ago, Hitemdeep said:

There are 5 teams that really stand a good chance at win it all IMO at this time. In no certain order Lincoln, West Jessamine, Pulaski, Danville & DCA. These teams if playing well could beat anyone if the pieces fall correctly. If poor shooting, rebounding or foul trouble hit they could be beat in this region. That is the fun part of playing in the 12th this year. You had better bring your A game every game because everyone is playing to knock you out. Can't wait for District and Regionals. 

I would add Boyle County and Wayne County to this. Again, I think whatever two teams make it out of the 45th have a shot and Boyle, though starting rough, should never really be discounted when you have Quisenberry on the floor. As far as Wayne County, if Burchett and both Phillips play at maximum potential, they can beat anybody in the region, no question. 

If I am updating the tier system based on likelihood of post-season success alone:

Tier 1 - Pulaski County

Tier 2 - Lincoln, DCA, West Jessamine, Danville

Tier 3 - Boyle County, Wayne County 

Tier 4 - Somerset, McCreary County, Garrard County

Tier 5 - everyone else

I think everyone is selling Mccreary very low.  To me, Stephens is the best all around guard in the region.  He’s athletic, true pg, floor vision off the charts and improved jump shot.  They have a team around him that knows their role and plays extremely hard.  This is a year to me when a Cinderella can win.  It may play out where a PC or Lincoln win, but they have holes like everyone else.  

21 hours ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

I agree, but still think they’re one of only about 4 to 5 teams that could win 3 in a row in region to get to state. I don’t see any of the other teams having enough talent to do so. They and Lincoln are the two most talented teams.
 

 

PC is extremely thin this year.  They play 6 guys.  They’re different than last year where they could’ve platooned if they wanted to.  They have 3 really talented players and 3 that work their tails off.  I wouldn’t put them in a different category.  Somerset had them beat (and they’re 9th in this wk poll deservedly so) and they had a 3/4 prayer against an okay Bryan Station team.  They have the best resume to date, but I don’t see them being that much more talented than other teams.  They do play extremely hard and push tempo in their favor.  Just my observation on them. 

I’ve seen the movie about Lincoln losing to the 4/5 in district tourney. Excuse me, if I’m reluctant to say it will happen.  I’ll have to see it to believe it first.  Most of the time they cruise in that game. 

10 hours ago, LethalPG said:

I’ve seen the movie about Lincoln losing to the 4/5 in district tourney. Excuse me, if I’m reluctant to say it will happen.  I’ll have to see it to believe it first.  Most of the time they cruise in that game. 

Completely agree. Lincoln is a talented team with a great coach that hasn’t played up to their potential to date. I think they’ll be just fine.

11 hours ago, LethalPG said:

PC is extremely thin this year.  They play 6 guys.  They’re different than last year where they could’ve platooned if they wanted to.  They have 3 really talented players and 3 that work their tails off.  I wouldn’t put them in a different category.  Somerset had them beat (and they’re 9th in this wk poll deservedly so) and they had a 3/4 prayer against an okay Bryan Station team.  They have the best resume to date, but I don’t see them being that much more talented than other teams.  They do play extremely hard and push tempo in their favor.  Just my observation on them. 

They’re beatable no question. A 12th region team with 3 talented players and 3 that play extremely hard and know their roles. That’s a formula for success in high school basketball and definitely will work in the 12th this year.

All of the top teams in the 12th have tight rotations. As you said, Pulaski mostly plays 6 players as does DCA. Lincoln 6-7 for the most part. West likewise. I haven’t seen Danville to say for sure but their stats would indicate that as well. Point is it’s rare for a high school team to have enough talent to really justify playing more than 6 to 7 players, 8 at the absolute most. When their regular rotation is larger than that, they’re likely missing opportunities by having better players sit more than they should. It doesn’t work well.

A tight rotation with players that understand their roles and are held accountable to them is the foundation for being successful. Almost always characteristics of successful high school  teams.