5th Region Review and Rankings Week 8

1.       Taylor County (17-3)

Taylor County takes the top spot for the first time this year although they haven’t been ranked worse than 3^rd since the season began. They are 3-0 since their overtime loss to McCreary Central in the 2A state tournament. And 6-1 in the month of January. This past week, they had three convincing wins against Nelson County, Russell County and John Hardin. Layken Lyons had 21, 20 & 19 points respectively. Keeton Clements added 26 points and 20 points in the wins against Russell County and John Hardin. The Cardinals host Hart County and Campbellsville this week.

2.       Washington County (14-6)

Washington County locked up the number 1 seed in the 19^th district with a pair of district wins this week against Bardstown & Thomas Nelson. Beau Baker had 25 points in the win against Bardstown and Riley Brown led scoring with 17 against former school Thomas Nelson. The Commanders are scheduled to travel to Burgin before playing in the All A State Tournament. They matchup with Lexington Christian in the first round in what I think will be a pretty good game. The winner of that game I think makes it to the semi-finals where they will likely face Evangel, Murray or Harlan.

3.       Elizabethtown (12-6)

The Panthers had one game this week, it was a defeat to DeSales. They travel to North Hardin Tuesday night for a district showdown. If the Panthers win that game, they control their own destiny and should lock up the number 1 seed for the 17^th district. They’ll also play Fern Creek and district foe Fort Knox on the road this week as well.

4.       Larue County (12-6)

Larue County moves up one spot this week after going 3-0. The Hawks picked up wins against Butler, Hart County and Madisonville North Hopkins. Daniel Allen had a strong week, averaging 26 points a game. The next 3 games for the Hawks are crucial, as they are all district games. They’ll host Caverna and Green County this week. Wins in both of those games should lock up the one seed for them.

5.       Central Hardin (12-9)

The Bruins drop one spot this week after a 2-1 week. The Bruins picked up wins over Breck County and Fort Knox, but dropped a 2-point decision to Eastern. Liberty commit Brett Decker averaged 28 points per game this week. The Bruins travel to Marion County on Tuesday, host North Hardin in a big-time district game on Friday and then travel to Warren East on Saturday.

6.       Caverna (16-6)

Caverna is up one spot to it’s highest ranking this season at #6. The Colonels went 2-0 this week, defeating Green County by 27 and then blowing out Christian Ed. Consortium. Two of their next three games are against Larue County which will likely determine the seeding for the 18^th district. Meek Ater had back-to-back double-double games this week with 16 points and 12 rebounds and then 34 points and 15 rebounds.

7.       Adair County (15-5)

Adair County goes 2-1 this week, with wins over Southwestern and Metcalfe County. They lost by 26 to Wayne County. Brayton Coomer had a career high, 29 points against Metcalfe County on Saturday night. The Indians are on the road this week with 2 games against Casey County and then district opponent Marion County.

8.       North Hardin (10-8)

The Trojans have a big week in front of them this week and it will set the tone for the rest of the season. Two district games against Elizabethtown and Central Hardin. The results of those games should make pretty clear the seeding for the 17^th district tournament. If North wins both of those games, they would be the number 1 seed. The Trojans went 2-1 last week, defeating John Hardin and Ft. Knox and losing to St X.

9.       Bethlehem (10-9)

Bethlehem went 1-1 on the week, a loss to Frankfort and a win against Shawnee. Casey Steadmon joined the 1000-point club this week. Bethlehem travels to Brown and then hosts Caverna in a game that should help us see how both of those teams stack up.

10.   Hart County (8-8)

Hart County returns to the top 10 for the first time since week 2. The Raiders go 2-1 this week to get to .500. They had wins against Bullitt Central and a four-point win against regional opponent Campbellsville. They ended the week with a blowout loss to Larue County. Hart County is on the road twice this week against Meade County and Taylor County.

11.   Green County (8-11)

Green County drops a spot and out of the top 10 this week after going 0-2 with losses to Butler County and a blowout loss to Caverna. The Dragons are on a 4-game skid and will hope to right the ship against Glasgow on Tuesday. They travel to Larue County on Friday night for a district game.

12.   Campbellsville (8-11)

Campbellsville is on a four-game skid and have lost five out of six in the month of January. They certainly aren’t trending in the right direction. Things don’t get any easier for them this week with games against Clinton County and top ranked cross-town rival Taylor County.

13.   Bardstown (6-10)

The Tigers go 1-1 this week, a loss to Washington County to start the week, but rebounded nicely with a 42-point win against Thomas Nelson. Bardstown hosts John Hardin on Monday night and then host Nelson County in a district matchup. Bardstown needs to win that game to stay out of the 4/5 play-in game.

14.   Nelson County (5-14)

Nelson County drops 2 games this week, to Washington County and Taylor County. They have 3 games this week against Bullitt Central, Bardstown (see above) and then end the week with Green County.

15.   Fort Knox (4-11)

Fort Knox loses two games this week to district opponents North Hardin and Central Hardin. The Golden Eagles are currently on a 6 game losing streak. They have a chance to end that with games against Portland Christian, and then district matchups against John Hardin and Elizabethtown.

16.   Thomas Nelson (2-16)

The Generals go 0-2 this week and their losing streak extends to 4 games. Thomas Nelson has 3 games this week that I think are all winnable games for the Generals. They travel to Louisville to play Francis Parker, and then host LKY (homeschool) and WEB DuBois.

17.   Marion County (1-17)

Things just keep getting worse for the Knights. 0-3 this week and none of the games were close. Leading scorer Markell Bell hasn’t played since Jan. 7^th and is now not on the roster. Just looking through social media posts it seems he has left the team. Marion County will play Central Hardin and Adair County. They are scheduled to play Cumberland County but with Cumberland County playing in the All A State, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that game cancelled.

18.   John Hardin (1-18)

John Hardin was the last team in the region to get into the win column, but they got there. They defeated North Bullitt, 71-52. They host Ft. Knox on Tuesday night, a winnable game for the Bulldogs.

District Standings (if the season ended today, this is what the seeding would look like)

17^th District

1.       Elizabethtown

2.       North Hardin

3.       Central Hardin

4.       Ft. Knox

5.       John Hardin

18^th District

1.       Larue County

2.       Caverna

3.       Green County

4.       Hart County

19^th District

1.       Washington County

2.       Bethlehem

3.       Bardstown

4.       Nelson County

5.       Thomas Nelson

20^th District

1.       Taylor County

2.       Campbellsville

3.       Adair County

4.       Marion County