The 4th District finished with Murray, Calloway and Marshall all tied at 4-2.  All three of the teams split with each other.  I don't know how it was decided, but Murray has the 1 seed (will play Christian Fellowship) and Marshall and Calloway have the 2/3 seeds.  It's a shame that one of those two teams will not make the 1st Region Tourney as I have both as Top 5 teams in the region.  If there's one District semifinal to watch or follow - the Calloway at Marshall matchup would be the one for me.

Key Games this Week:

Mon - Calloway Co. at Ballard Mem.

Tues - Murray at McCracken Co. (1st Region Game of the Week), Mayfield at Calloway Co., Tilghman at Univ. Heights, Carlisle Co. at Graves Co.

Thurs - Murray at Carlisle Co.

Here are my rankings:

1. McCracken Co. (24-4) - W 58-38 vs Calloway Co., W 65-44 vs Graves Co., L 52-63 Christian Co.

Are the Mustangs late-night partying hard on Friday nights before games against the 2nd Region?  Christian Co. is a very good team, but I did not expect the Mustangs to lose that one.  However, I still have McCracken as the region's top-ranked team after an impressive win over Calloway and also a pretty easy win over Graves on Senior Night.

2. Murray (16-8) - W 63-50 vs Marshall Co., W 79-55 vs Camden Central (TN), W 84-39 at CFS

I have decided to evaluate this Tigers team only since Whitaker has returned and they have passed all of the tests so far.  We will get a chance to see where they are when they travel to McCracken on Valentine's Day.  If you haven't decided where to take your date yet - how about a basketball game featuring the 1st and 2nd ranked teams in the First Region (then Applebee's of course).

3. Paducah Tilghman (19-8) - W 78-62 vs St. Mary, L 59-68 at Warren Central

Both Mian Shaw and Jayvion Powell got their 1,000th point this season.  This 1/2 punch is a very effective one, and I think both of these players will be All Region.  It would be great if the Tornado could develop a reliable 3rd scorer and there are several candidates.  They have an interesting test this week at University Heights before district play begins.

4. Calloway Co. (20-8) - L 38-58 at McCracken Co., L 67-76 at Marshall Co.

This Lakers team was rolling around the time of the 2A State Championship.  A win over DeSales and then a narrow OT loss to Lexington Catholic.  Since then they have had some struggles, and it's important to remember that three of their main players are Sophomores.  I still think the Lakers have the talent to win the First Region title, and I think it's just a matter of if they can string together a couple of solid wins.

5. Marshall Co. (19-8) - L 50-63 at Murray, W 76-67 vs Calloway Co.

I believe that the Marshals host this year's 4th District tourney, and that will be a great opportunity for them to hopefully punch their ticket to the 1st Region tourney.  I think that first-year coach Donohoo is one of the favorites for 1st Region Coach of the Year.

6. Mayfield (21-5) - W 69-50 at Carlisle Co., W 78-21 vs Cairo (IL), W 72-44 Union Co.

I have the Cardinals ranked 6th, but there is honestly not much separation between teams four through six in these rankings.  They are the clear favorite in the 3rd District tourney.

7. Graves Co. (9-18) W 62-60 vs Ballard Mem. (OT), L 44-65 at McCracken Co.

Two games against the Bombers and two buzzer-beater wins!  I've said this before, but I will again - this team is much better than their 9-18 record.

8. Ballard Memorial (18-9) - L 60-62 (OT) at Graves Co., W 64-57 vs. St. Mary

The Bombers will get a third shot at the Eagles, and maybe the third time is the charm.  It's obvious that there is not much separation between these two teams.

9. St. Mary (11-16) - L 62-78 at Tilghman, W 72-53 vs Fulton Co., L 57-64 at Ballard Mem., L 49-50 Muhlenberg Co.

This is another team that has a very talented Sophomore class.  I look for the Vikings to move up these rankings next season.  And the Tornado better not look past them in the 2nd district tournament.

10. Carlisle Co. (14-12) - L 50-69 vs Mayfield, W 76-46 at Liv. Central, W 77-68 vs Fulton Co., W 73-65 Crittenden Co.

The Comets win over Fulton Co secured them the #1 seed in the 1st District. 

11. Comm. Christian Academy (16-11)

12. Hickman Co. (11-14)

13. Fulton Co. (10-9)

14. Christian Fellowship (6-19)

15. Fulton City (3-19)

 

 

Anyone with any info on the Tilghman/Warren Central game? I wasn't able to make this one, but a 9 point road loss to the #1 ranked team in the state is pretty respectable. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38 minutes ago, TilghmanPride said:

Anyone with any info on the Tilghman/Warren Central game? I wasn't able to make this one, but a 9 point road loss to the #1 ranked team in the state is pretty respectable. 

From the BG Daily News  ~

"Dragons shake off rust in win over Paducah Tilghman"

Senior Night for the Dragons who were playing just their third game in two weeks. 

Well done game recap, remarks from Coach Unseld, scores by quarter and individual at this link ~

bgdailynews.com/sports/prep/dragons-shake-off-rust-in-win-over-paducah-tilghman

Tilghman's filed KHSAA stats below ~

scoreboard.12dt.com

I know that Tilghman went on a 12-2 run to close the game, and the margin was around 15-20 during some of the 2nd half.  Powell for Tilghman did not play in some of the 1st half but returned in the 2nd half.  I think he got poked in the eye.

 

                           My top 6 teams in order base on teams they have beaten 

1. McCracken              24 wins.   (54.9 average RPI score of teams beaten/KY teams only) 

2. Paducah Tilghman 19 wins  (52.4 average RPI score of teams beaten/KY teams only)

3. Murray High         16 wins    (51.1  average RPI score of teams beaten/KY teams only)

4. Marshall Co.        19 wins    (50.4 average RPI score of teams beaten/KY teams only)

5. Calloway           20 wins   (49.7 average RPI score of teams beaten/KY teams only)

6. Mayfield            21 wins   (46 average RPI score of teams beaten/KY teams only)

This is very good to see - thank you Jackson Purchase!

I don't think I  would want the Regionals or even state tournament seeded by RPI.

(According to RPI)

McCracken, Murray and Paducah Tilghman biggest win this season is vs Mayfield 62.1

 Mayfield biggest win of season is Marshall at 50.4 12 points lower than their RPI? 

McCracken. Paducah Tilghman and Murray biggest wins this season according to RPI would be Mayfield RPI of 62. Mayfield biggest win is vs Marshall Co an RPI of 59.5.   

Don't think anyone  could honestly say that Paducah Tilghman, Murray and  McCracken's biggest win of the season is Mayfield and its not like Mayfield has beaten a powerhouse out of region with a high RPI. It may work for Football but not Basketball. 

 

 

3 hours ago, jacksonpurchase said:

I don't think I  would want the Regionals or even state tournament seeded by RPI.

(According to RPI)

McCracken, Murray and Paducah Tilghman biggest win this season is vs Mayfield 62.1

 Mayfield biggest win of season is Marshall at 50.4 12 points lower than their RPI? 

McCracken. Paducah Tilghman and Murray biggest wins this season according to RPI would be Mayfield RPI of 62. Mayfield biggest win is vs Marshall Co an RPI of 59.5.   

Don't think anyone  could honestly say that Paducah Tilghman, Murray and  McCracken's biggest win of the season is Mayfield and its not like Mayfield has beaten a powerhouse out of region with a high RPI. It may work for Football but not Basketball. 

 

 

Typo Marshall RPI is 59 not 50.4 that was the Average RPI of teams they have beat.