As we enter the final week of the regular season, Owensboro Catholic sits atop the standings after another big win over Owensboro.  They do have the head to head loss to Ohio County and the Eagles are sitting at 12-0 against regional competition.  However, their overall body of work isn't quite as impressive as the Aces.  Owensboro continues to struggle finding a consistent lineup.  Ji Webb missed both games this past week and his status moving forward is unknown.  The Devils will need to look within, if they expect to make a run.  Butler County is a team to watch.  They have one of the states top scorers in Ty Price and are starting to turn the corner.  The Region could really use his star power at the Sportscenter in a few weeks.

 

1.Owensboro Catholic Aces (24-3) – SAME

Wins – Muhlenberg Co, Owensboro & Warren East

The Aces continued to tear through the regular season this week with some big wins.  Brian Griffith also continued his tear.  He averaged 26 ppg in the 3 wins, scoring 31 against Warren East on Saturday.  In the big district game against Owensboro, the Aces went unchallenged in a 66-46 win.  That earns them the #1 seed in the 9th district tournament next week.  They finish the season with Breck Co and Evansville Reitz.

2.Ohio County Eagles (22-6) – SAME

Losses - Whitesville Trinity, Butler County & Meade County

The Eagles have won 5 of 6, including a huge 4th quarter comeback against Butler County.  Elijah Decker had 29 second half points in the win to finish with 36.  Decker joined the 1000 point, 500 rebound club as well.  He put up 25 ppg last week to power the Eagles to 3 3rd Region wins.  They finish the season this week with tough games at Owensboro and at home against South Warren.

3.Owensboro Red Devils (14-9) – SAME

Losses- Bowling Green & Owensboro Catholic

The uneven season continued last week for the Devils.  Without Ji Webb, Owensboro dropped both games by double digits.  They are running out of time to start coming together as a team but we all know the ceiling is very high if they ever do come together.  The Devils finish the season with tough games against Ohio County and Henderson County.

4.Mclean County Cougars (20-7) - UP 1

Wins – Daviess Co, Trigg Co & Logan Co

The Cougars have reeled off 4 straight wins.  3 of those coming last week in huge games from Jaxon Floyd.  Floyd joined the 1000 point club while averaging  23 ppg in the wins.  They finish the regular season against Hopkins Central and Butler County this week.

 

5.Butler County Bears (18-9) – DOWN 1

Wins – Edmonson County, Losses - Ohio Co & Hopkinsville

It's easy to see Butler County is playing its best basketball here at the end of the season.  They had won 7 of 8 entering the week and pushed Ohio County to the end, before falling on a last second 3.  They got a tough district win against Edmonson Friday before falling to Hoptown on Saturday without Ty Price in the 4th quarter.  Price was electric again last week, putting up 36 ppg moving his season average to right at 31 ppg.  The Bears finish the season against Ft Campbell and Mclean this week.

 

6.Hancock County Hornets (15-10) – UP 2

Wins - Apollo, Cloverport & Breck Co

The Hornets have been up and down all season but have now won 4 straight games.  They were able to clinch the #1 seed with a win over Breck on Friday.  Evan Ferry led the way with 18, while Cole Dixon added 17.  The win helps the Hornets avoid a tough play in game in the first round.  They will finish the season against Henderson County and Grayson County.

7.Edmonson County Wildcats (15-11) – DOWN 1

Wins – Allen Co, Losses - Butler Co & Green Co

The Cats came into the week with a lot of momentum, but could not lock down the district's number one seed against Butler County on Friday.  They will now await a coin flip to see who they get in the first round.  They will finish the regular season against Russellville and Breck County.

 

8.Whitesville Trinity Raiders (14-13) – UP 1

Wins - Mclean County, Losses – Edmonson County

The Raiders bounced back this week and now have won 4 of their last 5 games.  They opened the week with a loss to Ohio County but reeled off 3 straight wins to close the week.  Landon Huff is coming alive, as he scored 23 ppg in the 4 games last week.  He scored his 1500th career point and set a new career high with 33 vs Union County.  They finish the season with Lyon Co and Todd Co.

9.Meade County Greenwave (8-15) – DOWN 2

Losses - Central Hardin & Ohio Co

The Waves had their 4 game win streak snapped this week with tough losses to Central Hardin and Ohio County.  They found out they will be playing Breck County in the 11th District Tournament via Hancock's win on Friday.  They finish the regular season with Grayson Co, North Bullitt and Fairdale.

10.Daviess County Panthers (10-13) – DOWN 1

Wins – Apollo, Losses - Mclean Co

The Panthers battled Mclean Co to a 1 point loss before bouncing back against Apollo on Friday.  Gage Phelps continued his tremendous season, putting up 20 ppg last week.  The Panthers will get Owensboro in the first round of district, after the results on Friday night.  Before then, they close the season with Grayson and Union Co.

 

11.Breckinridge County Tigers (9-15) – UP 2

WIns - Grayson Co, Losses – Hancock Co

The Tigers bounced back to open the week with a win over Grayson County.  Mercer Rogers and Lane Taul led a balanced attack with 12 each.  They dropped the district game with Hancock Friday to set up a 1st round match-up with Meade.  They have Owensboro Catholic and Edmonson County this week.

 

12.Muhlenberg County Mustangs (6-20) – SAME

Wins - St Mary, Losses – Owensboro Catholic & Madisonville

The Mustangs are showing signs of life even in their losses.  They pushed very good Owensboro Catholic and Madisonville teams before falling short.  Kanyon Johnson had 20 on Saturday to lead them past St Mary.  The Mustangs close the season with Apollo and Hopkinsville before getting Mclean County in the 10th District.

13.Grayson County Cougars (8-17) – DOWN 2

Losses - Breck County & Whitesville Trinity

The Cougars continued to slide this past week and have now lost 5 of their last 6.  They will await the flip between Edmonson and Butler County to see who they get in the district tournament.  Before then, they close the season against Meade County, Daviess County and Hancock County.

14.Apollo Eagles (4-22) - SAME

Losses – Hancock Co, Daviess Co and Whitesville Trinity

Apollo continued its struggle this week, losing 3 more games.  They finish the season with Muhlenberg.

15.Cloverport Aces (6-20) – SAME

Wins- Cannelton, Losses - Hancock

The Aces picked up their 3rd straight win against Cannelton before falling to Hancock on Wednesday.  Cole Weatherholt put up 19 in the win.  They finish the season with Ft Knox and Christian Foundation.

 

DISTRICT PAIRINGS 

9th - #1 Owensboro Catholic vs #4 Apollo, #2 Owensboro vs #3 Daviess County (at Owensboro)

10th - #2 Mclean County vs #3 Muhlenberg County  --- #1 Ohio Co (bye)

11th - #1 Hancock County vs #4 Cloverport, #2 Meade County vs #3 Breck County  (at Cloverport)

12th - Flip for #1 seed with Butler Co & Edmonson Co -- #3 Whitesville Trinity & #4 Grayson County

I've got to ask, what's going on at with the Eagles @ApolloFan98? The struggle has been continuing for five years now. 

Apollo won the Region in 2018, heading into Districts with a losing record. Coach Barker was 8-50 in his last two years following, and eliminated in the first round at Districts.

Coach Starns, who's had some success at other schools, hasn't fared any better. Two first round losses at Districts and 11-61 in almost three full seasons. 

So 19-111 since 2018. What has happened to cause the decline? What are the prospects for Apollo moving forward. How hot is the Coach's seat at Tamarack Road?

@Runcible Owl you ask a REALLY good question?  I have been watching Apollo basketball since I was born, and they have never had a stretch like this before.  Its been rough and it is really hard to put a finger on exactly what it is?  The talent just isn't there.  It's hard to place the blame in any one place.  Some of it is a shift in county demographics with a lot of kids now going to Daviess County instead of Apollo.  Some of it was a breakdown in the youth programs that fed into Apollo.  A lot of the folks who ran the programs just got older, and moved on.  Unfortunately, a few years went by without anyone picking them up.   I also think the instability in the program, that started when they ran off Steve Barker, caused a lot of potential transfers to look elsewhere.  I do think there will be some changes on the way at the end of the season, but without folks rallying around the program at all levels, it is not going to matter who the Coach is.  Hopefully, the incoming freshman can be the group that starts to bring the program back around.

 

The 12th District held their draw today...

#1 Edmonson Co vs #4 Grayson County & #2 Butler County vs Whitesville Trinity