1st Region Week 12 Review and Rankings

We have a change at the top with Murray going to McCracken and pulling off the road victory.  This week and next should be very exciting.  Here are the district matchups:

1st District - hosted by Carlisle County.  Championship is Friday

Mon - #1 Carlisle Co. vs #4 Fulton City

Tues - #2 Hickman Co. vs #3 Hickman Co.

2nd District - hosted by McCracken County.  Championship is Thursday

Mon - #1 McCracken Co. vs #4 CCA

Tues - #2 Tilghman vs #3 St. Mary

3rd District - hosted by Mayfield.  Championship is Thursday

Tues - #2 Graves Co. vs #3 Ballard Mem.

4th District - hosted by Marshall County.  Championship is Thursday

Mon - #1 Murray vs #4 CFS

Tues - #2 Marshall Co. vs #3 Calloway Co. (Region 1 Game of the Week!)

Here are my rankings:

1. Murray (19-8) - W 71-33 vs Fulton Co., W 44-41 at McCracken Co., W 78-57 vs Carlisle Co.

Great road win at McCracken on Tuesday night.  Grant Whitaker led the way with 16 points in that game, and Drew May chipped in 15.  The Tigers are 7-1 since Whitaker's return with the only loss to Evangel Christian in the All A State Tourney.  I don't expect them to have much trouble with CFS, and they are a definite favorite to win the 4th District.

2. McCracken Co. (24-5) - L 41-44 vs Murray

First - congrats to Jack McCune on KABC Region 1 Player of the Year.  Well deserved!  I really believe that Murray and McCracken are in a tier above the rest of the 1st Region.  I'm not saying that none of the other teams have a shot at the 1st Region title.  I'm simply saying that Murray and McCracken are the two top favorites.  The Mustangs lost the 2nd District finals to Tilghman last year and I know they are looking to prevent that from happening this Thursday night.

3. Paducah Tilghman (20-9) - L 50-53 (OT) at University Heights, W 61-58 at Caldwell Co.

Tilghman had better not sleep on the Vikings on Tuesday night.  Assuming they can pull that one out - they will need to do a better job on McCune.  He averaged 27 points per game in the two wins over the Tornado. 

4. Mayfield (23-5) - W 48-46 at Calloway Co., W 55-30 vs Livingston Central

The Cardinals seem to be peaking at the right time, and I look for them to win the 3rd District title.  I expected this team to get better as the season progressed, and it looks like that is what they are doing.

5. Marshall Co. (19-9) - L 63-70 at Webster Co.

The Marshals host the 4th District tourney, and is that the difference that gets them to regionals?  They beat the Lakers last week, and I look for this one to go down to the wire.  That's why it's my 1st Region Game of the Week!

6. Calloway Co. (21-9) - W 88-70 at Ballard Mem., L 46-48 vs Mayfield

I keep going back and forth on who I expect to win in the 4th District semi-finals.  Could Eli Finley be the difference?  He's averaging 21 PPG for the Lakers.

7. Graves Co. (10-18) - W 70-39 vs Carlisle Co.

This is another team that seems to be playing it's best basketball, and I wouldn't want to play them in the 1st round of the regional tourney.

8. Ballard Memorial (20-10) - L 70-88 vs Calloway Co., W 83-42 vs Fulton City, W 79-68 at Trigg Co.

Two games against the Eagles and two buzzer-beater losses.  It's hard to beat a good team three times in a season, and could it be the Bombers who represent the 3rd District instead of Graves?

9. St. Mary (14-16) - W 68-53 vs Crittenden Co., W 95-69 at CFS, W 86-51 vs Fort Campbell

The Vikings have two excellent Sophomores in Luke Sims and Owen Mikel.  I look for them to jump up the rankings next season.  And if they get hot on Tuesday night it could be a tight one against Tilghman.

10. Carlisle Co. (14-14) L 39-70 at Graves Co., L 57-78 at Murray

The Comets host the 1st District Tourney and I think they are the favorite.

11. Community Christian Acad. (18-11) - Awesome season!  They set a CCA record for most wins in a season.

12. Fulton Co. (11-11)

13. Hickman Co. (13-14)

14. Christian Fellowship School (6-22)

15. Fulton City (3-22)