Injuries and Eligibility issues have been the biggest story for the region through the first week of the season.  Play of the year candidate Elijah Decker has started the season on the sidelines but hopes to be back soon.  DeAaron Watkins missed the first game against Henderson due to some paperwork issues but the issues were cleared up after a game and his impact immediately showed for Daviess County.  Butler County has embraced the regional favorite role and sure looked the part through the first week.  They grabbed a nice win in the Marshall County Hoopfest over Massac County, IL.  Ty Price has been as advertised and his supporting cast looks to be even better than expected this season.  If these performances continue, expect the Bears to crack the top 25 sooner rather than later.

1. Butler County Bears (3-0) – SAME

                The Bears backed up all the preseason talk in the first week of the season.  They picked up wins over South Warren, Massac County IL and Christian County to open the season.  Ty Price picked up where he left off, averaging 26.3 points per game in the 3 wins.  The Bears supporting cast has been just as strong, as they are putting 3-5 guys in double figures through the first 3.  The Bears host Owensboro Catholic Tuesday before closing the week at Whitesville Trinity in district action.

2. Ohio County Eagles (1-1) - SAME

                The Eagles have opened their season shorthanded as senior leader Elijah Decker is nursing an injury and has not been able to go.  Carson Kennedy opened the season with 21 points against Breck to lead the Eagles to a win.  Saturday they could not overcome a good Hopkinsville team as they lost 54-72.  The Eagles will look to bounce back with home games against Grayson and Franklin Simpson.

3. Daviess County Panthers (2-1) - SAME

                While the Panthers were a little shorthanded in an opening season loss to Henderson, they sure bounced back nicely with two blowout wins against Whitesville Trinity and South Warren.  Gage Phelps has been as advertised early, averaging 17 points per game.  DeAaron Watkins scored 19 against South Warren and Jonathan Moss has averaged nearly 11 points per game through the first week.  Daviess County hosts Evansville Central, IN Tuesday, Owensboro Friday and Caverna on Saturday.

4. Owensboro Catholic Aces (0-0)  - SAME

                The Aces are expected to start a little slow with half of their roster returning from football and Solly Smith still not fully eligible to go.  They open at Butler County and Apollo this week.

5. Mclean County Cougars (3-0) – UP 1

                The Cougars are 3-0 to open the season.  Gunnar Revelett looks the part, putting up 22 points per game through the first week.  Brodie Cline has made a smooth transition from QB1 to scorer, putting up 17 per game.  Mclean scored wins over Cloverport, Todd Central and Russellville.  They open all important district play on Friday at Muhlenberg County before facing Evansville Day on Saturday.

6. Meade County Greenwave (1-1) – UP 1

                Meade opened the season with a disappointing 53-47 loss to Floyd Central but bounced back with a nice 75-59 win ove Bullitt Central.  Garrett Hardesty scored 23 in the win.  Hayden Shouse, Peyton Johnson and Michael Blackman all scored in double figures against the Cougars.  The Wave open district play on Friday at home against Breck County.

7. Muhlenberg County Mustangs (2-1) – UP 3

                The Mustangs opened with a disappointing loss to Hopkins Central but bounced back well with wins over Logan County and Northeast, TN.  Madox Jernigan had monster games in the wins scoring 29 and 25 in each.  Isaac Coats and Jace Sommers are also in double figures though the first week.  The Stangs open district play as they host Mclean County on Friday.

8. Owensboro Red Devils (0-1) – DOWN 2

                The Devils lost a close on at Waggner to open the season.  Dayshawn Sanders scored 28 in the loss.  Keaton Hughes and Michael Acton both scored 11.  The Devils may start slow while gaining varsity experience for the bulk of their roster but they are still a talented group.  They travel to Warren Central on Tuesday and Daviess County on Friday.

 9. Grayson County Cougars (1-1) – DOWN 1

                The Cougars opened the season slow against Breck County but put together a huge 4^th quarter to secure a 69-66 win over Breck County.  They could not follow that up however, falling to Bullitt Central 86-78 on Thursday.  Jack Logsdon and Spencer Langdon each had 20 in the win over Breck.  They have 3 road games this week at Ohio County, Edmonson County and Adair County.

10. Apollo Eagles (2-0) – UP 1

                For the first time since the 2013-2014 season, the Eagles are 2-0.  They scored wins over Hancock County and Union County to open the season.  Luke Jarboe, Tate Powers and Kobe Kelly are scoring in double figures through the first 2 games.  The Eagles are going to shoot the 3 this season.  They have shot 46 in 2 games at a 37% clip.  They will look to keep it going against Dawson Springs, Owensboro Catholic and Marion County this week.

11. Edmonson County Wildcats (2-1) – UP 1

                The Wildcats opened the season with a nice 59-43 win over Allen County Scottsville.  Joshua Decker led the way with 14.  Will Alexander nearly pulled a triple double with 10 points, 10 boards and 8 assists.  They followed that up with a 67-65 win over Ft Knox before falling 70-54 to Cumberland County this weekend.  They are at Franklin Simpson Tuesday before returning home to open district play against Grayson County on Friday.

12. Breckinridge County Tigers (1-2) – DOWN 3

                The Fighting Tigers have showed a ton of fight through the first week of the season.  They battled Grayson County and Ohio County before giving away in close losses.  They secured their first win on Friday against Cloverport.  Mercer Rogers and Lance Poole are both in double figures after 3 games.  They host Whitesville Trinity on Tuesday before opening district play Friday at Meade County.

13. Hancock County Hornets (0-3) - SAME

                The Hornets expected to start a little slow after losing all of their production from a year ago.  The Hornets lost close games to Apollo, Brown and South Spencer, IN to start the season.  Dylan Morris and Alex Madden are both averaging double figures through the first week.  They will look to grab that first win this week as they get John Hardin, Whitesville Trinity and Knights Christian.

14. Whitesville Trinity Raiders (0-3) - SAME

                With a huge turnover in the roster, Coach West knew the Raiders were going to be in for a rebuild.  They opened the season with losses to Knights Christian, Daviess County and Logan County.  They will look for that first win this week with games against Breck, Hancock and Butler County.

15. Cloverport Aces (0-3) - SAME

                The Aces suffered losses to Mclean, Beth Haven and Breck County this week.  Cole Weatherholt put up 13 points per game on average in defeat.  They will have Meade County, Foundation Christian and Fort Campbell this week.

Owensboro win vs Warren Central was pretty good. When Central gets a few kids back I would like to see how special that win was for them later in the year. Devils might be a little better then everyone thinks. 

Catholic plays their first game tomorrow night vs Apollo.

Apollo started off great 2-0 then had a BAD loss to Dawson Springs on Tuesday night. How well do they bounce back vs the Aces in their first game back. 
 

Daviess Co I’m disappointed in. I thought they would be better with those transfers. We’ll see how well they get back in the win column this weekend.