8th Region Week 1 Review

8th Region Week 1 Review

By: Adrian Woj Burner

What a Week!

Just when we imagined the talent level around the region to be lower than last year, the players made us eat our words! Multiple players scoring over 30, a few over 40, even one with 50! With these first week performances, I am looking forward to some certain matchups within the next few weeks.

 

Rankings

These are slightly difficult to master this early in the season, especially Week 1. It is very hard to judge the talent that teams are facing, and the majority of games were out of region in this first week. Inter-region play begins to ramp up in the weeks ahead, so look forward to more accurate rankings.

 

1 – Spencer County Bears (2-1)

In their first week, the Bears had a successful 2-1 start to the season including a huge overtime win against Oldham County.

They began their season hosting Seneca, winning 81-66 where Luke Erhardt led them in scoring with 26. Alongside were 4 other players scoring double digits. Spencer County was also a stunning 14/16 (88%) from the line.

Next, they would battle #2 in the region Oldham County in a thrilling overtime game and would win 90-78. Erhardt again led in scoring with 35, Camden Cox would follow with 26.

Their final matchup of the week was against Taylor County in the 5th vs. 8th Region Showcase. The Bears lost the game 81-83, stats are not posted yet.

With a busy week to start the year, Spencer County will slow it down a little this week with just 1 game on the schedule.

This Week: 12/9 vs DeSales at Henry County (4:30 PM)

 

2 – Oldham County Colonels (1-2)

The Colonels season did not get off to the greatest start to begin the year losing 2 of their first 3 but taking the #1 team in the region to overtime proves that you are in contention so far.

Oldham County began their season hosting North Hardin where they would win 89-76. Max Green’s senior year debut was one for the ages, putting up 48 points to break the school record. He was 19/29 from the field. Green also was 6/12 from behind the arc.

Next, they would face-off against Spencer County. This was a true test for both teams early in the season, but The Bears would defeat them 78-90 in OT. Green again had an unreal performance scoring 36 points, but Henry Marcum assisted him with 17 of his own while grabbing 14 rebounds.

To finish off Week 1 they traveled to Marion County to play Central Hardin, losing 66-77. Green Led with 27, and Louis Nava scored 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

This Week:  12/8 at Western   12/9 vs CAL at Henry County (Time TBD)

 

3 – Walton-Verona Bearcats (2-1)

As many expected, the Bearcats pulled off a nice 2-1 record to start their season.

They started the year against #6 in the state Evangel Christian. WV led at halftime but ran out of gas losing 60-81. Aaron Gutman led the squad with 23 points and was helped by Julian Dixon with 17 and Zach Smith with 15.

A few days later they would host Eminence, blowing them out 76-26. Gutman again led with 27 points, and Sawyer Webster assisted with 16.

On Saturday they would travel to Marion County and would win 67-36. Stats are not posted for the game.

The Bearcats will face 3 teams in the 8th Region this week, all 3 in which they should expect to win.

This Week: 12/5 at Gallatin County   12/7 at South Oldham   12/9 vs Carroll County (3:30 PM)

 

4 – Woodford County Yellow Jackets (2-0)

Coming into the season as a little bit of a wild card, the Yellow Jackets began their season with 2 wins.

To kick off their season they traveled to Danville Christian, picking up a 46-41 win. Next, they would travel to North Laurel and grab a 52-51 win. Stats are not posted for either game.

I am excited to watch this squad and see what a post Jasper Johnson “WOFO” team will look like. I will know more about them once stats are posted.

This Week: 12/5 at Paris   12/6 vs Frederick Douglass at Georgetown   12/8 at Anderson County

 

5 – North Oldham Mustangs (3-0)

Just when I expected the ‘Stangs to have a rough start after losing the majority of their contributors to graduation, they get off to a hot start. Beginning the year 3-0 North Oldham is looking to make a name for themselves again.

To kick off the year they traveled to Central Hardin winning 78-65. Ryan Howard led with 22 and Grant Neal was right behind with 21 of his own.

Next, they would travel to Shelby County, getting a convincing 21-point win. Jack Fischer found his groove scoring 27 and getting a double-double with 11 rebounds. Neal was 2nd in scoring with 15.

To cap off their first week they went to Indiana to face Charlestown, winning 69-45. Neal led this game with 28, and Fischer with 13.

There have been 3 games this year, all of them having different leading scorers. If the ‘Stangs can keep that up, they could very well be competitors.

This Week: 12/8 vs Simon Kenton   12/9 vs Bullitt East at Henry County (3 PM)

 

6 – Grant County Braves (2-0)

Well, looks like Coach Joseph Utter has worked his magic again. As mentioned before, I expected the Braves to take a step backwards this season, but I am looking wrong after 1 week.
They began the season with a convincing 78-58 win over Beechwood. Spencer Breeden led the way with 31 points going 4/5 from deep. Benjamin Bosse scored 22 as well.

To end the week, they traveled to South Oldham where they would win 91-85 in overtime. Stats are not posted for this game.

This Week: 12/5 at Anderson County   12/9 vs Owen County

 

7 – Collins Titans (1-2)

I don’t recall Collins being this low in the rankings in a while, but they have a lot of questions to answer. With all their key contributors gone, the question was who would step up and lead them. It seems they struggled to find that in Week 1, dropping 2 of their first 3.

They began the season at Madison Southern, losing 56-79. Cole Harbin led the way with 23 points.

Collins would go on to lose 63-88 against LaRue County and defeat Beth Haven 59-48. Stats are not posted for either game.

This Week: 12/5 vs Owen County   12/8 vs Shelby County   12/9 vs Gallatin County at Henry County (Time TBD)

 

8 – South Oldham Dragons (0-2)

Well, with high hopes for this season the Dragons hit a slight bump in the road this early season, dropping both games in Week 1.

They traveled north to face Ryle to begin the year, losing 71-81. The Dragons were led by Jake Fithian and Christian Veirs both with 14. The team shot 35 threes’ making 11 of them.

South Oldham would go on to host Grant County, losing 85-91 in OT. The scoring picked up this game, with Veirs leading the team again with 26. Julian Miles found his rhythm and picked up 22 of his own.

This Week: 12/7 vs Walton-Verona   12/9 vs Western at St. Xavier (5:30 PM)

 

9 – Gallatin County Wildcats (1-1)

Coach Sullivan’s squad had a decent start to the year, splitting their 2 games in the first week.

They began the season hosting Williamstown, a matchup expected to be tight. The Cats won by 12 points and put up an impressive 95 on the scoreboard. Kellen Dossett led the way scoring 39 points going 9/13 from deep. Following was Matthew Griffin with 31 of his own.

On Saturday they faced Ryle, losing 50-78. Stats are not posted for this game.

This Week: 12/5 vs Walton-Verona   12/8 at Eminence   12/9 vs Collins at Henry County (Time TBD)

 

10 – Williamstown Demons (2-1)

The Demons got off to a good start winning 2 of their first 3, although I’m sure Coach Cheeseman would’ve liked to win all 3.

They began the season with an 83-95 loss at Gallatin County. Colton Feagan had a great game, scoring 43 points. Behind him was Honore Yangoua with 23.

A few days later they would defeat Powell County 70-69 thanks to a late 3-pointer by Feagan, who had another great game with 38 points. Yangoua scored 22 this game, and joined the 1,000 points club.

Williamstown would cap off Week 1 with a 73-38 win over Eminence. Stats are not posted for this game.

This Week: 12/5 vs Trimble County   12/8 at Holmes

 

11 – Simon Kenton Pioneers (0-2)

Well, with the loss of Travis Krohman this team will need to find their identity. They struggled to do that in the first week, losing both of their contests.

They’d travel to Cov-Cath to start the season, losing 38-57. Jay Bilton led the way in scoring with 14.

Friday night the ‘Neers would host inter-county rival Dixie Heights. SK lost the game 44-62. Bilton led again with 10.

It seems this team is struggling to score the ball, just as they did last year. I picture them climbing the rankings again here soon once Krohman returns to the court, but for now they will be in the 11 slot.

This Week: 12/5 vs Mason County   12/8 at North Oldham

 

12 – Anderson County Bearcats (2-1)

The Bearcats are back, and started this year just as they did last year.

They began the season at Henry County, winning 67-53. They would go on to defeat Burgin 48-35, and then finished the week losing to Green County 57-77. Stats are not posted for any games.

This Week: 12/5 vs Grant County

 

13 – Owen County Rebels (1-1)

The Rebels are still a wild card, not too sure what to expect with them.

They began the year with a 51-55 loss at Western Hills. Brax Ward led the way for the Rebels, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

They would go on to play in the first round of the Kentucky 2A Tournament, defeating Bourbon County 44-38. Ward again led Owen County with 17 points. He had some more help this game, with Ashton Moore scoring 11 and Micah Shelton 10.

This Week: 12/5 at Collins   12/8 vs Henry County   12/9 at Grant County

 

14 – Shelby County Rockets (1-1)

Coach Traylor is still in the process of trying to rebuild this program to the powerhouse that it once was, but it will not come easy.

They began their campaign with a blowout win vs Eminence, 82-45. Dillon Ritchey led with 25 points, going 7/11 from deep. The Rockets also had 3 others in double figures.

Later in the week they would lose 60-81 to North Oldham, stats are not posted for this game.

This Week: 12/8 at Collins

 

15 – Carroll County Panthers (1-0)

Well, there was one thing for certain about the Panthers going into the year, it couldn’t get any worse.

That was the case, as the Panthers picked up win number 1 in their first game this year, defeating Valley 39-33. Landon Groves led Carroll County with 11 points.

This Week: 12/4 at Cornerstone Christian   12/7 vs Trimble County   12/9 at Walton-Verona

 

16 – Trimble County Raiders

It sure looks like a one-man wrecking crew in Bedford, and he goes by the name of Ethan Horn. Despite his incredible stats, the Raiders dropped 2 of their first 3 games.

They began the year at Highlands Latin, losing 59-67. Horn had 39 points going 5/10 from deep.

Two days later they would go on to defeat Ludlow, where Horn would break Trimble County’s single-game scoring record with 54. In this game he drained 23 out of his 28 free throws.

To cap out week 1 they would lose 59-66 to Switzerland County, IN. Stats are not posted for this game.

This Week: 12/5 at Williamstown   12/7 at Carroll County

 

17 – Henry County Wildcats (1-2)

After a brutal stretch to start last year, the Wildcats picked up a win in their first week this season.

They started off with a 54-67 loss to Anderson County. Baylor Nolin led them with 16 points, and Quynten Hardy assisted with 12.

Henry County would go on to lose to Nicholas County 60-74, where Nolin led again with 21 points.

In their last game of the week they would defeat Thomas Nelson 63=59. Stats are not posted for this game.

This Week: 12/5 vs Highlands Latin   12/8 at Owen County   12/9 vs KCD (6 PM)

 

18 – Eminence Warriors (1-4)

After a few years of being competitive in the 31st District, this might be a rebuilding year for the Warriors.

Eminence’s year started off against Cornerstone Christian, winning 51-32. Adrian Martinez scored 14, and Brady White was right behind with 13.

The next night they would travel to Shelby County, losing 45-82. Avery Holland would lead the Warriors this game with 13 points.

To end the first week, the Warriors lost 26-76 to Walton-Verona and 38-73 to Williamstown. Stats are not posted for either game.

This Week: 12/8 vs Gallatin County   12/9 at Valley (1:30 PM)