1st Region Week 2 Review and Rankings

Honestly, if I were to rank based on teams that I thought had the best chance to cut down the nets in March - I believe that I would put the Lakers in the #1 spot.  But I think my rankings should be about performance so far this year, and the Lakers are not the same without Eli Finley, and I hear he should return in a week or two.  I really struggled this week to rank teams one through six - a disappointing loss by the Murray Tigers dropped them down a few notches.

Key games this week:

Tues - Marshall at Murray, Mayfield at McCracken, St. Mary at Tilghman

Fri - Murray at Calloway (BG Preps Region 1 Game of the Week), McCracken at Marshall, Ballard at Graves

Sat - St. Mary at McCracken, Tilghman at Ballard

Here are my rankings:

1. McCracken Co. (4-1) - W 57-51 at Hopkinsville, W 71-67 vs UHA, W 51-45 Memphis East (TN)

The Mustangs went 3-0 this week, and the win over UHA handed them the Blazers their first loss of the year.  Connor Miller is having an impressive start to his season - he was scoreless at halftime against Hoptown, and came out and scored 19 in the 2nd half.  Jackson Klope is averaging 13 points and 12 boards per game.  There are two talented Freshmen who are playing significant minutes for the Mustangs - Jay Martin and Caden Fulcher.  The Friday night matchup at Marshall will be a tricky one!

2. Graves Co. (3-1) - W 40-37 vs Calloway Co., W 52-47 at Marshall Co. 

A very impressive week for the Eagles which included a road win at the Marshals, who were rolling at the time.  Junior Braden Waller has been a pleasant surprise so far this season averaging 15 & 6.  

3. Calloway Co. (2-2) - L 37-40 at Graves Co., W 77-76 Christ Presbyterian (TN)

Will Eli Finley be back in time for Friday's Crosstown Classic?  There are some good games this week, but this was a no-brainer for the BG Preps 1st Region Game of the Week.  As I mentioned above, I think that the Lakers are one of the main favorites to win the regional tourney, but they need to get healthy first and get Finley back in the mix.

4. Murray (3-2) - L 49-68 at UHA, W 60-44 vs Ballard Mem., L 41-63 Montgomery Bell Academy

I did not get to see the game, but the 19-point loss at UHA was disappointing.  However, I think it's possible that this game was more competitive than the final score indicated.  The Tigers only really lost two key players from last year's team in terms of scoring - Senior Whitaker and transfer K. Watson.  The loss to UHA is only one game, and the Tigers have some opportunities this week to get a couple statement wins.  Can they come out with two statement wins over the Marshals and the Lakers?

5. Paducah Tilghman (2-2) - L 58-60 vs Henderson Co., L 60-74 vs Christian Co., W 48-47 vs Triad (IL)

Two losses this week for the Tornado against strong 2nd Region teams - Henderson and Christian.  Other than 6'4" Omari Williams - the Tornado is lacking in size and I think that might hurt them against bigger teams.  Ahmad Wilkins is really shooting the ball well, and Tilghman has four players averaging double figures - Wilkins, Williams, Miles Woodfork and Josh Campbell.

6. Marshall Co. (4-1) W 68-36 vs Carlisle Co., L 47-52 vs Graves Co.

I had penciled in the Marshals into one of my top two or three spots, but then the home loss to the Eagles.  However, the start by this team has still been very impressive.  I had thought that this team would only be Andy Staples, but Tommy Robertson and Freshman Matthew Langhi have really stepped up to help with the scoring load.  The Marshals play Murray and McCracken this week and honestly going 1-1 would be a solid week for them.  I'm anticipating that Reed Conder Gym will be rocking Friday night when the Mustangs come to town.

7. Carlisle Co. (2-2) L 36-68 at Marshall Co., W 71-32 at Hickman Co.

It's looking more and more like the Comets should run the table in the 1st District - I'm really not sure right now which of the others looks to be the runner-up.  The Comets will be dangerous come tourney time because they have a lot of young talent that should get better and better.

8. Ballard Memorial (1-2) - W 81-74 (OT) vs St. Mary, L 44-60 at Murray

Jace Birney scored 44 points in the win over the Vikings!  He can really fill it up.  Right now it's a tough call for me as to who is second-best in the 3rd District.  I think the games between the Bombers and Cardinals will be very tight.

9.  St. Mary (3-2) L 74-81 (OT) at Ballard, W 80-76 Camden Central (TN)

The scoring competition between Luke Sims and Owen Mikel is neck and neck right now - Sims is averaging 23.8 and Mikel is averaging 23.6.  The talent gap between the Vikings and Tornado is not that much right now, and if Sims and Mikel get hot in a game against Tilghman then I could see the Vikings coming away with an upset.

10. Mayfield (1-1) W 82-27 at Fulton City, L 57-65 Millington Central

I look for the Cardinals to make their way up these rankings in the next few weeks.  I honestly just don't know much about them right now.  They've got a chance on Tuesday to make a name for themselves by giving the Mustangs all they want.

11. Fulton Co. (1-5)

12. Fulton City (1-5) 

13. CCA (1-4)

14. CFS (3-3)

15. Hickman Co. (0-4)