8th Region Week 2 Review

8th Region Week 2 Review

By: Adrian Woj Burner

 

Game of the Week

This week is full of some great games, but none other than North Oldham vs Spencer County could be chosen for this. Two of the top teams in the region are facing off against each other. Spencer County being the favorite to win the region, and North Oldham being somewhat of a surprise this year. I’d expect this to be a great game!

 

Player of the Week

This week’s player of the week is a name not mentioned much in the region. Walton-Verona guard Zach Smith had a great week! In the Bearcats 3 games this week Smith averaged 27.7 ppg, including a massive 43-point performance against Gallatin County.

 

Rankings

After a bonkers first two weeks of the regular season, it is apparent that this region is wide open. Going into the season I felt the top 5 or so teams were solid, and boy has that changed. You could make a case for about every team ranked 3-15 that they should be in a higher or lower slot. In my short experience doing these reviews, I am not sure that I have had a harder time ranking the 8th Region. So, here is what we have for this week. I would expect them to fluctuate more each week, and no rankings will be solid for a few more weeks as I get around the region to watch each team.

 

1 – Spencer County Bears (2-2)

You might be surprised to see a team sitting on the top of the region with just a .500 winning percentage, but it is not with a lack of opponents.

The Bears had one game this week against a tough DeSales team at the BODYARMOR Showcase, losing 59-66. Spencer County had a rough night shooting, coming in at just 33% from the field and 27% from deep. Their dynamic duo led the way with Luke Erhardt scoring 19 and Camden Cox with 15.

They will ramp it up this week with 3 games, one being a huge matchup against North Oldham to close out the week.

This Week: 12/11 vs Jeffersontown (6:30 Start) | 12/12 at Western | 12/15 at North Oldham

 

2 – Oldham County Colonels (3-2)

Coach John Leslie seems to have a solid squad this year, and they continued to progress this week picking up two wins in back-to-back nights.

They traveled to Western Friday night, picking up a 72-55 win. Max Green led the way with 30 points. As a team they were 41% from deep on just 12 attempts.

On Saturday they faced CAL at Henry County. After a tightly contested battle the Colonels came out on top with a 66-65 win. Green did not have the greatest night, scoring 16 points on 6/20 from the field, but Cameron Roush picked up his slack scoring 22.

This Week: 12/12 vs Grant County | 12/15 at Highlands

 

3 – Woodford County Yellow Jackets (3-1)

As mentioned in weeks before, this team was a wild card. After a couple weeks, they have solidified that they are still competitors in the 8th this year. Just like last year, they are a week or so behind on stats. Going back on last week it appears their scoring is pretty spread out. Santonio Wade led them in game 1, and Omari Jointer in game 2.

They began the week at Paris, blowing them out 85-45. The next day Woodford County would lose to Frederick Douglass, a top-5 team in the state on multiple rankings by just 1 point. While they lost, this is a big statement that even without Jasper Johnson this WOFO team is legit.

Stats are not posted for either game from the last week.

This Week: 12/11 at Anderson County | 12/15 vs Bryan Station

 

4 – North Oldham Mustangs (5-0)

Coach David Levitch really had the pressure put on him this year. With almost all his talent he had to excel as a coach graduating last May, Levitch needed to pull off some of his best coaching yet to produce another successful basketball season. It looks like he might be doing so, with North Oldham starting off the season on a 5-game winning streak. They are the only team left in the region that is undefeated.

The Mustangs began the week hosting Simon Kenton. They would blow them out by a score of 72-46. Grant Neal was the 1 player on the team in double digits with 25. Despite the score, they only shot 23% from behind the arc.

Following the win, they would play Bullitt East in the BODY ARMOR Showcase at Henry County, getting yet another blowout win. The ‘Stangs had 3 players in double digits this game, with Ryan Howard leading (18), followed by Neal (16) and Gray Schmittel (11).

North Oldham has their hands full this week with two of the top teams in the region. If they can win at least one of their next two, they are a legitimate contender.

This Week: 12/13 at Walton-Verona | 12/15 vs Spencer County

 

5 – Walton-Verona Bearcats (5-1)

The Bearcats are dropping two slots this week, but it is not due to anything that they have done performance wise.

They began the week at Gallatin County, winning 73-64. There was a massive game, 43 points scored on 6/10 shooting from deep. Most of you would expect it to be either Aaron Gutman or Julian Dixon, but it was neither. Zach Smith put on an absolute clinic. Not only was he 6/10 from deep, but he was also a perfect 7/7 on 2-point attempts.

A couple nights later they would travel to South Oldham, winning another single-digit ballgame, final score being 70-62. Gutman was back on top with 28 points and 10 rebounds, but Smith had another impressive night with 16 points. Dixon also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

WV closed out the week with a blowout win over Carroll County. Smith again led in scoring with 24, and Gutman was right behind him with 23. Dixon had another double-double with 16 & 10.

This Week: 12/11 at Scott | 12/13 vs North Oldham | 12/16 vs Collins (2:30)

 

6 – South Oldham Dragons (1-3)

The Dragons got off to an ugly start but picked up their first win this week. I would expect this team to only improve throughout the year with more experience.

Steve Simpson’s squad began the week hosting Walton-Verona, losing 62-70. Jake Fithian and Christian Veirs both had 15 points. Despite the loss, South Oldham was a solid 13/31 (42%) from behind the arc.

Later in the week they would defeat Western 72-57 in the Donate Life Classic. A new name for the dragons in Kolton Wuchterl would give the Dragons a great boost, scoring 26 points and going 8/12 from deep. Julian Miles assisted with 18 of his own.

This Week: 12/12 vs CAL | 12/15 vs Simon Kenton

 

7 – Gallatin County Wildcats (3-2)

After a 1-2 start to the season, the Cats have won 2 in a row and are looking to hit their stride going into Christmas.

They began the week hosting rival Walton-Verona, losing 64-73. Matthew Griffin led the team in scoring with 28 points, despite going just 2/8 from deep.

A few nights later they would travel to Eminence, winning 68-28. Their scoring was extremely spread out this game, Kasen Baker leading with 17 and Landon Smith following with 15 of his own.

On Saturday Gallatin County traveled to Henry County to face a struggling Collins squad. They would win the game 67-45 thanks to Kasen Baker’s 23 points on 5 three pointers.

They will kick off district play this week, where they should be favored in each game.

This Week: 12/12 vs Owen County | 12/15 vs Trimble County | 12/16 at Shelby County (2:30)

 

8 – Williamstown Demons (4-1)

Coach Cheeseman had high hopes for his squad this year, and they seem to be clicking early in the season. The Demons currently hold a 4-game winning streak.

Williamstown began the week hosting Trimble County, blowing them out by 44. Colton Feagan scored 29 points, and Honore Yangoua was right behind with 25.

They would go on to defeat Holmes 61-56 on Friday night, stats are not posted for this game.

The Demons will start off this week with a huge game for the 32nd District seeding situation.

This Week: 12/14 vs Grant County | 12/16 vs Carroll County

 

9 – Anderson County Bearcats (3-1)

Coach Hyatt seems to have things figured out down in Anderson County, kicking off another year successfully.

The Bearcats only had one game this week, it being a 50-47 win over Grant County in OT. Stats are not posted for this game.

This Week: 12/11 vs Woodford County | 12/15 at Bellevue | 12/16 at Augusta

 

10 – Shelby County Rockets (2-1)

One thing that is almost unheard of these days is a Shelby County win over Collins. However, this year it has happened.

On Friday night the Rockets took advantage of their rival school in the county struggling to defeat 51-59. Dillon Ritchey led the Rockets, scoring 23 points on 5/12 shooting from 3. Michael Jones also helped the Rockets in the win with 18 points.

This Week: 12/12 vs Waggener | 12/15 vs Western Hills | 12/16 vs Gallatin County (2:30)

 

 

I was in a time crunch this week, so the rest of the reviews will be very brief.

 

11 – Grant County Braves (2-2)

The Braves went 0-2 this week, with a surprising loss to Owen County.

This Week: 12/12 at Oldham County | 12/14 at Williamstown | 12/16 at Pendleton County

 

12 – Owen County Rebels (2-3)

Owen County had an okay week with a good win over Grant County. However, they picked up 2 bad losses in Collins and Henry County

This Week: 12/12 at Gallatin County | 12/15 at Carroll County | 12/16 vs Trinity Christian (At Rowan County 12 PM)

 

13 – Henry County Wildcats (4-2)

The Cats are on a 4-game winning streak, picking up 3 wins this week over Highlands Latin, Owen County, and KCD.

This Week: 12/12 vs Carroll County | 12/15 vs Eminence

 

14 – Collins Titans (2-4)

The Titans continue to struggle, despite picking up a win over Owen County they dropped their 2 other games against Shelby County and Gallatin County.

This Week: 12/12 vs Central | 12/15 vs Scott County | 12/16 at Walton-Verona (2:30)

 

15 – Simon Kenton Pioneers (0-4)

The ‘Neers continue to struggle, dropping both games last week against Mason County and North Oldham.

This Week: 12/12 vs Cooper | 12/15 at South Oldham | 12/16 vs Raceland (3:30)

 

16 – Carroll County Panthers (3-1)

The Panthers split their 2 games last week, with a win over Trimble County and a loss to Walton-Verona.

This Week: 12/12 at Henry County | 12/15 vs Owen County | 12/16 at Williamstown

 

17 – Trimble County Raiders (1-4)

Trimble County continues to struggle, dropping their 2 games this week to Williamstown and Carroll County.

This Week: 12/12 vs Eminence | 12/15 at Gallatin County

 

18 – Eminence Warriors (1-5)

After losses to Valley and Gallatin County, the Warriors are now on a 5-game losing streak.

This Week: 12/12 at Trimble County | 12/15 at Henry County