1st Region Week 3 Review and Rankings

I seriously contemplated putting my Top 5 teams in a hat and drawing out the order.  There is very, very little that separates team one through five this week.  Here are my rankings:

1. Graves Co. (5-1) - W 68-45 vs Caldwell Co., W 62-56 vs Ballard Memorial

The Eagles have three players averaging double figures - all averaging 12 points or more.  Lukas Pigg, Briley VeuCasovic and Braden Waller.  The win last week at Marshall is really the brightest spot on the resume for the Eagles and that's what lands them in this top ranking.

2. Murray (6-2) - W 56-39 vs Marshall Co., W 48-41 (OT) at Calloway Co.  

The Crosstown Classic lived up to its billing, and the Tigers came away with the road win at Calloway.  Earlier in the week the Tigers had a very nice win over the Marshals with Jermiah Jones scoring 20 points.  

3. Marshall Co. (5-2) - L 39-56 at Murray, W 59-51 vs McCracken Co.  

No surprise with the road loss at Murray - that's a very tough place to play.  A very nice bounceback game with the home victory over last week's #1 team Mustangs.  Alex Staples scored 18 points in that win!

4. McCracken Co. (6-2) - W 71-63 vs Mayfield, L 51-59 at Marshall Co., W 63-51 vs St. Mary

We knew that Connor Miller and Klope would lead the way for the Mustangs this year, but it was sort of an unknown who would round out the scoring load.  How about Junior Dylan Jackson - he's scoring over 9 PPG so far this year.

5.  Paducah Tilghman (5-2) - W 90-34 at CCA, W 83-69 vs St. Mary, W 73-67 at Ballard Mem.

I have the Tornado at my number five spot, but there is not a lot that separates their resume from number 1 Graves Co.  That's why I said that teams one through five have so much pairity.  I honestly thought the game against the Vikings would be very close, but the Tornado were in control for the entire contest.  Sophomore Miles Woodfork scored 29 points in that game to lead the way.

6. Mayfield (3-2) - L 63-71 at McCracken Co. , W 88-34 at Cairo (IL), W 71-13 vs Hickman Co.

The Cardinals hung close with McCracken for most of that game, and it looks like they will be a force to be reckoned with this year in the first region.  Monday they host the Murray Tigers, and that will be an interesting game.

7. Calloway Co. (2-4) - L 52-55 at Webster Co. (2A Tourney), L 41-48 (OT) vs Murray

Nicely done for the short-handed Lakers to take the Crosstown Classic to overtime.  I don't want to sound like a broken record - but this evaluation is done with what Calloway has done so far this year without their top player - Eli Finley.  I'm assuming that Finley will return soon, and then I will begin evaluating that team with how they perform.  The early exit in the 2A sectional was disappointing.  I don't know anything about Finley's timetable for return - please leave a reply if you've heard any  news on that front.

8.  Carlisle Co. (3-2) - W 92-57 at Livingston Central

The Comets have a trio of seniors averaging double figures - Burnett, Grogan and Arnold.

9. Ballard Memorial (2-4) - W 66-44 at Hickman Co., L 56-62 at Graves Co., L 67-73 vs Tilghman

The early favorite for leading Region 1 scorer is Jace Birney - he is currently averaging 26.4 PPG.

10. St. Mary (3-4) - L 69-83 at Tilghman, L 51-63 at McCracken Co.

Sims and Mikel are leading the way in scoring for the Vikings, but they need some help.  This is still a dangerous team that could pull some upsets this season.

11. CFS (3-4)

12. Fulton Co. (1-8)

13. Fulton City (1-5)

14. Hickman Co. (1-6)

15. CCA (1-7)