3rd Region Week 5 Review and Rankings

It was a rough holiday season for the region as a whole.  The 3rd has not shown it can compete at a state level though the first month of the season.  Butler County battled injury and illness through their marquee schedule and will look to fair better vs top teams in the back half of the season.  Daviess County has been the most impressive team early in the year, but have not played the schedule that Butler County or Ohio County have played.  Mclean County has shown the ability to beat the teams they should and added a highlight win over Breathitt County during the holiday season.  Owensboro Catholic has started to turn the corner with their football guys getting into basketball shape.  Coach Riley has his team playing to their expectation as of late.   Grayson County is full of big time freshman contributors and should get even better when Tayden Logsdon becomes available later this month.  They are an early season dark horse to make a run at a regional title.  Owensboro and Apollo are working through youth and varsity inexperience but both have shown flashes early on.

1. Butler County Bears (6-4) – SAME – Wins (81-56 Carlisle Co)

          The Bears returned from the King of the Bluegrass with a win over Carslile County at the Sportscenter.  Ty Price led the way with 29 while Lawson Rice added a double double with 25 points and 13 rebounds.  The Bears will look to start 2024 fully healthy and try to go wire to wire at this top of this poll.  Price is one of the states top scorers at 27 ppg.  Rice is averaging an impressive double double with nearly 19 ppg and 11 rpg.  The Bears face St X in McCracken Co in their lone game this week.

2. Daviess County Panthers (11-3) – SAME – Wins (72-43 Glasgow, 61-56 Franklin Simpson & 49-44 Portland, TN)

            Daviess County has established itself as the most consistent team in the region through the first month.  While they have not played the schedule of the other teams at the top, they continue to beat all of the teams they should. Jonathan Moss had a great holiday season, scoring in the 20’s most nights.  The Panthers have 4 players in double figures scoring per game.  Along with Moss, Gage Phelps, DeAaron Watkins and Jaxon Brown are all putting up double digits.  Daviess County travels to Ohio County on Thursday in their lone game of the week.

3. Mclean County Cougars (11-2) – UP 2 – Wins (75-72 Breathitt Co)

            The Cougars got a very impressive win over Breathitt County in their lone game this week.  Gunnar Revelett led the way with 30 while Jax Lee knocked down 6 3’s.  On the season, Revelett is putting up right at 20 ppg.  The Cougars look to stay hot this week as they open All-A tournament play against Whitesville Trinity.

4. Owensboro Catholic Aces (5-3)  - UP 3 – Wins (54-47 Christian Co & 65-48 Rock Creek)

            Since starting the season 0-2, the Aces have won 5 out of 6 and are starting to get their basketball legs under them.  Luke Biekman who has been nursing a hand injury is starting to get healthy and putting up right at 20 points per game.  Tutt Carrico and Waryn Eblhar are also scoring in double figures.  The Aces open All-A tournament play against Hancock County tomorrow before hosting Madisonville this weekend.    

5. Grayson County Cougars (7-5) – UP 3 – Wins (81-65 Paducah Tilghman & 73-65 Apollo), Losses (64-62 Logan Co)

            It has been a bit of an uneven start for the young Cougars but they have shown flashes of being one of the better teams in this region.  Freshmen lead the way with Jack Logsdon scoring 22 ppg and Spencer Langdon putting up nearly 17.  Brody Armstrong is off to a nice start as well, scoring right at 12 ppg.  They should be getting the services of transfer Tayden Logsdon sometime this month as well.  The Cougars host Muhlenberg County and Holmes this week.

6. Ohio County Eagles (5-8) – DOWN 3 – Losses (76-59 Ashland, 76-70 Martin Co & 61-47 Butler) 

            The Eagles had a rough stretch during the holidays, losing 5 straight games to good competition.  Elijah Decker and Carter Young lead the team in scoring with 17 ppg each.  They will look to get back on track this week as they host Daviess County on Thursday before traveling to Bowling Green to take on Glasgow.

7. Owensboro Red Devils (5-6) – DOWN 3 – Wins (74-59 Ballard Memorial), Losses (73-61 Henry Clay & 68-53 Evansville Memorial)

            The young Red Devils have been competitive through the holiday season but do not have many wins to show for it.  They are led by Dayshaun Sanders 18.4 ppg.  Keaton Hughes is right at double double numbers with 13.7 ppg and 9.8 rpg.  The Devils host Breck tomorrow before traveling to Bowling Green to take on Greenwood this weekend.

8. Apollo Eagles (9-5) – DOWN 2 – Wins (62-44 Dawson Springs), Losses (56-43  Northwest, TN & 73-65 Grayson Co)

            The Young Eagles had a nice run of wins during the Holiday season, running their winning streak to 5 games before losing the final 2 games in Logan County.  Kobe Kelly, Luke Jarboe and Tate Powers are all averaging double figures scoring this season.  The Eagles are at Cumberland County on Saturday.

9. Edmonson County Wildcats (7-7) – UP 1 – Wins (52-45 Campbellsville), Losses (53-40 East Jessamine & 72-52 Barren Co)

            The Wildcats had an up and down holiday season and enter the 2^nd half of the season at 500.  Wyatt Gravil, Lane Ashley and Will Alexander are all averaging double figure scoring and Joshua Decker is right at double double number with 9 points and 9 rebounds per game.  The Cats are at Breck County this week.

10. Muhlenberg County Mustangs (4-8) – DOWN 1 – Losses (65-41 Henderson Co, 70-51 Breathitt Co & 81-49 Greenwood)

            After a solid start to the season, the Mustangs have lost 7 of their last 8 games.  Issac Coats who played well early on has not played the last handful of games.  Madox Jernigan has scored right at 18 ppg on the season.  The Mustangs are at Grayson and Crittenden County this week.

11. Breckinridge County Tigers (5-7) – SAME – Losses (72-59 Greenwood & 72-53 Carlisle Co) 

            The Tigers have lost 4 of 5 over the holidays.  Mercer Rogers leads the team with 13 points per game.  Breck travels to Owensboro tomorrow and hosts Edmonson County on Friday.

12. Meade County Greenwave (5-7) – SAME – Wins (68-58 Lincoln Co, TN) Losses (49-36 Davey Crockett, TN & 71-56 Highleah, FL)

            The Waves went 3-3 over the holiday season.  Garrett Hardesty is putting up 16 ppg on the season.  The first half of the season has been a bit of a disappointment for the Waves but should still be one of the favorites inside the 11^th district. Meade travels to Campbellsville in their lone game this week.

13. Hancock County Hornets (5-8) – SAME – Wins (63-47 Knights Christian), Losses (39-28 Rock Creek, IN)

            The inexperienced Hornets continue to grind out games and improve.  Alex Madden is one of the top rebounders in the region and is averaging right at a double double every game. They will face Owensboro Catholic in the All-A Tournament this week.

14. Whitesville Trinity Raiders (1-12) – SAME – Losses (76-40 Shawnee, 57-38 Lou Collegiate & 60-52 Burgin)

            Hayden Aull leads the Raiders at 14.4 ppg.  They will face Mclean County in the All-A regional opener this week.

15. Cloverport Aces (0-12) – SAME – Losses (66-35 Eminence, 69-41 Villa Madona & 61-46 Whitefield Academy)

            Cole Weatherholt leads the team with 16.8 ppg.  The Aces open All-A tournament play this week.