Not much is going to change in the rankings this week though 3 and 4 from last week played each other, resulting in a flip of that spot. That game between Cooper and Lloyd was one of several really competitive games this week. Even though the weather cut back on the quantity, the quality of competition was high.

Rankings:

1. Covington Catholic - The Colonels went on the road and got wins over Walton Verona and Desales. In the victory over Desales, Brady Hussey scored 27 to lead the way. CovCath has yet to lose inside the region and have only lost to one team in the state, mighty Great Crossing, that one coming back in November. They get a major test to those streaks this week as they host Cooper before having a pair of games over the weekend against Highlands and Ashland.

2. Newport - The Wildcats have not lost since the King of the Bluegrass before Christmas. Last week they had just one game, a blowout victory over St. Henry where Jabari Covington recorded 21 points, going 4 of 6 from three point range. Taylen Kinney did not play. They have Holy Cross on their schedule this week on Friday but you got to think that gets scratched as Newport starts their All A state run Thursday against Sayre, a team they should be able to defeat. If they get past Sayre they have the winner of Breathitt and Danville Christian with the possibility of a rematch of last year's state tournament game in the All A semifinals if they meet Lyon County there.

3. Cooper - The Jaguars got two huge wins over quality competition in thrilling fashion as they beat Lloyd by 4 and Boone County by 6. Yamil Rondon scored 20 and 21, respectively, to lead the way both nights. They travel to Covington Catholic this week in what is their biggest test of the year so far. Andy Johnson has still been out and it would be a huge achievement to beat the Colonels without him. Regardless, we will get a taste of what the postseason may bring as these two teams tangle in Park Hills. Cooper finishes the week by hosting Lexington Christian.

4. Lloyd - The week started off with a very quality win in the Flyin' to the Hoop Classic in Kettering, Ohio as Lloyd defeated Preble Shawnee of Camden, Ohio behind EJ Walker's 21 points. That meant the Juggernauts headed into their matchup with Cooper having not lost since December 21, surviving multiple thrillers along the way. The Jaguars finally changed that by besting Lloyd by a margin of 4. Isaiah Sebastian went for 19 and Walker had 18. Lloyd looks to restart the win streak this week with two road victories over district foes Lloyd and Ludlow.

5. Boone County - The Rebels split the week with a nice win over Beechwood and a close loss to district foe Cooper. They host Scott and Carroll County this week and then won't be back home until February 13.

6. Ryle - So now we have made it through the top 3 teams in the 33rd district. They are all 2-1 in the district with Conner in fourth. Ryle helped make it this way by breaking a 12 game losing streak to Conner, beating them by just 3 points behind Landon Lorms' 26 point performance. Earlier in the week they beat NCC by 9. They face Beechwood on the road before traveling to Knightstown, Indiana to play Bell County in the Hoosier Gym.

7. Holy Cross - Holy Cross fell on the road to Campbell County before surviving a scare from district rival Holmes at home. Luke Arlinghaus scored 20 in the win. They face Lewis County and Newport this week.

8. Highlands - In the Birds' sole game of the week, Nathan Vinson scored 23 points to beat district rival Newport Central Catholic up on the hill 76 to 71. It is all but locked in now that it will be that same matchup in the 2/3 game of the district tournament. The Birds play Brossart and Covington Catholic this week.

9. Dixie Heights - Dixie got just one game in last week, a road win at Beechwood. They host Lloyd and Newport Central Catholic this week.

10. Beechwood - The Tigers fell to Dixie and Boone. They host Ryle and Conner this week before going on the road to play Oldham County.

11. Conner

12. St. Henry

13. Newport Central Catholic

14. Ludlow

15. Bellevue

16. Villa Madonna

17. Holmes

18. Heritage

19. Dayton

20. Covington Latin

Bump.

@se7ens going to be tough work with the Top 3 next rankings….. Musical chairs?

Cooper #1?

38 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

@se7ens going to be tough work with the Top 3 next rankings….. Musical chairs?

Cooper #1?

Been thinking about this alot. I think it has to be Newport at 1, Cooper at 2, CovCath at 3. I cannot justify Cooper jumping Newport yet. Newport has only lost to CovCath, Great Crossing and Trinity. That is pretty insane. (Also if they lose in one of their next two games in the All A, they are probably doing so to a team that is number 1 in their own region.) And while Cooper just beat CovCath, they do not have the Newport resume. CovCath just suffered two losses so they have had their momentum stalled a bit. Then you still have Lloyd, Ryle, and Boone County right underneath them.

Is it crazy to think that there are both realistic chances that Cooper could win the region or that Cooper could not even make it out of their district?

If Newport loses it's to Lyon county who is considered the best team in the state outside of crossing. Newport I don't think loses in region again as long as Tay is healthy.

3 hours ago, se7ens said:

Been thinking about this alot. I think it has to be Newport at 1, Cooper at 2, CovCath at 3. I cannot justify Cooper jumping Newport yet. Newport has only lost to CovCath, Great Crossing and Trinity. That is pretty insane. (Also if they lose in one of their next two games in the All A, they are probably doing so to a team that is number 1 in their own region.) And while Cooper just beat CovCath, they do not have the Newport resume. CovCath just suffered two losses so they have had their momentum stalled a bit. Then you still have Lloyd, Ryle, and Boone County right underneath them.

Is it crazy to think that there are both realistic chances that Cooper could win the region or that Cooper could not even make it out of their district?

I have no problem with putting Newport at #1 but there will need to be some deep thought before doing so, so I’ll play devil’s advocate. Yes, Newport has played an aggressive schedule, but I watched their game with CCH in great detail and when CCH went zone, Newport had no answer. That 10-pt loss was on Newport’s floor which made it even worse. 
Newport’s starting 5 is extremely good if not the best in NKy but I do have questions about their depth beyond players 6-7.  Hopefully Kinney will be fully healed by the time they play Cooper next month. 

I could make the argument that what Cooper did in Park Hills has not been done in some time by any 9th Region team in some time. It’s a tough place to play and Cooper never trailed from the end of the 2nd quarter to the end of the game and that, to me, showed that this team is finally beginning to put it together and playing with the toughness Coach Sully demands. 
To say they the Jags won’t make it out of their district is a stretch in my opinion.  Sure, the Ryle loss is a head scratcher and certainly a bad loss, but I don’t see the Jags blowing another 10 point lead to Ryle and playing that poorly again if the RPI dictates those two end up playing again in the first round. Cooper is currently going 10 deep and just beat the #5, #4 and the #1 teams back to back to back WITHOUT their best player who is expected back late next week. 
 

Again, either team could be #1 but it doesn’t matter. Tournament time matters and I see the Jags on the rise at the right time with one of the best players in the region set to make his return. JMO

Should be fun to watch. 

@Mr. Sixer Newport just disspelled any doubt about who will be number 1 this week though your argument is still well received.

21 minutes ago, se7ens said:

@Mr. Sixer Newport just disspelled any doubt about who will be number 1 this week though your argument is still well received.

As I said in my very first sentence, I didn’t have a problem with Newport being #1 so I wouldn’t call anything being really dispelled. I stand by the points I made. Congratulations to Newport winning today and I hope they win the All-A. 
 

The head to head matchup next month will be good and will give some answers as I still believe either team could win. Hope all players are completely heathy when they game is played.