Week 9:
What a week of ball this week in the 13th. Lots of upsets, lots of head scratchers, and one team remaining on top. I think at this point in the year I’m not sure if anyone can play Harlan County close. I think it’s going to take someone to be on their A+ game and HC to have an off night to knock them off. With that said, all the other games in the districts and region should be thrilling. Without further ado, your week 9 rankings. 

 

1. Harlan County (21-2)
The Black Bears haven’t lost a game to an instate opponent since December 20th. This week they man handled Harlan and Bell County by 25, before crushing Middlesboro by 44. I don’t see them being slowed down anytime soon. They should have a more challenging week this week as they take on Pikeville at their place Tuesday, and then Douglass at Lafayette on Saturday. These are likely HC’s toughest two games left before district tourney play starts. 

*this is where the rankings get fuzzy because everyone’s kind of beat each other. So hold tight*

2. Corbin (12-5)
Corbin went 2-1 on the week but can’t be satisfied with the week they had. What started off with a 22 point win over Berea and a 15 point district win over Williamsburg, ended with a disappointing 1 point loss off a buzzer beater at home to Whitley. This now makes the game against South Laurel even bigger for district seeding. Things don’t get any easier for Corbin as they go to Manchester to play Clay on Tuesday, then face off against the states number one Great Crossing at Pineville on Saturday. 

3. Bell County (16-4)
Bell is currently on a four game losing streak but one of those were in OT, one was after losing a big lead in the third, and one was against region number 1 HC. Bell looks to right the ship and should be able to easily this week as they take on Middlesboro Thursday and Jackson City Saturday. I think Bell is good enough to play with and hang around with anyone in the region besides Harlan Co. 

4. Clay County (11-8)
I’m not sure what to think of the Tigers right now. They started the week off getting smoked at home by Pulaski Co by 20. Then turned it around with a big district win over NL by 7 and finished up the week with a 23 point win over Tates Creek. A win at home over Corbin on Tuesday would give the Tigers some much needed juice to close out the regular season. Clay also plays Jackson County on the road Friday and Knox Central on the road Saturday. 

5. North Laurel (7-11)

North Laurel is another team that’s hard to get a read on. I was expecting a win over Clay to wrap up the districts 1 seed but they dropped the game by 7. Then they go on to beat South Laurel by 12 at home. Things don’t slow down for the jaguars as they go to OBI Monday, host Red Bird Tuesday, host Pulaski County Friday, and play Ashland at LCA Saturday. 

6. South Laurel (11-6)
The Cardinals are really struggling without Mabe. Now losers of 4 of their last 5, the Cardinals have three straight district games on the schedule. South lost to North by 12 on the road, but managed to pick up a valuable 5 point win over Whitley. This week they go to Williamsburg on Tuesday and Whitley on Friday. South either needs Mabe back ASAP but they also have to start adapting to life without him if they’re going to make it out of the district. 

7. Whitley County (15-4)
The Colonels started the week off with a 5 point loss to SL but ended hot with a buzzer beater win over Corbin at home and then a 42 point win over Cordia. Whitley could honestly probably be higher than where they’re at right now, with 2-7 being hard to rank currently. They’ll have another chance to shoot up the rankings this week as they go to Jackson Co Tuesday, then host South Laurel at home on Friday and go to Owsley Co on Saturday. 

8. Knox Central (13-6)
The panthers have quietly put together a nice season. KC went 1-1 on the week with an 11 point win over Southwestern and a 15 point loss at Rockcastle. Knox has two district games this week. The first is a road trip to Pineville on Tuesday, and then a road trip to Lynn Camp on Friday. They wrap the week up at home with Clay on Saturday. 

9. Williamsburg (10-10)
All the snow cooled the yellow jackets off as they went 0-2 on the week with a 15 point loss to Corbin then a 34 point drubbing in the All A to Murray. They look to right the ship this week as they host South Laurel Tuesday, host The Cumberland Christian Home Educators Friday, then play I.A.M on Saturday. 

10. Pineville (12-5)
Pineville went 2-0 on the week with wins over district foes Barbourville and Lynn Camp. The Mountain Lions have a huge home game Tuesday as they host Knox in a game for the 1 seed in the district. They then go to Harlan on Thursday, and wrap it up at home with Berea on Saturday. 

 

Best of the Rest:

11. Harlan (4-11)

12. Jackson County (8-10)

13. OBI (10-8)

14. Middlesboro (6-10)

15. Barbourville (5-15)

16. Lynn Camp (4-12)

17. Red Bird (1-11)

 

Absolutely crazy in the 13th right now! Almost every team has taken a loss or a upset win lol. Harlan county is still the big favorite although Pikeville definately showed how they can be beaten. Don't look now but is Clay County starting to figure it out(they are like Ky weather--no idea what you are going to get). Corbin is still a tough out but Clay showed their 2 glaring weaknesses--no inside game and no goto scorer. Rumor is a certain big kid in London is at games without a knee brace on and running now. Somehow Knox has the inside track to that district now(Huge turnaround for them) and now Jackson "upsets" Whitley. North has won 3 in a row but the injury bug has hit them hard supposedly. Crazy times in the 13th right now