So it is now official that whoever comes out of the regional tournament will have the honor of facing the 7th Region champion at Rupp. I believe seven teams can claim to have a realistic chance at contending for that spot (although only six of those could possibly make it to the regional tournament as three are from the same district). We are closing in on the district tournaments now as teams finish out their seeding play and start turning their attention to late season tweaks to set them up for a potential postseason run.

Rankings

1. Danville Christian - The Warriors are still undefeated against regional competition and kept that streak up by defeating Garrard County last week. In addition they also defeated Washington County. Emmanuel Dut was held to just 2 points against Garrard County as DCA avoided the upset by beating the Golden Lions by 7 but he roared back against Washington County, scoring 22. They travel to Boyle County, McCreary County and North Oldham next week. 

2. Lincoln County - The Patriots bounced back from their district loss to Boyle the week before by defeating  North Laurel and Danville. Seth Horton had 14 points and 8 rebounds against the Ads. They face South Laurel and Mercer County this week.

3. Pulaski County - The Maroons had Ethan Idlewin score 12 as they fended off Mercer County by 3 at home before going down to Southwestern to earn a road win. They host Rockcastle and Boyle this week.

4. Wayne County - The Cardinals blew out Somerset 70 to 34 in a statement game with three players scoring 14 or more points. They also defeated Knox Central and Middlesboro. They host East Jessamine and Lafayette this week.

5. Mercer County - Rounding out the top five the Titans narrowly missed out on upsetting Pulaski County but got a win over Rockcastle County behind Trevor Ellis' 25 points. They also fell to Scott County. They face Burgin and Lincoln County this week.

6. Boyle County

7. Somerset

8. Rockcastle County

9. East Jessamine

10. Trinity Christian

11. McCreary Central

12. Southwestern

13. Danville

14. West Jessamine

15. Somerset Christian

16. Casey County

17. Garrard County

18. Burgin

19. Kentucky School for the Deaf

I know Somerset has a few losses of late, but they had some injuries. I have a hard time believing they aren’t top 3-4. There are some key injuries around the region, and it may end up being who is the healthiest that get to cut down the nets. 

53 minutes ago, 12th Region Fan said:

I know Somerset has a few losses of late, but they had some injuries. I have a hard time believing they aren’t top 3-4. There are some key injuries around the region, and it may end up being who is the healthiest that get to cut down the nets. 

A healthy Somerset is 2-4, and earlier in the year before DCA really started rolling they were number 1. But they are trending the wrong direction. If they can get healthy and clean things back up they are certainly a threat to win the region. But time is of the essence. 

43 minutes ago, se7ens said:

A healthy Somerset is 2-4, and earlier in the year before DCA really started rolling they were number 1. But they are trending the wrong direction. If they can get healthy and clean things back up they are certainly a threat to win the region. But time is of the essence. 

Somerset is getting back going.  They handled Metcalfe County by 30 and had a great game with 11th Region Madison Southern, who is very talented the next day and narrowly fell 66-62.  Tonight, they won handily against Campbellsville to improve to 17-8 on the season.  They have their shortcomings, but so do most of the other teams.  Like you said, there's not much difference 2-7.  They have some big games down the stretch to pull some merit.  Somerset could beat anyone ahead of them, or lose to them.  Kinda how this region is this season.

8 hours ago, LethalPG said:

Somerset is getting back going.  They handled Metcalfe County by 30 and had a great game with 11th Region Madison Southern, who is very talented the next day and narrowly fell 66-62.  Tonight, they won handily against Campbellsville to improve to 17-8 on the season.  They have their shortcomings, but so do most of the other teams.  Like you said, there's not much difference 2-7.  They have some big games down the stretch to pull some merit.  Somerset could beat anyone ahead of them, or lose to them.  Kinda how this region is this season.

Those big games you reference are Boyle County and DCA (though they play Southwestern this week and that team just beat McCreary who beat the Jumpers during this rough patch). If they can beat Southwestern and Boyle and go to the wire with DCA, then you will convince me they are ready for the postseason. Obviously they still have potential. A rough patch and injuries doesn’t erase that. But they really need to start building momentum out of the success you just mentioned. This hasn’t been the same Somerset team from the beginning of the year. Again, I get why but you can go back and look at those earlier posts when they were on fire - we always knew depth was going to be an issue with this team and that injuries and foul trouble would pose a huge threat to their overall success.

1 hour ago, se7ens said:

Those big games you reference are Boyle County and DCA (though they play Southwestern this week and that team just beat McCreary who beat the Jumpers during this rough patch). If they can beat Southwestern and Boyle and go to the wire with DCA, then you will convince me they are ready for the postseason. Obviously they still have potential. A rough patch and injuries doesn’t erase that. But they really need to start building momentum out of the success you just mentioned. This hasn’t been the same Somerset team from the beginning of the year. Again, I get why but you can go back and look at those earlier posts when they were on fire - we always knew depth was going to be an issue with this team and that injuries and foul trouble would pose a huge threat to their overall success.

I get the logic, but just feel like their rough patch is being held against them more in the rankings compared to some of other teams.  DCA and Wayne are only two teams that have more wins than them on the season, and they’ve played a solid schedule for a class A school.  

On another note, DCA @ Boyle Co. Tonight.  Should be a fun one! 

1 hour ago, LethalPG said:

I get the logic, but just feel like their rough patch is being held against them more in the rankings compared to some of other teams.  DCA and Wayne are only two teams that have more wins than them on the season, and they’ve played a solid schedule for a class A school.  

I hear you, but take a look at this year - every team in the top 7 has seen big fluctuation in ranking at some point this year. DCA stumbled briefly in December, Lincoln was terrible to start, Mercer was flat without Barnes, Wayne spent a big portion of the middle in the doldrums, Pulaski had their own dip, and Boyle is the paramount definition of being capable of beating or losing to any team in the region. 

Like I said, Somerset will have their chance in the last few games of the regular season to provide evidence to what you are saying. Regardless of ranking, I think we both agree any of the top 7 could win the region. And to your earlier point, it may be just the team that is the healthiest.

1 hour ago, se7ens said:

I hear you, but take a look at this year - every team in the top 7 has seen big fluctuation in ranking at some point this year. DCA stumbled briefly in December, Lincoln was terrible to start, Mercer was flat without Barnes, Wayne spent a big portion of the middle in the doldrums, Pulaski had their own dip, and Boyle is the paramount definition of being capable of beating or losing to any team in the region. 

Like I said, Somerset will have their chance in the last few games of the regular season to provide evidence to what you are saying. Regardless of ranking, I think we both agree any of the top 7 could win the region. And to your earlier point, it may be just the team that is the healthiest.

Oh absolutely, I think you're spot on there.  Should be an exciting postseason no doubt.

Where are the districts and regional tournament going to be held?

11 minutes ago, 24Rocks said:

Where are the districts and regional tournament going to be held?

I know 45th is @ Garrard Co...and 47th is @ Rockcastle Co.  The region this year is @ Pulaski Co. for the boys.

46th is East Jessamine I think. Unless Trinity Christian is entering the rotation. I have no idea about their facilities.

48th is @ Southwestern.

1 hour ago, se7ens said:

46th is East Jessamine I think. Unless Trinity Christian is entering the rotation. I have no idea about their facilities.

Trinity Christian's facilities are worse than Burgin's and that is saying something.  Really neither place should host any post season tourney. 

50 minutes ago, titan101 said:

Trinity Christian's facilities are worse than Burgin's and that is saying something.  Really neither place should host any post season tourney. 

Yeah, I am surprised they let Burgin keep doing it. Burgin had district tournament last year as well as the All A this season and they have their annual holiday tournament. It actually is quite impressive to me that they pull it all off. 

 

I think at this point I have been to every gym in the region with the exceptions of DCA, KSD, Somerset Christian, Garrard County and Trinity Christian.