Danville Christian Academy remains above the fray in the region as we cruise towards the postseason but everyone else keeps beating up on each other. This region has seen several teams experience ups and downs as we have progressed and a few are presenting themselves as threats to DCA at the right time.

Highlights this week:

DCA goes 3 - 0 this week including a district win over Boyle County behind Emmanuel Dut's 19 points and 6 boards. Newly cleared Geu Ateny had 14 rebounds as well.

Trevor Ellis scored 28 to jettison Mercer County past Lincoln County 63 to 46.

Wayne County extends their winning streak out to 11 with wins over East Jessamine and Lafayette.

Rockcastle County squeezes past Pulaski County 54 to 53 in overtime but the Maroons did earn a quality win over Boyle County.

Southwestern beats Somerset in a 50 to 48 contest.

Rankings:

1. Danville Christian Academy

2. Wayne County

3. Pulaski County

4. Mercer County

5. Lincoln County

6. Boyle County

7. Rockcastle County

8. Somerset

9. East Jessamine

10. Southwestern

11. McCreary Central

12. West Jessamine

13. Danville

14. Trinity Christian

15. Somerset Christian

16. Casey County

17. Garrard County

18. Burgin

19. Kentucky School for the Deaf

 

With just a week left until district play, I think DCA has really separated themsleves. This is a well coached team. They’re 14-0 in region play. Their dominating win at North Oldham has to be their best in program history. They just got their newest player eligible and he could very well be their best one. He put up 16 & 10 in that win at North Oldham.

I honestly think that Mercer deserves to be 2nd. They’re 11-2 in region play. Since they’ve gotten Drakeford back, they’ve beaten Rockcastle and Lincoln by 15+. They did lose a close one at Scott County, but they were missing both Drakeford and their PG (Tatum). They too are a very well coached team. Their coach is just in his first year there but he has them playing like his resume would suggest he would. While not as talented overall as a DCA or Boyle, they do have the best player in the region in Ellis. 

Wayne at 12-2 in region play can make an argument for being right there as well. They can be lethal from deep and Dumphord has made a big difference. But I still think they will struggle on the perimeter with the athleticism of a Boyle or DCA.

Relative to the rest of the region, I think Boyle has the second most talent. That’s why I keep bringing them up as a contender. Their athleticism alone makes them a threat to win most games. But to date, their resume doesn’t support them being in the conversation. They’re currently tied for 10th best record in regional play at just 7-7.

While there are several other teams that can beat any of the above, it’s hard for me to make a case that they could win 3 in a row and cut down the nets.

I really think tomorrow nights game with Wayne and DCA is going to tell us a lot.  Although I don't think Coach Woods will show his full hand in this one to save something in case they meet in the region tournament.  He will also learn a lot as he is a master of coaching and has been doing it successfully for a long, long time.

 

To me Wayne and Mercer are interchangeable and both have a weakness at the guard spot that has haunted them at times all year. To me as I posted in an earlier post, they are the two teams that have something others don't to compete with DCA and their bigs.  They both have 6'5"-6'6" kids with some weight and physicality that can battle on the boards and challenge the big guys from DCA. Wayne shoots it better from outside, although Mercer has improved throughout the year and Mercer has two big guys that are capable of stepping out and hitting the three in Jackson Perry 30% on the year and Ellis at 41%. We all know the Phillips boys from Wayne can flat out shoot it. Both teams have solid role players that just do the work they need to do to help their teams and are both good defensive teams.  I think  if Wayne can compete with them tomorrow then Mercer will be able to as well.  We have already seen that Boyle can compete with them as they were in the last game deep into the 4th.  They do it in a different way than Mercer and Wayne will be able to do it.

 

I think Somerset is too low in this poll though.  Godbey and Whitaker can keep them in any game and even though they have struggled with injuries of late will more than likely get in the region for the first time in a while unless they lay a big egg against Casey.  They are capable of getting hot and winning three in a row if they can get some decent post play and rebound.

 

Pulaski is Pulaski.  Well coached, have senior leadership, and have a confidence boost as Fraley is back in some capacity.  Watched the Boyle game the other night and Fraley looks to be in pain and not his same mobile self but just having him out there some will help them mentally and he was still able to make some good passes that set players up for easy buckets.

Time will tell and I am sure there will be upsets in the district that no one would ever think of but even if you win your district there are not going to be any easy first round games that you will just feel sure you are going to advance to the semi finals.

 

Going to be a fun and interesting nest few weeks. 

28 minutes ago, BasketballFan24 said:

I really think tomorrow nights game with Wayne and DCA is going to tell us a lot.  Although I don't think Coach Woods will show his full hand in this one to save something in case they meet in the region tournament.  He will also learn a lot as he is a master of coaching and has been doing it successfully for a long, long time.

 

To me Wayne and Mercer are interchangeable and both have a weakness at the guard spot that has haunted them at times all year. To me as I posted in an earlier post, they are the two teams that have something others don't to compete with DCA and their bigs.  They both have 6'5"-6'6" kids with some weight and physicality that can battle on the boards and challenge the big guys from DCA. Wayne shoots it better from outside, although Mercer has improved throughout the year and Mercer has two big guys that are capable of stepping out and hitting the three in Jackson Perry 30% on the year and Ellis at 41%. We all know the Phillips boys from Wayne can flat out shoot it. Both teams have solid role players that just do the work they need to do to help their teams and are both good defensive teams.  I think  if Wayne can compete with them tomorrow then Mercer will be able to as well.  We have already seen that Boyle can compete with them as they were in the last game deep into the 4th.  They do it in a different way than Mercer and Wayne will be able to do it.

 

I think Somerset is too low in this poll though.  Godbey and Whitaker can keep them in any game and even though they have struggled with injuries of late will more than likely get in the region for the first time in a while unless they lay a big egg against Casey.  They are capable of getting hot and winning three in a row if they can get some decent post play and rebound.

 

Pulaski is Pulaski.  Well coached, have senior leadership, and have a confidence boost as Fraley is back in some capacity.  Watched the Boyle game the other night and Fraley looks to be in pain and not his same mobile self but just having him out there some will help them mentally and he was still able to make some good passes that set players up for easy buckets.

Time will tell and I am sure there will be upsets in the district that no one would ever think of but even if you win your district there are not going to be any easy first round games that you will just feel sure you are going to advance to the semi finals.

 

Going to be a fun and interesting nest few weeks. 

Somerset is 4-5 since the All A with their best win arguably being over a Souethwestern team that they just lost to at home. I would love to believe in the Jumpers again and get them back up there. They certainly have the ability, I agree. Beat Boyle and they are probably up in the top 6 again and beat DCA and they are in that same mix with Wayne, Pulaski, and Mercer. 
 

If I tiered it right now it would be:

DCA

Wayne/Mercer/Pulaski

Lincoln/Boyle

Rock/Somerset 

 

Somerset defeated Boyle Co. tonight 53-39.  Good bounce back W for the Jumpers!

12 minutes ago, LethalPG said:

Somerset defeated Boyle Co. tonight 53-39.  Good bounce back W for the Jumpers!

They played really well, especially on defense.  Boyle looked to be really athletic, but their guards let the ball stick on their hands too much.  That lead to a lot of contested shots, and the Jumpers were able to hold their own on the boards.  Limiting the Rebels to one shot most of the time was key.  Nice win for Somerset.  

DCA over Wayne 56-37

2 hours ago, LethalPG said:

Somerset defeated Boyle Co. tonight 53-39.  Good bounce back W for the Jumpers!

Where you been at? Somerset been losing and you have been quiet. They win and here you are. Lol 

6 hours ago, Statsdontlie said:

Where you been at? Somerset been losing and you have been quiet. They win and here you are. Lol 

Just posting the score.  SW played well, and beat them on a buzzer beater Friday night.  It happens in rivalry games.  They’re 18-9, so in fact have not been losing every game as some act! lol. 

This is indeed a forum to celebrate and discuss kids athletic achievements, so when the teams I follow have a good moment I’ll point it out.  And, indeed it was a good bounce back W after a really tough loss.  Kids showed a lot of Grit.  There’s plenty that will tear them down when they lose. 

1 hour ago, LethalPG said:

Just posting the score.  SW played well, and beat them on a buzzer beater Friday night.  It happens in rivalry games.  They’re 18-9, so in fact have not been losing every game as some act! lol. 

Saw Southwestern play last night. I know their record isn't great (12-15 now), but they have the makings of solid club. Lots of sophomores, good size, really got after it defensively. I'm not sure I'd want to draw them in the first round of the region.

11 hours ago, LethalPG said:

Somerset defeated Boyle Co. tonight 53-39.  Good bounce back W for the Jumpers!

Good win for the Jumpers. Outside of DCA, this region is full of teams that have capability but can also be defeated. I think it should make for an interesting region tournament.

10 minutes ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Saw Southwestern play last night. I know their record isn't great (12-15 now), but they have the makings of solid club. Lots of sophomores, good size, really got after it defensively. I'm not sure I'd want to draw them in the first round of the region.

They have good length, and Coach Dunbar does a good job with them.  They're playing better basketball right now for sure.

Really happy to see Somerset move in the right direction. As I've said, I know they have the potential to be a contender, they are just trying to fight themselves out of an injury induced lull. They may have done that with this victory over Boyle. 

I have had Southwestern floating at the fringe of the top ten all season. I think them and East Jessamine are at very similar junctures and expect big things from both of those programs in the next two years. I think East Jessamine is a contender for the regional title next year and Southwestern (though doubtful next year) I think should be a contender in two years.

Southwestern defeated Mercer Co. Tonight 54-40.  The Warriors are playing good ball to close the season.