8th Region Rankings and Regional Tournament Preview

[DearToday]

Region Tournament:
Here’s a breakdown of each region tournament game along with a ranking of the remaining teams. All games will be held at Henry County High School. Good luck and injury free ball to each team!

Game 1: Simon Kenton (16-15) vs. Woodford County (24-6) March 6th 6:30
Series in 2023-24: First Meeting
Series Overall (since 1997/98): Simon Kenton has won the only matchup in 2020. 

The Pioneers are playing their best basketball of the year having won 6 of their last 7 games and 9 of their last 12. They beat Williamstown by 15 in the first round of district then beat Walton-Verona by 16 to win the district championship after previously losing by 11. Simon Kenton is led on the year in scoring by Travis Krohman (17.2) and Jay Bilton (11.9). Unfortunately, they had a tough draw by drawing Woodford County. Woodford is 24 and 6 on the year and has won 11 of their last 13. Unfortunately, they lost in the district championship by 3 to Spencer County after having previously beat them by 10. The Yellow Jackets are led on the year by Santonio Waide (17.2), Layton Starks (14.7), Omari Jointer (11.9), and Jaunte Jenkins (11.2). They have big wins on the year over DCA, Frederick Douglass, and Henry Clay. They can’t afford to have a let down when it matters. I think that Woodford is going to be a really tough out for anyone come region time. So give me the Yellow Jackets by 7. 

Game 2: North Oldham (25-5) vs. Gallatin County (20-12) March 6th 8:00
Series in 2023-24: First Meeting since 2014.
Series Overall (since 1997/98): North Oldham leads the series 7-1. Gallatin’s only win was in 2008. 

North Oldham has hit somewhat of a hiccup at the end of the season going 2-2 in their last four games, but they were still able to win the district by 12 over South Oldham. Grant Neal led the way with 27 and Jack Fischer followed with 19. Grant Neal has led NO on the season with 21.3 per game and Jack Fischer has been the Batman to his Robin with 13.0 per game. The Mustangs have some signature wins on the year over Spencer County, Evangel Christian, and CAL. Gallatin County comes into the tournament as runners ups in the 31st after falling to Owen County by 4. They are led by the trio of Matthew Griffin (18.8), Kellen Dossett (15.2), and Andrew Brinker (10.8). Gallatin has no real signature win to hang their hat on, but they have played good ball in spurts all throughout this season. They were on a four game win streak before dropping the district final. I think this game has the capability to get away quick, and for that give me North Oldham by 20+. 

Game 3: Owen County (19-13) vs. Walton-Verona (22-10) March 7th 6:30
Series in 2023-24:Walton-Verona 86 Owen County 59 on Feb 2nd.
Series Overall (since 1997/98): Walton-Verona leads the series 29-28

These two teams have met 57 times since 1997 with Walton-Verona leading the series by one game. Owen County enters the region as winners of the 31st after beating Gallatin County by 4. Brax Ward led the way with 16 points and 14 rebounds and Micah Shelton followed him up with 12. Owen is led on the year by the duo of Brax Ward (19.2) and Micah Shelton (16.8). Owen has been very streaky throughout the year but is currently riding a 3 game win streak. Walton-Verona enters the region as runnerups in the 32nd after a 16 point loss to Simon Kenton. WV is led by the trio of Aaron Gutman (21.6), Julian Dixon (15.0), and Zach Smith (13.1). The Bearcats have won 7 of their last 10 contests. When these two teams played the first time Walton-Verona walked away with a 27 point victory on the back of a 33 and 8 performance from Aaron Gutman. This game happened just over a month ago, and for that reason I don’t think much will change in this game. I’ll take Walton-Verona by double digits. 

Game 4: Spencer County (22-9) vs. South Oldham (17-13) March 7th 8:00
Series in 2023-24: Spencer Co 78 South Oldham 61 on Jan 30th
Series Overall (since 1997/98): South Oldham leads 19-8. Spencer Co has won the last 4. 

Spencer County comes into the region tournament hot. They’ve won 15 of their last 16, and knocked off Woodford in double OT for the district championship. They had a huge game from the big three of Keaton Baird, Luke Erhardt, and Camden Cox all scoring 20+. They’ve also been led on the year by those three with Luke Erhardt scoring 20.7 per, Camden Cox with 15.3, and Keaton Baird with 13.5 per game. Spencer has a nice road set up to go on a run and compete for the 8th region title. To do so though, they’ll first have to get through South Oldham. South Oldham lost in the 29th district title to North Oldham by 12. Julian Miles led the way in the loss with 29. To get there, they had a huge win over Oldham County to knock the colonels out of the region. The Dragons got good scoring on the season from four players with Julian Miles (20.3), Christian Veirs (14.6), William Burnside (12.7), and Jake Fithian (12.7). Spencer won the regular season matchup a month ago by 17 with Luke Erhardt leading the way with 29 and 3. I think Spencer County will roll in this one too by double digits. 

 

Rankings:
1. North Oldham (25-5)
 

2. Spencer County (22-9)
 

3. Woodford County (24-6)
 

4. Simon Kenton (16-15)
 

5. Walton-Verona (22-10)
 

6. South Oldham (17-13)
 

7. Owen County (19-13)
 

8. Gallatin County (20-12)

 

 

[Polar Bearcat]

9 minutes ago, DearToday said:

Region Tournament:
Here’s a breakdown of each region tournament game along with a ranking of the remaining teams. All games will be held at Henry Clay High School. Good luck and injury free ball to each team!

Game 1: Simon Kenton (16-15) vs. Woodford County (24-6) March 6th 6:30
Series in 2023-24: First Meeting
Series Overall (since 1997/98): Simon Kenton has won the only matchup in 2020. 

The Pioneers are playing their best basketball of the year having won 6 of their last 7 games and 9 of their last 12. They beat Williamstown by 15 in the first round of district then beat Walton-Verona by 16 to win the district championship after previously losing by 11. Simon Kenton is led on the year in scoring by Travis Krohman (17.2) and Jay Bilton (11.9). Unfortunately, they had a tough draw by drawing Woodford County. Woodford is 24 and 6 on the year and has won 11 of their last 13. Unfortunately, they lost in the district championship by 3 to Spencer County after having previously beat them by 10. The Yellow Jackets are led on the year by Santonio Waide (17.2), Layton Starks (14.7), Omari Jointer (11.9), and Jaunte Jenkins (11.2). They have big wins on the year over DCA, Frederick Douglass, and Henry Clay. They can’t afford to have a let down when it matters. I think that Woodford is going to be a really tough out for anyone come region time. So give me the Yellow Jackets by 7. 

Game 2: North Oldham (25-5) vs. Gallatin County (20-12) March 6th 8:00
Series in 2023-24: First Meeting since 2014.
Series Overall (since 1997/98): North Oldham leads the series 7-1. Gallatin’s only win was in 2008. 

North Oldham has hit somewhat of a hiccup at the end of the season going 2-2 in their last four games, but they were still able to win the district by 12 over South Oldham. Grant Neal led the way with 27 and Jack Fischer followed with 19. Grant Neal has led NO on the season with 21.3 per game and Jack Fischer has been the Batman to his Robin with 13.0 per game. The Mustangs have some signature wins on the year over Spencer County, Evangel Christian, and CAL. Gallatin County comes into the tournament as runners ups in the 31st after falling to Owen County by 4. They are led by the trio of Matthew Griffin (18.8), Kellen Dossett (15.2), and Andrew Brinker (10.8). Gallatin has no real signature win to hang their hat on, but they have played good ball in spurts all throughout this season. They were on a four game win streak before dropping the district final. I think this game has the capability to get away quick, and for that give me North Oldham by 20+. 

Game 3: Owen County (19-13) vs. Walton-Verona (22-10) March 7th 6:30
Series in 2023-24:Walton-Verona 86 Owen County 59 on Feb 2nd.
Series Overall (since 1997/98): Walton-Verona leads the series 29-28

These two teams have met 57 times since 1997 with Walton-Verona leading the series by one game. Owen County enters the region as winners of the 31st after beating Gallatin County by 4. Brax Ward led the way with 16 points and 14 rebounds and Micah Shelton followed him up with 12. Owen is led on the year by the duo of Brax Ward (19.2) and Micah Shelton (16.8). Owen has been very streaky throughout the year but is currently riding a 3 game win streak. Walton-Verona enters the region as runnerups in the 32nd after a 16 point loss to Simon Kenton. WV is led by the trio of Aaron Gutman (21.6), Julian Dixon (15.0), and Zach Smith (13.1). The Bearcats have won 7 of their last 10 contests. When these two teams played the first time Walton-Verona walked away with a 27 point victory on the back of a 33 and 8 performance from Aaron Gutman. This game happened just over a month ago, and for that reason I don’t think much will change in this game. I’ll take Walton-Verona by double digits. 

Game 4: Spencer County (22-9) vs. South Oldham (17-13) March 7th 8:00
Series in 2023-24: Spencer Co 78 South Oldham 61 on Jan 30th
Series Overall (since 1997/98): South Oldham leads 19-8. Spencer Co has won the last 4. 

Spencer County comes into the region tournament hot. They’ve won 15 of their last 16, and knocked off Woodford in double OT for the district championship. They had a huge game from the big three of Keaton Baird, Luke Erhardt, and Camden Cox all scoring 20+. They’ve also been led on the year by those three with Luke Erhardt scoring 20.7 per, Camden Cox with 15.3, and Keaton Baird with 13.5 per game. Spencer has a nice road set up to go on a run and compete for the 8th region title. To do so though, they’ll first have to get through South Oldham. South Oldham lost in the 29th district title to North Oldham by 12. Julian Miles led the way in the loss with 29. To get there, they had a huge win over Oldham County to knock the colonels out of the region. The Dragons got good scoring on the season from four players with Julian Miles (20.3), Christian Veirs (14.6), William Burnside (12.7), and Jake Fithian (12.7). Spencer won the regular season matchup a month ago by 17 with Luke Erhardt leading the way with 29 and 3. I think Spencer County will roll in this one too by double digits. 

 

Rankings:
1. North Oldham (25-5)
 

2. Spencer County (22-9)
 

3. Woodford County (24-6)
 

4. Simon Kenton (16-15)
 

5. Walton-Verona (22-10)
 

6. South Oldham (17-13)
 

7. Owen County (19-13)
 

8. Gallatin County (20-12)

 

 

Thanks for the information.  

[DearToday]

6 minutes ago, Polar Bearcat said:

Thanks for the information.  The region site is Henry County not Henry Clay.

Thank you! Just fixed it. 

[Mack The Knife]

One interesting tidbit of information is Gallatin County’s lone win over North Oldham came in the 2008 8th Region semifinals.     
It earned the Wildcats only their second regional final appearance, their first coming in 1959 when they won the 8th Region under the guidance of Jock Sutherland.