14th Region: Week 1

With a full week of hoops under our belts, we seen a lot of action but not too much action. Multiple teams played several games and multiple teams that only played just one or two.  Biggest game of the week, seen the Hazard Bulldogs host the Breathitt County Bobcats in a 1 vs. 2 matchup, followed by a big Hazard vs. Ashland Tomcats match up as well. We seen Perry County Central get blown out twice. We've seen several things go down this week within the 14th Region.

 

The Top 10:

 

1) Hazard (3-0): Hazard Bulldogs picked up two huge wins to tip-off the basketball season, as they defeated both Breathitt County 64-51. Breathitt County was preseason ranked #2. This was a good back and forth game until the 4Q where Hazard was able to distance themselves and took a commanding 15 point lead at one point. Breathitt battled back but couldn't get it any closer than the final score.

Hazard would welcome in 16th region power house, Ashland Tomcats, who was coming off a 95-89 overtime loss at Great Crossing. Hazard would end up taking a 38-32 lead at halftime and 58-49 lead after 3. Hazard would go on to defeat the Tomcats 76-69. 

Hazard would host district rival, Buckhorn the very next night and it wouldn't even be close as Hazard would run away with the win 72-29.

 

2) Breathitt County (1-1): Breathitt County opened the season on the road at #1 Hazard. For three quarters, Breathitt County came to play but couldn't catch up to Hazard in the fourth as the Bulldogs would run away with it, 64-51. Senior Aaron Stallard led the Bobcats with 18. Pre-Season player of the year, Austin Sperry added 15 and had 4 boards.

Breathitt County would take on Rockcastle County on Saturday in the DJ  Begley Classic at Hazard's Memorial Gym, the game court, where they were defeated by Hazard just five days earlier. Per Stats, Breathitt County led the entire game. 17-11 after 1, 34-20 halftime, 50-36 at the end of 3. 

 

3) Perry County Central (2-2): The Commodores opened the reason and didn't have the outcome they wanted, as they were crushed by Harlan County, 87-47 in the Larry Gritton SR Classic at Oneida Baptist. 

The Commodores would travel to Whitesburg to take on 14th Region opponent, Letcher County Central. Perry County Central would bounce back and defeat the Cougars with ease 80-64.

Perry County Central would play in the DJ  Begley Classic at Hazard on Friday and Saturday. Friday the Commodores fell to Belfry 63-49 and on Saturday they defeated 15th region powerhouse, Martin County 77-73.

 

4) Powell County (2-1): The Pirates opened the season on the road at Tates Creek and would end up falling to the Commodores 68-52. Junior Bryson Edwards led the Pirates with 20 and had 7 boards.

Powell County travel to Hindman to take on 14th Region foe, Knott County Central Patriots. The Pirates would end up pulling away from the Patriots by 14, 73-59. Junior Bryson Edwards led all scorers with 33 and was 12/13 from the field including 11/11 from 2. 

Powell County would welcome in neighboring Montgomery County Indians and what would end up being a thrilling game for everyone. The Pirates would sneak one out, defeating the Indians 65-64. Junior Bryson Edwards led all scorers with 32 points. He was 11/15 from the field. Bryson also had 10 boards to go along with his 32 points.

Bryson was recognized during the game with Montgomery County, for his 500th career rebound. Congratulations Bryson!

 

5) Estill County (3-0): The Engineers tipped off the season on the road at 14th Region rival, Wolfe County. Estill County would jump out to a commanding 17-6 lead after 1 and would double up the Wolves 30-15 at halftime. Engineers would take a 45-41 lead into the fourth. Wolfe County would battle back and would take the lead couple of times but as soon as they would take the lead, Estill County would come right back and answer. Engineers would pull away late and go on to win 68-62. Senior guard, Casey Chaney led all scorers with 30 points. He also added 12 boards, 5 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals.

Engineers would return home the very next time to host the Bath County Wildcats. Bath County would lead most of the game, 21-13 at the end of 1. Engineers would fight back in the 2Q, cutting the Wildcats lead down to 6, 32-26 at halftime. Engineers would win the 3Q but the Wildcats would still have the lead going into the 4Q 42-41. Estill would start the 4Q off with a 3 that would give them the lead, once that happened, Bath never seen the lead again as the Engineers would go on to win, 61-54. Senior Casey Chaney led the Engineers with 24 points, also added 7 boards, 6 assists, 1 block and 3 steals. Senior Levi Beckler would add 17 points and was almost perfect from 3, going 4/6 from deep.

Estill County would make the drive up to Jackson on Friday to take on the Tigers of Jackson City. Engineers would have little trouble out of the Tigers as they would cruise to victory, 74-38.

6) Knott County Central (1-3): The Patriots were in everyone's preseason top 5 but they ran into a wall, dropping a 73-59 game to region foe, Powell County. Drake Slone and Braxton Reade both had 12 points to lead the Patriots.

Knott County Central would travel to Pikeville on Thursday and this game also wouldn't be close as the Panthers would run away with it, 78-54. Drake Slone led KCC with 23 points.

Knott County Central would take on another Pikeville area team in Pike County Central on Saturday in the DJ Begley Classic at Hazard. Knott County Central was able to pull out a thrilling victory, defeating the Hawks 56-53.

 

7) Letcher County Central (1-3): The Cougars are off to a rough start this season, falling to Perry County Central 80-64 to open the season. The Cougars could never get close to Perry County Central. Terry Delaney led the Cougars with 20. Also added 7 boards in the loss.

Letcher County Central would host the Prestonsburg Blackcats the very next night. The Cougars seem to have been clicking on all cylinders as they ran out to a 79-63 victory over the Blackcats. Terry Delaney led the Cougars with 26 on 11/20 shooting from the field. Delaney also added 12 boards for a double double.

Letcher County Central, however, would drop they're next two games, falling to Magoffin County 56-50 in the DJ Begley Classic at Hazard and Raceland 65-60 in the Boyd County Round Ball Classic at Boyd County. Terry Delaney led the Cougars in both games with 18 against Magoffin County and 22 against Raceland.

8 ) Wolfe County (1-1): Wolfe County opened the season at home against region foe, Estill County. Wolfe County started off slow and played that way for the first half. Second half, Wolfe County would battle back in it and even took the lead on couple of occasions but as soon they'd take the lead, it would disappear just like that as Estill would answer. Wolfe County couldn't answer when Estill answered which would lead to a defeat for Wolfe County 68-62. Caleb Creech and Brady Robinson lead the Wolves both with 14.

Wolfe County would travel to Buckhorn, another region foe on Thursday and the Wolves would bounce back and defeat the Wildcats 76-64. Jayden Hollon led the Wolves with 23. Brady Robinson added 21.

9) Leslie County (3-1): Coach Noble has the Eagles off and running this season. They are off to a 3-1 start with wins over Jackson City 83-43, Cordia 63-28, Lee County 72-59. Shelby Valley is the Eagles loss, 70-65. Jayden Hacker and Jesse Hoskins are leading the Eagles so far this season, averaging 16.8 and 15.5 points per game.

10) Buckhorn (1-2): The Wildcats would open the season in thrilling fashion as they would edge out Owsley County in a thriller, 59-56. Dillion Easterling led the Wildcats with 20. 

Buckhorn would drop they're next two games, falling to Wolfe County 76-64 at home and Hazard 72-29. Dillion Easterling led the Wildcats with 21 in the loss to Wolfe County.

 

Fighting to get out of the Bottom of the Barrel.

 

11) Owsley County (1-3): The Owls started the season off with a 82-56 win but would drop they're next three games, falling to Buckhorn 59-56, Jackson County 78-58 and Southwestern 80-24.

12) Jenkins (1-0): The Cavaliers tipped off the season with a 80-42 win over Northwood (Saltville) VA.

13) Lee County (0-4): Newly head coach, Tyler Hayes is off to a rough start, dropping they're first four games to tip off the season. Bobcats have fallen to; Jackson County 88-66, Bell County 90-48, Barbourville 82-60 and Leslie County 72-59.

14) Jackson City (1-3): The Tigers tipped off the season with a 57-54 over Cordia but would drop they're next three games, falling to Leslie County 83-43, Estill County 74-38 and Frankfort 64-45.

15) Cordia (0-2): Cordia has dropped they're two opening games this season, falling to Jackson City 57-54 and Leslie County 63-28.

16) June Buchanan (0-3): The Crusaders have started the season off 0-3 with all three games being complete blowouts. 85-15 to East Ridge, 65-25 Whitefield Academy, 72-27 Christian Fellowship.

 

12/9-14 GAMES:

Monday 12/9:

Bluegrass United at Powell County.

Clay County at Perry County Central - WYMT Classic.

Cordia at Jenkins.

Knott County Central vs. Harlan County (at Perry County Central) - WYMT Classic.

 

Tuesday 12/10:

Estill County at Magoffin County.

Breathitt County vs. Pineville (at Perry County Central) - WYMT Classic.

Hazard vs. Prestonsburg (at Perry County Central) - WYMT Classic.

Lee County at Model.

Leslie County at Owsley County.

Wolfe County at Jackson City.

 

Wednesday 12/11:

Cordia at Owsley County.

Letcher County Central at Wolfe County.

 

Thursday 12/12:

Estill County at Madison Central.

Williamsburg at Cordia.

 

Friday 12/13:

Buckhorn at Shelby Valley.

Jenkins at Hurley VA.

Jackson City at June Buchanan.

Owsley County at Powell County.

Wolfe County at Frankfort.

 

Saturday 12/14:

Estill County vs. Newton Falls, OH (Hoosier Gym Classic).

Jenkins at Eastside VA.

Lee County at Menifee County.

OBI at Owsley County.

 

Also this week is the WYMT Classic.