The first few weeks of the basketball season can be unpredictable.  Some teams have players who have just played deep into the playoffs in football, and are just rounding into basketball shape.  Other teams are replacing multiple starters with younger players who might have a lot of talent, but are just lacking in experience.  You also have some teams with veteran players, that have had a full fall practice slate, that might have a limited ceiling, but put up some impressive scores when playing some of the teams that are taking time to gel.  So it is important to not place too much emphasis on some of these early scores, as they could easily be reversed by March.  That being said, it isn't fair not to adjust the rankings based on the actual results on the court.  This means some teams might get a boost in the rankings over teams that might be a little bit more talented but drop some games early while they get everything together.  And with that, here are my rankings after the first week of games. Discuss what you have seen out of the 11th Region so far in a small sample size:

1. Great Crossing

The Warhawks lived up to their state, and regional, number one rankings by opening up the season 3-0.  Included in that was a defeat of state top 10 Ashland Blazer in the opener by a score of 95-89.  They also defeated Montgomery County at home 77-60, and blew out WEB DuBois in the Jersey Mikes Subs Hoops Classic 87-54.  Coach Steve Page's team is going to be tough to knock off of their perch as the number one team in the 11th Region.  In the coming week they'll host Franklin County in the Billy Hicks Classic, before venturing to Louisville to take on the number 2 team in the Coaches Poll, St. Xavier at St. Xavier in what could be a preview of a Sweet Sixteen matchup.  

2. Bryan Station

The Defenders of the Station also started out strong in week one, going 2-0.  They also defeated Montgomery County, who will probably be glad to get back to the 10th Region, 71-57.  In addition, the smashed a rebuilding Paul Laurence Dunbar 87-22.  The coming week will feature a 3 game slate for the Defenders.  On Tuesday, they travel to Frankfort to take on Western Hill before returning home for matchups with Madison Central and Louisville Eastern.  

3. Henry Clay

Henry Clay opened up with a pair of 11th Region wins by downing Tates Creek 75-50, and Western Hills 65-31.  They then dropped a close one on the road at North Laurel 54-57.  The Blue Devils only have one game this week, but it should be a good one.  On Tuesday they travel to Stanford to take on Jeff Jackson's Lincoln County Patriots. It is never easy to win at Lincoln, we'll see if the Devils are up to the task. 

4.  Madison Central

  Coach Allen Feldhaus Indians a big riser this week, as they move from number 7 to number 4, thanks to a strong 3-0 start.  Central kicked off the season by travelling down to Somerset and knocking off state ranked Pulaski County 65-57.  They then swept a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.  On Friday, they pummeled 11th Region foe Lafayette at home 88-49 before getting by Corbin 67-58 in the Legacy Nissan Classic at North Laurel.  In the win against Corbin, Mason County transfer Jake Feldhaus scored 17 points while pulling down 19 rebounds.  Feldhaus has made a huge difference for the Indians this season.  Coach Allen Feldhaus nephew, and son of UK legend Deron, Jake is off to a blistering start to the season averaging 17.7 points and 14 rebounds through the first 3 games.  Madison Central's schedule doesn't slow down at all this week as it is another 3 game slate: Tuesday at 8th ranked George Rogers Clark, Friday they host Estill County, and on Saturday they travel to Lexington to take on 10th ranked Bryan Station.  

 

5. Frederick Douglass

   The Broncos only had one game last week, but they started off strong.  Freddy D walloped Henderson County 69-39 in the Jersey Mikes Subs Hoops Classic at Great Crossing. This week finds the Broncos taking on 2 Louisville powers.  On Tuesday they take on the 25th ranked (Coaches Poll) Ballard Bears in the Billy Hicks Classic at Great Crossing.  They cap off the week by making the trip to Louisville to take on the 4th ranked (Coaches Poll) Male Bulldogs at Fairdale High School. 

6. Sayre

   The Spartans, probably in anticipation of their State Champion football team making a deep playoff run, only had one game scheduled for opening week. In it they dropped a 2 point decision at Madison Southern 69-71.  Sayre has 2 games this week: at home Tuesday against Frankfort, and on the road Thursday at Western Hills. 

7. Western Hills

The Wolverines opening week was a mixed bag.  They picked up a regional win against Lexington Christian Academy 70-60.  Sandwiched around that win, however, were two blowout losses: 49-65 at Owen County in the season opener, and a 31-65 dismantling on the road at Henry Clay.  The Wolverines take on a pair of 11th Region opponents this week, both at home: Tuesday against Bryan Station, and Thursday against Sayre.  

8. Lexington Catholic

After graduating 9 seniors off of last year's regional runner-up team, it figured that the Knights would take some time to round into shape.  That was certainly the case in the opening week as Catholic started out 1-2.  They picked up an 11th Region road win at Franklin County, but suffered a couple of beatdowns: 63-38 at North Laurel, and 52-89 at Covington Catholic.  The coming week finds them taking on a pair of winless 11th Region opponents at home: Lafayette on Tuesday, and Paul Laurence Dunbar on Friday.  

9. Scott County

The Cardinals kicked off Coach Steve Helton's first season as boys coach at Scott County with a rousing win over East Jessamine 97-84 before struggling in a 95-61 blowout at the hands of Greenwood in the Jersey Mikes Subs Hoops Classic on Saturday.  This week finds only a single game on their docket as they take on the Lafayette Generals in the Billy Hicks Classic at home on Wednesday. 

10. Lexington Christian Academy

The Eagles move into the top 10 this week after splitting a pair of games: They dropped a 60-70 decision at home against Western Hills to open the season before bouncing back with a 75-66 road win at East Jessamine.  LCA has 3 games this week: Tates Creek at home on Tuesday, at Berea on Thursday, before returning home against Harrison County to close out the week.  

11. Tates Creek 

Tates Creek only won 4 games in a lost season that saw them finish 4-25.  The Commodores almost matched that win total in the first week this season as they have started out 3-1.  The Creek opened up the season with a 68-52 home win against Powell County.  They did take a pretty good beating on the road in their next game against a very good Henry Clay squad 50-75.  But they rebounded to pick up a pair of road wins in their next two contests: 61-57 over Frankfort and 70-39 against Harrison County.  The Commodores will look to match or exceed last season's win total this week as they take on Lexington Christian Academy on the road before hosting Paris.  

12. Madison Southern

The Eagles went 1-2 to open up the season. They split a pair of 2 point decisions: losing on the road at Collins 61-63, before bouncing back with a 71-69 home win against Sayre.  The third game found them facing the 3rd ranked Trinity Shamrocks in the PRTC Classic at Jackson County.  Trinity was simply too much for the Eagles, dealing Southern a 42-78 setback.  They will have a week to think about that one, and get better as they have only a single game this week: Saturday at home against Model.  

13. Franklin County

Franklin County had a light schedule for opening week. They dropped their only decision, 55-67 setback against Lexington Catholic.  This week also finds the Flyers playing a single game, but it will be a big test.  Coach Nate Smith will take his charges to Georgetown to take on the number 1 Great Crossing Warhawks on Wednesday. 

14. Lafayette 

Lafayette finished opening week with an 0-2 record.  However, both losses were to quality opponents.  The Generals dropped a 59-60 heartbreaker at home to Lincoln County to open up the season, before travelling to Richmond where they were blown out by the resurgent Madison Central Indians 88-49.  This week gives Coach Vince Sanford's young team a chance to break into the win column with a pair of road games: on Tuesday they travel to Lexington Catholic, before taking on Scott County in the Billy Hicks Classic on Wednesday. 

15. Frankfort

Ed McKinney's tenure as head coach at Frankfort got off to a rousing start with his Panthers blowing out Frankfort Christian at home, 76-25.  They followed that up with 2 more home games to open up the season.  They dropped a competitive game against Tates Creek 57-61, before bouncing back to down Jackson City 64-45.  This will be another 3 game week for the Panthers: Monday and Tuesday they have road games at Sayre and Paris respectively, before returning home to take on

16. Berea

The Pirates only had a single game on their slate last week.  In it, they suffered a 55-58 loss on the road to Heritage Academy.  They'll have 3 games this week as they make the short trip down I-75 to take on Rockcastle County on Monday.  They'll follow that up with their first home game, against Lexington Christian Academy. Finally, they'll close out the week when they take on Middlesboro, at Bell County in the Pride of the Mountains Showcase.  

17. Paul Laurence Dunbar

The Bulldogs got off to a rough start to the season, as they dropped all 3 games last week: 53-57 on the road at Bourbon County, 60-61 at home against Bluegrass United Homeschool, and a 22-87 shellacking on the road at Bryan Station. PLD will have 2 chances to break into the win column this week. On Tuesday they host Harrison County before going on the road to take on Lexington Catholic on Friday. 

18. Model

The Patriots went 0-2 for the week, but they were competitive in both of their losses. They dropped their opener on the road at East Carter 47-56, before falling in the Jersey Mikes Subs Hoops Classic against Pineville at Great Crossing 53-59.  This week Model has a pair of games. On Tuesday they host Lee County in their home opener, and on Saturday they go across town to take on Madison Southern. 

Billy Hicks Classic in Georgetown this week features multiple 11th Region teams.

First Round -- Franklin County vs. Great Crossing / Douglass vs. Ballard / Scott County vs. Lafayette / Woodford County vs. Covington Catholic .... Potential GC - Douglass matchup in the semifinals on Friday.