11th Region: Week 2

Week 2 of the young basketball season is in the books.  There were several big matchups in the 11th Region this past week, particularly in the Billy Hicks Classic Boy's Basketball Tournament Presented by Blu.  Those games were held at both Scott County and Great Crossing.  They featured a great field that included state ranked: Great Crossing, Woodford County, Covington Catholic and Frederick Douglass.  When the smoke cleared, Great Crossing, led by some monster efforts by Malachi Moreno, took home the championship.  As well as they played in the Billy Hicks Classic, the Warhawks fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, as they dropped a road game at St. Xavier at Sunday.  That left only Bryan Station as the only undefeated team in the region.  Would that be enough to move them into the top spot in the rankings?  Let's find out.  Here are the rankings after week 2 in the 11th Region.

Team (Record)

1. Great Crossing 6-1

Coach Steve Page's Warhawks had a busy week.  They rolled through the Billy Hicks Classic where they blew out Franklin County 71-34 in the first round, before being tested by Frederick Douglass and Covington Catholic in the semifinals and finals.  Great Crossing got by regional rival Frederick Douglass 78-70 in the semis behind 27 points and 15 rebounds from Malachi Moreno.  They followed that up with a hard fought 71-60 win over Covington Catholic in the championship game.  Moreno again led the way with 25 points and 19 rebounds.  On Sunday, however, the Warhawks had to travel to Louisville to take on state title contender St. Xavier.  The Tigers were in control most of the day, and were able to deal Great Crossing their first loss of the season, and only their second loss to Kentucky competition in the last 2 seasons, 58-72.  The Warhawks were playing their 3rd day in a row against high level competition, and 4th game in 5 days.  Things don't get any easier for Great Crossing as they now travel to Fort Myers, Florida to take on the Boozer twins and Christopher Columbus High out of Miami on Wednesday.  

2. Bryan Station 5-0

The Defenders went 3-0 this week, and finish as the only undefeated team in the region.  While it wasn't quite enough to knock Great Crossing from the top spot, it was an impressive week for Bryan Station.  They blew out 2 regional rivals, beating Western Hills 78-44 and Madison Central 83-63.  They capped off the week by taking down Eastern 77-54.  This week will find the Defenders taking on Newport in the first round of the Gardner Law King of the Bluegrass Tournament at Fairdale.  They will take on an out of state foe in the second round as their bracket is matched up with Bryant, AR or Mater Lakes, FL.  

3. Henry Clay 3-1

Henry Clay only had one game in week 2, as they travelled to Stanford to take on Lincoln County.  Coach Jeff Jackson's Patriots are always a solid team, and are particularly tough at home. The Blue Devils, however, were up to the task as they came away with a 72-61 road win.  Henry Clay was led by Stephen Jackson, who put up a double double with 27 points and 10 rebounds. This will be a busier week for the Devils as they have 3 games.  They start off the week at home against West Jessamine on Tuesday before travelling to Somerset to take on 12th Region contender Pulaski County, Spring Hill, TN, and Harlan County in the PC Classic.

4. Frederick Douglass 3-1

The Broncos had a good showing in the Billy Hicks Classic this week as they finished it with a 2-1 record. They pushed past Ballard in the opening round with an 18 point win 85-67.  In the second round, they tested the homestanding, and top ranked Warhawks of Great Crossing before falling 70-78.  Douglass bounced back in the third place game when they blew by Scott County 95-67 behind 22 points by DeMarcus Surrat.  The Broncos will also compete in the King of the Bluegrass this week.  They will take on Male, and then either Fairdale or Butler County. 

5. Lexington Catholic 3-2

The Knights finished the week a perfect 2-0.  They opened the week with a blowout of regional foe Lafayette 70-43.  Lexington Catholic put 4 players in double figures against the Generals, led by Ryan Harwood with 15. They capped off the week with an impressive 54-48 win over Male in the Tigers Classic at Bardstown.  This week Catholic will travel to Coconut Creek, Florida to take on Dwyer (FL) High School at Monarch High School. 

6. Madison Central 4-2 

The Indians had a 1-2 week this past week.  They started out the week with a hard fought setback at George Rogers Clark 53-62.  Central then came back home and demolished Estill County 85-40, before going back on the road where they were handled by Bryan Station 83-63.  Coach Allan Feldhaus young team, featuring only one senior, has been paced so far by Luke Asher, who is averaging 22.7 points and 5.2 rebounds, and Jake Feldhaus who is averaging 17.2 points while pulling down 15.3 boards.  This is a 3 game week for the Indians as they host Scott County and crosstown rival Madison Southern, before finishing up the week on the road at Southwestern.  

7. Tates Creek 5-1

What a difference a year makes.  Last season, the Commodores suffered through a rebuilding season that saw them finish 4-25.  It only took them 2 weeks this season to surpass that win total as they have surged to a 5-1 start under the leadership of their new coach, Keaton Belcher.  Tates Creek went 2-0 this week with a 63-45 road win over Lexington Christian Academy and a home victory over Paris, 69-54.  The Commodores have 3 games this week as they look to keep their hot start going.  The games are all on the road: at Lafayette, at Sayre and at Mercer County.  

8. Madison Southern 2-2

The Eagles only had a single game this week, a win against crosstown opponent Model 62-45.  Coach Steve Wright's team had a balanced attack led by Casen Nobbe with 14 points. Mason Davis added 13, and Landon Adams joined them in double figures with 11.  Southern has 3 games this week, at home against Franklin County and crosstown rival Madison Central.  They then go on the road to Bell County to take on East Ridge High School out of Chattanooga in the Redmond Auto Group Holiday Classic. 

9. Frankfort 5-1 

The Panthers, like Tates Creek, are another 11th Region team, coming off of a tough season, with a new coach, that is off to a hot start.  Veteran coach Ed McKinney saw his team finish up a perfect 3-0 week to move into the region top 10 at 5-1.  They began the week with a pair of road wins: 55-49 against Sayre, and 69-58 over Paris.  They finished off the week at home where they destroyed Wolfe County 71-34.  The 5 wins that the Panthers own is only one less than all of last season.  They hope to continue their hot start this week with a pair of home games against DeSales and Bluegrass United. 

10. Scott County 2-3

Scott County faced some stiff competition in their Billy Hicks Classic.  They opened up with a 78-68 win against Lafayette.  The next two games, however were against state ranked opponents, and the Cardinals were not up to the task.  They fell in the semifinals to Covington Catholic 46-86, before dropping the 3rd place game against Frederick Douglass 67-95.  Scott County has a 3 game slate this week.  They go on the road to face Madison Southern on Tuesday before returning home to take on Collins on Friday night before playing an afternoon game on Saturday against Vestavia Hills out of Birmingham, AL. 

11. Lexington Christian Academy 2-3

The past week saw the Eagles go 1-2.  They opened up the week with a home loss to the surprising Commodores of Tates Creek 45-63. They bounced back with a road win at Berea 63-56, before dropping a home game against Harrison County 60-68.  LCA goes on the road Tuesday, as they make the short trip to Paul Laurence Dunbar to take on the Bulldogs.  They follow that up with a game against Lewis County in the Stockyards Bank Challenge at Rowan County. 

12.  Franklin County 1-3

The Flyers went 1-2 this week, with all of their games coming in the Billy Hicks Classic Tournament, where they finished in 7th place.  They opened up the tourney by getting dismantled by top ranked Great Crossing 34-71.  Their second game saw them drop a 54-66 decision to Ballard, before bouncing back to defeat Lafayette 73-57.  This week features a trio of games for Franklin County.  They start off on the road at Madison Southern, before returning home to take on Collins.  The Flyers then close out the week at Montgomery County where they will take on Graves County in the 2024 Boys Gateway Holiday Classic. 

13. Sayre 1-2

The Spartans split a pair of games last week.  The lost a close one at home to Frankfort 49-55, before breaking into the win column with a 53-49 road win at Western Hills. Sayre has a pair of games this week.  They start off the week at home against Tates Creek before taking on Lafayette at their own Republic Bank-Lankster Classic.  

14. Western Hills 1-4

The Wolverines dropped at pair of games this week, both at home to regional opponents.  They began the week with a 34 point setback against Bryan Station, 34-78.  Their next game was much closer as they were clipped by Sayre 49-53.  Western Hills has a pair of games this week as they try to get back in the win column.  On Tuesday they go on the road to take on Grant County before returning home to face St. Henry on Thursday. 

15.  Paul Laurence Dunbar 1-3

The Bulldogs dropped their only game this week, a 43-38 home loss to Harrison County. This week they host Lexington Christian on Tuesday before going on the road to take on Pendleton County.  

16. Berea 1-3 

The Pirates went 1-2 in week 2.  They opened the week by making the short trip down I-75 where they lost to Rockcastle County 68-62. The then returned home where they dropped another close decision 56-63, this time to Lexington Christian Academy.  They were able to close out the week with their first win of the season 57-42 in the Pride of the Mountains Showcase over Middlesboro, at Bell County.  Berea has a pair of home games this week against Corbin and Jackson City. 

17. Model 1-3

Model split their two games this week.  They picked up their first win of the season in a dominating 83-55 home win against Lee County.  They then went on the road where they suffered a 62-45 setback at the hands of Madison Southern. This week will be a 4 game week for the Patriots.  They travel to Powell County on Tuesday to take on the Pirates on Tuesday.  They then play 3 games in the Wildcat Classic at Lynn Camp where they will take on Williamsburg, Lynn Camp and Middlesboro.  

18. Lafayette 0-6

The young Generals are off to a tough start to the season, as they have yet to break into the win column.  The schedule has not done them any favors, with only one home game so far.  This past week saw then drop all 4 games. They began the week with a 43-70 road loss at Lexington Catholic.  After that the General competed in the Billy Hicks Classic Tournament at Scott County and Great Crossing.  They fell in the opening round to homestanding Scott County 68-78.  In the second round they were beaten by state ranked Woodford County 53-77.   In the seventh place game they suffered a 57-73 loss to Franklin County in their 4th game in 5 days.  Lafayette will try and break into the win column this week with a pair of games:  at home against Tates Creek, and on the road against Sayre in the Republic Bank-Lankster Classic.