11th Region: Week 4

[Carl Spackler]

Week 4 found the holiday tournaments in full swing.  11th Region teams hosted several events and did very well.  Meanwhile Great Crossing continued to take their show on the road against out of state teams.  This week will find the holiday events wrapping up and life getting back to normal as we get into our regular season grind.  Here's the week that was, and what is coming up. 

 

1. Bryan Station (11-1)  

The Defenders continue to impress.  They were a perfect 3-0 last week, with all 3 wins coming in the White, Greer and Maggard Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic.  They opened play in the WGM with a 87-66 win against Boyd County, followed by a 60-52 victory over host Lexington Catholic, and a 62-50 win versus DuPont Manual to propel them to the finals of the tournament.  Where they will face 11th Region foe Frederic Douglass tonight at 700pm.  After finishing up play today Station will have a couple of days off to celebrate the New Year before getting back at it with a pair of games this weekend.  They go on the road to take on Berea on Friday, before returning home to play Tates Creek on Saturday. 

 

2. Great Crossing (8-4)

The Skyhawks brutal holiday schedule continued this week, where they managed to go 2-1 against out of state competition,  They began the week with a nice win over Bishop McNamara (OH) 86-84 to close out play in the City of Palms Classic.  They then travelled to Myrtle Beach to take part in the Beach Ball Classic.  They opened play there with a dominating 74-49 win over Windermere Prep (FL) behind 23 points from Vince Dawson.  In the second round, however, they came up short against St. John's College (DC) 65-61.  Great Crossing wraps up play in Myrtle Beach today when they take on Ridge VIew (SC).  They'll finally get back to the Bluegrass State when they take on Butler on the road on Friday, followed by a matchup with Bellaire (TX) on Saturday. 

 

3. Frederick Douglass (9-2)

The Broncos put up a perfect 3-0 week last week, with all 3 wins coming in the WGM Classic at Lexington Catholic.  Freddy D opened up play in the tournament with a hard fought 63-61 win over Cooper.  The second round was a little easier, as the Broncos dealt Green County their first loss of the season, 74-51.  Douglass has featured balance scoring out of their lineup all season, and the blowout against the Dragons was more of the same.  Ten different players scored for the Broncos, and 9 of them had at least 6 points.  Frederick Douglass then pushed past LaRue County 72-59 in the semifinals to advance to take on Bryan Station in a huge game on Monday at 700pm.  After that the Broncos will take a few days off before getting back in action on January 10th,. 

 

4. Henry Clay (9-2)

The Blue Devils took part in the Central Bank Jim Rose Classic at Lexington Christian Academy in week 4, where they went 2-1.  In their first game in the event, they raced past Betsy Layne 73-56.  They took a hit in the semifinals, where they couldn't get past Simon Kenton in a 65-50 loss.  They did bounce back in the 3rd place game, however, with a 79-44 pummelling of Western Hills. In the game against the Wolverines 6 Blue Devils finished in double figures, led by Kayson Brown with 15 points.  Henry Clay has a single game this week when they travel to Sayre on Friday.  

 

5. Madison Central (10-2)

The Indians had a perfect 3-0 week that saw them win their own Richmond Car and Truck Center Holiday Classic.  In an odd twist of scheduling Central faced both Southwestern and Madison Southern in the tournament after facing both teams the week before.  The tournament started off with an 81-29 laugher against Paul Laurence Dunbar.  The Indians then met Southwestern for the 2nd time in 7 days.  The result was much the same as the first meeting as Madison Central came away with and 85-69 victory over the Warriors. Luke Asher, Cody Morrison and Jake Feldhaus all scored 17, with Will Richardson joining the trio in double figures with 15.  The championship game saw the Indians matched up with archrival Madison Southern for the 2nd time in 9 days.  Central came out on top in this one, 63-59, to win the first 2 of at least 3 matchups between the clubs this season.  Jake Feldhaus continued his great start to the season against the Eagles with 33 points and 16 rebounds in the finals.  The Indians pick things back up on Saturday when they will go to George Rogers Clark to take on Hazard in the Tim Short Automotive Classic. 

 

 

6. Sayre (7-2)

Sayre ran their winning streak to 7 games this week.  They opened up the week with a 56-48 win over Fern Creek to take home the championship in the Republic Bank-Lankster Classic, which they hosted. Brock Coffman led the way for the Spartans with 20 points and 10 rebounds.  That was followed up with a pair of wins over out of state competition in the FNB Holiday Classic at Marshall County. In the first session rolled past Butler College Prep out of Chicago, 73-50.  That was followed up with a 66-53 win over Beech Senior (TN).  Sayre will finish off play in the FNB Holiday Classic when they take on host Marshall County this afternoon at 200pm. That will be followed by a pair of home games this weekend when they host Henry Clay on Friday, followed by Oldham County on Saturday. 

 

7. Frankfort (10-1)

The Panthers went 3-0 this week to take home the championship in the Burgin Bulldog Winter Classic, and run their win streak to 9 games.  Frankfort defeated Fort Knox to open up play in Burgin by a score of 83-55, before blowing out the hosts, Burgin 67-35 in the semifinals.  In the finals the Panthers were able to eke out a 58-57 win against Shawnee to claim the championship.  Their competition hasn't been to the level of Great Crossing, Bryan Station or others.  However, after winning 4 games all of last season, their turnaround has been remarkable.  This week finds only a single game on the schedule when the Panthers will get a rematch with Burgin at home on Friday night. 

 

8. Tates Creek (7-5)

The Commodores went 2-1 this week in the State Farm HolidayBasketball Tournament at East Jessamine.  The Creekers opened up play in the tournament by coasting by Pike County Central 71-56 behind a double double by Latrell Jones-Miller who scored 20 points and pulled down 13 rebounds,  They then squeaked by the host team, East Jessamine 58-57 to reach the finals.  This time AJ Slaughter led the Commodores with 21 points and 9 rebounds to fall just short of a double double.  The Commodores then took on Pleasure Ridge Park in the finals.  The Panthers proved to be a little bit too much as Tates Creek fell 78-64 to finish as runner-up.  The Commodores have a single game this week, but it is a big one, as the play at Bryan Station on Saturday. 

 

9. Lexington Catholic (6-5)

The Knights hosted their own tournament last week, the WGM Holiday Classic, and came away with a 1-2 record.  Things started out well for Catholic as they were able to come away with a 73-67 win over the defending state champion Lyon County in the opening round.  Ryan Harward led the way for the Knights with 16 points, while Max Meagher and Jacob Holland each contributed 15.  The semifinals found Catholic matched up with Bryan Station.  And, while they couldn't pull off the upset, they made the Defenders work for it in a very competitive 60-52 game.  That loss was followed by another competitive defeat at the hands of another very good team.  The Knights dropped their final game in the tournament 66-56 to Green County.  Lexington Catholic is off until Saturday, when they will also make the trip to George Rogers Clark to take part in the Tim Short Automotive Classic where they will take on Montgomery County.

 

10. Lexington Christian (5-5)

LCA hosted the Jim Rose Central Bank Classic last week where they finished with a 2-1 record.  After dropping their opener against The Seven Hills School (OH) 76-71, the Eagles rebounded to destroy Rockcastle County 85-42.  They then faced Christian County, who they disposed of without too much trouble 78-59.  LCA is off until Saturday when they will travel to Louisville to take on Christian Academy of Louisville at 730pm. 

 

11. Madison Southern (6-6)

Madison Southern stayed in Richmond last week, where they took part in the Richmond Car and Truck Center Holiday Classic at Madison Central.   The Eagles opened up play with a nice 54-34 win over Lincoln County before holding off Montgomery County in a 60-58 thriller.  That set up the second meeting in 9 days between Southern and archrival Madison Central in the finals.  In the first matchup the Indians came away with a 71-59 win over the Eagles.  This one was much  closer, but Central again came out on top 73-69.  Casen Nobbe had an excellent tournament for the Eagles as he topped 20 points in each game and finished with 70 points in the 3 contest to average 23.3 points for the event.  Southern gets back in action on Friday when they take on Knox Central in the Raymond Reed Classic at South Laurel. 

 

12. Franklin County (5-7)

The Flyers travelled to Louisville last week where they took part in the City of Middletown Holiday Classic at Louisville Eastern.  Franklin County came out of the tournament with a 1-2 record.  The Flyers won a thriller in their opener 57-55 over Central before dropping their next 2 games 69-51 to Covington Holy Cross and 85-66 to Conner.  Franklin County has a single game on the schedule this week, as they go on the road to take on Boone County on Friday night. 

 

13. Western Hills (4-7)

The Wolverines also took part in the Central Bank Jim Rose Classic at Lexington Catholic, where they came away with a 1-2 record.  Things started out well for Western Hills as they were able to get by Rockcastle County 61-57 in the first round.  The semifinals saw the Wolverines drop a 58-48 decision to The Seven Hills School (OH).  Finally, in the 3rd place game they were blown out by Henry Clay 79-44 to finish 4th in the event.  Western Hills now gets a week off before returning to action to face crosstown rival Franklin County on January 10th. 

 

14. Berea (3-7)

The Pirates travelled to Tennessee last week to take part in the Smoky Mountain Classic, where they actually faced a pair of Kentucky teams.  They finished 0-2 in the event with a 58-42 defeat at the hands of Fern Creek, and 74-32 blowout loss to Russell County.  Berea has a single game this week.  They face the unenviable task of trying to end their 3 game losing streak at home against Bryan Station on Friday night. 

 

15. Model (3-7)

The Patriots took part in the Cumberland Falls Invitational where they are 0-2 so far.  They opened play with a 63-45 loss to the Somerset Briar Jumpers on Friday.  That was followed by another blowout loss, this time to Bell County 75-43 on Sunday.  They conclude play in the event on Monday when they will take on Lynn Camp,  Model then get 3 days off before hosting Menifee County and June Buchanan on Friday and Saturday. 

 

16. Scott County (2-6)

The Cardinals had the week off last week.  This week they will see their first action since December 21st when they host West Jessamine on Friday night, before travelling to Winchester to take on Rockcastle County in the Tim Short Automotive Classic at George Rogers Clark. 

 

17. Lafayette (2-10)

Lafayette finished the week 1-3.  The week began with a 70-58 loss to Clay County to conclude their play in the Republic Bank_Lankster Classic at Sayre.  The Generals then took part in the State Farm Holiday Basketball Tournament at East Jessamine, where they went 1-2.  They picked up their second win of the season in the opener against Powell County 64-52. That win was followed by a 77-50 loss to Pleasure Ridge Park, and a 63-55 loss to the host, East Jessamine.  The Generals are off until January 8th when they take on Tates Creek on the road. 

 

18. Paul Laurence Dunbar (1-9)

The Bulldogs took part in the Richmond Car and Truck Center Holiday Classic at Madison Central last week where they went 0-3 to run their losing streak to 6 in a row,  They were destroyed by host Madison Central in their first game in the tournament 80-29, before dropping a heartbreaker to Bethel-Tate (OH) 53-51.  In the 3rd place game they couldn't stay with Lincoln County in a 76-49 loss.  The Generals are off until January 7th when they will travel to Tates Creek.