11th Region: Week 5

[Carl Spackler]

Week 5 saw the end of the holiday tournaments, as well as some great regular season matchups.  Last week's number one team took a loss to a fellow 11th Region contender.  That led to some movement in the top 3, who along with Henry Clay, and possibly Madison Central, seem to be a notch ahead of the rest of the region. Several teams only had a single game last week, and for the most part, they didn't go well.  Let's see how things shake out heading into the meat of the regular season.  

Team     (Record)

1. Great Crossing (11-4)

After dropping some games to some top-notch national competition, the Warhawks had a perfect 3-0 week and take back the top spot in the rankings this week. They began the week with a 74-62 win over Ridge View (SC) in the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach.  Malachi Moreno put up another monster line with 31 points and 17 boards in the win.  That was followed by a 78-71 road win against a solid Butler County squad.  LJ Holman led Great Crossing in scoring with 23 points, while Moreno added another double/double with 18 points and 15 rebounds.  The Warhawks wrapped up the week with a big win over Bellaire (TX) in a thriller, 64-63.  Moreno again paced the Warhawks with 21 points and 17 rebounds.  This week will find Great Crossing playing their first home game since December 13th when they take on Madison Central on Friday.  That will be followed by a trip to Louisville on Saturday to take on Cathedral (IN) at Thomas Moore in another tough out of state matchup. 

2. Frederick Douglass (10-2)

The Broncos only had one game last week, but it was a big one.  On Monday they took on Bryan Station in the finals of the WGM Holiday Tournament at Lexington Catholic.  Freddy D led most of the game, and though the Defenders made a bit of a comeback late, it was the Broncos coming away with a 72-64 to win the championship.  As has been the case all season, the Broncos featured a balanced attack, with 4 players in double figures.  Tate Robinson and Dakari Talbert paced the team with 15 each, while Juante Jenkins added 13, and DeMarcus Surratt added 11 points and 10 rebounds.  The Broncos also only have a single game this week, on the road Friday against Tates Creek. 

3. Bryan Station (13-2)

In spite of suffering their first loss at the hands of a Kentucky opponent, the Defenders still had a solid week, going 2-1.  Although they dropped the game to Freddy D, 72-64, Amari Owens was sensational.  Owens scored 43 of the Defenders 64 points, and added 9 boards.  The Defenders seemed to take out the frustrations of the loss on their next 2 opponents, as they smashed 11th Region foes Berea 85-58, and Tates Creek 96-40.  This week features only a single game for Station, as they host 12th Region opponent Garrard County on Saturday. 

4. Henry Clay (10-2)

The Blue Devils had only a single game last week.  However, it was an 11th Region matchup against a surging Sayre squad on the road.  Henry Clay was able to hold off the Spartans for a hard fought 63-55 road win.  The Blue Devils placed 4 players in double figures in the win, led by Kayson Brown with 23 points.  Hassan Bush added 12 points and 9 rebounds for the Devils.  This week features 3 games for Henry Clay, all at home.  They open up the week on Monday with a game against talented, but inconsistent Boyle County.  That game is followed up by a big 11th Region matchup with Madison Central on Tuesday night.  The week concluded with a visit from the Lafayette Generals on Friday. 

5. Madison Central (10-3)

The Indians also only had one game last week.  Madison Central travelled to George Rogers Clark on Saturday to take on an 11-1 Hazard Bulldog team that is undefeated against Kentucky competition.  Although the Indians made a game of it, they ultimately came out on the short side of a 66-57 score.  In defeat Central was paced by Jake Feldhaus, who put up another double double, scoring 22 and pulling down 17 boards.  The Indians have 2 big matchups against 11th Region contenders on the road.  They travel to Henry Clay to take on the Blue Devils on Tuesday, and then venture to Georgetown to face Great Crossing on Friday.  They then return home to take on a struggling Oldham County team on Saturday.  Although they have struggled overall this season, the Colonels do own a win against Henry Clay.  This could be a trap game after the 2 big regional matchups earlier in the week. 

6. Sayre (8-4)

The Spartans went 1-2 this week and saw their 7 game win streak broken.  However, the 2 losses were to 14-0 Marshall County 54-44, and to Henry Clay 63-55.  In the loss to Marshall County, Sayre was led in scoring by Jaxson Howard with 15 and Brock Coffman with 14.  The same pair paced the Spartans against Henry Clay.  This time it was Coffman with 25 points, while Howard produced a double/double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.  Sayre was able to bounce back from the pair of losses to ranked teams when were able to get by Oldham County on Saturday 63-53.  The Spartans will be back in action on Thursday when they will face the winner of the Frankfort/Berea game in the semifinals of the 11th Region All A Classic at Frankfort Christian. 

7. Frankfort (11-2)

The Panthers split their 2 games last week.  They started off the week with a rematch with Burgin, who they had defeated just 5 days earlier in the Burgin Bulldog Winter Classic.  The result was much the same this time as Frankfort came away with a 76-44 win.  The win over Burgin, however, was followed by a 66-65 home loss to a struggling Paul Laurence Dunbar team.  This week finds the Panthers facing Berea in the first round of the 11th Region All A Classic on Tuesday.  If they can get by the Pirates, they will take on Sayre in the semifinals on Thursday.  The Panthers also have a road scheduled with Iroquois on Saturday.  I'm not sure if the All A Regional could affect this game, as the dates are only posted for through the semis.  

8. Tates Creek (7-6)

The Commodores only had one game last week, and it was one that they would surely like to forget.  On Saturday they went on the road to face defending regional champ Great Crossing.  The Warhawks absolutely obliterated the Commodores in a 96-40 rout.  The Commodores were just not able to put the ball in the hole against Station as they went 17-72 (23.6%) overall, and 1-29 (3.9%) from 3 point range.  The Creekers get back in action this week with a couple of winnable games against Paul Laurence Dunbar on Tuesday, and Lafayette on Wednesday.  The weekend, however, finds the Commodores hosting a Frederick Douglass team that just defeated the same Bryan Station team that just hammered them. 

9. Lexington Catholic (6-7)

The Knights dropped their only game last week,  when they fell 69-54 to Montgomery County in the Tim Short Automotive Classic at George Rogers Clark.  Catholic has played a brutal schedule so far this season.  They only have one game for sure this week as they will take on Bourbon County in the Final Four of the 2A Sectional at Garrard County.  If they can get past the Colonels, the winner of the Garrard County/Mercer County game will await them in the finals.  

10. Franklin County (6-7)

The Flyers only had a single game last week, but it was a successful one.  They went on the road and picked up a solid 61-44 win against Boone County.  Broderick Redden led the way for the Flyers with 20 points and 13 rebounds while Kaevin Russell added 18 and David Chong joined them in double figures with 14 points.  The Flyers get back in action this weekend with a pair of road games.  On Friday they take on crosstown rival Western Hills, before going to Paintsville to face Johnson Central on Saturday. 

11. Lexington Christian Academy (5-7)

The Eagles dropped their only contest of the week when they went on the road and were defeated by Christian Academy of Louisville 82-63.  They are back in action on Tuesday when they take on Frankfort Christian Academy in the 11th Region All A Classic at Frankfort Christian.  If they win, they will play Model in the semifinals.  

12. Madison Southern (6-7)

The Eagles, like a lot of their 11th Region brethren, only had one game last week.  And, like a lot of those teams, dropped a lopsided decision.  Madison Southern faced a good Knox Central team in the Raymond Reed Classic at South Laurel on Saturday and were handed a 91-61 beating.  The Eagles have home game against Scott County on Tuesday before venturing to Stanford to face state ranked Danville Christian Academy in the Patriot Classic at Lincoln County on Saturday. 

13. Western Hills (4-7)

The Wolverines had last week off, and have not played yet in 2015.  They are off until Saturday when they take on archrival Franklin County at home.  Western Hills has been led this season by senior Javeon Campbell who is averaging a double/double with 20.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. 

14. Model (5-7)

The Patriots also had only one game last week, when they faced Menifee County.  Model made their one game a success as they were just too much for the Wildcats in a 64-15 blowout.  Riley Mollett posted a double/double in the win with 19 points and 13 rebounds.  The Patriots will take part in the 11th Region All A Classic where they will await the winner of the Lexington Christian Academy/Frankfort Christian game in the semifinals. 

15. Scott County (3-7)

Scott County went 1-0 last week, when they picked up a 68-66 win over Rockcastle County in the Tim Short Automotive Classic at George Rogers Clark.  The Cardinals placed 3 players in double figures in the game, led by Colton Helton with 18 points.  Preston Luckett and Xyier each added 11.  Scott County has a pair of games this week as they go on the road to play Madison Southern on Tuesday before returning home to take on Harrison County on Thursday. 

16. Berea (4-8)

Berea lost their only game last week.  The Pirates hosted Bryan Station and were blown out 85-58.  They will look to bounce back this week in the 11th Region All A Classic where they will play Frankfort in the first round on Tuesday at Frankfort Christian.  The winner will see Sayre in the semifinals. 

17. Paul Laurence Dunbar (2-9)

The Bulldogs won their only contest this week. They went on the road and dealt Frankfort their second loss of the season in a 66-65 victory.  Cage Taylor led PLD with 23 points in the win.  Dunbar has a pair of games this week.  They play Tates Creek on the road on Tuesday, and host Nicholas County on Wednesday. 

18. Lafayette (2-10)

The Generals had the week off in week 5.  They return to action this week with a pair of road games against 11th Region foes.  On Wednesday they face Tates Creek before finishing up the week at Henry Clay on Friday.     

 

[Hungover_in_Andover]

Aveion Chenault has decided to play the remainder of the basketball season for Frederick Douglass. 

[Carl Spackler]

7 hours ago, Hungover_in_Andover said:

Aveion Chenault has decided to play the remainder of the basketball season for Frederick Douglass. 

That will be huge for the Broncos.  

[Hungover_in_Andover]

51 minutes ago, Carl Spackler said:

That will be huge for the Broncos.  

In theory. It SHOULD BE. But now, are you going to ruin chemistry on a team that has ONLY lost to the #1 and #3 teams in the state? Who gets benched? What roles change, does anyone's ego get bruised? Aveion isn't a ball-dominate guy, but SOMEONE who was a part of the Broncos early success is gonna lose minutes. We shall see.