1. West Jessamine (14-6, 8-3)

The Colts, winners of 10 of their last 11, including 7 straight, top this weeks SSF Round-Up. Lincoln County, who has been at #1 all year, droped out and Coach Hammonds boys take over. The schedule is much harder from here on out, as they could possibly go 0-5. Games at Scott County, Sayre, Lafayette, and Wayne County could be critical to keep West on a roll heading into tournament time. Pulaski County and East Jessamine at home won't be "gimmes" either. West also has the best defense in the region - remember, defense wins championships.

 

2. McCreary Central (16-6, 7-4)

McCreary Central is winners of five straight, including impressive wins at then-#1 Lincoln County and at East Jessamine. The Raiders also have wins over Scott County, TN and snapped a five-game losing streak to Southwestern in a five-point win. A ref-favored Oneida team almost cost the Raiders in Tennessee, but experience and fight brought them out on top. The Raiders schedule is easier from here as they are favored in atleast 4 of their last 5. They play at Somerset on Feb. 16th and that could be a deciding game for region time. If they win-out, the Raiders could be the hottest team in the region and ride the momentum to Rupp.

 

3. Boyle County (9-9, 7-3)

The record for the Rebels overall isn't impressive, but their 7-3 record in the region is. They're winners of five straight, including three consecutive on the road at Lincoln, Wayne, and Garrard County. Coach Bottoms team still has 8 games left on the schedule, and their hardest game will no-doubtly be at South Laurel.

 

4. Lincoln County (14-8, 9-2)

The Patriots have probably played the hardest out-of-region schedule in the 12th and that should only help them in making it to Rupp. After starting out 8-0 in the region, they're 1-2 in their last three region games, and have lost 3 of their last four overall. Losses at home against Boyle and McCreary shot those teams up the list, as both of those teams led Lincoln by double figures in the game. The schedule is favorable for Lincoln and their starting point guard should be back whenever the competition is a little harder than Danville.

 

5. Pulaski County (14-8, 3-6)

The Maroons are 0-5 in the region outside of their own district, which isn't impressive, especially if they head to the region tournament. Pulaski has won 3 straight, although they lost two straight before that at home by double figures to other region teams. They have six games left on the schedule, and the last five are on the road; futhermore, their last four games are against quality opponents and they could be victim to an 0-4 record ending the regular season.

 

6. Somerset (11-9, 9-4)

Winners of 8 of their last 9 and ever so close to becoming a top team in the region. Four of the last five are at home including big ones against South Laurel, McCreary Central, Wayne County, and Southwestern. Their game at Clinton won't be easy either.

 

7. East Jessamine (11-10, 6-3)

The Jaguars have won six of their last seven, but dropped an important game at home to #2 McCreary Central. East is the only team in the region with an undefeated district rcord and that is 3-0.

 

8. Southwestern (12-7, 8-5)

They've lost two straight to region opponents, and one came on their home floor to #1 West Jessamine in a low-scoring game and the other on the road in double-overtime against McCreary Central. Better defense by Southwestern is crucial if they want to make a run and the district and region crowns.

 

9. Wayne County (11-10, 7-3)

The Cardinals have lost three of their last four, including two at home to Corbin and Boyle. A loss at Lynn Camp stretches their losing streak to two and has been one of the most shocking losses of the season for Wayne County. Coach Woods thought he was back to his winning ways - he needs to check again.

 

10. Mercer County (11-8, 2-5)

The new-look Titans stand at a sad 2-5 in the region, but are an impressive 9-3 outside of the region. The new Mercer County probably won't make it out of their district this year, but with the joining of Harrodsburgh, watch out in the future.

 

 

THIS IS A POLL BASED ON CURRENT PERFORMANCE AND NOT WHO WOULD/WILL/COULD WIN THE REGION CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE "AP POLL."

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1 Boyle

2 W Jess

3 Lincoln

4 McCreary

5 Somerset

6 E Jess

7 Southwestern

8 Pulaski

9 Wayne

10 Mercer

1. Boyle

2. Wayne

3. McCreary

4. East Jess

5. Lincoln

6. Pulaski

7. West

8, Somerset

9. Mercer

10 Southwestern