12th Region: District Previews

[se7ens]

There wasn’t a whole lot of action this past week so there was only limited shakeup in the rankings as wrap up the regular season. We will cover the final rankings of all regional teams then preview each district tournament.

Southwestern was the big story this week and the reason we saw any movement at all. They took down Mercer and may very well be playing their best basketball of the year. They can only hope that continues into the postseason.

 Rankings

1.Danville Christian

2. Mercer County 

3. Boyle County 

4. Lincoln County

5. Pulaski County

6. West Jessamine

7. Southwestern

8. Somerset

9. Wayne County

10. McCreary Central 

11. Rockcastle County

12. Somerset Christian

13. Garrard County

14. East Jessamine 

15. Danville

16. Trinity Christian

17. Burgin

18. Casey County

19. Kentucky School for the Deaf

Previews

45th District

The first round features Garrard vs. Danville in the 4/5 game and Lincoln vs. KSD in the 3/6. DCA waits for the 4/5 winner and Boyle will get the winner of Lincoln and KSD, anlmosg certainly the Patriots.

There is an argument that Jayden Noe and the Golden Lions, if they even get there, could take down DCA, but that would be the upset of the year. 

Lincoln and Boyle will meet in the semifinal in what is the 3rd game of the annual series between these two teams, the score current at 1-1. This is most likely the game of the week as loser goes home. What a dandy.

46th District

This is a low drama district tournament as anything other than West Jessamine and Mercer County meaning in the finals would be an epic upset.  West plays East Jessamine and Mercer waits on the winner of Burgin and Trinity Christian.

47th District 

Pulaski County faces Casey County and Somerset faces Rockcastle County. Rockcastle beat Somerset January 3rd but since then Somerset has really turned it on.

48th District 

Everyone has beat up on everyone in this district and it really is anyone’s chance to make it to regionals. McCreary and Southwestern square off in one semifinal while Wayne County and Somerset Christian play in the other. Southwestern has played pretty good again and Wayne County may very well crush Somerset Christian, though the Cougars did beat them earlier in the year.

[Statsdontlie]

Where is the District tournaments played at this year? I know the 45th is at Boyle County. 

[Runcible Owl]

45 minutes ago, Statsdontlie said:

Where is the District tournaments played at this year? I know the 45th is at Boyle County. 

• 46th at Mercer County 

• 47th at Somerset 

• 48th at Wayne County 

"District and Region Tournament Info" for boys and girls statewide can be found under those headings at this link:

🔗 khsaa.org/basketball

[QueenoftheSouth]

Boyle vs DCA in the finals. DCA wins district, but it won’t shock me if Boyle upsets them.

Mercer vs West, with Mercer winning. They seem to be playing better the last couple weeks and have certainly challenged themselves with their schedule of late.

Pulaski vs Somerset with Pulaski winning, but it won’t surprise me if Somerset pulls it off.

Southwestern vs Wayne with Southwestern winning.

[Statsdontlie]

I got Lincoln beating Boyle. Lincoln will shoot the lights out on Boyle's zone defense, just like they did last time. 

[QueenoftheSouth]

4 hours ago, Statsdontlie said:

I got Lincoln beating Boyle. Lincoln will shoot the lights out on Boyle's zone defense, just like they did last time. 

I think that’s what it’ll take for them to beat Boyle. 

[gchs_uk9]

That 48th District will be a bear. Didn't everyone finish 3-3? I think you can make strong for and against cases for all four clubs.

[se7ens]

1 hour ago, gchs_uk9 said:

That 48th District will be a bear. Didn't everyone finish 3-3? I think you can make strong for and against cases for all four clubs.

It’s going to be so much fun.

[24Rocks]

I checked the Massey Ratings for the 12th region and tallied the top 3 teams in several categories as well as a list of the overall ratings.  I also included the top 3 based on RPI.

Overall ranking:

DCA -24    PC - 61    Mercer - 63

Offense:

PC - 71     Southwestern - 102      Boyle - 123

Defense:

DCA - 5      Lincoln - 13      Mercer - 14

Strength of Schedule:

DCA - 70      Mercer - 72      PC - 81

Regional Massey Rankings

1. DCA - 24
2. PC - 61
3. Mercer - 63
4. Lincoln - 79
5. West Jessamine - 83
6. Boyle - 88
7. Southwestern - 106
8. Wayne - 107
9. Somerset - 114
10. McCreary - 133
11. Garrard - 136
12. Somerset Christian - 164
13. Rockcastle - 168
14. East Jessamine - 180
15. Danville - 183
16. Trinity - 232
17. Burgin - 266
18. Casey - 276
19. KSD - 296

RPI:

1.  DCA - .68455         2.  Mercer - .58590         3.  PC - .56613

[LethalPG]

I'll take a crack at picking them all:

• 45th District- Danville over Garrard in 4/5 game, Lincoln over Boyle in 2/3 game, DCA over Danville in 2nd Semi and DCA wins their first district championship.
• 46th District- West over East in 2/3 game, Mercer over either Burgin/TCA in other Semi and Mercer wins a tight one in district championship on their home floor. 
• 47th District- Pulaski over Casey in 1/4 game, Somerset over Rock in 2/3 game and Pulaski wins a tight one in district championship @ the Briar Patch.
• 48th District- SW over McCreary Central in 1/4 game (In which SW in the 4 seed) and Wayne Co. over SCS in 2/3 game and SW wins the rubber match vs. Wayne Co. on their home floor in the district championship. 

[LethalPG]

2 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

That 48th District will be a bear. Didn't everyone finish 3-3? I think you can make strong for and against cases for all four clubs.

I would agree with this, but SCS had a key injury down the stretch and that has hampered them a ton.  They simply have zero depth.  The amazing thing is, the most talented team SW is the 4 seed.  Tough break for McCreary Central IMO. 

[se7ens]

If Southwestern wins the district, will they be the only 4 seed to do so in the state?

[24Rocks]

2 minutes ago, LethalPG said:

I'll take a crack at picking them all:

• 45th District- Danville over Garrard in 4/5 game, Lincoln over Boyle in 2/3 game, DCA over Danville in 2nd Semi and DCA wins their first district championship.
• 46th District- West over East in 2/3 game, Mercer over either Burgin/TCA in other Semi and Mercer wins a tight one in district championship on their home floor. 
• 47th District- Pulaski over Casey in 1/4 game, Somerset over Rock in 2/3 game and Pulaski wins a tight one in district championship @ the Briar Patch.
• 48th District- SW over McCreary Central in 1/4 game (In which SW in the 4 seed) and Wayne Co. over SCS in 2/3 game and SW wins the rubber match vs. Wayne Co. on their home floor in the district championship. 

For what it's worth, Higginbotham for McCreary hurt his knee in Friday's game against DCA.  He had ice on it and was walking pretty gingerly.  They'll need him at full strength against Southwestern.  Does anyone know his status for this upcoming game against Southwestern?

[LethalPG]

2 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

That 48th District will be a bear. Didn't everyone finish 3-3? I think you can make strong for and against cases for all four clubs.

Since you started it: I'll make the case for and against each team.

Wayne Co. For- The Cards have the homecourt advantage, and they play well at home.  They also have arguably the best player in the district with Kendall Phillips who has played in a ton of big games ...Against- Depth, they lost a key player in Ryder Bell and our relying on several young players to fill the void.

McCreary Central For- Wade Davis has simply got it done in the postseason.  McCreary has won this district 3 out of 4 years.  Peyton Higg. (Not going to try to spell the full name) is one of the more underrated players in whole region...Against- Matchup.  SW possesses one of the most physically imposing lineups in the region.  McCreary Central is not blessed with much size.

SCS For- They have a 3 headed monster in the backcourt that can get hot!  Jack Baker may be the best catch and shoot 3 PT shooter in the region...Against- Similar to their opponent, they have very limited depth.  Losing Harvey to injury, has really hurt this team.  They basically play 5 kids now.

SW For- Coming into the season, this team was considered a challenger for the crown and the last week of the season proved it.  Jeron Dunbar does a good job with them, and they possess really good size and athletic ability to hurt you on the interior and glass... Against- Outside shooting.  McCreary will packed it in, and force them to make shots over the top.  

[LethalPG]

7 minutes ago, se7ens said:

If Southwestern wins the district, will they be the only 4 seed to do so in the state?

That's a great question.  They would be my pick for sure.