? Headlines ?

? | It's a dawg eat dawg world out there. Male owned the week, edging St. Xavier to usurp the King of the Bluegrass crown from the Tigers and overtake X as the top ranked team in both the seventh region and the state.

Jordan Mitchell was named KOB most valuable player. Is it fair to say the sophomore’s growth has negated the off-season departure of Cole Edelen? Mitchell has evolved into one of the state's best players during the season's opening month, despite still having a little moisture behind his ears relative to the company he keeps. 

?: Male's ? X account

Facing a gauntlet in the quarters, semis, and finals, Mitchell posted a line of 29 pts, 8 rebs, and five assists against Covington Catholic, a double-double of 27 & 10 against Frederick Douglass, and scored 26 in the title clinching final against X.

? | A motivated St. X bounced back with a vengeance, destroying nationally ranked Achievement First Brooklyn by 24. The Tigers put on a clinic with 32 assists on 36 made FGs. Josh Lindsay and Jeremiah Jackson were scoring (20 each) while Chief Cameron handled distribution duty with nine assists.

Bishop McNamara, another nationally prominent squad, dealt the Tigers a narrow loss during their tour of the Big Apple. 

♈ | The KOB overshadowed everything else happening in and around the Louisville basketball scene, but Manual did some of its best work in the dark. The Crimsons put the finishing touches on the Mac's Holiday Classic by besting PRP by double digits to hoist the championship. Ahmad Shelton's 22 points & 13 rebounds sealed tournament MVP honors as he ran his double-double streak to eight. Manual controlled the boards, outrebounding PRP 39-24.

? | Eastern swept the Capital City Classic in Frankfort, beating Top 25 ranked Taylor County for the title. Damian Jung led the way for the Eagles, dominating the paint with 23 points and 16 rebounds against the Cardinals.

Rankings and Weekly Results

1. Male ? (10-2)
• St. Xavier W 60-58
• Eagles Landing (GA) W 72-63
• Oakland (TN) L 58-62

2. Saint Xavier ? (8-2) 
• Male L 58-60
• Achievement First Brooklyn (NY) W 95-71
• Bishop McNamara (MD) L 52-55

3. Ballard ? (5-3)
• Inactive 

4. Manual ♈ (5-3)
• PRP W 81-70

5. Seneca ?? (5-2)
• McCracken County L 69-71

6. Trinity ☘️ (3-4)
• Lima City (OH) L 56-61

7. Eastern ? (10-1)
• Taylor County W 64-56
• Williamsburg W 78-19
• Georgetown (SC) W 64-48

8. Christian Academy of Louisville ⚔️ (5-3)
• Lee (AL) W 67-64
• Fleming Island (FL) W 54-50
• Stranahan (FL) L 41-44

9. Atherton 〰️ (9-2)
• University Heights W 67-56
• Henderson County L 56-60

10. Waggener ?? (4-7)
• Taft (OH) L 78-88
• Campbell County L 69-88
• South Oldham W 76-64
• Grayson County L 75-82

11. Kentucky Country Day ?? (2-7)
• Paris L 64-74
• Bethlehem L 61-73
• Nelson County L 63-90

12. Louisville Collegiate ⚔️ (3-4)
• Inactive 

13. Shawnee ? (2-8)
• North Bullitt L 55-74

14. Central ? (1-9)
• Washington County L 70-79
• Green County L 64-84

15. Francis Parker ?? (2-3)
• Carroll County L 29-59

16. Brown ? (2-7)
• Inactive 

17. Highlands Latin ??????? (5-3)
• Inactive 

18. Portland Christian ? (3-6)
• Inactive 

Game Of Note (12/29-1/5)

Atherton vs. PRP - A measuring stick game for the Ravens against a perennial power and 6th Region contender. Atherton hasn't beaten the Panthers in at least a quarter century.

It will be interesting to see how good Ballard is now that Cole Edelen is eligible.

1 hour ago, Tigerpride94 said:

It will be interesting to see how good Ballard is now that Cole Edelen is eligible.

Imagine how good Male would be if he'd stayed? 

Ballard has been a pretty good perimeter shooting team without him, which should get him plenty of open looks and he'll have the green light as soon as he leaves the locker room. 

The back half of Ballard's schedule is full of challenging games that should hone the Bruins into a threat to Male and X.

I feel that Male is playing a more up tempo, defensive and effective style of basketball without Edelen. Addition by subtraction. 

Boost to the Shamrocks. 7th Region loaded this year with talent.