13th Region: Week 10

13th Region Boys Basketball Week 10:

10th week in the 13th in the books, let's look at it. With the end of the season coming close, we are starting to get a good look at how the district tournaments will shape up, along with the favorites and dark horses of the tourney.  

Rankings:

1. North Laurel (21-4) - The Jags went a perfect 5-0 on the week. They also ran their win streak to 13 games. They’ve been on fire lately. This week their two big wins were a 29 point thumping over their cross town rival South Laurel, and then a 28 point win over Wayne County as well. This week will be a huge one for the region, and for showing how they may fare if they do make the state tournament. They play Taylor County at home Tuesday, Madison Central at home on Thursday, and Bell County on the road Saturday. A great rise in the schedule to wrap up the regular season. 

2. Bell County (17-5) - The Bobcats went 1-2 this past week, which almost doubled their losses on the year. They started it off with a 14 point loss to Madison Central on the road, but it was a game they led at the half. They bounced back with a 12 point win over Corbin on the road. Then they were beaten by a half court shot at the buzzer to Henry Clay in a heartbreaker. They look to turn things around with Middlesboro tonight, Harlan County, Perry County Central, then a big matchup with North Laurel on Saturday between the top two teams in the region. 

3. Clay County (14-7) - The Tigers went 1-0 this past week with a 30 point win over Jackson County. This has essentially locked them in as the two seed in the district. This week they play Red Bird, OBI, Jackson County, and Middlesboro. Three of those are district games, and every game they will be heavy favorite. 

4. Whitley County (17-6) - The Colonels went 1-1 on the week with a 12 point win over Corbin at home, but then a 6 point loss to Evangel Christian in OT. The win over Corbin was huge as it pushed the Colonels to 4-1 in the district. They now control their own destiny. With a game on the road at South Laurel Tuesday, if they can win this they will lock up the one seed and all but surely lock themselves into the region tournament. They also have Clarkrange TN Thursday. 

5. South Laurel (12-10) - The Cardinals went 2-1 this past week. They started off with a huge 37 point win over region foe Harlan County, then a 56 point win over district foe Williamsburg, but capped the week off with a 29 point loss to North Laurel which wasn’t very competitive. They have a huge week in district play where they also control their own destiny. SL has Whitley County at home on Tuesday, then Corbin on the road Thursday. If they win out, they will be the one seed. If they beat Whitley and lose to Corbin, then we will have a 3 way tie at the top for the one. We should know a lot more next week. They also play Knox Central Friday, and Lincoln County at home on Saturday. 

6. Knox Central (13-6)  - The Panthers went 2-0 this past week with a 23 point district win over Pineville, then a 6 point win over Leslie County. Knox is undefeated in district and has wrapped up the one seed. This week they play Harlan, David School, and South Laurel on Friday. I’m eager to see how they fare against the Cardinals. Could see some movement in the rankings if they knock them off. 

7. Harlan County (15-8) - The Black Bears went 2-1 this past week. They started with a 37 point drubbing to South Laurel, but bounced back well with an 8 point win over Middlesboro, then a 29 point win over Madison Southern. Harlan County looks to tie for the one seed, or lock up the two seed in the district with games against Bell County, Pineville, and Harlan this week. I’d like to see them play much more competitive with Bell County than they did the first time around. 

8. Corbin (8-11) - The Redhounds had a rough week going 0-3 and are in real danger of missing the region tournament this year. They lost by 12 to Whitley County on the road, which completed the sweep for the Colonels. They lost by 12 at home to Bell County. They also lost by 3 to Russell County at Berea. They need to go over .500 this week to consider the week a success IMO. They play Belfry at home tonight, Williamsburg, then a huge game with South Laurel on the road Thursday. If they win this, they have a shot to tie for the one seed in the district. They wrap the week up Friday, with an away game at Wayne County. 

9. Jackson County (16-8) - The Generals were 2-2 this past week. They lost to North Laurel by 36, and Clay County by 30. You’d have liked to have seen them compete a touch more. They did bounce back nicely with a 35 point win over Casey County, and an 11 point win over Boone County. This week they play OBI, Red Bird, Clay County, and Casey County again. 

10. Harlan (10-13) - The Green Dragons went 2-1 this past week. They started with a 19 point loss to Harlan County, but then bounced back with an 11 point win over Middlesboro and a 23 point win over Pineville. I think Harlan has a shot to really prove something with a home game against Knox Central tonight. THey also play Pineville, Hazard, and Harlan County and their regular season ends this week. 

11. Middlesboro (11-9) - The Yellow Jackets went 0-3 this past week with losses to Harlan, Pineville, and Harlan County. This week they play Bell County, Barbourville, Clay County, and Somerset. 

12. OBI (9-10) - The Mountaineers went 2-1 this past week with wins over Prestonsburg and Red Bird, and a loss to North Laurel. This week they play Jackson County, Clay County, Lynn Camp, and Letcher County Central. 

13. Barbourville (8-11) - The Tigers went 2-1 on the week with wins over Williamsburg and Lynn Camp, and a loss to Model. This week they play Middlesboro, Ligon Cogo, and Buckhorn. 

14. Pineville (11-11) - The Mountain Lions went 3-2 on the week with wins over Middlesboro, Lynn Camp, and Heritage. They had losses to Knox Central, and Harlan. This week they play Model, Harlan, Harlan County, and Casey County. 

15. Red Bird (5-11) - Red Bird went 0-2 this past week with losses to OBI and North Laurel. This week they play Clay County, Jackson County, and June Buchanan.

16. Lynn Camp (6-17) - The Wildcats went 1-3 this past week. They beat Menifee County, but lost to Barbourville, Pineville, and Model. This week they play Williamsburg, OBI, and Frankfort Christian. 

17. Williamsburg (1-22) - The Yellow Jackets went 0-3 this past week with losses to Whitley County, Barbourville, and South Laurel. This week they play Lynn Camp, Corbin, and Model.