Teams finally got back on the floor this past week. Every team except for Fort Knox played at least 2 games, a few teams got in 4 games this week. I moved some teams around in the top 5. I believe this week’s rankings reflect what I’ve thought for several weeks but didn’t necessarily have the game results to back it up. In talking with quite a few people around the region, this also seems to be the consensus as well.

North Hardin takes over the number 1 spot. They are on a tear right now, they’ve won 9 games in a row, the longest winning streak of anyone in the region by a lot. The next largest winning streak is 2 games by several teams. North’s average win margin during this streak is 15 points.

Caverna has moved up into the number 2 spot. Caverna is also 9-1 in their last 10 games, losing only to Lyon County in the All-A State Championship game. Caverna avenged their only district loss this season to Larue County on Friday night in a low-scoring affair, 39-37.

District games should wrap up this week, so after the rankings, I’ll list the district standings.

1.      North Hardin 16-5, Results: W-Evangel 83-70, Bullitt East 66-46, East Jessamine 92-65, Franklin Co. 93-55. Games this Week: at Manual, Central Hardin, at Warren Central. Current Streak W9, Last 10 Games: 9-1

2.      Caverna 17-6, Results: W-Walton-Veronal 53-39, L-Lyon Co. 46-49, W-Glasgow 89-65, Larue Co. 39-37. Games this Week: Hart Co, at Edmonson Co. Current Streak W2, Last 10 Games:9-1

3.      Taylor County 16-8, Results: L-Monroe Co. 54-56, W-Adair Co. 79-73. Games this Week: at North Laurel, Elizabethtown. Current Streak W1, Last 10 Games:7-3

4.      Adair County 16-8, Results: L- Bardstown 57-60, W-Marion Co. 77-76, L-Taylor Co. 73-79, Trinity 46-62. Games this Week: Southwestern, at Russell Co. Current Streak L2, Last 10 Games:5-5

5.      Larue County 15-7, Results: W-Green Co. 73-44, L-Caverna 37-39, Bullitt East 52-55 Games this Week: at Elizabethtown, Glasgow, Thomas Nelson. Current Streak L2, Last 10 Games:6-4

6.      Nelson County 16-6, Results: W-Elizabethtown 82-78, Washington Co. 81-73, L-Monroe Co. 58-69. Games this Week: MHG Prep, Model, at Fort Knox. Current Streak L1, Last 10 Games:6-4

7.      Central Hardin 12-9, Results: W- Campbellsville 69-51, L-Bethlehem 58-66, W- John Hardin 79-52, L-Lafayette 60-77. Games this Week: at Green Co. Owensboro, at North Hardin, at Washington Co.  Current Streak L1, Last 10 Games: 5-5

8.      Bardstown 10-11, Results: W- Adair Co. 60-57, Thomas Nelson 53-43, L-Rockcastle Co. 50-63. Games this Week: Eastern, Bethlehem, at Christian Co. Current Streak L1, Last 10 Games: 6-4

9.      Marion County 13-8, Results: L-Adair Co. 76-77, W- Campbellsville 60-58. Games this Week: at Washington Co. Garrard Co. at Cumberland Co. Current Streak W1, Last 10 Games: 5-5

10. Washington County 10-14, Results: L- Campbellsville 58-60, W-Bluegrass United 70-53, L-Nelson Co. 73-81, W- Bethlehem 61-56. Games this Week: Marion Co. Central Hardin. Current Streak W1, Last 10 Games: 6-4

11. Bethlehem 8-10, Results: W- Central Hardin 66-58, L- Washington Co. 56-61. Games this Week: at Danville, at Bardstown, at Thomas Nelson. Current Streak L1, Last 10 Games: 3-7

12. Thomas Nelson 10-11, Results: W- John Hardin 63-50, L-Bardstown 43-53. Games this Week: Southern, Brown, Bethlehem, at Larue County. Current Streak L1, Last 10 Games: 6-4

13. Elizabethtown 8-13, Results: W- John Hardin 65-64, L- Nelson Co. 78-82, W- Bullitt East 54-51. Games this Week: Larue Co. Taylor Co. Current Streak W2, Last 10 Games: 3-7

14. Green County 7-14, Results: L-Larue Co. 44-73, W- Hart Co. 81-64, LKY 67-42. Games this Week: Central Hardin. Current Streak W2, Last 10 Games: 4-6

15. Hart County 7-14, Results: L- Bullitt Central 67-70, Green Co. 64-81. Games this Week: at Caverna, Edmonson Co. at Metcalfe Co. at John Hardin. Current Streak L5, Last 10 Games: 2-8

16.  John Hardin 6-18, Results: L-Elizabethtown 64-65, Thomas Nelson 50-63, Central Hardin 52-79, W- Western 71-67. Games this Week: at Glasgow, Campbellsville, Hart Co. Current Streak W1, Last 10 Games: 2-8

17. Campbellsville 6-16, Results: W- Washington Co. 60-58, L- Central Hardin 51-69, Marion Co. 58-60, W- Metcalfe Co. 68-59. Games this Week: at John Hardin, Monroe Co. at Evangel. Current Streak W1, Last 10 Games: 2-8

18. Fort Knox 3-12, Results: L- Doss 36-47. Games this Week: at Collegiate, at Whitefield Academy, Nelson Co.  Current Streak L2, Last 10 Games: 2-8

 

17^th District at John Hardin

1.      North Hardin 5-0,

2.      Elizabethtown 3-3

3.      Central Hardin 3-2

4.      John Hardin 0-6

North has clinched the 1 seed. If Central wins against North this week, they will be the 2 seed. If they lose, Etown will be the 2 and Central the 3.

 

18^th District at Caverna

1.      Larue County 5-1

2.      Caverna 4-1

3.      Hart County 1-4

4.      Green County 1-5

Caverna and Hart will play this week. That game will determine all of the seeding for this week. Should Hart pull the upset the seeding will stay as it is listed above. However, if Caverna wins, Caverna will be the 1, Larue 2, Green Co. 3 and Hart Co. 4. Ironically, it would not change any of the matchups, just seeding.

19^th District at Nelson County

1.      Nelson County 6-1

2.      Bardstown 5-2

3.      Bethlehem 2-4

4.      Thomas Nelson 2-4

5.      Washington County 2-6

So, the 19^th has several things that could happen. Nelson wins against Thomas Nelson and they lock in the 1 seed. Nelson will likely be the 1 seed, but should they lose and Bardstown win against Bethlehem, Bardstown would be the 1 seed. Thomas Nelson needs to win 1 of their last 2 district games to avoid being the 5 seed, if they win both games they’ll stay out of the 4/5 game altogether, and if they split, it will be decided by the Bethlehem/Bardstown game. Washington County can do no better than the 4 seed, so they will play in the 4/5 game regardless of what else happens.

20^th District at Campbellsville

1.      Taylor County 5-1

2.      Adair County 4-2

3.      Marion County 2-4

4.      Campbellsville 1-5

The 20^th district is set. Taylor gets Campbellsville and Adair gets Marion. They game between Taylor and Adair in the 2A finals at Marion County did not count toward their district games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This region is just wide open!

8 hours ago, 4 Quarters said:

This region is just wide open!

Not sure I would go that far. One of the top 4 in this ranking will be your regional representative at Rupp. 

1 hour ago, Big East Zebra said:

Not sure I would go that far. One of the top 4 in this ranking will be your regional representative at Rupp. 

I would throw Larue County in there also.

The 19th district for Thomas nelson can end in a 3rd seed.. the game vs Bethlehem is what matters. Even if Bethlehem beats bardstown they still have to beat Thomas nelson for the 3rd seed. 

2 hours ago, 4 Quarters said:

I would throw Larue County in there also.

I wouldn't. I don't think Larue can beat North, Taylor or Caverna, maybe Adair, but that's it. 

10 hours ago, Big East Zebra said:

I wouldn't. I don't think Larue can beat North, Taylor or Caverna, maybe Adair, but that's it. 

I know some of the rosters has had additions, but they have beat North, split with Caverna, and lost to Adair County.

Obviously, it all depends on the regional draw, but I like North's chances better than anyone else. They have all the pieces, and very disciplined. 

Caverna has the talent, but very streaky and the knock on this group of players over the years has been being undisciplined. 

Taylor can pull it off. They can shoot, play pretty good defense.

Adair's biggest issue is their defense. It's not good. They seemingly have to score 80 or more points to win every night. 

Larue would have to play perfect games and do exactly what they did in the last game against Caverna to beat any of the other 4 teams. Slow the pace down, limit possessions, play good defense. Having said all that, don't count out a Paul Childress team. 

Never count out a team coached by Paul Childress and Gary Goode!

With their current trajectory, Adair will be lucky to beat Marion in the first round of the district.  

On 2/9/2026 at 8:52 PM, Big East Zebra said:

Not sure I would go that far. One of the top 4 in this ranking will be your regional representative at Rupp. 

This was the question I was about to ask: how many teams can win three games and get to Rupp? Its always more fun when multiple teams have good shots.

I’ll lean Caverna.  But, North is playing good ball right now. 

22 hours ago, 1995AdairGrad said:

With their current trajectory, Adair will be lucky to beat Marion in the first round of the district.  

They played really well against Southwestern the other night and shot the ball extremely well. I like this team and Breeze, has been there, done that, and has the trophy to prove it! Back-to-Back as well. 

On 2/10/2026 at 11:05 AM, 5thregionbasketball said:

Obviously, it all depends on the regional draw, but I like North's chances better than anyone else. They have all the pieces, and very disciplined. 

Caverna has the talent, but very streaky and the knock on this group of players over the years has been being undisciplined. 

Taylor can pull it off. They can shoot, play pretty good defense.

Adair's biggest issue is their defense. It's not good. They seemingly have to score 80 or more points to win every night. 

Larue would have to play perfect games and do exactly what they did in the last game against Caverna to beat any of the other 4 teams. Slow the pace down, limit possessions, play good defense. Having said all that, don't count out a Paul Childress team. 

This maybe the best assessment I have read on the region, and I think you are spot on.  As for LaRue, I'm not sure they can do it 3 nights in a row against the top talent in the region.