13th Region Boys Basketball Week 11:

11th week in the 13th in the books, let's look at it. New top of the region!

Rankings:

1. Bell County (21-5) - The Bobcats went a perfect 4-0 on the week. They beat Middlesboro by 41, then Perry County Central by 12, and Harlan County by 7. The closeness to the game with Harlan County had me scratching my head, but they may have had their eyes on the Jaguars. North Laurel came to Log Mountain and things did not disappoint. Bell Co led most of the game, and they won by 5 in OT. A big time win. They finish up the regular season with Whitley County, South Laurel, and Ashland. 

2. North Laurel (22-6) - The Jags went 1-2 on the week. They started it off with a big time win over Taylor County by 8, but then dropped two straight to Mad Central by 12, and Bell County in OT by 5. A week against top tier competition, but not a great showing. Things aren’t easier tomorrow with GRC on the road, and then they close with Whitley County at home on Thursday. 

3. Clay County (18-7) - The Tigers went 4-0 this past week and are now winners of their last five. They rolled Red Bird by 49, OBI by 17, Jackson County by 22, and Middlesboro by 34. All of these were heavy favorites though so that’s not to be surprised by. They finish the year up with Red Bird and Hazard this week. Hazard will be a good game before the district tournament. 

4. Whitley County (18-8) - The Colonels went 1-2 on the week. They had a tough 5 point loss on the road to South Laurel, but they were fortunate enough to have Corbin beat South so they locked up the one seed in the 50th. This is big as they’re almost guaranteed a birth in the region now.  They also lost to Clarkrange TN, but knocked off Ligon Cogo by 67. They have two big games this week with Bell County and North Laurel on the road. 

5. Corbin (11-12) - The Redhounds had a great week going 3-1. They beat Belfry by 11, Williamsburg by 63, and South Laurel by 17. They’ll play South Laurel for a shot to go to the region, which will be a monster game. They did drop a game at the end of the week to Wayne County by 3, but Wayne is one of the top teams in the 12th so that’s not a bad showing whatsoever. They finish up the regular season with Leslie County, Barbourville, and Middlesboro. They should enter the district tournament hot. 

6. South Laurel (14-12) - The Cardinals went 2-2 this past week. They started off with a huge win over Whitley County by 5 to control their own destiny, but they were knocked off by Corbin on the road by 17. They rebounded nicely with a 7 point win over Knox Central, but then got beat at home by Lincoln County by 5. They are locked in against Corbin in the first round of district. It will be a war. To finish up the regular season they have Madison Central, and Bell County. 

7. Knox Central (14-7)  - The Panthers went 1-1 this past week. They had a shot to move up the rankings, but took a tough one on the chin at home to South Laurel by 7. They did beat Harlan by 10 though. They finish up the regular season with Garrard County, Harlan County, and Hazard. Three games that I would view as tossup games. 

8. Harlan County (17-9) - The Black Bears went 2-1 this past week again. They had a MUCH better showing against Bell County on the road only going down by 7. They beat Pineville by 15, and survived a heck of a game with Harlan by 3 on the road. Nothing like a good rivalry game. The Black Bears have a shot to go up in the rankings with Breathitt County, Knott County Central, and Knox Central to round things out.  

9. Jackson County (19-9) - The Generals were 3-1 this past week. They beat OBI by 6 in OT, Red Bird by 50, and Casey County by 26. The OBI game was extremely close. They were smoked by Clay County by 22. To finish out the regular season they’re looking at Pineville and Buckhorn. 

10. Harlan (11-16) - The Green Dragons went 1-3 this past week. They were beaten by Knox Central by 10, Hazard by 7, and Harlan County by 3. All three of these games they were underdogs, but all three they played their tails off. I wouldn’t write them off in their first round of district. They did beat Pineville by 18. They finish up the regular season with Belfry on the road. 

11. OBI (10-13) - The Mountaineers went 1-3 this past week with losses to Jackson County, Clay County, and Letcher County Central. They beat Lynn Camp. They finish up with Owsley County, and Barbourville. 

12. Barbourville (11-11) - The Tigers went 3-0 on the week with wins over Middlesboro, Ligon Cogo, and Buckhorn. They finish up with games against Corbin, OBI, Model, and Casey County. 

13. Middlesboro (11-15) - The Yellow Jackets went 0-3 this past week with losses to Bell County, Barbourville, and Clay County. They are currently reeling. They finish up with Red Bird, Lynn Camp, and Corbin. 

14. Pineville (12-14) - The Mountain Lions went 1-3 on the week with losses to Model, Harlan, and Harlan County. They beat Casey County. They finish up with Jackson County, Washburn TN, and Williamsburg. 

15. Red Bird (5-13) - Red Bird went 0-2 this past week with losses to Clay County, and Jackson County. They finish up with Middlesboro, Clay County, Jackson City, and David School. 

16. Lynn Camp (7-19) - The Wildcats went 1-2 this past week with a win over Williamsburg, and losses to OBI and Frankfort Christian. They finish up with Frankfort Christian, Middlesboro, and Casey County. 

17. Williamsburg (1-25) - The Yellow Jackets went 0-3 this past week with losses to Lynn Camp, Corbin, and Model. They finish up with Ligon Cogo, Pineville, and Berea.

Even if NL loses at GRC tonight, I still like them in the 13th.