Boys Top 5

 

1. South Laurel (21-5)

What’s the scoop: The South Laurel Cardinals solidified their No.1 ranking in the 13th Region by picking up two impressive wins this past week.

South Laurel blew out 12th Region defending champion Boyle County 91-61 at home and came back a day later and traveled to hostile territory and knocked off 14th Region All ‘A’ champion Hazard, 57-42.

If you want to play a slow-down game, the Cardinals can beat you. If you want to speed things up, South Laurel can beat you that way, too.

One of the main reasons the Cardinals seem to be peaking at the right time is because of the play of players such as Mark Conley, Casey Hamm, Jordan Bortnem and Matt St. John.

If the quartet of players mentioned above continues to give solid efforts, then South Laurel could make another run at a state championship.

Of course, it’s also nice to have three solid players like Ty Proffitt, Jordan Hammonds and Trey Smith suit up in the red and black.

 

Surprise, surprise: If you would have told me that Ty Proffitt and Jordan Hammonds would combine to score only 14 points against Hazard and still come away with a 15-point road win, then I would have said you were crazy.

But it happened.

Since their little slump in mid-January, the Cardinals have been dominant.

South Laurel has won 11 games in a row and hasn’t lost since its 83-63 loss to Marietta High School on Jan. 6.

During the 11-game win streak, the Cardinals have wins over Madison Central, Lafayette, Paintsville, Corbin, North Laurel, Somerset, Boyle County and Hazard.

That’s a pretty good resume.

 

What’s ahead: The showdown between the region’s top two teams is here. South Laurel will travel to play No. 2 Bell County today with bragging rights of who is the best team in the 13th Region on the line.

The Cardinals haven’t lost against a 13th Region team dating back to 2004 (29 straight wins), while the Bobcats are 15-1 against 13th Region teams this season.

Dating back to 2002, the two teams have played each other four times with South Laurel winning all four meetings (69-50, 80-38, 68-56 and 70-42).

The Cardinals will play their final regular season game Friday at home against Rockcastle County.

 

2. Bell County (22-4)

What’s the scoop: The Bobcats continue to roll and flex their muscles heading into their match-up against South Laurel today.

 

Surprise, surprise: It looked as if the Bobcats were going to take a step back after their 68-50 win over Knox Central last week.

Guard Ryan Whitaker was carried off on a stretcher, but he came back a couple of days later and scored 15 points in Bell County’s 77-56 win over Barbourville Tuesday.

 

What’s ahead: Bell County will host South Laurel today in a HUGE match-up to finish out the regular season.

 

3. Corbin (20-6)

What’s the scoop: The Redhounds are on a roll.

Corbin has won eight games in a row and hasn’t lost since its 67-60 loss to South Laurel on Jan. 23.

 

Surprise, surprise: Tony Pietrowski’s squad had a rather easy time against Clay County last week and came back and handed Oneida Baptist an 85-60 loss Tuesday.

 

What’s ahead: Corbin will finish the regular season with a road date against Harlan. The two teams have played some good games against each other in the past and expect Friday’s contest to be a good one.

 

4. Pineville (13-11)

What’s the scoop: How things can change so quickly in the 13th Region. After South Laurel, Bell County and Corbin, you’ve got a handful of teams that could fill out the next seven spots.

So, for the first time this season, Pineville climbs all the way to the No. 4 position after being ranked No. 10 last week.

 

Surprise, surprise: The Mountain Lions picked up some big wins this week, but the biggest has to be their 71-45 ROAD WIN against Clay County.

That’s right, the 26-point victory in Manchester was Pineville’s first win over Clay County in more than 50 years. You’ve got to give credit where credit is due.

J.D. Strange’s squad is beginning to catch fire at the right time, mostly because of the play of Dustin Day.

 

What’s ahead: Pineville will get to see first hand if it is really the No. 4 team in the region with a road game against Cumberland today. The Redskins are reeling, while the Mountain Lions are red-hot.

 

5. Barbourville (16-9)

What’s the scoop: Why not?

Yes, the Tigers lost to No. 2 Bell County Tuesday and yes, the Tigers have lost twice to Cumberland this year, but you know what, put the two teams against each other on a neutral court and I believe Barbourville comes away with the win.

It seems as if the Redskins have the All ‘A’ blues after winning the All ‘A’ 13th Region championship, while Phipps’ Tigers continue to stay above water with some impressive guard play and solid defense.

 

Surprise, surprise: Despite the loss to Bell County, Barbourville has put together an impressive week with wins over Jackson County and Cawood.

 

What’s ahead: Phipps’ Tigers will finish the season out with a road game against Oneida Baptist Friday.

 

 

The Best of the Rest

 

No. 6 Clay County (18-7)

What’s the scoop: The Tigers managed to get back on track with a win over Middlesboro Tuesday.

 

No. 7 Jackson County (13-14)

What’s the scoop: The Generals continue to be one of the most inconsistent teams in the 13th Region..

 

No. 8 North Laurel (10-15)

What’s the scoop: The Jaguars are becoming a better team and picked up a huge confidence booster against Cumberland Tuesday.

 

No. 9 Cumberland (19-8)

What’s the scoop: The Redskins have lost four of their last five games. It looks as if an easy schedule and the All ‘A’ blues have caught up with Cumberland, who has lost six times against 13th Region foes this season.

 

No. 10 Harlan (11-12)

What’s the scoop: The Green Dragons have been up-and-down, but any time you have John Smith playing for you, then there’s a chance you can win.

Pineville's center is named Dustin Day. Ive played a lot of basketball with players from Bell and Corbin during the summer. They are a great group of kids. I couldnt be happier for them all.

Sad to see the Tigers move down so quickly, but the way they have been playing I have to agree with their spot...

Darn it, I meant Dustin Day .... sorry about that.

bump ...

Les just go ahead and move the Tigers out of the top 10..the way they are playing they arent a top 15 team....