Wide open. I saw Spencer against Holmes they will be a tough out. I don't think anyone in the 8th will match Holmes athleticism, except maybe Collins. Spenser has very good inside outside game. Holmes depth got them. It was a tossup until the 4th quarter. With Anderson, Grant and Shelby being down, this will be a very competitive region, but I agree not state caliber, though.

Simon's young guys are playing well but the return of Gray (if he can return) could make them even stronger. I'll be interested to see what they can do in their rematch against APB.

Spencer Co lost to Cooper tonight....

Spencer Co lost to Cooper tonight....

 

Anyone who has been watching Cooper this year should not be surprised. The Jaguars are close every game they've played this year. I really feel sorry for the team or individual who doesn't take Cooper seriously.

I agree about Cooper they are a real nice team and kept cool today. Good win for them.

I think that it is Simon, or one of the Oldham's to lose. Oldham, Simon, and North play hard schedules, I know that Oldham has played 5 ranked teams, and North is in the Gaslight this week. Simon is at the AIT, so all are playing competition. Spencer's schedule a good JV team could win 20 games, not a way to prepare to win the 8th. They got a good team and a shot like a couple more teams, but that schedule will hurt them down the road. South same story, for years they want to win 20 games and that does not prepare your team for winning the region. Playing 1 hard team at home does not cut it.

 

I agree with a lot of your points, but I watch the entire region every year, and you're way off-base in regards to South Oldham.

 

One, they only recently pieced together some 20 win seasons...that's still a relatively new thing in Crestwood. The improvement under Steve Simpson and his coaching staff has been very noticeable.

 

Two, their schedule has been one of the toughest in the region for some time. Just a sample of the past three years:

 

07-08 opponents included:

Jeffersontown, Shelby County (x3), North Oldham, Oldham County, Owen County, Bullitt East, St. Xavier, Anderson County, Gallatin County, Eastern, Henry Clay, Simon Kenton

 

08-09 opponents included:

South Laurel, Shelby Valley, Oldham County, North Oldham, Muhlenberg North, Bullitt East, Shelby County, Jeffersontown, St. X, North Oldham, Gallatin, Owen County, Henry Clay, and East Jessamine

 

09-10 opponents included:

Edmonson County, Oldham County, North Oldham, Shelby County, St. X, Jeffersontown, Henderson County, Anderson County, Gallatin County, Owen County, Apollo

 

Looks to me like the Dragons habitually play the best in the region, and some of the best in the state.

 

I do agree 100% that a strong schedule has its benefits. I think it's no surprise that SK, the Oldham schools, Shelby County, and Anderson County have done so well in the region (and before that, Scott County and Bullitt East). All typically put together schedules that are strong and it does have its benefits.

 

I think Spencer County will be a contender in the 30th this year - I really like Logan Dunbar - but their schedule hasn't truly revealed much about the Bears this season. However, they will get some chances to impress with games against Campbell County, South Oldham, North Oldham, Bullitt East, Collins, and Anderson County in the days ahead...

 

The 8th may not have some of the greatest teams in the state, but it will be a VERY exciting 8th region tournament, in which probably EVERY TEAM that makes it to New Castle will have a legitimate chance to win. I think that's exciting and I hope a huge crowd comes to watch. The tournament won't be a formality; it will be quite a show.

 

Right now...

 

29th District - Hard to figure out the three Oldhams...South Oldham and Oldham County look to be playing the best right now, but David Henley is slowly transitioning North Oldham into his style of play, and the Mustangs are showing signs of life. They gave Lexington Catholic quite a scare, and boast the best big man in the region in Devon Rowan. Trimble is starting slow, and will likely be the #4 seed in the district tournament.

 

30th District - The Collins - Spencer County game at Collins on 1/18 may tell us who is the district favorite. Anderson is the wild card; the Bearcats don't quite have the talent they've had the last few years, but the cupboard isn't bare, and the Dean of 8th Region coaches Glen Drury is worth a lot on that bench. Those three will battle for the two spots in the region tourney...

 

31st district - Gallatin and Owen look to be the favorites here, with Carroll County and Henry County looking for upset opportunities. It's been Gallatin and Owen as the two district reps in the region ever since the re-districting...BUT...Henry County has already defeated Owen County by 14 in New Castle, so the Wildcats appear to be a very credible threat to that streak.

 

32nd district - SK and W-V are the heavy favorites here, it would appear, at this time.

Edited January 4, 201115 yr by ColonelMike

Lets look at Christmas tourney's for example, with even last year's Dragons, they won both tourney's did it prepare them for winnign the region? Last time I checked they have not ever won a region?? They play a weak schedule when they have a chance to play some better teams. Yes they play J-town, that one big game a year does not prepare you for winning 3 in March. I think they played the Asutrailian JV/Freshmen team last night, won by 40 and had starters on the floor in the 4th?? Their first tough game this year will be Friday, not saying they will not win but it will go a long way in how I feel about some teams that play a weak schedule every year and dont get the results they want in March. They played at Western Hills, and the HCITfor Christmas. Where did Simon and Oldham play for example. They were in the Republic Bank and the AIT. Only time will tell, but if we look at the past, the results don't lie!

Lets look at Christmas tourney's for example, with even last year's Dragons, they won both tourney's did it prepare them for winnign the region? Last time I checked they have not ever won a region?? They play a weak schedule when they have a chance to play some better teams. Yes they play J-town, that one big game a year does not prepare you for winning 3 in March. I think they played the Asutrailian JV/Freshmen team last night, won by 40 and had starters on the floor in the 4th?? Their first tough game this year will be Friday, not saying they will not win but it will go a long way in how I feel about some teams that play a weak schedule every year and dont get the results they want in March. They played at Western Hills, and the HCITfor Christmas. Where did Simon and Oldham play for example. They were in the Republic Bank and the AIT. Only time will tell, but if we look at the past, the results don't lie!

 

I agree with your opinion of challenging schedules, but I'll always defend a school when accused unjustly. The last three South schedules have been pretty solid schedules. Perhaps not a "top 10" schedule, but very challenging and certainly not worthy of being characterized as "weak" by any stretch of the imagination.

 

In looking over SOHS' schedule this year, I don't think this year's schedule is nearly as challenging as the last three...but this Friday's game vs. Oldham will be an exciting one to watch. Having followed both teams this year, I think this will be a pretty well-contested game and perhaps a preview of the region's two best teams(????)

 

Seriously, the 8th this year is far to hard to call at this point.

Here are the 1st Lit ratings and it looks like South is ahead of the game. I do agree that there is not much stock in these ratings until about February, but it makes for some good discussion. I think Coach Simpson will win a region at South, probably sooner than later.

 

REGION 8

1.South Oldham 84.6

2.Oldham County 79.1

3.Simon Kenton 78.8

4.Spencer County 76.5

5.North Oldham 76.3

6.Walton-Verona 76.0

7.Owen County 72.7

8.Collins 72.4

9.Gallatin County 69.0

10.Grant County 65.6

11.Henry County 65.1

12.Anderson County 63.0

13.Shelby County 52.6

14.Trimble County 50.9

15.Carroll County 50.5

16.Eminence 43.6

17.Williamstown 38.3

Here's the really neat thing, folks... for the first time in as long as I can remember (and I started following the 8th in 1976)...this year's event could be won by at least 9 different teams without a big stretch of the imagination. IMO, any of the top 9 teams above have a realistic shot of getting hot and winning three games in a row... And that's good for the region.

 

All have strengths - all have question marks. Who answers their questions best over the next two months may be headed to Rupp.

 

I really don't see the bottom 8 as being among the legitimate contenders to win it all, but you better not rule out any team coached by Glen Drury, and Henry County has already beaten Owen County handily... both are teams capable of upsetting the apple cart... And those might be two teams that really improve over the final two months of the season and blossom.

 

It's going to be fun, folks!