article 12th Region Week 5 Review

1) Somerset (11-2) – The Briar Jumpers claim the top spot this week for the first time after a blowout win over Rockcastle County. They play McCreary Central and Casey County this week, looking to stay hot going into the All A. Gavin Stevens is presenting himself as a tremendous scoring threat to complement Kade Grundy, dropping 21 in the Rockcastle win.

2) Lincoln County (9-3) – Lincoln County won home games against Great Crossing and Campbellsville, Riley Bodner scoring 19 points and snagging 19 rebounds between the two games. They have a rematch this week against West Jessamine (who they defeated in overtime earlier in the year) and then travel to Danville to take on the Admirals. Two wins this week will probably get them back to the top spot.

3) Pulaski County (10-3) – Pulaski County slips this week due to a loss against North Laurel. They look to get things back on track with games against Central Kentucky HomeSchool and Rockcastle County. Their matchup against fellow contender Lincoln County looms in the approaching future (January 14th).

4) Danville (10-4) – The Admirals dropped their one game of the week to Madison Central. They take on county and district rival Boyle County for their first of two meetings before taking on Lincoln County and Casey County to end the week.

5) Boyle County (6-3) – Boyle County rises this week with a pair of tins over Butler County and Garrard County. They have their share of tough tests this week with games against Danville and Lexington Catholic, the latter being the opening game in the 2A Championship Sectional. Luke Imfeld continues to impress, averaging 14.9 points per game.

6) West Jessamine (8-6) – The Colts blew out Lexington Christian and defeated the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds by 10. They have their chance at vengeance (and a further rise up the rankings) with a game at Lincoln County before taking on Model. DeAjuan Stepp is proving himself to be amongst the top players in the region, averaging 22.1 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game (second on the squad behind Clayton Winter who is averaging 9.8 rebounds per game).

7) Southwestern (9-5) – Southwestern took two losses this past week at the hands of Bryan Station and Lawrenceburg (Indiana). They look to grab two wins this week against Garrard County and McCreary County Central. The good news for the Warriors is that Cole Dysinger is back and looking good, scoring 18 in their last game against Lawrenceburg. With him back in the rotation, they should look to replicate some of their early season success.

8) Wayne County (8-6) – The Cardinals defeated Rowan County 66 to 61 behind 21 points by Kameron Gehring and 20 points by both Mason Burchett and Thomas Spencer. They have one game this week, a trip to Perry County Central to take on the Commodores.

9) Mercer County (8-5) – Mercer County defeated district foe East Jessamine 48 to 46 before dropping their matchup to Mason County 70 – 56. They open 2A Sectional play this week against Garrard County.

10) East Jessamine (8-5) – East falls this week after losses to Mercer County and George Rogers Clark. They play Western Hills and Whitley County this week. Ben McNew paces the Jaguars with 16.4 points per game.

11) McCreary County Central (7-7) – The Raiders defeated Williamsburg 62-59 behind the efforts of Kyle Stephens who scored 18 points. They face Somerset, Southwestern and then Corbin (in the 2A Sectionals) in what will be a week full of challenges though McCreary has strung together some significant success after a rough 0 – 4 start to the season.

12) Danville Christian (8-4) – Danville Christian finds themselves approaching the top ten thanks to two blowout wins against Frankfort Christian and June Buchanan. They have solidified themselves at the top of the smallest schools in the state and will look to continue that success against the Kentucky School for the Deaf and Portland Christian.

13) Garrard County (2-9) – Brayden Sebastian remained sidelined as the Golden Lions dropped two losses to Knox Central and Boyle County. They face stiff competition this week in Mercer County and Southwestern (2A Sectional play).

14) Rockcastle County (3-9) – The Rockets lost two games to Somerset and Knox Central. They look to bounce back from their 3 game skid against Sayre before taking on Pulaski County.

15) Casey County (1-12) – Casey County was off and faces Burgin Wednesday before a tough weekend against Somerset and Danville.

16) Burgin (1 – 10) – Burgin was off and takes on Casey County before facing Owsley County and Fort Knox this weekend.

17) Kentucky School for the Deaf (0-2) – The Colonels finally resume play this week, taking on Danville Christian before heading to the Arkansas School for the Deaf for the Leopards Basketball Tournament.

I included each teams top two leading scorers along with their rebounds per game for the top 10 teams to give an idea of what everybody is doing in the region. Statistically DeAjuan Stepp of West Jessamine and Kaelin Drakeford for Mercer are leading the way based off points and rebounds.

1) Somerset (11-2) – The Briar Jumpers claim the top spot this week for the first time after a blowout win over Rockcastle County. They play McCreary Central and Casey County this week, looking to stay hot going into the All A. Gavin Stevens is presenting himself as a tremendous scoring threat to complement Kade Grundy, dropping 21 in the Rockcastle win.

 

Kade Grundy 17.2 PPG & 3 Reb per game

Gavin Stevens 14.8 PPG & 4.8 Reb per game

 

2) Lincoln County (9-3) – Lincoln County won home games against Great Crossing and Campbellsville, Riley Bodner scoring 19 points and snagging 19 rebounds between the two games. They have a rematch this week against West Jessamine (who they defeated in overtime earlier in the year) and then travel to Danville to take on the Admirals. Two wins this week will probably get them back to the top spot.

Jaxon Smith 12.6 PPG & 3.8 Reb per game

Elijah Frye 11.9 PPG & 4.1Reb per game

 

3) Pulaski County (10-3) – Pulaski County slips this week due to a loss against North Laurel. They look to get things back on track with games against Central Kentucky HomeSchool and Rockcastle County. Their matchup against fellow contender Lincoln County looms in the approaching future (January 14th).

 

Zach Travis 15.2 PPG & 3.5 Reb per game

Colton Fraley 14.8 PPG & 2.7 Reb per game

 

4) Danville (10-4) – The Admirals dropped their one game of the week to Madison Central. They take on county and district rival Boyle County for their first of two meetings before taking on Lincoln County and Casey County to end the week.

Dante Hayden 16.6 PPG & 4.5 Reb per game

Darrian Bell 12.6 PPG & 8.5 Reb per game

 

5) Boyle County (6-3) – Boyle County rises this week with a pair of tins over Butler County and Garrard County. They have their share of tough tests this week with games against Danville and Lexington Catholic, the latter being the opening game in the 2A Championship Sectional. Luke Imfeld continues to impress, averaging 14.9 points per game.

Luke Imfield 14.9 PPG & 4.8 Reb per game

Luke Sheperson 13 PPG & 6.3 Reb per game

 

6) West Jessamine (8-6) – The Colts blew out Lexington Christian and defeated the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds by 10. They have their chance at vengeance (and a further rise up the rankings) with a game at Lincoln County before taking on Model. DeAjuan Stepp is proving himself to be amongst the top players in the region, averaging 22.1 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game (second on the squad behind Clayton Winter who is averaging 9.8 rebounds per game).

DeAjuan Stepp 22.1 PPG & 7.4 Reb per game

Clayton Winter 10.6 PPG & 9.8 Reb per game

 

7) Southwestern (9-5) – Southwestern took two losses this past week at the hands of Bryan Station and Lawrenceburg (Indiana). They look to grab two wins this week against Garrard County and McCreary County Central. The good news for the Warriors is that Cole Dysinger is back and looking good, scoring 18 in their last game against Lawrenceburg. With him back in the rotation, they should look to replicate some of their early season success.

Cole Dyslinger 19.5 PPG & 3.1 Reb per game

Brayden Sims 12.6 PPG & 10.8 Reb per game

 

8) Wayne County (8-6) – The Cardinals defeated Rowan County 66 to 61 behind 21 points by Kameron Gehring and 20 points by both Mason Burchett and Thomas Spencer. They have one game this week, a trip to Perry County Central to take on the Commodores.

Thomas Spencer 19.6 PPG & 7.2 Reb per game

Kameron Gehring 9.6 PPG and 2.9 Reb per game

 

9) Mercer County (8-5) – Mercer County defeated district foe East Jessamine 48 to 46 before dropping their matchup to Mason County 70 – 56. They open 2A Sectional play this week against Garrard County.

 

Kaelin Drakeford 20.5 PPG & 9.8 Reb per game

Jamisen Lewis 16.5 PPG & 2.5 Reb per game

 

10) East Jessamine (8-5) – East falls this week after losses to Mercer County and George Rogers Clark. They play Western Hills and Whitley County this week. Ben McNew paces the Jaguars with 16.4 points per game.

 

Ben McNew 16.4 PPG & 5.2 Reb per game

Keegan Lockart 11.8 PPG & 6.2 Reb per game

In no order, I think the top 5 players so far this season are:

Kade Grundy

DeAjuan Stepp

Cole Dysinger

Thomas Spencer

Kaelin Drakeford

Just note that Darrian Bell did not play in the Madison Central game.

Bell would have helped the Ads for sure. Cant wait to see the outcome Jan 7th between Rebels and Ads.

Just note that Darrian Bell did not play in the Madison Central game.

Bell is a huge part of that team. With that being a 5 point game they probably win if he plays.

In no order, I think the top 5 players so far this season are:

 

Kade Grundy

DeAjuan Stepp

Cole Dysinger

Thomas Spencer

Kaelin Drakeford

Drakeford has probably has the best overall numbers so far. Stepp has been playing the best over the last two weeks. Dysinger and Sims from SW are one of the best inside out duos in the region. By the numbers Drakeford and Lewis are one of best back court duos in the region averaging a combined 46 PPG.

Southwestern visits Garrard tonight. Garrard seems to struggling to find its identity without Sebastian. SW having Dysinger back will only help the Warriors. Lincoln vs West Jess will be good game as will Boyle vs Danville.

Southwestern visits Garrard tonight. Garrard seems to struggling to find its identity without Sebastian. SW having Dysinger back will only help the Warriors. Lincoln vs West Jess will be good game as will Boyle vs Danville.

Lincoln and West Jessamine is a huge game for the 12th region tonight. I still think Lincoln is the top team in the 12th but a win for West tonight could change that. I think Lincoln wins it at home.

Really depends on if Jaxon Smith plays tonight.

Bump.

The Somerset-Danville clash should be really fun in the All A Classic.

Lincoln plays Danville tonight should be a great match up.

Lincoln plays Danville tonight should be a great match up.

And I have a spoiler alert - if Lincoln wins tonight they will be back at the one spot with having already dispatched West Jessamine earlier in the week. Tonight should be a fantastic game and I think it will really show if Lincoln is the team to beat or just one of like 6 teams who could win the regional title.

I look for the Region tourney to be really competitive. By the time March rolls around some teams with youth and injury could make some runs. The 12th is always full of surprises.