The Scribe

10 of the 15 teams in the Second Region will be participating in post-Christmas holiday tournaments all across the Central/Southern United States this week. After a 1-2 finish at the Louisville PRP Panther Classic, Hopkinsville will try and get back on track in one of the toughest holiday tournaments in the Southeast. The Tigers (5-4) will play Baptist Prep (5-4) of Little Rock, Arkansas Monday at 3:30 in the Next Level Hoops Classic at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville. The Tigers will play either Whitehaven, Tenn. (10-1) or Mountain Brook, Ala. (10-2) in the second round. Christian County (9-0) is one of five unbeaten teams left in the state at Christmas. The Colonels will head north to the 73rd Annual Centralia, Ill. Holiday Tournament Monday through Wednesday. Christian County is one 16 teams in the tournament and the only one from Kentucky. The Colonels will play Belleville, Ill. West (1-7) Monday at 3:30. They will play either Champaign, Ill. Central (4-6) or Addison Trail, Ill. (4-2) in the second round. Trigg County is in the Meijer Classic at Bowling Green starting Monday. The Wildcats (6-1) will play Doss (6-2) Monday at Bowling Green High. In the same bracket are Bowling Green (7-2) and West Creek, Tenn. (3-9). The upper bracket features games pitting Warren East (8-2) and Paducah Tilghman (9-0) in one match up, and Barren County (9-1) vs. St. Xavier (6-4) in the other. The tournament continues through Wednesday. University Heights will be one of 16 teams taking part in the Lake Cumberland Holiday Hoops Classic to be played out over four days at three different high schools. The Blazers (4-5) will play Lexington Christian (8-4) Sunday at 5:30 at Southwestern High School. UHA will play either Pulaski County (6-2) or Valley (9-3) Monday. Lyon County (3-4) will play Mayfield (2-5) Tuesday at 12:45 in the Mayfield Holiday Shootout. Later at 6pm, the Lyons will play Hickman County (2-8). Hickman beat Lyon 57-46 on Dec. 7. Crittenden County (0-9) will head to LaRue County and look to come home with their first win of the season. The Rockets are playing in the LaRue County Hawks Holiday Classic. They will play Glasgow (1-6) Monday at 7:30. In the second round, the Rockets will play either Trimble County (1-9) or the host LaRue County Hawks (4-4). Madisonville (6-3) is one of two western Kentucky teams heading to the Marlin Christmas Classic in Panama City Beach, Florida. The Maroons will play the host school Arnold, Florida (5-6) Tuesday at 7:30. Marshall County and Breckinridge County from Kentucky are also playing in the three-day event. Henderson County (2-5) is playing in the Traditional Bank Holiday Classic in Lexington. The Colonels will play either Frankfort (5-5) or Cordia (3-4) Sunday. Both Webster County and Union County are playing in the 51st Annual Eldorado, Ill. Holiday Classic that began Saturday. Webster County (10-1) beat Gallatin County, Ill. 58-29 and will play NCOE, Ill. in the second round Monday afternoon. Union County (6-4) beat Anna-Jonesboro, Ill. 51-48 and will play Massac County, Ill. Monday afternoon. Caldwell County (4-5), Fort Campbell (1-7), Livingston Central (4-6), Dawson Springs (2-7), and Hopkins County Central (3-6) are off this week. Second Region Rankings 1. Christian County - One of five unbeaten teams in the state 2. Hopkinsville - Two losses by three points at the PRP Holiday Classic. 3. Madisonville - Handed Webster County their only loss of the season 4. Trigg County - Only region team to not play in a pre-Christmas tourney 5. Webster County - Lost Madisonville, but favorite to win Eldorado (Ill.) Tourney 6. University Heights - Tough schedule continues at Lake Cumberland this week 7. Henderson County (+1) - No one still has an accurate gauge of this team yet. 8. Caldwell County (-1) - Not an impressive showing at their own hoops classic 9. Union County (+1) - Bo Robison quietly putting up huge numbers 10. Hopkins County Central (-1) - Up and down week continues 11. Lyon County - Young team that needs time to gel 12. Livingston Central - They are getting better each week 13. Fort Campbell - One of five teams taking the week off from game action 14. Dawson Springs - Disappointing pre-Christmas showing 15. Crittenden County - Winless and trying to avoid first winless season since 1991

1. Christian County (6-0) – Plays in the Owensboro Invitational Monday through Wednesda 2. Hopkinsville (4-2) – Plays in the Pleasure Ridge Park Panther Classic Monday through Wednesday 3. Madisonville (5-2) – Plays in the Baptist Health and Sports Rehab Holiday Classic Monday through Wednesday at Webster County 4. Trigg County (6-1) - Does not play this week 5. Webster County (7-0) – Hosts the Baptist Health and Sports Rehab Holiday Classic Monday through Wednesday at Webster County 6. University Heights (4-2) – Plays in the Paducah Tilghman Christmas Tournament Monday through Wednesday 7. Caldwell County (4-2) – Hosting the Caldwell County Hoops Classic this week 8. Henderson County (1-3) – Playing in the Owensboro Invitational Tournament Monday through Wednesday 9. Hopkins County Central (2-5) – Playing in the Warren East Holiday Hoops Classic Monday through Wednesday 10. Union County (5-2) – Finishing play in the Elleman Contracting Garrard County Classic Monday. The Braves went 1-1 in first two games. 11. Lyon County (3-4) – Does not play this week 12. Livingston Central (4-4) – Plays in the Baptist Health and Sports Rehab Holiday Classic Monday through Wednesday at Webster County 13. Fort Campbell (1-7) – Does not play this week 14. Dawson Springs (2-6) – Wraps up play today in the Itty Bitty Trees and Trends Classic at Christian Fellowship. The Panthers are 1-1 in their first two games and play Fulton City Monday 15. Crittenden County (0-7) – Plays at Carlisle County Monday.

There weren’t many surprises in the first week of Second Region basketball, except maybe for some of the margins of victory. Hopkinsville and Christian County put up impressive numbers in their opening wins, while Trigg County, Madisonville, and University Heights were perfect in the first week as well. Second Region Rankings 1. Hopkinsville (2-1) – The Tigers lost to one of the top teams in Alabama at the Marshall County Hoopfest. Despite a poor shooting day, the Tigers only lost by six. They are still a smidge ahead of Christian County. 2. Christian County (2-0) – You could really call Hopkinsville 1A and Christian County 1B. Tyrik Edwards is putting up numbers worthy of region player of the year, but Tiavey Mason has hit 16 of his first 22 shots this year and is averaging 18 points a game. 3. Madisonville (1-1) – The Maroons rebounded from an early loss to unbeaten Daviess County with an easy win over McLean County. Jaiveon Eaves is averaging 19.5 points through two games. 4. Trigg County (2-0) – The Wildcats have used their pressure defense effectively in their first two wins, forcing 47 turnovers in two wins. Senior guard Demaria Nance leads a balanced attack with 16.5 points per game. 5. Webster County (2-0) – The Trojans have picked up this season where they left off last year in their run to the region finals. Jon Stubblefield (21.5 ppg., 5.5 reb.) and Cayden Edmonson (14.5 ppg., 11 reb) have been tough early. 6. University Heights (2-0) – The loss of three transfers was supposed to mean a down season, but freshman Dekeyvan Tandy has burst onto the scene with 58 points in their first two wins. 7. Henderson County (0-2) – The Colonels had a nice rally fall short against Warren Central. They will get better as the season progresses 8. Union County (1-0) – One win against an out-of-state opponent. Not sure what that means. 9. Caldwell County (1-1) – The Tigers were obliterated by Christian County. It could be another long season. 10. Lyon County (2-1) – Not sure how they lost to Caldwell County but will get better. 11. Hopkins County Central (0-2) – Defense has been AWOL in Morton’s Gap through the first week of the season (76 PA) 12. Crittenden County (0-2) – Have wet the bed against pressure defenses. Guard play will need to improve quickly. 13. Dawson Springs (1-2) – Everyone back was supposed to mean a possible .500 season. Lack of depth has been evident in their two losses 14. Livingston Central (1-2) – Bill McNamara’s Cardinals are still a year away from being a contender for .500 15. Fort Campbell (0-3) – Graduation losses are more apparent than first thought Three Games to Watch Tuesday (12/8) – Christian County at Madisonville – This is a true measuring stick game for both teams. Friday (12/11) – Crittenden County at Lyon County – It doesn’t look like much on paper but both teams need this one to keep pace with Trigg County in the Fifth District Saturday (12/12) – Bowling Green at Hopkinsville – Another good early-season test for the Tigers, who beat the Purples 80-66 two years ago in their last matchup

I have said all year their defense was no joke. Good to see Sparty prove me right.

I think Henderson will be just fine come region tournament time. They should have enough to win the district. But Hopkinsville and Christian County are head and shoulders above the rest of the region at this point.

Good stuff

7- Owensboro 5 - South Warren 3 - St. Mary 3 - Warren Central 1 - Franklin-Simpson Warren Central

UHA had two of the top players in the region last year. Didnt win a region tourney game. Webster had maybe one in the top ten and advanced to the region title game. Say what you want but Hoptown has had Christian County's number the past few years. Throw in a new coach and new system at County. Remember how their season ended last year? Lost 7 of 9. Their coach left despite the returning roster. If you go simply by player rankings, then sure. Christian County is the top team. But there are no region rankings for team chemistry, system knowledge, depth, etc. I agree with Hoptown number one. Every year someone is supposed to knock them off and every year they are playing at Rupp.

Trigg County is too high. They have always had trouble beating Henderson County. I would rank Henderson third. Caldwell and Trigg are interchangible at fourth. Madisonville lost the surrounding cast with Eaves I would take Davenport at Trigg County, Brennan Parish at Madisonville, Hopkinsville's Kourtney Ware, and Dee Cain at Caldwell (if he plays) ahead of Wilkerson on the player list

38 straight first round wins for Mayfield Let that one marinate for a moment

Four 3-seeds won in both 4A and 6A Average margin of win in the first round was 32 points

Really? Six dollars seems kind of low. I know the teams split the gate. Interesting.

How much is your school increasing ticket prices for the playoffs? Is this a normal thing or are more schools resorting to this because they know fans of the four seed aren't going to travel 150 miles one-way for a likely running clock game and they need to make up the loss at the gate? I've seen anywhere from six to eight dollars already.

The bottom line is, Caldwell needs to learn how to close out games in the fourth quarter against really good teams. Led Christian County with 7 to go and lost. Led Mayfield by 11 with 7 to go and lost. Led Murray by 5 with 10 to go and lost by 19 in the playoffs last year. Yes, I understand Sindelar got hurt by they had a 2 TD lead in the second half with him out. Caldwell led Newport Catholic with two minutes to go and gave up the winning score. Lots of talent in Princeton. Good coaching. But they need to start closing out the high-profile games -- especially the ones at home.

I think the Union/Adair game will be the best first round game. Union has to drive 204 miles for a first round game but their run game should have no problem adjusting once they find Columbia. Adair County won their first-ever playoff game last year while Union has lost five of their last six postseason games

Fulton City makes the 244 mile trek to Campbellsville for their first round playoff game. It falls one mile short of Fulton County's 245 mile trip to Bethlehem in the first round

Can we finally put South Warren #1 where they belong

Mayfield has had two different backs rush for 100 yards since Bright went down with an arm injury a few weeks back. Their depth is just fine once he returns. Playing Caldwell County right before the playoffs is a nice bump in a weak second half of the schedule for the Cardinals.

I think the biggest issue I've seen this year is where coaches are whispering in the ears of officials before the game on things they need to watch from the opponent. Then watching that get called 7-8 times in a game whether it happens or not just to appease that coach. WKC officials have always struggled to walk off the right distance on penalties. Offsides goes from 1st and 10 to 1st and 14. 15-yard penalties turn into 18 and 19 yard penalties. They have lost several good ones due to retirement and health issues.

C - Bryan Chilton - Christian County (Committed to Murray State) P-OF - Tyler Estes - Trigg County (Committed to Kentucky Wesleyan) P-IF - Sam Blane - Christian County P-IF - Drew McGowan - UHA (will be a freshman) P- Easton McGee - Hopkinsville (Committed to Kentucky) IF - Tyler Graham - Hopkinsville P- Luke Brown - Caldwell County (Committed to Murray State) P-IF - Shane Burns - Caldwell County P-OF - Nathan Cissel - Henderson County P- Dixon Craft - Christian County P - Tyler Allen - Trigg County IF - James Hutchison - Union County OF - James Robison - Union County P-IF - Nolan Melton - Henderson County

Crittenden County is a paper tiger. They have played two teams with winning records and got thumped in both. The six teams they have beaten have nine wins total. Russellville by 20 +

Hoptown's schedule isn't bad. They added Murray for the first time in the 1970s and have Graves County. I'd get rid of Marshall County and try for a better team in their home bowl game such as Tilghman or Mayfield. A lot of teams are pigeon-holed by the KHSAA scheduling grid. Everyone is competing to find opponents during the same weeks. They should loosen the grid up some and allow teams to begin district play in the fourth week.

Based on what I saw out of Tilghman in recent weeks, Tilghman wins by 3 + TDs vs. Union

Logan County continues the state's longest losing streak at 30 games. In his last two seasons at Murray, Steve Duncan was 19-8. In his first two seasons at Logan County, he is 0-17.

Caldwell scored touchdowns on their first two plays from scrimmage. Scored on all seven first half possessions. Sophomore Shane Burns was 9 for 9 for 252 yards and an Abe Lincoln all in the first half. Caldwell appears to have home field advantage in the 3A playoffs until Bowling Green.