hova

Great bounce-back win for LCA. Despite not being a grea athletic team, they can be very effective with their zone press when they hustle. If they're hitting shots, they clearly can beat a large number of teams. The 11th region doesn't offer much in the way of breathers.

I also saw ex-Cleveland State basketball coach Kevin Mackey coaching a minor league basketball game and getting a technical for throwing a cup of ice on the court. A referee at the end of the game awarded the opposing team three free throws when he was fouled passing the ball from about 25 feet out, and Mackey's team lost.

Henry Clay vs. Hazard at Bryan Station in the Defenders of the Station 2 years ago...Hazard goes up by one on a free throw with three seconds left and the clock stopped. After Hazard hit the shot, the scorekeeper started the clock before it was inbounded, stopped it, then restarted it when it was inbounded...Henry Clay lost almost all of the time on the clock, didn't get a shot off, the officials ran off the court, and it was over.

There are several talented freshmen in the 11th...I'd say Dunbar's Hudson,by virtue of being a top offensive threat for his team at the varsity level, is probably tops right now. Others include: Vince Sanford, PG, Lafayette Tyler Barber, F, Lafayette Keyshawn Simpson, PF, Madison Central Isaiah Kavanaugh, SG, Madison Central Taylor Botkin, G, Lex Cath TJ Barnes, F, Henry Clay Montell Morones, G, Bryan Station Marquis Clay, SG, Dunbar Cameron Mattingly, F Woodford Co. Barrett Meyer, G, Franklin County Not as strong as the sophomore class, but pretty solid.

I've done this a few times, and thought I'd bring it back for the new year. Here's a look at this Friday's 11th region teams in action: Lexington Catholic (7-5) vs. Scott County (8-1) The mighty Cardinals take on a team that, despite not having been in their region unil this year, has been a major rival. Previous state tournament meetings lit a fire that has led to some high quality games. LexCath tends to turn it on in the new year, but this is a major test. Scott County is getting great scoring, and hitting on all cylinders. Lexington Christian (4-3) vs. Madison Southern (7-5) Good post matchup between LCA Sr F Clay Turner and Madison Southern Sr C Luke Stocker. LCA uses a zone press to create turnovers, and is they're hitting 3's they are dangerous. Madison Southern has been playing much better, as their players get back into roundball shape. Madison Cetntral (9-4) vs. George Rogers Clark (7-3) Clark G Preston Knowles will look to light it up, but Madison Central Sr F Andrew Mathis and So C Aaron Morris have been leading their team to a nice season, with all their losses to top 20 teams. Clark has emerged as a contender for the 10th region title, and could use a win here. Paul Dunbar (7-7) vs. Lafayette (9-2) Look out for the Bulldogs, who have been playing their best basketball recently and haven' lost to a non-11th region team since losing to CovCath and Pendleton to open the year. Lafayette has stepped up as a top 5 caliber team and the team to beat in the 11th with a high-powered 10 man attack. Look for Lafayette Sr G Pete Gifford to put up points against a young Dunbar backcourt. Sayre (11-1) vs. Paris (2-5) Sayre has shown they're not your typical Sayre team, having suffered only a 3 point loss to Danville. After two straight blowout wins, they look to keep up the effort against Paris, who they defeated to open the year. Paris could make a big statement in this revenge game. Tates Creek (8-5) vs. Henry Clay (10-3) After the Devils opened their season playing 8 top 20 teams in 9 games, they got a breather in the Berea tournament and responded by winning each game by double digits. They've gone to a deeper lineup and responded well. Tates Creek was hurt by missing players at various times in the first semester, most notably Jr F John Watkins, and hopes to be at full strength. With their full roster, Tates Creek can beat anyone in the 11th region. Western Hills (5-5) vs. Franklin Co. (6-3) Franklin County has enjoyed a nice sart to the season, losing their first in-state game Tuesday to Woodford. Western Hills looks to challenge them for 41st district supremacy. Franklin's depth may be too much, but they need to respond after the loss.

June Buchanan is not a school with 1000 kids that typically plays large schools. They're a tiny school that happens to have some great sophomores and freshmen. Their schedule will get tougher over the next couple years, but they will always play small schools just like them. They have some exceptional players, and their coaches are looking to bring them along at the varsity level. If two years from now they go through a season withou playing a top 20 team outside of their region, I'd say that would be noteworthy. But how many teams whose 2 best players are a sophomore and 8h grader are barnstroming around the state taking on all comers? None. It also doesn't help that the 14th and 15th regions just don't have very many standout teams to play. June Buchanan is 3-2 vs teams outside of those two regions, with those teams having a combined record of 32-18. They have one bad loss against Cumberland. That's not a top 20 resume, but it's a lot better than most teams they'll be playing.

Bryan Station has gone from 1 win 4 years ago to a top 10-15 team the past 2 seasons. I doubt many programs can top that resurgence.

The Defenders of the Station tournament wrapped up Friday night with Lafayette cruising to the title over a previously unbeaten Bryan Station team. Lafayette forced 29 Bryan station turnovers, and were led by 5 starters in double figures, paced by Soph G Dante Stewart's 27 and Sr C Tyler Wilkerson's 18. Bryan Station was led by Sr G Kearney Demus' 22 points.

Clark Stepp deserves a lot more press than he gets. He is an amazing player and I think he deserves to be in the top 20 in the state. Matt Walls is a great player, but he's not a true point guard. He plays there out of necessity, but he's better off on the wing. Josh Mack, Duran Jefferson, and Ty Proffitt are probably the top 3. Terrance Britt of Fern Creek and John Smith of Harlan are very solid also. I'm looking forward to seeing Jeremy jones from trigg County next week.

Wow this is surprising. Dunbar is probably 4th in their district starting two freshmen....their new coach must be doing a nice job.

Ty Proffitt. Special player.

I'd go with something like this: 1. South Laurel 2. Scott County 3. Elizabethtown 4. Shelby County 5. John Hardin 6. J-town 7. Henry Clay 8. Pendleton County 9. Warren Central 10. Doss

Darnell Dialls had a lot of potential, but he was never all that dominant of a high school player. Tyler Wilkerson, Lafayette's center now, is more consistently dominant. Once again, I posted that my list wasn't the be all-end all, so there would be some guys left off. I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone by forgetting anyone.

Here's some 11th region players...I'm not much for players before the mid-90's, so this is just a starter Chris Current/ Frankfort Roni Robinson/Franklin County Jerome Givens/Woodford County George Baker/Dunbar Camerons Mills/Dunbar Darnell Burton/Dunbar Matt Heisenbuttel/LexCath David Graves/lex Cath Vondale Morton/Lex Cath Shawn Fields/LexCath Demetrius Green/lexCath Harrison Morton/LexCath Justin taylor/Tates Creek Vince Taylor/Tates Creek Steve Miller/Henry Clay Aaron Dunaway/Henry Clay Lamont Campbell/Henry Clay Robert Madison/Lafayette Vince Sanford/Lafayette Prince Stewart/Lafayette Nimbo Hammonds/Bryan Station Barry Bowman/Bryan Station Butch Jointer/East Jessamine Marquis Estill/Madison Central Kenneal Jenkins/Madison Central I'm getting tired now, so that's all I'll post.

I say leave it alone and let the private schools do what they are doing and let the public schools pull players out of their area or other counties. Let me rephrase that. Pull student athletes from other school districts. That would solve everyones problems. Everyone is afraid to admit the true reason why there is problem. Unless you face the truth. Its class and money. You know darn well if you could afford it or where given the chance you will give your son or daughter the opportunity to play on a better team or school as far academics and athletics. Quit crying and let everyone get this chance.