Les

They lost one player to Rock.

Friday’s matchup between Bell County and North Laurel has been tagged Game of the Week in the 13th Region, and both Bobcat coach Dudley Hilton, and Jaguar coach Jason Chappell agree, it should be a good game. “It’s Bell County,” Chappell said. “They one of the premiere programs in the state of Kentucky.” “I think the game being in a lot of local interest,” Hilton said. “We are both from the 13th Region, and we don’t get to have many games against teams in the 13th Region. That’s one of the things that make this interesting. It should be a good one to watch.” The rest of the preview can be found here: https://www.13thregionmedianetwork.com/?p=14839 Who do you believe will win?

Yes sir! It will be!

Who do you think will make the list? Is Daniel Thomas (Bell County) the best player in the 13th Region? What about Knox Central’s Steve Warren or Corbin’s Jacob and Jerod Smith? L4 Security 13th Region Media Network’s 13th Region Football’s 40 Finest players, sponsored by Bubby’s Barbecue will be announced Wednesday Be sure to not miss this … it will be on our Twitter Page at — @BoysGirls13th & the 13th Region Media Network’s Football Facebook Page. Please click on the link below for the story and free downloadable graphic. https://www.13thregionmedianetwork.com/?p=14761

North’s semifinal game was a 63-44 win. It didn’t come down to the wire.

Halle had 38 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. https://www.13thregionmedianetwork.com/?p=8055

I’m not with the Times-Tribune anymore. I own the 13th Region Media Network. The Times-Tribune and Sentinel-Echo has partnered with us to use our stories. https://www.13thregionmedianetwork.com/

It’s an interesting time in the 13th Region, to say the least. Follow us for a second, defending 13th Region champion North Laurel went from favorite to heavy favorite and state title contender to back to favorite after Trent Noah played summer ball with the Jaguars before ending back at Harlan County. But then the transfer of Gavin Chadwell to North Laurel, made the Jaguars heavy favorites to repeat as regional champs, and a state title contender again. Confused? Well, we hope not. So let’s take a look at who the contenders are now, and who could be knocking on the door, and maybe a surprise team or two as well. Favorites Obviously, North Laurel is the team to beat. The Jaguars possess one of the best players in the nation in senior Reed Sheppard. Sheppard had one heck of a summer, and is looking to lead the Jaguars to not only their third 13th Region crown but also the program’s first state championship. With Ryan Davidson returning along with Brody Brock, and a solid cast of role players, North Laurel isn’t ready to give up their 13th Region crown. Oh, we almost forgot — OK, we didn’t. Just like we said in the opening paragraphs, the addition of former Knox Central Panther Gavin Chadwell, solidifies North Laurel as a heavy favorite to repeat as region champions. If there is one team that can match the Jaguars, it could very well be Kyle Jones’ Harlan County Black Bears. The Black Bears possess one of the top juniors in the nation, and the state in Trent Noah. Remember, Harlan County didn’t reach the region tournament last season, so the Black Bears are going to be focused and ready. Noah gives them an awesome scoring option along with a shot blocker and one of the best rebounders in the region. Harlan County also possesses two solid players in Jonah Swanner, and Maddox Huff. Huff is ready to show just what he can do after having one heck of a summer. The other two contenders both hail from the 50th District. A lot of folks believe Tony Pietrowski’s Redhounds have the talent to unseat North Laurel as region champions. With players such as Hayden Llewellyn, Brody Wells, Carter Stewart, Trey Worley, Zander Curry, Eli Pietrowski, and Kade Elam returning you can see why Corbin fans are ready for the season to begin. The South Laurel Cardinals are the defending 50th District champions (four years in a row) and return a solid nucleus during the four-year span, they are 3-4 in region tournament play, with three of the four losses coming during semifinal action, and one coming during first round play. The Cardinals won 23 games last season while continuing their dominance in the 50th District. They possess a 12-game win streak against their district rivals, the Corbin Redhounds. Those two will do battle for district supremacy once again with Parker Payne, and Eli Gover returning as two of South Laurel’s top players. Teams to keep an eye on Teams such as Whitley County, Harlan, Bell County, and Barbourville have a shot to make noise this season. The Colonels return a solid nucleus of players along with the Tigers. Eric Swords will be guiding Whitley County after coaching at Williamsburg while Chris Taylor worked magic last season during his first year as the Tigers’ coach. Look for him to do the same this season. Of course, you’ve always got to keep an eye on Brad Sizemore’s Bell County Bobcats. Dawson Woolum returns as one of the best players in the region which will make Bell County a tough team to beat. Another 52nd District team, Harlan, lost a key player in Jordan Akal but don’t expect the Green Dragons to drop off much or even at all. Knox Central will drop off some after graduating a lot of talent but the Panthers return a lot of young talent, too. The loss of Gavin Chadwell hurts. KT Turner returns while players such as Brayden Mills will contribute. Glenn Gray’s Clay County Tigers will surprise this season as well. The Tigers continue to get better and better. They return a solid nucleus of players and will have a good shot at reaching the 13th Region Tournament this season. Don’t be surprised if they triple their win total (6) from last season. Another team that could easily be a top 10 squad by season’s end is Brad Levy’s Pineville Mountain Lions. Levy has put in a lot of work with his players this summer, and we believe it’s going to pay off in the end. Sawyer Thompson is one of the top sophomores in the state. He averaged more than 21 points per game as a freshman. We can’t wait to see what he does this season. Lynn Camp is a mystery team. We don’t know exactly how good they’ll be until the season tips off. The Wildcats do possess one of the best scorers in the state in Micah Engle. If Engle can get some help, Lynn Camp could very well surprise this season. Another team that could surprise is Jackson County. Coach Greg Parrett always does a fantastic job with the Generals. Jude Lakes returns along with Tydus Summers. Williamsburg, Middlesboro, Oneida Baptist will all have new coaches this season, so it’s gonna be interesting to see how things pan out with those three schools while Red Bird will look to improve on last season’s 2-24 mark. 13th Region Boys Rankings 1. North Laurel (28-6) 2. Harlan County (19-11) 3. Corbin (22-9) 4. South Laurel (23-8) 5. Harlan (22-11) 6. Whitley County (13-16) 7. Bell County (25-6) 8. Barbourville (17-8) 9. Clay County (6-22) 10. Knox Central (26-8) Best of the Rest 11. Pineville (13-18) 12. Jackson County (21-10) 13. Williamsburg (16-14) 14. Lynn Camp (21-12) 15. Middlesboro (9-22) 16. Oneida Baptist (16-14) 17. Red Bird (2-24) 13th Region District Rankings 49th District 1. North Laurel 2. Clay County 3. Jackson County 4. Oneida Baptist 5. Red Bird 50th District 1. Corbin 2. South Laurel 3. Whitley County 4. Williamsburg 51st District 1. Barbourville 2. Knox Central 3. Pineville 4. Lynn Camp 52nd District 1. Harlan County 2. Harlan 3. Bell County 4. Middlesboro 13th Region Top Players 1. Reed Sheppard, North Laurel, 6-3, Sr., G The University of Kentucky signee enters the season as the Mr. Basketball front-runner. Will he be able to lead North Laurel to another 13th Region title? Sheppard averaged 25.2 points, and 6.9 rebounds per game last season. 2. Trent Noah, Harlan County, 6-6, Jr., G Noah is not only one of the best players in the region but also in the state. He can do it all, and we are interested in seeing just how far the Black Bears can go this season. Noah averaged 28.1 points, and 9.9 rebounds last season. 3. Ryan Davidson, North Laurel, 6-3, Sr., F Davidson is another player than can do it all. He can hurt opposing teams in so many ways offensively. He’s also a lockdown defender, too. Davidson averaged 20.1 points, and 6.8 rebounds last season. 4. Hayden Llewellyn, Corbin, 6-1, Sr., G In any other region, Llewellyn could very well be the top-ranked player. He has a knack for scoring, and could very well lead the the Redhounds to a regional crown. Llewellyn averaged 21.8 points, and 3.6 rebounds last season. 5. Gavin Chadwell, North Laurel, Jr., C, 6-4 Chadwell is a force in the post. He’s got great size and can score and rebound at will. His addition to North Laurel now gives the Jaguars three of the top five ranked players in the region. He averaged 13.6 points, and 8.5 rebounds last season. 6. Maddox Huff, Harlan County, Soph., G, 6-3 Huff continues to gain momentum heading into the season after turning in one heck of a summer. Huff averaged 11.9 points, and 4.3 rebounds last season. 7. Dawson Woolum, Bell County, Sr., G, 6-1 Hard-nosed guard that can get the job done on both ends of the court. Can easily put up points with the best of them. Woolum averaged 18.0 points, and 3.5 rebounds per game last season. 8. Micah Engle, Lynn Camp, Sr., G, 6-5 Could be the best scorer in the region. He’s always dangerous when he has the ball in his hands but when the game is on the line, he gets even more dangerous. Engle averaged 23.9 points, and 6.4 rebounds per game. 9. Jaedyn Gist, Harlan, 6-0, Sr., F One of the best athletic players in the region. Could very well end the season ranked a whole lot higher. Gist averaged 13.9 points last season, and 8.8 rebounds. 10. Parker Payne, South Laurel, Sr., G, 6-0 Smooth ball player for the Cardinals. He’s the key to South Laurel’s success, and one reason why the Cardinals are tagged as the team to beat in the 50th District once again. Payne averaged a team-best 13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. 11. Brody Wells, Corbin, Sr. Wells is another player you might see in the top 10 by season’s end. He’s a force in the paint, averaging 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season. 12. Ashton Reynolds, Whitley County, Sr. Reynolds is one of the most underrated players in the region. He can easily score 20-plus with the best of them. Reynolds averaged 14.3 points we game last season, and 4.1 rebounds per game. 13. Kaleb McLendon, Harlan, Sr. Look for McLendon to pick up even more scoring this season. He averaged 10 points per game last year and 4.1 rebounds per game. 14. Jonah Swanner, Harlan County, Jr. Swanner is another player that can knock down the clutch baskets when needed. He averaged 11.8 points per game last season while pulling down 4.0 rebounds per game. 15. Sawyer Thompson, Pineville, Soph. Thompson can score with the best of them. His 21.6 scoring average last season was one of the best in the 13th Region. He’s sure to move up many spots this season, and could be in the top 10 when we do our end of the season player rankings. Thompson also averaged 4.0 rebounds per game. 16. Cayden Grigsby, Middlesboro, Jr. Grigsby is one of the most athletic guards in the region. He had a team-best 12.6 scoring average last season along with 3.6 rebounding average. 17. Matthew Warren, Barbourville, Sr. Warren led the Tigers with a 14.2 scoring average last season. He also pulled down three rebounds per game. 18. Brody Brock, North Laurel, Jr. Brock’s numbers might not stand out to some but when the Jaguars need clutch buckets, Brock knocks them down. He will be key to North Laurel’s success again this season. Brock averaged 8.2 points, and 3.7 rebounds last season. 19. Eli Gover, South Laurel, Sr. Gover returns as one of South Laurel’s top scorers after averaging 11.5 points per game last season. He also averaged 2.6 rebounds. 20. Hayden Harris, Clay County, Jr. Harris established himself as one of the better scorers in the region last season with a 15.1 scoring average. He also averaged 6.1 rebounds per game. 21. Brayden Mahan, Whitley County, Sr. Mahan led the Colonels last season with a 15.1 scoring average while pulling down 4.6 boards per game. 22. Carter Stewart, Corbin, Jr. Stewart turned in a solid season as a sophomore last year, averaging 11.2 points, and 3.0 rebounds per game. 23. KT Turner, Knox Central, Sr. Turner is looking to have a big senior season after averaging 6.7 points, and 4.2 rebounds per game during his junior season. 24. Eli Pietrowski, Corbin, Freshman As an eighth grader, Pietrowski played in all 31 of Corbin’s games and averaged 6.4 points, and 3.8 rebounds per game. 25. (Tie) Jordan Mabe, South Laurel, Soph. Mabe played in 30 games last season as a freshman, averaging 6.6 points, and 2.4 rebounds per game. Expect him to move on up in the rankings as the season progresses. 25. (Tie) Daniel Carmical, Harlan County, Sr. Carmical is one of the best outside shooters around. He averaged 10.3 points and 1.1 rebounds per game last season.

All of the coaches voted for the rankings of this preview. Maybe they see something you don’t.

Sizemore graduated. Sheppard, Noah, Davidson, Brock, and Dotson along with a pretty good bench.

1. North Laurel 20-4 2. Knox Central 20-5 3. Bell County 18-4 4. Harlan County 16-9 5. Harlan 17-8 6. South Laurel 17-6 7. Corbin 15-6 8. Barbourville 16-4 9. Lynn Camp 14-8 10. Jackson County 16-6 11. Oneida Baptist 12-9 12. Whitley County 10-13 13. Williamsburg 14-10 14. Clay County 6-17 15. Pineville 11-13 16. Middlesboro 8-16 17. Red Bird 2-17

13th Region Rankings 1. North Laurel 2. Knox Central 3. Harlan County 4. Bell County 5. South Laurel 6. Corbin 7. Harlan 8. Barbourville 9. Williamsburg 10. Lynn Camp 11. Jackson County 12. Whitley County 13. Pineville 14. Clay County 15. Middlesboro 16. Oneida Baptist 17. Red Bird

Sorry for the delay. They do go on the road and play GRC on Feb. 9.

1. North Laurel (15-4 overall, 6-0 vs. 13th Region opponents) The Jaguars have reelednoff five straight wins with their only losses of the season coming against Greenwood, Covington Catholic, Ballard, and George Rogers Clark. Juniors Reed Sheppard (26.3, 7.1) and Ryan Davidson 18.6, 6.3) continue to lead the way for North Laurel. 2. Knox Central (16-5, 2-1) The Panthers keep rolling, picking up wins over Corbin and Tates Creek this past week. The trio of Jevonte Turner, Isaac Mills, and Gavin Chadwell have been hard to handle. Everyone is anxiously awaiting Knox Central’s home date with North Laurel on Feb. 15. 3. Harlan County (15-5, 5-2) The Black Bears are a team that no one wants to play as well. They had a minor setback last week with a loss to Madison Southern at home but responded in a big way against Cordia. Harlan County defeated the Lions, 128-105 while sophomore Trent Noah (28.6, 9.7) scored a school-record 66 points during the game. 4. Bell County (14-3, 6-2) The Bobcats are winners of four straight after Middlesboro and Estill County this past week. Bell County has a big game at home Tuesday against Harlan. Cameron Burnett (20.4, 7.3) continues to lead the way for the Bobcats while Dalton Stepp (14.2) and Dawson Woolum (14.0) rounds out Bell County’s trio of double-digit scorers. 5. South Laurel (16-4, 5-3) Jeff Davis has continued to work magic with his program by already guiding his Cardinals to a 13th Region-best 16 wins. South Laurel captured its 11th consecutive win over Corbin on Saturday, and continues to be led by Parker Payne (13.8, 4.3). 6. Harlan (13-6, 4-1) The Green Dragons are winners of four of their last five games. They’re coming off an 85-68 win over Paris. Jordan Akal continues to leadHarlan in scoring with a 16.6 scoring average. 7. Corbin (11-6, 3-6) The Redhounds have currently lost four games in a row after falling to South Laurel Saturday, 70-65. Hayden Llewelyn continues to lead the way for Corbin with his 20.7 scoring average. 8. Williamsburg (12-6, 6-4) The Yellow Jackets are 6-6 after starting the season with a 6-0 mark. Micah Steely (24.0, 7.9) continues to lead the way for Williamsburg while Martin Shannon is tossing in 14.1 points a contest. 9. Lynn Camp (10-6, 4-2) The Wildcats’ are losers of two straight, but hope to turn in some district wins this week. Micah Engle (27.1, scored 43 points during their loss to Bkuegrass United. 10. Oneida Baptist (7-8, 5-4) Welcome to the top 10 Mountaineers. Oneida Baptist surprised many with their 54-37 road win against Barbourville last week. Isaiah Marcum leads OBI with an 18.1 scoring average while Kazim Faisal leads the team with a 13.3 rebound per game average. Best of the Rest 11. Barbourville (10-4, 3-2) 12. Whitley County (7-9, 1-5) 13. Jackson County (12-5, 5-4) 14. Pineville (10-10, 3-5) 15. Clay County (5-13, 3-5) 16. Middlesboro (7-12, 4-8) 17. Red Bird (2-12, 0-11)

A quick roundup of rankings this week with hopefully a full review for Week 8. 1. North Laurel 2. Knox Central 3. Harlan County 4. Bell County 5. Harlan 6. South Laurel 7. Corbin 8. Lynn Camp 9. Barbourville 10. Williamsburg 11. Whitley County 12. Jackson County 13. Pineville 14. Clay County 15. Oneida Baptist 16. Middlesboro 17. Red Bird

1. North Laurel (10-3 overall, 3-0 vs. 13th Region opponents)The Jaguars are where I thought they’d be at this point of the season. They’ve had a solid past two weeks with wins over Eastern, North Oldham, Dorman, SC, Trinity, Pleasure Ridge Park, and Lexington Catholic. Their only two losses came against two of the top three teams in the state — Covington Catholic (79-67), and George Rogers Clark (77-64). North Laurel continues to get impressive play from juniors Reed Sheppard (26.8 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game), and Ryan Davidson (18.2, 6.5) along with senior Clay Sizemore (12.5, 1.5).2. Knox Central (10-3, 1-0)The defending 13th Region champions posted a perfect 6-0 mark during the past two weeks while capturing the Panther Shootout and Innisfree Hotels Pensacola Beach Classic championships.Knox Central continues to be led by the trio of Jevonte Turner (17.2, 7.2), Isaac Mills (15.1, 8.1), and Gavin Chadwell (11.6, 7.2).3. Harlan County (10-3, 2-2)The Black Bears look like they have recovered from their earlier regional losses to Williamsburg and Bell County by responding with a four-game win streak that saw them capture their own Harlan County Extravaganza Holiday Tournament championship. Harlan County posted a 6-1 mark the past two weeks with all of their wins coming against out of state wins.Sophomore Trent Noah (25.5, 9.5), who scored a program-best 40 points last week, is turning in one heck of a season along with teammates Maddox Huff (12.5, 5.2), Jonah Swanner (11.8, 4.3), and Daniel Carmichal (11.1, 1.4).4. Corbin (10-2, 2-2)After starting the season with a 2-2 mark that included double digit blowout losses to both Harlan County and North Laurel, Tony Pietrowski’s Redhounds seems to have turned the corner by feeling off eight consecutive wins.Corbin captured two holiday tournament championships during its run the past two weeks, winning the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic, and the Mountain Schoolboy Classic.Hayden Llewellyn’s 20.8 scoring average leads the way for a much-improved Redhound squad while Brody Wells (12.0, 6.3) is also scoring in double figures. 5. South Laurel (11-3, 0-2)The Cardinals continue to play solid fundemtal basketball that has led to some impressive wins.South Laurel possesses two regional losses to North Laurel and Harlan County but posted a 5-1 mark during the past two weeks, garnering wins against Rowan County, Lincoln County, Bracken County, Betsy Layne, and Owen County.Jeff Davis’ squad currently has three players averaging in double figures — Parker Payne (13.9, 4.4), Brayden Reed (11.0, 4.1), and Eli Gover (10.3, 2.4).6. Bell County (8-2, 3-1)Brad Sizemore’s Bobcats have enjoyed a heck of a season so far. They’ve captured an earlier 59-56 win over district for Harlan County while posting a 2-1 mark this past week in Florida.Cameron Burnett (20.2, 6.8) continues to be a big key to Bell County’s success along with Dawson Woolum (14.2, 2.6), and Dalton Stepp (13.0, 4.2).7. Harlan (9-4, 1-0)In most other regions, the Green Dragons could easily be the team to beat or at least one of the top three teams. In any case, their ranking shows just how strong the 13th Region is this season.Harlan is a dangerous team and favored to win this upcoming 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament.They’re led by a trio of players that can play with the best of them. Senior Jordan Akal (25.8, 5.2) leads the Green Dragons in scoring while Jaedyn Gist (15.0, 9.8) leads the team in rebounding while Kaleb McClendon (12.2, 4.1) is another scoring option for Harlan.8. Williamsburg (9-3, 4-1)I really like the direction coach Eric Swords has his Yellow Jackets heading. Williamsburg already has a win over Harlan County under its belt, and will be challenged again in the next few weeks with some key district games.The Yellow Jackets have been a tad bit inconsistent the past six games, going 3-3, while senior Eric Steely continues to shine. His 51-point effort against Johnson County, Tenn. last week tied a program record. He’s averaging 25.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while Martin Shannon (14.5, 4.4) and seventh grader Evan Ellis (9.0, 3.0) have turned in solid numbers.9. Lynn Camp (8-4, 3-1)It was a tale of two tales during the holidays for the Wildcats. Lynn Camp posted a 1-2 mark in the At Arby’s/KFC Classic and also fell to Bell County before posting a 3-0 mark to win the Chain Rock Classic.Micah Engle has had an impressive season so far, averaging 26 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while Gavin Allen, who is coming off another fresh triple-double, is averaging 12.4 points, and 9.2 rebounds per game. Maison Prater (10.9, 4.2) continues to have a nice season while Duane Sparks has been an added plus. Lynn Camp has its eyes set on winning the upcoming 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament title, but the road isn’t going to be easy. The Wildcats received a tough draw with Jackson County as their opening opponent and then if they win, a potential matchup with Harlan could await. 10. (tie) Barbourville (7-3, 1-0)Coach Chris Taylor has done a fantastic job so far during his first year as head coach of the Tigers.After going 0-3 (one loss was due to COVID-19) in the Arby’s/KFC Classic, Barbourville posted a 3-0 mark to capture the Bill Perkins Holiday Classic championship.The Tigers are one four Class A teams that are currently ranked in my Fear ‘Lex’ 13th Region Rankings — that’s impressive.Barbourville’s success is coming from a balanced attack that is led by Matthew Warren (16.0, 3.3), Ty Clark (13.9, 3.4), Jordan Collins (11.4, 4.7), and Travis Scott (8.9, 7.6).10. (tie) Whitley County (7-2, 1-1)I might have the Colonels ranked too low. Whitley County has surprised this season, and I’m really anxious to see how the Colonels will do once the 50th District skate begins.Austin Horn’s squad posted a 4-1 mark over the holidays, and will be tested this week with games against Corbin, South Laurel, and Rockcastle County.Ashton Reynolds (17.0, 4.9) leads the way for Whitley County along with Brayden Mahan (14.4, 6.4), and Jamie Fuson (13.4, 4.0). Best of the Rest12. Pineville (8-6, 3-3)The Mountain Lions could surprise during the upcoming 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament. 13. Jackson County (6-3, 3-2)The Generals are another team that could surprise during the upcoming 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament. 14 Oneida Baptist (4-6, 2-3)The Mountaineers are looking to get some consistency going in January.15. Clay County (3-10, 2-3)This is the lowest a Clay County team has ever been ranked in my rankings.16. Middlesboro (4-8, 2-4)The Yellow Jackets have struggled stringing together wins so far.17. Red Bird (2-8, 0-8)It’s been a tough season for the Cardinals.

1. South Laurel (5-0) Who would have though the Cardinals would be perched atop the rankings after two weeks of play? South Laurel captured the Toyota Classic this past week by defeating West Jessamine (57-45), Scott County (65-63), and Frederick Douglas (53-46). Things don’t get any easier this week with a road contest against North Laurel on Monday then a road contest against Harlan County on Tuesday. 2. North Laurel (3-1) The Jaguars moved up two spots after cruising past Corbin, 81-50. North Laurel won by 31 points despite seeing junior star Reed Sheppard score only nine points due to battling foul trouble the entire game. Junior Ryan Davidson finished with a 21-point, 20-rebound effort against the Redhounds. North Laurel has a tough week ahead with a matchup against South Laurel tonight while they’ll be participating in the King of the Bluegrass Tournament beginning at the end of the week. 3. Knox Central (3-1) The three-time defending region champs took one on the chin during Saturday’s WYMT Mountain Classic title game. Knox Central opened tournament play with a 65-57 win over Breathitt County before falling in the title game to Perry Central, 72-52. Jevonte Turner leads the team with a 22.0 scoring average while Gavin Chadwell is averaging a double-double (12.0, 10.0). 4. Williamsburg (5-0) The Yellow Jackets stunned everyone in the 13th Region when they handed Harlan County a 74-72 loss on Friday. Micah Steely continues to shine, averaging 22.5 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game. Keep an eye on seventh grader Evan Ellis. He continues to shine, averaging 10.8 points per game. 5. Harlan County (3-1) The Black Bears started the week with a huge 78-56 win over Corbin but then dropped a 74-72 overtime decision on the road to Williamsburg. The loss to the Yellow Jackets was shocking one to say the least. Harlan will look to get back on track with games against South Laurel and Bell County coming up. Harlan County is led by Trent Noah’s 26.2, 11.0 scoring and rebounding averages. 6. Harlan (2-1) The Green Dragons posted a 2-1 mark in last week’s WYMT Classic. Harlan defeated host Knott Central, 43-39, before losing to Eventual champion Perry Central, 55-54. They finished the tournament with a 76-70 win. 7. Bell County (3-0) Should the Bobcats be ranked higher? It’s tough to say right now. I’ve got to see how they do against formidable teams. Their three wins this season have been against Wellsprings Guardians and White Academy. Things do get tougher with Friday’s home district matchup against Harlan County. 8. Corbin (2-2) The Redhounds had a rough week, losing to both Harlan County and North Laurel by a combined score of 159-106. The did sandwich a win in between games by defeating Garrard County. I still wouldn’t be alarmed with Corbin’s slow start. Coach Tony Pietrowski always had his Redhounds ready by postseason play. 9. Lynn Camp (3-1) I honestly believe the Wildcats are underrated at the nine-spot. This could very well be the best Lynn Camp team in program history. The one thing that’s holding them back is their schedule. They need to toughen it up just a bit, so folks can gauge just how good they are. The trio of Micah Engle (27.2), Gavin Allen (13.0, 10.2) and Maison Prater (12.8) make the Wildcats a dangerous team. And you can forget about the play of Duane Sparks (10.2) either. 10. Whitley County (3-0) The Colonels had a whirlwind of a week. It began with the surprise announcement of former coach Mark White being relieved of his services and the following day Whitley County remained unbeaten by defeating Hazard, 75-71. The Colonels have four players averaging in double figures, including leading scorer Brayden Mahan’s 16.7 scoring average. Best of the Rest 11. Barbourville (2-0) 12. Clay County (1-1) 13. Jackson County (4-1) 14. Oneida Baptist (3-3) 15. (Tie) Pineville (4-2) 15. (Tie) Middlesboro (2-2) 17. Red Bird (1-6)

1. Knox Central (1-0 overall) The three-time defending 13th Region champions started the season off string by rolling past Bourbon County this past week, 80-49. The Panthers going to be a tough team to beat with almost all of their roster returning from last season, including senior Jevonte Turner. 2. Corbin (1-0) Tony Pietrowski’s Redhounds wasted little time in cruising to their first victory of the season. Corbin handed Lafayette an 80-69 loss during Saturday’s Legacy Nissan Classic at North Laurel. Hayden Llewellyn continued his impressive play by scoring 32 points while Trey Worley scored a career-high 17 points. Eighth-grader Eli Pietrowski got his first varsity start and added seven points. Corbin has two major tests this week. A road game against Harlan County on Monday and another road game at North Laurel on Friday. 3. Harlan County (2-0) The Black Bears got off to a roaring start with wins over Perry Central (86-65), and Rockcastle County (78-55). Sophomore Trent Noah averaged 32 points and 10 rebounds during the two games and poured in a 39-point, 11-rebound effort against Perry Central. Also keep an eye on Jonah Swanner (17.0 points per game), and Maddox Huff (14.0). Harlan County will see if it can pass a major hurdle at home Monday against Corbin. 4. North Laurel (2-1) The Jaguars dropped from No. 2 to No. 4 after falling at home to Greenwood, 88-76, during Friday’s Legacy Nissan Classic. North Laurel led throughout the first half but surrendered 61 points in the second half during the loss. Junior Reed Sheppard scored 36 points in the loss to Greenwood and turned in a 29-point scoring effort during the Jaguars’ 77-33 win over Barren County on Saturday. 5. Harlan (0-0) The Green Dragons have yet to play a game, and will open their season Wednesday against Knott Central. Harlan is expected to have a big year with senior Jordan Akal returning to the mix. 6. South Laurel (2-0) The Cardinals look to as as good as advertised after coming away with an impressive 91-64 win over Covington Holmes during Saturday’s 13th Region Media Network Ted Cook Classic Parker Payne continued his impressive play, scoring 22 points while hitting four of South Laurel’s six 3-pointers. Brayden Reed finished with 18 points while Rhys England scored 14 points. Eli Gover turned in a nine-point scoring effort. Payne is leading the team with a 21-point scoring average while Reed is averaging 18 points and England is turning in 14.5 points per game. 7. Bell County (2-0) Brad Sizemore’s Bobcats are rolling after picking up wins over White Academy (74-43) and Wellspring Guardians (95-68). Sizemore picked up his 200th career win after the victory over White Academy while Cameron Burnett scored 17 points and grabbed 11 boards during the process. 8. Lynn Camp (1-0) The Wildcats picked up a 78-71 win over Somerset Christian to open the season with Micah Engle picking up where he left off last season, scoring 35 points while finishing with eight rebounds. Gavin Allen finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 12 blocks. 9. Williamsburg (2-0) Williamsburg had an impressive win over Buckhorn on Saturday, winning 78-65, as Micah Steely scored 22 points. 10. Whitley County (2-0) The Colonels have looked good during their wins over Leslie County (56-41), and Jackson County (92-91 in overtime). North Laurel transfer Ashton Reynolds scored 20 points and had seven rebounds against Leslie County. The best of the rest … 11. Middlesboro (1-0) 12. Pineville (2-1) 13. Clay County (1-1) 14. Jackson County (1-1) 15. Barbourville (0-0) 16. Oneida Baptist (1-2) 17. Red Bird (0-3)

North Laurel was missing two players as well, including their best defensive player. Lady Jags could have folded after the first quarter but turned things up a notch in the second half. Holy Cross Chased Valentine the entire game and she still found a way to score 14, including turning in a solid fourth quarter. Bella Sizemore, Emily Sizemore and Chloe McKnight also played well. McKnight had her way at times in the post.

You’re welcome!

Boys Teams Coaches Poll 1. Knox Central 139 (13) 2. North Laurel 127 (1) 3. Corbin 108 4. Harlan 88 5. South Laurel 85 6. Harlan County 81 7. Bell County 56 8. Lynn Camp 30 9. Williamsburg 24 10. Clay County 21 Teams that received votes: Whitley County 11, Middlesboro 5, Barbourville 2, Jackson County 1. Schools that did not vote: Clay County, Red Bird, and Whitley County. Top 10 Boys Players Coaches Poll 1. Reed Sheppard, North Laurel 135 (9) 2. Jevonte Turner, Knox Central 130 (5) 3. Trent Noah, Harlan County 103 4. Jordan Akal, Harlan 87 5. Hayden Lewellyn, Corbin 78 6. Ryan Davidson, North Laurel 61 7. Cameron Burnett, Bell County 42 8. Micah Steely, Williamsburg 32 9. Isaac Mills, Knox Central 24 10. Micah Engle, Lynn Camp 16 Players that received votes: Gavin Chadwell, Knox Central, 13; Parker Payne, South Laurel 11, Jaedyn Gist, Harlan 9, Dawson Woolum, Bell County 7, Clay Sizemore, North Laurel 5, Abe Brock, Knox Central 4, Gavin Allen, Lynn Camp 3, Brody Wells, Corbin 3, Brody Brock, North Laurel 2. 1. Knox Central (18-5) Why the Panthers at No. 1? I’m saying, why not? Tony Patterson’s squad is a 13th Region-best 127-31 during the past five years. Knox Central has been the most dominant program in the 13th Region dating back to when South Laurel won the region championship in 2006, 2007, and 2008. With Jevonte Turner (25.1, 7.7) returning for another year, the Panthers are a lock at the No. 1 spot. Seniors Isaac Mills (14.9, 7.2) and Abe Brock (7.4, 2.7) return along with 13th Region Tournament MVP Gavin Chadwell (8.5, 6.3) and Blake Ledford (2.6), who made noise with his 3-point shooting in the region tournament. K.T. Turner (4.1, 3.0) and Logan King (3.2) also return. 2. North Laurel (25-3) The Jaguars were red-hot for most of the season but might have peaked a little bit too early. North Laurel was the talk of the state for most of the season after jumping out to a 19-0 start, but the Jaguars finished out with a 6-3 mark which included a disappointing loss to Knox Central in the 13th Region Tournament title game. Nate Valentine’s squad returns everyone except for Nate Bruner, who will be graduating. The Jaguars return juniors Reed Sheppard (30.1, 7.1) and Ryan Davidson (20.2, 6.9). Also returning are senior Clay Sizemore (11.4), juniors Brody Brock (11.8), Chase Dotson (3.0), Ashton Reynolds (2.8), and senior Caden Harris (2.8, 4.2). 3. Corbin (14-8) Tony Pietrowski’s squad returns a ton of talent that could easily make a run and win the 13th Region championship in 2022. Junior Hayden Llewellyn returns along with his 23.4 scoring average along with Carter Stewart (12.9, 2.5), Brody Wells (10.5, 6.1), Dakota Patterson (7.8, 6.4), Seth Mills (3.5, 3.6), Trey Worley (2.6), and Marc Warren (1.3). 4.Harlan (17-6) If the Dragons are going to make a push for their first 13th Region crown since 1996, next season is the time to do it. Harlan returns all five starters which includes senior standout Jordan Akal (26.1, 6.7). Also returning will be Jaedyn Gist (12.8, 11.0), Will Austin (7.5, 7.4), Kaleb McClendon (11.5, 4.7), and Kyler McClendon (7.7, 4.3). 5. South Laurel (18-6) Many expected the Cardinals to be in rebuild mode last season, but they were surprised by winning 18 games, and the 50th District championship. They lose the services of Micah Anders, who has been a mainstay on the team for a long while but returns most of its nucleus from this past season’s roster. Junior guards Parker Payne (12.3, 4.2), and Eli Glover (8.5) return along with seniors Caden Jones (6.8, 3.1), Rhys England (7.8, 3.9), and Brayden Reed (7.8, 3.8). Juniors Ashton Garland (2.5), and Ayden Smith (2.9) return to the mix and keep an eye on freshman Jordan Mabe, who played nine games as an eighth-grader two years ago. 6. Harlan County (19-6) The Black Bears suffered a huge blow to their 13th Region title chances late last season after an injury to Trent Noah (20.2, 9.8), but the sophomore guard returns along with Jackson Huff (7.8, 3.8), Daniel Carmichal (7.8), Maddox Huff (6.0), Jonah Swanner (2.6), and Tristan Cooper (1.9). 7. Bell County (16-11) Brad Sizemore’s Bobcats return a solid nucleus of talent that could not only win the 52nd District title next season but make a push for the 13th Region crown as well. Returning will be one of the top one-two punches in the region in Cameron Burnett (17.1, 7.3), and Dawson Woolum (17.2, 2.9). Seniors Dalton Stepp (6.4, 2.4) and Hayden Calebs (5.1, 3.6) are expected to contribute even more next season while Carter McCune (2.4), Cole Hoskins (4.1, 2.1), Chance Belcher (3.5), Brandon Baker, and Conner McGeorge (1.3) return. 8. Lynn Camp (11-12) The Wildcats will have to replace some key players from this past season but coach Rodney Clarke returns a lot of talent. Micah Engle (23.2, 7.0) and Gavin Allen (9.9, 9.0) will be keys to Lynn Camp’s success along with sophomore Jace Boggs (7.5, 2.7). 9. Williamsburg (11-10) Williamsburg graduates three starters but coach Eric Swords returns a talented team with senior Micah Steely (24.9, 10.0), Connor Lay (4.4, 3.2), Drew Damron (4.2), and Clayton McFarland (1.9) will return for the Yellow Jackets. 10. Clay County (15-9) The Tigers drop to No. 9 after graduating their top six players from this past season. The cupboard is never bare at Clay County but there are a lot of holes that need to be filled. Junior Brady Wolfe (1.9) returns along with Luke Nicholson (1.1), Jeremy Hibbard (0.9), Hayden Crockett (4.4), and Tate Rice (1.0). 11. Whitley County (4-16) The Colonels only won four games this past season but look for a much-improved team in 2021-22. Coach Mark White has a nice team returning that includes a solid nucleus of players. Jamie Fuson (13.0, 6.0), Ethan Keene (11.5, 4.0), Brayden Mahan (9.9, 3.9), Trevor Downs (7.1, 5.0), and Lucas Queener (2.4, 2.7) are ready to make noise not only in the 50th District but 13th Region, too. 12. Barbourville (12-14) The Tigers surprised this past season and I’m sure will do it again in 2021-22. Warren returns (14.5, 3.0) along with senior forward David Collett (4.5, 3.5), who looks to be ready to have a breakout season. 13. Jackson County (5-13) A strong group of talent returns for the Generals with Jude Lakes (11.8, 5.6), and Andrew Msdden (8.8, 2.8) leading the way. Colby Bales (4.4, 3.3), Carter Cunagin (4.5, 3.3) and Tydus Summers (5.9, 2.3) will look to contribute, too. 14. Pineville (10-11) The Mountain Lions graduate their two top scorers but I really like what coach Brad Levy is building. Freshman Sawyer Thompson (7.0, 2.9) returns along with Eli Thompson (5.9, 3.8), Evan Biliter (6.5, 3.0), Devon Morris (2.8, 2.1), and Ian Middleton (4.4, 2.6). 15. Middlesboro (5-15) The Yellow Jackets struggled throughout last season but had a couple of nice wins. Coach Lewis Morris returns an abundance of young talent, but it could take a while to be able to contend for the 52nd District title considering Harlan, Harlan County, and Bell County are going to be tough to beat. Jay Tyler West (8.4, 7.3), Cayden Grigsby (8.6, 2.8), Trey Kyle (2.0, 2.9), Trey King (2.2), Blaine Woody (2.6), and Bryce Bowling (0.7) each return. 16. Red Bird (0-21) The Cardinals look to be much-improved next season with three starters returning — Juan Bynum (7.2, 2.9), Austin Osborne (1.9), and Felix Onosumba (3.8, 4.1). Victor Ilunga (2.4, 3.5), Jean-Claude Nyembo (2.4, 3.2) and Mark Ngulunga (2.3, 3.5) each will look to contribute next season. 17. Oneida Baptist (Did not play in 2021) The Mountaineers will be returning to the mix after not playing this past season due to COVID-19 regulations that reduced the student population at the school.

1. North Laurel (21-2 overall, 8-0 vs. 13th Region competition) The Jaguars will face-off against Red Bird Tuesday in semifinal action of the 49th District Tournament. They defeated the Cardinals earlier this season, 81-19. 2. Harlan County (18-4, 5-3) It’s do or die time for the Black Bears as they face-off against Bell County Tuesday during the 52nd District semifinals. The Bobcats are red-hot while Harlan County defeated them earlier this season. 3. South Laurel (17-5, 12-3) Jeff Davis’ squad became the first team to punch a ticket into the 13th Region Tournament on Saturday after holding off Williamsburg, 80-71. The Cardinals will play Corbin tonight in the 50th District title game. They are 2-0 against the Redhounds this season. 4. Corbin (13-6, 12-4) The Redhounds are winners of 10 straight after upending Whitley County, 90-68, during Saturday’s 50th District Tournament semifinals. Corbin will play South Laurel tonight in the 50th District title game with hopes of capturing a district title. The Redhounds are 0-2 against South Laurel this season. 5. Knox Central (13-5, 7-3) The two-time defending 13th Region championship Panthers are scheduled to play Pineville in the 51st District Tournament semifinals this week. Knox Central cruised to an easy 91-36 win over the Mountain Lions earlier this season. 6. Harlan (15-5, 11-2) Jordan Akal and the Green Dragons continue to surprise this season with hopes of advancing to the 13th Region Tournament this week. They play Middlesboro in Tuesday’s semifinal action of the 52nd District Tournament. 7. Bell County (16-10, 10-6) The Bobcats are winners of four in a row and eight of their last nine games. Bell County will have to beat Harlan County during Tuesday’s 52nd District Tournament to advance to the 13th Region Tournament. They suffered a 77-46 loss to the Black Bears earlier this season. 8. Clay County (13-7, 9-5) The Tigers may be ranked a tad bit too low but we will soon see. They’ll face off against Jackson County today in the 49th District Tournament’s semifinals and then will more than likely meet up with North Laurel for a second time this season. The Jaguars won the earlier meeting between the two teams with a 99-74 victory. 9. Barbourville (11-12, 7-9) Coach Cody Messer is hoping his team will be healed up enough by the time Wednesday’s 52nd District semifinal game begins. The Tigers won an earlier meeting between the two teams. 10. Lynn Camp (11-11, 7-7) The Wildcats hope to erase an earlier loss to Lynn Camp during Wednesday’s 51st District Tournament. Lynn Camp dropped an earlier 62-54 decision to the Tigers. 11. Middlesboro (5-14, 4-13) Coach Lewis Morris will try to slow things down against Harlan, and that is something his teams have done, and been successful with in year’s past. 12. Williamsburg (11-10, 5-9) The Yellow Jackets are one of the most improved teams this season. Their season ended Saturday after falling 80-71 in a hard-fought battle. Micah Steely proved this season, he belongs to be mentioned as one of the top players in the region. 13. Pineville (10-10, 5-7) The Mountain Lions have the task of trying to knock off two-time defending 13th Region champion Knox Central on Tuesday. Pine drilled lost, 91-36, during the two teams’ only meeting this season. 14. Whitley County (4-16, 3-15) The Colonels have struggled throughout the season but looked a while lot better during the past two weeks. They were eliminated by Corbin on Saturday. 15. Jackson County (5–12, 4-6) The Generals just couldn’t get on track this season.they hope to do so tonight when they play Clay County. 16. Red Bird (0-20, 0-17) The Cardinals will attempt you shock the region Tuesday when they play North Laurel during semifinal final action of the 52nd District Tournament.

1. North Laurel (19-2, 7-0) The Jaguars took two losses in the chin this past weekend against Ashland Blazer and Lexington Catholic. Now it’s going to be interesting to see how North Laurel responds this week before postseason play begins. 2. Harlan County (18-4, 5-3) The three-game losing skid midway through the season looks to be a blessing in disguise for The Black Bears. Harlan County has now won five in a row entering postseason play. 3. South Laurel (15-5, 11-3) No one would have ever thought the Cardinals would have 15 wins at this point of the season after what the program is graduated the past two years. But here they are, 15-5, with two wins over Corbin, a win over Trinity and Knox Central to just name a few this season. 4. Corbin (11-6, 10-4) The Redhounds remain the hottest team in the region with an eight-game win streak. Corbin has beaten Clay County, Knox Central (twice), Madison Southern and Lynn Camp during the streak. 5. Knox Central (13-5, 7-3) The two time defending 13th Region champions struggled this past week, going 1-2 with losses to both Corbin and South Laurel. Senior Jevonte Turner turned in a fantastic week, scoring 48 points, 43 points and 38 points, respectively. 6. Harlan (14-5, 5-2) The Green Dragons came away with the Pikeville Invitational championship this weekend by going 2-0. Jordan Akal continues to impress, scoring 20 and 42 points, respectively, in the two games. 7. Bell County (14-10, 9-6) The Bobcats are red-hot, winners of two in a row and nine of their last 11 games. The duo of Cameron Burnett and Dawson Woolum have almost been unstoppable. 8. Clay County (12-7, 8-5) The Tigers are 1-2 during their past three games but those losses were against some good teams — Harlan and Covington Catholic. Clay County has enough talent to win the Region tourney, the Tigers just need some consistency and momentum going into postseason play. 9. Barbourville (10-11, 6-8) Injuries and sickness has slowed Barbourville down but the Tigers have won two of three with wins coming against Burgin and Red Bird. 10. Lynn Camp (10-10, 6-6) The talent is there but the consistency isn’t just yet for the Wildcats. They have one of the best scorers in the region in Micah Engle whole shot blocker Gavin Allen recorded his 100th block of the season this past week. 11. Pineville (9-10, 4-7) The Mountain Lions were able to stop a three-game losing skid by defeating Red Bird, 78-47, this past week. 12. Middlesboro (5-10, 4-10) The Yellow Jackets had won three of their last four games before being quarantined. Hopefully, they can continue their recent success once they get back on the playing floor. 13. Williamsburg (10-8, 4-7) Eric Swords has done a fantastic job with the Yellow Jackets during his first year as was coach f the program. Williamsburg is much-improves and especially dangerous when Micah Steely is on. 14. Whitley County (4-15, 3-14) The Colonels started the season with three consecutive wins, they’re 1-15 since. 15. Jackson County (4-10, 3-5) The Cardinals have dropped four straight going into the final week of regular season play. 16. Red Bird (0-17, 0-14) The Cardinals have another tough slate this week with games against North Laurel, Harlan and Barbourville.

1. North Laurel (18-0 overall, 7-0 vs. 13th Region competition) The Jaguars continue to roll and are one win away from tying Williamsburg’s 19-0 start in 2014. North Laurel continues to dominate opponents, recording road wins over Madison Central (90-69) and Pulaski County (99-86) this past week. Sophomore sensation Reed Sheppard scored 43 points against the Indians while adding 24 points, 16 assists, four rebounds and six steals against the Maroons. Sophomore Ryan Davidson averaged a double-double this past week while scoring 26 points and pulling down 15 boards against Pulaski County. But that’s not all. Sophomore Brody Brock hit 5 3-pointers and scored 33 points against Pulaski County while Adam Sizemore added 14 points. This team can score. They’re gonna be challenged at the end of the week with a game at Lexington Catholic onFriday against Ashland Blazer before going up against Lexington Catholic on Saturday. 2. Knox Central (12-3, 6-1) Since their loss to Corbin on Feb. 10, the Panthers have won six straight games. Senior Jevonte Turner continues to dominate, leading the team in points scored (25.2) and rebounds per game (8.7). Isaac Mills is averaging 15.3 points per game along with 7.9 rebounds per game. Gavin Chadwell has also impressed, averaging 8.3 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game. 3. Harlan County (16-4, 5-3) The Black Bears hit a bump in the road a few weeks back, falling to three consecutive region teams but since then they’ve won four straight games. Freshman Trent Noah continues to lead the team with a 20.4 scoring average and a 9.9 rebounding average while Travis Cole is averaging 15.8 points per game. Cole scored his 1,000th career point last week. 4. South Laurel (13-5, 9-3) Jeff Davis’ Cardinals continue to surprise. They suffered a 24-point setback to top-ranked Lexington Catholic but only trailed by two at halftime. They responded with wins over McCreary Central and Hazard. They’ve got a key region matchup at home Saturday against Knox Central. 5. Corbin (9-6, 8-4) Other than North Laurel, the Redhounds are the hottest team in the region. They’ve won six in a row, and are now considered a serious threat to win the region title. We’ve always said, don’t count out a Tony Pietrowski-cliched team, and the statement is even more true this season. Corbin has picked up wins over Knox Central, Clay County, Madison Southern and Lynn Camp during the six-game stretch. If the Redhounds beat Knox Central again this week then look out! 6. Clay County (11-5, 7-4) It’s been one roller coaster of a season for the Tigers. They suffered a two-point setback to Bell County but then followed with an impressive win over Boyle County. Clay County has had consistent play from senior Connor Robinson, who continues to put up fantastic numbers. He leads the team with a 26.1 scoring average and a 7.6 rebounding average while Connor Farmer is averaging 15.3 points per game. 7. Harlan (11-5, 9-2) The Green Dragons were able to snap a season-long three-game losing skid after upending Pineville but saw their All A Classic State Tournament title hopes come to an end with a 61-48 loss to Lexington Christian. Jordan Akal leads the team with a 26.2 scoring average while Jaedyn Gist 8. Bell County (11-9, 6-6) The Bobcats are plying good basketball currently. They’re winners of six of their last seven games which included a two-point win over Clay County. Cameron Burnett continues to impress, leading the team in both points scored (16.7) and rebounds (7.5) per game. Teammate Dawson Woolum continues to play well, averaging 15.4 points per game. 9. Barbourville (7-10, 5-7) Injuries and sickness have played a big role in the Tigers’ current five-game losing skid. Barbourville is now 1-7 during its past eight games. Matthew Gray continues to shine, averaging 21.8 points per game. 10. Lynn Camp (9-8, 6-5) The Wildcats looked like they had turned the corner after beating both Williamsburg and Red Bird back-to-back but have now dropped two consecutive games while going 3-6 during their past nine games. Micah Engles continue to impress. He scored 49 points against Wayne County, and leads the team with a 23.8 scoring average. Gavin Allen recorded his first triple-double this past week and leads Lynn Camp with a 9.2 rebounding average. 11. Middlesboro (5-10, 4-10) The Yellow Jackets haven’t been able to play since Feb. 19 due to being on COVID-19 quarantine. 12. Pineville (7-7, 2-5) The Mountain Lions are winners of two of their last three games with hopes of finishing strong down the stretch. The play of Keean Fuson (16.8) and Sean Phipps (11.1) has been important to Pineville’s success. 13. Whitley County (4-11, 3-10) The Colonels were able to Snap an 11-game losing skid by upending 50th District rival Williamsburg, 78-76, on Saturday. The win enabled the Colonels to secure the district’s No. 3 seed. 14. Williamsburg (7-7, 2-7) Coach Eric Swords has his program heading into the right direction despite going 2-3 during its past five games. One big bright spot this season for the Yellow Jackets has been the play of Micah Steely. Steely leads the team with a 22.5 scoring average and a 9.5 rebounding average. 15. Jackson County (4-9, 3-5) The Generals just can’t seem to get any momentum going. They’ve lost three in a row after going 3-1 during a four-game stretch. 16. Red Bird (0-13, 0-10) The Cardinals continue to improve under Coach Ronnie Johnson with hopes of capturing some wins the next two weeks before postseason play begins.

1. North Laurel (16-0 overall, 7-0 vs. 13th Region opponents) The Jaguars remain unbeaten but did have a tough time with Somerset on Saturday before pulling out a 75-69 win. Super sophomores Reed Sheppard and Ryan Davidson each continue to play well. Sheppard had 41 points against the Briar Jumpers while Davidson finished with 19. Davidson led the way with 24 points during North Laurel’s 87-46 win over Whitley County while Sheppard has 19 points and 11 assists. Clay Sizemore finished with 19 points, too. Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated was in attendance during the Whitley County game, doing a feature on Sheppard. 2. Knox Central (9-3, 5-1) The Panthers have responded with three straight wins (Clay County, Lynn Camp and Barbourville) since their loss to Corbin a few weeks ago. Knox Central senior Jevonte Turner recorded his 1,000th career point this past week and continues to lead the Panthers in scoring with a 22.9 scoring average. He also leads the team with 9.2 rebounds per game. 3. South Laurel (11-4, 9-3) Jeff Davis’ Cardinals continue to win. This very well could be Davis’ best coaching job. His Cardinals are allowing only a 13th Region-best 49.1 points per game. South Laurel has won five of its last seven games with the two losses coming against No. 1 ranked North Laurel. 4. Harlan County (13-4, 4-3) The Black Bears were able to snap a three-game losing skid by recording an 83-49 win over Buckhorn on Saturday. Tyler Cole led the way with 24 points while Trent Noah finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. 5. Corbin (8-6, 8-4) Tony Pietrowski’s Redhounds are winners of five straight, and look to be peaking at the right time. Corbin beat both Clay County and Lynn Camp this past week with Hayden Llewellyn continuing to shine. He leads Corbin with a 23.8 scoring average while Dakota Patterson is coming on strong. He’s averaged a double-double this past week. 6. Clay County (9-4, 6-3) The Tigers were able to snap a three-game losing skid by upending Harlan, 75-70, at home on Saturday. Senior Connor Robinson leads the team with a 28.2 scoring average and a 7.7 rebounding average while Connor Farmer is averaging 15.5 points per game and Raven Abner is averaging 14.8 points per game. 7. Harlan (10-3, 8-2) The Green Dragons saw their three-game win streak get snapped on Saturday after falling on the road to Clay County, 75-70. Jordan Akal is averaging 26.6 points per game while Jaedyn Gist continues to average a double-double (14.0, 11.6). 8. Barbourville (7-8, 5-6) The Tigers are 1-5 during their past six games but coach Cody Messer continues to do a fantastic job with his team. Barbourville hung tough before losing to Knox Central, 79-69, on Saturday. Matthew Gray (22.2) scored his 100th point this past week. 9. Lynn Camp (7-6, 4-5) The Wildcats had a chance to move up in the rankings this week but consecutive losses to both Knox Central and Corbin dropped them to the No. 9 spot. Junior Micah Engle continues to play well. He leads the team with a 21.2 scoring average while Gavin Allen is averaging 10.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. 10. Middlesboro (5-19, 4-10) The Yellow Jackets saw their three-game win streak come to an end after falling 53-41 to Harlan on Friday. 11. Bell County (8-9, 3-6) The Bobcats looked like they had turned things around after winning three in a row but dropped a 65-48 decision to South Laurel on Saturday. 12. Pineville (5-6, 2-4) The Mountain Lions haven’t played in a week due to inclement weather. 13. Williamsburg (7-5, 2-5) I like the direction coach Eric Swords has his Yellow Jackets going. They are winners of two straight and are led by Micah Steely, who is averaging 22.2 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game. 14. Jackson County (4-8, 3-4) Mother Nature kept the Generals from playing a game this past week. They are currently riding a two-game losing skid. 15. Whitley County (3-9, 2-8) The Colonels have now lost nine in a row after falling to both North Laurel and Pike Central this past week. 16. Red Bird (0-9, 0-7) The Cardinals are still searching for their first win after falling to Bell County this past week, 70-37.