Les

We’ve got a new No. 1 in the 13th Region after only one week of play. Glenn Gray’s Clay County Tigers take over the top spot, but will be challenged throughout the season by a handful of teams. South Laurel, North Laurel, Knox Central, Harlan County, and Williamsburg are currently the main threats to unseat the Tigers. 1. Clay County (3-0) The Tigers are off and running after picking up impressive wins over both Oneida Baptist (79-57) Corbin (91-74) and Woodford County (65-64) this past week. Connor Robinson continues to show he’s one of the best players in the region while Evan Langdon has established himself as the best big man in the region. 2. South Laurel (3-0) South Laurel Senior Matt Cromer has turned in an impressive week, scoring 87 points in three games while turning in a 30-point, 16-rebound effort during Saturday’s 66-64 overtime win against Tates Creek. Coach Jeff Davis’ squad is better than expected so far and look to be even better by season’s end. 3. North Laurel (2-1) Nate Valentine’s Jaguars are still in the feeling out stage with their new coach. Valentine’s squad has been gritty in its two wins this season against Montwood (Texas) and Harlan County. North Laurel only trailed by eight in the fourth quarter during its loss to Collins, and co tiniest to grow. Freshman Reed Sheppard had 22 points and nine assists during the Jaguars’ 66-63 win over Harlan County while his cousin and fellow freshman Ryan Davidson is averaging close to 17 points and eight boards a game. 4. Knox Central (1-0) The defending 13th Region champions got off to a good start by defeating Jellico, Tenn. on the road, 106-70. 5. Harlan County (1-1) Keep an eye on the Black Bears. They’ve got wins over both Breathitt County (61-53) and Perry Central (83-71) and fought back from a 15-point deficit before falling to North Laurel, 66-63. Taylor Spurlock is averaging 28.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while eighth grader Trent Noah is averaging a double-double, 11.3 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game. 6. Williamsburg (3-0) The Yellow Jackets are living up to their preseason hype. They have wins over Cumberland Home School Athletic Teams (86-33), Barbourville (74-60) and Harlan (88-52). Slaht Hunter picked up from where he left off last season and is averaging 24 points per game so far this season. 7. Corbin (1-1) The Redhounds took one on the chin to open the season, losing to Clay County, 91-74, before picking up a 63-51 win over Montwood (Texas). The win over the Rams gave coach To y Pietrowski his 399th win. Corbin has talent, but it’s gonna take a while for the Redhounds to start clicking. 8. Barbourville (2-1) Cody Messer’s Tigers have gotten off to a good start after picking up wins over both Harlan (66-59) and Bell County (70-52). Barbourville did suffer a 74-60 setback to Williamsburg, but the Yellow Jackets are unbeaten on the season. Matthew Gray (20.5 scoring average) and Shawn Vaughn (15.0) continue to be a solid scoring duo for Barbourville. 9. Middlesboro (1-1) The Yellow Jackets started the season strong with a 78-48 win over Thomas Walker, Va. as Trey Brock scored 24 points while Jabari Kyle added 18. Middlesboro then dropped a 57-50 stunner to district foe Harlan. 10. Bell County (0-1) It’s really hard to gauge just how good the Bobcats are currently with their football players not playing yet due to the football team making a run to the Class 3A State title game. Bell County opened the season at home and dropped a 70-52 decision to Barbourville. 11. Oneida Baptist (1-2) The Mountaineers are much-improved and played Clay County close before losing, 79-57. Elijah Woods currently leads the team in scoring with a 16.3 average. 12. Lynn Camp (3-0) Dinky Phipps’ Wildcats are off and running after picking up wins over Jellico, Tenn. (77-75), Whitley County (60-50) and Sunbright, Tenn. (71-60). 13. Harlan (1-3) I’m really not sure where to rank the Green Dragons after seeing them play without point guard Jordan Akal, who suffered an ankle injury in a season-opening loss to Barbourville. They did manage to hand Middlesboro a 57-50 loss. 14. Whitley County (1-2) After opening the season with a 97-88 win over Mosel, the Colonels have dropped two straight games to Lynn Camp (60-50) and Montgomery County (75-38). 15. Jackson County (1-1) The Generals recovered from their 83-41 season-opening loss to South Laurel by defeating Red Bird, 63-59. 16. Pineville (2-0) The Mountain Lions are off to their best start in a while after defeating both Red Bird (78-59) and Thomas Walker, Va. (78-62). 17. Red Bird (0-3) It’s been a rough start for first-year coach Brad Marsee, but he’ll have his Cardinals ready for each game they play. This team will improve as the season progresses.

Tate is Richie’s son.

Connor is Russ’ son.

The 13th Region is going to be quite interesting this season. Knox Central ended its 40-plus year drought last season and cut down the nets at The Arena, so who will it be this season? Can the Panthers do it again? Or will it be between 49th District powers North Laurel and Clay County? Many are tagging those two as the teams to beat. You also can’t forget about tradition-rich teams South Laurel and Corbin, and always keep an eye on upstart Williamsburg along with Harlan County, Middlesboro and Bell County 1. North Laurel (2018-19 record: 23-12 overall, 11-7 vs. 13th Region opponents) The Jaguars have a new coach in former LCA head coach Nate Valentine. Valentine takes over one of the most talented teams in the mountains with freshman Reed Sheppard and senior Cole Kelley returning. Sharpshooter Isiah Alexander returns as well. Keep an eye on Sheppard’s cousin, 6-3 freshman Ryan Davidson, who is expected to be one of the best players in the region by season’s end. He’s going to contribute right away. Key Players Returning: Reed Sheppard (16.4 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game), Cole Kelley (16.1, 4.2), Isaiah Alexander (12.5, 2.0), Isaiah Elmore (1.7, 1.9) and Nate Bruner (2.1). 2. Clay County (22-7, 10-4) The Tigers haven’t reached the 13th Region Tournament the past two years, but return a roster that’s full of talent, so a third-year absence doesn’t look likely. Junior Connor Robinson returns along with Connor Farmer, Jacob Curry and seniors big man Evan Langdon. Clay County has enough talent to win the region this season. Key Players Returning: Connor Robinson (22.8, 6.7), Jacob Curry (10.3, 2.8), Jakob Begley (2.9, 3.5), Connor Farmer (12.0, 4.0), Evan Langdon (12.5, 10.4), Raven Abner (6.8, 2.9) and Tate Farmer (3.1, 2.1). 3. Knox Central (30-5, 14-2) Gone are four key starters from last season’s 13th Region championship squad, but the cupboard is far from bare. Coach Tony Patterson returns players such as Zach Patterson, Kevionte Turner and Jevonte Turner, who I believe could very well be one of the best secrets in the region. Key Players Returning: Zach Patterson (13.3, 3.5), Jevonte Turner (4.8, 2.6), Kevionte Turner (Injured; Did not play this past season), Isaac Mills (2.1, 2.6) and Andrew Sizemore (2.6, 0.9). 4. South Laurel (28-4, 18-1) The Cardinals missed an excellent opportunity last year to win the 13th Region championship for the first time since the 2015-16. But with that said, South Laurel coach Jeff Davis returns enough talent to make another run at the 13th Region crown. Seniors Matt Cromer and Brett Norvell return to lead the Cardinals. Depth will be key for South Laurel this season. Key Players Returning: Matt Cromer (19.1, 5.1), Alex Hostettler (5.9, 1.4), Brett Norvell (12.6, 4.6), Micah Anders (3.5), Zach Allen (1.3, 0.3) and Weslyn Wright (0.9, 0.6). 5. Williamsburg (16-14, 9-14) Could this be the season Williamsburg gets back to the 13th Region Tournament? The pieces of the puzzle are there with the high-scoring duo of both Slaht Hunter and Caleb Rose returning. Keep an eye on this team, Williamsburg has a chance to make some Josie this season. Key Players Returning: Caleb Rose (19.9, 7.3) and Slaht Hunter (19.5, 6.2), Dalton Ponder (6.7, 3.8), Devonte Powell (4.0, 5.1), Jason Bray (2.8, 1.2), and Mason Manning (0.6, 0.6). 6. Corbin (21-9, 13-7) The Redhounds have been hit hard by graduation the past few years, but that doesn’t mean they’ll not be regional contenders by the end of the season. Matthew Taylor returns to the mix along with Alex Byrley. They’re a lot of unknowns currently with Corbin, but one thing everyone knows by now, never count out a Tony Pietrowski-coached team. Key Players Returning: Matthew Taylor (14.2, No rebounding averages are on Corbin's KHSAA team page), Alex Byrley (8.1), Josh Hibbits (5.7), Cole Hicks (4.6), Grant Morton (1.7), Max Barnett (1.2), Abe Barnes (1.0), Gavin Allen (1.0), and Micah Engle (0.7). 7. Middlesboro (17-14, 12-11) The Yellow Jackets finally put an end to Harlan County’s domination in the 52nd District last season and are looking to repeat as champions. But it’s not going to be easy with six seniors graduating off last season’s squad. Top-notch guard Jabari Kyle returns along with Trey Brock and T.J. Patterson. Key Players Returning: Jabari Kyle (15.1, 3.1), Trey Brock (7.6, 5.0), Jordan Davis (1.5, 0.3), T.J. Patterson (3.1, 2.7), Eric Helton (0.4, 0.4), Ethan Barton (0.8, 0.1), and Bryson Barnard (0.9, 0.1). 8. Harlan County (19-8, 8-6) The Black Bears could be ranked a tad bit too low, but right now I’ve got them at the eight-spot. It’s gonna be interesting to see what Taylor Spurlock and company can do. Don’t be surprised to see Mike Jones’ squad make a lot of noise this season. Key Players Returning: Taylor Spurlock (11.1, 5.0), Tyler Cole (8.4, 3.7), James Smith (6.5, 2.2), Jacob Wilson (5.5, 3.2), Josh Turner (1.6, 2.3), and Jackson Huff (4.2, 1.8). 9. Bell County (18-12, 11-11) Former North Laurel coach Brad Sizemore takes over the the Bobcats’ new coach, and it’s not going to take him long to turn them into a regional contender. The Bobcats could start off a tad bit slow due to most of their players still playing football, but Sizemore will have them clicking on all cylinders by the time 52nd District tourney play begins. Key Players Returning: London Stephney (12.8, 3.6); Cameron Burnett (5.3, 3.9); Dalton Stepp (2.1), and Dawson Woolum (2.1) 10. Harlan (20-13, 11-12) The Green Dragons reached the 13th Region Tournament for the second straight season, but boy, they’ve taken a hit thanks to graduation. Harlan will have to replace three starters and six seniors off last season’s 52nd District runner-up squad. But with that said, Harlan does return one of the best players in Jordan Akal. Key Players Returning: Jordan Akal (17.2, 3.9), Jon Eldridge (9.6, 8.4), Jaedyn Gist (1.3, 2.0), Kaleb McLendon (1.8,1.2), Charles Morton (0.7, 0.1), and Johann Gist (0.6, 1.4). The Best of the Rest 11. Barbourville (21-10, 16-7) Shawn Vaughn and his team-best 12.2 scoring average returns as the Tigers look to unseat Knox Central as the best team in the 51st District. 12. Oneida Baptist (9-16, 4-10) A lot of new faces will be seen on the court this season for coach Kenneth Woods’ Mountaineers. Oneida Baptist is my wild card team that could surprise, especially with senior leading scorers Sochi Onouha (19.1 scoring average) and Elijah Woods (17.2)returning. 13. Whitley County (17-14, 4-11) The Colonels are young, but talented this season. It’s going to be interesting to see what coach Jerry Overbey does with his team this season after graduating five seniors from last year’s 17-win squad. Returning will be junior Hagan Hart along with a heavy dose of sophomores and freshmen — Peyton Anderson, Trevor Downs, Gray Estes, Jack Estes, Garrett McNealy, Byron Lawson, Seth Mills, Brayden Mahan, Ethan Keene, and Jamie Fuson. 14. Jackson County (8-22, 2-16) Greg Parret’s Generals surprises last season and reached the 13th Region Tournament. Jackson County has hopes of doing the same thing this season with senior Logan Rose (16.3) returning. 15. Lynn Camp (15-14, 10-8) Coach Dinky Phipps’ Wildcats most some key players from last season’s squad, but still returns talented players such as Max Burd (13.1) and Maison Prater (13.1). 16. Red Bird (9-21, 4-27) First-year coach Brad Marsee is ready to lead the Cardinals to success this season. The Cardinals return nine seniors including Deagon Finley (14.6) and Austin Napier (12.5). 17. Pineville (10-19, 3-16) The Mountain Lions strugglers throughout last season, but have high hopes of being much-improved under first-year coach Brady Levy. Pineville has eight seniors on its roster, including Dalton Mason (10.1) and Bell County transfer Sean Phipps (6.8). 13th Region Boys Player Rankings Players 1. Matt Cromer, South Laurel, Sr., G, 6-2 One of the best shooters in the region and hits the boards hard, too. 2. Connor Robinson, Clay County, Jr., G, 6-3 Can light up the scoreboard and is ready to lead the Tigers to Rupp Arena. 3. Reed Sheppard, North Laurel, Fr., G, 6-1 Could turn out to be the best player in the region by season’s end. Can score with the best of them, but also is one of, if not, the best defender in the region. 4. Cole Kelley, North Laurel, Sr., G, 6-4 Can score from any where on the floor, and can also hit the boards as well. 5. Jordan Akal, Harlan, Soph., G, 6-0 One of the most-athletic players in the region. 6. Slaht Hunter, Williamsburg, Sr., G, 6-0 A solid scorer and rebounder for the Yellow Jackets. 7. Jabari Kyle, Middlesboro, Sr., G, 6-0 Top-notch guard that can score with the best of them. 8. Caleb Rose, Williamsburg, Sr., F, 6-1 One of the most underrated players in the region. 9. Zach Patterson, Knox Central, Sr., G/F, 6-3 Versatile player that’s ready to guide the Panthers to another deep postseason run. 10. London Stephney, Bell County, Sr., G, 5-10 Remains in football mode currently, but will soon be ready to guide the Bobcats on the basketball court.

I 110 percent agree. A couple of years ago when I put out the rankings, I’d say 30 percent of the coaches didn’t participate.

I had a great amount of coaches respond. So there you go.

Corbin was without its top two defensive players, which played a huge role in the game being close. Ethan Wine led the state in sacks last year and was out along with their second best defensive player.

Just reminder, before I write this preview each season, each coach has the chance to turn in their respective votes for the Top 10 teams and Top 10 players in the 12th Region. Once I receive all of the votes, I compile them and then you get the final really. Had a good turnout of votes this past year.

South Laurel will be a state contender. With the Big Three returning along with who has moved in, the Lady Cardinals are an easy top 5 to top 10 team now.

Brad Marsee is the new coach.

1. South Laurel (24-2 overall, 15-0 vs. 13th Region competition) The Cardinals are winners of eight in a row and 23 of their last 24 games. Coach Jeff Davis has dine a fantastic job with this year’s team, and has South Laurel in a fine position to capture another 13th Region championship. Players such as JJ Ramey, Matt Cromer and Brett Norvell have been solid contributors the entire season, but Micah Anders, Alex Hostettler, Landon Wombles and Peyton Parker have been stepping up as well. 2. Knox Central (23-4, 8-2) Just a few weeks ago, many were ready to write off the Panthers. Knox Central has now won six games in a row, and has scored at least 90 points or more during its past three games. The Panthers are averaging 86.1 points per game during their win streak, and will look to extend it this week against some tough competition. Tony Patterson’s squad will host Clay County, Knott Central and North Laurel to finish regular season play. 3. North Laurel (18-9, 6-4) The Jaguars are another team that has been rolling along. Yes, they had a minor setback after their loss to crosstown rival South Laurel last week, but responded with wins over both Garrard County and Corbin. Eighth grader Reed Sheppard continues to shine for the Jaguars. He scored 29 points, grabbed nine rebounds while dishing out seven assists and finishing with four steals during North Laurel’s win over Corbin this past week. The scary thing is Sheppard is only 14-years old, and is already one of the best players in the region. 4. Harlan County (18-6, 8-4) The Black Bears saw their seven-game win streak come to an end this week after dropping a surprising 77-51 loss on the road to Barbourville. Granted, Taylor Spurlock didn’t play, and that’ s huge Harlan County. Look for Mike Jones’ squad to get back on track this week with games against Cordia and Whitley County. 5. Clay County (20-6, 8-3) When the Tigers lose, they lose, but with that said, it looks like they’re heading into the right direction despite dropping their third 30-point plus loss in as many weeks. Clay County paid top-ranked Scott County a visit this past week, and lost, 106-71. The Tigers responded with an 82-42 win over Red Bird. 6. Corbin (17-7, 11-5) The Redhounds can’t seem to get much going on eithet end of the court since the new year. Corbin is 6-6 since Jan. 1, but he a chance to beat North Laurel this past week, but fell on the road by 10 points. Tony Pietrowski’s squad needs to get back on track this week, and should, with games against Pulaski County and Bluegrass United coming up. 7. Barbourville (18-8, 14-5) The Tigers blasted Harlan County last week by 26 points. Cody Messer continues to do a great job, and will look for his troops to grab a couple of wins this week before postseason play begins. If Barbourville is gonna get some wins this week, the Panthers will have to do it on the road against Williamsburg and McCreary Central.” 8. Harlan (17-10, 8-9) The Green Dragons are 4-4 during their past eight games, and have three tough games this week against the likes of North Laurel, Lynn Camp, and Clay County. 9. Middlesboro (14–2, 9–9) The Yellow Jackets had a chance to move up in the rankings, but fell to Harlan by six points. Lewis Morris’ squad has the talent to make a run at the 52nd District crown, but they’ll have to improve some to do so. 10. Williamsburg (15-12, 8-12) I like this team a lot. The Yellow Jackets posses one of the best scoring duos in the region with both Caleb Rose and Slaht Hunter putting on a show. I don’t know if Williamsburg will advance to the 13th Region Tournament, but whoever the Yellow Jackets play in the 50th District Tournament is gonna have their hands full. 11. Bell County (16-10, 9-9) The Bobcats are beginning to heat up. They’ve now won three games in a row, and are hoping to be peaking going into the 52nd districy Tournament. 12. Lynn Camp (14-12, 9-6) The Wildcats have had a hard time to get any consistency going. They are 7-6 since Christ Break and will try to enter the 51st District with some confidence, but to do so they must beat Harlan and Middlesboro. 13. Whitley County (14-13, 3-10) It looks as if the Colonels will be limping into postseason play. They are 2-5 during their last seven games, and can’t seem to catch a break. Whitley County is 1-4 during its last four games, and that includes the losses to regional foes Clay County, Williamsburg and Corbin. 14. Pineville (9-16, 2-13) The Mountain Lions have a long way to go, but I’m impressed with the way they have never thrown in the towel. They continue to work hard and improve, and I really believe they’re gonna be a hard team to beat in the near future. 15. Oneida Baptist (6-15, 4-9) The Mountaineers just can’t seem to gain any traction right now. Oneida Baptist still has hopes of reaching the region tourney. They have defeated the Jackson County Generals twice this season and that’s who they will be facing next week in the 49th District Tournament. 16. Red Bird (8-17, 4-13) The Cardinals got off to a good start, but just couldn’t get a signature win. But with that said, there is a lot of games left for Red Bird to get the big win. 17. Jackson County (7-19, 1-14) The Generals only have one 13th Region win this season. Now they’re gonna switch their focus and see what Oneida Baptist does down the stretch. The two teams will be facing off against each other in a couple of weeks in an elimination game during semifinal play of the 49th District Tournament.

1. South Laurel (22-2 overall, 14-0 overall) The Cardinals continue roll. South Laurel solidified its No. 1 ranking in the 13th Region by upending rival North Laurel on the road Friday, 59-43. Jeff Davis’ squad continues to play solid defense and has now won six games in a row and 22 of its last 23 games. 2. North Laurel (16-9, 5-4) The Jaguars had a setback, losing to rival South Laurel last week, 59-43, but they are still playing pretty good basketball. Brad Sizemore’s squad will try to get back on track this week with games against Garrard County and Corbin. 3. Knox Central (20-4, 6-2) The Panthers are winners of three straight after upending Bryan Station at home Saturday. Knox Central suffered a few bumps in the road a few weeks ago, but seem to have recovered. I’ve said this numerous times, this team is talented enough to win the 13th Region championship. 4. Harlan County (18-5, 8-3) The Black Bears are winners of seven straight, and I’m telling you folks, this team is legit. Coach Michael Jones has done a fantastic job with his team, and has Harlan County ready to make a run. Harlan County could very well end the regular season with an 11-game win streak. The Black Bears’ strength of schedule is a concern. 5. Clay County (18-5, 7-3) The Tigers suffered another 30-point loss this past week, which mark the second time they’ve lost by 30 points or more. They did respond after the 89-55 loss to Pikeville with a 72-59 victory over Johnson Central. 6. Corbin (16-6, 10-4) The Redhounds are a hard team to figure out. They’ve recorded some nice wins the past few weeks (beat both Knox Central and Clay County), but struggled to beat Whitley County, and followed Friday’s 70-66 win over the Colonels with a 70-51 road loss to Garrard County, who is only 9-12. 7. Middlesboro (12-10, 7-7) The Yellow Jackets snapped a four-game win streak by defeating Bell County, 44-31, this past week. Coach Louis Morris continues to have his team heading into the right direction. 8. Barbourville (15-7, 11-4) The Tigers are winners of three straight, which include wins over Bell County and Hazard. Coach Cody Messer’s team is a dangerous team that could surprise in a couple of weeks. 9. Harlan (15-9, 7-8) The Green Dragons looked as if they were going to pull off a win over Harlan County last week, but couldn’t hold on for the win. Could they still win the district title? I believe so. 10. Williamsburg (13-11, 7–11) The Yellow Jackets remain a team to keep an eye on. The duo of Caleb Rose and Slaht Hunter is one of the best in the 13th Region. 11. Bell County (13-10, 7-9) The Bobcats continue to be inconsistent, but has the talent to make noise once postseason play begins. 12. Whitley County (13-11, 2-9) The Colonels lost a heartbreaker of Friday when they dropped a 79-66 overtime decision to Corbin. It was a game that looked as if Whitley County has wrapped up. But the Colonels missed eight of nine from the free-throw line during a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter which led to their demise. 13. Lynn Camp (12-10, 8-4) The Wildcats are another team that is hard for me to figure out. They’ve had some nice wins over teams such as Whitley County and Barbourville, but then fall to McCreary Central last week at home by 34 points. They did respond with an impressive 82-56 win over Jellico, Tenn. on Saturday. 14. OBI (5-13, 4-7) The Mountaineers recently picked up a win over Jackson County to move theme selves out of the No. 17 spot. They also recorded an 81-77 win over Red Bird this past week. 15. Pineville (8-15, 2-12) The Mountaineers are winners of two of their last four games including a 77-74 win over Oneida Baptist. 16. Red Bird (7-14, 4-10) Just when it looked as if the Cardinals might have turned the corner, they’ve went and dropped seven games in a row. 17. Jackson County (6-18, 1-13) The Generals are 2-10 during their last 12 games which includes losses to Pineville, Red Bird and Oneida Baptist.

1. South Laurel (21-2 overall, 13-0 vs. 13th Region opponents) The Cardinals are winners of five straight, and remain the only team in the 13th Region to be unbeaten against regional teams. South Laurel picked up a big 21-point win at home against Corbin before surviving a scare at home against Middlesboro before winning, 70-62. The trio of JJ Ramey, Matt Cromer and Brett Norvell have been hard to contain as of late while the play of Matthew Dalton, Micah Anders and Alex Hostettler has been key to the Cardinals’ success, too. 2. Corbin (14-5, 9-4) The power ratings might not have the Redhounds ranked this high, but the they don’t include heart and pride in their respective rating systems. Coach Tony Pietrowski’s Redhounds continue to surprise even though they dropped a 60-39 road loss to South Laure this past week. Corbin did manage to respond in a big way by picking up a 70-69 road win over Knox Central following the loss to the Cardinals. 3. Knox Central (18-4, 5-2) The Panthers suffered their first two-game losing skid of the season when they dropped a 70-69 decision to Corbin at home this past week. Knox Central continues to play well, and has the talent to win the 13th Region championship, but the Panthers have got to win games against good teams like Corbin, especially when they’re at home. 4. North Laurel (14-8, 5-3) The Jaguars are 6-1 during their past seven games which include wins over Clay County, Middlesboro, Perry Central and Bardstown. North Laurel handed Clay County it’s worst loss since 2004 when the Jaguars took advantage of two Tigers starters being out and won, 97-67. Brad Sizemore’s squad looks to be peaking at the right time behind the play of a solid nucleus of players. Cole Kelley, Reed Sheppard, Landon Young, Adam Sizemore and Isaiah Alexander are really playing well. 5. Harlan County (16-5, 6-3) The Black Bears continue to win, and now possess a five-game win streak going into the last few weeks of the season. Harlan County got a big win over Bell County a few weeks ago, and can lock up the district’s top seed with a win over Middlesboro on Tuesday. 6. Clay County (17-4, 7-3) The Tigers were able to snap a four-game losing skid by defeating Whitley County last week on the road. The key to Clay County’s success is to get healthy before postseason play begins. The Tigers suffered a 97-67 setback to North Laurel last week, and will try to build some momentum the next few weeks before postseason play tips-off. 7. Middlesboro (11-9, 6-6) The Yellow Jackets are riding a three-game losing skid, but I’m telling you now, this team is dangerous. Jabari Kyle continues to show he’s one of, if not the best, point guard in the region. Middlesboro put a scare into both North Laurel and South Laurel before falling to both teams. 8. Bell County (12-8, 7-7) The Bobcats now have a four-game win streak with three of the wins coming against Class A teams. Bell County’s biggest win of the season came on the road against Corbin, but the Bobcats have some big games coming up that could move them up in the rankings if they come out on top. 9. Barbourville (12-6, 10-3) The Tigers have lost three of their past four games, but did manage to get a big win over Harlan, and could make some big noise this week if they can get wins over teams such as Knox Central, Bell County and Hazard. 10. Harlan (15-8, 7-7) The Green Dragons are winners of two straight while Killian Ledford scored 38 points during Harlan’s win over Cordia this past week. The Green Dragons’ 107 points against Cordia is the most they’ve scored in a game in more than 20 years. 11. Whitley County (13-10, 2-8) The Colonels are talented, but continue to remain too inconsistent to be ranked in the top 10. 12. Lynn Camp (10-9, 7-4) The Wildcats have a shot at moving back into the top 10, but suffered a loss at home to Bell County this past week. 13. Williamsburg (12-10, 7-10) The Yellow Jackets are another team that has enough talent to surprise, but with that said, they struggle with consistency as well. 14. Red Bird (7-10, 4-8) The Cardinals got a big win over Jackson County, but dropped three straight after, including a slim 66-65 loss to Williamsburg at home. 15. Pineville (7-15, 1-12) I really like the coaching job coach James David Strange is doing at Pineville. The Mountain Lions might be 1-5 during their last six games, but continue to get better. 16. Jackson County (5-16, 1-12) The Generals dropped a 75-58 decision at home to Red Bird, and will need to continue to improve if they want to make some noise come postseason time. 17. Oneida Baptist (3-12, 2-6) The Mountaineers started the season with a 2-1 mark, but are 1-11 since.

1. Knox Central (17-3 overall, 5-1 vs. 13th Region opponents) The Panthers once again find themselves atop the 13th Region Rankings after reaching the 2A Classic title game before falling to John Hardin, 83-60. Knox Central continues to impress and has an important game at home against or in Thursday before hosting Iroquois on Saturday. 2. South Laurel (18-2, 10-0) The Cardinals are the only team that hasn’t lost to a Region team yet, and their two losses have come against teams ranked in the Top 25. They’re coming off a 25-point road win over Whitley County and we’re without both JJ Ramey and Alex Hostettler. South Laurel has a big game scheduled with Corbin Tuesday at home before going up against Williamsburg and Middlesboro later this week. 3. Corbin (13-4, 6-3) Don’t look now, but the Redhounds are the hottest team in the region. Corbin is riding a six-game win streak after beating the likes of Clay County and Central Hardin. They could move up to the No. 1 spot of they can beat both South Laurel and Knox Central on the road this week. 4. Clay County (16-3, 6-2) The Tigers are losers of three in a row and haven’t played in a week, which is a good thing. The seven-day lay-off allowed Clay County’s players to heal up and get ready for Tuesday’s road contest against North Laurel. 5. Harlan County (15-5, 5-3) The Black Bears are winners of four straight, but they’ve not played the hardest of schedules. Things do get a bit tougher with matchups against Middlesboro, Harlan and Barbourville coming up. 6. Bell County (9-8, 4-7) The Bobcats have been a tad-but inconsistent by going 3-2 during their past five games. The losses have come against Harlan County and Knox Central, and now they’ll switch focus with games against Red Bird and Oneida Baptist on the horizon. 7. North Laurel (13-8, 4-3) The Jaguars are a tough team to gauge at times, but they have won five of their last six games, which includes their 67-55 win over Middlesboro. They have a shot at moving up in the rankings if they can get past Clay County Tuesday at home. 8. Middlesboro (11-7, 6-5) The Yellow Jackets captures the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Championship last week, but ran into a much-improved North Laurel team on Friday before losing on the road, 67-55. Middlesboro is deep and talented and is another Class A team that can make a deep run come postseason time. 9. Barbourville (12-5, 10-3) The Tigers avenged an earlier loss to Harlan and knocked the Green Dragons off to improve to 2– against their Class A counterparts this season. Barbourville remains as a threat to make a deep postseason run. 10. Harlan (13-8, 6-7) The Green Dragons looked to have had the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Championship wrapped up last week against Middlesboro, but instead, lost in heartbreaking style. Harlan then dropped a 63-55 road decision to Barbourville, a team they had beaten in the All ‘A Classic Tournament just a few days before. 11. Whitley County (12-9, 1-7) The Colonels can’t seem to get over the jump. Their 1-7 record against 13th Region teams keeps them out of the Top 10 this week. 12. Williamsburg (10-8, 6-8) The Yellow Jackets are another inconsistent team that has the talent to make a run this postseason. 13. Lynn Camp (10-8, 7-3) The Wildcats don’t have a lot of depth, but they sure do make things interesting when they play. 14. Red Bird (7-7, 4-5) The Cardinals improved to 2-0 on the season against Jackson County after upending the Generals this past week, 75-58. 15. Pineville (7-13, 1-11) The Mountain Lions are slowly continuing to improve as the season progresses. 16. Jackson County (4-16, 1-12) The Generals just can’t seem to get anything going. They fell to 0-2 on the season against Red Bird after falling, 75-58, to the Cardinals this past week. 17. Oneida Baptist (3-9, 2-5) The Mountaineers are 1-8 since starting the season with a 2–1 mark.

1. Knox Central (15-2 overall vs. 13th Region opponents) The Panthers continue to roll, capturing the Class 2A, Section 4 championship on Sunday with a 67-59 win over Morgan County. Knox Central now possesses a five-game win streak and will face-off against Webster County Friday during first round action of the Class 2A State Tournament. 2. South Laurel (16-2, 8-0) The Cardinals suffered a scare when star JJ Ramey went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter of Saturday’s loss to Frankfort. A time table hasn’t been set for his return, as the Cardinals prepare for three games this week. 3. Clay County (16-2, 6-2) The Tigers have dropped two straight after beginning the season with 16 wins. They’re having to deal with some injuries to key players, but will be a tough team to beat once they get healthy. 4. Harlan County (13-5, 4-3) The Black Bears are quietly getting the job done and have won two games in a row after falling to No. ranked South Laurel twice in one week. 5. Corbin (10-4, 6-3) Just when I thought the Redhounds were done and out after their 66-42 home loss to Bell County, they’ve roared back with three consecutive wins against the likes of Central Hardin, Whitley County and Clay County. 6. Bell County (8-7, 4-6) The Bobcats are a hard team to read, but are 3-1 during their past four games, which includes wins over Corbin and Middlesboro. This team has the talent to surprise this season. 7. North Laurel (12-7, 3-3) The Jaguars have been inconsistent at times, but they have now won four in a row after recording wins over Bardstown, Rockcastle County, Floyd Central and Perry Central. 8. Middlesboro (9-6, 4-4) The Yellow Jackets are quietly beginning to gel. Coach Lewis Morris’ squad could very well be the favorite to win the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament after upending Red Bird on Saturday. 9. Harlan (12-6, 5-5) The Green Dragons are coming on strong. They’ve won eight of their last nine games, including a 42-40 decision over Barbourville during first round action of this past weekend’s 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament. 10. Whitley County (11-8, 1-6) The Colonels has a huge 75-73 comeback win over Jackson County, thanks to the effort of Dakota Johnson and Hunter Hollingsworth. The win over the Generals allowed Jerry Overbey’s squad to surpass last season’s total of 10 wins. 11. Barbourville (11-5, 9-3) The Tigers suffered a tough setback during first round action of this past weekend’s 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament. They dropped a 42-40 decision to Harlan and have now lost consecutive games for the first time this season. 12. Williamsburg (9-7, 5-7) The Yellow Jackets are a dangerous team, but you just don’t know which team is going to show up. They currently have a three-game win streak and will look to move it to a season-best four games tonight against Harlan during semifinal action of the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament. 13. Lynn Camp (10-7, 7-2) The Wildcats are winners of three of their last four games, and have a big game tonight against Middlesboro. Lynn Camp will try to keep its hopes of repeating as 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys champions, but must get past the Yellow Jackets first. 14. Jackson County (4-13, 1-9) The Generals are losers of five straight, but continue to show flashes of just how good they can be. They saw a 12-point fourth quarter lead turn into a 75-73 loss to Whitley County last week. 15. Red Bird (6-7, 3-5) The Cardinals got off to a hot start, but have now lost three in a row, which includes an 86-55 loss to Middlesboro during first round action of this past weekend’s 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament. 16. Oneida Baptist (2-8, 2-5) The Mountaineers are losers of seven straight after falling to Williamsburg during first round action of this past weekend’s 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament. 17. Pineville (6-12, 1-10) The Mountain Lions longest win streak of the season is two games and that took place back in early December. Pineville is improving, but coach James David Strange’s Team has a long way to go.

1. Knox Central (13-2 overall, 4-1 vs. 13th Region competition) The Panthers are beginning to hit on all cylinders, but coach Tony Patterson believes there is room for improvement. Knox Central managed to capture the 13th Region Class 2A Tournament championship this past week by defeating both Jackson County and Bell County. The Panthers will now advance to the Class 2A Section 4 championship while also earning an automatic bid into the Class 2A State Tournament in two weeks. 2. Clay County (16-0, 6-0) The Tigers are one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the 13th Region after upending 49th District rival North Laurel this past week, 76-64. Clay County has a tough stretch coming up with a road game against Corbin before hosting South Laurel on Thursday. If the Tigers win both of those games, they could very well be the team to beat in the 13th Region. 3. South Laurel (14-1, 6-0) The Cardinals now have a 14-game win streak after picking up some big wins this past week which included defeating Williamsburg and Harlan County this past week. South Laurel defeated Harlan County for the second time this season on Saturday by handing the Black Bears a 64-52 loss. The Cardinals will have a big test Thursday against Clay County. A win on the road against the Tigers would be huge for South Laurel. 4. Harlan County (11-5, 4-3) The Black Bears have a solid team that in any given night can beat anyone in the region. Harlan County dropped a 64-52 decision to South Laurel this past week, but don’t count Michael Jones’ team out just yet. Jones’ squad is continuing to improve, and could make some noise once postseason play begins. 5. Bell County (7-7, 3-6) The Bobcats had a disappointing loss to Knox Central in the 13th Region Class 2A Boys Tournament finals, but did manage to pick up a big road win against Corbin during the first round of the tournament. Bell County cruised past Corbin, 66-42, while handing the Redhounds their first consecutive losses at home since 2014. 6. Corbin (8-4, 4-3) Just when you thought you could count out the defending 13th Region champions, they respond with a huge win. After falling to Bell County this past week at home, 66-42, the Redhounds responded with a 61-54 win over Central Hardin in Saturday’s Raymond Reed Classic. Corbin has been struggling, but maybe the win over Central Hardin is a sign of things to come. The Redhounds have a game today against Whitley County at home before they’ll host Clay County on Tuesday. 7. North Laurel (9-7, 3-3) The Jaguars dropped a 76-64 decision to Clay County this past week, but responded with an 89-78 victory over Bardstown during Saturday’s Raymond Reed Classic. North Laurel is talented, and continues to improve. The Jaguars will be a tough out once postseason play begins. 8. Barbourville (10-3, 8-1) The Tigers have continued to play well and have two jet games coming up this week before participating in first round action Saturday in the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament. Cody Messer’s squad has the talent to make a lot of noise this season, but first things first, the Tigers need to beat Pineville and Lynn Camp this week. 9. Harlan (10-5, 3-4) The Green Dragons has quietly put together a six-game win streak, and is one of the favorites to cut the nets down during the upcoming 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Boys Tournament. Harlan has two big tests coming up today and Tuesday before Saturday’s tournament matchup with Barbourville. The Green Dragons play South Laurel today and Whitley County Tuesday. Don’t be surprised if they win one of those games. 10. Whitley County (10-6, 0-4) The Colonels are off to one of their better starts, but still remain winless against regional opponents. They get a chance to put an end to that today on the road against Corbin. 11. Middlesboro (8-5, 3-3) I still believe Middlesboro is going to surprise someone in the near future. The Yellow Jackets are dangerous. 12. Lynn Camp (8-6, 5-1) Dinky Phipps’ squad is talented, but has struggled at times, too. There is still a lot of season left for Lynn Camp to improve. 13. Williamsburg (7-7, 4-7) The Yellow Jackets have a lot of talent, but have been inconsistent so far this season. 14. Pineville (6-19, 1-8) The Mountain Lions are improving with each game they play. They have some key district games coming up and could surprise. 15. Red Bird (5-6, 3-4) The Cardinals are losers of three straight after falling to Clay County, 76-56, this past week. 16. Jackson County (4-11, 1-8) I thought the Generals had improved, but they struggeled during their loss to Knox Central during first round action of the 13th Region Class 2A Boys Tournament t this past week. 17. Oneida Baptist (2-6, 2-4) The Mountaineers have been off since December 17, so hopefully they’ll be in sync when they play Tennessee’s White Academy on Tuesday.

1. South Laurel (12-1 overall, 4-0 vs. 13th Region opposition) The Cardinals are winners of 12 straight after posting a 3-0 record in the Legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Challenge. They were able to capture two Tournament titles during Christmas Break, and will face-off against Harlan County for the second time this season on Saturday during the Raymond Reed Classic. 2. Clay County (14-0, 4-0) The Tigers are rolling, and look quite impressive. Glenn Gray’s squad hasn’t lost yet this season, and added another tournament championship after winning the Cumberland Falls Invitational Tournament this past week by defeating Corbin in the finals, 70-59. Clay County is for real folks, and will get another chance at showing just how good it is on Thursday with a home game against North Laurel. 3. Knox Central (10-2, 2-1) The Panthers continue to look impressive after posting a 7-1 mark since their loss to Clay County in early December. Tony Patterson’s squad takes care of business each game out, and has been doing it in impressive fashion. Knox Central has a solid group of players that is talented enough to make another run at the 13th Region title. If people believe the region is only a two team race between South Laurel and Clay County, they’re in for a rude awakening. 4. Harlan County (11-4, 4-2) The Black Bears are another team that has been quietly putting together a solid season. Harlan County posted a combined 4-2 mark during the two tournaments it participated in over the holidays, including an impressive run in South Laurel’s legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Challenge. Michael Jones’ squad reaches the finals of the tournament before falling to South Laurel in the finals, 52-45. The game was close throughout, and the Black Bears showed they have enough talent to win the 13th Region championship. 5. North Laurel (8-6, 3-2) The Jaguars remain in the top five, but barely. Coach Brad Sizemore’s squad has been struggling as of late, going 3-6 over its past nine games after starting the season with five straight wins. North Laurel has the talent to surprise this season, but needs to continue to improve in some spots. Eighth grader Reed Sheppard continues to impress along with post player Landon Young. 6. Corbin (7-3, 4-2) Injuries haven’t slowed down the Redhounds, who advanced to the finals of the Cumberland Falls Invitational before falling to Clay County, 70-59. Corbin will host its second tournament during the past two weeks beginning today. The Redhounds will host the 13th Region Class 2A Tournament with hopes of brining a region championship home. Tony Pietrowski’s squad will open tournament play against Bell County, a team Corbin defeated last week, 64-49. If the Redhounds get past the Bobcats, they’ll face-off against the winner of Jackson County and Knox Central in the title game. 7. Bell County (6-6, 2-5) The Bobcats can’t seem to find much consistency, but remain at the No. 7 spot. Bell County posted a 2–1 record in last week’s Cumberland Falls Invitational Tournament with hopes of having an even better effort in this week’s 13th Region Class 2A Tournament. The big concern to me is The Bobcats’ 2-5 mark against regional opponents. 8. Barbourville (10-3, 8-1) The Tigers turned in solid play over Christmas break by posting a 3-0 record in last week’s Pineville Mountain Classic Barbourville had two key wins against teams (Pineville and Williamsburg) they could be facing in next week’s 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament. The Tigers will have two key district games this week against Pineville and Lynn Camp. 9. Harlan (10-5, 3-4) The Green Dragons have turned in two consecutive impressive showings in separate holiday tournaments during Christmas Break. They’ve won six games in a row, and are considered by many as the front-runners in next week’s 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament. An interesting tidbit is who Harlan will open up against in the first round of the tournament — Barbourville. If the Green Dragons aren’t the team to beat, the Tigers are. 10. Middlesboro (8-4, 3-3) The Yellow Jackets are coming on strong after getting off to a somewhat slow start. Middlesboro posted a 2– record in last week’s Gateway Holiday Classic with its lone loss coming to Montgomery County. 11. Williamsburg (6-6, 4-6) The Yellow Jackets remain a dangerous team, but can’t seem to get any consistency going so far. 12. Lynn Camp (7-2, 4-1) The Wildcats continue to surprise and have three keys 51st District games coming up against Barbourville, Knox Central and Pineville. 13. Whitley County (9-6, 0-4) The Colonels are looking good, and seem to be improving each game, but an 0-4 mark against regional opponents keep me from moving them up any higher. 14. Red Bird (5-4, 3-3) The Cardinals were winners of three straight before falling to Barbourville on Dec. 14. Red Bird will try to get back in track today at home against Buckhorn after taking more than two weeks off due to Christmas Break. 15. Pineville (5-9, 1-7) The Mountain Lions recorded a big win over Jackson County, and continue to improve. 16. Jackson County (4-10, 1-7) The Generals aren’t winning, but they are improved. They’ve played some of the better teams in the region close, and recorded a nice win over Williamsburg. 17. Oneida Baptist (2-6, 2-4) The Mountaineers so own wins over both Pineville and Jackson County, but they’ve lost four in a row since those respective victories.

1. South Laurel (9-1 overall, 3-0 vs. 13th Region opponents) The Cardinals were impressive during their stay in the Simon Kenton Invitational Tournament. They recorded wins over Dixie Heights and Scott before beating previously unbeaten Simon Kenton in the finals, 80-67. Senior JJ Ramey had 33 points in the title game, and coach Jeff Davis is also getting solid play out of Matt Cromer, Brett Norvell, Alex Hostettler, Matt Dalton and Landon Wombles while the bench continues to come along. 2. Clay County (11-0, 3-0) Clay County defeated Pulaski County in the semifinals and Southwestern in the finals of the M&W Shootout to pick up the championship win. Glenn Gray’s squad will have a shot at the Cumberland Falls Invitational Tournament championship this upcoming week, but they’ll have to beat some very good teams to do so. 3. Knox Central (8-1, 2-1) Knox Central has been rolling, outscoring teams by double digits during their five-game win streak. Tony Patterson’s squad has defeated Harlan, Ashland, Belfry and Cordia during the run along with a 77-74 victory over Georgia’s Campbell (Smyrna) High School. 4. North Laurel (7-4, 3-2) The Jaguars snapped a four-game losing skid by defeating both Paris and Harlan County to capture the Smoky Mountain Classic Championship. The two teams could very well meet again in a couple of days when both teams participate in South Laurel’s Legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Classic. 5. Harlan County (9-3, 4-1) The Black Bears saw their seven-game win streak come to an end after falling 64-62 to North Laurel in the finals of the Smoky Mountain Classic title game. 6. Corbin (5-2, 3-1) Tony Pietrowski’s squad has a chance to move up in the rankings this upcoming week if they can capture the Cumberland Falls Invitational Tournament championship. To win the title, the Redhounds could very well have to beat regional foes Bell County and Clay County during the process. 7. Barbourville (7-3, 5-1) Cody Messer’s squad could be challenged this week during Pineville’s Pine Mountain Classic with games against Williamsburg and Pineville. The Tigers already own a 66-44 win over the Yellow Jackets, but haven’t played the Mountain Lions yet. 8. Williamsburg (5-4, 3-4) I believe The Yellow Jackets’ 72-66 loss to Corbin actually jumpstarted their season. Since the six-point defeat, Williamsburg has won three in a row, which includes wins over Oneida Baptist, Claiborne, Tenn. and Bell County. 9. Bell County (4-5, 2-4) The Bobcats defeated North Laurel earlier in the week with a 62-58 win at The Jungle, but dropped a double digit loss to Williamsburg later in the week. This team is good enough to beat almost anyone in the region, but if Bell County isn’t on top of its game, it it could very well lose to most teams in the region, too. 10. Middlesboro (6-3, 3-3) Middlesboro has won six of its last seven games, which includes wins over Lynn Camp (59-3-), Oneida Baptist (73-52), and Leslie County (69-41). 11. Harlan (7-5, 3-4) The Green Dragons are winners of three straight after winning the Sayre School-Jim Lankster Classic. Harlan recorded wins over Sayre, Model and Belfry. 12. Lynn Camp (7-2, 4-1) The Wildcats are also winners of three straight after defeating the likes of Oneida Baptist, Whitley County and Knoxville Catholic, Tenn. 13. Whitley County (7-5, 0-4) The Colonels saw their three-game win streak get snapped in the finals of the Barren Hoops Classic after falling to Clay County, Tenn., 78-66. Whitley County has been improving as of late and will look to make noise in this week’s Oneida Christmas Classic. 14. Red Bird (5-4, 3-3) The Cardinals haven’t played in over a week, but saw their three-game win streak come to an end after falling to Barbourville, 61-38, on Dec. 14. 15. Oneida Baptist (2-6, 2-4) The Mountaineers are are losers of four straight with hopes of getting on track soon. 16. Jackson County (3-8, 0-5) The Generals are improving, but haven’t found a win against a 13th Region team yet this season. 17. Pineville (4-7, 0-5) The Mountain Lions are another team that looks to be improving. Pineville is winless against 13th Region teams, but has hopes of ending the skid soon.

1. South Laurel (6-1 overall, 3-0 vs. 13th Region competition) The Cardinals are winners of six straight and picked up two big wins this past week over rivals Corbin and North Laurel, but something still isn’t clicking with coach Jeff Davis’ team. JJ Ramey and Matthew Cromer have been impressive at time while Brett Norvell and Alex Hostettler has been turning heads at time, too. South Laurel will be tested the next two weeks by participating in the Simon Kenton Invitational along with their own Legacy Nissan Dribble Drive Tournament. 2. Clay County (7-0, 3-0) The Tigers continue to play as well as anyone in the 13th Region begins the play of Connor Robinson, Evan Langdon and Connor Farmer. Clay County picked up two impressive wins at home this past week by defeating both Lexington Catholic and Boyle County. The Tigers will be tested this week during the M&W Shootout, and will be tested again next week during the Cumberland Falls Invitational. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Glenn Gray’s team win both tournaments. 3. Knox Central (6-1, 2-1) The Panthers have recovered nicely sent their loss to Clay County. Knox Central has recorded double-digit wins over Harlan (89-68), Ashland (80-58) and Belfry (86-49) since losing to Clay County in the finals of the WYMT Mountain Classic. This team is going to get better and better as the season progresses. 4. North Laurel (5-2, 2-1) So I’m sure your asking why the Jaguars move up a couple of spots after losing consecutive games to both South Laurel and Paintsville this past week. Well, I guess it’s because they really should have won both games. The Jaguars led the Cardinals late in the game before losing 65-57, and it took a controversial buzzer-beater for Paintsville to beat North Laurel, 77-76. Brad Sizemore’s squad is going to get better and better as the season progresses. The ply of eighth grader Reed Sheppard and Landon Jones are two reasons why. Sheppard is the real deal for North Laurel, and Jones is the most-improved player in the region. 5. Harlan County (5-2, 3-0) The Black Bears are flying under the radar, but could very well be in the mix of things when it comes down to who is flagons win the 13th Region championship. Harlan County has won three games in a row by recording wins over Bell County, Harlan and Jackson County. 6. Corbin (3-1, 2-1) The Redhounds are coming off of a 72-66 win over Williamsburg after losing at home to South Laurel earlier in the week, 57-50. Corbin held a 47-44 advantage against the Cardinals with less than three minutes remaining in the game before seeing South Laurel use a 13-3 run to seal the win Th Redhounds are talented, but it might take a while for Corbin coach Tony Pietrowski to have his team playing the way he wants them to. 7. Barbourville (5-2, 4-0) Cody Messer’s Tigers have been the surprise team in the region so far this season. They’re unbeaten against regional foes at 4-0, and have another big game tonight on the road against Harlan. 8. Harlan (4-3, 3-3) The Green Dragons have been hit and miss so far this season. Harlan is coming off two big regional losses to both Knox Central (89-68) and Harlan County (59-48). 9. Middlesboro (4-2, 3-2) After starting the season 0-2, the Yellow Jackets are winners of four straight, which includes an impressive 59-31 win over Lynn Camp. Keep an eye on this team, Middlesboro is going to be dangerous come postseason time. 10. Lynn Camp (6-2, 4-1) Just when I about write the Wildcats off, they go on the road and pick up a big win against Whitley County. I’m still trying to figure out just how they lost so bad to Middlesboro earlier in the week. The Yellow Jackets defeated them, 59-31. 11. Bell County (2-4, 0-3) The Bobcats are a dangerous team, and we will see what they can do this week with games against North Laurel and Williamsburg coming up. 12. Williamsburg (2-4, 1-4) The Yellow Jackets played Corbin close before losing 72-66 to the Redhounds. The big question is can they build off the loss? 13. Whitley County (5-4, 0-4) This year’s Colonel team is hard to figure out. They’re the best team Whitley County has had in a few years, but are currently 0-4 against regional foes. 14. Red Bird (5-4, 3-3) The Cardinals continue to improve under coach Davis Collett, but after seeing their loss to Barbourville, they still have some work to do to make a run at the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic title. 15. OBI (2-5, 2-3) The Mountaineers are playing teams hard, but just can’t get a win. Their lone regional wins this season came against Jackson County and Pineville. 16. Jackson County (2-7, 0-4) The Generals are improving, but still only has two wins on the season. Jackson County played with Corbin for a while at home before falling, 73-55. The Generals also played a tight game with Harlan County before dropping a 65-58 decision. 17. Pineville (3-5, 0-5) The Mountain Lions are playing better under interim coach James David Strange, but they’re currently 0-5 against regional teams — that needs to change.

1. South Laurel (3-1 overall, 1-0 vs. 13th Region competition) The Cardinals keep rolling behind the duo of Junior Matthew Cromer and senior JJ Ramey. Cromer is averaging over 18 points per game while Ramey isn’t too far behind, averaging more than 24 points per contest. South Laurel’s 102-point output on Saturday against Cordia marked the first time the Cardinals have surpassed the century mark under Coach Jeff Davis. 2. Clay County (5-0, 3-0) How about those Tigers? Clay County captured its 10th WYMT Classic Championship after upending 13th Region foe Knox Central, 65-59. Sophomore Connor Robinson and junior big man Evan Langdon are two reasons why the Tigers are rolling. Robinson is averaging 22.2 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game while Langdon is averaging a double-double (12 points and 14 rebounds). Guard Connor Farmer is also playing well, notching 14 points per game for Clay County. Look out for this team, the upstart Tigers are ready to do more damage. 3. Corbin (2-0, 1-0) The Redhounds are unbeaten after getting wins over both Cordia and Jackson County. Corbin trailed against the Generals before knocking off Jackson County, 73-55 on Saturday. Tony Pietrowski’s squad has been led by Matthew Taylor and Chase Sanders with both setting the nets on fire early this season. The Redhounds get a chance to move up in the rankings with a home game scheduled against South Laurel on Tuesday. 4. Knox Central (3-1, 1-1) It has taken a while for the Panthers to gel with their football players still getting into basketball shape. But with that said, Knox Central was one win away from repeating as the WYMT Mountain Classic champions. The Panthers held a slim one-point edge against Clay County with a little over a minute remaining before eventually falling, 65-59. Knox Central is going to be fine in the long run. Once Kevionte Turner returns, look for the Panthers to be a tough team to beat. 5. Harlan County (2-2, 0-0) The Black Bears struggled this past week by going 0-2 in the WYMT Mountain Classic with losses against both Paintsville and Perry Central. They lost those two games by a combined total of four points. Harlan County is led in scoring by Gabe Price (12.5 points per game) and Taylor Spurlock (11.5 points per game). 6. North Laurel (4-0, 1-0) The Jaguars keep rolling along under Coach Brad Sizemore after picking up impressive wins over Madison Southern and Sayre this past week. Cole Kelley continues to have the hot hand, averaging close to 20 points per game while newcomer Isiah Alexander is averaging 12 points per game. 7. Harlan (3-1, 3-1) I’ve been saying to keep an eye out for Harlan, who now looks to be the front-runner to win the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Championship this season after defeating Williamsburg this past week. Freshman Jordan Akal leads the Green Dragons with an 18.7 scoring average while Killian Ledford is averaging 18 points per game. 8. Barbourville (3-1, 2-0) The Tigers responded from their first loss of the season, a 73-47 setback to Hazard, by defeating Jenkins, 102-58. Senior Shawn Vaughn continues to lead Barbourville with a 16.8 scoring average. 9. Lynn Camp (4-1, 4-0) The Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season after falling to Model, 64-57. Lynn Camp picked up a big win this past week over Williamsburg and looks to continue its hot play this week. Madison Prater and Marcus Hollin have both been pleasant surprises so far this season. Prater leads the team with a 15.4 scoring average while Hollin is tossing in 12.6 points per game. Max Burd is also averaging in double figures, scoring 13.4 points per game. 10. Bell County (1-3, 0-2) The Bobcats finally got their first win of the season by defeating Floyd Central, 73-44. Bell County posted a 1-1 record in the WYMT Mountain Classic, and will try to continue its winning ways this week with a big 52nd District matchup with Harlan County. 11. Williamsburg (1-2, 1-2) Back-to-back losses to regional opponents Harlan and Lynn Camp have moved the Yellow Jackets out of the Top 10. 12. Whitley County (4-2, 0-2) The Colonels are winners of two straight, but have still not beaten a 13th Region opponent. They get another chance Tuesday on the road against North Laurel. 13. Middlesboro (1-2, 0-1) The Yellow Jackets are another team that has a chance to win their first game against a 13th Region foe tonight when they travel to play Lynn Camp. Coach Lewis Morris’ squad has gotten off to a slow start, but I expect them to get things rolling soon. 14. Red Bird (3-3, 2-2) Keep an eye on this team, coach David Collett has turned the Cardinals into a team you can’t overlook. Red Bird had a chance to beat Lynn Camp last week, but came up short, losing, 56-52. 15. OBI (2-2, 2-0) The Mountaineers have two wins so far this season against 13th Region foes. They’ve defeated both Jackson County and Pineville. 16. Jackson County (2-4, 0-3) The Generals snapped a three-game losing skid with a 76-34 win over Lee County, and hung tough with Corbin on Saturday before losing, 73-55. 17. Pineville (2-4, 0-4) The Mountain Lions are 2-1 under new coach James David Strange. They’re coming off an impressive 54-40 win over Owsley County.

1. South Laurel (1-1 overall, 0-0 vs. 13th Region competition) The Cardinals were able to rebound from their loss to Scott County and notch a big win during Friday’s Legacy Nissan Classic win over Tennessee’s Athens Prep. Junior Matthew Cromer scored 33 points in the 88-80 win while senior JJ Ramey added 28 points. The duo was also the leading scorers during South Laurel’s 96-65 loss to top-ranked Scott County. A loss is a loss, but I feel a whole lot better about this Cardinals team after I saw Scott County knock off No. 4 ranked Ballard by 28 points. 2. Knox Central (1-0, 1-0) The Panthers began the season with an easy 77-49 win over 51st District foe Pineville. They picked up the 28-point win with the services of Nick Martin and Dane Imel, who missed the game due to coming off of football season. Dalton Elliot (21 points) and Zachary Elliott (19 points) led the way in the win over the Mountain Lions while both Martin and Imel are expected to play during this week’s WYMT Mountain Classic Tournament. Knox Central will look to repeat as champions of the event. 3. Corbin (1-0, 1-0) The Redhounds cruised to an easy 73-52 win over Cordia during the Legacy Nissan Classic this past Saturday. Matthew Taylor came up big with 24 points while Chase Sanders followed with a 19-point scoring effort. If both Taylor and Sanders continue to produce like they did against Cordia, Corbin will be a tough team to beat. 4. Harlan County (1-0, 0-0) Four players scored in double figures during the Black Bears’ 76-56 blowout win over Breathitt County this past week. Alex Pace delivered a 19-point, five-rebound effort while Elisha Smallwood added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Harlan County will get a tough test this week in the WYMT Mountain Classic. The Black Bears’ first round opponent is host Perry Central. 5. Clay County (2-0, 2-0) The Tigers have picked up two big regional wins this past week against Bell County (69-57), and Harlan (67-57). Clay’s two Connors (Robson and Farmer) dominated in the win over the Bobcats. Robinson dished out a game-high 22 points while Farmer added 15 points. The Tigers will join both Knox Central and Harlan County in this week’s WYMT Mountain Classic. 6. North Laurel (1-0, 0-0) The Jaguars wasted little time in putting away Pineville this past week. North Laurel built a 34-2 lead in the first quarter and never looked back during its 66-28 win over the Mountain Lions. Cole Kelley and Clay Sizemore each had 12 points apiece while Landon Young added 10 points, and seven rebounds. Eighth grader Reed Sheppard finished with six points in the win. The Jaguars will have three games this week with a home contest Tuesday against Madison Southern, and a road game on Friday against Leslie County before going up against Sayre and Richmond Model Saturday. 7. Williamsburg (1-0, 1-0) The Yellow Jackets are going to see what they’re made of during their next three games with matchups against Class A teams Lynn Camp (at home on Thursday), and road games against Harlan (Saturday) and Barbourville (Monday, Dec. 10). Williamsburg won its season-opener by defeating Red Bird, 85-55. 8. Harlan (1-1, 1-1) The Green Dragons are going to make some noise this season. Harlan picked up a 68-65 52nd District win over Bell County, but fell to the Clay County Tigers on Saturday, 67-57. Keep an eye on Jordan Akal. He had 19 points and seven rebounds against Bell County while Killian Ledford scored a team-best 23 points. 9. Barbourville (2-0, 2-0) The biggest surprise so far this season has to be Cody Messer’s Barbourville Tigers. The Tigers handed Whitley County a 46-42 loss and followed with an impressive 69-66 win over Middlesboro. Shawn Vaughn leads Barbourville with a 17-point scoring average while Matthew Gray is averaging 12 points per game. 10. Middlesboro (0-1, 0-1) Lewis Morris’ squad left stunned after dropping a 69-66 loss to Barbourville. Many considered the Yellow Jackets the team to beat in the upcoming 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament, but now it looks as if either Harlan, Williamsburg or Barbourville are the frontrunners. 11. Bell County (0-2, 0-2) Look for the Bobcats to continue to improve as the season progresses. Football star London Stephney leads the team with a 13.5 scoring average. 12. Whitley County (2-1, 0-1) The Colonels are off to a hot start, but did lose to Barbourville this past week. Jerry Overbey’s squad has a 50th District road matchup with South Laurel Tuesday. A win over the Cardinals would be huge. 13. Lynn Camp (2-0, 0-0) New faces join the Wildcats this season, yet Lynn Camp is off to its winning ways. Coach Dinky Phipps has guided his team to wins over Jellico, Tenn. and White Academy with road games against Red Bird and Williamsburg on the agenda this week. 14. Red Bird (1-1, 1-1) The Cardinals has a big 69-62 victory over Jackson County this past week, but suffered an 85-55 loss to Williamsburg over the weekend after having a handful of starters miss the game. 15. Oneida Baptist (1-1, 1-0) The Mountaineers remain a hard team to figure out. Oneida Baptist did manage to come away with an 83-72 win over Pineville this past week. 16. Jackson County (1-2, 0-1) The Generals suffered a 69-62 setback after opening the season with a win over Estill County. I’m still trying to figure how things will pan out for Jackson County. 17. Pineville (0-3, 0-3) The Mountain Lions are in rebuilding mode, and they’re going to have to do it without coach JD Strange. After 34 years of coaching high school basketball, Strange has stepped down as the Mountain Lions coach. Strange’s son, James David, who was a star basketball player for the Mountain Lions, has been named interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Yes. That's Jeff's son.

13th Region Rankings 1. South Laurel (0-0 overall, 0-0 vs. 13th Region competition) The Cardinals return the best one-two punch in the 13th Region in JJ Ramey (19.3 points per game) and Matt Cromer (13.1). Ramey is the best player in the 13th Region while Cromer is right behind him at the No. 2 spot. If South Laurel is going to win its first region title since making a run to the Final Four a few years ago, the Cardinals must get production out of players such as Alex Hostettler (4.0), Brett Norvell (2.5) and Matt Dalton. 2. Knox Central (0-0, 0-0) The Panthers return a group of players that could very well lead Knox Central to its first regional title in more than 40 years. Jaylen Adams (14.4) returns as one of the best 3-point shooters in the region while Dane Imel (11.7) also provides solid scoring and shooting. Nick Martin (13.3, 7.4 rebounds per game) is the best big man in the region while Kevionte Turner provides the Panthers (9.2, 6.2) scoring and rebounding in the paint. Look for Zach Patterson (4.7) to have a breakthrough season while Dalton Elliott (2.7) will give coach Tony Patterson another solid option in the post. 3. Corbin (0-0, 0-0) The defending 13th Region champions come in at the three-spot, but believe me, by the time postseason play arrives, Corbin could very well be the team to beat — never count out coach Tony Pietrowski and the Redhounds. Corbin will have to replace the huge void that Andrew Taylor left after he graduated. Taylor averaged a double-double, and will be hard to replace. Chase Sanders (12.6) will return as the Redhounds’ leading scorer while players such as Matthew Taylor (7.7), Cameron Maguet (2.5) and Brody Barton (2.1) return. 4. Clay County (0-0, 0-0) The Tigers missed the 13th Region Tournament last season, but don’t expect a repeat performance. Clay County returns a talented team, including four starters. They’ll be led by Jacob Curry (12.4) and Connor Robinson (14.3) while Connor Farmer (9.2) and Evan Langdon (4.0) also return. 5. Harlan County (0-0, 0-0) The Black Bears are a year removed from winning the region championship, but don’t be surprised to see them make a serious run at the region crown once again come March. Alex Pace (14.6, 4.9) returns as Harlan County’s top scorer while Taylor Spurlock (6.0) and Jacob Wilson (10.0) will also be expected to contribute. 6. Middlesboro (0-0, 0-0) The Yellow Jackets will enter the season as the top Class A team in the 13th Region. Middlesboro will surprise this season with Jabari Kyle (12.4), Christian Hubbard (9.3) and Drake Thomas (13.2). The Yellow Jackets also picked up transfers Josh Overbay (7.8) and Scott Overbay (7.6), who played for Lynn Camp last season 7. Bell County (0-0, 0-0) Could this be the season the Bobcats or Middlesboro put an end to Harlan County’s four-year district title run? Bell County could very well be the team that does it with a solid core of veterans returning. Sawyer Brock (13.4) provides instant offense for the Bobcats while Ryan Lambdin (9.6) and Tyler Parton (11.1, 6.5) also return. Isaac Collett (5.0) and Sean Phipps (7.3) will provide offense for Bell County as well. Another player to keep an eye on is guard London Stephney. I'm thinking he’s one of the top five players in the region. 8. North Laurel (0-0, 0-0) Many prognosticators aren’t picking the Jaguars to make a deep run this season, but I believe this team is going to surprise. Granted, North Laurel will have to replace four starters, but the Jaguars also return some solid players, too. This team will get better as the season progresses. Adam Sizemore (8.5) returns at the point guard spot while eighth-grader Reed Sheppard is also expected to contribute at the guard position. Landon Young (6.1) and Cole Kelley (3.2) will provide offense for Brad Sizemore’s squad along with some other newcomers. 9. Williamsburg (0-0, 0-0) This could be the year the Yellow Jackets return to the 13th Region Tournament. Coach Nick Napier’s squad won 14 games last season, and I expect even more this winter. The Yellow Jackets return two of the region’s top scorers in Slaht Hunter (15.6, 4.2) and Caleb Rose (13.5, 4.9). If Dalton Ponder returns to the mix for Williamsburg and Hunter Brown (5.2) continues to give quality minutes in the post, the Yellow Jackets could surprise. 10. Whitley County (0-0, 0-0) The Colonels return a solid nucleus that could surprise. Hunter Hollingsworth (14.6) returns as Whitley County’s leading scorer along with Tyler Lawson (4.6) and Dakota Lawson (5.8). 11. Harlan (0-0, 0-0) The Green Dragons could be a pleasant surprise this season with Kilian Ledford (13.0), freshman Jordan Akal (8.0), Cade Barnes (8.0), and Jon Eldridge (6.0) returning. 12. Barbourville (0-0, 0-0) First-year coach Cody Messer takes over with hopes of leading his alma mater to a 51st District title. The Tigers are veteran-led, and could make some noise with Connor Bain (8.7, 6.7), Jacob Helton (9.5), J.D. McVey (9.3), and Shawn Vaughn (6.8, 4.0) returning. 13. Jackson County (0-0, 0-0) The Generals graduated a lot of talent, but will still try to make a run at the 49th District crown this season. Hunter Bowling (12.4, 3.1) and McGwire Wilson (2.9) return for their senior campaigns while juniors Logan Rose, Jared Rawlings, Blake Holt, and Jayden Baldwin will help out as well. 14. Red Bird (0-0, 0-0) The Cardinals are coming off a 10-win season with hopes of claiming even more wins this season. 6-5 senior Dylan Asher (10.2, 6.4) returns along with Max Kitoko (12.3) and sharp shooter Austin Napier (17.0). 15. Lynn Camp (0-0, 0-0) The Wildcats could very well be in rebuilding more after losing five of their top six players from last season’s 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic Tournament championship squad. Max Burd (13.0) returns as Lynn Camp’s top leading scorer, and will be joined by Jacob Balou (4.8) and Matt Disney (4.2). 16. Pineville (0-0, 0-0) The Mountain Lions continue to rebuild with senior Ben Goodin returning along with his 11.4 scoring average. Joining Goodin will be Braxton Caldwell, Hayden Calebs, Landon Couch, Reed Baker and Brendan King. 17. OBI (0-0, 0-0) It’s always hard to rank the Mountaineers early on until we actually see who is playing. Oneida Baptist returns leading scorers Elijah Woods (17.4) and Sochi Onuoha (16.3). 13th Region Top 10 Players 1. JJ Ramey, South Laurel — Ramey is the most-athletic player in the region. He runs the floor better than anyone, and when he gets the opportunity to slam one home, he does it with authority. He’s also a dangerous outside shooter, too. 2. Matthew Cromer, South Laurel — Cromer made a name for himself during last season’s 13th Region Tournament. He’s a slasher who can get to the hole quick. He’s also a top-notch shooter and defender. 3. Nick Martin, Knox Central — At 6-6, Martin is the best big man in the region. He can shoot a nice jumper and is one of the best rebounders around. He’s a big reason why the Panthers are considered one of the teams to beat. 4. Jaylen Adams, Knox Central — Adams is a pure shooter who can jump out of the gym. He has the ability to light things up on offense thanks to a great outside shot. 5. London Stephney, Bell County — One of the most athletic players in the region. He’s going to be a pleasant surprise for the Bobcats. He could turn out to be the best defender in the region. 6. Chase Sanders, Corbin — Sanders can flat out shoot the ball, and can defend with the best of them. He’s going to be Corbin’s go-to player with the graduation of Andrew Taylor. 7. Kevionte, Turner, Knox Central — Turner will miss a portion of the season due to breaking his arm during football season. He's top-notch force in the paint, and will give Knox Central a boost once he returns to the lineup. 8. Alex Pace, Harlan County — Pace turned into one of the best players in the region last year, and is expected to have an even bigger impact this season. 9. Adam Sizemore, North Laurel — Sizemore is an underrated guard that very rarely turns the ball over. A solid scorer that can drive to the basket with ease. Look for Sizemore to have a big season for the Jaguars. 10. Reed Sheppard, North Laurel — Sheppard is athletic and will be a surprise player for the Jaguars this season. He’s going to be a major scoring threat for North Laurel.

The 8th Region will be interesting, once again.

Kevionte Turner doesn’t play for Knox Central anymore. He moved to Tennessee close to a month ago. That’s a big loss for the Panthers.