January 23, 2012
UK Basketball/Hoops
Looks like Cal's Cats will be back at number 1 come Monday after Sryacuse's loss to Notre Dame on Saturday and the Wildcats close home win over Alabama in Rupp. Syracuse Orangemen was not the only top 5 team that took one on the chin this past weekend, Duke saw its long home winning streak come to an end with a close loss to Florida State while UConn was going down to the Vols in Knoxville. Kansas won over Texas in Austin by two and Ohio State avoided dropping in the rankings by winning. The Cats next take on Georgia in Athens next Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Alabama went thru a stretch during the second half in which they scored on something like 7 or 8 consecutive possessions. It was a streak that could only be tolerated at home and still come out with a win. Clutch free throw shooting during the last 2 minutes proved to be the only thing that would not allow the Crimson Tide to "Roll".
Coach Matthew Mitchell's team is clicking on all cylinders right now and look to continue with a win over the Lady Gators Sunday in Memorial Coliseum. They along with the Wildcats will more than likely not go undefeated in the conference race because they both have a couple of tough road games ahead. That is why winning at home is so important if you expect to win a conference championship. I do like both squads chances if they can stay injury free and keep playing that tough defense that they have demonstrated up to this point in the season.
High School Basketball
Great day of basketball in Mt. Sterling last Saturday. The best crowd to date in the 21 year long Kentucky Joe B. Hall Prep Classic. More top teams/players to showcase their talent than over the last five years of the event. Mason County showed that they can't be counted out of the 10th Region race after taking down Pulaski County 71-62 in the opening game of the 5 game long event. Perry Central, led by senior transfer Jaysean Paige's 32 points and 9 rebounds along with 8th grader Braxton Beverly's 12 points showed why they have the state ranking that the Commodores have acquired at this point. The Commodores spanked Ashland Blazer by a score of 69-54 . Ashland (12-9) was led in scoring by Corey Gregg's 27. In the Bullet East / Rowan County contest, Rowan guard DJ Townsend put on a show of his own by scoring 27 in a losing effort to the Chargers by a score of 61-59, Evansville signee Adam Wing added 4 points and 10 rebounds while spending all night guarding Derek Willis. UK's most recent commit, Derek Willis scored 16 points and collected 13 rebounds, but it was Rusty Troutman's 27 points and 9 boards that lead Bullet East. In the feature game of # 1 Louisville Trinity and # 2, #6 or #8 (depending on the ratings you check) Madison Central, we had a offensive show with the Indians upsetting the Rocks by a score of 78-77. Dominique Hawkins, a junior guard led the Indians with 30 and junior Kenjah Bosley added 28. Trinity placed 4 in double figures with Nathan Dieudome leading the way with 21. This upset leaves Murray State University (men) and Madison Central (boys) as the only undefeated teams in the state. In the night cap of the Prep Classic, Letcher County Central lost to host Montgomery County by a score of 59-48 after holding a 28-22 halftime lead over the Indians. Omar Prewett led the Indians with 15 points,13 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Logan Johnson had 17 points, followed by Korey Stewart's 14 points and 14 rebounds.
According to Kentucky Joe B. Hall Prep Classic director, this year's classic was one of the top five in the 21 year history of the event for top rated teams, players and crowd.
Breathitt County edged Bryan Station by one, in the Al Prewitt Classic at Henry Clay on Saturday. Sheldon Clark won 69-54 at East Ridge. Ray Kasongo missed his second consecutive game for the Warriors. Knott Central won handily over Belfry 90-64 while Pulaski Southwestern lost to Jeffersontown in the PRP Classic in Louisville. Lincoln County has a young squad this season, but Coach Jeff Jackson's team took Madison Central's Indians down to the wire last Friday night in Stanford losing by one, 49-48. The Patriots could surprise some people by post season. The Clay County Tigers got back on the winning track last weekend with an easy win over North Laurel at home. The Harlan County Black Bears got back to winning after dropping an opening round game in the WYMT Classic to Hazard 59-55. Since that loss, Mike Jones' Black Bears have wins over Belfry, Clay County in double OT and Sheldon Clark along with a win over region rival Bell County on Log Mountain.
Rating the 12th thru 16th regions at this time, in no particular order.
I'll go with Southwestern, Pulaski County and East Jessamine in the 12th region. Look for Lincoln County to upset someone this year in the regionals.
In the 13th, I like Harlan County, Clay County with Bell County, Barbourville and Knox Central in the mix.
The 14th region to me at this point in time is Perry Central, followed closely by Knott Central, then Breathitt County, Buckhorn and Letcher Central. Hazard has enough young talent to upset someone in the post season.
The 15th Region may be the most balanced of all the Eastern Kentucky regions. There are 4-5 teams that could win. I'll start with defending champ Shelby Valley, Johnson Central, Sheldon Clark, Betsy Layne and Pikeville. It should be a knock down, drag out regional at the East Ky. Expo come tournament time.
The 16th region at this time could have one of 3-4 teams to survive in my opinion, you have to give Rowan County the edge on experience, especially if they can get back healthy be late season. West Carter seems to be playing very well at this time and you can never count the Tomcats of Ashland out in post season. Don't be surprised if Merle Kidwell's Russell team led by Kyle Skaggs doesn't spoil one of the previous teams run at the regional title.
Just remember, at tournament time, there will be an upset or two, we just don't know who or where it will take place.
The Kentucky Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic Statewide tourney will begin this Wednesday morning at 8:30 AM in the Frankfort Civic Center. Girls' first round action continues all day with the evening session beginning at 5:30 PM. Boys first round action begins on Thursday with the same time frame. Friday AM session will be girls' quarter final round with boys quarter final round later the same day. Saturday is semi-final action for girls @ 10:00 AM and boys semi-finals at 6:00 PM, with the scholarship banquet at 2:00 PM in the Capital Plaza Hotel.
Danville captured the 12th Region All "A" with a 75-49 win over Burgin. Barbourville will represent the 13th as they beat Williamsburg 60-50. Buckhorn took away Hazard's reign as 14th Region champs by outlasting the Bulldogs 41-38. Senior All-State candidate Matt Day led the Wildcats of coach John Noble with 20. Hazard was led by Hollan and Whitaker with 12 and 11 points. In the 15th, defending Touchstone Energy All "A" Champions Betsy Layne is making an attempt to win back to back champion trophies. The 16th region will be represented by a very sound West Carter Comet team coached by Jeremy Webb. The Comets are led by Kyle Brown and Derrek Lawson, West Carter sports a 17-3 record with a win over defending KHSAA Runner-up Rowan County. This should be a very entertaining, well balanced boys Touchstone Energy All "A" with 4-6 teams with legitimate chance to with it all. Bardstown will probably be the slight favorite, but don't over look defending champ Betsy Layne, Glasgow, Holy Cross and you know there will be a unsuspecting crowd favorite after the completion of the first round.
UK Basketball/Hoops
Looks like Cal's Cats will be back at number 1 come Monday after Sryacuse's loss to Notre Dame on Saturday and the Wildcats close home win over Alabama in Rupp. Syracuse Orangemen was not the only top 5 team that took one on the chin this past weekend, Duke saw its long home winning streak come to an end with a close loss to Florida State while UConn was going down to the Vols in Knoxville. Kansas won over Texas in Austin by two and Ohio State avoided dropping in the rankings by winning. The Cats next take on Georgia in Athens next Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Alabama went thru a stretch during the second half in which they scored on something like 7 or 8 consecutive possessions. It was a streak that could only be tolerated at home and still come out with a win. Clutch free throw shooting during the last 2 minutes proved to be the only thing that would not allow the Crimson Tide to "Roll".
Coach Matthew Mitchell's team is clicking on all cylinders right now and look to continue with a win over the Lady Gators Sunday in Memorial Coliseum. They along with the Wildcats will more than likely not go undefeated in the conference race because they both have a couple of tough road games ahead. That is why winning at home is so important if you expect to win a conference championship. I do like both squads chances if they can stay injury free and keep playing that tough defense that they have demonstrated up to this point in the season.
High School Basketball
Great day of basketball in Mt. Sterling last Saturday. The best crowd to date in the 21 year long Kentucky Joe B. Hall Prep Classic. More top teams/players to showcase their talent than over the last five years of the event. Mason County showed that they can't be counted out of the 10th Region race after taking down Pulaski County 71-62 in the opening game of the 5 game long event. Perry Central, led by senior transfer Jaysean Paige's 32 points and 9 rebounds along with 8th grader Braxton Beverly's 12 points showed why they have the state ranking that the Commodores have acquired at this point. The Commodores spanked Ashland Blazer by a score of 69-54 . Ashland (12-9) was led in scoring by Corey Gregg's 27. In the Bullet East / Rowan County contest, Rowan guard DJ Townsend put on a show of his own by scoring 27 in a losing effort to the Chargers by a score of 61-59, Evansville signee Adam Wing added 4 points and 10 rebounds while spending all night guarding Derek Willis. UK's most recent commit, Derek Willis scored 16 points and collected 13 rebounds, but it was Rusty Troutman's 27 points and 9 boards that lead Bullet East. In the feature game of # 1 Louisville Trinity and # 2, #6 or #8 (depending on the ratings you check) Madison Central, we had a offensive show with the Indians upsetting the Rocks by a score of 78-77. Dominique Hawkins, a junior guard led the Indians with 30 and junior Kenjah Bosley added 28. Trinity placed 4 in double figures with Nathan Dieudome leading the way with 21. This upset leaves Murray State University (men) and Madison Central (boys) as the only undefeated teams in the state. In the night cap of the Prep Classic, Letcher County Central lost to host Montgomery County by a score of 59-48 after holding a 28-22 halftime lead over the Indians. Omar Prewett led the Indians with 15 points,13 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Logan Johnson had 17 points, followed by Korey Stewart's 14 points and 14 rebounds.
According to Kentucky Joe B. Hall Prep Classic director, this year's classic was one of the top five in the 21 year history of the event for top rated teams, players and crowd.
Breathitt County edged Bryan Station by one, in the Al Prewitt Classic at Henry Clay on Saturday. Sheldon Clark won 69-54 at East Ridge. Ray Kasongo missed his second consecutive game for the Warriors. Knott Central won handily over Belfry 90-64 while Pulaski Southwestern lost to Jeffersontown in the PRP Classic in Louisville. Lincoln County has a young squad this season, but Coach Jeff Jackson's team took Madison Central's Indians down to the wire last Friday night in Stanford losing by one, 49-48. The Patriots could surprise some people by post season. The Clay County Tigers got back on the winning track last weekend with an easy win over North Laurel at home. The Harlan County Black Bears got back to winning after dropping an opening round game in the WYMT Classic to Hazard 59-55. Since that loss, Mike Jones' Black Bears have wins over Belfry, Clay County in double OT and Sheldon Clark along with a win over region rival Bell County on Log Mountain.
Rating the 12th thru 16th regions at this time, in no particular order.
I'll go with Southwestern, Pulaski County and East Jessamine in the 12th region. Look for Lincoln County to upset someone this year in the regionals.
In the 13th, I like Harlan County, Clay County with Bell County, Barbourville and Knox Central in the mix.
The 14th region to me at this point in time is Perry Central, followed closely by Knott Central, then Breathitt County, Buckhorn and Letcher Central. Hazard has enough young talent to upset someone in the post season.
The 15th Region may be the most balanced of all the Eastern Kentucky regions. There are 4-5 teams that could win. I'll start with defending champ Shelby Valley, Johnson Central, Sheldon Clark, Betsy Layne and Pikeville. It should be a knock down, drag out regional at the East Ky. Expo come tournament time.
The 16th region at this time could have one of 3-4 teams to survive in my opinion, you have to give Rowan County the edge on experience, especially if they can get back healthy be late season. West Carter seems to be playing very well at this time and you can never count the Tomcats of Ashland out in post season. Don't be surprised if Merle Kidwell's Russell team led by Kyle Skaggs doesn't spoil one of the previous teams run at the regional title.
Just remember, at tournament time, there will be an upset or two, we just don't know who or where it will take place.
The Kentucky Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic Statewide tourney will begin this Wednesday morning at 8:30 AM in the Frankfort Civic Center. Girls' first round action continues all day with the evening session beginning at 5:30 PM. Boys first round action begins on Thursday with the same time frame. Friday AM session will be girls' quarter final round with boys quarter final round later the same day. Saturday is semi-final action for girls @ 10:00 AM and boys semi-finals at 6:00 PM, with the scholarship banquet at 2:00 PM in the Capital Plaza Hotel.
Danville captured the 12th Region All "A" with a 75-49 win over Burgin. Barbourville will represent the 13th as they beat Williamsburg 60-50. Buckhorn took away Hazard's reign as 14th Region champs by outlasting the Bulldogs 41-38. Senior All-State candidate Matt Day led the Wildcats of coach John Noble with 20. Hazard was led by Hollan and Whitaker with 12 and 11 points. In the 15th, defending Touchstone Energy All "A" Champions Betsy Layne is making an attempt to win back to back champion trophies. The 16th region will be represented by a very sound West Carter Comet team coached by Jeremy Webb. The Comets are led by Kyle Brown and Derrek Lawson, West Carter sports a 17-3 record with a win over defending KHSAA Runner-up Rowan County. This should be a very entertaining, well balanced boys Touchstone Energy All "A" with 4-6 teams with legitimate chance to with it all. Bardstown will probably be the slight favorite, but don't over look defending champ Betsy Layne, Glasgow, Holy Cross and you know there will be a unsuspecting crowd favorite after the completion of the first round.
