First Region Preview

Welcome! Feel free to comment and/or correct anything that I say here.

Preseason Rankings...
1. Paducah Tilghman
2. Graves County
3. St. Mary
4. Marshall County
5. Mayfield
6. Fulton County
7. Calloway County
8. Lone Oak
9. Heath
10. Reidland
11. Hickman County
12. Murray
13. Carlisle County
14. Fulton City
15. Ballard Memorial
16. Community Christian
17. Christian Fellowship

Three Things To Watch...
--Will anyone challenge Paducah Tilgham? The Blue Tornado appear to be the prohibitive favorite at preseason, despite an early exit in the 2006 1st Region Tournament. Tilghman returns a solid frontcourt in David Jones and Isaac McClure, and with several other big men in the fold, the Blue Tornado will be a chore in the paint.
--Heath went 22-4 during the regular season but fell in the first round of district play to rival Lone Oak. The Pirates were hit hard by graduation, but they do return several impact players. It will be tough though for Heath to survive the rugged second though with so much inexperience in the fold.
--And down by the river, Fulton County is looking to make a run. Last season was a disappointing one for the Pilots, as they won only nine games and lost in the first round of the district tournament. Only two years ago, Fulton County won 19 games, and with senior forward Jeffery McClain leading the way this year, the Pilots will look to make an impact once more in the first district.

Five Early Games I'd See...
--November 28th: Calloway County @ Lone Oak
--November 30th: Heath vs. Marshall County (Marshall County Hoop Fest)
--December 8th: Paducah Tilghman @ Graves County
--December 12th: Fulton County @ Paducah Tilghman
--December 12th: Marshall County @ St. Mary

Last Year...
Regional Champion: Graves County
Regional Runner-up: Calloway County
Regional Semifinalists: St. Mary, Marshall County

Tomorrow: 2nd Region Preview