Tuesday's Thoughts

From Tuesday...

--Ballard seems to be too good for everyone in the 7th region, as the Bruins cruised to another big regional win over Trinity 84-70. The Rocks certainly aren't the caliber of team that Jeffersontown and perhaps Male are, but still, Ballard looks darn good at this point.

--UPSET ALERT! Butler, not much of a factor in the tough 6th region, made a statement of sorts with a 70-67 win over Pleasure Ridge Park. PRP, along with Doss, were considered the favorites in the 'Little Brother' region in Louisville, if you will, but the Bears may have opened the race a little wider.

--Speaking of Doss, the Dragons picked up a nice win over Fairdale by a score of 74-64. Doss continues to be the only team in the 6th region not to lose a regional game.

--Bad night for the two Bowling Green schools not named Warren Central. Bowling Green fought well but fell to an underrated Central Hardin team 83-72. Greenwood, likewise, came up short against Christian County by a 54-51 count. As for the Dragons, they marched into Franklin and shut down the red-hot Wildcats 52-38. The 4th region is, once again, Warren Central's to lose at this point.

--In a battle of slumpers, Henry Clay was just good enough to outlast Lafayette 52-49. Neither team looks very attractive at this point though. Henry Clay sits at 12-10 (2-8!), while Lafayette slides down to 8-13 (6-7). Despite the miserable overall record, I like Lafayette's chances over the Blue Devils when it will count, due to regional record and district opponents.

--Meanwhile, Tates Creek's slump continues to extend, as the Commodores fell to Madison Central 69-63. Despite getting zip attention statewide, Madison Central (I believe) sits in the best position to make a run at Scott County in the 11th region. Tates Creek, on the other hand, is not a lock to get out of district play.

--What a run for McCreary Central in the 12th region. First, a double overtime win over Southwestern, and now a BIG 77-74 win over Lincoln County. With these two wins, perhaps it's time to move them to 'favorite' status in the region. Speaking of Southwestern, they were beaten last night by regional sleeper West Jessamine 39-34.

--Another 12th region team was in action last night, and they nearly toppled an old 12th region foe. Casey County came within six points of upsetting South Laurel in a 61-55 contest. Be careful, South Laurel. I just put you on Upset Alert.

The only game of consequence tonight: Simon Kenton @ Dixie Heights.

On To Tuesday...

Nothing worth mentioning last night, so let's take a look at tonight's games of interest...

--Trinity doesn't get much pub in the 7th region as compared with the Big Three, if you will. But if the Rocks can upset Ballard tonight, what headlines we would see in the Courier Journal tomorrow morning...

--Central Hardin has already knocked off one 4th region team this season (Allen County-Scottsville). Now the Bruins will look to defeat ACS's old coach D.G. Sherrill and the Bowling Green Purples. Huge game for Bowling Green to rebound after the Warren Central debacle on Friday.

--The Purples' other cross-town rival will be in Hopkinsville tonight, as Greenwood steps into the 2nd region to take on Christian County, a team flying under the radar somewhat on the state stage. The Colonels have prepped themselves for state competition well, going 16-3 with only six of those games played inside the region.

--The two best teams in the 6th region (by record at least...) square off tonight as FairdaleDoss. Fairdale doesn't seem to carry the same weight as Doss or perhaps PRP, but with a win tonight, they could climb to the top of the region in my eyes.

--The 4th region is a busy place tonight. While Bowling Green and Greenwood step out of region play, Warren Central stays in and faces a difficult test at Franklin-Simpson. The Wildcats are rolling; they've won seven straight and haven't lost since a one-point defeat at ACS in early January. Can they pull the unthinkable tonight?

--Both teams have slipped as of late, and both need a big regional win tonight. Henry Clay and Lafayette have fallen behind the other top-tier 11th region teams, and the loser tonight may not recover to that level this season.

--In the zoo that is the 12th region, every game seemingly means something. And tonight's headliner is no different, as Lincoln County hosts McCreary Central. The Patriots are coming off a tough loss to a tough Madison Central squad, while Central is looking to build momentum after a critical double overtime win against Southwestern.

--Tates Creek, as has been discussed lately, is in a tailspin, and their plight doesn't look to get any easier anytime soon. Tonight's game at Madison Central is one of the most importance, and another loss may erase the Commodores from regional championship consideration. battles

Let's talk about this weekend

Friday
--Perhaps the line of seperation in the 7th region isn't as wide as we thought, as Eastern fought valiantly against Ballard but dropped a 71-64 decision. The Bruins haven't lost a regional game yet this season.

--The luster of Tates Creek's magical start is fading quickly, as the Commodores were ripped by Bryan Station 67-49. The Defenders may be the best bet to unseat Scott County from the 11th region perch, but Tates Creek shouldn't dismissed yet.

--Well, when the 9th region was looking at its worst, Covington Catholic marches back and takes another big win from a state power, this one being Male by a 66-56 count. If they can escape the regional tournament, the Colonels may bear watching in the underrated(?) 9th region.

--A good effort from Elizabethtown, but it wasn't enough to defeat Doss. The Dragons took down the Panthers 74-68 in a close battle.

--A sleeper in the 3rd region has established itself, as the Grayson County Cougars have come from nowhere to basically take over the region. Grayson County sits at 13-1 in region play, and after huge road win at Muhlenberg North, the Cougars may be a team to watch against the likes of Owensboro and Apollo.

--And to the northwest, Hopkinsville let out a roar after its beatdown to the hands of Caldwell County, as the Tigers upset Henderson County in Henderson 43-42. The 2nd region gets messier by the day, and both of these teams contribute to that mess.

--And so much for any parity in the 10th region, as Mason County dusted off Montgomery County 73-51. Looks like the Royals will be taking their party back to Rupp Arena for another state tournament appearance.

--But if you want parity, head to the wild and wacky 12th region, where McCreary Central is beating Southwestern 65-60 in double overtime. This is the same Southwestern team that had beaten the same McCreary Central team by 17 points some two weeks earlier.

--In their test against tough competition, Shelby Valley didn't win but it sure passed a test with a solid loss to Dunbar, 82-72. With this exposure to top-tier teams, the Valley will be ready to battle Paintsville in the 15th region. But wait until you see who they played Saturday night, and what they almost pulled...

--Scott County = GOOD. Ask George Rogers Clark, who was beat down 94-59 by the Cardinals. Can anyone stay within any working margin of the best team in the state?

--Simon Kenton picked up a nice win for the 8th region as it defeated a fizzling Lafayette team 61-54. Even though the Generals are 8-12, you cannot dismiss them for the postseason; they've played arguably the best schedule in the state, much like DeSales in the 6th region.

--And in the old 4th region, it's more of the same for Warren Central. The Dragons stomped rival Bowling Green 87-52 in what was a rematch of a Purple upset a year ago. Central hasn't even been challenged in regional play, but they haven't seen Franklin-Simpson or Allen County-Scottsville yet.

Saturday
--Bryan Station is on a roll. After beating Tates Creek soundly, the Defenders took on Doss and took them down hard, 76-56. I'd like to see the Defenders have another shot at Scott County, and we'll see that shot next Tuesday.

--The final of the 14th Region All 'A' Classic was particulary revealing, as Hazard beat June Buchanan 51-35. The Crusaders have been hyped as a team that can challenge for a regional championship, but with performances like this, I don't think they can.

--Madison Central, which once again has slid through this season relatively unnoticed in the insane 11th region, slid past Lincoln County 55-48 in Richmond. Even with the loss, the Patriots prove they can play with the best of them, and they'll be a tough out in the 12th region tournament.

--It was a good bounceback win for Male, as they defeated George Rogers Clark (for the second time this season) by a score of 71-64. Bad weekend for the Cardinals, which failed to garner any positive momentum for its impending clash with Mason County.

--Wow, close but not quite for Covington Catholic, as the Colonels just fell short of overrunning Scott County. Despite the 63-58 setback, it was nearly a perfect weekend for Covington Catholic. Not only does the 9th region get some credibility now, but the state knows that if Catholic makes it to Rupp, they will be a tough team indeed.

--Another near upset: Warren Central hung on to defeat Shelby Valley 63-60. No team has been that close to the Dragons in the 4th region, so few figured the Valley would challenge in this game. But this contest does move Valley to the top of the 15th region, and may give hope to other 4th region teams.

An Epic Friday

From last night, there were a few games worth noting...

--Covington Catholic d. Lafayette 67-58
This is a big win for the much-maligned 9th region, which has struggled mightily this season against out-of-region competition.

--Scott County d. Bell County 78-52
Not a surprise at all, but Bell County is a team that bears watching in the 13th region, which may not be a closed-South Laurel book after all...

And tonight, a plethora of great action...

--Eastern @ Ballard
The Bruins took control of the 7th region with a dominant showing at the LIT. Eastern is heading the opposite direction after falling to Shelby County earlier this week. Expect Ballard to cruise in this one.

--Warren Central @ Bowling Green
It was in this game last season that the Purples stunned the Dragons thanks to an incredible night from the perimeter. To defeat Central again, Bowling Green will have to play their best and hope for some luck as well.

--Male vs. Covington Catholic (Toyota Classic)
Now if Covington Catholic really wanted to garner some respect for the 9th region, the Colonels would defeat the Male Bulldogs tonight in Georgetown. But Male's playing pretty good at this point of the season, and it would be a difficult task to complete.

--Elizabethtown @ Doss
The Panthers seem to be turning their season around, as they've won six of their last seven contests. But tonight's game at Doss will be a true indication to see if E-town has it going in the right direction heading into February.

--Hopkinsville @ Henderson County
Is Hoptown a pretender or contender in the 2nd region? The Tigers were walloped by Caldwell County on Tuesday, and a rebound win at Henderson County surely isn't likely. Still, a win here, and the Tigers must be considered as regional championship contenders.

--Lafayette vs. Simon Kenton (Toyota Classic)
For these two teams, both considered to be on the fringes of the state's top 25 schools, this win would be a nice feather in the cap. Both teams also need to build some confidence as they head into the dog days of February as well.

--Montgomery County @ Mason County
Well here we go. Will Mason County run away with another regional title, or will Montgomery County serve notice that another trip to Rupp will not be a piece of cake for the Royals? The Indians are regarded as a dangerous team in the 10th region...we'll see after tonight.

--Southwestern @ McCreary Central
If Lincoln County has taken the lead in the 12th region, then these two teams are right on the Patriots' heels. They met only two weeks ago, and that one went to Southwestern in a big way.

--Shelby Valley @ Dunbar
Just how accurate is that 16-1 record of Shelby Valley's? Their one loss came to Hazard, a team that has beaten Lafayette, Madison Central, and Perry County Central, but at the same time lost to Dunbar by 43. Kentucky high school basketball...what a wild ride it is!

--George Rogers Clark @ Scott County (Toyota Classic)
It will be a fight among Cardinals, and don't be surprised to see George Rogers Clark hang with the state's number one team. GRC is 16-2 with losses to Madison Central and Male, so I'm not expecting Scott County to run away and hide with this one.

--Bryan Station @ Tates Creek
Perhaps the best two teams in Lexington will fight it out tonight. After such a fantastic start to the season, Tates Creek has faltered a bit of late. This contest with a game Bryan Station club will prove whether or not the Commodores deserve that top-five state ranking.

--Trinity vs. St. Xavier
Well it's not football, but still.

Not Much Happening

Aside from the All 'A' Classics, the only game of note last night was Male's 62-51 victory over Simon Kenton. Tonight, there's much of the same.

Covington Catholic and Lafayette, originally scheduled for last night, will play tonight instead because of yesterday's inclement weather. Also, in the Toyota Classic, George Rogers Clark battles Dixie Heights and host Scott County takes on Bell County. And that's about it.

Friday will be more interesting...I promise.

Yesterday! And today too!

I spotlighted a ton of games yesterday, and there's many interesting results this morning to consider...

--Bryan Station d. Henry Clay 63-58
Not a surprising result. Both teams are pretty evenly matched, but this would have been a lot bigger win for Henry Clay at this point of the season.

--Caldwell County d. Hopkinsville 85-60
Ouch. Looks like the Tigers of Caldwell County have a team that can do a lot more damage in the tough 2nd region.

--Central Hardin d. John Hardin 58-49
Indeed, it will be Central Hardin that takes the favorite tag into the 5th region tournament, provided that they don't collapse during February or, even worse, fall in the tough district tournament. For perspective, it looks like either John Hardin or E-Town will miss the region.

--Christian County d. Calloway County 67-57
Chalk another one up for the 2nd region. Christian County may though want to watch its back in its own backyard, as evidenced by Caldwell County's strong performance against Hoptown. The road to Rupp will not be an easy one for the Colonels.

--Clay County d. Bell County 57-56 (OT)
I think either of these teams could upset South Laurel in the overlooked 13th region; this was Bell County's first regional loss this season in ten games.

--Manual d. Iroquois 72-69
Iroquois can't seem to get back on track after such a surprising start to the season. This matchup was a good indication of the strength of the 7th region vs. the 6th, and judging by the result, it's a pretty close match.

--Franklin-Simpson d. Greenwood 39-38
And so the winds of change blow in the 4th region, as the Wildcats should vault into the top three team in the area. Greenwood has stumbled greatly as of late, losing other regional games to Russell County and Warren Central, albeit the loss to the Dragons isn't a surprising thing.

--Marshall County d. Graves County 34-30
I'm sure this one was a jewel to watch. In the land where defense matters most, the Marshals looked just good enough, and with it take down the early leader in the 1st region. I'm sure these two will see each other again when the stakes are a bit higher.

--Owensboro d. Apollo 55-53
Advantage Red Devils. Expect these two teams to fight for the 9th District Championship, and then perhaps the 3rd Region Championship as well, if these two teams don't get in the way...

--Ohio County d. Muhlenberg North 51-46
HUGE win for a team that has struggled all season long to live up to my expectations (regional champions). As for the Stars, their light has dimmed a bit after their upset win over Henderson County a week ago.

--Shelby County d. Eastern 45-41
It's got to be one of the best wins of the season for the 8th region. Eastern is a solid team in the 7th, not spectacular, but not bad at the same time. It's wins like this that vault Shelby County to the top of the heap in the crowded 8th region.

--South Laurel d. Corbin 67-60
Yeah, the Cardinals are on major upset watch in the 13th region. Last season, if you recall, they only won their regional title by one point, and at the time I considered that a bit of a fluke. Now I'm not so sure. The 13th region may be the most underrated in the state.

--Tates Creek d. Lafayette 60-58
So close and yet so far for Lafayette, which continues to spiral lower and lower in losing percentage. But it's wins like this that sorta leave me cautiously optimistic about Tates Creek's chances in the postseason. Much like Lafayette's football team this year, they are winning a lot of games, but not by impressive margins. The margin of error is small.

As for today, most of the action is from the All 'A' Classic tournaments, but these two from the Toyota Classic catch my eye...

--Covington Catholic vs. Lafayette
A rematch from earlier this season, in which the Generals won 85-77.

--Simon Kenton vs. Male
The 8th region got a big win over the 7th on Tuesday; can they repeat the feat?

Big Tuesday...

Monday was filled with opening round games for regional All 'A' Classics, and to see those results, check out the scoreboard. Nothing really outstanding happened, so we'll move on to tonight's action...

--Henry Clay @ Bryan Station
This critical district matchup is a chance for Henry Clay to right the ship after a tough week. Bryan Station will be a tough chore, as the Defenders are widely recognized as a top ten team in the state.

--Hopkinsville @ Caldwell County
While Henderson County and Christian County get all the headlines in the 2nd region, few remember the Caldwell County Tigers, which have roared out to an 11-3 record, including a 8-1 region mark. A win over Hoptown would help them get some more attention, at least on this blog.

--Calloway County @ Christian County
Speaking of Christian County, the Colonels step outside region play tonight as Calloway County comes to town. The Lakers are a solid team from the first region, and they will serve as a good test for Christian County after the Colonels dropped a game to Bryan Station over the weekend.

--Shelby County @ Eastern
Eastern continues to fly under the radar in the ridiculously difficult 7th region, despite a nice 14-4 record. Shelby County, however, claimed the leading spot in the 8th region with an overtime win over Gallatin County. Both teams are evenly matched, and this one should be one of the best games tonight.

--Greenwood @ Franklin-Simpson
If there's any chance of anyone beating Warren Central in the 4th region, many say it'd be either Greenwood or Allen County-Scottsville. Well you better think about Franklin-Simpson as well because the Wildcats are on some roll, winning seven of eight (the one loss is at ACS by 1). Greenwood beat Franklin handily earlier this season, but can they do it again?

--Manual @ Iroquois
The sleeper in the 6th squares off against one of the sleepers in the 7th. The Raiders have dropped two straight following a nine game winning streak. Manual has also cooled off, losing four of six. Both teams need a win to turn their seasons around before heading into crunch time.

--Central Hardin @ John Hardin
Is it the changing of the guard in the 5th region? The Bruins are a solid 16-1 on the season, and the one loss was a three-point thriller to Shelby County in the KOB. John Hardin has lost much of its 2005-06 luster, as the Bulldogs are a shaky 5-4 in regional play. This game has important seeding implications for both, so its a critical game in E-town tonight.

--Tates Creek @ Lafayette
The Commodores have been steller all year, and Lafayette has not. But the Generals have shown the potential to defeat some big names, such as Lexington Catholic, Covington Catholic and Bryan Station. It helps that this one's at Lafayette as well. Should be a dandy.

--Graves County @ Marshall County
Two of the traditional powers in region 1 battle it out tonight. Graves County, despite six overall losses, owns a nice 11-1 record in region play. The Marshals are only 6-2 in region, but have put together a good season so far.

--Apollo @ Owensboro
The two best in the Owensboro area will meet today in this critical district matchup. These teams have stunningly similar areas, as Apollo is 14-4 (6-0, 4-0) and Owensboro is (13-4, 6-1, 4-1). Owensboro's lone regional and district loss is to, who else, Apollo. The Eagles took down the Red Devils earlier this year 57-51 at Apollo.

Back on Saturday...

Some big games were played on Saturday, and here's bits and pieces of the biggest pieces and something like this...

--Mason County outlasted Jeffersontown 69-64 in overtime as a part of the Kentucky Prep Classic. It's another great win for the Royals, who also have victories over Lexington Catholic, Henry Clay and June Buchanan. But perhaps more importantly, Mason County only fell to Scott County by five...wouldn't that be an interesting rematch at Rupp in about two months?

--Bryan Station proved Lexington's strength with a solid 69-58 win over Christian County. The Colonels are arguably the best team out in Western Kentucky (and it's a tough argument if Warren Central is included), but they weren't game enough to take down the Defenders. Keep an eye on Bryan Station throughout the year and into district tournament play, where Scott County will be waiting.

--I said to watch Paintsville, and the Tigers did me proud by narrowly losing to South Laurel 58-57. But is this more of a case of the Cardinals being overrated? The 2005 state champions haven't exactly dominated this season, losing to two in-state opponents and being severly challenged by several others. Could South Laurel be upset in the 13th region?

--Allen County-Scottsville picked up a nice win at home against John Hardin. The Patriots, who usually know how to put the ball in the basket, only scored 52 points but still notched the victory. The 5th region, which was supposed to be championed again by John Hardin and E-Town, continues to struggle against other state competition.

--A day after upsetting Henderson County, Muhlenberg North goes on the road and is upset at Meade County. The Waves have to be a sleeper team in the 3rd region, which is beginning to show its depth outside of Owensboro schools.

--Paducah Tilghman finally picked up a nice win against a regional foe, as the Blue Tornado beat Marshall County in the Superman Classic Tournament 52-42. For the season, Tilghman is only 7-5 against region one teams but still has to be considered as a favorite to reach the state tournament.

--Shelby County, one of the heavy favorites in the 8th region, fended off a game Gallatin County squad in overtime, 71-65. Both teams, along with Simon Kenton, have only three losses on the season and will likely be the top contenders for the 8th region crown once postseason play comes around.

The only key games being played tonight are a part of the All 'A' Classic. Check out the games on tap by visiting KHSAA's scoreboard.

From Friday night...

A look at some of the highlights...

--Lincoln County was on their way to establishing their dominance in the 12th region, but Boyle County had something to say about it, as the Rebels defeated the Patriots 76-67 in Stanford last night. The 12th region continues to be one of the more parity-ravaged regions in the state.

--The lights are going out in Russellville, as the Panthers were smoked by district rival Franklin-Simpson 68-39 in Franklin. Perhaps it's time to cross out Russellville as contenders in the 4th region.

--That battle in the 10th region went George Rogers Clark's way, as the Cardinals outlasted Montgomery County 57-51. One has to be impressed with GRC when looking at what they've done so far: wins over Simon Kenton, Holmes, DeSales, and South Laurel. A date with Mason County looms large in three weeks.

--When two teams like Mason County and Lexington Catholic tangle, expect some fireworks. And that's what we got last night, as the Royals took two overtimes to slide past the Knights of LexCath, 73-68. With a close loss to Scott County and now this win, Darius Miller and crew have proven themselves to be a legit state championship contender.

--After much 2nd region dominance in the western part of the state, the Muhlenberg North Stars of region 3 took a stand last night, defeating Henderson County 62-61. The Stars, now 13-5 on the season, look to be one of the top contenders for a regional championship in the 3rd, and the same can still be said for the Colonels in region 2.

--Ho hum, another double-digit win for Scott County over a quality team. Last night, it was Bryan Station who couldn't keep the foot on the pedal as hard as the Cardinals; Scott County took the game 99-85. For the record, Scott County is 12-0 against state competition, and with the exception of the Mason County win, they all have been double-digit wins.

--Meanwhile, the roller coaster continues for Lafayette in a not-so-surprising 71-61 loss to South Laurel. While the Cardinals quietly go about their business in the 13th region, Lafayette slips to 7-9 on the season, and the Generals have lost six of nine. A home date against Tates Creek on Tuesday doesn't appear to be a promising prospect for a win either.

Games to watch on Saturday...

--John Hardin @ Allen County-Scottsville
A chance for ACS to pick up another nice out-of-region win.
--Bryan Station vs. Christian County (Kentucky Prep Classic)
The Colonels are flying under the radar everywhere...a win here changes that I think.
--Shelby County @ Gallatin County
My sleeper pick for regional champion in the 8th hosts the popular pick in the 8th.
--Jeffersontown vs. Mason County (Kentucky Prep Classic)
Oh baby, Mason County is building a nice resume if they take down the defending state champs.
--Paintsville vs. South Laurel (Kentucky Prep Classic)
Watch out for Paintsville, who may be a Cinderella hiding the mountains.

TGIF

Indeed. From last night...

--Caldwell County d. Calloway County 65-58
Chalk another one up for the 2nd region.

--Lexington Catholic d. Tates Creek 71-60
Only the second loss of the season for the Commodores, and four tough games still remain in this suicidal streak.

--Dunbar d. Henry Clay 75-64
The ship is beginning to sink for the Blue Devils, losing to Sayre and Dunbar in the same week.

--Pendleton County d. Bishop Brossart 61-58
Perhaps the Wildcats have something left to offer in the 10th region.

--Perry County Central d. Hazard 64-54
The third time was the charm for Perry Central.

And now for tonight's action...

--Scott County @ Bryan Station
These district rivals will see each other again, but who wants to avoid Henry Clay in the first round of the district? Might not be the winner here, as Sayre has complicated the issue...

--Covington Holy Cross @ Covington Catholic
Holy Cross is flying under the radar in the 9th, despite holding a perfect regional record.

--Campbell County @ Holmes
Holmes looks to stop their downward spiral against an overlooked team from the nearby 10th region.

--South Laurel @ Lafayette
The inconsistent Generals could win this one by 20 or lose it by 50.

--Lexington Catholic vs. Mason County (US Bank Classic)
The Knights look to build on the impressive victory over Bryan Station by taking out Mason County, who many regard as the second-best team in the state behind Scott County.

--George Rogers Clark @ Montgomery County
While everyone talks up Mason County, both the Cardinals and the Indians sport two-loss teams in the 10th region. The winner here may become the Royals' primary challenger.

--Henderson County @ Muhlenberg North
Once again, the 2nd region will look to strike a big victory against a solid out-of-region blow.

Louisville's Wednesday

All of the action from last night came from the Louisville area...

--Ballard's high-octane offense came to play once more as the Bruins outran Fern Creek by a 92-78 count.

--Keep an eye on Fairdale in the strong 6th region, as they defeated a solid Shawnee squad 68-52.

--In the game of specific interest, Iroquois gave it their all but just fell short to Male 58-55. Despite the loss, the Raiders prove here they can play with the best in the greater Louisville area.

And tonight...

--A good matchup in Western Kentucky tonight will see the 1st region's Calloway County host the 2nd region's Caldwell County. The teams combine to be 15-3 in their respective regions.

--Look out in the 14th region tonight, as the Perry County rivalry is reborn. Perry County Central, a poor 2-2 in district play, heads across town to tackle Hazard. Hazard is looking for their third win over Perry Central this season already, as they own 61-52 and 64-54 victories over them.

--After a ghastly loss to Sayre, Henry Clay will look to get back on track with a win at Dunbar. But don't sleep on the Bulldogs, who already have wins this season over Lafayette, Hazard, and Franklin County.

--Pulaski County has a solid overall record but a bad regional mark at 2-5. They will look for a key region win tonight on their home court against Southwestern.

--And the game of the night, undoubtedly, will feature Tates Creek hosting Lexington Catholic. Against the Big Five in Lexington this season, the Knights are 1-2, and one of those losses is to Tates Creek. The Commodores, on the other hand, have been spectacular. A gaudy 17-1 record (6-0 in district) puts Tates Creek atop the 11th region standings. But this is the beginning of a murderous five game stretch for the Commodores, which continues with road games against Lafayette and Madison Central, along with home contests with Bryan Station and Henry Clay.

Sayre?

Henry Clay, say it isn't so...

Besides that titanic upset, here's a bit more that we learned from Tuesday night...

--Allen County-Scottsville held off Russellville 73-62 in a matchup of 4th region powers. Russellville, however, is seeing their star power quickly fade. The Panthers have been unable in the past few years to make any sort of run at the region's elite, including ACS. As for the Patriots, an interesting matchup with John Hardin looms on Saturday.

--After being picked by many to win the 9th region, Holmes hasn't exactly lived up to expectations, and a road loss to a solid Covington Catholic last night 46-42 won't help their cause. Many believe the 9th region hasn't been this bad in quite some time, and Holmes's disappointing season (10-7, 1-4) may be the reason why.

--Like Holmes, Johnson Central has failed to live up to preseason expectations. Rival Paintsville dusted off the Golden Eagles last night by a score of 56-44. Johnson Central now stands at a woeful 5-10 with a marginal 3-4 regional record.

--Mason County has stolen all the headlines in the 10th region, but George Rogers Clark continues to prove themselves capable in the region as well, as the Cardinals defeated 16th region contender Rowan County 68-46.

--The second region proves its strength in Western Kentucky, as Henderson County narrowly beat Apollo 61-54.

--Good, solid win for South Laurel last night. The Cardinals beat Madison Central 68-63 in a matchup of state tournament contenders. The Cardinals shouldn't have much problem rolling through the 13th region, but the Indians, though regarded by many as a top ten state team, will have its work cut out for it to make the state tournament once more.

And for tonight, not much, but there is some substance...

--Ballard @ Fern Creek
Another chance for the Bruins to flex their muscle in the 7th region.

--Iroquois @ Male
The 6th region's Cinderella team has a chance to raise some eyebrows in Bulldog Country.

Back from break

I took the weekend off, but I should congratulate Ballard on winning the LIT. The Bruins have established themselves as the favorite in the 7th region and perhaps the leading candidate to challenge Scott County (despite losing soundly to the Cardinals early this season...)

A result of note from last night...

--Lincoln County continues to affirm their place atop the 12th region with a nice 72-60 win over Pulaski County.

As for tonight, here's a list of games that will generate a bit more interest...

--Russellville @ Allen County-Scottsville
--Holmes @ Covington Catholic
--Rowan County @ George Rogers Clark
--Apollo @ Henderson County
--Paintsville @ Johnson Central
--Madison Central @ South Laurel

Full analysis tomorrow.

From Friday...

Alright, enough reviewing. Let's, well, review our action from Friday night...

Louisville Invitational Tournament
--Ballard d. Fairdale 76-61
Ballard seems to be the class of this field so far.
--Bryan Station d. Eastern 64-55
--Doss d. Jeffersontown 55-42
Great win for the 6th region against a 7th region foe.
--Warren Central d. Male 46-44

WYMT-TV Mountain Classic
--Bell County d. Perry County Central 82-53
--June Buchanan d. Hazard 64-55

Regular season games...
--Christian County d. Hopkinsville 73-59
The region leader gets pasted by Christian County, who should be considered now as region favorite.
--Covington Catholic d. Boone County 59-46
The battle of supremacy in the weak 9th region wasn't as close as I first thought it would be.
--Greenwood d. Bowling Green 66-60
The Gators battle back from a tough week.
--Lafayette d. Lexington Catholic 61-57
Lafayette is one of those rare teams who could beat anyone and lose to anyone on a given night.
--Paducah Tilghman d. Heath 70-54
Perhaps the Blue Tornado will wind back up thanks to this key win.
--Russell d. Ashland Blazer 63-54
Blazer is close, but not quite to the same level as the Red Devils. Sounds like football many times.
--Southwestern d. McCreary Central 56-39
Like the 9th region battle, I expected a much closer game.
--Scott County d. Mason County 73-68
Don't be surprised to see these two meet again down the road.

On to Saturday...

Louisville Invitational Tournament (semifinals)
--Ballard vs. Bryan Station
--Doss vs. Warren Central

S.T. Roach Classic
--Harrison County vs. Henry Clay
--Christian County vs. Lafayette
--Dunbar vs. Clay County
--Muhlenberg North vs. Franklin County

--Simon Kenton @ George Rogers Clark
--Lexington Catholic vs. Huntington, WV
Let's hope this isn't the only time we see Patrick Patterson play in Lexington...

And finally...

First, some of last night's action...

--Apollo d. University Heights 67-54
--Leslie County d. Pikeville 56-55
--Shelby Valley d. Pineville 70-63

Now, here's a look at what's happening in regions 13-16...

13th Region
The obvious pick is South Laurel, but by the numbers, several other teams have played well to start the season. Most impressive has been Bell County, which has raced out to a 10-1 mark with four district wins under its belt already. Jackson County also carries an undefeated region mark at 6-0 despite having an losing record in an overall sense. Cumberland, Corbin and Clay County also figure to be a part of the puzzle as the season rolls along. But the Cardinals, the 2005 state champions, remain the overwhelming favorite.

14th Region
Early this season, many figured this region to be a three-horse race between Hazard, Perry County Central and surging June Buchanan. Silly of me to outrule Breathitt County, which is only a two-point loss to Hazard away from an undefeated record. Hazard, meanwhile, has played very well against tough competition; a win over Madison Central might make this team the favorite by default. But both Perry Central and June Buchanan sit in good shape, and Powell County may have what it takes to make a run as well.

15th Region
Simply put, Johnson Central has been disappointing, as the Golden Eagles sit at 5-9 with a 3-3 record in regional play. Meanwhile, rival Paintsville has held serve, but several other teams threaten to take the Tigers down. Shelby Valley owns a gaudy 13-1 record, which includes a win over Bell County. Belfry looks like their football team with a nice 11-4 mark. Allen Central and Phelps could both surprise. And never discount Pikeville, which has only played three regional games to this point, winning two.

16th Region
The rise of Rose Hill Christian from the ashes serves as the top story from this region. The Royals are 11-2 with five wins in region play, and look to only improve as the season progresses. But Russell and Ashland Blazer, who are a combined 12-2 in 16th region games, might still be the favorites in this region. Elliott County, my pick to win the 16th, has disappointed but also hasn't played an out-of-region team. Three other country schools (Rowan, Boyd, Greenup) may be teams to watch in postseason play as well.

And now, at last, let us look ahead...tonight...

Louisville Invitational Tournament
--Ballard vs. Fairdale
--Bryan Station vs. Eastern
--Doss vs. Jeffersontown
--Male vs. Warren Central

WYMT Invitational Tournament
--Hazard vs. June Buchanan
--Perry County Central vs. Bell County

Also...
--Covington Catholic @ Boone County
The top two teams in the 9th region, by record at least, square off tonight.

--Hopkinsville @ Christian County
The Tigers are surging, but the Colonels remain a favorite in the 12th district.

--Bowling Green @ Greenwood
The Gators look to recover from a tough loss to Russell County on Tuesday night.

--Lafayette @ Lexington Catholic
Nothing is predictable in Lexington basketball, so expect a great game tonight here.

--Henry County @ Owen County
Two sleepers in the 8th region battle it out tonight in Owenton.

--Mason County @ Scott County
I don't think I'm the only one interested in this result.

--McCreary Central @ Southwestern
In the wild and wacky 12th region, this one will go a long way in determining who the real favorite may be.

Wednesday's Action, and Regions 9-12

From Wednesday, LIT and otherwise...

LIT...
--Ballard d. Pleasure Ridge Park 89-66
--Bryan Station d. Manual 79-63
--Fairdale d. Elizabethtown 66-63
--Male d. Trinity 47-45

Otherwise...
--Gallatin County d. Owen County 71-69 (OT)

Let's continue to review...

9th Region
Many agree the 9th region hasn't been this down in quite a long time, but there are still several teams fighting for position in this region. Boone County and Covington Catholic have both reached double figures in wins and have won their first two district games. Dixie Heights and Holy Cross sit undefeated in regional play at 2-0 and 3-0, respectively. Also, St. Henry and Newport have combined for eleven regional wins between them.

10th Region
Driven by super junior Darius Miller, Mason County has taken control of the 10th region once again. The Royals have sprinted out to a 13-1 record with an unblemished 6-0 regional mark. But many teams have played well behind them. George Rogers Clark has beaten South Laurel, Holmes and DeSales. Montgomery County comes in with 13 wins to its credit. Bishop Brossart also looks like a contender early this season. As for regional power Pendleton County, the Wildcats have fallen on hard times, losing eight of eleven games.

11th Region
It's like the evil overlord and all his minions here; Scott County stands head and shoulders above half a dozen teams that would likely win regional titles in most other regions. The best of those is likely Tates Creek at 15-1 (7-1, loss to Henry Clay). Madison Central, Lexington Catholic and Bryan Station also must be considered as top ten teams in the state. And for Henry Clay and Lafayette, despite woeful records (Henry Clay 1-5 in the region!), both must be considered as contenders throughout the season, especially in their respective districts.

12th Region
No state contender inhabits the 12th region, but you'll be hard pressed to find another region as wide open as this one. But when looking at region records, Lincoln County stands out as the early favorite, as the Patriots have swept six early games against regional foes. McCreary Central, East Jessamine and Southwestern also sport gaudy region records. Despite a solid 10-6 overall record, Pulaski County has struggled in regional play at 1-4. The same can be said of Mercer County.

Continuing On...

Before we review regions 5-8, let's see a few scores from last night that may be considered important...

--Apollo d. Grayson County 58-37
--Christian County d. University Heights 80-67
--Muhlenberg South d. Muhlenberg North 57-55
--Russell County d. Greenwood 59-54
--Scott County d. Henry Clay 87-72

And scores from the Louisville Invitational Tournament...

--Eastern d. Central 55-47
--Jeffersontown d. St. Xavier 51-36
--Doss d. Caldwell County 76-58
--Warren Central d. DeSales 79-64

And now...

5th Region
If you expected another John Hardin vs. Elizabethtown grudge match, then you're probably one disappointed basketball fan. It's been Central Hardin that has stolen the show early, running up a 14-1 record with an unblemished 8-0 regional mark. Hart County, Bethlehem and Bardstown have also been impressive. John Hardin has also played well early, but E-town has struggled mightily. The Panthers are 8-6 with a 4-3 regional record. Not too good for the team I picked to win not only the region, but the state as well. Oops.

6th Region
Perhaps the most unappreciated and underrated region, the sixth will be a fun one to watch throughout the remainder of the season. As expected, Doss and PRP headline the region, but Iroquois, Fairdale and Western are not to be ignored. But how about DeSales? The Colts are the best 3-8 team in modern sports history, considering their schedule. They've played Doss twice, Warren Central twice, PRP, Male, Fairdale, George Rogers Clark, etc. Don't look at the record here; the Colts will be a factor the rest of the way.

7th Region
What figured to be a three-way race to the regional title is shaping up nicely in the seventh. Ballard, Male and defending regional and state champion Jeffersontown are collectively 37-7 and 17-2 in region play (Jeffersontown lost to Male, Male to Ballard). Eastern, though, played Ballard tough during December and shouldn't be forgotten when postseason play rolls around. Also, Trinity is sure to be a factor again with their defense, regarded by many as one of the best in the state.

8th Region
Another underrated region, the eighth looks to be a good one to watch throughout the year. Many point to Shelby County and Simon Kenton as the definitive favorites, and both have proven their standing so far this season. But many other teams may crash the party. Gallatin County (13-2, 8-2) was my Cinderella pick to win the region. Oldham County and Owen County have both also started the season well. Henry County might serve as a "dark" darkhorse in March too.

Welcome Back!

Before we get back to the day-to-day update mode, let's take this week to review what each region has seen so far, in a general sense...

1st Region
This was supposed to be Paducah Tilghman's year in the 1st, but the Blue Tornado has struggled out of the gates with an 8-5 record, and an even more troubling 4-4 record in region play. Graves County has taken the lead here with an 8-0 regional record. Marshall County should also be considered in this race, as the Marshals have a 5-1 region mark with two district wins so far. Heath, Calloway County and St. Mary are three other squads to watch over the last month-and-a-half of the season.

2nd Region
Western Kentucky's toughest region remains wide open into the middle of January. Only Henderson County remains unbeaten in region play at this point, but Hopkinsville and Madisonville-North Hopkins both have better overall records than the Colonels. Speaking of the Colonels, Christian County may very well best all of them, but they've only played two regional games to this point, including a home loss to Henderson County. Watch for Caldwell County as a sleeper as the year rolls along.

3rd Region
The Owensboro-anchored region doesn't have the strength that it has had in the past. In fact, Grayson County and Muhlenberg North carry the best records in the region, with the Cougars of Grayson County winning their first nine region games, but they will be tested tonight against arguably the regional favorite, Apollo. Owensboro also bears watching in the 3rd, and Hancock County might also pull some upsets. As for Owensboro Catholic? 3-11 and dead last in the region.

4th Region
What else is new? Warren Central continues to hold serve in the 4th region, as the Dragons kept their regional standing last Friday with a big win over Greenwood. But the Gators, along with Allen County-Scottsville, have the potential to make the Dragons nervous. Bowling Green and Franklin-Simpson have both shown signs of contending with the big guns in the region, but Russellville and Barren County, both traditional powers in the 4th, seem to be experiencing down years. But in the end, the title will run through Central, again.

Update

The daily previews and reviews will return Tuesday, January 9th.