[RunItUpTheGut]

Every team has a few games under their belt to start the year off. It's gave us a little knowledge in the bust and favorites now.
Thoughts?

My Top 10

1. Bell County (3-1) Only loss to Scott Co. (79-56)

2. Clay Co. (7-2) Two game losing streak to Henry Clay(66-54) and Tates Creek (53-24)

3. Whitley Co. (7-1) Loss to Danville (62-56)

4. Harlan Co. (8-2) Losses to Buckhorn(53-50) and Bell Co.(55-42)

5. Corbin (5-3) Losses to Clay Co.(49-42 OT), Perry County (69-49)and Wilson Central, TN (71-47)

6. Knox Central (3-5) Losses to Boyle Co.(46-40), Clay Co.(65-56), Madison Central (73-61), Pulaski Co.(52-51), and Holmes (71-67)

7. Barbourville (6-2) Losses to Whitley Co.(66-44) and Harrison Co.(61-54)

8. South Laurel (4-4) losses to Pendleton Co. (54-49), Whitley Co. (69-59), Buckhorn(48-44), and Ballard(89-48)

9. North Laurel (4-6) Losses to Clinton Co.(54-53), Oldham Co.(57-47), Whitley Co.(61-52), Rockcastle Co.(75-61), Madison Central(63-42), South Laurel(66-62).

10. Harlan (5-2) Losses to Knox Central(74-69) and Scott Co.(85-54)


I think the top 3 are pretty solid right now and will remain there for much of the season but 4-10 could change every week.

Bell Co. is tough. its that simple. They could easily make a trip to Rupp.

Clay was the favorites for most people to begin the year, but I dont know if they can stay consistent enough to make it all the way through region without being upset.

Whitley is definitely the surprise team. I knew they would be good, but not this good. If they keep playing the way they are they could make it to Rupp.

Harlan Co. doesnt have any really good wins but have only lost to good teams.

Corbin is underachieving. They barely lost to Clay, but gets blown out by PCC.

Knox Central has played a tough schedule and at any given time, could knock off anybody in the 13th. I expect them to make some noise once they start playing more region teams.

Barbourville has been a surprise as well. I dont expect them to win their district. Thats Knox Centrals for the taken, yet in the region tournament, they could knock of a district winner.

South Laurel is back and forth. Take Buckhorn for example. They beat them and then lose to them. There South Laurel though and Coach Wright will find a way to win some games this year.

North Laurel is seldom to South. If they can put things together, they can compete. In Clays district it will be tough vying for a district crown. They still have some questions that need to be answered.

Harlan hasn't played anyone to prove themselves yet. If they can pick up some good wins, they could move up.

[Dungy]

Nice research. My two cents:

1. Bell
2. Clay
3. Whitley
4. Knox
5. Corbin
6. SL
7. HC
8. B'ville
9. Harlan
10. NL

[Bear_Paw]

Every team has a few games under their belt to start the year off. It's gave us a little knowledge in the bust and favorites now.
Thoughts?

My Top 10

1. Bell County (3-1) Only loss to Scott Co. (79-56)

2. Clay Co. (7-2) Two game losing streak to Henry Clay(66-54) and Tates Creek (53-24)

3. Whitley Co. (7-1) Loss to Danville (62-56)

4. Harlan Co. (8-2) Losses to Buckhorn(53-50) and Bell Co.(55-42)

5. Corbin (5-3) Losses to Clay Co.(49-42 OT), Perry County (69-49)and Wilson Central, TN (71-47)

6. Knox Central (3-5) Losses to Boyle Co.(46-40), Clay Co.(65-56), Madison Central (73-61), Pulaski Co.(52-51), and Holmes (71-67)

7. Barbourville (6-2) Losses to Whitley Co.(66-44) and Harrison Co.(61-54)

8. South Laurel (4-4) losses to Pendleton Co. (54-49), Whitley Co. (69-59), Buckhorn(48-44), and Ballard(89-48)

9. North Laurel (4-6) Losses to Clinton Co.(54-53), Oldham Co.(57-47), Whitley Co.(61-52), Rockcastle Co.(75-61), Madison Central(63-42), South Laurel(66-62).

10. Harlan (5-2) Losses to Knox Central(74-69) and Scott Co.(85-54)


I think the top 3 are pretty solid right now and will remain there for much of the season but 4-10 could change every week.

Bell Co. is tough. its that simple. They could easily make a trip to Rupp.

Clay was the favorites for most people to begin the year, but I dont know if they can stay consistent enough to make it all the way through region without being upset.

Whitley is definitely the surprise team. I knew they would be good, but not this good. If they keep playing the way they are they could make it to Rupp.

Harlan Co. doesnt have any really good wins but have only lost to good teams.

Corbin is underachieving. They barely lost to Clay, but gets blown out by PCC.

Knox Central has played a tough schedule and at any given time, could knock off anybody in the 13th. I expect them to make some noise once they start playing more region teams.

Barbourville has been a surprise as well. I dont expect them to win their district. Thats Knox Centrals for the taken, yet in the region tournament, they could knock of a district winner.

South Laurel is back and forth. Take Buckhorn for example. They beat them and then lose to them. There South Laurel though and Coach Wright will find a way to win some games this year.

North Laurel is seldom to South. If they can put things together, they can compete. In Clays district it will be tough vying for a district crown. They still have some questions that need to be answered.

Harlan hasn't played anyone to prove themselves yet. If they can pick up some good wins, they could move up.

I always respect you knowlege and post but I see some problems with this list...lol.

[palmer]

Everyone still has the same top 10 teams from the preseason polls.

[ekff]

From what I've since:

1) Clay
2) Bell
3) Whitley
4) Harlen Co.
5) Knox
6) Corbin
7) Barboursville
8) South
9) Harlen
10) North

[Mountain]

1. Clay Co.
2. Bell Co.
3. Corbin
4. Whitley Co.
5. Knox Central
6. Barboursville
7. South
8. Harlan Co.
9. Harlan
10.North

[LClion4life]

Wow. Is the 16th region really the best in Eastern Kentucky this year? I'm shocked if it is because I thought it was one of the worst in the state last year.

[TheFireWizard]

I haven't seen everyone play so Im not making a list. Kc has played good against tough competition. Clays to loses are to top notch teams. North and South dont look like they have a lot of chemistry right now. Corbin is still a threat to both the district and region. Who are the 3 teams Bell has beat?

[rojas]

With the exception of maybe Maddon, I don't see a lot of basketball at Bell County. What I do see is a bunch of rough mountain kids that like to bang around and intimidate. How far with this take them?

[ekff]

Wow. Is the 16th region really the best in Eastern Kentucky this year? I'm shocked if it is because I thought it was one of the worst in the state last year.

NO... The 16th ISN'T the best in Eastern Kentucky..... 13, 14,16,15.....

[RunItUpTheGut]

I always respect you knowlege and post but I see some problems with this list...lol.

Cmon man i gave Harlan Co. some love lol, whats your thoughts?

[RunItUpTheGut]

I haven't seen everyone play so Im not making a list. Kc has played good against tough competition. Clays to loses are to top notch teams. North and South dont look like they have a lot of chemistry right now. Corbin is still a threat to both the district and region. Who are the 3 teams Bell has beat?

Well, they have only played four games, probably in part to the coach knowing he needed his football players on the floor, especially Madon.

So with that said they've played

JJ Kelly Virginia Won 50-42
McCreary Central Away Won 55-46
Harlan Co. Won 55-42
Scott County Home Lost 79-56

I expected them to be putting more points up this year, but there only loss came to one of the top teams in the state, I believe as of now they deserve their ranking.

[BellCoBobcats09]

Bell Co and Scott Co game was a 12 pt game with 2 min left. Also have to remember half the team is football players. So they havent had as much time at pracrtice than most teams around here.

[LClion4life]

NO... The 16th ISN'T the best in Eastern Kentucky..... 13, 14,16,15.....

If Harlan County is top four in the 13th then there is no way that it is better than the 16th. HC barely beat East Carter and Fairview from the 16th, and those two teams aren't even top 8 in our region.

[Dungy]

LC may have a point, or HC should not be that high, one or the other. Still a lot of season to go, so it will play out.

[Mountain pride 10]

From the games that I have seen, Bell still has a ways to go and Harlan Ind is a better team than Harlan Co at this point. There win totals are about the same, but HHS has played a much tougher schedule up to this point. While I don't think either team is in the top four of the region yet, I would give the Dragons the edge as to being closer up to now.


Yea I said it!!!

[palmer]

Harlan County was the better team at the AAU tourney in Lexington this summer, but it should be interesting.

East Carter and Fairview were both ranked in the top 10 in the 16th and Harlan County beat them both on a 16th Region floor.

[Dungy]

Don't know the 16th but the AAU point is also a good one. The season series will be a good one this year. What I hope is that Harlan should be ranked higher with HC (as opposed to HC down with Harlan) and that both are capable of beating Bell/winning the district as well.

[LClion4life]

Harlan County was the better team at the AAU tourney in Lexington this summer, but it should be interesting.

East Carter and Fairview were both ranked in the top 10 in the 16th and Harlan County beat them both on a 16th Region floor.

they're not top 8 as of now though. East may be, I'd say the 16th's top 8 would be Elliott, Rowan, Ashland, Lewis, West Carter, Russell, Bath County, and Boyd County(in order).

[MVP2]

I'd move NL up a little, I think they are better than 9th in this region.

[RunItUpTheGut]

^NL upset Whitley last night in the Cumberland Falls Invitational on a last second shot, 44-43.

Whitley has done exactly what they always do, slack off. They have now also lost to highlands (44-36) and NL by 1.

I believe the time in between games are killing them, id say there only averaging 1 a week right now. maybe two.

[Eye In The Sky]

From what ive watched in the region:


1.Clay
2.Knox
3.Bell
4.Whitley
5.Corbin
6.North Laurel
7.South Laurel
8.Harlan County
9.Barbourville
10.Harlan

[Football1]

Haven't seen but a few games this year. Knox Central will be hurt by the loss of Broughton. Still, they played a very tough Holmes team quite well and only lost by a few. In that game, their 6-7 kid saw very little action despite them getting killed on the boards. If he can't play, they have no Center.

Looking forward to seeing them play Bell this year. Barrett, Canady, J Canady, Barger will represent the football team well against JD, Madon and crew. That game will tell us alot about this season. Be a tough one for the Panthers to pull out too.

[Dungy]

From what ive watched in the region:


1.Clay
2.Knox
3.Bell
4.Whitley
5.Corbin
6.North Laurel
7.South Laurel
8.Harlan County
9.Barbourville
10.Harlan

Eye in the Sky...I am very impressed with your first post. Those rankings are very close, in my opinion.

[Mountain pride 10]

Well I am going to be forced to change my mind after the showing or lack there of, by the Green Dragons at the Shelby Co tourney this week. I made it to the 1st two games against host Shelby Co and after getting ran out of the gym by the Rockets, the Dragons played even less inspired ball against the Edmondson CO Wildcats, and lost by over 20. I really had high hopes for this team, but if this is how they are going to play when the going gets tough, then they will have a long season. And it will not be a fun season to watch.

[Bear_Paw]

I concur. Hopefully this is just a flat spot they can work through.

[Bobcat_Dad]

Harlan County was the better team at the AAU tourney in Lexington this summer, but it should be interesting.

East Carter and Fairview were both ranked in the top 10 in the 16th and Harlan County beat them both on a 16th Region floor.

AAU has very little to do with season outlook until those kids get to be seniors. AAU you are competing against kids basically the same age and HC being a all Soph. team does well in AAU.

[rojas]

I have seen Bell and Clay play. My money is on Clay Co to win the 13th.

[BearClaws]

No MNT. Pride 10, You already said it. However, with a older team shouldn't they at this point in the season?

[hoops_town]

1. Bell Co.
2. Whitley Co.
3. Clay. Co.
4. North Laurel
5. Corbin
6. South Laurel
7. Knox Central
8. Harlan Co.
9. Barbourville
10. Jackson Co.