December 23, 2019 – Harold Brashear – Bluegrass Sports Nation
Week 3 saw some big regional match-ups early in the week, and then late in the week, most teams traveled to Christmas Tournaments. It was a crazy week for the girls. Here is the weekly review and new rankings!!
53rd DISTRICT
CORDIA (0-7) – Cordia continued to struggle with 0 wins and 4 losses on the week. They started the week with a 75-19 home loss to Owsley County. Next, they traveled to Red Bird, where they were soundly defeated 66-30. The Lady Lions finished the week at the Burgin Invitational. They lost their first game to Covington Latin 58-21. They finished the tournament with a 56-31 loss to Burgin.
JUNE BUCHANAN (2-3) – June Buchanan played only one game on the week and came away with a 43-23 home win over Lee County.
LETCHER CENTRAL (7-3) – Letcher County Central started the week with a big 64-50 win over previously unbeaten Leslie County on the road. The Lady Cougars traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to participate in the Smoky Mountain Classic. They started the tournament with a close 50-46 loss to Gordon Central from Calhoun, Georgia. Letcher took another loss in their second game to Henry (Virginia) by a score of 62-52. They finished the tournament with a 60-34 win over Perry County Central.
KNOTT CENTRAL (4-4) – Knott County Central opened up the week with an impressive 76-59 home win over Hazard. The Lady Patriots then headed to McCreary Central to play in the Arby’s Holiday Classic. The tournament turned out to be a struggle for Knott. They began play with a 72-69 loss to host McCreary Central. The Lady Patriots followed that with a 69-63 loss to Garrard County. Knott Central finished the week with a 70-39 loss to Pulaski County.
54th DISTRICT
BUCKHORN (2-8) – Buckhorn lost all 4 of their games during the week. They started with an ugly 44-25 loss to Hazard at home. Their next 3 games were a part of the Smoky Mountain Classic in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The Lady Wildcats began the tournament with a 66-30 loss to Union (Virginia). Things did not get any better, as Buckhorn dropped their next game 69-39 against Warren County (Tennessee). Buckhorn’s scoring struggles continued as they finished the tournament with a 33-20 loss to Soddy Daisy (Tennessee).
HAZARD (3-3) – Hazard opened the week with a trip to Knott County Central, where they took a 76-59 loss. The next night, the Lady Bulldogs traveled across the mountain to Buckhorn and came away with a 44-25 win. Hazard played their third road game of the week against Floyd Central. The Lady Bulldogs came away with a 64-55 win.
LESLIE COUNTY (5-3) – Leslie County came into the week undefeated, but finished it with 3 losses. The Lady Eagles began the week with a 64-50 home loss against Letcher County Central. Leslie County finished the week in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the Smoky Mountain Classic. They started the tournament with a 50-38 loss to Ridgeview (Virginia). Leslie County bounced back with a 77-62 win over Richlands (Virginia). The Lady Eagles finished the tournament with a 63-47 loss to Eastside (Coeburn, Virginia)
PERRY CENTRAL (2-7) – Perry struggled to a 0-4 record on the week. They began the week with a 42-33 home loss to Clay County. They spent the remainder of the week in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the Smoky Mountain Classic. The Lady Commodores began the tournament with a 57-37 loss to Livingston Academy (Tennessee). They followed that up with a 63-52 loss to Honaker (Virginia). Perry Central finished the tournament with a 60-34 loss to Letcher County Central.
55th DISTRICT
BREATHITT COUNTY (1-7) – Breathitt County got Coach Derek Goff his first victory with a 61-47 win at Jackson City. The Lady Bobcats then took part in the Jack Burford Chevy Christmas Classic at Madison Central. Breathitt opened with a 58-24 loss to Harlan County. Their struggles continued with a 57-33 loss to Madison Central. Breathitt County finished the tournament with a 55-28 loss to Bourbon County.
JACKSON CITY (3-4) – Jackson City followed an undefeated week with a winless week as they lost 3 games, all at home. They started the week with a 61-47 loss to Breathitt County. Next, it was a 62-30 blowout at the hands of Wolfe County. They finished the week with a 62-60 loss to Riverside Christian.
RIVERSIDE CHRISTIAN (5-2) – Riverside split their 2 games on the week. They began the week with a 53-43 home loss against Bluegrass United from Lexington, Kentucky. They finished the week with their first win over Jackson City since 2008, with a 62-60 road win.
WOLFE COUNTY (7-2) – Wolfe County was undefeated coming into the week, but suffered 2 losses. The Lady Wolves started the week with a 62-30 victory at Jackson City. Wolfe County then traveled to Heritage, Tennessee for the Heritage Tennessee Christmas Tournament. The Lady Wolves suffered their first loss of the season to Summertown (Tennessee) by a score of 66-50. Wolfe County responded with a 60-55 win over Skyline (Alabama). They finished the tournament with a 62-45 loss to Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, TN).
56th DISTRICT
ESTILL COUNTY (3-4) – Estill County started the week on the road at Owsley County where they lost 74-54. Estill County hosted Bath County and came away with a 56-42 win.
LEE COUNTY (0-7) – Lee County’s struggles continued with two more lopsided losses. The first loss came at June Buchanan 43-23. Powell County came to Lee County and handed them a 54-11 loss.
OWSLEY COUNTY (5-3) – Owsley County started the week with a 74-54 home win over Estill County. The Lady Owls traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to play in the Smoky Mountain Classic. They started the tournament with a 44-36 win over Tolsia (West Virginia). Owsley County then defeated Williamsburg 65-54. The Lady Owls finished the tournament with a 59-46 loss to a good Russell County team.
POWELL COUNTY (2-5) – Powell County played only one game and defeated Lee County 54-11 on the road.
HAROLD’S REGION TOP FIVE – (12/22/2019)
– (prior week ranking in parenthesis)
1. Letcher County Central (4)
2. Owsley County (NR)
3. Leslie County (1)
4. Wolfe County (2)
5. Knott County Central (3)