11th Region contenders running hot and cold ahead of holiday tournaments
Two teams expected to be battling it out for the 11th Region title in a few months have taken divergent paths in the season’s opening weeks, and each hosts a holiday tournament to either right the ship or keep the hammer down.
Taking some hard lessons has been Henry Clay, a Herald-Leader preseason poll No. 6, who has lost three of its first five and will host its pre-Christmas Henry Clay Holiday Invitational beginning Thursday.
On the positive side, Lexington Catholic has won its first five, including a home-opening win over No. 2 Covington Catholic. The Knights hosts their post-Christmas Traditional Bank Holiday Classic next week.
The Knights have been buoyed by the play of standout junior Ben Johnson, who scored 22 against CovCath and averages better than 24 points per game.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in my team this year,” Johnson said after the 59-58 win over CovCath that was decided by a foul call as the clock expired. “I think we move the ball great. … I think we’ve got a great shot this year to win the Christmas tournament and make a run at state.”
LexCath’s tournament, which begins Dec. 27, includes preseason No. 3 Madisonville with highly regarded players Kenny White and Ksuan Casey, No. 5 Collins with Herald-Leader preseason poll No. 1 player Dayvion McKnight and Marcellus Vail, No. 17 Bourbon County with Amrion Joyce, No. 19 Bardstown with JJ Traynor and No. 20 North Oldham with Justin Powell.
That’s a lot of star power, and Knights Coach Brandon Salman believes Johnson ranks among them.
“Some guy was kidding around with me and saying he’s got the best junior guard in the state and I said, ‘Nah, man, you don’t. I’ve got the best junior guard in the state,’” Salsman said. “We brought him up as an eighth-grader for these moments right here. He learned real fast.”
And Salsman believes LexCath has talent to go with Johnson that has as much heart as any team he’s ever coached.
“I think we’ll develop into a really great team,” Salsman said. “I think we play really well together, everybody’s playing for everybody and if we continue that, we’ll be right where we need to be.”
Blue Devils start slow
Meanwhile, at Henry Clay, the Blue Devils dropped their opener against 42nd District rival Frederick Douglass and have lost back-to-back games against Eastern and Bourbon County. There’s been a learning curve for a team built around returning standouts Marques Warrick and Marquis Mackey.
Warrick, a Northern Kentucky University commit, had 36 points in the loss to Bourbon County last week. Mackey added 16.
“Once the preseason rankings had us on the front page, we have had to learn to compete every play and that other teams are bringing their best game against us,” Coach Daniel Brown said.
Brown noted he really only has two players with varsity experience for him last season. The chemistry has been building, it just hasn’t translated into wins, yet, he said.
“The potential is here, and the boys are working hard and confident so it’s not really concerning in a standpoint of getting better each month to play your best late February and early March. I think the tough schedule we play will prepare for that.”
Henry Clay opens its holiday tournament against Moore at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Bourbon County will also be in the mix along with Lafayette and a team out of Florida.
Holiday tournaments
Here’s a look at some of the boys’ and girls’ basketball tournaments scheduled in the area over the school holiday break.
BOYS
Where: Berea
When: Thursday to Saturday
Teams: Red Bird, Sayre, Jackson City, Eminence, Evangel Christian, Berea, Estill County, Menifee County, Model, Owsley County, Somerset, Monroe County, Cordia.
Henry Clay Holiday Invitational
Where: Henry Clay
When: Thursday to Saturday
Teams: Lafayette, Henry Clay, Harlan County, Shelby County, Bourbon County, Southern, Moore, Columbia (Fla.).
Where: Danville
When: Dec. 26-28
Teams: Lafayette, Danville, Augusta, Middlesboro, Mercer County, Spencer County, Madison Southern.
Where: Montgomery County
When: Dec. 27-29
Teams: Robertson County, Dixie Heights, Mason County, Woodford County, Knott County Central, Holy Cross (Covington), Christian Academy-Louisville.
Traditional Bank Holiday Classic
Where: Lexington Catholic
When: Dec. 27-30
Teams: Bardstown, Cooper, Madisonville, Central, Tates Creek, Collins, Beechwood, Paintsville, Bourbon County, Madison Central, Martin County, Lexington Catholic, North Oldham, Frederick Douglass, Simon Kenton.
Where: Lexington Christian
When: Dec. 27-29
Teams: Lloyd Memorial, Lexington Christian, Lincoln County, Muhlenberg County, Eastern, McCracken County, Clark County, West Jessamine.
GIRLS
Jack Burford Chevy Christmas Classic
Where: Madison Central
When: Thursday to Sunday
Teams: Henry Clay, Rockcastle County, Bourbon County, Lafayette, Madison Central, Breathitt County, Harlan County
Traditional Bank Holiday Classic
Where: Lexington Catholic
When: Friday to Monday
Teams: Webster County, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Scott, Great Crossing, Elizabethtown, Anderson County, Christian Academy-Louisville, Boyd County, Conner, Lexington Catholic, Wayne County, Simon Kenton, Highlands, Ashland Blazer, Boone County, South Warren.
Where: Berea
When: Dec. 26-28
Teams: Bishop Brossart, Edmonson County, Woodford County, Letcher County Central, Male, Lawrence County, Anderson County, Owen County, Perry County Central, Barren County, Eastern, Berea, Oldham County, Middlesboro, Logan County.
Where: Montgomery County
When: Dec. 27-29
Teams: Collins, Menifee County, Lewis County, Montgomery County, St. Henry, Martin County, Estill County.
Where: Bourbon County
When: Dec. 27-29
Teams: Lafayette, Powell County, Bourbon County, Holy Cross, East Jessamine, Nicholas County.
Where: Frankfort
When: Dec. 26-29
Teams: West Jessamine, Brown, Prestonsburg, Frankfort.
Centria Metals/Penn Station Shootout
Where: Franklin County
When: Jan. 4
Teams: Dixie Heights vs. Franklin County, Madison Southern vs. Cooper, Boyd County vs. Highlands, Sacred Heart vs. South Laurel. Ballard vs. East Carter, Conner vs. Male, Scott vs. DuPont Manual, Bethlehem vs. Southwestern, Ryle vs. Scott County.
