Bryan Station looks like No. 1

Ten days ago on this blog I warned that the boys’ basketball ratings were about to be scrambled by a bunch of games matching the state’s best teams against one another. But I didn’t forsee the top-to-bottom, 10-on-the-Richter-scale shake-up that did occur.

Twelve of the top 16 teams in the ratings two weeks ago lost at least once. Most of the casualties came in games pitting ranked teams against each other, such as then-No. 1 Mason County falling at home to No. 3 Scott County, and a week later No. 4 Bryan Station routing Scott County on the Cardinals’ home court (a victory thoroughly enjoyed by the Defenders’ fans shown at right), and No. 2 Lexington Catholic losing on a last-second shot to Mason County in UK’s Memorial Coliseum.

But the most surprising shake-up came Louisville where Manual, which wasn’t even in rated among the top 25, swept to the Louisville Invitational Tournament championship, beating Eastern in the finals. Eastern reached the title game by beating No. 7 Male and No. 8 Ballard. A week earlier the Eagles had upset No. 4 Jeffersontown.

Bryan Station was one of the few high-ranked teams to stay on an up-tick. Defenders’ star Shelvin Mack was spectacular (31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 6 steals) in leading the No. 3 Defenders past Scott County 85-70. Bryan Station led by 25 points in the second half and cruised to victory over the defending state champs. If Dave Cantrall’s computer has all its gigabytes, the Defenders will be No. 1 in this week’s ratings. All they’ve done is win 17 consecutive games since a season-opening loss to Mason County.

(Cantrall’s new ratings are shown in the margin at right.)

Bryan Station will get a couple tests this week when it hosts Henry Clay (Jan. 22) and Tates Creek (Jan. 25). Other interesting matchups: LexCath visits Dunbar (Jan. 22), Ballard is at Manual (Jan. 23), and in the All “A” Classic 15th Region, there could be a showdown between Shelby Valley and Paintsville in the finals (Jan. 26).