Top 6th Region Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6th Region got one of the toughest draws yesterday for the KHSAA Sweet 16. The winner from the 6th Region will face off against the winner from Northern Kentucky's 9th Region on March 9th. However, to get to that point, you have to finish in the top 2 spots in your district tournament and then win the 6th Region tournament. So, as post-season approaches, let's look at some of the top contenders from the 6th Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>The Favorite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercy Academy has been one of the top teams in the state throughout this season. They also are the only team in the region that is undefeated in regional and district play, so it's no secret that they are the favorite to win the 6th Region. Let's look at some of their key players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254279"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Macy is one of the best players in the state, regardless of class. She is the key for a very talented Mercy group. Game after game, she's proven that it's nearly impossible to keep her off of the boards. She's a top 5 rebounder in the state, averaging 12.9 RPG. Macy is also a top 10 scorer, averaging 23.9 PPG. She's got one of the best overall field goal percentages at 62.6%. When you try to double- or triple-team her, she can either make great passes to teammates, find a way to score, or draw fouls. Teams aren't going to be able to shut her down, so the question is how much can they limit her?","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["295768"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Murphy is another key piece for Mercy as she is going to be their primary ball handler. She can handle pressure and she can make some really great passes. Murphy is also the 2nd leading scorer on this Jaguars squad, averaging 14.3 PPG. What makes her special is her intensity on both ends of the floor. She's able to apply a ton of pressure to opposing team's ball handlers and is also able to get into the passing lanes for steals. She deserves a lot more recognition for what she brings to the floor, but Mercy certainly knows how important she is for them.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["164407"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Barnett is Mercy's big outside shooting threat. She's dangerous from deep because she's long and has a quick release, so she doesn't need much time or space to get her shot off over defenders. She's shooting 41.7% from 3 on the season and averages 2.3 made 3's per game. Barnett also has the ability to score inside the perimeter via jump shots, floaters, and layups. She's averaging 9.7 PPG and 3.9 RPG. Barnett can use her length defensively to alter shots or disrupt the offense as well.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["199615"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"When I've watched Mercy play this year, Smith has been a glue player. Even when she's not scoring, she adds a ton of value. Offensively, she can handle the ball and she does a great job of drawing help defense to get her teammates open looks. She also is a solid scoring threat. She can knock down 3's, get to the rim, or score in transition. Smith is averaging 9.5 PPG and is shooting over 37% from deep. Defensively, she can get key stops and come up with steals. When you think of a player that does a little bit of everything, Smith certainly fits that mold.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee72dbd76cb"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>The 24th District Battle</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 24th District contains 3 of the best teams in the region this year: Mercy (mentioned above), Bullitt East, and Whitefield. While Mercy gets the bye and should have no problems getting to the district championship game, it all comes down to the Bullitt East vs Whitefield match-up on Monday. Whoever wins that should have a good chance of making a run in the regional tournament. When they played earlier in the year, the Chargers walked away with a 49-32 victory, but that was back in December and most teams have grown and evolved since then. Here's a look at some of the key players from both teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["199613"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Reid is Bullitt East's leading scorer at 15.1 PPG, but she brings so much more to the floor beyond her scoring. She's a true floor general who wants to get the ball to her teammates. She consistently plays hard and is definitely a key piece of the puzzle for the Chargers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["398021"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Rodgers is a player that seems to always come in clutch in big moments. She's averaging 12.6 PPG and is Bullitt East's leading rebounder at 5.4 RPG. She has excellent length and can really be a disruptive defender.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["328573"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Ortega is going to play hard game-in and game-out. She is averaging 8.8 PPG for the Chargers. She is a solid distributor and ball handler.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["376761"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Tinelli is like a spark plug for Bullitt East. She's so quick and can really make a lot happen as a defender. She also can score the ball and is averaging 6.7 PPG and 3.9 RPG.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["164406"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Thompson is a tough match-up for most teams because she has excellent size and strength, but also has a ton of guard skills to go along with that. She is Whitefield's leading scorer at 13.7 PPG and she also averages 6 RPG.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["329426"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Poole does a little bit of everything for Whitefield. It's not odd to see her name in every statistical category at the end of each game. She's averaging 10.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG. She has really been a glue player for the Lady Cats this season.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["250278"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Spieker is Whitefield's sharpshooter. She's capable of getting hot and knocking down multiple outside shots in any given game. She also can shot fake and drive, or kick to her teammates. She's averaging 10 PPG.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["254282"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Smith is Whitefield's leading rebounder and is also one of the best rebounders I've seen across the state. She's averaging 10 RPG to go along with her 8.4 PPG and she recently grabbed her 1,000th career rebound as a sophomore.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee72dbd7a2a"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>The Other Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of the 3 teams above, the other teams at the top of the 6th Region standings include Bullitt Central, North Bullitt, and Butler. All 3 of those teams have had their struggles this year, but will be looking to finish out their season on a high note. While all of these teams have multiple talented players, here's 1 player from each team to watch for going into post-season play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["164399"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Dillman has had a phenomenal Varsity career and it's not over yet. She's Bullitt Central's leading scorer and rebounder at 15.5 PPG and 6 RPG. She's shooting 35% from 3 on the season, but she's an effective scorer at all 3 levels.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["376764"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Downey showed a lot of promise as a middle schooler, but she has really grown her game in her freshman year. She is North Bullitt's leading scorer at 13.7 PPG and she averages 4.4 RPG. She makes great passes and can handle the ball on top of being able to score inside or out.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["502121"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"While [player_tooltip player_id='167139' first='Ramiya' last='White'] (8.2 PPG/7.8 RPG) has been a key for Butler down low throughout the season, Gober has been a key piece at the guard position. She's averaging 8.1 PPG, but has been huge in Butler's most recent games, scoring double figures in 5 of their last 6 games. The Bearettes are currently on a 6 game winning streak and will be looking to continue that streak going into post-season play.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ee72dbd7b55"} /-->