CORBIN — Week three of the 13th Region Boys’ RPI Rankings could leave folks scratching their heads.
Despite dropping a 79-65 decision to Bell County on Tuesday, Harlan County (16-6) retains the top spot in the region with an RPI rating of .65718.
The Bobcats (17-4), who have reeled off five straight wins, including their double digit win over the Black Bears, is ranked fifth with a .61625.
Doesn’t make much sense, but as the season progresses, the RPI should straighten itself out — we hope.
Sandwiched in between Harlan County and Bell County at the No. 2, 3, and four spots are Clay County, South Laurel and North Laurel.
Clay County (14-4), who dropped a double digit loss to the Jaguars last week are No. 2 with a .62340 rating while the Cardinals (13-6) are No. 3 with a .62230 rating. North Laurel (13-6) is fourth with a .61912 rating.
Coming in at No. 6 is another head scratcher — the Corbin Redhounds (.60752). Tony Pietrowski’s squad, who is 13-5, has won five straight, which includes a 66-52 win over No. 3 South Laurel. The two teams will do battle once again Friday at South Laurel.
Knox Central (14-4) is No. 7 with a .59074 rating while Pineville (14-7), Whitley County (13-7), and Williamsburg (12-6) round out the No. 8, 9, and 10 positions.
The Mountain Lions’ RPI rating is .57337 while the Colonels possess a .56938 rating. The Yellow Jackets currently have a .54889 rating.
Rounding out positions 11 through 17 are Barbourville (12-7, .51609), Oneida Baptist (9-11, .49701), Middlesboro (5-10, .42120), Harlan (3-18, .41480), and Lynn Camp (4-16, .34871).
Both Jackson County and Red Bird had games they haven’t reported at the time this story was written, thus they currently don’t have an RPI rating, and once they report their scores, it could change the RPI numbers of other teams in the 13th Region.
