The Scribe
11-25-2006, 06:04 PM
Fourth Region
Mark Mathis
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
1. Franklin-Simpson (25-5) The Cook family tradition runs deep at Franklin-Simpson.
Guard Kelleshia Cook is one of the top players in the region. Her mother, Kelli Cook, was a strong guard for F-S and family member Veronica played at Western Kentucky University.
Kelli now sits on the bench as an assistant coach for Lex Lindsey.
“That family is very basketball oriented,” Lindsey said. “Cook comes from
pretty good lineage.”
Kelleshia Cook scored 17 points in the first round Sweet Sixteen win over
Muhlenberg North, and she fouled out with 6:45 left in the game. But she is not the only player the Lady Wildcats rely on.
Rachel Swisher, a 6-3 senior, plays in the middle. Brittany Payne, Cheyenne Brown and Drea Gooch are also good players for F-S.
“I like my team,” Lindsey said. “We’ve got four starters back and the young kids really improved. Last year we were a great defensive team, pretty good at pressing people. I think we’re better offensively. We hit more 3s in scrimmages than we hit all last year.”
2. Barren County (24-7) Four starters return for Barren County, which lost a 45-43 decision to Franklin-Simpson in the regional championship game.
“We think if we improve off of last year we can compete for the district and regional title,” Barren County coach John Brown said. “We have seven
seniors, so we are very experienced.”
T.J. Thomas and Bethany Spillman are the top returning scorers. Thomas, a guard, averaged 12 points and 4.5 assists a game. Spillman, a 6-foot senior, averaged 11 points and 12 rebounds a game.
Like most coaches, though, Brown knows his team must go through F-S to win a regional title. “We are optimistic that we will be able to compete with the top programs in the region and state,” Brown said, "but also very realistic of the challenge that we are facing.”
3. Warren East (17-13) A star emerged when Ashley Rainey first took the court last season as a freshman. The 6-foot forward averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds a game for the Lady Raiders, who hope to return to the regional prominence they enjoyed during the 1990s.
Rainey is helped by senior point guard Andrea Moore.
4. Allen County-Scottsville (11-15) Four starters return for the Lady Patriots, who hope to get back on the winning side of the ledger and become a regional contender again.
Shae Dalton was cruising along with 16 points and 11 rebounds a game until her season ended with a knee injury. Point guard Shelby Harper also averaged double figures with 10 points and three steals a game.
5. Warren Central (13-14) The Lady Dragons have reached the regional tournament the last three years and are ready to take the next step, competing for a regional title.
Diondra Anthony is the top guard for Warren Central. If East, AC-S and Warren Central all step up, this region could be extremely interesting to watch during the season.
“Warren East, Allen County and Warren Central can all beat you on a given night,” said F-S coach Lindsey. “Barren County has got seven seniors. I’m looking forward to their graduation this year.”
Top Players
1. Ashley Rainey, Warren East, 6-foot, forward, sophomore - Who knows how good she could be after an amazing freshman year.
2. Kelleshia Cook, Franklin-Simpson, 5-8, guard, junior - Comes from a long line of outstanding basketball players.
3. T.J. Thomas, Barren County, 5-7, guard, senior - An experienced guard who can score and pass the ball.
4. Chloe Elam, Russellville, 5-8, guard, senior - Does a lot of things well for the Lady Panthers.
5. Kristen Rowe, Cumberland County, 5-10, guard, junior - A fine player who can score (22 ppg) and rebound (8 rpg).
6. Rachel Swisher, Franklin-Simpson, 6-3, center, senior - A tough player to stop in the paint.
7. Bethany Spillman, Barren County, 6-foot, forward, senior - A big-time rebounder averaged 12 boards a game.
8. Shae Dalton, Allen County-Scottsville, 5-7, forward, senior - Averaged a double-double scoring and rebounding until knee injury ended her season.
9. Deandra Anthony, Warren Central, 5-6, guard, senior - Could lead Lady Dragons to regional prominence.
10. Laura Anderson, Monroe County, 5-7, guard, senior - An outstanding 3-point and free throw specialist for a 30-3 team last year.
Mark Mathis
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
1. Franklin-Simpson (25-5) The Cook family tradition runs deep at Franklin-Simpson.
Guard Kelleshia Cook is one of the top players in the region. Her mother, Kelli Cook, was a strong guard for F-S and family member Veronica played at Western Kentucky University.
Kelli now sits on the bench as an assistant coach for Lex Lindsey.
“That family is very basketball oriented,” Lindsey said. “Cook comes from
pretty good lineage.”
Kelleshia Cook scored 17 points in the first round Sweet Sixteen win over
Muhlenberg North, and she fouled out with 6:45 left in the game. But she is not the only player the Lady Wildcats rely on.
Rachel Swisher, a 6-3 senior, plays in the middle. Brittany Payne, Cheyenne Brown and Drea Gooch are also good players for F-S.
“I like my team,” Lindsey said. “We’ve got four starters back and the young kids really improved. Last year we were a great defensive team, pretty good at pressing people. I think we’re better offensively. We hit more 3s in scrimmages than we hit all last year.”
2. Barren County (24-7) Four starters return for Barren County, which lost a 45-43 decision to Franklin-Simpson in the regional championship game.
“We think if we improve off of last year we can compete for the district and regional title,” Barren County coach John Brown said. “We have seven
seniors, so we are very experienced.”
T.J. Thomas and Bethany Spillman are the top returning scorers. Thomas, a guard, averaged 12 points and 4.5 assists a game. Spillman, a 6-foot senior, averaged 11 points and 12 rebounds a game.
Like most coaches, though, Brown knows his team must go through F-S to win a regional title. “We are optimistic that we will be able to compete with the top programs in the region and state,” Brown said, "but also very realistic of the challenge that we are facing.”
3. Warren East (17-13) A star emerged when Ashley Rainey first took the court last season as a freshman. The 6-foot forward averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds a game for the Lady Raiders, who hope to return to the regional prominence they enjoyed during the 1990s.
Rainey is helped by senior point guard Andrea Moore.
4. Allen County-Scottsville (11-15) Four starters return for the Lady Patriots, who hope to get back on the winning side of the ledger and become a regional contender again.
Shae Dalton was cruising along with 16 points and 11 rebounds a game until her season ended with a knee injury. Point guard Shelby Harper also averaged double figures with 10 points and three steals a game.
5. Warren Central (13-14) The Lady Dragons have reached the regional tournament the last three years and are ready to take the next step, competing for a regional title.
Diondra Anthony is the top guard for Warren Central. If East, AC-S and Warren Central all step up, this region could be extremely interesting to watch during the season.
“Warren East, Allen County and Warren Central can all beat you on a given night,” said F-S coach Lindsey. “Barren County has got seven seniors. I’m looking forward to their graduation this year.”
Top Players
1. Ashley Rainey, Warren East, 6-foot, forward, sophomore - Who knows how good she could be after an amazing freshman year.
2. Kelleshia Cook, Franklin-Simpson, 5-8, guard, junior - Comes from a long line of outstanding basketball players.
3. T.J. Thomas, Barren County, 5-7, guard, senior - An experienced guard who can score and pass the ball.
4. Chloe Elam, Russellville, 5-8, guard, senior - Does a lot of things well for the Lady Panthers.
5. Kristen Rowe, Cumberland County, 5-10, guard, junior - A fine player who can score (22 ppg) and rebound (8 rpg).
6. Rachel Swisher, Franklin-Simpson, 6-3, center, senior - A tough player to stop in the paint.
7. Bethany Spillman, Barren County, 6-foot, forward, senior - A big-time rebounder averaged 12 boards a game.
8. Shae Dalton, Allen County-Scottsville, 5-7, forward, senior - Averaged a double-double scoring and rebounding until knee injury ended her season.
9. Deandra Anthony, Warren Central, 5-6, guard, senior - Could lead Lady Dragons to regional prominence.
10. Laura Anderson, Monroe County, 5-7, guard, senior - An outstanding 3-point and free throw specialist for a 30-3 team last year.