The Scribe
11-26-2006, 10:45 AM
15th Region
By Jerry Boggs
Appalachian News-Express
1. MAGOFFIN COUNTY — The loss of one Howard (Calloray) is softened by the return of two (Ashley Jade and Michaela) as the Lady Hornets seek to repeat as 15th Region Champions.
Ashley Jade Howard (19.5 points per game) is one of the top players in eastern Kentucky and teams with fellow senior Brittany Manns to give Magoffin one of the best backcourts anywhere. Finding a consistent scoring threat inside will be crucial for the Lady Hornets.
2. PIKE CENTRAL — The Lady Hawks came up just short against Magoffin in the regional finals last year and the two should battle for regional supremacy again.
Senior guard Haley Ratliff brings to the court a rare blend of athleticism and skill. Ratliff can score inside or outside and defend any position on the floor. Her 22 points and nine rebounds a game are ably supported by junior forward Kayla Lowe, who averaged over 16 points a game as a sophomore.
3. SHELBY VALLEY — The Lady Wildcats return nearly everyone from a team that knocked off Johnson Central in a thrilling 15th Region semifinal matchup a year ago.
Shelby Valley hung its hat on defense last year and this year should bring more of the same with a frenetic press that wears bigger teams down. Senior guard Esther Fleming (17 ppg) will need more help offensively from classmates Sally Roberts (10 ppg) and Kayla Cantrell (10 ppg) to challenge Magoffin and Pike Central at season’s end.
4. JOHNSON CENTRAL — The Lady Eagles return sharp-shooting forward Celena Conley to a team that knocked off Magoffin late in the season, but came up short against the Lady Hornets in the district tourney and were knocked off by Shelby Valley in a regional tournament thriller.
Conley and her 47 3-pointers will lead a team that’s tall and athletic all over the floor.
5. BELFRY — First-year coach Amanda Stiltner will have to replace a slew of seniors, but the return of swing forward Shae Deskins helps cushion the blow.
Deskins averaged nearly 20 points a game as a sophomore and can score all over the floor. Senior guard Amanda Moon gives the Lady Pirates a deadly 3-point threat and classmate Nikki Robinette will play a larger role in the offense as well.
6. PAINTSVILLE — The Lady Tigers will miss Chelsee Jarrell’s scoring presence inside, but senior guard Kendra Carroll was Paintsville’s leading scorer last season at 16 points per game and has eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau for her career.
7. BETSY LAYNE — The Lady Bobcats were rebuilding last season after capturing the regional title in 2004. Betsy Layne was tremendously young as it managed just seven wins last season, but return a bunch of players who got experience under fire.
Top Players
1. Haley Ratliff, Pike Central — The competition between Ratliff and Magoffin star Ashley Jade Howard is fierce, but Ratliff’s size and speed make her a matchup nightmare for other teams.
2. Ashley Jade Howard, Magoffin County — It’s hard to argue with a regional title and a couple quadruple doubles in one season. Howard’s physical, fearless play belies her small stature. A deadly shooting stroke makes her a tremendous all-around player.
3. Kendra Carroll, Paintsville — Another do-it-all guard, Carroll was the prime scoring threat for a team with one of the top post players in the region last year. Defenses will be even more focused on Carroll this season, but she’s likely to be even better.
4. Esther Fleming, Shelby Valley — Fleming played nearly every minute of every game last season at a break-neck pace. The senior notched her second triple-double of the season in the opening round of the regional tournament last year and her ability to swipe the ball away from opposing players leads to easy transition baskets.
5. Brittany Manns, Magoffin County — Sometimes overlooked beside Ashley Jade Howard, Manns was Magoffin’s most prolific 3-point shooter and her physical strength makes her a tremendous defender.
6. Shae Deskins, Belfry — The 15th Region boasts a load of talented girls’ basketball players as Deskins led Belfry to 24 wins as a sophomore, but finds herself looking up at several players. Deskins has guard skills in a athletic 5-foot-10 frame and poses matchup problems for other teams.
7. Kayla Lowe, Pike Central — Lowe is a young junior and should continue to improve. An intimidating defender, Lowe’s physical presence inside may be unmatched in the region this year.
8. Celena Conley, Johnson Central — Another extremely talented player, Conley’s size and shooting ability make her another player who’s tough to guard anywhere on the floor.
9. A.D. Slone, Pike Central — All Slone did was averaged a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds a game as a freshman at Phelps last season. Her eligibility is still in question after the transfer.
10. Sally Roberts, Shelby Valley — Roberts is another of the tireless defenders that keyed the Lady Wildcats’ stifling full-court defense last season. She is an effective shooter down low, who runs the floor great offensively.
By Jerry Boggs
Appalachian News-Express
1. MAGOFFIN COUNTY — The loss of one Howard (Calloray) is softened by the return of two (Ashley Jade and Michaela) as the Lady Hornets seek to repeat as 15th Region Champions.
Ashley Jade Howard (19.5 points per game) is one of the top players in eastern Kentucky and teams with fellow senior Brittany Manns to give Magoffin one of the best backcourts anywhere. Finding a consistent scoring threat inside will be crucial for the Lady Hornets.
2. PIKE CENTRAL — The Lady Hawks came up just short against Magoffin in the regional finals last year and the two should battle for regional supremacy again.
Senior guard Haley Ratliff brings to the court a rare blend of athleticism and skill. Ratliff can score inside or outside and defend any position on the floor. Her 22 points and nine rebounds a game are ably supported by junior forward Kayla Lowe, who averaged over 16 points a game as a sophomore.
3. SHELBY VALLEY — The Lady Wildcats return nearly everyone from a team that knocked off Johnson Central in a thrilling 15th Region semifinal matchup a year ago.
Shelby Valley hung its hat on defense last year and this year should bring more of the same with a frenetic press that wears bigger teams down. Senior guard Esther Fleming (17 ppg) will need more help offensively from classmates Sally Roberts (10 ppg) and Kayla Cantrell (10 ppg) to challenge Magoffin and Pike Central at season’s end.
4. JOHNSON CENTRAL — The Lady Eagles return sharp-shooting forward Celena Conley to a team that knocked off Magoffin late in the season, but came up short against the Lady Hornets in the district tourney and were knocked off by Shelby Valley in a regional tournament thriller.
Conley and her 47 3-pointers will lead a team that’s tall and athletic all over the floor.
5. BELFRY — First-year coach Amanda Stiltner will have to replace a slew of seniors, but the return of swing forward Shae Deskins helps cushion the blow.
Deskins averaged nearly 20 points a game as a sophomore and can score all over the floor. Senior guard Amanda Moon gives the Lady Pirates a deadly 3-point threat and classmate Nikki Robinette will play a larger role in the offense as well.
6. PAINTSVILLE — The Lady Tigers will miss Chelsee Jarrell’s scoring presence inside, but senior guard Kendra Carroll was Paintsville’s leading scorer last season at 16 points per game and has eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau for her career.
7. BETSY LAYNE — The Lady Bobcats were rebuilding last season after capturing the regional title in 2004. Betsy Layne was tremendously young as it managed just seven wins last season, but return a bunch of players who got experience under fire.
Top Players
1. Haley Ratliff, Pike Central — The competition between Ratliff and Magoffin star Ashley Jade Howard is fierce, but Ratliff’s size and speed make her a matchup nightmare for other teams.
2. Ashley Jade Howard, Magoffin County — It’s hard to argue with a regional title and a couple quadruple doubles in one season. Howard’s physical, fearless play belies her small stature. A deadly shooting stroke makes her a tremendous all-around player.
3. Kendra Carroll, Paintsville — Another do-it-all guard, Carroll was the prime scoring threat for a team with one of the top post players in the region last year. Defenses will be even more focused on Carroll this season, but she’s likely to be even better.
4. Esther Fleming, Shelby Valley — Fleming played nearly every minute of every game last season at a break-neck pace. The senior notched her second triple-double of the season in the opening round of the regional tournament last year and her ability to swipe the ball away from opposing players leads to easy transition baskets.
5. Brittany Manns, Magoffin County — Sometimes overlooked beside Ashley Jade Howard, Manns was Magoffin’s most prolific 3-point shooter and her physical strength makes her a tremendous defender.
6. Shae Deskins, Belfry — The 15th Region boasts a load of talented girls’ basketball players as Deskins led Belfry to 24 wins as a sophomore, but finds herself looking up at several players. Deskins has guard skills in a athletic 5-foot-10 frame and poses matchup problems for other teams.
7. Kayla Lowe, Pike Central — Lowe is a young junior and should continue to improve. An intimidating defender, Lowe’s physical presence inside may be unmatched in the region this year.
8. Celena Conley, Johnson Central — Another extremely talented player, Conley’s size and shooting ability make her another player who’s tough to guard anywhere on the floor.
9. A.D. Slone, Pike Central — All Slone did was averaged a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds a game as a freshman at Phelps last season. Her eligibility is still in question after the transfer.
10. Sally Roberts, Shelby Valley — Roberts is another of the tireless defenders that keyed the Lady Wildcats’ stifling full-court defense last season. She is an effective shooter down low, who runs the floor great offensively.