The Scribe
11-26-2006, 06:06 PM
Second Region
Scott Brown
WKDZ Radio
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1. Henderson County (19-11) – The Colonels have appeared in the Second Region title game four of the past five years but have no championship hardware to show for it. For Henderson to claim their first region title since 1999, they will need their returning nucleus to stay intact for the season.
The Colonels return four starters from last year’s team that won the Sixth District title for the sixth straight year and 11 of the last 13.
Darius Haygen (6-0, Sr.) shook off the effects of a facial injury that required him to wear a mask and averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 assists a game.
The Colonels also return some size up front in 6-5 senior Jarred Crowder (14.1 ppg., 7.9 rpg.), who shot 50-percent from the field, and 6-2 junior Josh Terry (11.5 ppg., 5.6 rpg), who had a solid regional tournament and hit 59-percent of his shots for the season.
Guard Antionne Lightfoot (7.8 ppg.) joins the team late from football season and gives the Colonels a slashing-type guard that can hit the boards as well as a quick backcourt that can apply pressure on defense.
Guard Walker Brunner (5.4 ppg.) and forward Joe Smith (4.8) are two of eight seniors on the Colonel roster who saw considerable playing time last year.
With the combination of size, speed, experience, and coaching, this should be the year Henderson County can get over the hump and return to Rupp Arena.
<O:p
2. University Heights (21-6) – Phil Keller’s first year as Blazer head coach produced a 20-win season and yet another All-A regional title, but the Hopkinsville private missed out on advancing to the regional tournament for the sixth time in nine seasons.
Playing in one of the state’s toughest districts should give the youthful Blazers a chance to show their meddle and make a run at the regional title again in 2006-07.
Most of the focus has been directed toward 6-6 junior forward Scotty Hopson, an athletic player who can jump out of the gym and dominate around the basket.
Hopson, who has committed to Mississippi State, still has some raw skills that need to be refined after coming off the bench to scored 12 points a game last year. However, his untapped potential has Hopson ranked among the nation’s elite juniors.
The Blazers will be hard-pressed to replace speedy point guard Josh Mack, but should compensate nicely with the return of 6-4 junior Tyshawn Edmonson (11.3 ppg.) and 5-11 junior DaQuan Brown (5.4 ppg.).
The Blazers cemented their status as regional contenders with the addition of 6-10 transfer Ryan Langhi, who averaged a near double-double as a junior at Nashville’s Father Ryan High School last year.
It will be interesting to see how Langhi, a cousin of former Marshall County and Vanderbilt standout Dan Langhi, adjusts to the up-tempo style of the Blazers.
If the Blazers have a weakness, it may be lack of depth as Keller primarily used a rotation of eight players last year. Five of those were lost to graduation.
<O:p
3. Christian County (20-10) – Kerry Stovall’s Colonels, nearly upset in the district tournament by Fort Campbell, got hot at the right time and rode their wave of success to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2002.
The Colonels have plenty of talent and experience returning in 2006-07 to make a run at the school’s first back-to-back regional titles since 1978-79.
6-3 senior C.J. Trotter came to play in the postseason, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds in the region tourney. It was his last-second blocked shot that preserved his team’s region title game win over Henderson County.
Stovall has the luxury of playing Trotter on the wing or at small forward with a returning backcourt that features 6-0 senior Keith Tandy (9.8 ppg., 6.1 rpg.) and 5-10 senior Jamaizz Baker (11.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg.).
Stovall is hoping a mostly unproven frontcourt can improve as the season wears on.
6-4 senior Michael Warren (3.3 ppg., 4.7 rpg.) and 6-4 senior Antione Ray (2.2 ppg., 2.0 rpg.) will likely move into the starting lineup, while seniors Rodney Manning and Kortez Ivory and freshman Shaquille Wilson will be among the first off Stovall’s bench.
“This team is much deeper, but lacks true game experience on the perimeter,” said Stovall, who added “we have the opportunity to be very scary because we have more weapons on both ends of the floor.”<O:p
<O:p
4. Madisonville (18-10) – The Maroons are looking to return to their recent hey day of the 1980s when Don Parsons’ teams won eight district titles in ten years and won five region titles. They have been back to the Sweet 16 just once since then.
The Maroons have some size inside, led by 6-6 junior Darnell Moore, who averaged a double-double last year, and 6-5 Jonathon Hood, another double-digit scorer.
Junior guard Shawn Davis also returns in the backcourt for the Maroons, who were just 6-7 against teams from outside the Second Region last year.
Junior Caleb Nelson and senior guard Aaron Farrow also saw considerable time for head coach James Davis, who has a 160-97 record in nine seasons at Madisonville.
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5. Fort Campbell (16-9) – The Falcons, known more for their football and track prowess, advanced to their first region tournament since 1983 and were a bucket away from the school’s first-ever district title.
Amy Gammons, the state’s only female boys’ basketball head coach, has four starters back from last year’s team and looks to get up and down the floor more this year.
6-2 senior Robert Rogers led the Falcons in scoring at 13.4 points a game and returns in the backcourt along with 5-11 senior Toron Thomas (11.5 ppg.) and 5-9 junior Robbie Townsend (10.1 ppg.).
6-3 senior Durell Williams will provide the inside muscle for the Falcons.
<O:p
6. Caldwell County (14-12) – The Tigers’ move to the Seventh District after decades in the small-school Fifth District wasn’t a smooth one as Caldwell was bounced in the first round of the district tournament on their home floor.
With three starters returning, including one of the region’s best players, Caldwell seems poised to make a run at the district title.
Senior guard Matt Fraliex would start at center for most teams, but is able to use his 6-5 frame to beat you from the inside and outside.
The Murray State bound Fraliex, a cousin to head coach Michael Fraliex, averaged 26.2 points a game while shooting 45-percent from 3-point range and 55-percent overall. He was also among the statewide leaders in free throw percentage at 87.2-percent.
Fraliex the coach feels like Fraliex the player will have more help on the offensive end this year, with guards Coley Rogers (6-2, Sr.), Ben Hudson, and Rodney Bell (5-11, Sr.) returning.
The third-year coach has also been pleased with the summer play of Jake Pepper and L.J. Wilson.
“I think we'll be a better shooting team and a much better defensive minded team,” said Coach Fraliex. “These kids are extremely hard nosed and I think we have a good group of core guys with some good young guys who will contribute as the season progresses.”<O:p></O:p>
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7. Hopkinsville (8-16) – The winds of change have swept through Tigers Gym after Hopkinsville posted their fewest number of wins since 1994 and missed the region tournament for the first time since 1997.
Jim Simmons, a long-time assistant coach under Allen Hatcher at Graves County takes over for Terry Hayes, who left after ten years and a 150-133 record.
Like the teams at Graves County, Simmons is stressing discipline and hard work with the Tigers, who return three players who started at times last year.
5-9 senior point guard Greg White averaged 11 points a game, while 6-4 senior Chad Brown (5.4 ppg., 4.0 rpg.) has the potential to be among the region’s best players if he can stay out of foul trouble.
Simmons, whose only other head coaching job was a 7-16 stop at Crittenden County in 1990, has been pleased with the preseason work of 6-1 guard Dominique McDonald, 6-2 forward Richard Brown, and 6-8 center Karlos Thompson.
“If we keep working as hard as we are now, we’re going to get better every day and be as good as anyone in the region,” Simmons said.
<O:p
8. Union County (15-12) – Replacing leading scorer Antonio Davis (26 ppg.) will be a tough task for Braves head coach Bill Price, who has announced that 2006-07 will be his final season on the Union County bench.
One of Union County’s returning starters is Bill’s son C.H. Price, a 6-5 senior who averaged eight points and eight rebounds last year.
Jake Marshall, a 5-11 senior guard, returns at the point where he scored nine points and dished out five assists a game as a junior.
Price is also looking forward to a full season of health from 6-5 senior Brian Duke, who will team with the younger Price for a formidable front line.
Also back are sophomore Torez Jones and senior Darvis Jones as well as a talented freshman class that will see plenty of time on the hardwood this year
<O:p
9. Trigg County (21-8) – After four seasons and three district titles, Bill Chumbler retired as Wildcat head coach.
Jeff Embrey, an assistant coach at Trigg for five seasons, was promoted to head coach over the summer. Embrey’s coaching resume includes a stop at Austin High School in Indiana where he guided the Eagles to a 72-39 record in five years as head coach. The Hoosier native posted winning records in four of his five seasons at Austin, including a 22-3 record in 1998-99 and an Elite Eight appearance.
Embrey will coach a small but athletic squad as they try to become the first Wildcat team to ever win three straight district titles.
Senior guard Rodney Davis, who’s in shooting range the second he steps through the front door of the gym, is the lone returning starter for the Wildcats.
Davis hit 76 3-pointers last year and averaged 14.4 points and 3.7 assists.
Senior guard Zack Wright (2.4 ppg., 1.3 rpg.) joins Davis in backcourt.
Also back are 6-2 sophomore Jonathon King (1.9 ppg.) and 6-3 senior Ryan Eubanks (1.3 ppg.).
With mostly a guard-oriented offense, Embrey is afforded the option of choosing an up-tempo or slow-down offense depending on the opponent.
The new coach also has a talented freshman class that will see plenty of time throughout the season.
<O:p
10. Hopkins County Central (5-20) – Matt Bell’s first season as Storm head coach didn’t go exactly as planned.
After losing 6-9 center Albert Jackson to Oak Hill Academy, the Storm were slow to adjust and won just five games.
However, Hopkins Central looks to rebound with the return of two starters and some big underclassmen.
Chris Evans (6-4, Sr.) transferred from UHA midway through the season and led the Storm in scoring with 15.5 points and seven rebounds a game.
The job of getting the basketball to Evans will belong to senior guard Allen Alvarez, a two-year starter who averaged 7.5 points and two rebounds a game last year.
Bell is excited about the summer play of 6-7 sophomore Chuck Jones and 6-7 freshman Dan Croft.
11. Webster County (16-11) – Second year head coach Bev Hart has just one starter returning from last year’s team that reached double-digits in wins for the seventh straight season.
Logan Dennison, a 6-2 senior guard, returns after scoring 14 points and grabbing seven boards a game.
Senior James Tapp (7.0 ppg.) returns to run the offense, that will be aided by a sophomore class that includes Drew Dement, Trevor Taylor, and transfer Labrice Williams.
12. Livingston Central (9-15) – Livingston Central lost three senior starters and their head coach from last year as Mike Johnson left the school to become Murray’s new baseball coach.
Jimmy Croft, who coached ten years at border rival Crittenden County, returns to the sidelines after a one-year absence and inherits a senior-laden team that could surprise some Fifth District teams.
Senior guards Justin Melendez and Jamie Martin and senior forward Wes Lasher were starters at times last year for the Cardinals, whose have had just one winning season since 1995.
13. Crittenden County (12-15) – Rob Towery’s first season as Rocket head coach saw the Rockets reach the district championship game before losing by 13 points to Trigg County.
For an encore, Towery has three starters returning, including 6-4 senior Jacob Courtney, 5-11 senior Josh Cosby, and 6-0 sophomore Gaige Courtney.
<O:p
14. Dawson Springs (11-17) – The Panthers will need to find a way to score now that Derek Scott and his 22.9 points a game has graduated.
6-4 sophomore Ethan Scott and 6-0 senior Jesse Robinson both averaged eight points a game last year, while 5-11 senior Justin Bennett averaged six points and 2.5 steals a contest.
Head coach Wayne Simpson is also high on 6-3 sophomore Aaron Duke, who gives the Panthers a decent front line that can dominate smaller teams.
<O:p
15. Providence (4-20) – Head coach Todd Whitsell returns three starters for a team likely playing its last season of basketball before their impending merge with Webster County High School.
Senior J.T. Gaither is the top returning scorer for the Bulldogs, who also return sophomores Cameron Frasier and Jarron Gentry on the inside and sophomore Tyrone Hutcherson on the perimeter.
<O:p
16. Lyon County (0-24) – The young Lyon cubs suffered through what was likely the school’s first-ever winless season with a roster that had no juniors.
Three senior starters have graduated but a talented junior class returns as well as 6-6 sophomore Ramsey Walker, who led the Lyons in scoring.
Juniors Daniel Bugg and Michael Kinnis return in the backcourt, and 6-6 junior Eddie Smith is back in the middle for the Lyons.
<O:p
Top Players
<O:p
Scotty Hopson (University Heights) – Player who can dominate in the paint and drive to the basket
Matt Fraliex (Caldwell County) – The best offensive player and shooter in the region who can play both inside and outside
C.J. Trotter (Christian County) – Inside-outside threat who is among the region’s best on defense
Tyshawn Edmonson (University Heights) – May be the most improved player in the region who should flourish in the Blazers’ offense.
Jared Crowder (Henderson County) – Tough player to stop in the paint once he has the basketball
Ryan Langhi (University Heights) – If he adjusts well to UHA’s up-tempo offense, he could be one of the state’s best big men
Rodney Davis (Trigg County) – Quick guard and streaky shooter who has the skills to take over a game
Darius Haygen (Henderson County) – May be the most underrated player in the region. One of the region’s hardest workers.
Darnell Moore (Madisonville) – Can dominate the inside on both sides of the ball when he stays in the game
Robert Rogers (Fort Campbell) – Good offensive player on a good team.
Scott Brown
WKDZ Radio
<O:p
1. Henderson County (19-11) – The Colonels have appeared in the Second Region title game four of the past five years but have no championship hardware to show for it. For Henderson to claim their first region title since 1999, they will need their returning nucleus to stay intact for the season.
The Colonels return four starters from last year’s team that won the Sixth District title for the sixth straight year and 11 of the last 13.
Darius Haygen (6-0, Sr.) shook off the effects of a facial injury that required him to wear a mask and averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 assists a game.
The Colonels also return some size up front in 6-5 senior Jarred Crowder (14.1 ppg., 7.9 rpg.), who shot 50-percent from the field, and 6-2 junior Josh Terry (11.5 ppg., 5.6 rpg), who had a solid regional tournament and hit 59-percent of his shots for the season.
Guard Antionne Lightfoot (7.8 ppg.) joins the team late from football season and gives the Colonels a slashing-type guard that can hit the boards as well as a quick backcourt that can apply pressure on defense.
Guard Walker Brunner (5.4 ppg.) and forward Joe Smith (4.8) are two of eight seniors on the Colonel roster who saw considerable playing time last year.
With the combination of size, speed, experience, and coaching, this should be the year Henderson County can get over the hump and return to Rupp Arena.
<O:p
2. University Heights (21-6) – Phil Keller’s first year as Blazer head coach produced a 20-win season and yet another All-A regional title, but the Hopkinsville private missed out on advancing to the regional tournament for the sixth time in nine seasons.
Playing in one of the state’s toughest districts should give the youthful Blazers a chance to show their meddle and make a run at the regional title again in 2006-07.
Most of the focus has been directed toward 6-6 junior forward Scotty Hopson, an athletic player who can jump out of the gym and dominate around the basket.
Hopson, who has committed to Mississippi State, still has some raw skills that need to be refined after coming off the bench to scored 12 points a game last year. However, his untapped potential has Hopson ranked among the nation’s elite juniors.
The Blazers will be hard-pressed to replace speedy point guard Josh Mack, but should compensate nicely with the return of 6-4 junior Tyshawn Edmonson (11.3 ppg.) and 5-11 junior DaQuan Brown (5.4 ppg.).
The Blazers cemented their status as regional contenders with the addition of 6-10 transfer Ryan Langhi, who averaged a near double-double as a junior at Nashville’s Father Ryan High School last year.
It will be interesting to see how Langhi, a cousin of former Marshall County and Vanderbilt standout Dan Langhi, adjusts to the up-tempo style of the Blazers.
If the Blazers have a weakness, it may be lack of depth as Keller primarily used a rotation of eight players last year. Five of those were lost to graduation.
<O:p
3. Christian County (20-10) – Kerry Stovall’s Colonels, nearly upset in the district tournament by Fort Campbell, got hot at the right time and rode their wave of success to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2002.
The Colonels have plenty of talent and experience returning in 2006-07 to make a run at the school’s first back-to-back regional titles since 1978-79.
6-3 senior C.J. Trotter came to play in the postseason, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds in the region tourney. It was his last-second blocked shot that preserved his team’s region title game win over Henderson County.
Stovall has the luxury of playing Trotter on the wing or at small forward with a returning backcourt that features 6-0 senior Keith Tandy (9.8 ppg., 6.1 rpg.) and 5-10 senior Jamaizz Baker (11.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg.).
Stovall is hoping a mostly unproven frontcourt can improve as the season wears on.
6-4 senior Michael Warren (3.3 ppg., 4.7 rpg.) and 6-4 senior Antione Ray (2.2 ppg., 2.0 rpg.) will likely move into the starting lineup, while seniors Rodney Manning and Kortez Ivory and freshman Shaquille Wilson will be among the first off Stovall’s bench.
“This team is much deeper, but lacks true game experience on the perimeter,” said Stovall, who added “we have the opportunity to be very scary because we have more weapons on both ends of the floor.”<O:p
<O:p
4. Madisonville (18-10) – The Maroons are looking to return to their recent hey day of the 1980s when Don Parsons’ teams won eight district titles in ten years and won five region titles. They have been back to the Sweet 16 just once since then.
The Maroons have some size inside, led by 6-6 junior Darnell Moore, who averaged a double-double last year, and 6-5 Jonathon Hood, another double-digit scorer.
Junior guard Shawn Davis also returns in the backcourt for the Maroons, who were just 6-7 against teams from outside the Second Region last year.
Junior Caleb Nelson and senior guard Aaron Farrow also saw considerable time for head coach James Davis, who has a 160-97 record in nine seasons at Madisonville.
<O:p
5. Fort Campbell (16-9) – The Falcons, known more for their football and track prowess, advanced to their first region tournament since 1983 and were a bucket away from the school’s first-ever district title.
Amy Gammons, the state’s only female boys’ basketball head coach, has four starters back from last year’s team and looks to get up and down the floor more this year.
6-2 senior Robert Rogers led the Falcons in scoring at 13.4 points a game and returns in the backcourt along with 5-11 senior Toron Thomas (11.5 ppg.) and 5-9 junior Robbie Townsend (10.1 ppg.).
6-3 senior Durell Williams will provide the inside muscle for the Falcons.
<O:p
6. Caldwell County (14-12) – The Tigers’ move to the Seventh District after decades in the small-school Fifth District wasn’t a smooth one as Caldwell was bounced in the first round of the district tournament on their home floor.
With three starters returning, including one of the region’s best players, Caldwell seems poised to make a run at the district title.
Senior guard Matt Fraliex would start at center for most teams, but is able to use his 6-5 frame to beat you from the inside and outside.
The Murray State bound Fraliex, a cousin to head coach Michael Fraliex, averaged 26.2 points a game while shooting 45-percent from 3-point range and 55-percent overall. He was also among the statewide leaders in free throw percentage at 87.2-percent.
Fraliex the coach feels like Fraliex the player will have more help on the offensive end this year, with guards Coley Rogers (6-2, Sr.), Ben Hudson, and Rodney Bell (5-11, Sr.) returning.
The third-year coach has also been pleased with the summer play of Jake Pepper and L.J. Wilson.
“I think we'll be a better shooting team and a much better defensive minded team,” said Coach Fraliex. “These kids are extremely hard nosed and I think we have a good group of core guys with some good young guys who will contribute as the season progresses.”<O:p></O:p>
<O:p
7. Hopkinsville (8-16) – The winds of change have swept through Tigers Gym after Hopkinsville posted their fewest number of wins since 1994 and missed the region tournament for the first time since 1997.
Jim Simmons, a long-time assistant coach under Allen Hatcher at Graves County takes over for Terry Hayes, who left after ten years and a 150-133 record.
Like the teams at Graves County, Simmons is stressing discipline and hard work with the Tigers, who return three players who started at times last year.
5-9 senior point guard Greg White averaged 11 points a game, while 6-4 senior Chad Brown (5.4 ppg., 4.0 rpg.) has the potential to be among the region’s best players if he can stay out of foul trouble.
Simmons, whose only other head coaching job was a 7-16 stop at Crittenden County in 1990, has been pleased with the preseason work of 6-1 guard Dominique McDonald, 6-2 forward Richard Brown, and 6-8 center Karlos Thompson.
“If we keep working as hard as we are now, we’re going to get better every day and be as good as anyone in the region,” Simmons said.
<O:p
8. Union County (15-12) – Replacing leading scorer Antonio Davis (26 ppg.) will be a tough task for Braves head coach Bill Price, who has announced that 2006-07 will be his final season on the Union County bench.
One of Union County’s returning starters is Bill’s son C.H. Price, a 6-5 senior who averaged eight points and eight rebounds last year.
Jake Marshall, a 5-11 senior guard, returns at the point where he scored nine points and dished out five assists a game as a junior.
Price is also looking forward to a full season of health from 6-5 senior Brian Duke, who will team with the younger Price for a formidable front line.
Also back are sophomore Torez Jones and senior Darvis Jones as well as a talented freshman class that will see plenty of time on the hardwood this year
<O:p
9. Trigg County (21-8) – After four seasons and three district titles, Bill Chumbler retired as Wildcat head coach.
Jeff Embrey, an assistant coach at Trigg for five seasons, was promoted to head coach over the summer. Embrey’s coaching resume includes a stop at Austin High School in Indiana where he guided the Eagles to a 72-39 record in five years as head coach. The Hoosier native posted winning records in four of his five seasons at Austin, including a 22-3 record in 1998-99 and an Elite Eight appearance.
Embrey will coach a small but athletic squad as they try to become the first Wildcat team to ever win three straight district titles.
Senior guard Rodney Davis, who’s in shooting range the second he steps through the front door of the gym, is the lone returning starter for the Wildcats.
Davis hit 76 3-pointers last year and averaged 14.4 points and 3.7 assists.
Senior guard Zack Wright (2.4 ppg., 1.3 rpg.) joins Davis in backcourt.
Also back are 6-2 sophomore Jonathon King (1.9 ppg.) and 6-3 senior Ryan Eubanks (1.3 ppg.).
With mostly a guard-oriented offense, Embrey is afforded the option of choosing an up-tempo or slow-down offense depending on the opponent.
The new coach also has a talented freshman class that will see plenty of time throughout the season.
<O:p
10. Hopkins County Central (5-20) – Matt Bell’s first season as Storm head coach didn’t go exactly as planned.
After losing 6-9 center Albert Jackson to Oak Hill Academy, the Storm were slow to adjust and won just five games.
However, Hopkins Central looks to rebound with the return of two starters and some big underclassmen.
Chris Evans (6-4, Sr.) transferred from UHA midway through the season and led the Storm in scoring with 15.5 points and seven rebounds a game.
The job of getting the basketball to Evans will belong to senior guard Allen Alvarez, a two-year starter who averaged 7.5 points and two rebounds a game last year.
Bell is excited about the summer play of 6-7 sophomore Chuck Jones and 6-7 freshman Dan Croft.
11. Webster County (16-11) – Second year head coach Bev Hart has just one starter returning from last year’s team that reached double-digits in wins for the seventh straight season.
Logan Dennison, a 6-2 senior guard, returns after scoring 14 points and grabbing seven boards a game.
Senior James Tapp (7.0 ppg.) returns to run the offense, that will be aided by a sophomore class that includes Drew Dement, Trevor Taylor, and transfer Labrice Williams.
12. Livingston Central (9-15) – Livingston Central lost three senior starters and their head coach from last year as Mike Johnson left the school to become Murray’s new baseball coach.
Jimmy Croft, who coached ten years at border rival Crittenden County, returns to the sidelines after a one-year absence and inherits a senior-laden team that could surprise some Fifth District teams.
Senior guards Justin Melendez and Jamie Martin and senior forward Wes Lasher were starters at times last year for the Cardinals, whose have had just one winning season since 1995.
13. Crittenden County (12-15) – Rob Towery’s first season as Rocket head coach saw the Rockets reach the district championship game before losing by 13 points to Trigg County.
For an encore, Towery has three starters returning, including 6-4 senior Jacob Courtney, 5-11 senior Josh Cosby, and 6-0 sophomore Gaige Courtney.
<O:p
14. Dawson Springs (11-17) – The Panthers will need to find a way to score now that Derek Scott and his 22.9 points a game has graduated.
6-4 sophomore Ethan Scott and 6-0 senior Jesse Robinson both averaged eight points a game last year, while 5-11 senior Justin Bennett averaged six points and 2.5 steals a contest.
Head coach Wayne Simpson is also high on 6-3 sophomore Aaron Duke, who gives the Panthers a decent front line that can dominate smaller teams.
<O:p
15. Providence (4-20) – Head coach Todd Whitsell returns three starters for a team likely playing its last season of basketball before their impending merge with Webster County High School.
Senior J.T. Gaither is the top returning scorer for the Bulldogs, who also return sophomores Cameron Frasier and Jarron Gentry on the inside and sophomore Tyrone Hutcherson on the perimeter.
<O:p
16. Lyon County (0-24) – The young Lyon cubs suffered through what was likely the school’s first-ever winless season with a roster that had no juniors.
Three senior starters have graduated but a talented junior class returns as well as 6-6 sophomore Ramsey Walker, who led the Lyons in scoring.
Juniors Daniel Bugg and Michael Kinnis return in the backcourt, and 6-6 junior Eddie Smith is back in the middle for the Lyons.
<O:p
Top Players
<O:p
Scotty Hopson (University Heights) – Player who can dominate in the paint and drive to the basket
Matt Fraliex (Caldwell County) – The best offensive player and shooter in the region who can play both inside and outside
C.J. Trotter (Christian County) – Inside-outside threat who is among the region’s best on defense
Tyshawn Edmonson (University Heights) – May be the most improved player in the region who should flourish in the Blazers’ offense.
Jared Crowder (Henderson County) – Tough player to stop in the paint once he has the basketball
Ryan Langhi (University Heights) – If he adjusts well to UHA’s up-tempo offense, he could be one of the state’s best big men
Rodney Davis (Trigg County) – Quick guard and streaky shooter who has the skills to take over a game
Darius Haygen (Henderson County) – May be the most underrated player in the region. One of the region’s hardest workers.
Darnell Moore (Madisonville) – Can dominate the inside on both sides of the ball when he stays in the game
Robert Rogers (Fort Campbell) – Good offensive player on a good team.