The Scribe
11-25-2007, 04:51 PM
BGP Fifth Region Boys' Preview
By JOSH CLAYWELL
The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise
The Adair County Indians dethroned the 17th District last year by winning the 5th Region Tournament.
Now, the Indians, who return three key starters from that team, will look to become just the third team outside the 17th District to win back-to-back region crowns (LaRue County 1987-88, Marion County 1992-93).
But veteran Adair County coach Mark Fudge thinks the region will be wide open.
“After winning the region, we can no longer sneak up on our opponents, so we will have to be ready every game,” Fudge said. “If we can stay healthy and develop the same type of chemistry we’ve had the past couple of seasons, I think we can be in the mix of things again come tournament time. The region doesn’t have a dominant team, so any one of a number of teams has a shot.”
And that starts with the North Hardin Trojans, who last won the region title in 2002.
“North may not have the great individual players they’ve had in past years, but they still have the best overall talent in the region,” Fudge said.
1. Adair County (24-10). The Indians return three of the region’s top players in senior guard Kalen Kimberland (9 points per game), junior guard Nick Fudge (9.2 points and 6 assists per game) and junior forward Darrin Ballou (15.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game).
Fudge has four players who could step in and try to replace Lewis and Willis: Junior guard Corey Helm, junior center Cameron Murrell, sophomore swingman Kyle Sandusky and junior forward Scotty Neat.
After an 8-8 start, the Indians won 15-of-16 en route to the Sweet 16, where they lost to Scott County in the second round.
2. North Hardin (15-18). Following a 10-17 start last season, the Trojans won five games in a row and won the 17th District championship before falling to Bardstown in the first round of the region tournament.
The Trojans will be relatively young, with only two starters on the roster – guard Maurice Gosa and forward Jerome Draper.
Also back are juniors LaRod King, Jordan Bramblett and Billy Thompson and sophomores Roosevelt Emerson, Nigel Phelps and James Berry.
3. Taylor County (17-15). The Cardinals return four starters off last year’s region semifinalist team. The biggest knack, however, is a lack of a size and Taylor County will have to rely on its shooting abilities.
The Cardinals return a talented backcourt of junior point guard Chase Cox, who averaged 17 points a game, and senior guard Josh Gumm, who averaged 18 points.
Other returners include senior forwards Taylor Cox and Chris Thomas. Junior Shane Morris could be the Cards’ fifth starter.
4. Bardstown (21-10). The Tigers advanced to the region tournament for the fourth straight year, and return everyone except Wenquel Graves.
Senior guard Corey Hall is back, along with senior forward Logan Edelen, junior forward RaShaun Phillips, junior guard Jordan Hickman and senior Kebe Scott.
Bardstown started off hot at 19-6, but lost four of its final six games and lost to Adair County in the second round of the region tournament.
5. Central Hardin (24-4). The Bruins had the most successful season in the school’s history last year, but must replace three starters – Mike Fohl, Andre Miller and Chan Walsh.
Central Hardin does return senior Chris Nichols, who averaged 11 points per game, and junior Daniel Linder, who averaged 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Senior Tony Harding steps into the starting lineup.
6. Nelson County (12-13). Six-foot-4 forward Jesse Beavers, who averaged 18 points and seven rebounds a game, is the tallest player on the team and is back for his senior season.
Senior guard Eric Thompson and senior forward Nick Mudd, who combined for 16 points a game last year, are also back.
7. John Hardin (20-10). The Bulldogs must replace eight of their top 10 players from last year’s squad and lack the varsity experience coach Artie Braden looks for each year.
Junior Sherrod Moore is the only returning player who logged a considerable amount of minutes.
Seniors Karl Butts, Chad Johnson, Stefan Frees, Richard Jernigan and Desmon Bussey are all moving up from the JV squad.
8. Green County (9-18). The Dragons had a rough go last year, but return all five starters from that team.
Green County will be led by its junior class: Guard Clint Henderson, wing Keaton Druin, guard Stanton Shively and forward Seth Jones. Also back is senior Daniel Bennett.
Coach Toby Curry expects seniors Zane Edwards and Colton Lobb and juniors Caleb Shirley and Chris Ray to compete for starting spots.
9. Campbellsville (15-12). The Tigers return two starters – Shamuri Bridgewater and Antwan Coulter – but they lost three other starters and two part-time starters.
Campbellsville will rely on its sophomore class: Thomas Downs, Bryton Taylor, Ben James, Chris Downs and Jonathan Olanyian.
10. LaRue County (7-23). The Hawks return all of their starters from last year, and that has third-year coach Paul Childress ready for big things.
Returning players for LaRue County include seniors Corey Salsman, Shawn Seymour, Keaton Gardner, Curtis Cox and Alan Vass and junior Tyler Hornback.
Also back are Christian Seymour, Tyler Nall, Christian Mullins, Ryan Wafford and Ian Mortenson.
11. Elizabethtown (17-11). Longtime coach James Haire must replace Steffphon Pettigrew, last year’s Mr. Basketball who averaged a state-best 33.6 points a game and was second in rebounding at 13.3.
Senior guard Aaron Pedigo, senior forward Dariuss French and junior forward Chris Gohman will help smooth the transition for the young Panthers.
12. Bardstown Bethlehem (18-11). The Eagles lost four starters off last year’s team, which won the 19th District and advanced to the region tournament for the first time in nine years.
Senior guard Blake Stanley is the team’s lone returning starter.
13. Hart County (18-13). Casey Simpson takes over a team that advanced to the region tournament and returns several key players.
Senior forward Thad Highbaugh and senior center Ethan Moore are the top returners.
14. Fort Knox (13-15). The Eagles will have to cope with the loss of 17 total players due to graduation and military relocation.
Fort Knox will have to replace three seniors – Terry Walker, Troy Meno and Mike Key – who combined to average 40 points a game.
The Eagles will turn to senior guard Craig Lancaster, senior forward Devan Felts, junior guard Chris Walker to take over the load.
15. Washington County (8-18). The Commanders won five more games than the previous season and are looking to make it back to the region tournament.
16. Caverna (7-18). The Colonels won four of their first seven games, but finished 3-15 and lost in the first round of the 18th District Tournament.
Caverna will have to replace forward Curtis Adams and guard William Bradley, but second-year coach Simon Ford hopes seniors Chad Briggs and Mike Curry, along with juniors Ethan Boles and Taylor Rogers can fill the void left behind.
17. Marion County (5-21). The Knights lost their first six games, then put together a four-game winning streak before going 1-15 the rest of the way.
Fifth Region Players to Watch
Darrin Ballou, Adair County
Chase Cox, Taylor County
Nick Fudge, Adair County
Josh Gumm, Taylor County
Kalen Kimberland, Adair County
Jesse Beavers, Nelson County
Maurice Gosa, North Hardin
Corey Hall, Bardstown
Clint Henderson, Green County
LaRod King, North Hardin<!-- / message -->
By JOSH CLAYWELL
The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise
The Adair County Indians dethroned the 17th District last year by winning the 5th Region Tournament.
Now, the Indians, who return three key starters from that team, will look to become just the third team outside the 17th District to win back-to-back region crowns (LaRue County 1987-88, Marion County 1992-93).
But veteran Adair County coach Mark Fudge thinks the region will be wide open.
“After winning the region, we can no longer sneak up on our opponents, so we will have to be ready every game,” Fudge said. “If we can stay healthy and develop the same type of chemistry we’ve had the past couple of seasons, I think we can be in the mix of things again come tournament time. The region doesn’t have a dominant team, so any one of a number of teams has a shot.”
And that starts with the North Hardin Trojans, who last won the region title in 2002.
“North may not have the great individual players they’ve had in past years, but they still have the best overall talent in the region,” Fudge said.
1. Adair County (24-10). The Indians return three of the region’s top players in senior guard Kalen Kimberland (9 points per game), junior guard Nick Fudge (9.2 points and 6 assists per game) and junior forward Darrin Ballou (15.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game).
Fudge has four players who could step in and try to replace Lewis and Willis: Junior guard Corey Helm, junior center Cameron Murrell, sophomore swingman Kyle Sandusky and junior forward Scotty Neat.
After an 8-8 start, the Indians won 15-of-16 en route to the Sweet 16, where they lost to Scott County in the second round.
2. North Hardin (15-18). Following a 10-17 start last season, the Trojans won five games in a row and won the 17th District championship before falling to Bardstown in the first round of the region tournament.
The Trojans will be relatively young, with only two starters on the roster – guard Maurice Gosa and forward Jerome Draper.
Also back are juniors LaRod King, Jordan Bramblett and Billy Thompson and sophomores Roosevelt Emerson, Nigel Phelps and James Berry.
3. Taylor County (17-15). The Cardinals return four starters off last year’s region semifinalist team. The biggest knack, however, is a lack of a size and Taylor County will have to rely on its shooting abilities.
The Cardinals return a talented backcourt of junior point guard Chase Cox, who averaged 17 points a game, and senior guard Josh Gumm, who averaged 18 points.
Other returners include senior forwards Taylor Cox and Chris Thomas. Junior Shane Morris could be the Cards’ fifth starter.
4. Bardstown (21-10). The Tigers advanced to the region tournament for the fourth straight year, and return everyone except Wenquel Graves.
Senior guard Corey Hall is back, along with senior forward Logan Edelen, junior forward RaShaun Phillips, junior guard Jordan Hickman and senior Kebe Scott.
Bardstown started off hot at 19-6, but lost four of its final six games and lost to Adair County in the second round of the region tournament.
5. Central Hardin (24-4). The Bruins had the most successful season in the school’s history last year, but must replace three starters – Mike Fohl, Andre Miller and Chan Walsh.
Central Hardin does return senior Chris Nichols, who averaged 11 points per game, and junior Daniel Linder, who averaged 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Senior Tony Harding steps into the starting lineup.
6. Nelson County (12-13). Six-foot-4 forward Jesse Beavers, who averaged 18 points and seven rebounds a game, is the tallest player on the team and is back for his senior season.
Senior guard Eric Thompson and senior forward Nick Mudd, who combined for 16 points a game last year, are also back.
7. John Hardin (20-10). The Bulldogs must replace eight of their top 10 players from last year’s squad and lack the varsity experience coach Artie Braden looks for each year.
Junior Sherrod Moore is the only returning player who logged a considerable amount of minutes.
Seniors Karl Butts, Chad Johnson, Stefan Frees, Richard Jernigan and Desmon Bussey are all moving up from the JV squad.
8. Green County (9-18). The Dragons had a rough go last year, but return all five starters from that team.
Green County will be led by its junior class: Guard Clint Henderson, wing Keaton Druin, guard Stanton Shively and forward Seth Jones. Also back is senior Daniel Bennett.
Coach Toby Curry expects seniors Zane Edwards and Colton Lobb and juniors Caleb Shirley and Chris Ray to compete for starting spots.
9. Campbellsville (15-12). The Tigers return two starters – Shamuri Bridgewater and Antwan Coulter – but they lost three other starters and two part-time starters.
Campbellsville will rely on its sophomore class: Thomas Downs, Bryton Taylor, Ben James, Chris Downs and Jonathan Olanyian.
10. LaRue County (7-23). The Hawks return all of their starters from last year, and that has third-year coach Paul Childress ready for big things.
Returning players for LaRue County include seniors Corey Salsman, Shawn Seymour, Keaton Gardner, Curtis Cox and Alan Vass and junior Tyler Hornback.
Also back are Christian Seymour, Tyler Nall, Christian Mullins, Ryan Wafford and Ian Mortenson.
11. Elizabethtown (17-11). Longtime coach James Haire must replace Steffphon Pettigrew, last year’s Mr. Basketball who averaged a state-best 33.6 points a game and was second in rebounding at 13.3.
Senior guard Aaron Pedigo, senior forward Dariuss French and junior forward Chris Gohman will help smooth the transition for the young Panthers.
12. Bardstown Bethlehem (18-11). The Eagles lost four starters off last year’s team, which won the 19th District and advanced to the region tournament for the first time in nine years.
Senior guard Blake Stanley is the team’s lone returning starter.
13. Hart County (18-13). Casey Simpson takes over a team that advanced to the region tournament and returns several key players.
Senior forward Thad Highbaugh and senior center Ethan Moore are the top returners.
14. Fort Knox (13-15). The Eagles will have to cope with the loss of 17 total players due to graduation and military relocation.
Fort Knox will have to replace three seniors – Terry Walker, Troy Meno and Mike Key – who combined to average 40 points a game.
The Eagles will turn to senior guard Craig Lancaster, senior forward Devan Felts, junior guard Chris Walker to take over the load.
15. Washington County (8-18). The Commanders won five more games than the previous season and are looking to make it back to the region tournament.
16. Caverna (7-18). The Colonels won four of their first seven games, but finished 3-15 and lost in the first round of the 18th District Tournament.
Caverna will have to replace forward Curtis Adams and guard William Bradley, but second-year coach Simon Ford hopes seniors Chad Briggs and Mike Curry, along with juniors Ethan Boles and Taylor Rogers can fill the void left behind.
17. Marion County (5-21). The Knights lost their first six games, then put together a four-game winning streak before going 1-15 the rest of the way.
Fifth Region Players to Watch
Darrin Ballou, Adair County
Chase Cox, Taylor County
Nick Fudge, Adair County
Josh Gumm, Taylor County
Kalen Kimberland, Adair County
Jesse Beavers, Nelson County
Maurice Gosa, North Hardin
Corey Hall, Bardstown
Clint Henderson, Green County
LaRod King, North Hardin<!-- / message -->