The Scribe
11-25-2007, 06:14 PM
BGP Eighth Region Boys' Preview
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
One year ago, veteran Oldham County High School boys’ basketball coach Gary Forrest didn’t see his team anywhere near the top of the Eighth Region heap.
The Colonels were picked as low as seventh among regional teams in the preseason but ended up winning the regional title.
This time around, the Colonels are the pick.
Forrest has a good portion of that team returning in his quest for a sixth regional title in his 20th season at the school but it won’t be easy.
Anderson County will be solid again, while Gallatin County, Shelby County, and Simon Kenton will all be regional contenders. Several other programs in the region, including North Oldham, will be much improved.
Here’s a close look:
OLDHAM COUNTY – Forrest has plenty of talent to work with this season, including two of the regions top players in Eric Dunlap and Billie Payne.
The 6-3 Payne averaged around 14 points a game as a junior and also averaged nine rebounds, while the 5-10 Dunlap averaged 10 points as a sophomore. Both were key players in the run to the regional title last season.
But those two certainly are not the only Colonels expected to have a banner season. Guards Matt Moore, Matt Day and Grant Ruble all averaged between five and nine points last season and will be huge factors in the Oldham County success.
Brandon Mason is about 6-5 and will give Oldham County a solid post presence, while Forrest has some other youngsters he’s trying to develop.
ANDERSON COUNTY – Glen Drury, another veteran coach, has one of the school’s most talented and versatile teams.
The Bearcats will be led by All-Region guard C.J. Penny, a 6-4 junior who averaged 21 points as a sophomore. He’s considered one of the top players among the junior class in the state of Kentucky.
And Penny has help. Forward Jacob Russell averaged 12 points a game as a freshman, while senior Ryan Wells is back after averaging nine points.
The Bearcats won’t have a big lineup to go to, but the versatility of sophomore Will Ruggles and senior Nathan Groomes will aid the causer. Guard Seth Goodlett is another returning senior for Drury’s bunch.
GALLATIN COUNTY – The defending All “A” Classic regional champions, Gallatin County has one of the region’s top one-two punches.
Trent Maddox averaged 15 points a game last season and should better that number this winter, while runningmate Taylor Jones is also capable of putting big numbers on the board for the Wildcats. Scott Brown is another solid senior back.
SHELBY COUNTY – The Rockets won 22 games last season and then were hit hard by graduation, especially along the talented front line.
But senior forward Coty Minnis averaged 11 points and nine rebounds and does return, along with senior guard Alex Matthews. Both of those players are football standouts and were still alive in the Class 6-A quarterfinals, so they’ll struggle early.
Coach Mike Clark has a few other standout upperclassmen he can count on and then there’s the talented sophomore class, including Nigel Beech, Boomer Beckley, Cache Thompson and Donovan Johnson.
The sophomore combined with the seniors should make for an athletic squad.
SIMON KENTON – The Pioneers have been to the regional final each of the past two seasons, losing both contests and also graduating a ton of talent.
But coach Trent Steiner still has plenty of talent on the roster.
Senior guard Zach Layne will be the team’s leader, along with guard Nate Ponzer and post players Brandon Maegly and Josh Brown.
NORTH OLDHAM – The Mustangs already have one win before the season starts and that’s the fact that coach Danny Edelen is back for a second season.
He already has the longest tenure of any coach in the school’s five-year history and Edelen think this team has a lot of potential.
The Mustangs will employ 10-12 players with forward Mike Rowan the top player returning after he averaged 12 points and eight rebounds as a junior.
Kyle Feuquay, Nate Goodson, Clay Watson and Dale Tingle are other players that Edelen is expecting a lot from this season.
GRANT COUNTY – The Braves only won 10 games last season but could be a sleeper in the region this season with some experience returning.
Senior forward Lucas Sharp and junior guard Cody Kinman are back to lead the way, along with Cody Thompson.
SOUTH OLDHAM – The Dragons lost four starters and the sixth man off last year’s 18-win squad, but coach Steve Simpson has some talent on the roster and might field the best shooting team in the region.
Aaron Carrithers is the lone starter back after he averaged 14 points a game last season, while junior Drew Kraemer had a sensational summer and comes into the season with a great deal of expectations.
Guard Drew Simpson and forwards Nate McDevitt and Matt Faller are three players that coach Simpson expects key contributions from this winter.
SPENCER COUNTY – The Bears return All-Region performer Craig Edwards, who averaged 15 points a game last season. Zach Shields is another key returning player for a team that doesn’t have a great deal of size.
Guards Max Elder and Nick Davis should give the Bears a lift.
WALTON-VERONA – The Bearcats lost some key players to graduation off a team that nearly pulled the upset of Oldham County in the first round of the regional.
There’s not a lot of height on a team that will likely be led by Scott Kirk, Josh Jones and Peyton Ponzer.
OWEN COUNTY – A team that was rocked by graduation was the Rebels, who lost six major contributors to a 21-win team last season.
Daniel Neeley was one of the highest-scoring players in the region and the Rebels must fine some offense to replace what Neely gave them on the floor. Colin Gamble and Clint Hamilton were two players who saw time last season that are back.
HENRY COUNTY – After 19 wins last season, Henry County is likely to struggle early in the season after losing six key seniors off last year’s team.
Ben Roberts averaged about 15 points a game last season and will be the leader for Henry County, which also returns Josh Pollard and Cary Dunaway.
CARROLL COUNTY – The Panthers were extremely young last season when they won only six games, so things should be much better.
Casey Cable and Matt Allen are two key returning players, while the Panthers expect football standout Keith Welch to play basketball again this season.
TRIMBLE COUNTY – With two solid players at guard – Cory Curtis and Ross Ward – leading the charge the Raiders should be much improved.
Trimble County also has a stellar junior class that should help the program challenge for the All A regional title this season.
EMINENCE – The Warriors have some good quality depth that coach Keith Blackburn will be able to mix in with several key returning players.
Ed Berry is a solid forward, while Nelson Hedges and Dallas Moore will be two other players that Blackburn will be able to count on.
WILLIAMSTOWN – The Demons can only improve from last season since they won only one time in 26 outings. Pat Gatewood and Clyde Caldwell are the top returnees.
Eighth Region Players to Watch
1. C.J. Penny (6-4, Jr.) - Anderson County
2. Billie Payne (6-3, Sr.) - Oldham County
3. Trent Maddox (6-2, Jr.) Gallatin County
4. Coty Minnis (6-3, Sr.) Shelby County
5. Taylor Jones (5-10, Sr.) - Gallatin County
6. Eric Dunlap (5-10, Jr.) - Oldham County
7. Jacob Russell (6-3, Soph.) - Anderson County
8. Aarron Carrithers (6-3, Sr.) - South Oldham
9. Zach Layne (6-2, Sr.) - Simon Kenton
10. Craig Edwards (6-1, Sr.) - Spencer County
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
One year ago, veteran Oldham County High School boys’ basketball coach Gary Forrest didn’t see his team anywhere near the top of the Eighth Region heap.
The Colonels were picked as low as seventh among regional teams in the preseason but ended up winning the regional title.
This time around, the Colonels are the pick.
Forrest has a good portion of that team returning in his quest for a sixth regional title in his 20th season at the school but it won’t be easy.
Anderson County will be solid again, while Gallatin County, Shelby County, and Simon Kenton will all be regional contenders. Several other programs in the region, including North Oldham, will be much improved.
Here’s a close look:
OLDHAM COUNTY – Forrest has plenty of talent to work with this season, including two of the regions top players in Eric Dunlap and Billie Payne.
The 6-3 Payne averaged around 14 points a game as a junior and also averaged nine rebounds, while the 5-10 Dunlap averaged 10 points as a sophomore. Both were key players in the run to the regional title last season.
But those two certainly are not the only Colonels expected to have a banner season. Guards Matt Moore, Matt Day and Grant Ruble all averaged between five and nine points last season and will be huge factors in the Oldham County success.
Brandon Mason is about 6-5 and will give Oldham County a solid post presence, while Forrest has some other youngsters he’s trying to develop.
ANDERSON COUNTY – Glen Drury, another veteran coach, has one of the school’s most talented and versatile teams.
The Bearcats will be led by All-Region guard C.J. Penny, a 6-4 junior who averaged 21 points as a sophomore. He’s considered one of the top players among the junior class in the state of Kentucky.
And Penny has help. Forward Jacob Russell averaged 12 points a game as a freshman, while senior Ryan Wells is back after averaging nine points.
The Bearcats won’t have a big lineup to go to, but the versatility of sophomore Will Ruggles and senior Nathan Groomes will aid the causer. Guard Seth Goodlett is another returning senior for Drury’s bunch.
GALLATIN COUNTY – The defending All “A” Classic regional champions, Gallatin County has one of the region’s top one-two punches.
Trent Maddox averaged 15 points a game last season and should better that number this winter, while runningmate Taylor Jones is also capable of putting big numbers on the board for the Wildcats. Scott Brown is another solid senior back.
SHELBY COUNTY – The Rockets won 22 games last season and then were hit hard by graduation, especially along the talented front line.
But senior forward Coty Minnis averaged 11 points and nine rebounds and does return, along with senior guard Alex Matthews. Both of those players are football standouts and were still alive in the Class 6-A quarterfinals, so they’ll struggle early.
Coach Mike Clark has a few other standout upperclassmen he can count on and then there’s the talented sophomore class, including Nigel Beech, Boomer Beckley, Cache Thompson and Donovan Johnson.
The sophomore combined with the seniors should make for an athletic squad.
SIMON KENTON – The Pioneers have been to the regional final each of the past two seasons, losing both contests and also graduating a ton of talent.
But coach Trent Steiner still has plenty of talent on the roster.
Senior guard Zach Layne will be the team’s leader, along with guard Nate Ponzer and post players Brandon Maegly and Josh Brown.
NORTH OLDHAM – The Mustangs already have one win before the season starts and that’s the fact that coach Danny Edelen is back for a second season.
He already has the longest tenure of any coach in the school’s five-year history and Edelen think this team has a lot of potential.
The Mustangs will employ 10-12 players with forward Mike Rowan the top player returning after he averaged 12 points and eight rebounds as a junior.
Kyle Feuquay, Nate Goodson, Clay Watson and Dale Tingle are other players that Edelen is expecting a lot from this season.
GRANT COUNTY – The Braves only won 10 games last season but could be a sleeper in the region this season with some experience returning.
Senior forward Lucas Sharp and junior guard Cody Kinman are back to lead the way, along with Cody Thompson.
SOUTH OLDHAM – The Dragons lost four starters and the sixth man off last year’s 18-win squad, but coach Steve Simpson has some talent on the roster and might field the best shooting team in the region.
Aaron Carrithers is the lone starter back after he averaged 14 points a game last season, while junior Drew Kraemer had a sensational summer and comes into the season with a great deal of expectations.
Guard Drew Simpson and forwards Nate McDevitt and Matt Faller are three players that coach Simpson expects key contributions from this winter.
SPENCER COUNTY – The Bears return All-Region performer Craig Edwards, who averaged 15 points a game last season. Zach Shields is another key returning player for a team that doesn’t have a great deal of size.
Guards Max Elder and Nick Davis should give the Bears a lift.
WALTON-VERONA – The Bearcats lost some key players to graduation off a team that nearly pulled the upset of Oldham County in the first round of the regional.
There’s not a lot of height on a team that will likely be led by Scott Kirk, Josh Jones and Peyton Ponzer.
OWEN COUNTY – A team that was rocked by graduation was the Rebels, who lost six major contributors to a 21-win team last season.
Daniel Neeley was one of the highest-scoring players in the region and the Rebels must fine some offense to replace what Neely gave them on the floor. Colin Gamble and Clint Hamilton were two players who saw time last season that are back.
HENRY COUNTY – After 19 wins last season, Henry County is likely to struggle early in the season after losing six key seniors off last year’s team.
Ben Roberts averaged about 15 points a game last season and will be the leader for Henry County, which also returns Josh Pollard and Cary Dunaway.
CARROLL COUNTY – The Panthers were extremely young last season when they won only six games, so things should be much better.
Casey Cable and Matt Allen are two key returning players, while the Panthers expect football standout Keith Welch to play basketball again this season.
TRIMBLE COUNTY – With two solid players at guard – Cory Curtis and Ross Ward – leading the charge the Raiders should be much improved.
Trimble County also has a stellar junior class that should help the program challenge for the All A regional title this season.
EMINENCE – The Warriors have some good quality depth that coach Keith Blackburn will be able to mix in with several key returning players.
Ed Berry is a solid forward, while Nelson Hedges and Dallas Moore will be two other players that Blackburn will be able to count on.
WILLIAMSTOWN – The Demons can only improve from last season since they won only one time in 26 outings. Pat Gatewood and Clyde Caldwell are the top returnees.
Eighth Region Players to Watch
1. C.J. Penny (6-4, Jr.) - Anderson County
2. Billie Payne (6-3, Sr.) - Oldham County
3. Trent Maddox (6-2, Jr.) Gallatin County
4. Coty Minnis (6-3, Sr.) Shelby County
5. Taylor Jones (5-10, Sr.) - Gallatin County
6. Eric Dunlap (5-10, Jr.) - Oldham County
7. Jacob Russell (6-3, Soph.) - Anderson County
8. Aarron Carrithers (6-3, Sr.) - South Oldham
9. Zach Layne (6-2, Sr.) - Simon Kenton
10. Craig Edwards (6-1, Sr.) - Spencer County