The Scribe
11-26-2007, 01:22 PM
BGP 12th Region Boys' Preview
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Lincoln County (24-10) – Lincoln County made the school’s first trip to Rupp Arena in 27 years and could have enough firepower to become the first school since Boyle County in 1999 to repeat as champions of a balanced 12th Region.
Head coach Jeff Jackson looks to have a strong backcourt with the return of Ryan Young (6-1, Sr.) and Noah Keeton (6-2, Jr.). Young averaged 13.7 points and handed out a team-high five assists a game, while Keeton scored 10.8 points and grabbed three rebounds a game.
Senior Daniel Ralston was the team’s top threat from 3-point range and comes off a junior season that saw him score 9.2 points a game.
The Patriots have a lack of experienced size, but Ethan Spurlin (6-3, Jr.) could fill that void after scoring 3.4 points off the bench last year.
Pulaski County (21-10) – Like Lincoln County, the Pulaski County Maroons have experience back at the guard position but graduated their frontcourt.
Seniors Caleb Rowe and Andrew Webb will help the Maroons defend their 47th District title.
Wayne County (14-18) – Wayne County lost to Southwestern by a single point in the district championship but appear ready to make a longer postseason run this year.
6-7 senior Cody Decker and 6-3 freshman Gavin Dunagan give the Cardinals some frontcourt size some of the other contenders lack.
Sharpshooter Dustin Wells and Jacob Gregory, the team’s leading rebounder from last year also return for head coach Rodney Woods.
Mercer County (17-12) – Year one of the Mercer/Harrodsburg merger wasn’t as successful as the football season, but head coach Nelson Cundiff thinks his squad has enough depth to challenge for the region title.
Senior guards Ethan Ashford and Matthew Robertson should be joined by Jamel Taylor in the lineup. Tyler Mayes and Trevor Short give the Titans quickness off the bench in the backcourt.
Boyle County (18-13) – Boyle County got hot at the right time, winning 14 of their last 17 games before falling to Lincoln County 64-51 in the region championship game.
Head coach Ronnie Bottoms has two of the region’s top players returning in senior guard Christian Williams and junior forward Jordan Aumiller.
The Rebels will look to some underclassmen to help augment their offense, which took a hit with the graduation of Spencer Perrin.
McCreary Central (20-8) – The Raiders were on a roll heading into the postseason, winning nine of ten games, before getting upended by Wayne County in the first round of the district tournament.
Lightning fast guard Aaron Watts returns after scoring 21.1 points a game as a freshman. Also back are point guard Adam Swiger and seniors Lucas Gregory and Josh Phillips.
If Watts continues to progress and gets help on offense, the Raiders could surprise in March.
Southwestern (18-11) – Southwestern added another 48th District title trophy to the case but were dumped by Boyle County in the region semifinals.
Head coach David Schultz has the task of replacing eight seniors, and the improvement of Wayne County and McCreary County will cause that search to be expedited.
Tyler Hargis and Nate Cross are two seniors that return for the Warriors, who are vertically challenged and should continue to push the basketball up the floor after seeing their scoring dip to 64 points a game last year.
Somerset (14-15) – Somerset head coach Shawn Thacker is hoping a roster full of upperclassmen will be able to forge the Briarjumpers ahead of the 47th District pack and into the region tournament, where they lost to Southwestern in the first round last year.
Senior John Cole is coming off a record-setting season as a football receiver and is expected to again lead Somerset on the hardwood.
Seniors Corey Price and Tyler Bourne are back to lend size and scoring to the Somerset frontcourt.
West Jessamine (20-10) – The rebuilding begins for West Jessamine, who has won the last two 46th District titles.
Gone is region player of the year Zack Fain, but senior guard Mike Lee returns to run the point. Senior guard Richard Florence returns to West Jessamine after a moving out of state.
6-4 senior Nick Jefferies gives the Colts some size in the middle.
East Jessamine (15-15) – East Jessamine struggled late last year, losing five of their last eight games to finish at .500 for head coach Chris O’Bryan.
Senior Matt Whitley averaged 12 points last year and is one of the few seniors on the roster. Senior Daniel Gainey and junior guard Darrius Jackson also return for the Jaguars.
Danville (5-23) – An earlier than expected exit from the football playoffs could pay dividends for the basketball team, which struggled to win five games for first-year head coach Matthew Yates.
Juniors Leonard Macon and Miles Kingsley will be the centerpiece of the Admiral offensive attack that should improve over their 50.4 points per game average from last year.
Casey County (10-19) – Todd Ellis takes over for Perry Walters at Casey County, and his first task is to find a way to replace center Keith Price and his 19 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Kellen Sanders, Nick Coffman, and 3-point shooter Chad Jeffries return to offer balance to a Rebel squad that should be in the thick of the 47th District race.
Rockcastle County (5-22) – Benny Blanton should have some size this year to compete with Pulaski County’s frontcourt in the 47th District.
Garrard County (13-13) – First year head coach Lee DeForest has some seniors coming back that logged time last year.
Nigel Durham, Jordan Phillips, and Nate Ploskonka will join junior guard Justin Ray in the Golden Lions’ lineup.
Monticello (7-21), Burgin (7-17), and the Kentucky School for the Deaf (11-14) are all expected to field young squads again this year.
12th Region Players to Watch
1. Aaron Watts (McCreary Central), 6-2, Sophomore
2. Ryan Young (Lincoln County), 6-1, Senior
3. Leonard Macon (Danville), 6-6, Junior
4. Christian Williams (Boyle County), 6-2 Senior
5. John Cole (Somerset), 6-0, Senior
6. Jordan Aumiller (Boyle County), 6-5, Junior
7. Cody Decker (Wayne County), 6-7, Senior
8. Daniel Ralston (Lincoln County), 6-2, Senior
9. Daniel Gainey (East Jessamine), 6-1, Senior
10. Noah Keeton (Lincoln County), 6-2, Junior
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Lincoln County (24-10) – Lincoln County made the school’s first trip to Rupp Arena in 27 years and could have enough firepower to become the first school since Boyle County in 1999 to repeat as champions of a balanced 12th Region.
Head coach Jeff Jackson looks to have a strong backcourt with the return of Ryan Young (6-1, Sr.) and Noah Keeton (6-2, Jr.). Young averaged 13.7 points and handed out a team-high five assists a game, while Keeton scored 10.8 points and grabbed three rebounds a game.
Senior Daniel Ralston was the team’s top threat from 3-point range and comes off a junior season that saw him score 9.2 points a game.
The Patriots have a lack of experienced size, but Ethan Spurlin (6-3, Jr.) could fill that void after scoring 3.4 points off the bench last year.
Pulaski County (21-10) – Like Lincoln County, the Pulaski County Maroons have experience back at the guard position but graduated their frontcourt.
Seniors Caleb Rowe and Andrew Webb will help the Maroons defend their 47th District title.
Wayne County (14-18) – Wayne County lost to Southwestern by a single point in the district championship but appear ready to make a longer postseason run this year.
6-7 senior Cody Decker and 6-3 freshman Gavin Dunagan give the Cardinals some frontcourt size some of the other contenders lack.
Sharpshooter Dustin Wells and Jacob Gregory, the team’s leading rebounder from last year also return for head coach Rodney Woods.
Mercer County (17-12) – Year one of the Mercer/Harrodsburg merger wasn’t as successful as the football season, but head coach Nelson Cundiff thinks his squad has enough depth to challenge for the region title.
Senior guards Ethan Ashford and Matthew Robertson should be joined by Jamel Taylor in the lineup. Tyler Mayes and Trevor Short give the Titans quickness off the bench in the backcourt.
Boyle County (18-13) – Boyle County got hot at the right time, winning 14 of their last 17 games before falling to Lincoln County 64-51 in the region championship game.
Head coach Ronnie Bottoms has two of the region’s top players returning in senior guard Christian Williams and junior forward Jordan Aumiller.
The Rebels will look to some underclassmen to help augment their offense, which took a hit with the graduation of Spencer Perrin.
McCreary Central (20-8) – The Raiders were on a roll heading into the postseason, winning nine of ten games, before getting upended by Wayne County in the first round of the district tournament.
Lightning fast guard Aaron Watts returns after scoring 21.1 points a game as a freshman. Also back are point guard Adam Swiger and seniors Lucas Gregory and Josh Phillips.
If Watts continues to progress and gets help on offense, the Raiders could surprise in March.
Southwestern (18-11) – Southwestern added another 48th District title trophy to the case but were dumped by Boyle County in the region semifinals.
Head coach David Schultz has the task of replacing eight seniors, and the improvement of Wayne County and McCreary County will cause that search to be expedited.
Tyler Hargis and Nate Cross are two seniors that return for the Warriors, who are vertically challenged and should continue to push the basketball up the floor after seeing their scoring dip to 64 points a game last year.
Somerset (14-15) – Somerset head coach Shawn Thacker is hoping a roster full of upperclassmen will be able to forge the Briarjumpers ahead of the 47th District pack and into the region tournament, where they lost to Southwestern in the first round last year.
Senior John Cole is coming off a record-setting season as a football receiver and is expected to again lead Somerset on the hardwood.
Seniors Corey Price and Tyler Bourne are back to lend size and scoring to the Somerset frontcourt.
West Jessamine (20-10) – The rebuilding begins for West Jessamine, who has won the last two 46th District titles.
Gone is region player of the year Zack Fain, but senior guard Mike Lee returns to run the point. Senior guard Richard Florence returns to West Jessamine after a moving out of state.
6-4 senior Nick Jefferies gives the Colts some size in the middle.
East Jessamine (15-15) – East Jessamine struggled late last year, losing five of their last eight games to finish at .500 for head coach Chris O’Bryan.
Senior Matt Whitley averaged 12 points last year and is one of the few seniors on the roster. Senior Daniel Gainey and junior guard Darrius Jackson also return for the Jaguars.
Danville (5-23) – An earlier than expected exit from the football playoffs could pay dividends for the basketball team, which struggled to win five games for first-year head coach Matthew Yates.
Juniors Leonard Macon and Miles Kingsley will be the centerpiece of the Admiral offensive attack that should improve over their 50.4 points per game average from last year.
Casey County (10-19) – Todd Ellis takes over for Perry Walters at Casey County, and his first task is to find a way to replace center Keith Price and his 19 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Kellen Sanders, Nick Coffman, and 3-point shooter Chad Jeffries return to offer balance to a Rebel squad that should be in the thick of the 47th District race.
Rockcastle County (5-22) – Benny Blanton should have some size this year to compete with Pulaski County’s frontcourt in the 47th District.
Garrard County (13-13) – First year head coach Lee DeForest has some seniors coming back that logged time last year.
Nigel Durham, Jordan Phillips, and Nate Ploskonka will join junior guard Justin Ray in the Golden Lions’ lineup.
Monticello (7-21), Burgin (7-17), and the Kentucky School for the Deaf (11-14) are all expected to field young squads again this year.
12th Region Players to Watch
1. Aaron Watts (McCreary Central), 6-2, Sophomore
2. Ryan Young (Lincoln County), 6-1, Senior
3. Leonard Macon (Danville), 6-6, Junior
4. Christian Williams (Boyle County), 6-2 Senior
5. John Cole (Somerset), 6-0, Senior
6. Jordan Aumiller (Boyle County), 6-5, Junior
7. Cody Decker (Wayne County), 6-7, Senior
8. Daniel Ralston (Lincoln County), 6-2, Senior
9. Daniel Gainey (East Jessamine), 6-1, Senior
10. Noah Keeton (Lincoln County), 6-2, Junior