The Scribe
11-26-2007, 11:29 PM
BGP 15th Region Girls' Preview
BY LUIS DELGADO
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
1. Pike County Central (22-11) - Pike County Central returns four starters from a team that upset Notre Dame Academy and advanced to the semifinals of the Sweet 16.
Senior forward Kayla Lowe (13.6 ppg., 7.3 rpg.) is the top player in the region and should put up huge numbers this year.
Her supporting cast is solid. Sophomore guard Holly Harris averaged 10.1 points, junior forward A.D. Slone tossed in 8.3 points and hauled down 6.3 rebounds, and Kayla Ratliff added 5.5 points a game.
The Lady Hawks will get a chance to measure themselves against some of the state's best later in the year when they play in the LIT.
2. Johnson Central (18-11) - Johnson Central returns four starters from last year's team and another starter from 2005 that didn't play last year.
Senior Celena Conley returns after missing last year. She hit 47 three-pointers as a sophomore. She will be joined in the frontcourt by returning starters Ashley Young and Emily Wireman.
The Lady Eagle backcourt should consist of juniors Chelsey Salyers and Hayley Meek.
If head coach Phillip Wireman can find a solid rotation, the Lady Eagles could challenge Pike Central for the region title and a trip to Bowling Green.
3. Shelby Valley (24-4) - Rodney Rowe makes the switch from coaching the guys to the gals as he replaces Greg Napier.
He inherits four starters from last year's 24-win team that won the district but lost to Pike Central in the second round of the region tourney.
Guards Sally Roberts and Laura Perkins will join Kayla Cantrell and the Smallwoods -- Courtney and Kayla in the frontcourt.
If Rowe can transfer his past success to the girls' program, Shelby Valley could make a surprise run in March.
4. Belfry (19-11) - The Lady Pirates return senior Shae Deskins and junior Merissa Pruett from a team that won 19 games last year, including 12 of 13 at one point early in the season.
Like Johnson Central, the Pond Creekettes have a very talented group of underclassmen, led by Paige Thacker and Meghan Staten.
5. Magoffin County (28-4) - Magoffin County graduated three talented seniors, but return junior forward Ashley Hall and senior Megan Powers.
Breanna Adams and Felicia Prater should be step into starting frontcourt roles for the Lady Hornets.
6. Paintsville (16-11) - The Lady Tigers won the All "A" Regional championship and have several key players back from that team.
5'10 senior Jesikah Russell joins 5'10 senior Loren Welch and 5'11 junior Katie Adams form a solid front court.
15th Region Players to Watch
Kayla Lowe - Pike County Central - 6'0 Senior
Shae Deskins - Belfry - 5'8 Senior
Emily Wireman - Johnson Central - 6'1 Senior
Celena Conley - Johnson Central - 5'7 Senior
A.D. Slone - Pike County Central - 5'11 Junior
Ashley Hall - Magoffin County - 5'8 Junior
Sally Roberts - Shelby Valley - 5'7 Senior
Jesikah Russell - Paintsville - 5'10 Senior
Megan Hamilton - Betsy Layne - 5'5 Sophomore
Merissa Pruett - Belfry - 5'6 Junior
BY LUIS DELGADO
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
1. Pike County Central (22-11) - Pike County Central returns four starters from a team that upset Notre Dame Academy and advanced to the semifinals of the Sweet 16.
Senior forward Kayla Lowe (13.6 ppg., 7.3 rpg.) is the top player in the region and should put up huge numbers this year.
Her supporting cast is solid. Sophomore guard Holly Harris averaged 10.1 points, junior forward A.D. Slone tossed in 8.3 points and hauled down 6.3 rebounds, and Kayla Ratliff added 5.5 points a game.
The Lady Hawks will get a chance to measure themselves against some of the state's best later in the year when they play in the LIT.
2. Johnson Central (18-11) - Johnson Central returns four starters from last year's team and another starter from 2005 that didn't play last year.
Senior Celena Conley returns after missing last year. She hit 47 three-pointers as a sophomore. She will be joined in the frontcourt by returning starters Ashley Young and Emily Wireman.
The Lady Eagle backcourt should consist of juniors Chelsey Salyers and Hayley Meek.
If head coach Phillip Wireman can find a solid rotation, the Lady Eagles could challenge Pike Central for the region title and a trip to Bowling Green.
3. Shelby Valley (24-4) - Rodney Rowe makes the switch from coaching the guys to the gals as he replaces Greg Napier.
He inherits four starters from last year's 24-win team that won the district but lost to Pike Central in the second round of the region tourney.
Guards Sally Roberts and Laura Perkins will join Kayla Cantrell and the Smallwoods -- Courtney and Kayla in the frontcourt.
If Rowe can transfer his past success to the girls' program, Shelby Valley could make a surprise run in March.
4. Belfry (19-11) - The Lady Pirates return senior Shae Deskins and junior Merissa Pruett from a team that won 19 games last year, including 12 of 13 at one point early in the season.
Like Johnson Central, the Pond Creekettes have a very talented group of underclassmen, led by Paige Thacker and Meghan Staten.
5. Magoffin County (28-4) - Magoffin County graduated three talented seniors, but return junior forward Ashley Hall and senior Megan Powers.
Breanna Adams and Felicia Prater should be step into starting frontcourt roles for the Lady Hornets.
6. Paintsville (16-11) - The Lady Tigers won the All "A" Regional championship and have several key players back from that team.
5'10 senior Jesikah Russell joins 5'10 senior Loren Welch and 5'11 junior Katie Adams form a solid front court.
15th Region Players to Watch
Kayla Lowe - Pike County Central - 6'0 Senior
Shae Deskins - Belfry - 5'8 Senior
Emily Wireman - Johnson Central - 6'1 Senior
Celena Conley - Johnson Central - 5'7 Senior
A.D. Slone - Pike County Central - 5'11 Junior
Ashley Hall - Magoffin County - 5'8 Junior
Sally Roberts - Shelby Valley - 5'7 Senior
Jesikah Russell - Paintsville - 5'10 Senior
Megan Hamilton - Betsy Layne - 5'5 Sophomore
Merissa Pruett - Belfry - 5'6 Junior