The Scribe
11-25-2008, 03:25 AM
10th Region Boys Preview
by Jimmy Neismith
1. George Rogers Clark (22-8) already had one of the best sophomore classes in the state, and it was bolstered by the transfer of University of Kentucky commitment Vinny Zollo.
That addition should be enough for the Cardinals to unseat Mason County and get back to Rupp Arena for the second time in three years.
A lot was made of Zollo’s arrival in Winchester. The 6-foot-8 sophomore averaged nearly 14 points a game in Ohio.
Zollo will join sophomore guard Robbie Stenzel, who averaged nearly 18 points a game last year.
Senior Robert Hatton and sophomore Corey Rogers make the Cardinals one of the deeper and athletic teams in the region.
If Zollo lives up to his billing, expect GRC to be playing in Rupp Arena in March.
2. The team expected to again give the Cardinals fits in the region is defending state champion Mason County.
The Royals lost Mr. Basketball Darius Miller and three other seniors, but have enough returning talent to make a bid to repeat as region champs for the first time in five years.
Four-year starter Russ Middleton averaged 15 points a game, and his 6-foot-4 frame makes him tough to guard on the perimeter.
Senior forward Keith Downing (3.1 ppg., 3.0 rpg.) and sophomore forward Treg Setty (2.6 ppg.) are also back along with 6-foot-2 sophomore Neal Pawsat 2.6 ppg.).
The Royals will look to Ryan Hamm (5-10, Sr.) and Westin Stahl (6-0, 170, Sr.) to run the Mason County offense.
Phillip Barner (6-5, Jr.) returns in the post for the Royals.
Head coach Chris O’Hearn will need some guards to develop quickly alongside Middleton if the Royals are to repeat as region kings.
3. Scott (11-20) made an improbable run to the region semifinals last year despite entering postseason play with a record of 8-19. With four starters back, they may be able to enter district tournament play with a record reversal this season.
Forward Nikola Gligorevic is one of the tougher post players in the region and is tough to guard.
He gets help on the front line from 6-foot-8 junior Daniel O’Conner.
Nick Hiller (6-0, Sr.) returns in the backcourt for the Eagles, who will showcase their team at the Kenton County Classic and the Hoopin’ It Up Classic in Laurel County.
4. Campbell County (18-11) returns their top three scorers from last year and could make a strong bid for their first region title since 2001.
Patrick Nearl (6-1, Sr.) averaged 13.1 points a game and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 39-percent from 3-point range.
6-foot-3 junior guard Brady Jolly also returns in the backcourt as does junior Cody Nieses.
The Camel frontline appears solid with 6-5 senior Petey Albrecht (12.7 ppg., 5.9 rpg.) and 6-4 senior Ben Franzen (9.0 ppg.).
The Camels have a strong junior class that should provide plenty of depth for head coach Scott Code’s squad.
5. Montgomery County (24-8) lost four starters from last year’s region runner-up team and will look to a roster full of upperclassmen to get them back into the region hunt.
Senior guard Brandon Rash hit 56-percent of his shots and can play either guard position.
Seniors Cody Curtis and Nic Hendrix, and juniors Joe Baker and Azrey Crisp will compete for the other starting spot in the backcourt, while Logan Manship (6-4, Jr.), Ty Combs (6-4, Sr.), and Grant Darnall (6-2, Sr.) will see time along the Indian frontline.
6. Bishop Brossart (15-13) won another All-A 10th Region title but fell short to Scott by a bucket in the first round of the 37th District Tournament.
The Mustangs welcome back their leading scorer from last year, Jacob Rieger, along with guard Joe Webb.
7. Harrison County (9-15) will lean on their upperclassmen to improve on last year and bring home the 38th District title. 6-foot-5 center Ryan Puckett is one of several seniors returning for Mike Reitz and the ‘Breds.
8. Deming (14-13) was within four points of a district title last year before falling to Pendleton County 63-59.
Sophomore guard Kyle King averaged 20 points a game last year, and his twin brother Luke also averaged double-figures in scoring.
Garth Grause (6-6, Sr.) hauled down eight rebounds a game in the post for the Devils.
If Deming can stay healthy, they should challenge Harrison County for the district title.
9. Bourbon County (11-19) has a new coach in Jay Bordas, who replaces Mike Flynn.
6-foot-3 forward Adam Lynch and junior guard Alex McFarland dot a roster dominated by seniors and sophomores.
Bordas will be joined on the bench by new assistant coach Preston LeMaster.
10. Pendleton County (7-21) suffered through an up and down season but still managed to win the district title.
Head coach Chad Simms will have another young squad to work with six juniors and six sophomores on the roster.
Twin sophomores Logan and Tanner Florence are back for the Wildcats, as are senior Trent Moeves, and junior Dillon Greene.
11. Augusta (15-14) once again advanced to the region tournament in 2007-08, but the hits were huge to the Panthers, who do return 6-6 center Chris Mofford, who averaged 14 points and nine rebounds last year, and guard Ryan Kelsch.
12. Calvary Christian (14-13) should challenge Bishop Brossart for the All-A region title behind the play of senior guard Joe Flanigan and seniors Ethan Glass and Chase O’Keefe.
13. Paris (3-19) struggled to a three-win season but return most of last year’s players.
Sophomore point guard Davi Stanley returns to run a Greyhound offense that lacks size in the middle.
14. Nicholas County (3-23) returns senior forward Kyle Campbell (23.1 ppg., 9.2 rpg.) and seven juniors for head coach Michael Cofer.
15. St. Patrick (19-10) stumbled down the stretch, losing four of their last five and five of their last eight games.
The Saints have some experience returning for head coach Jason Hinson. Their roster has six seniors and six juniors, which includes forwards Stephen Mason and Andy Clarke.
16. Bracken County (5-23) struggled to win five games last year, and Deron Breeze takes over as head coach for Jay Fite.
Senior point guard Levi Appleman and senior center Caleb Craft should figure prominently into the Polar Bear offense this year.
17. Silver Grove (4-22) lost Steven Pelle and his 19 points per game to graduation, but do return junior forward Ryan Vogel (8.0 ppg., 6.9 rpg.) and junior guard Austin Sandfoss.
Top 10 Players in the 10th Region
1. Russ Middleton (G) Mason County
2. Robbie Stenzel (G) George Rogers Clark
3. Vinny Zollo (C) George Rogers Clark
4. Brandon Rash (G) Montgomery County
5. Petey Albrecht (C) Campbell County
6. Chris Mofford (C) Augusta
7. Patrick Nearl (G) Campbell County
8. Nikola Gligorevic (F) Scott
9. Robert Hatton (G) George Rogers Clark
10. Kyle Campbell (F) Nicholas County
by Jimmy Neismith
1. George Rogers Clark (22-8) already had one of the best sophomore classes in the state, and it was bolstered by the transfer of University of Kentucky commitment Vinny Zollo.
That addition should be enough for the Cardinals to unseat Mason County and get back to Rupp Arena for the second time in three years.
A lot was made of Zollo’s arrival in Winchester. The 6-foot-8 sophomore averaged nearly 14 points a game in Ohio.
Zollo will join sophomore guard Robbie Stenzel, who averaged nearly 18 points a game last year.
Senior Robert Hatton and sophomore Corey Rogers make the Cardinals one of the deeper and athletic teams in the region.
If Zollo lives up to his billing, expect GRC to be playing in Rupp Arena in March.
2. The team expected to again give the Cardinals fits in the region is defending state champion Mason County.
The Royals lost Mr. Basketball Darius Miller and three other seniors, but have enough returning talent to make a bid to repeat as region champs for the first time in five years.
Four-year starter Russ Middleton averaged 15 points a game, and his 6-foot-4 frame makes him tough to guard on the perimeter.
Senior forward Keith Downing (3.1 ppg., 3.0 rpg.) and sophomore forward Treg Setty (2.6 ppg.) are also back along with 6-foot-2 sophomore Neal Pawsat 2.6 ppg.).
The Royals will look to Ryan Hamm (5-10, Sr.) and Westin Stahl (6-0, 170, Sr.) to run the Mason County offense.
Phillip Barner (6-5, Jr.) returns in the post for the Royals.
Head coach Chris O’Hearn will need some guards to develop quickly alongside Middleton if the Royals are to repeat as region kings.
3. Scott (11-20) made an improbable run to the region semifinals last year despite entering postseason play with a record of 8-19. With four starters back, they may be able to enter district tournament play with a record reversal this season.
Forward Nikola Gligorevic is one of the tougher post players in the region and is tough to guard.
He gets help on the front line from 6-foot-8 junior Daniel O’Conner.
Nick Hiller (6-0, Sr.) returns in the backcourt for the Eagles, who will showcase their team at the Kenton County Classic and the Hoopin’ It Up Classic in Laurel County.
4. Campbell County (18-11) returns their top three scorers from last year and could make a strong bid for their first region title since 2001.
Patrick Nearl (6-1, Sr.) averaged 13.1 points a game and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 39-percent from 3-point range.
6-foot-3 junior guard Brady Jolly also returns in the backcourt as does junior Cody Nieses.
The Camel frontline appears solid with 6-5 senior Petey Albrecht (12.7 ppg., 5.9 rpg.) and 6-4 senior Ben Franzen (9.0 ppg.).
The Camels have a strong junior class that should provide plenty of depth for head coach Scott Code’s squad.
5. Montgomery County (24-8) lost four starters from last year’s region runner-up team and will look to a roster full of upperclassmen to get them back into the region hunt.
Senior guard Brandon Rash hit 56-percent of his shots and can play either guard position.
Seniors Cody Curtis and Nic Hendrix, and juniors Joe Baker and Azrey Crisp will compete for the other starting spot in the backcourt, while Logan Manship (6-4, Jr.), Ty Combs (6-4, Sr.), and Grant Darnall (6-2, Sr.) will see time along the Indian frontline.
6. Bishop Brossart (15-13) won another All-A 10th Region title but fell short to Scott by a bucket in the first round of the 37th District Tournament.
The Mustangs welcome back their leading scorer from last year, Jacob Rieger, along with guard Joe Webb.
7. Harrison County (9-15) will lean on their upperclassmen to improve on last year and bring home the 38th District title. 6-foot-5 center Ryan Puckett is one of several seniors returning for Mike Reitz and the ‘Breds.
8. Deming (14-13) was within four points of a district title last year before falling to Pendleton County 63-59.
Sophomore guard Kyle King averaged 20 points a game last year, and his twin brother Luke also averaged double-figures in scoring.
Garth Grause (6-6, Sr.) hauled down eight rebounds a game in the post for the Devils.
If Deming can stay healthy, they should challenge Harrison County for the district title.
9. Bourbon County (11-19) has a new coach in Jay Bordas, who replaces Mike Flynn.
6-foot-3 forward Adam Lynch and junior guard Alex McFarland dot a roster dominated by seniors and sophomores.
Bordas will be joined on the bench by new assistant coach Preston LeMaster.
10. Pendleton County (7-21) suffered through an up and down season but still managed to win the district title.
Head coach Chad Simms will have another young squad to work with six juniors and six sophomores on the roster.
Twin sophomores Logan and Tanner Florence are back for the Wildcats, as are senior Trent Moeves, and junior Dillon Greene.
11. Augusta (15-14) once again advanced to the region tournament in 2007-08, but the hits were huge to the Panthers, who do return 6-6 center Chris Mofford, who averaged 14 points and nine rebounds last year, and guard Ryan Kelsch.
12. Calvary Christian (14-13) should challenge Bishop Brossart for the All-A region title behind the play of senior guard Joe Flanigan and seniors Ethan Glass and Chase O’Keefe.
13. Paris (3-19) struggled to a three-win season but return most of last year’s players.
Sophomore point guard Davi Stanley returns to run a Greyhound offense that lacks size in the middle.
14. Nicholas County (3-23) returns senior forward Kyle Campbell (23.1 ppg., 9.2 rpg.) and seven juniors for head coach Michael Cofer.
15. St. Patrick (19-10) stumbled down the stretch, losing four of their last five and five of their last eight games.
The Saints have some experience returning for head coach Jason Hinson. Their roster has six seniors and six juniors, which includes forwards Stephen Mason and Andy Clarke.
16. Bracken County (5-23) struggled to win five games last year, and Deron Breeze takes over as head coach for Jay Fite.
Senior point guard Levi Appleman and senior center Caleb Craft should figure prominently into the Polar Bear offense this year.
17. Silver Grove (4-22) lost Steven Pelle and his 19 points per game to graduation, but do return junior forward Ryan Vogel (8.0 ppg., 6.9 rpg.) and junior guard Austin Sandfoss.
Top 10 Players in the 10th Region
1. Russ Middleton (G) Mason County
2. Robbie Stenzel (G) George Rogers Clark
3. Vinny Zollo (C) George Rogers Clark
4. Brandon Rash (G) Montgomery County
5. Petey Albrecht (C) Campbell County
6. Chris Mofford (C) Augusta
7. Patrick Nearl (G) Campbell County
8. Nikola Gligorevic (F) Scott
9. Robert Hatton (G) George Rogers Clark
10. Kyle Campbell (F) Nicholas County