The Scribe
11-25-2008, 03:46 AM
15th Region Boys Preview
Special to BGP
1. Shelby Valley (24-5) was the overwhelming favorite to win a pair of region titles last year but fell short in both the All-A and 15th Region Tournaments despite winning 24 of 29 games.
With two starters and a key transfer in the fold, the Wildcats are again the favorite to win a region that is “down” in the eyes of many fans and coaches this year.
Junior guard Elisha Justice and junior forward Ashley Hatfield are back for Jason Booher’s club, who also welcome the addition of 6-9 center Deven Adams, who played at Pikeville last year.
2. East Ridge (17-13) welcomes back three starters from last year’s squad that lost to Johnson Central in the semifinals of the region tournament.
Guards Korey Fields and Cody Williams are expected to have a big hand in the offense for head coach Eric Ratliff’s squad.
If East Ridge can develop their frontcourt, they could challenge Shelby Valley for the region title.
3. Johnson Central (14-19) got hot at the right time before running into Paintsville twice in the postseason – in the finals of the 57th District finals and the finals of he 15th Region Tournament.
Forward Ian Welch (6-2, Sr.) returns for the Eagles, whose development could be tardy with the long playoff run by the football team.
Sharpshooter Jo Whitaker and Mike Conley also started for the Eagles last year and should help them take the district title and make a serious run for the region title.
4. The success of Belfry (15-15) depends on which football players decide to play basketball after the Pirates’ gridiron season ends.
Ivan Lee and Thomas Varney are expected to play, but that won’t be known for sure until mid-December.
Guards Jordan Hairston and Andrew Elkins are back for the Pirates, who are expecting a talented sophomore class to provide depth early in the season.
5. Magoffin County (9-20) lost ten of their first 11 games last year before turning things around slightly after Christmas.
With several starters back for head coach Neil West’s squad, the Hornets should make a run for the 57th District title.
Jonathon Shepherd and Zach Sparks are two of the starters back for Magoffin, who may have trouble matching up with the bigger teams in the region.
6. Allen Central (21-9) won the 58th District title before falling to Johnson Central in overtime in the region tourney.
Hunter and Logan Crowder should be the centerpieces of the Rebel offense that will look to a large junior class to fill in the voids from their graduation losses.
7. Pikeville (16-12) welcomes back senior guard Matt Clevenger and junior guard Gatlin Clark, who combined to score over 20 points a game last year.
However, the loss of Deven Adams to Shelby Valley gives the Panthers a large void in the middle.
8. Phelps (20-7) knocked off Belfry for the 60th District title and could repeat with the return of Dillion Stiltner, who averaged 18 points a game last year.
Ryan Hager will again be the Hornets’ presence in the middle.
9. Paintsville (30-4) used a talented senior class to reach the Sweet 16 in what proved to be Mike Runyon’s swan song.
Matt Ratliff takes over a young squad that graduated many of the players responsible for last year’s postseason run.
Seniors Zack Vialpando, Tyler Deaton, and sophomores Zack Jackson, Shey Spencer, and Brett Reynolds will be among those vying for starting positions for the new look Tigers.
10. Prestonsburg (9-19) welcomes former coach Jack pack to the sidelines, and he’ll have guard Michael Burchett (13 ppg., 5.3 rpg.) back in the fold.
Jody Tackett and Steven Patrick are also back for the Blackcats who could challenge Allen Central for the district title.
11. Sheldon Clark (10-16) has B.J. Moore and several other returners coming back after a 10-win season in 2007-08.
12. Lawrence County (8-20) has some experience coming back in key spots, led by senior Chandler Thompson, who averaged nearly 14 points a game last year.
13. Pike County Central (13-16) has several key players back, including leading scorer Michael Thompson.
14. South Floyd (2-26) could be the most improved team in the region with the return of seniors Matt Tackett and Tyler Mitchell, 6-4 Dylan Langdon, and 6-5 junior Corey Paige.
15. Betsy Layne (8-18) has a new coach in William Newsome and returns center Josh Head in the middle.
16. Piarst School (1-24) has won just 15 games over the last five seasons and expects to bring up the bottom of the region once again.
Top Players in the 15th Region
1. Elisha Justice (Shelby Valley)
2. Ian Welch (Johnson Central)
3. Ashley Hatfield (Shelby Valley)
4. Michael Burchett (Prestonsburg)
5. Deven Adams (Shelby Valley)
6. Matt Clevenger (Pikeville)
7. Logan Bryant (Shelby Valley)
8. Dillion Stiltner (Phelps)
9. Logan Crowder (Allen Central)
10. Jonathon Shepherd (Magoffin County)
Special to BGP
1. Shelby Valley (24-5) was the overwhelming favorite to win a pair of region titles last year but fell short in both the All-A and 15th Region Tournaments despite winning 24 of 29 games.
With two starters and a key transfer in the fold, the Wildcats are again the favorite to win a region that is “down” in the eyes of many fans and coaches this year.
Junior guard Elisha Justice and junior forward Ashley Hatfield are back for Jason Booher’s club, who also welcome the addition of 6-9 center Deven Adams, who played at Pikeville last year.
2. East Ridge (17-13) welcomes back three starters from last year’s squad that lost to Johnson Central in the semifinals of the region tournament.
Guards Korey Fields and Cody Williams are expected to have a big hand in the offense for head coach Eric Ratliff’s squad.
If East Ridge can develop their frontcourt, they could challenge Shelby Valley for the region title.
3. Johnson Central (14-19) got hot at the right time before running into Paintsville twice in the postseason – in the finals of the 57th District finals and the finals of he 15th Region Tournament.
Forward Ian Welch (6-2, Sr.) returns for the Eagles, whose development could be tardy with the long playoff run by the football team.
Sharpshooter Jo Whitaker and Mike Conley also started for the Eagles last year and should help them take the district title and make a serious run for the region title.
4. The success of Belfry (15-15) depends on which football players decide to play basketball after the Pirates’ gridiron season ends.
Ivan Lee and Thomas Varney are expected to play, but that won’t be known for sure until mid-December.
Guards Jordan Hairston and Andrew Elkins are back for the Pirates, who are expecting a talented sophomore class to provide depth early in the season.
5. Magoffin County (9-20) lost ten of their first 11 games last year before turning things around slightly after Christmas.
With several starters back for head coach Neil West’s squad, the Hornets should make a run for the 57th District title.
Jonathon Shepherd and Zach Sparks are two of the starters back for Magoffin, who may have trouble matching up with the bigger teams in the region.
6. Allen Central (21-9) won the 58th District title before falling to Johnson Central in overtime in the region tourney.
Hunter and Logan Crowder should be the centerpieces of the Rebel offense that will look to a large junior class to fill in the voids from their graduation losses.
7. Pikeville (16-12) welcomes back senior guard Matt Clevenger and junior guard Gatlin Clark, who combined to score over 20 points a game last year.
However, the loss of Deven Adams to Shelby Valley gives the Panthers a large void in the middle.
8. Phelps (20-7) knocked off Belfry for the 60th District title and could repeat with the return of Dillion Stiltner, who averaged 18 points a game last year.
Ryan Hager will again be the Hornets’ presence in the middle.
9. Paintsville (30-4) used a talented senior class to reach the Sweet 16 in what proved to be Mike Runyon’s swan song.
Matt Ratliff takes over a young squad that graduated many of the players responsible for last year’s postseason run.
Seniors Zack Vialpando, Tyler Deaton, and sophomores Zack Jackson, Shey Spencer, and Brett Reynolds will be among those vying for starting positions for the new look Tigers.
10. Prestonsburg (9-19) welcomes former coach Jack pack to the sidelines, and he’ll have guard Michael Burchett (13 ppg., 5.3 rpg.) back in the fold.
Jody Tackett and Steven Patrick are also back for the Blackcats who could challenge Allen Central for the district title.
11. Sheldon Clark (10-16) has B.J. Moore and several other returners coming back after a 10-win season in 2007-08.
12. Lawrence County (8-20) has some experience coming back in key spots, led by senior Chandler Thompson, who averaged nearly 14 points a game last year.
13. Pike County Central (13-16) has several key players back, including leading scorer Michael Thompson.
14. South Floyd (2-26) could be the most improved team in the region with the return of seniors Matt Tackett and Tyler Mitchell, 6-4 Dylan Langdon, and 6-5 junior Corey Paige.
15. Betsy Layne (8-18) has a new coach in William Newsome and returns center Josh Head in the middle.
16. Piarst School (1-24) has won just 15 games over the last five seasons and expects to bring up the bottom of the region once again.
Top Players in the 15th Region
1. Elisha Justice (Shelby Valley)
2. Ian Welch (Johnson Central)
3. Ashley Hatfield (Shelby Valley)
4. Michael Burchett (Prestonsburg)
5. Deven Adams (Shelby Valley)
6. Matt Clevenger (Pikeville)
7. Logan Bryant (Shelby Valley)
8. Dillion Stiltner (Phelps)
9. Logan Crowder (Allen Central)
10. Jonathon Shepherd (Magoffin County)