Kentucky’s First Region’s Best Bounce-Backs
With the so-called “Snowpocalypse” descending upon the Commonwealth and high school gyms thus likely to remain cold and dark for at least the next couple of days, Prep Hoops Kentucky decided to take a look at three teams in each…
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Continue ReadingWith the so-called “Snowpocalypse” descending upon the Commonwealth and high school gyms thus likely to remain cold and dark for at least the next couple of days, Prep Hoops Kentucky decided to take a look at three teams in each region who have lit up their respective winters with hot first halves of the season to either help move past last year’s forgettable campaigns, or continue an ascent begun last season.
Note: these are not intended as rankings, merely recognition for squads who have made marked progress over the last calendar year.
Let’s tip things off, then, with the First Region’s stock risers.
1. McCracken County — Last year, the Mustangs entered the fray coming off a region championship and Sweet Sixteen quarterfinal trip in the first season of the school’s existence. Then McCracken County stumbled to a 15-14 finish in 2015, crashing out of postseason play with a district tournament semifinal loss. The Mustangs’ response? A 13-4 beginning to this year, including a 6-2 mark against region opponents. Tyce Daniel (10.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg), Jacob Zakutney (10.6 ppg) and William Sivills (10.2 ppg) lead McCracken County statistically. A 25-point setback to co-region frontrunner Paducah Tilghman on Jan. 15 shows the Mustangs still have some work to do to get back among the region’s elite, but they’re on the right track.
2. Marshall County — The Marshals, perennially one of the top teams in the region, slipped to a 13-16 mark last winter, their first losing ledger since 1997-98, and lost in the first round of the district tournament. Marshall County is back on the right side of .500 for now, with an 11-7 record. Dylan Walters (15.7 ppg), D.J. Pigg (15.6 ppg) and Aaron Reed (10.1 ppg) are the Marshals’ big guns. Marshall County has losses to Paducah Tilghman (by 14) and Murray (by seven), but gets one more crack at both the Blue Tornado (Jan. 29) and Tigers (Feb. 9).
3. Hickman County — The Falcons’ 6-11 record doesn’t jump off the page, but it’s one fewer win than they claimed all of last season, with 10 fewer losses. Hickman County counts upon Zeke Prince (15.9 ppg) and Dalton Jewell (10.0 ppg) offensively. The Falcons don’t own a win against a team with a winning record, but have a chance to make some noise on a regional scale with dates with McCracken County (Feb. 2) and Murray (Feb. 11) and already played district foe Carlisle County within two points (Jan. 8).
Honorable mention: Fulton City (8-19 last season, 10-11 this year)
Got feedback? Hit us up on Twitter @PrepHoopsKY. Keep clicking back on prephoops.com as this list continues with each of Kentucky’s 16 regions.