2017-2018 Season Preview: 14th Region
October 15th is a holiday in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. High school basketball season is officially underway in the Bluegrass state. The excitement that comes with a new season will soon be replaced by the grind of the season but every school in the state starts the season with the same goal. Everyone wants to get to Rupp Arena in March. In our season preview series, we break down the favorites to make it to the KHSAA state tournament out of each region. Our previews continue here the 14th Region.
THE CONTENDERS:
SCHOOL NAME (overall record, region record from last season)
Perry County Central (28-8, 15-0)
Sharpshooting guard Noah Back returns after averaging 13.2 points per game as a sophomore last season. Back shot over 40% from 3-point range on over 245 attempts. Back is the only returning starter, but the Commodores do return seniors Richard Cornett and Chandler Caudill, both of which averaged over 5 points per game last season. 6’9 senior center Sam Turner also returns.
Knott County Central (22-4, 16-4)
Isaac Caudill returns for Knox County Central after averaging 15.8 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. Junior big man Cameron Jones also returns. Jones (6’8) averaged 9.1 points and 5 rebounds as a sophomore. Central finished as runner-up last season.
Estill County (25-8, 12-4)
Caleb Bonny is a straight bucket getter and is lethal for a number of different spots on the floor. He can knock down shots from 3-point range as well as take his man off the dribble and finish at the rim. Bonny averaged 23 points and 4 rebounds during his junior campaign. Estill also returns two other starters that helped the Engineers win the district title last season.
Wolfe County (18-14, 15-9)
Last year’s 55th district champions return Deven Stone, who averaged 22.4 points per game last season. He and Jacob King in the post will look to help lead Wolfe County back to a spot in the regional tournament this year.