Regions 1-8 Sleeper Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With region tournaments beginning Monday, it's time to highlight some underrated teams in each region that could make some noise and potentially make it to Rupp Arena. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Region - Marshall County</strong>: Marshall County has a first round match-up against 1st Region favorite McCracken County where they have both beaten each other by 4 points each game. Marshall County is one of the most evenly distributed teams in the state with 4 guys averaging over 6 ppg led by Wade Moore and Alex Staples. Trey Wall comes up huge in their wins knocking down 3's as he has been their most consistent shooter this season. If they can get past McCracken, the bracket favors them to get to the championship game with a legit chance to make it to Rupp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2nd Region - Madisonville-North Hopkins:</strong> One of the more underrated teams in the state in a highly competitive region. Senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='1191947' first='Marcus' last='Eaves'] has the ability to carry them throughout this tournament with a favorable draw on the opposite side of Lyon County. If the supporting cast of Chris Watkins, Brayden Butler and Javion Martin can combine for 25 to 30 points per game throughout the tournament, there's a chance we see them at Rupp Arena. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3rd Region - Butler County:</strong> One of the youngest and uptempo teams in the state finishing 18th as a team in scoring and have sophomore sensation [player_tooltip player_id='1229151' first='Ty' last='Price'] averaging 30.9 ppg (4th in the state). With Price getting so much attention, highly efficient forward [player_tooltip player_id='1479265' first='Lawson' last='Rice'] gets overlooked as he finished 10th in the state in rebounding and is averaging 18.3 ppg. This Sophomore duo is complimented with another pair of Sophomores, [player_tooltip player_id='2700459' first='Justin' last='Castlen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2634155' first='Trever' last='Deweese']. This Butler County team has the ability to outscore any team in the state so really anything can happen with this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4th Region - Warren East:</strong> Warren East is led by Senior Isaiah Andrews who poses as a mismatch nightmare for teams with his combination of skill and size averaging 23.7 ppg and making 63 from 3pt range. This team has played 2 of the top 4 teams in the region and have beaten both, so it has the making for a very interesting potential second round match-up against region favorite vs Warren Central. Andrews will have to have to big nights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5th Region - Green County:</strong> Green County is led by Sophomore duo [player_tooltip player_id='1123543' first='Hayden' last='Blakeman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1587777' first='Jayden' last='Marr'] that seems to be peaking at just the right time after upsetting district rival Caverna in the first round of the district tournament. This team is very guard heavy that can go get their own shots. If Blakeman and Marr can combine for 35 to 40 points throughout the tournament they have a legit shot. They also have a very favorable draw being on the opposite side of Taylor, Washington and Larue County. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6th Region - Pleasure Ridge Park: </strong>PRP may not necessarily be considered a sleeper, but they have a lot to prove. Having lost to both region favorites Western and Evangel Christian earlier in the year, this team will have a chip on their shoulder throughout this tournament. They are led by 4 seniors looking to go out on top in [player_tooltip player_id='932773' first='Keith' last='Robinson'] (18.5 ppg), Gregory Cole (13.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='1346653' first='Jakob' last='Dixon'] (12.4) and Malachi Hamilton (11.9). This is one of toughest and hard working teams in the state. Regardless of who they play, they will always be a tough out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7th Region - DuPont Manuel:</strong> They have continued to get better all season after losing to region favorite Ballard earlier in the season by 26 and then most recently by 7. This team can hurt you in a variety of ways with 3 players averaging over 10 ppg. They are led by Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1085488' first='Damone' last='King'] averaging 16.6 ppg and with their very favorable draw, they could make a legit run to state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8th Region - Simon Kenton: </strong>Coach Steiner has the luxury of having one of the best big men in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1364720' first='Gabriel' last='Dynes'] averaging near a double-double 12.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg. Sharp shooter. Although they have a ton of size in Dynes, the shooting duo of Travis Krohman and Isaac Gabbard have combined for 162 made 3's on the season and 24.7 ppg. These 3 guys are more than capable of leading the charge for Simon Kenton to get to state. Sleeper team to keep an eye on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->