Postseason X-Factors: Regions 1-4
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District Tournaments actually start on Saturday and by March 2, half of the basketball teams in the state will have had their seasons end. As we move towards the postseason, I wanted to highlight some players who are X factors…
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Continue ReadingDistrict Tournaments actually start on Saturday and by March 2, half of the basketball teams in the state will have had their seasons end. As we move towards the postseason, I wanted to highlight some players who are X factors for teams with aspirations of winning their regions and advancing to Rupp Arena next month.
Since Eli Finley Eli Finley 6’2″ | PG Calloway County | 2025 State KY returned from injury last month, Calloway has been nearly unbeaten, currently 13-2 at full strength. The key to a long run for the Lakers could be the shooting of Junior Conner Lockhart Conner Lockhart 6’4″ | SF Calloway County | 2025 State KY . Conner is shooting 41% from deep and has one of the quicker releases I’ve seen in Kentucky. For Calloway to make a run to Rupp, they will need a reliable third scorer behind Finley and fellow Junior Jonah Butler Jonah Butler 6’6″ | SF Calloway County | 2025 State KY . Lockhart or freshman Luke Armstrong Luke Armstrong 6’6″ | C Calloway County | 2027 State KY will have to fill that role.
Lyon County has a loaded Senior roster with 2 players who have signed D1 already ( Travis Perry Travis Perry 6’2″ | PG Lyon County | 2024 State #115 Nation KY and Brady Shoulders Brady Shoulders 6’6″ | PF Lyon County | 2024 State KY ) and a third ( Jack Reddick Jack Reddick 6’4″ | PG Lyon County | 2024 State KY ) who holds multiple D1 offers and will sign at that level in April. So why is a Sophomore the X factor? Because Breedlove provides a reliable rebounder who can get putbacks on offense as well as add some shot blocking on defense. Lukas is a player who is capable of getting a double-double and you never need to run a set for him to score.
Owensboro is not having the type of season that they might have expected but they are a dangerous team capable of making a serious run in March. They’ve already beaten the top team in the region and could face them in both the district and regional championships. Keaton Hughes Keaton Hughes 6’7″ | C Owensboro | 2025 State KY has come a long way over the last couple of seasons and is now the toughest matchup in the 3rd region. A double-double big is hard to come by and Hughes is a very physical big who provides a legitimate threat to score on the low post every possession.
Bowling Green has beaten Warren Central twice this season. By single digits each time. In order to get to Rupp Arena, they’ll have to play the defending champs in the district championship and likely the regional final. Wardlow only had 7 points combined in the first two games but he averages 8 per game on the season. If the Purples are going to beat Central and get to Rupp, they need Jace to be a consistent contributor in the month of March. With close games likely against WC again, Jace can be the difference for a BG team that needs more scoring from players other than Mason Ritter Mason Ritter 6’8″ | C Bowling Green | 2024 State KY , MJ Wardlow MJ Wardlow 6’1″ | PG Bowling Green | 2024 State KY and Deuce Bailey Deuce Bailey 5’9″ | PG Bowling Green | 2025 State KY . The younger Wardlow can be that player.