10th Region All "A" Semifinal Recap: Nicholas County vs. Paris

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Nicholas County advanced to the 10th Region All “A” Championship with a win over Paris on Monday night. The Bluejackets capitalized on key scoring runs, consistently separating themselves as the Greyhounds, were playing shorthanded and without their head coach. Nicholas County's chemistry and balance were evident throughout, as the Bluejackets controlled tempo and executed on both ends. They will return to Brooksville at Bracken County High School for Thursday's championship game at 7:30 p.m., facing the winner of the Bishop Brossart–Bracken County semifinal.     [player_tooltip player_id='2497743' first='Caiden' last='Smith'] consistently leveraged his size advantage, battling effectively on both ends of the floor. He was active on the glass, securing defensive rebounds and generating second-chance opportunities offensively. Smith showed soft touch around the rim and did not rely solely on dump-offs or interior feeds, creating scoring chances by attacking off the bounce and finishing through contact. He finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  </blockquote>    Paris applied consistent pressure, particularly on ball-handlers, but Peyton Hatton handled it effectively throughout the night. He broke down defenders off the dribble, made sound reads, and consistently found open teammates. Hatton showed confidence shooting from beyond the arc and created quality looks by attacking the rim. His court vision stood out against both full-court and half-court pressure, as he remained composed and in control.     Preston Blake played with a high motor in the paint and handled the physicality of the game well. He pursued rebounds aggressively, generating multiple offensive boards by staying active and never conceding the play after the initial effort. Offensively, Blake was difficult to contain on the block, using his strength to back down defenders, create space, and consistently get quality looks at the basket, often finishing through contact.     As an eighth grader, Keegan Strait handled the high-intensity environment with impressive composure. He played with a relentless motor, staying aggressive offensively while applying constant pressure to ball-handlers on the defensive end. Even if initially beaten, he consistently worked to recover and re-engage. Strait led Paris with 18 points, shooting 63.6% from the field and knocking down 3 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc.     [player_tooltip player_id='3068503' first='Brayden' last='Strait'] applied strong defensive pressure throughout the night while also handling Nicholas County's defensive intensity effectively. He finished as Paris' second-leading scorer with 10 points, connecting on two three-pointers and going 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Strait also led the Greyhounds on the glass with a team-high seven rebounds, adding value on both ends of the floor.