WAYNE COUNTY CARDINALS (27-7)

12th Region Champions

Head Coach: Rodney Woods

 

The Rodney Woods led Wayne County Cardinals have a 27-7 record and won the 12th Region tournament with victories over Pulaski County(#1 in the region), West Jessamine(#4 in the region) and Somerset(#6 in the region). Wayne County is led by sophomore Peyton Woods who is averaging 17 points a game and freshmen Corey Stearns and Trey Blevins who are averaging 15.8 and 12.2 points respectively. Peyton Woods is also shooting 50% from the field, 44.7% from three point land and 82.6% from the free throw line. Corey Stearns is the team's leading rebounder at 6.9 rebounds a game as well.

 

Rodney Woods has this team at Rupp Arena a year or two earlier than expected and while they are 'young and inexperienced' this isn't the first time Rodney Woods has been to Rupp Arena and they will have their hands full right out of the gate against Madison Central. Rodney Woods has guided Wayne County to 8 regional titles in his time there and was last at Rupp in 2011 when Wayne County advanced to the quarterfinals. While anything is possible Madison Central has been ranked no lower than #5 in the state by all respected state rankings all season long. If Wayne County is somehow able to get past Madison Central then the rest of the state should be on lookout for the Wayne County Cardinals. They are 1-0 against tournament teams and that is an 81-53 victory over 13th Region champion Clay County. If Wayne County is able to do the unthinkable and knock off Madison Central then expect them to become the darlings of the tournament. Also, don't be surprised to see this group return to Rupp in the next year or so as well.

Will Wayne County shock the world and ruin countless Sweet 16 contest entries by defeating Madison Central? Will they be intimidated on the big stage? Will the Wayne County Big 3 return to Rupp Arena again before they graduate?

Bad draw for Wayne Co. I don't see them getting by Madison Central.

Will Wayne County shock the world and ruin countless Sweet 16 contest entries by defeating Madison Central? Will they be intimidated on the big stage? Will the Wayne County Big 3 return to Rupp Arena again before they graduate?

 

Highly unlikely they will win against Central, I just hope they are able to keep it respectable. As far as returning to Rupp, they did it this year so they certainly can do it again. But it's definitley no lock, especially given their reliance on the three ball. Woods has 2 years left. On paper, Southwest should be the favorite again next year -but they should've been this year too! West will be tough again and I really think Lincoln will be much better the next 2 years as they return 4/5 starters including their leading scorer and playmaker. Then there are Mercer & Boyle. Mercer returns their top 2 scorers (senior and sophomore) as well as another sophomore that started as an 8th grader but missed almost the entire year this year (freshman year) due to an ankle injury. Boyle returns their leading scorer (junior) and their 6'7" leading rebounder (senior). Add to that 2 sophomores that are talented and got minutes this year as freshmen, one of which is already 6'5." Finally, Garrard has virtually everyone back and has a lot of talent in their sophomores to be! So, the good news for Wayne is they are young. The bad news for them is that 3 or 4 other teams in the 12th have really good young talent as well.