The Road to Rupp in the Second Region runs through Hopkinsville. Either Christian County, Hopkinsville, or University Heights has represented the region every year since 2001. Given what Christian County and Hopkinsville have returning, it’s a good bet that streak continues in 2015-16.

 

With the right draw come region tourney time, Trigg County, Madisonville, and Henderson County could make a deep run, but it’s likely to be a repeat of the Eighth District title game in the Second Region championship game.

 

1. Hopkinsville (27-6) – Teams that graduate nine players from a region title team usually aren’t picked to repeat. But Hopkinsville isn’t your ordinary team. The Tigers are looking for their fifth straight region title under head coach Tim Haworth.

 

C. J. Henigan (3.8 ppg., 2.0 rpg) and Jalen Johnson (9.6 ppg., 2.0 rpg.) are returning starters, while Stephen Cager (5.1 ppg.) and Kourtney Ware (7.7 ppg.) started at times last year.

Akeem Atilola, a 6-foot-9 exchange student, wasn’t eligible last year but should be ready to hit the floor this year.

 

The Tigers also picked up another transfer from a district school. 6-foot-4 James Nicholas scored five points a game as an eighth grader at University Heights Academy last year.

 

Hopkinsville is not as deep as last year in terms of experience, but they have enough talent and size to become the first team from the Second Region to win five straight region titles.

 

2. Christian County (14-11) – The Colonels top Hopkinsville in experience returning and may have enough in the tank to dethrone Hoptown atop the region.

 

Senior guard Tyrik Edwards (21.1 ppg., 4.5 rpg.) had a breakout season for the Colonels, shooting 59-percent from the field and leading the team in scoring.

 

Sophomore Detorrion Ware (10.4 ppg., 5.6 rpg.) and junior Tiavey Mason (8.0 ppg., 1.3 rpg.) also return.

 

Ware will team with University Heights transfer Jaylen Sebree to give the Colonels a solid frontline. Sebree, a 6-foot-6 junior, scored 17 points and grabbed just under 10 rebounds a game.

 

Senior Roland Butler (6.0 ppg., 3.1 rpg) and Deveckyon Poindexter also saw crucial time for Christian County.

 

While the returning players a familiar, a new face will roam the sidelines as Frankie Smith replaces Kyle Eades, who left to join former Colonel head coach Kerry Stovall’s staff at Muhlenberg County.

 

Smith went 63-24 in three seasons at Sheldon Clark and won a state championship in West Virginia.

 

3. Madisonville (11-16) – The Maroons already boasts one of the region’s top players in Jaiveon Eaves. That alone wasn’t enough to jump to third place in the region, but the addition of Hopkins Central transfer Tyrek White gives Madisonville the quick guard they need to compete with Hopkinsville, Christian County, and Trigg County.

 

The 6-foot-2 Eaves averaged 18.7 points and five rebounds last year. They would like to see more consistency from senior forward Joseph Singleton, who scored 7.5 points and grabbed five rebounds while shooting 65-percent from the floor.

 

Senior Brennan Parrish scored 6.6 points a game and knocked down 36 three-pointers.

 

But the addition of White could be the move that makes the Maroons a region dark horse.

The speedy guard averaged 10 points a game as a junior and shot 79-percent at the charity stripe.

 

4. Trigg County (16-14) – Is the third year a charm for Wildcat head coach Payton Croft?

 

Trigg County was a bucket away from advancing to the region title game last year. With the return of four starters and the addition of 6-foot-7 Jonta Acree, Trigg County could be poised to make a run at the school’s first region title since 1997.

 

The Wildcats feature the quickest backcourt in the region with seniors Demaria Nance and K.J. Davenport and sophomore Devron Triplet.

 

Nance averaged 15 points, two assists, and led the team with 90 steals. He also knocked down 51 shots behind the arc last year.

 

Davenport moved to Trigg County in midseason and came on to average 10.2 points and gather 43 steals in 13 games. He will also be tasked with defending the opposition’s quickest player.

 

Triplet missed 13 games with a shoulder injury but still managed to score 4.5 points and grab three rebounds as a freshman. He could be the region’s most improved player.

 

Sophomore Kirome Bingham (2.1 ppg.) and junior Hayden Daniel (1.4 ppg.) provide backcourt depth.

 

6-foot-4 Senior Detaveon Day was the only size inside the Wildcats had last year. He averaged 18.8 points and 11.5 rebounds while blocking 55 shots. He will get help from the 6-foot-7 Acree, who left Trigg County for UHA after his freshman season. Acree averaged nine points and grabbed seven rebounds last year.

 

The Wildcats are the heavy favorite to repeat as Fifth District champions and with the right draw, could make a deep region tournament run.

 

5. Henderson County (27-4) – The Colonels lost a lot of firepower from last year’s team that lost to Hopkinsville in the second round of the region tourney.

 

Junior Robert Dawson and senior Matthew Watkins will be thrown into leadership roles, with seniors Karteece Rollins and Antionne Calhoun manning an undersized front line for the Colonels.

 

Sophomores Jadel Fletcher and Isaac Anglin will also see their playing time increase this season.

 

There are a lot of unknowns with the Colonels this year which could equal a slow start.

 

However, you can never count them out come postseason time.

 

6. Caldwell County (15-14) – Another team with some unknowns is Caldwell County, who lost their top scorer and rebounder Eli Pepper to graduation.

 

Dee Cain was Caldwell’s second-leading scorer at 12 points, and he grabbed four rebounds a game. However, Cain is headed to Western Kentucky to play football and may bypass his senior season on the hardwood. If he doesn’t play, it drops the Tigers to a mid-level region team.

 

6-foor-5 Elijah Anderson, the team’s leading receiver on the gridiron, returns to the court to join guards Russell Brandon and Javonte Riley.

 

Caldwell picked up transfer Josh Wilkerson from neighboring Lyon County. He averaged nearly 10 points a game as a freshman.

 

7. Webster County (26-7) – The Trojans return their frontline from last year’s team that became the first in school history to play in the region title game.

 

However, it was their backcourt that made them go, and that’s their biggest hole this year.

No returning guard scored more than three points a game last year.

 

The frontline is solid with the return of 6-foot-8 senior Cayden Edmonson (10.8 ppg., 6.7 reb.), 6-foot-3 senior Jon Stubblefield (10.1 ppg., 3.6 reb.), and 6-foot-5 senior Shawn House (2.6 ppg., 3.8 reb.).

 

Webster should be the favorite to unseat Henderson County in the Sixth District. How fast their backcourt matures will determine how deep they go in March.

 

8. Union County (7-19) – The Braves should see some improvement in head coach Mark Starnes’ second season at the helm.

 

Senior guard James Robison scored 12.8 points last year and will need a young but quick supporting cast to improve quickly.

 

Justin Girten and Logan Thomas saw considerable time last year, and football star Dontae Smith is expected to help in the backcourt as well.

 

9. University Heights Academy (8-21) – The revolving door usually leads into UHA, not out. But head coach Grant Shouse finds himself trying to replace three players 6-foot-4 or taller who left for other schools.

 

Junior Tray Hollowell (19.9 ppg.) is getting several D-1 looks and will be the primary scoring threat for the Blazers.

 

Dekeyvan Tandy burst onto the scene with a 9.2 point scoring average as an eighth grader, and Drew McGowan scored four points as an eighth grader.

 

The Blazers will not be a deep team but have enough firepower to reach double digits in wins.

 

10. Dawson Springs (5-21) – The Panthers return their top eight scorers from last year’s team that won just five games. However, the roster is a year older, bigger, and experienced and could play a spoiler role in the region this year.

 

5-foot-11 junior guard Dylan Simpson (10.3 ppg.), junior Tanner Adams (7.3 ppg.,, 4 reb.), and 6-foot-6 sophomore Justin Putman (5.8 ppg., 5.0 reb.) anchor a roster that has played together at the varsity level the past two seasons.

 

The three seniors on the Panther roster did not play last year.

 

11. Lyon County (10-17) – No coach in the region does more with less than Jeff Embrey.

 

Despite losing Josh Wilkerson to Caldwell County, the Lyons have enough working parts to make a district run. But it will be tough to replace the Wilkerson brothers and their 32 points per game.

 

The Lyons have some size with 6-foot-2 junior Josh Mincey (6.8 ppg., 6.6 reb.), 6-fot-3 senior Tyler Wilson (1.4 ppg.), and 6-foot-3 sophomore Hayden Murphy (3.5 ppg.).

 

The loss of Wilkerson will be huge, but guards Jack Rooyakkers (5.7 ppg. 1.7 reb.),

 

David Ray (4.2 ppg., 2.0 reb.), and forward Nick Gilbert (3.5 ppg., 3.6 reb.) will help ease the loss.

 

12. Hopkins County Central (12-16) – The loss of Tyrek White to Madisonville was a huge blow to the district title hopes of the Storm, who see Barrett Nelson take over as head coach.

 

Junior Damontae Barnhill is the top returning scorer for the Storm after hitting for 9.1 points a game last year. After that, no returning player topped three points a game.

 

DeAven Wilson, Charles French, and Mason Burgett will see an increase in playing time.

 

13. Crittenden County (16-12) – The Rockets lost three of their top four scorers to graduation and will throw some young talent on the floor around senior forward Dakota Watson, who averaged nearly six points a game last year.

 

Juniors Will Tolley and Bobby Stephens along with seniors Dylan Hicks and Dylan Hollis will likely crack the starting lineup for a Rocket team that will be young and untested.

 

14. Livingston Central (3-23) – While Bill McNamara didn’t win as many games as he wanted in his first season as head coach at his alma mater, the groundwork has been laid for substantial improvement in 2015-16.

 

Sophomores Cameron Dean and Seth Hosick are the top returning scorers. They will team with fellow sophomores Cameron Kitchens and Braxton Bebout to try and make a move in the Fifth District.

 

15. Fort Campbell (5-19) – You just never know who will be playing at Fort Campbell from year to year. Bruce Douglass takes over as head coach of a program in perhaps the toughest district in the state.

 

This year’s roster features only five players who played for the Falcons last year.

 

Mathew Kochpeth (4.0 ppg., 3.0 reb.) and Kevin Moon (3.5 ppg.) are the leading returning scorers for the Falcons, who are expected to get a boost from Denoris Buchanan and brothers Julian and Javier Rivera-Rodriguez.

 

 

Top Players in the Second Region

 

 

1. Tyrik Edwards (Christian County) – Slasher who had a breakout year in 2014-15.
   
2. Jaylen Sebree (Christian County) – Big man should flourish with a talented supporting cast
   
3. Tray Hollowell (University Heights) – Will likely be the leading scorer in the region. And will take the most shots
   
4. Jaiveon Eaves (Madisonville) – Inside-out threat that has started since his freshman year
   
5. Detaveon Day (Trigg County) – Consistency will be the biggest hurdle for this big man
   
6. Demaria Nance (Trigg County) – Quick guard who may be the best point guard in the region
   
7. Cayden Edmonson (Webster County) – Can his untested teammates get the ball inside to him enough?
   
8. Tyrek White (Madisonville) – The move north should make his number go north as well
   
9. Detorrion Ware (Christian County) – Will team nicely with Sebree and could have a breakout year
   
10. Jalen Johnson (Hopkinsville) – Will be expected to take over leadership and scoring role from the graduated Jaqualis Matlock
    

Christian county should be number one and hoptown should be number 2

Christian county should be number one and hoptown should be number 2

Can you provide us with some input to support your thought?

If christian co has the top two players and the number 9 player, while hoptown has just the number 10 player, that enough should put them at the top.

How does the top ranked team have 3 other teams that have 2 top 10 players before they have one?

 

Anyway I would change the top 2 and leave everything else. The top 10 players I really have issue with. Jalen Johnson should be number 3, Cager and Hennigan should be in the top 10 as well.

Almost the entire top 10 could be composed of kids in Christian County schools. Edwards, Sebree and Ware from CCHS. Henagan, Cager, Johnson, Atiola and Nicholas from Hoptown and Hollowell from UHA are all potential top 10 kids.

 

Realistically, everyone else is playing for 3rd place in the region behind Hoptown and CCHS.

If christian co has the top two players and the number 9 player, while hoptown has just the number 10 player, that enough should put them at the top.

How does the top ranked team have 3 other teams that have 2 top 10 players before they have one?

 

Anyway I would change the top 2 and leave everything else. The top 10 players I really have issue with. Jalen Johnson should be number 3, Cager and Hennigan should be in the top 10 as well.

 

My point exactly

Henderson could sneak in to number 2 spot by the end of the season or could finish number 12. Big question is the guys that are not in your list that if can get out of trouble will start and make big impact. Calloway sharpe shooter and Mitchell a 6'' 4 flying high guy. The question is will they see the floor? Calloway has 6 games and Mitchell can't play until first of the year.

I have seen Henderson and I can't even see them sneaking into number 2. I have hard time even seeing them challenge Trigg County for number 3. Henderson is still a year away. They will finish somewhere in the 4-8 range.

UHA had two of the top players in the region last year. Didnt win a region tourney game. Webster had maybe one in the top ten and advanced to the region title game.

 

Say what you want but Hoptown has had Christian County's number the past few years. Throw in a new coach and new system at County. Remember how their season ended last year? Lost 7 of 9. Their coach left despite the returning roster.

 

If you go simply by player rankings, then sure. Christian County is the top team. But there are no region rankings for team chemistry, system knowledge, depth, etc.

 

I agree with Hoptown number one. Every year someone is supposed to knock them off and every year they are playing at Rupp.

My point is you haven't seen these two kids play. If they do they will lead the team in scoring.

I have seen Henderson and I can't even see them sneaking into number 2. I have hard time even seeing them challenge Trigg County for number 3. Henderson is still a year away. They will finish somewhere in the 4-8 range.

My point is you haven't seen these two kids play. If they do they will lead the team in scoring.

 

I'm pretty sure I have. I saw all three of their teams play last year. I stand by my statement, they are a year away.

Your really good if you seen the freshman that wasn't on a team last year!!

I think Henderson will be just fine come region tournament time. They should have enough to win the district. But Hopkinsville and Christian County are head and shoulders above the rest of the region at this point.

Your really good if you seen the freshman that wasn't on a team last year!!

 

First off it is "you're" not "your" and you never said he was a freshman. Everyone keeps talking about the sophomore class. I saw them as freshmen last year. They are really good but like I said from the beginning they are a year away. I don't know how much stock I would put in a freshman with eligibility concerns that didn't play on a high school team last year.

Lol, that's why he didn't play high school kid can't stay on the court but for the few games he did the 8 th grade team didn't lose.