The 2016/2017 basketball season is once again shaping up as a tough 6th Region that has many athletic and well coached programs. Even though 8 of 10 1st team All-Region performers from last season have graduated, many experienced underclassmen return to make this a talent rich region with multiple players holding D1 offers. The 6th region typically produces teams capable of making a deep run into the final games of the state tournament just as Doss did last season. Doss has represented the 6th each of the past two seasons and will be working on the hat trick for a 3rd consecutive trip to Rupp in March. Don't be surprised if Doss can pull it off, but several teams could play a significant threat to end the Doss streak. Fern Creek is a program that has never been to a Boys State Tournament and appears to be the strongest contender. PRP and Bullitt East are tradition rich programs that in recent years made deep runs at Rupp and could do the same again this season as well. Whomever emerges as the 6th Region champion, they first must dethrone Doss who has earned the right of favorite based upon their proven blueprint to repeat with Coach Tony Williams on the bench.

 

TEAM RANKINGS

1. Doss

The Dragons return two key starters from last season's State runner up squad. Jaylon Hall is one of the top players in Louisville and should be even better this season with added experience. Also, back is guard Stephon Franklin who with Hall forms as good a backcourt tandem in the 6th region as any team. Although lacking starting experience Doss is returning others coming off the bench from last season such Cameron Maddox who was injured most of last season, Shawnkel Knight-Goff, Terez Traynor, and Cobi Stokes with new transfers (Daron Washington & Jeremiah Boyd) to go along with the returning backcourt starters. Talented 8th grader, Darrius Washington is also on the roster and expected to play. Anything less then a trip to Rupp would be considered a disappointment now that Coach Tony Williams has set that bar after reaching the State Tournament in his first two season at Doss.

 

2. Fern Creek

The Tigers return plenty of talent and experience this season. Returning is Junior PG, Anthony Wales, who as a sophomore was 1st team All-Region despite an injury plagued 2nd half of last season along with his backcourt teammate, Ahmad Price, who was a 2nd team All-Region choice last season. The two have started together since they were freshmen so competing on the varsity level early will begin to pay dividends with significant experience from this duo. The Tigers add 6'6" sharp shooter transfer, Chance Moore, who also was a 1st team All-Region player last season in the 7th region giving the Tigers a proven talented trio. Tony Rogers leads a solid supporting cast and he could become a breakout player himself. Coach Schooler and his team travel to Doss for their second game of the season on December 2nd to set the stage for who becomes the early favorite.

 

3. PRP

The traditional power of the 6th region, PRP, is always a threat as long as Coach Dale Mabrey and his long tenured assistants have talent to work with. This years team brings the kind of talent that the Panther staff has molded into State Championship contenders in the past. This is a more athletic team than last season as they have 3 juniors who are the type players who flourish in the PRP system. Trey Hill is the most talented of the trio and one of the most talented in the region, but he did not play much last season due to transferring from Fern Creek after just a few games. His presence will be felt immediately along with Gerald Gray and last season's leading scorer BJ Robinson. They each return after starting their sophomore seasons and are expected to be top players in the region along with Hill.

 

4.Bullitt East

BE is a team which lost a ton to graduation last season but don't feel too sorry for new Head Coach Jason Couch, as he brings a talented roster of players that have waited for their time to step up and lead. Junior Luke Ezell and Seniors Jared Osborne, Connor Green, and Konnor Polson all figure to take advantage of ample playing time this season. BE may also be a beneficiary of a transfer this season as word has it they will fill their void of a big man with an out of state addition.

 

5. Valley

The storyline for Valley has to start with the naming of their new Head Coach, U of L legend Dajuan Wheat, who begins his 1st season as the Vikings leader on the bench. He is getting a team that has significant experience as they played their younger classmen for several years so to reap the benefits later. Eric George is the Senior leader on the court and is a 1st team All-Region returnee. Curt Lewis is an outstanding player with D1 potential who was a 2nd team All-Region selection last season. They are dynamic players who will be supported by Tre Anderson & Cameron Wilson along with others. Valley is a strong threat if Dujuan can transfer the knowledge and skills he brings from his spectacular college & professional career.

 

6. DeSales

DeSales Jaxon Burgess is a 2nd team All-Region performer from last season and returns for his final season this year. He is by far DeSales leading scoring threat and will be counted upon to be even more potent this year. Even though his cast may not be as well known outside the DeSales family, the Head Coach, Tom Crews, makes up ground with a system that wins games. Nobody thought DeSales would advance to the Regional tournament last season and they simply cannot be counted out. Coach Crews doesn't need the high profile players as long as he has players that buy in which they do before tournament time.

 

7. Moore

Coach Roy Sutton enters his second season leading the Mustangs with a season of experience to build upon. Moore may be the biggest team in the 6th region with (2) 6'6" stars in Senior Ramon Collins (2nd team All-Region last year) & Sophomore JJ Weaver. There will be no shortage of thunderous dunks from those two and each can play away from the basket, especially in transition. Seniors Russell Vaden & Shamar Overstreet will bring plenty of experience and toughness to a team that is capable of beating anyone in the region on a given night. Moore will not be overlooked when opposing coaches prepare for them on the schedule.

 

8. Butler

Coach KC Goodin is simply going to have his Bears playing hard from the opening game until the buzzer of the finale. Make no mistake that even if they lack the marquee names, this team will win many games and that will include upsets of teams ranked in front of them. A big boost is the return for his senior season of Austin Wise. Austin is a major baseball college prospect and his decision to come back after playing since a freshmen is a key factor in the progress of Coach Goodin's program. Jaquay Wales is a very good guard entering his Junior season and will eventually be joined in the backcourt by Maurice Tolley who is a promising Sophomore. It may not be this season, but the Bears are not far off from competing for the Regional title and just might be the surprise team of the year.

 

9. North Bullitt

The Eagles lost two 1st Team All-Region selections in Ryan Henson & Jared Free. These two led Coach Korey Craddock"s team in scoring last season along with returning Senior Travis Dunnavan. Dunnavan is a special player and despite not being very big, he plays very big with a special knack for scoring from anywhere. He is a competitor that will make his name known this season.

 

10. Jeffersontown

Coach Miquel Coleman is entering into his second season at the helm of Jtown and will have Senior "Pooh" McCloud around all season this campaign. Last year McCloud had to sit most of the season as he transferred from Doss and did not play until after the New Year. McCloud is as talented as anybody in the region but he will be counted upon to carry the load for Coach Coleman. Fortunately is he capable of doing that and should be an All-Region performer this season. Be on the look out for 8th grader Jaiden Rogers who is the younger brother of Fern Creek's Tony Rogers. The younger Rogers is a name that will be heard for a long time and a player that will be one of the best in the state in his class in upcoming seasons.

 

11. Fairdale

Fairdale at the end of the season may be the team we look back upon and realize were not ranked high enough. The team will be led by Glenn Queen who is an excellent scorer who is as strong going to the rim as anyone in the region. Coach David Hicks continues the Bulldog tradition from the coaching tree of Stan Hardin and Lloyd Gardner, two of the best ever in Jefferson County. Can this team be a state contender as in years past....likely not....but there is a possibility they finish much higher than this pre-season ranking.

 

12. Western

Terrence Moorman has been waiting to have the talent walk through the Warriors locker room door that will enable his brand of coaching to compete for a 6th region title for several years and the wait will continue a bit longer. No question Coach Moorman is a very capable coach that will scratch his way to a .500 record and in the process score an upset or two. However, that is only enough to get so far and not enough to challenge for the title.

 

13. Southern

It will be hard to replace 1st team All-Region performer Donquel Andrews who was a major force for Southern for several years. Coach Shedrick Jones now has to replace that mainstay and they will need to replace him by committee to minimize that loss.

 

14. Holy Cross

Veteran Coach Mike Durham will have his team playing together and hard. However, they seem to lack the talent to compete against some of the larger public schools in the region. They will win the games they should, but it will be a challenge to match their 2 win district total from last season.

 

15. Iroquois

The Raiders struggled down the stretch last season only recording 7 wins on the season and only 3 within the region. Coach Jeff Morrow is another solid coach in the 6th region that lacks the competitive talent to implement his system and compete with the majority of the top tier teams.

 

16. Bullitt Central

The Cougers will need to play hard and improve under Coach Jessie Curry to avoid a difficult season. Losing 20 point scorer Cameron Dukes and fellow leading scorer Chase Craddock will be hard to replace. It may not be in reach to get more than the 2 district wins from last season especially when the best young player from last season, Mason Shiftlitt, opted to transfer to Wesley Christian.

 

17. Beth Haven

New coach, same result. Beth Haven will win a lot of games when they play similar size schools, but also will lose a lot of games in the region. Paul Frazier is the new Head Coach following Coach Stinnett who done a nice job working with the talent available at the small private school.

 

18. Evangel Christian

Coach Washington had a .500 record last season, but only won 1 region game and this year will likely deliver a similar result.

 

19. Whitfield Academy

Whitfield only won 2 of 30 games last season but enter the new campaign with more experience and a new Head Coach. Chris Vaughn begins his first season on the bench for Whitfield.

 

PLAYER RANKINGS 1-15

1. Chance Moore- Fern Creek/ Jaylon Hall- Doss

2. Tre Hill- PRP

3. Ahmad Price & Anthony Wales- Fern Creek

4. Ramon Collins- Moore

5. Eric George & Curt Lewis- Valley

6. Jaxon Burgess- DeSales

7. "Pooh" McCloud - Jeffersontown

8. JJ Weaver- Moore/ Stephon Franklin- Doss

9. Glenn Queen- Fairdale

10. BJ Robinson & Gerald Gray Jr.- PRP

 

Likely Breakout Players

Travis Dunnavan- North Bullitt

Jaquay Wales & Austin Wise - Butler

Tony Rogers - Fern Creek

Cameron Mattox - Doss

Luke Ezell, Jared Osborne, Connor Green, and Konnor Polson all from Bullitt East

great write-up, it will be an interesting year in the 6th for sure.

 

I am a huge Anthony Wales fan and love to watch him play. I am also a Huge Tony Rodgers fan, and he most defiantly will be the player in the 6th, by the end of the year, people are going to say, where did he come from. Both are great kids and deserve all that comes to them.

great write-up, it will be an interesting year in the 6th for sure.

 

I am a huge Anthony Wales fan and love to watch him play. I am also a Huge Tony Rodgers fan, and he most defiantly will be the player in the 6th, by the end of the year, people are going to say, where did he come from. Both are great kids and deserve all that comes to them.

 

Tony Rogers, no question about it...primed for big year