Bluegrasspreps.com 2018/19 14th Region Season Preview

Well folks it's that great time of the year again, time for basketball in the bluegrass. We seen a lot of surprises, history making, nail bitters throughout the entire 14th region last season. 2018/19 is a new year, while things are not certain, it looks like their is only a few teams atop that can and/or win region. So let's take a look at Bluegrasspreps.com 14th Region Season Preview.

1) Knott County Central Patriots (27-7): The Patriots seen their season come to an end last season, falling just 5 points short of a region championship as they fell to Estill county 44-40 in the regional championship game. Knott Central took a hit when they lost standout guard, Isaac Caudill to graduation as well as Kolton Hofsess but good news for the Patriots is that they return everyone else which should make them the favorite to re-claim the 14th region crown this season.Couple things that will help the Patriots in their quest for another region crown, long time head coach, BB King is still coaching and is one of the better coaches in the region. #2. The Patriots have a loaded schedule, including, George Rogers Clark (who will likely be a top 25 ranked team), Mercer County, North Laurel, Knox Central, Playing those kind of teams will only increase their chances of bring another region title back to the good folks of Hindman.

2) Hazard Bulldogs (13-14): Hazard had a rough season last year which ended in them being below .500. The good news for the Bulldogs is that they ended the 3 year streak of them not playing in the 14th region tournament and they return most of their talent from last year and you can never count out the old ball coach, Al Holland.

Hazard returns sophomore guard, Wade Pelphrey that led them in scoring last season at 12 points a game. Also returning are both leading rebounder's from last season, Reece Fletcher (JR) and Logan Hall (JR). The talent that Coach Holland returns, spells region championship contender. With the incoming transfer of former Buckhorn star, Austin Bennett, things should bold pretty well for the Purple and Gold this coming season.

3) Breathitt County Bobcats (14-19): Breathitt County will be one of the most improved teams coming into the region this season. Breathitt County returns the core from last year's team that went 14-19. Breathitt County also added 3 new transfers this summer; Freshmen's Christian Collins and Jaylen Turner who transferred in from Jackson City and Senior JT O'Hair who transferred in from Estill County. If all mixes well, Breathitt County will be a force to be reckon with.

The Bobcats also play a stiff schedule that includes, the Rowan County KY Bank Challenge, a trip to Freeport FL, Harrison County, Jackson County, Newport among others.

4) Perry County Central Commodores (20-8): The Commodores started last season off on a rough start going 2-3 in their first 5 games but finishing the season at 13-5. The Commodores return one of the top ranked players in the region in senior Noah Back plus they have an incoming transfer from Cordia in Marquis Frazier that should help with their hopes of bringing back a region title to the John C. Combs Arena.

Much like the rest of the top 5 teams, the Commodore schedule is loaded as well. Perry Central will play Wayne County, North Laurel, Clay County and Cordia all in a row in beginning to mid-January. The Commodores have a rough road from start to finish this season but it should bold well for the run in the post season.

5) Cordia Lions (19-12): The Lions seen their hopes and dreams of playing for and winning a region championship go down the drain when they fell in overtime to eventual region champ, Estill County 61-52. That's not the only heart break the small town of Lotts Creek has seen over the summer. Outside of several of their best players graduating, they also lost two of their best returning players to transfers as senior Marquis Frazier transferred to Perry Central and big man Oumar Keita transferred to Beckley Prep. Head coach Jerry Stacy has took a leave of absence to deal with personal issues. Cordia has landed long time head coach, Denny Fugate to run the helm this season.

The Lions have a stacked schedule and with all that has transpired this offseason, it doesn't look too good for the black and gold as their hopes and dreams of winning region has took a hit, a big hit.

6) Letcher County Central (7-21): Letcher County Central struggled badly last season only winning 7 games. The first time in school history that the Cougars have won less than 10 games in one season. Letcher Central lost of their best players to graduation from last season Elijah Raglin but they return their leading scorer, Gregory Kincer. The Cougars shouldn't have a problem winning 10+ games this season but do they have enough to pull a region upset or two?

7) Estill County Engineers (26-8): Estill County won the region championship for the first time in school history last season as they defeated Knott Central 44-40 in the championship game. That came with a price however, as the Engineers lost all time leading scorer in Caleb Bonny plus the twin towers in Andrew and Lane Doty and they also lost JT O'Hair who transferred back to Breathitt County, that's 4 of their starters. Estill County returns several key players that seen time last season but it will be a rebuilding season this year.

8) Wolfe County Wolves (16-15): The Wolves had an up and down season last year but came on strong at towards the end as they won 8 of their final 12 games. Seems like everytime both Estill and Wolfe make it to the region tournament they always draw each other, that was the case last season as Estill would come out on top 66-57. The Wolves lose almost their entire starting lineup...Deven Stone, Jacob King, Nathan Landsaw, Shawn Lindon, when you lose that much talent, the falling season doesn't bold too well but never count out long time head coach, Robert Creech as he's been known to upset a team or two when it comes to post season.

9) Powell County Pirates (15-14): Powell County struggled last season and it showed down the stretch as they lost 3 of their final 4 games including a blowout loss to both Estill County 64-45 in the 56th District Championship game and 72-53 to Perry County Central in the opening round game of the 14th region tournament, the same Perry Central team that only beat the pirates by 8 earlier in the season. Powell County also took a hit when they lost 3 of their starters to graduation; Drew Ginter, Carlos Hernandez and Payton Barnett. The good news for the Pirates is that they return some very good and skilled players in Nathan Skidmore, Christian Parks and Bryce Merion. If Powell County doesn't win a district title with the talent they have returning and legendary head coach Dave Fraley at the helm, then the whole season will be a loss for the Pirates of Powell County.

10) Leslie County Eagles (15-9): The Eagles came on strong at season ends last season, winning 6 of their final 9 games but the sad part is the Eagles failed to make it to the region tournament as they fell 72-53 to Perry Central. It doesn't help much that Leslie County lost 6 of their players to graduation last season and rumor has it, Darron Whitaker has transferred out of Leslie County, if that's true then that's another big blow to the Eagles.

11) Lee County Bobcats (0-30): The Bobcats struggled greatly last season, in fact, they didn't even lose a game below 20, that's one of the worst seasons in Lee County history but the good news is they return nearly everyone including 8th grader, Zach Watterson. The Bobcats may lose every game again this season but they'll be much much closers losses than last season and who knows, play their cards right, they may knock off one of the two, Estill County or Powell County and sneek into the regional tournament.

12) Owsley County Owls (12-16): The Owls showed improvement last season but couldn't overcome Powell County in the semi-finals of the 56th district tournament. The Owls have been itching to get back to a district championship game and the regional tournament and with the talent they have returning, this year could very well be that year. 2018/19 and 2019/20 are high hopes for the Owls and Owsley County, either district championship/region tournament in one of two or both seasons or it's a bust, a very big bust.

13) Buckhorn Wildcats (9-20): Buckhorn was another team that struggled last season but came on strong towards the end but would eventually come up short against Hazard in the 54th district tournament 76-60. Buckhorn had high hopes for the 2018/19 season but that took a hit when guard and their best player, Austin Bennett transferred to Hazard this summer.

14) Jackson City Tigers (6-21): Jackson City struggled bad last season and it doesn't look too promising this season as they lost several of their best players to transfers, Camron Turner transferred to Perry Central in the middle of the season last year...freshmens Christian Collins and Jaylen Turner transferred to Breathitt County this summer, so things don't appear to bold well for new head coach, Kyle Pertuset.

15) June Buchanan Crusaders (10-18): June Buchanan did win 10 games last season but they only won 3 region games, 2 against Riverside Christian and Jackson City to close out the season. The Crusaders return most if not all of their players from a year ago which should bold well for Coach Smith and the Crusaders this season.

16) Riverside Christian (2-26): Riverside Christian took a step back last season, winning just 2 games and started a 23 game losing streak. Will Riverside be able to overcome that and pick up a few more wins for a small school or will the same story be just that, the same story?

Top 10 Players:

1) Marquis Frazier (Perry County Central): Marquis spent last season at Cordia averaging 6 points a game and 6 rebounds a game for the Lions. Marquis transferred to Perry County Central this summer, which should help the Commodores chances of winning a 14th region title. Marquis also adds another 3 point threat to the already stacked Perry Central offense.

2) Khali Slone (Knott County CentraL): The Patriots deep threat returns. Khali averaged right at 10 points and 5 boards a game last season and was one of the best free throw shooters on the Patriots averaging 75% last season. Khali has improved each season and this season should be no different as he looks to lead the Patriots' quest for another region championship.

3) Branson Couch (Knott County Central): Another threat for the Patriots. Branson averaged 10 points, 5 boards and was another 3 point threat for the Patriots last season. Branson will more than likely be the go to guy for coach BB King and the Patriots. Branson gets going and he should, it's gonna be a long night for the opposing team and who ever is defending him.

4) Noah Back (Perry County Central): The motor that makes the Commodores go. Noah returns for his senior year and he looks to led his team to a region crown and a birth in the KHSAA Sweet 16 state tournament this season. Noah led the Commodores at 18 PPG last season and was deadly from long range well over 40% for the season.

5) Joe Benton (Estill County): The little engine that could. For his size, he his phenominal and he has range no matter where he's at on the court if you give him an inch of day light it's going up and a lot of times it goes in. Joe lit Cordia up last season and was the reason why Estill County defeated the Lions in the semi-finals of the 14th region tournament.

6) JT O'Hair (Breathitt County): JT transferred in from Estill County. While at Estill County, JT was a big help in the Engineers region championship. JT averaged right at 6 PPG last season but he's a lock down defender and will help Breathitt County go a long ways.

7) Austin Bennett (Hazard): Austin was at Buckhorn last season before transferring to Hazard over the summer. As a Buckhorn Wildcats, Austin was Mr. Everything for Coach Hoskins and Buckhorn. Averaged 18 points a game for the Wildcats and was their best player. He should be just as good at Hazard which helps their region title chances big time.

8) Kyle Fraley (Breathitt County): The leading scorer for the Bobcats last season at 18 PPG. One of the region's best bigmen and FT shooters from a year ago. I'm sure Coach Noble will call on Kyle's number a lot this season and when he does, he's hard to stop.

9) Wade Pelphrey (Hazard): As a freshmen, Wade was Hazard's go to player when they needed a big basket. Leading the Bulldogs in scoring at 12 points a game and 3 point percentage (more than 60 3's attempted last season), I suspect that those numbers will rise this season. Could very well be a big season for sophomore Wade Pelphrey.

10) Darryen Pringle (Cordia): Although he averaged just 10 points a game last season, Darryen played a big role in Cordia's success and when they needed something huge from him, he surpassed it. Darryen should be much improved and be one that carries his team on their back this season.