June Buchanan the top team in the 14th Region???

[The Scribe]

Bluegrasspreps seems to think so....

 

14th Region

 

By Perry L. Powell

Special to Bluegrasspreps.com

 

The 14th Region proved to be one of the most balanced in the state last year, with both regional semifinals going to overtime. Things aren’t expected to be much different in the 2006-07 season with around five teams likely to make a run at Rupp Arena.

 

1. June Buchanan (23-6) – The Crusaders saw their improbable run at their first region title come to an end with a double-overtime loss to Hazard in the 14th Region Tournament semifinals.

 

Guard Clark Stepp, the nephew of 1980 Mr. Basketball Ervin Stepp, averaged 26 points and nine assists as a sophomore – which mirrored his totals from his freshman season.

 

The 6-3, 170-pound junior has developed into one of the best players in the mountains and will be counted on to help lead JBS on the floor.

Western Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky are among the schools interested in Stepp, who teams with Tate Cox to form one of the state’s best backcourts.

 

Cox (5-10, Fr.) averaged 17 points and shot 80-percent from the free throw line as an eighth grader.

 

Head coach Gary Stepp is also looking for a breakout season from 6-9 sophomore Garrison Collins, who averaged 8.1 ppg., and 6.2 rebounds.

 

Ryan Conley is the only senior projected to start for the Crusaders, who are hoping 6-3 Brent Hall and 6-6 Trey Short can bolster their inside game and improve on their 32 rebounds a game average.

 

The Crusaders have beefed up their schedule, which includes a trip to the Fifth-Third Classic in Lexington and the WYMT Mountain Classic.

 

2. Hazard (22-11) – Hazard outlasted the region field to claim the school’s 25th region title and first in five years.

 

Kevin Spurlock left for Clay County after an 89-32 record in four seasons as Bulldogs head coach, and former coach Lewis Morris returns to the Hazard sidelines.

 

Morris will have the services of senior guard Justin Hicks, who scored 19 points a game and was deadly from 3-point range, shooting 38-percent and averaging 3.4 treys a game. Hicks, who handed out 3.2 assists a game, also shot 83-percent at the free throw line.

 

Michael Campbell, a 6-3 sophomore, averaged 7.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game and will provide some strength in the paint.

 

Guard Matt Williams (7.1 ppg., 3.4 rpg.) and Presley Campbell (4.0 ppg.) also return for the Bulldogs, who could see region challenger June Buchanan in the WYMT Mountain Classic, the 14th Region All-A Tournament (where they have won four straight titles), and the 14th Region Tournament this year.

 

 

Click here for the rest of the 14th Region Preview.

 

Top players

 

Clark Stepp (June Buchanan) – Should have a breakout year against an improved schedule

 

Justin Hicks (Hazard) – Main reason behind Bulldogs’ run to the Sweet 16 last year.

 

Click here for the other eight top players

[CatchMeIfYouCan]

JBS will be the best team in the 14th region. Hazard will be a close second.

[The Professor]

JBS will be the best team in the 14th region. Hazard will be a close second.

I agree, but Perry Central will be right in the thick of it too, as usual.

[uk96]

June Buchanan is loaded and should be considered the favorite if they play good team ball......

[Hoops Fan 1]

June Buchanan is loaded and should be considered the favorite if they play good team ball......

 

I agree with you 100%. Stepp is a very talented player and has a bright future ahead of him, but I think he lost the game for them last year against Hazard. Experience should also help June Buchanan a lot this year when it comes tournament time.

[Master of the Hardwood]

I have watched JBS a couple times this year and it seems like their 2-3 zone is going to be pretty solid with the size that they have! They didn't box out well against lincoln county, that is the reason for their loss.

I feel their offense is strong as long as the teams play man against them and they can run their screen and roll offense effectively. If teams play zone against them it will make them work a lot harder trying to get open and i think this is where Stepp tries to force things and takes bad shots or tries to make things happen and commits some turnovers. If they are hitting the 3, they will be tough to beat, Cox is a great shooter and all the others are streaky and capable of hitting 2 or 3 in a row. They can be pressed and zoned and they will have problems due to their lack of bench, they have a good team and will be exciting to see if they can make it past the Bulldogs or Commodores, whoever survives the 54th district, because we all know the road to rupp has to go through the 54th every year!

[Augger]

JBS and Hazard are the teams to beat. Stepp and Hicks are the two best players in the 14th.

[uk96]

I agree with you 100%. Stepp is a very talented player and has a bright future ahead of him, but I think he lost the game for them last year against Hazard. Experience should also help June Buchanan a lot this year when it comes tournament time.

 

 

I agree that experience will help June Buchanan this year because the guys they played in last years tournament are all back this year and also they will have 6'9" Garrison Collins and also 6'6" Trey Short and Brent Hall inside that will give them the biggest inside game in the mountains.....

[bball king]

JBS is a contender for sure. but I believe the player on that team to beware of is Tate Cox. It was Cox who hit a three at the end of regulation and at the end of the 1st ot against Hazard in the regional tournament. Had Stepp not turn over the ball at the end of the second ot, Cox would have done it again. Cox is a PTP er.

[Pat Dad]

JBS is a contender for sure. but I believe the player on that team to beware of is Tate Cox. It was Cox who hit a three at the end of regulation and at the end of the 1st ot against Hazard in the regional tournament. Had Stepp not turn over the ball at the end of the second ot, Cox would have done it again. Cox is a PTP er.

 

Cox is an athlete, he is one to watch for. Stepp is a better player IMO, but Cox is a player that I would want on my team at crunchtime.

[RA09]

The bext thing about Cox is you know what your going to get out of him night in and night out. He is going to make a high percentage from the field, take care of the ball, and play hard. Seems like he never has a bad game.

[Saints09]

I used to go to JBS and these kids are great they will win the region for sure.

[bball king]

I used to go to JBS and these kids are great they will win the region for sure.

I'll take that action for sure, there are alot of possible regional champs in the 14 th I don't believe there is a sure thing in this region.

[KIDS FAN]

I think Hazard is still the champion and are the favorites until someone takes it from them. JBS is without a doubt a #1 contender but winning is a learned trait and the Bulldogs know how. As for players I would not leave out Cody Berryman from Estill in the top 10.