15th Region Boys Basketball Week 1 Review

**SportsLife** · January 11, 2021

15th Region Boys Basketball Week 1 Review

1. Johnson Central (3-0): Perennial 15th Region title contender Johnson Central reeled off convincing wins over Raceland, Boyd County and Lawrence County during the first week of the 2020-21 boys' high school basketball season. Seniors Cory VanHoose (16.3 ppg), Isaiah May (15.0 ppg) and John King (13.3 ppg) are combining to lead the Golden Eagles. Johnson Central has games scheduled versus reigning 16th Region champion Ashland Blazer (Jan. 11, away), 57th District foe Magoffin County (Jan. 14, home) and Floyd Central (Jan. 16, home) in Week 2.

2. Pikeville (0-1): Preseason 15th Region favorite Pikeville dropped its season opener to Reed Sheppard-led North Laurel. Pikeville junior Rylee Samons entered the 2020-21 season as one of the 15th Region's top returning players. The Panthers are scheduled to face Betsy Layne in the opening round of the 15th Region All "A" Classic at Appalachian Wireless Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

3. Paintsville (1-1): The Tigers beat Betsy Layne in a season opener before dropping a matchup to 16th Region member Russell. Colby Fugate led Paintsville to a win in its season opener, pouring in a game-high 29 points. Aiding Paintsville in the win over Betsy Layne, Braxton Tharp delivered a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Tigers are slated to face 57th District rival Martin County in the opening round of the 15th Region All "A" Classic at Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville on Monday, Jan. 11.

4. Belfry (2-0): Impressive in Week 1, Belfry opened the 2020-21 season 2-0 after defeating both Prestonsburg and Betsy Layne handily. Sal Dean (21.5 ppg), Tyler Chaffin (20.5 ppg), newcomer Bol Kuir (20.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg) and Ben McNamee (13.5 ppg) are combining to pace the Pirates. Belfry is scheduled to meet 14th Region title contender Knott County Central (Jan. 12, home), Phelps (Jan. 15, away) and Boyd County (Jan. 16, home) in Week 2.

5. Shelby Valley (2-0): Under the direction of new head coach Rodney Rowe, Shelby Valley rolled past West Carter and Floyd Central in Week 1. Senior point guard Keian Worrix continues to lead the Wildcats. Shelby Valley is slated to face Prestonsburg in the opening round of the 15th Region All "A" Classic at Appalachian Wireless Arena on Monday, Jan. 11.

6. Lawrence County (2-1): The Bulldogs opened the 2020-21 season with back-to-back wins over Phelps and Fairview before falling to former district rival Johnson Central. A balanced scoring attack through the Bulldogs' first two games featured Trenton Adkins (18.5 ppg), Cody Maynard (13.5 ppg), Baden Gillispie (12.5 ppg) and Kaden Gillispie (11.0 ppg) leading the way. Lawrence County is scheduled to visit both Paintsville (Jan. 12) and Rose Hill Christian (Jan. 15) in Week 2.

7. East Ridge (2-0): Much-improved East Ridge is 2-0 after posting wins over Letcher County Central and Floyd Central. Issac Woods (Jr., 19.5 ppg), Eli Rose (Sr., 17.5 ppg), Braxton Stanley (Jr., 16.5 ppg) and Eli Sykes (Jr., 10.0 ppg) are combining to lead the Warriors. East Ridge is poised to face Phelps in the first round of the 15th Region All "A" Classic at Appalachian Wireless Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

8. Martin County (1-2): Don't count out reigning 15th Region champion Martin County. After opening the season with back-to-back losses to title contenders Rowan County (16th Region) and Harlan County (13th Region), Martin County knocked off reigning 14th Region champion Hazard. Sophomore guard Brady Dingess erupted for 30 points and scored his 1,500th career point in the Cardinals' victory over Hazard on Saturday, Jan. 9. Martin County is set to face Paintsville in the 15th Region All "A" Classic at Appalachian Wireless Arena on Monday, Jan. 11.

9. Pike County Central (1-1): The Hawks are 1-1 two games into the 2020-21 season. Pike County Central outlasted Magoffin County 55-54 in a season opener before falling to 12th Region title contender Pulaski County. Newcomers Jaylen Rigdon (17.5 ppg) and Josh Du Toit (16.0 ppg) are combining to lead the Hawks. Pike County Central is scheduled to visit East Ridge (Jan. 14) then face Frederick Douglass (Jan. 16) on a neutral court at North Laurel High School in London in Week 2.

10. Magoffin County (1-2): The Hornets opened the 2020-21 season 1-2. After beginning the campaign with back-to-back single-digit losses to Pike County Central and West Carter, Magoffin County notched its first win over Rose Hill Christian. Sophomore guard Aden Barnett and senior guard Isaiah Salyer entered the 2020-21 season as the Hornets' top returning players. Magoffin County is slated to face Floyd Central (Jan. 12, home), Johnson Central (Jan. 14, away) and East Ridge (Jan. 16, away) in Week 2.

11. Betsy Layne (1-2): In between losses to Paintsville and Belfry, Betsy Layne, under the direction of new head coach Derrick Newsome, upended 16th Region member Bath County on the road in Owingsville. Brady Robinson (Jr., 18.7 ppg), Jordan Frazier (Sr., 17.7 ppg) and Chase Mims (Jr., 11.7 ppg) combined to lead Betsy Layne in Week 1. The Bobcats are poised to face border rival Pikeville in the opening round of the 15th Region All "A" Classic at Appalachian Wireless Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

12. Floyd Central (1-2): The Jaguars defeated Phelps before suffering losses to East Ridge and Shelby Valley in Week 1. Sophomores Tanner Hall, Braden Moore, Ronnie Samons and Brody Buck emerged as leaders for Floyd Central in the opening week of the 2020-21 season. The Jaguars have games scheduled versus Magoffin County (Jan. 12, away), Elliott County (Jan. 14, home) and Johnson Central (Jan. 16, away) in Week 2.

13. Prestonsburg (0-1): Prestonsburg dropped its season opener to Belfry and hasn't played since. The Blackcats carried a lead over Belfry out of the first quarter in the season opener but lost the early momentum. Sophomore Ryan Rose (18 ppg, 8 rpg) and seniors Will Gullett (10 ppg, 7 rpg) and Grant Justice (10 ppg) each reached double figures in scoring in the Blackcats' season opener. Prestonsburg will face a tough early-season test against Shelby Valley in the 15th Region All "A" Classic on Monday, Jan. 11.

14. Phelps (0-2): Phelps suffered losses to 15th Region rivals Lawrence County and Floyd Central in Week 1. The trio of Jaeshon Nugent, Mason Prater and Dominick Francis has produced early for the Hornets. Phelps is slated to face Pike County rival East Ridge in the opening round of the 15th Region All "A" Classic at Appalachian Wireless Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

15. Jenkins (0-1): The Cavaliers dropped a season opener to former 14th Region counterpart June Buchanan. Host June Buchanan held on to defeat Jenkins 51-45 when the two teams met during Week 1. Jenkins has home games scheduled versus Lee County (Jan. 11) and Morgan County (Jan. 15) in Week 2.