BluegrassPreps.com 15th Region Week 2 Review

[SportsLife]

1. Johnson Central (4-1): The Golden Eagles dropped a game on the road at reigning 16th Region champion Ashland but bounced back to notch a 40-point win over 57th District rival Magoffin County. Through five games, seniors Cory VanHoose (16.4 ppg), Isaiah May (13.6 ppg) and John King (13.6 ppg) are leading Johnson Central. The Golden Eagles are scheduled to host crosstown rival Paintsville on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Johnson Central has additional upcoming games scheduled versus Martin County (Jan 21, away), East Ridge (Jan. 23, home) and Paris (Jan. 23, Coach Lake Kelly Classic at Fleming County). 

 

2. Pikeville (3-1): Determined Pikeville edged rival Shelby Valley 41-40 in the 15th Region All "A" Classic title game. In addition to defeating Shelby Valley, Pikeville knocked off Betsy Layne and East Ridge during the region small-school tournament. Rylee Samons Zac Lockhart, Nick Robinson, Lukas Manns and Laithan Hall are combining to power Pikeville. The Panthers are scheduled to visit Shelby Valley for a key 59th District boys' basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Pikeville has additional upcoming games slated versus Jenkins (Jan. 22, home) and Madison Central (Jan. 23, away).

 

3. Belfry (4-1): One of the most improved boys' high school basketball teams in Eastern Kentucky, Belfry knocked off 14th Region frontrunner Knott County Central during Week 2. The Pirates posted an additional win over 60th District counterpart Phelps before falling to 16th Region title contender Boyd County. Sal Dean, Tyler Chaffin, Bol Kuir and Ben McNamee each continue to average double figures in scoring for the Pirates. Kuir is averaging a double-double. 

 

4. Shelby Valley (4-1): The Wildcats notched wins over Prestonsburg and Paintsville during the 15th Region All "A" Classic before falling to Pikeville in the title game. Kaden Robinson (17.0 ppg), Keian Worrix (16.8 ppg) and Zack Johnson (11.2 ppg) form one of the top boys' basketball trios in the 15th Region. Shelby Valley is shooting 47.5 percent (116-of-244) from 3-point range.  The Wildcats are slated to meet Pikeville (Jan. 19, home), Belfry (Jan. 21, home) and Cordia (Jan. 23, away) in Week 3. 

 

5. Paintsville (2-2): The Tigers edged Martin County 65-64 in an opening round matchup prior to falling to Shelby Valley in the 15th Region All "A" Classic Semifinals. Junior Colby Fugate is averaging nearly 25 points per game for the Tigers. Along with Fugate, senior Braxton Tharp is averaging 14 points points per game for Paintsville. The Tigers are slated to visit Johnson Central (Jan. 19), Magoffin County (Jan. 21) and Martin County (Jan. 23) in Week 3.

 

6. Lawrence County (3-1): The 2019-20 15th Region Runner-up, Lawrence County shook off a loss to Johnson Central and cruised past Rose Hill Christian. A balanced Lawrence County scoring attack features Trenton Adkins (21.2 ppg), Cody Maynard (17.2 ppg), Kaden Gillispie (13.2 ppg) and Baden Gillispie (11.2 ppg). The Bulldogs have home games scheduled against Boyd County (Jan. 19) and Betsy Layne (Jan. 21) in Week 3. Lawrence County is slated to face East Carter in the Boyd County Roundball Classic on Saturday, Jan. 23. 

 

7. Betsy Layne (2-3): After suffering a heartbreaking two-point loss in overtime to eventual champion Pikeville in the 15th Region All "A" Classic, Betsy Layne bounced back to defeat Phelps. Jordan Frazier (20.4 ppg), Brady Robinson (19.6 ppg) and Chase Mims (13.0 ppg) form a productive trio for the Bobcats. Heading into Week 3, Betsy Layne is set to visit Martin County (Jan. 18) and Lawrence County (Jan. 21). 

 

8. Pike County Central (2-1): Following a loss to Pulaski County on a neutral court five days earlier, Pike County Central upended Martin County on the road. Jaylan Rigdon and Josh Du Toit are combining to average nearly 32 points per game for the Hawks. Pike County Central is scheduled to welcome in Wellspring (Jan. 18), White Academy, Tenn. (Jan. 22) and Mountain Mission, Va. (Jan. 23) for home games in Week 3. The Hawks are slated to host the Codell Construction Battle of the Border Jan. 22-23.

 

9. Martin County (1-4): Martin County nearly topped Paintsville in the 15th Region All "A" Classic then dropped another close game to Pike County Central. Junior guard Brady Dingess is averaging over 20 points per game for the Cardinals. Along with Dingess, Martin County features Lake Hale, Jordan Dalton, Jacob Butcher and Blake Maynard, among others. The Cardinals have home games on tap versus Betsy Layne (Jan. 18), Johnson Central (Jan. 21) and Paintsville (Jan. 23) in Week 3.

 

10. East Ridge (3-1): Still showing improvement in the 2020-21 boys' high school basketball season, East Ridge defeated Phelps before losing to Pikeville in the 15th Region All "A" Classic during Week 2. Isaac Woods, Eli Rose and Braxton Stanley are leading former 15th Region champion East Ridge. The Warriors have games scheduled versus Morgan County (Jan. 19, home), Phelps (Jan. 21, away) and Johnson Central (Jan. 22, away) in Week 3.

 

11. Magoffin County (2-3): The Hornets rolled past Floyd Central prior to suffering a lopsided loss to district rival Johnson Central. Magoffin County is scheduled to host both district nemesis Paintsville (Jan. 21) and much-improved Belfry (Jan. 23) in Week 3.

 

12. Floyd Central (1-3): The Jaguars are on a three-game losing skid following a loss to Magoffin County on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Shortly after the setback to Magoffin County, Floyd Central was sidelined due to COVID-19. The Jaguars are scheduled to host former 14th Region frontrunner Cordia on Monday, Jan. 25. 

 

13. Prestonsburg (0-2): Prestonsburg is currently sidelined due to COVID-19 as well. The Blackcats lost to Shelby Valley in the opening round of the 15th Region All "A" Classic on Monday. Jan. 11. Prestonsburg is scheduled to visit Nicholas County for its next game on Saturday, Jan. 23.

 

14. Phelps (0-5): Continuing to slide in Week 2, Phelps dropped games to East Ridge. Belfry and Betsy Layne. The Hornets have games scheduled versus Twin Valley, Va. (Jan. 18, away), Letcher County Central (Jan. 19, away; Jan. 23, home), and East Ridge (Jan. 21, home) in Week 3. 

 

15. Jenkins (1-3): The Cavaliers dropped games to Lee County and Morgan County before pulling away to defeat Riverside Christian 61-32. Jenkins has games scheduled versus Jackson City (Jan. 19, home) and Pikeville (Jan. 22, away) in Week 3.