BluegrassPreps.com 15th Region Week 5 Review

1. Johnson Central (9-1): Perennial 15th Region title contender Johnson Central opened February with three straight wins, defeating West Carter, Magoffin County and Belfry. Johnson Central is 9-1 through its first 10 games in the 2020-21 boys' high school basketball season. Seniors Cory VanHoose (17.2 ppg), Isaiah May (16.7 ppg) and John King (11.4 ppg) pace the Golden Eagles.  As a team, Johnson Central is shooting 39.5 percent (68-of-172) from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles have upcoming games scheduled versus crosstown rival Paintsville (Feb. 9, away), Prestonsburg (Feb. 10, home) and Shelby Valley (Feb. 12, away). 

 

2. Pikeville (7-3): The Panthers returned to the win column in Week 5, beating Belfry and 59th District rival East Ridge. Junior Rylee Samons is averaging nearly 24 points per game for the Panthers. In addition to Samons, Pikeville features Nick Robinson (11 ppg). Pikeville is due to battle Boyd County (Feb. 9, home), Paintsville (Feb. 11, away) and George Rogers Clark (Feb. 13, away) in Week 6. 

 

3. Shelby Valley (7-3): Shaking off an upset loss to Magoffin County, Shelby Valley pulled away to defeat visiting East Ridge 66-48 in a 59th District game on Thursday, Feb. 4. Kaden Robinson and Keian Worrix are each averaging 17 points per game for the Wildcats. Shelby Valley is scheduled to face Magoffin County (Feb. 8, away), Phelps (Feb. 9, home) and Johnson Central (Feb. 12, home) in Week 6. 

 

4. Martin County (4-5): Reigning 15th Region champion Martin County suffered a 10-point loss to defending 15th Region champ Hazard in the WYMT Mountain Classic. Brady Dingess is averaging 20.6 points per game for the Cardinals. Martin County is slated to meet Knott County Central (Feb. 9, home), Buckhorn (Feb. 11, home) and Magoffin County (Feb. 13, away) in Week 6.

 

5. Paintsville (5-4): The Tigers are on a three-game winning streak after compiling back-to-back wins over Belfry and Magoffin County in Week 5. Colby Fugate is averaging 20-plus points game for the Tigers. Along with Fugate, Braxton Tharp and Jaxon Watts are averaging double figures in scoring for former state champion Paintsville. The Tigers are preparing to host Johnson Central (Feb. 9, home), Pikeville (Feb. 11, home) and Raceland (Feb. 13, home) for home games. 

 

6. East Ridge (5-6): The Warriors dropped three straight games in the opening week of February, falling to 15th Region foes Belfry, Shelby Valley and Pikeville. Isaac Woods (16.0 ppg) and Braxton Stanley (12.0 ppg) continue to combine to lead the Warriors. East Ridge has upcoming home games scheduled versus Betsy Layne (Feb. 9) and Pike County Central (Feb. 11). 

 

7. Belfry (4-6): The Pirates are are on a six-game losing skid after opening the 2020-21 boys' high school basketball season 4-0. Currently, Sal Dean, Tyler Chaffin and newcomer Bol Kuir rank as the Pirates' top three scorers. Belfry is slated to face Prestonsburg (Feb. 8, home) and Russell (Feb. 12, away) in Week 6. 

 

8. Betsy Layne (4-5): After notching back-to-back 58th District wins over Floyd Central and Prestonsburg, Betsy Layne lost to Knox Central in the WYMT Mountain Classic. Jordan Frazier (21.3 ppg) and Brady Robinson (18.2 ppg) form one of the top duos in the 15th Region for the Bobcats. Betsy Layne's Week 6 schedule includes games versus East Ridge (Feb. 9, away), Pike County Central (Feb. 10, home), Phelps (Feb. 12, home) and Prestonsburg (Feb. 13, home). 

 

9. Pike County Central (6-2): After dropping a heartbreaker to Rose Hill Christian, Pike County Central bounced back to beat Harlan and Perry County Central. The trio of Jaylan Rigdon (19.4 ppg), Josh Du Toit (16.8 ppg, 7.8 ppg) and Kasope Lawrence (12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg) leads the Hawks. Pike County Central is poised to face Cordia (Feb. 8, home), Betsy Layne (Feb. 10, away), East Ridge (Feb. 11, away) and Knott County Central (Feb. 13, away) in Week 6.

 

10. Lawrence County (4-3): The 2019-20 15th Region Runner-up, Lawrence County remained sidelined in Week 5. Lawrence County hasn't played since dropping a game to Martin County on January 26. The Bulldogs are scheduled to meet Fairview (Feb. 9, home), Floyd Central (Feb. 11, away) and Morgan County (Feb. 12, away) in Week 6. 

 

11. Magoffin County (6-5): The Hornets edged Prestonsburg 62-60 before dropping back-to-back games to 57th District rivals Johnson Central and Paintsville. Facing another challenging stretch, Magoffin County is due to meet Shelby Valley (Feb. 8, home), Perry County Central (Feb. 10, away) and Martin County (Feb. 13, home).  

 

12. Prestonsburg (4-5): Showing improvement, Prestonsburg has won three of its last four games. The Blackcats pulled away to beat 58th District rival Floyd Central 55-41 on the Jaguars' home floor on Saturday, Feb. 6. Prestonsburg is preparing to visit Belfry (Feb. 8), Johnson Central (Feb. 10) and Betsy Layne (Feb. 13) for away games.

 

13. Floyd Central (2-6): The Jaguars dropped a 58th District game to Prestonsburg, slipping back into the loss column after defeating Menifee County in late-January. Morgan County (Feb. 8, away), Lawrence County (Feb. 11, home) and Phelps (Feb. 13, away) are the Jaguars' scheduled opponents for Week 6.

 

14. Phelps (1-9): The Hornets suffered a lopsided loss to Prestonsburg in Week 5. Phelps has dropped back-to-back games. The Hornets are scheduled to meet Shelby Valley (Feb. 9, away), Betsy Layne (Feb. 12, away) and Floyd Central (Feb. 13, home) in Week 6.

 

15. Jenkins (1-3): The Cavaliers remained sidelined in Week 5 but are poised to make a return to the court. Jenkins has upcoming games scheduled versus June Buchanan (Feb. 8, home), Letcher County Central (Feb. 11, away) and Lee County (Feb. 12, away).