BluegrassPreps.com 14th Region Tournament Preview

Post season and regional tournaments are here in what was a quick season. Went by like a flash. Here is the preview of the 2021 14th Region Tournament held at Breathitt County's Fairce O'Woods Colliseum. 

Tournament will be March 20th-24th.

All first round games will be played on Saturday March 20th.

11AM Estill County Engineers vs. Perry County Central Commodores:

First game of the 14th regional tournament will feature the Engineers of Estill County and the Commodores of Perry County Central. The last time these two met was the 2015/16 season, in the first round of the 14th regional tournament where Perry County Central got by Estill County with ease 84-34. I'm not sure when the last time, if ever, that Estill County has beaten Perry County Central. The Engineers come in with a record of 16-4 (7-2 Region) while Perry County Central comes in with a record of 8-13 (4-6 Region). Estill County is one of the hottest teams coming into the regional tournament having won 10 straight. Perry County Central has lost 3 of they're final 5 games but have gone 5-5 in they're final 10 games.

Common Opponents: Breathitt County, Owsley County, Wolfe County.

Estill County (3-2): 52-46 L at Breathitt County, 56-54 (OT) L vs. Wolfe County, 45-34 W/57-30 W/51-33 W vs. Owsley County.

Perry County Central (2-1): 66-49 W at Wolfe County, 72-59 W vs. Owsley County, 56-54 (OT) L at Breathitt County.

1:30 PM Knott County Central Patriots at Breathitt County Bobcats:

Second game of the day features the Patriots of Knott County Central taking on the home team Breathitt County Bobcats. Knott County Central comes in with a record of 15-7 (12-1 Region) and have won 3 straight and 4 of they're final 5 games. Breathitt County comes in with a record of 16-6 (14-3 Region) and have lost they're last game. They've gone 3-2 in they're final 5 games. They met earlier in the season at Owsley County with Knott County Central winning 78-69. 

Common Opponents: Betsy Layne, Cordia, June Buchanan, Leslie County,  Letcher County Central, Wolfe County.

Knott County Central (8-2): 69-63 L vs. Betsy Layne, 65-57 W/81-60 W vs. Cordia, 72-32 W/78-45 W vs. June Buchanan, 58-53 W vs. Leslie County, 67-63 W/72-52 W vs. Letcher County Central, 80-68 W/67-59 L vs. Wolfe County.

Breathitt County (5-3): 67-51 L vs. Betsy Layne, 94-78 W vs. Cordia, 71-34 W vs. June Buchanan, 81-57 W/64-63 W vs. Leslie County, 71-64 W at Letcher County Central, 88-64 L/78-59 L at Wolfe County.

4:00 PM Wolfe County Wolves vs. Owsley County Owls:

The third game of the opening round features the Wolves of Wolfe County and the Owls of Owsley County. Wolfe County comes in with a record of 14-9 (8-4 Region) and have won 4 straight. Owsley County Owls come in with a record of 8-10 (8-9 Region) and have lost 7 of they're final 8 games. 

Common Opponents: Estill County, Hazard, Jackson City, Perry County Central, Powell County.

Wolfe County (3-3 ) 56-54 (OT) W at Estill County, 66-58 L/59-52 L vs. Hazard, 78-49 W vs. Jackson City, 66-49 L vs. Perry County Central, 87-60 W vs. Powell County.

Owsley County (2-6): 45-34 L/57-30 L/51-33 L vs. Estill County, 75-32 L/84-58 L vs. Hazard, 65-30 W at Jackson City, 72-59 L at Perry County Central, 63-61 vs. Powell County.

6:30 PM Hazard Bulldogs vs. Cordia Lions: The final game of the opening round of the 2021 14th Region Basketball Tournament features the Bulldogs of Hazard and the Lions of Cordia. Hazard comes in with a record of 20-4 (16-1 Region). Hazard has won 4 straight. They're record speaks for it's self. Cordia comes in with a record of 10-15 (6-12 Region). The Lions come in having lost 5 of they're final 7 games. Hazard has been really, really hot all year long. The Lions on the other hand, have struggled all year. The only game of the regional tournament, where the two teams met during the regular season. These two met twice, with Hazard winning both games 101-71 and 67-53.

Common Opponents: Buckhorn, Knott County Central, Leslie County, Letcher County Central, Owsley County, Perry County Central, Powell County.

Hazard (11-1): 81-60 W/88-36 W/ vs. Buckhorn, 73-64 L vs. Knott County Central, 71-67 W/79-54 W/74-55 W vs. Leslie County, 73-54 W at Letcher County Central, 75-32 W/84-58 W vs. Owsley County, 58-48 W/54-53 W vs. Perry County Central, 80-38 W at Powell County.

Cordia (4-6): 77-72 L/59-48 L vs. Buckhorn, 65-57 L/81-60 L vs. Knott County Central, 82-76 L/84-76 L vs. Leslie County, 63-61 (2 OT) L/79-76 W vs. Letcher County Central, 60-54 W/87-64 W vs. Owsley County/77-51 L at Perry County Central, 80-39 W vs. Powell County

Semi-Finals: March 22nd 5:30 PM & 8:00 PM

Championship: March 24th: 7 PM.

Team Rankings:

1) Hazard

2) Knott County Central

3) Wolfe County

4) Breathitt County

5) Perry County Central

6) Estill County

7) Cordia

8 ) Owsley County

Player Rankings:

1) Wade Phelprey (Hazard): Leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 21.3 points per game. Region's best player. Can shoot it from anywhere on the court.

2) Jaz Johnson (Wolfe County): One you should not leave open. He's got range from everywhere it seems and when they're hitting, they aren't missing. 

3) Colby Napier (Knott County Central): Lead's the Patriots in scoring at 20.7 points per game. Much like both Phelprey and Johnson, another threat to shoot anywhere from the court.

4) Josh McGuire (Knott County Central): The Pats big man. Was out last season due to an injury. Big vital piece for Coach BB King and the Patriots.

5) Wilgus Tolson (Wolfe County): May not be the best scorer or a big time scorer but he's a vital piece for Wolfe County when he's on the court with his defense and theirs times he comes up clutch, very clutch.

6) Landon Napier (Estill County): One of the top players for the Engineers. Leads Estill County in scoring at 19.6 points a game. When he gets going, he's hard to stop.

7) Naz Welch (Cordia): A name you don't hear very much out of the region. Naz Welch. Lead's the Lions and region in scoring at 24 points a game.

8 ) Greg Brooks (Cordia): Another top scorer in the region coming from Cordia. Second leading scorer for the Lions at 21 points a game.

9) Rydge Beverly (Perry County Central): Another Beverly coming through Perry County Central. The Commodores best player. Averaging 14.6 points a game. 

10 ) Dyllon Long (Estill County): Engineers big man. He was a big addition on the gridiron, now he's a big addition to Coach Bentley and the Engineers on the basketball court. Dyllon averages right at 11 points a game  and 6 boards a game.

I'm sure they're will be more names to add to the list but IMO that's the top 10.