Breathitt County - 14th Region Champions State Tournament Preview

[All State Baseball]

School: Breathitt County.

City: Jackson, KY.

Mascot: Bobcats.

Gym: Fairce O'Woods Coliseum.

Record: 24-8.

KHSAA Sweet 16 Opponent: North Laurel (13th Region Champions). 

Breathitt County (according to KHSAA Records) is 2-3 against the Jaguars.

- Dec. 16 2008  North Laurel 70-56.

- Jan. 8th 2009 Breathitt County 86-80.

- Jan. 8th 2013 Breathitt County 43-40.

- Dec. 2nd 2016 North Laurel 85-67.

- Dec. 23rd 2017 North Laurel 81-39.

 

Breathitt County is senior loaded with 8 seniors on the team. Bobcats have won 5 straight and 7 of they're final 8 games.

 

Key Wins: Pineville, Good Hope (AL), Floyd Central, Powell County, Perry County Central (2x), Knott County Central, Hazard.

Key Losses: Hazard (4x), Cabell Midland (WV), Pike County Central.

 

55th District Tournament:

Breathitt County punched they're ticket to the 55th district championship game and 14th Regional Tournament without even playing a first round district tournament game. Due to that district being a 3-team district, whoever picks up the most district wins throughout the season, earns that right and this year it just happened to be Breathitt County, as it is in most seasons. 

Breathitt County would play the Wolfe County Wolves in the Wolves Den in Campton and it wouldn't be much of a contest as the Bobcats would roar past the Wolves by 29, winning the 55th district title 88-59, ensuring that they would draw a district runner-up in the opening round of the 14th region tournament.

 

14th Region Tournament:

Breathitt County would draw the defending 14th region champions, Perry County Central Commodores in the opening round of the 14th region tournament. Perry County Central would come into the contest as the 54th District runner-up. These two met back on Feb. 10th with Breathitt County squeaking past the Commodores by 6, 60-54. This would end up being a tremendous back and forth game, but in the end, the scoreboard showed, Breathitt County 64 Perry County Central 60. Breathitt County would move on which would end the Commodores chances at a 14th region repeat.

Breathitt County would go on to face Powell County, a team they had to make a last second 3 to defeat on they're own home court, Fairce O'Woods Coliseum. The Bobcats wouldn't have any issues sinking the ship as they would do so, winning 83-61 over the Pirates.

This would set up a 5th and final match of the season between the Breathitt County Bobcats and Hazard Bulldogs. Hazard has had Breathitt County's number all season long, defeating the Bobcats 4 times; As you can see below, Breathitt County would edge out the Bulldogs when it mattered the most, defeating Hazard 61-59 in an absolute classic. Breathitt was up 4 with 6 seconds left, Hazard makes two FT's to make it 61-59 Breathitt, Bobcat star player, Austin Sperry would get fouled and an odd occurrence would happen as he would miss both FT's, giving Hazard a chance to tie or win it. Hazard's Seth Caudill's half court heave at the buzzer would bounce off the back of the rim as the horn would sound, giving the Bobcats the 61-59 victory and punching they're ticket to the KHSAA Sweet 16 Basketball State Tournament.

- Dec. 2nd Hazard 64-51 (at Hazard).

- Dec. 13th Hazard 63-41 (at Perry County Central WYMT Classic).

- Jan. 18 Hazard 55-47 (at Lee County 14th Region All "A").

- Feb. 18th Hazard 68-59 (at Breathitt County).

- Mar. 10th Breathitt County 61-59 (at Knott County Central 14th Region Championship).

 

Key Players To Watch:
Austin Sperry (SR) - Mr. Do It All for the Bobcats. Averages 22 points a game (has scored
over 700 points this season. When the game is on the line, this is the guy they want to have the ball. 77% from FT's.

Braxton Terry (SR) - Averages nearly a double double a game at 10 points per game and 9 rebounds a game. Shoots 91% from the FT line but he's only attempted 11 times and has made 10 of those in 25 games.

Joseph Honeycutt (SR) - Leads Breathitt County in three point shooting at 37% (49/133).

Aaron Stallard (SR) - Only averages 7 points a game but makes it for it on defense and hustle play.