Region Host: Breathitt County.

 

Football season is winding down and basketball season is here. Breathitt County came out on top last season, edging out Hazard 61-59 in the regional championship game. Hazard had won 4 regular season meetings between the two teams but Breathitt got the job done when it counted. 

Breathitt County will have a long road ahead of them this season due to them losing most of they're talent plus they have a brand new coach in Camron Turner.

Speaking of Breathitt having a new head coach, two other teams got brand new coaches. Hazard, Al Holland packed up and left for Pike County Central Hawks in the 15th Region and neighboring county and region foe, Knott County Central's head coach, Casey Huff was named new Hazard head coach. Former Knott County Central head girls coach and then-current Breathitt boys head coach, Jeff Honeycutt made his way back to Hindman, this time to take over the Knott County Central boys basketball team.

 

RANKINGS:

1. Perry County Central: The Commodores finished the season 17-12 with a first round region loss to Breathitt County 64-60. Perry got a big time transfer from crosstown rival, Daulton Combs. It's been two years since the Commodores cut the nets down and this season, they are the preseason favorite, can they find they're way back to Rupp?

2. Powell County: The Pirates finished 17-12 and was bounced in the semi-finals of the regional tournament. The Pirates also fell to district foe, Estill County in the 56th district championship game. The Pirates come in at #2 this preseason due to them having return all three leading scorers in Bryson Edwards, Tucker Ramsey and Riley Faulkner. The Pirates also added a transfer from George Rogers Clark in Connor Morguson. The Pirates are the heavy favorites in the 56th district and could be the ones cutting the nets down on the way to Rupp!

3. Hazard: The Bulldogs finished the season 29-3 and fell in the regional championship game to Breathitt County 61-59, a team that the Bulldogs had defeated four times during the regular season. Hazard also suffered couple more losses this offseason, losing long time head coach, Al Holland who left for Pike County Central and senior to be, Daulton Combs who moved cross town to Perry County Central. The Bulldogs hired a familiar face to lead the helm in former Knott County Central head coach, Casey Huff.

4. Knott County Central: Patriots finished the season 19-12. The Patriots face several tough losses last season, falling to Jenkins 56-54 in the 53rd district championship game and getting bounced by Hazard 46-40 in the opening round of the 14th region tournament. Jeff Honeycutt, who was long time Knott Central girls head coach and was Breathitt boys head coach, found his way back to Hindman to coach the Knott County Central Patriots. JR Jaden Amburgey transfered over to district foe, Letcher County Central.

5. Letcher County Central: The Cougars struggled most of last season and even fell to Jenkins in the opening round of the 53rd district tournament. The Cougars return leading scorer, Terry Delaney who averaged 21 points last season, the Cougars also added transfer, Jaden Amburgey who came in from Knott County Central.

6. Leslie County: Finished last season 14-15 and fell in the opening round of the 54th district tournament to Perry County Central 61-49. The Eagles return both leading scorers from last season in Jayden Hacker and Jesse Hacker. Being in a district with Perry County Central and Hazard, the Eagles are in a tough road to get to the reigonal tournament.

7. Wolfe County: Wolves finished the season 13-17 and fell in both the 55th district championship to Breathitt County 88-59 and Hazard 73-47. Wolfe County edged out Estill County 61-59 in an absolute classic in double overtime in the opening round of the 14th region tournament. Wolfe returns all but one from last year's team and they very well could find themselves making a run in the post season.

8. Owsley County: Owsley finished the season 9-18 last season and failed to make the regional tournament. Owsley hasn't made the regional tournament since 2021 and this year could be the year they make it. They return all from last year's team.

9. Jenkins: The Cavaliers won the 53rd district last season and had the greatest team in school history. The Cavaliers tremendous season came to an early end  as they fell in the opening round of the regional tournament, falling to Powell County 85-68. The Cavaliers lose three of they're four leading scorers from last season.

10. Lee County: The Bobcats finished last season 9-21. The Bobcats will be fighting with Estill and Owsley to see who else goes to the regional tournament. The Bobcats return Corey Flinchum who is one of the top rated players in the region.

11. Buckhorn: Finished the season 8-21 and was near the bottom of the barrel in the region. Being in a district with Hazard, Perry and Leslie the Wildcats struggle to get to the region tournament. The Wildcats return two of the three leading scorers from last year in Jacob Neace and Dillon Easterling.

12. Estill County: Finished the season 14-16 and upset Powell County to claim the 56th district championship. Estill lost Casey Chaney and Jax Niece, the two that propelled that team. Estill returns a good group and has a tough schedule ahead of them that includes, Perry County Central, Breathitt County, Leslie County, Iroquois and Magoffin County. They are gonna be fighting with Lee and Owsley to see who goes to the regional tournament.

13. Jackson City: The Tigers have a new head coach in Junior Thompson but still have a rough road to go in the district they are in with Breathitt and Wolfe.

14. Cordia: Several years ago they were a force to be reckon with in the region but have since fallen way back. Can they find they're way back to the region tournament or will the be watching from the sidelines again?

15. June Buchanan: The Crusaders only had 1 win last season, can they get more than 1 win this season? 

 

 Top Preseason Players:

1. Seth Caudill (Hazard).

2. Corey Flinchum (Lee County).

3. Bryson Edwards (Powell County).

4. Daulton Combs (Perry County Central).

5. Caleb Creech (Wolfe County).

6. Chance Amburgey (Knott County Central).

7. Terry Delaney (Letcher County Central).

8. Jayden Hoskins (Leslie County).

9. Dillon Easterling (Buckhorn).

10. Tripp Brashear (Leslie County).

 

Top Teams in Each District:

53rd: Knott County Central.

54th: Perry County Central.

55th: Wolfe County.

56th: Powell County.

Connor Morguson will probably be the best player in the 14th region, definitely in the top 5.

A pretty random question - does Cordia play its home games at the school or at a different location?

On 11/11/2025 at 8:02 PM, Smallhoops said:

A pretty random question - does Cordia play its home games at the school or at a different location?

For the past several years, I know at least 5 or 6 years, Cordia has played their games at the old Hindman High gymnasium. I think iit dates back to the ‘40s or maybe early ‘50s but it is still a nice facility. It’s a good size block building with a regulation size floor and plenty of seating. Their old gym, which was condemned due to a mud slide and foundation issues, didn’t seat very many, probably less than 100. 

3 hours ago, The Professor said:

For the past several years, I know at least 5 or 6 years, Cordia has played their games at the old Hindman High gymnasium. I think iit dates back to the ‘40s or maybe early ‘50s but it is still a nice facility. It’s a good size block building with a regulation size floor and plenty of seating. Their old gym, which was condemned due to a mud slide and foundation issues, didn’t seat very many, probably less than 100. 

Thanks very much. I thought that might be the case. Very helpful.