Christian Academy Quarterbacks Break First From The Gate To Headline The State's Mr. Football Field

Faith is an institutional cornerstone of the Christian Academies in Louisville and Lexington. While fostering faith in God may serve as the ultimate mission at CAL and LCA, the sermons delivered inside the walls of the watchlist serve another purpose. And as their congregations convene under the Friday night lights, coaches Doug Charles and Hunter Cantwell will rest their faith in the divine talents of Cutter Boley and Cole Hodge, respectively. 

As pre-season hype goes, a Mr. Football resumé is as strong as a player's junior campaign and collegiate prospects. Hodge holds the advantage in the former. Boley, the latter. But both ace every test with flying colors.

The KHSAA's recent decision to shelve the option of playing up in class led to a few comments in the realignment thread about teams that would/could have won championships in higher classes. It got me thinking about champion vs. champion encounters in the regular season where the smaller school wins and both teams go on to win their respective class.

- The first such occurrence that immediately came to mind was '98 Highlands taking its first step toward immortality by besting eventual 4A champ Male in a Week 1 bowl game. 

- Defense and special teams won the day for Danville in 2017, as the winners of class 2A eked out a 10-7 win over 3A champ Boyle County on a field goal inside the final minute. 

- Belfry has been involved in three such occurrences during its run as 3A kingpin: They emerged victorious over 4A champion Johnson Central in an epic 2016 battle for the ages. Both rolled to state titles a few weeks later. On the losing end, Pikeville edged the Pirates by a point in 2019 and worked them over by four scores in 2021 on their way to a pair of 1A titles while Belfry would regroup to win 3A each time. 

Inspired by the Quisenberry recruiting thread. 

The "Who Ya With?" crowd will back their man. Others say it's up for debate. So let's have one. For what it's worth, the Rivals recruiting service has Quisenberry #1 in Kentucky for the class of '25. 

247Sports has Austin Alexander #1, followed by Central's Cortez Stone, then Quisenberry, his Boyle County teammate Brock Driver, and FD's Aveion Chenault as its top five.

Prospect rankings alone won't settle this. You have to take into account on-field production and impact, level of competition, and the always important eye test. 

Here's a quick rundown of the three players in contention that are highly rated by both major recruiting outfits: 

Montavin Quisenberry (ATH, Boyle County)
Austin Alexander (Edge/TE, Cooper)
Cortez Stone (RB, Lou. Central)
Someone else?

Which teams have indoor training facilities? Does your team practice no matter what the weather?

2023 All BluegrassPreps.com Boys Basketball Team

Continuing our tradition of leadership in Kentucky high school sports information, news, and discussion, BluegrassPreps.com announces its 12th annual (and final) All-BluegrassPreps.com Boys Basketball Team.

BluegrassPreps.com honors the state's top 10 players, with emphasis on building a true team. The All-BluegrassPreps.com team recognizes 10 players whose versatility and all-around contributions to their respective teams sets them apart.

Evan Ipsaro, Covington Catholic
Jacob Meyer, Covington Holy Cross
Teagan Moore, Owen County
Jerone Morton, George Rogers Clark
Trent Noah, Harlan County
Travis Perry, Lyon County
Reece Potter, Lexington Catholic
Reed Sheppard, North Laurel
Gabe Sisk, Ballard
Chappelle Whitney, Warren Central

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Reed Sheppard, North Laurel

Final. Congrats to the Dragons of Warren Central on a great season. The finish the season at 35-1 and winning 27 straight.

Reed Sheppard Named 2023 Kentucky Mr. Basketball

Career: 3,704 points (22.5 ppg) 1,045 rebounds (6.4 rebs/gm)

Senior: 773 pts, 22.1 ppg; 303 rebs; 48.7% fg; 39.5% 3pt; 88.6% ft
Junior: 856 pts, 25.2 ppg; 233 rebs; 53.7% fg; 38.2% 3pt; 89.4% ft
Sophomore: 843 pts, 30.1 ppg; 199 rebs; 55.8% fg; 40.9% 3pt; 88.0% ft
Freshman: 660 pts, 20.6 ppg; 167 rebs; 50.4% fg; 33.6% 3pt; 77.5% ft
8th Grade: 572 pts, 16.3 ppg; 143 rebs; 47.9% fg; 34.7% 3pt; 76.4% ft

2022 Kentucky Gatorade Player Of The Year (Junior)

Final the Valkyries win their 3rd straight championship. They finish the season at 34-3 and were undefeated against Kentucky teams and yet according to RPI they were the 2nd best team in their region. Go figure. Congrats to Sacred Heart a heck of team!

𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗝𝗔𝗬 𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗞𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠

The Beechwood Independent Schools is very pleased to announce, with both great pride and optimism, that Jay Volker has been selected to serve as the next head coach of the storied Tigers football program. For the past two seasons, Volker served in the same role on the sidelines at Talawanda High School in Oxford, Ohio, after successful stints as an assistant in the greater Cincinnati area. In nearly a half century of football in Fort Mitchell, Volker will be only the fourth head coach to oversee the Beechwood program, taking the torch from Bernie Barre (1975-1990), Mike Yeagle (1991-2005), and Noel Rash, who wore the visor for seventeen seasons (2006-2022) and retired from coaching in February. All told, the Tigers won 17 KHSAA state championships under Barre, Yeagle and Rash and have established a tradition of excellence both on and off the gridiron.

“I am excited, honored, and incredibly humbled to be the next head coach at Beechwood, because it is a top-tier school both athletically and academically,” said Volker. “You look back at nearly fifty years of Beechwood football, and three head coaches have been here. They’ve thrived and loved it. It tells you all you need to know about how special this place is and I can’t wait to get started.”

1.  Cooper (33rd District) -- they lose 39.4% of their points from this season and 40.4% of their rebounds.  They graduate Kay Friehofer, Whitney Lind, and Yamilet Rondon-Rivera.

2.  Notre Dame (35th District) -- they lose 32.4% of their points and 11.9% of their rebounds.  They graduate Noelle Hubert.

3.  Holy Cross (35th District) -- they lose 41.6% of their points and 33.5% of their rebounds.  They graduate Aleah Arlinghaus, Sarah Bottom, Nejai Lewis, and Elizabeth McCoy.

4.  Ryle (33rd District) -- they lose 43.1% of their points and 31.3% of their rebounds.  They graduate Emerson Fong, Anna Gregory, Abby Holtman, Austin Johnson, and Meredith Snider.

5.  Highlands (36th District) -- they lose 13.7% of their points and 12.6% of their rebounds.  They graduate Alyssa Harris.

6.  NewCath (36th District) -- they lose 7.2% of their points and 18.9% of their rebounds.  They graduate Natalie Haigis and Joelle Kinnett.

7.  Simon Kenton (32nd District) -- they lose 18.1% of their points and 25.3% of their rebounds.  They graduate Belle Bach, Edyn Chenot, Joyce Cooper, and Emilee Eggleston.

8.  Conner (33rd District) -- they lose 44.3% of their points and 52.8% of their rebounds.  They graduate Elaina Keller, Breanna Maidens, Emily McGraw, Juliet Strange, and Kelsee Simpson.

9.  Dixie (34th District) -- they lose 47.4% of their points and 27.9% of their rebounds.  They graduate Samantha Berman and Ella Steczynski.

10. St. Henry (34th District) -- they lose 21.1% of their points and 22.2% of their rebounds.  They graduate Jadyn Danbury and Chilota Iloegbunam.

Welcome to the Final Top 10 of the year for Northern Kentucky Girls' High School basketball -- this area has seldom been better than it is this year (3 of the top 10 teams in KY by nearly every ranking service)!!  It has been a pleasure covering the girls' hoops in the area and trying to fairly rank them (and their nearest chasers) each week, and I appreciate those of you that have read along with us.  I also want to thank @Runcible Owlwho often posts games before I can get to them, and I'm incredibly thankful for him doing that!  Thanks R.O.!!

With all of that said, the post-season has arrived, so below you'll find our FINAL Top 10, along with the 4 "others", as well as how they enter the post-season and what they have coming up.  Hopefully we see many of these teams over the next several weeks!  Good luck to everyone in the post-season, stay healthy, have fun, and stay focused on your task at hand even as your AAU coaches are pestering you about upcoming practices and tournaments.  😎

1. Warren Central
2. Lexington Catholic
3. North Oldham
4. Frederick Douglass
5. George Rogers Clark
6. Lyon County
7. Great Crossing
8. Covington Catholic
9. Ballard
10. Trinity

BEECHWOOD HEAD FOOTBALL COACH NOEL RASH RETIRES FROM TIGER PROGRAM One of the most successful football coaches in the history of Kentucky high school athletics and a highly-respected mentor at Beechwood High School, Noel Rash announced on Monday, February 13th that he will retire from his position as the Tigers' varsity football coach due to the ideal timing in his career and for health reasons. “I want everyone to know that nothing is drastically wrong with me health-wise. But the time and stress involved in coaching football can take its toll and I want to make wellness a priority in this next phase of my life,” said Rash. Rash joined the program as an assistant coach in 2000, was promoted to head coach in 2006 and took the championship pedigree that predecessors Bernie Barre and Mike Yeagle established in Fort Mitchell to new heights. In the seventeen seasons that Rash wore the visor as head coach, from 2006-2022, the Tigers won an astounding 200 games and eight state championships, including a three-peat in Class 2A in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

1. Warren Central
2. Lexington Catholic
3. North Oldham
4. Frederick Douglass
5. George Rogers Clark
6. Lyon County
7. Great Crossing
8. Covington Catholic
9. Bowling Green
10. Ballard
11. North Laurel
12. Mason County
13. Trinity
14. Collins
15. Male
16. Evangel Christian
17. PRP
18. Western
19. Covington Holy Cross
20. Conner

Has anyone noticed that School Spirit is down at the high school that you follow?  Specifically boy's basketball.  

I take in a lot of Varsity basketball games and I've noticed a trend at the majority of schools.  I hate to say it, but, back in my day, gyms were packed for my games.  Cheerleaders were at every game, home and away.  The pep band played at every home game and was very active.  Student's packed the gyms, both home and away.  It made for a great atmosphere and certainly helped the team get over the hump on many occasions.  

I hear it from parents in attendance, the casual fan in the stands, and nobody can understand what's going on?

• Rank|Reg.|Points (Top 5 Teams)

• 1. Reg. 7 ~ 69 (2. Ballard, 10. Male, 12. Trinity, 21. St. Xavier, 24. Manual)
• 2. Reg. 6 ~ 81 (13. Pleasure Ridge Park, 15. Western, 16. DeSales, 18. Evangel Christian, 19. Butler) 
• 2. Reg. 11 ~ 86 (4. Lexington Catholic, 8. Frederick Douglass, 11. Great Crossing, 26. Madison Central, 37. Lexington Christian)
• 4. Reg. 8 ~ 107 (5. North Oldham, 7. Collins, 30. Simon Kenton, 32. Grant Co., 33. Woodford Co.)
• 5. Reg. 9 ~ 118 (3. Covington Catholic, 22. Conner, 23. Highlands,  28. Covington Holy Cross, 42. Newport)
• 6. Reg. 13 ~ 182 (20. North Laurel, 34. Harlan Co., 39. Harlan, 41. Corbin, 48. South Laurel)
• 7. Reg. 10 ~ 218 (6. George Rogers Clark, 17. Mason Co., 49. Campbell Co, 57. Harrison Co., 89. Bracken Co.)
• 8. Reg. 4 ~ 239 (1. Warren Central, 9. Bowling Green, 67. South Warren, 80. Franklin-Simpson, 82. Barren Co.)
• 9. Reg. 2 ~ 259 (25. Lyon Co., 47. Henderson Co., 55. University Heights, 63. Madisonville-North Hopkins, 69. Christian Co.)
• 10. Reg. 1 ~ 279 (14. McCracken Co., 52. Paducah Tilghman, 64. Calloway Co., 72. Marshall Co., 77. Murray)
• 11. Reg. 12 ~ 282 (29. Pulaski Co., 31. Lincoln Co., 45. West Jessamine, 87. McCreary Central, 90. Danville)
• 12. Reg. 5 ~ 334 (44. Elizabethtown, 53. LaRue Co., 66. Taylor Co., 83. Central Hardin, 88. North Hardin) 
• 13. Reg. 3 ~ 348 (35. Owensboro Catholic, 43. Ohio Co., 51. Owensboro,  104. Butler Co., 115. McLean Co.)
• 14. Reg. 16 ~ 448 (40. Boyd Co., 46. Ashland, 113. Russell, 114. Fleming Co., 135. Rowan Co.)
• 15. Reg. 15 ~ 507 (68. Pikeville, 76. Martin Co., 113. Magoffin Co., 122. Pike Co. Central, 123. Floyd Central)
• 16. Reg. 14 ~ 602 (86. Hazard, 98. Perry Co. Central, 111. Breathitt Co. 127. Letcher Co. Central, 180. Estill Co.)

1.  Cooper (20-3) -- last week 3-0.  The clear class of the 9th Region, a bona-fide state champion candidate, and also the best JV team in the area. 
2.  Holy Cross (22-5) -- last week 1-0.  Sounds like the Indians had a cool experience at Hoosier Gym in Indiana, and an impressive margin of victory over a solid Walton Verona team.
3.  Ryle (18-7) -- last week 1-0.  Sounds like they are getting Snider back for the post-season, which really help galvanize things for the talented Ryle club.
4.  Dixie (20-6) -- last week 2-0.  Dixie continues to chug along, will easily win their district tourney, and will be a tough out when we get to NKU.
5.  Conner (15-6) -- last week 1-0.  A VERY impressive win over Notre Dame in Park Hills last week!!
6.  Highlands (17-8) -- last week 1-1.  Their loss last week was a home defeat at the hands of Cooper.
7.  Notre Dame (13-8) -- last week 1-2.  Took a loss at Cooper and then followed it up the next day with a home loss to Conner.  
8.  Bishop Brossart (18-8) -- last week 0-2.  The Lady Stangs dropped two home games last week, vs McNicholas (OH) and vs Ryle.
9.  Pendleton County (16-6) -- last week 2-0.  The Lady Cats haven't had a lot of tests of late, but Coach Kelsch has put together a very nice first year.
10. NewCath (15-8) -- last week 2-0.  Will have a puncher's chance vs Highlands in the 36th District, but only just, so will need a big outing in the first round at NKU to advance vs a district champion if they fall to the Birds in the District tourney.

1. Warren Central
2. Lexington Catholic
3. North Oldham
4. George Rogers Clark
5. Covington Catholic
6. Lyon County
7. Ballard
8. Great Crossing
9. Bowling Green
10. Frederick Douglass
11. Mason County
12. North Laurel
13. Collins
14. Pleasure Ridge Park
15. McCracken County
16. Trinity
17. Western
18. Male
19. Evangel Christian
20. Covington Holy Cross

Tournament is hosted at Covington Catholic. First round games begin on Thursday.

First round games:
Ryle vs. Lloyd Memorial (Play-In) - Feb 2, 6:15pm
Simon Kenton vs. Dixie Heights - Feb 2, 7:30pm
Campbell County vs. Boone County - Feb 4, 10:00am
Scott vs. Conner - Feb 4, 11:15am
Highlands vs. Ryle/Lloyd Winner - Feb 4, 12:30pm
Holy Cross vs. Newport - Feb 4, 1:45pm
Cooper vs. Beechwood - Feb 4, 3:15pm
Covington Catholic vs. Bishop Brossart - Feb 4, 4:30pm
Newport Catholic vs. St. Henry - Feb 4, 5:45pm

1.  Cooper (17-3) -- 2-1 last week with a loss vs Manual on a neutral court.
2.  Holy Cross (21-5) -- 4-0 last week and won the All A Classic at EKU.
3.  Ryle (17-7) -- 1-1 last week with a loss at Russell.
4.  Dixie (18-6) -- 3-0 last week.
5.  Notre Dame (12-6) -- 1-0 last week.
6.  Conner (14-6) -- 2-0 last week.
7.  Highlands (16-7) -- 1-1 last week with a loss at home vs Conner.
8.  Bishop Brossart (18-6) -- 2-1 last week with a loss at the All A Classic at EKU vs eventual runner-up Bethlehem.
9.  Pendleton County (14-6) -- 2-0 last week.
10.  NewCath (13-8) -- 3-0 last week.
=========================================
*  St. Henry (11-9) -- 1-1 last week with a loss at Conner.
*  Grant County (14-9) -- 1-1 last week with a loss at Dixie.
*  Scott (11-9) -- 2-1 last week with a loss at St. Henry.
*  Simon Kenton (11-10) -- 1-1 last week with a loss at Anderson County.

1. Warren Central
2. Covington Catholic
3. Lexington Catholic
4. North Oldham
5. George Rogers Clark
6. Great Crossing
7. Lyon County
8. Ballard
9. North Laurel
10. Mason County
11. Bowling Green
12. Frederick Douglass
13. McCracken County
14. Evangel Christian
15. Collins
16. Pleasure Ridge Park
17. Trinity
18. Western
19. Harlan
20. Covington Holy Cross

Dropped Out: Harlan County (20)
Enter Ranks: Covington Holy Cross (20)
Biggest Movers: Evangel Christian (+5), Western (-6)

Here are other considerations from each Region:
• First Region: Jack McCune, McCracken County 
• Second Region: Gerard Thomas, Henderson County
• Third Region: Brian Griffith, Owensboro Catholic
• Fourth Region: Chappelle Whitney, Warren Central
• Fifth Region: Casey Steadmon, Bethlehem
• Sixth Region: Keith Robinson, PRP
• Seventh Region: Gabe Sisk, Ballard
• Eighth Region: Teagan Moore, Owen County
• Ninth Region: Evan Ipsaro, Covington Catholic
• Tenth Region: Jerone Morton, GRC
• Eleventh Region: Reece Potter, Lexington Catholic
• Twelfth Region: Cayden Lancaster, Pulaski County
• Thirteenth Region: Reed Sheppard, North Laurel
• Fourteenth Region: Christian Collins, Breathitt County
• Fifteenth Region: Rylee Samons, Pikeville
• Sixteenth Region: Zack Otis, Bath County

Kentucky mountain basketball legends BB King, Randy Napier and Carolyn Alexander have been named to the 2023 class of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, a 14-person class that also includes Dave Cowens, Jared Lorenzen, Derek Smith and Chris Brohm, among other notables.

Their hall of fame bios:

Barry “BB” King led Knott County Central to two KHSAA Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16 appearances as an athlete and five as a coach. King scored 1,941 career points, which ranks third all-time in school history. The Patriots went 260-109 (.705) over 12 seasons, including a span of four consecutive region and district titles from 2012-2015. Knott County Central advanced to eight region finals during King’s tenure which also included a stint as Kentucky All-Star coach, claiming two WYMT Mountain Classic championships. 

Note: King, known as the "King of Mountain basketball", coached the beginning of this season at Breathitt County before his death in December.

Randy Napier coached girls’ basketball at MC Napier and Perry County Central for a combined 38 seasons. Napier’s career record of 886-285 (.757) makes him the all-time winningest girls’ basketball coach in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, while also topping the sport’s list of games coached at 1,171. His teams won 22 district titles, 10 region titles and one KHSAA Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16. Napier earned Region 14 Coach of the Year honors 11 times and coached the Kentucky All-Stars in 2007 and the McDonald’s All-American team in 2014.

Carolyn Alexander, the 1998 Kentucky Miss Basketball runner-up, led Hazard to the 1997 KHSAA Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16 championship and back-to-back All “A” titles. In her junior season, Alexander earned first-team All-State honors from the Associated Press, Lexington Herald-Leader and Courier Journal, and was named the No. 1 player in Kentucky by the AP. Alexander’s 3,726 career points rank fifth all-time, highlighted by a 1,029-point campaign in 1997-98. She also totaled more than 1,100 rebounds, 500 steals, 300 assists and 100 blocks over her career.

The induction ceremony is April 30 at the Central Back Center Ballroom, Lexington.

Congratulations to these Kentucky legends.

OFFENSE
QB - Travis Egan, Bullitt East
RB - Cortez Stone, Central
RB - Daniel Swinney, Male
OL - Austin Anderson, Bowling Green 
OL - Tristan Cook, Woodford County
OL - Hayes Johnson, Taylor County
OL - Aba Selm, Simon Kenton
OL - Malachi Wood, Madison Central
WR - Max DeGraff, Lexington Catholic
WR - Jakob Dixon, Pleasure Ridge Park
WR - Chandler Godby, Pulaski County
K - Kellan McLaughlin, Trinity

DEFENSE
DL - Micah Carter, Saint Xavier
DL - Saadiq Clements, Henderson County
DL - Oryend Fisher, Great Crossing
DL - Tommy Ziesmer, Boyle County
LB - Lofton Howard, Greenwood
LB - Jaxon Panariello, Saint Xavier
LB - Gavin Willis, Ballard
DB - Ty Bryant, Frederick Douglass
DB - Liam Hutson, North Oldham
DB - Isaiah Kenney, Frederick Douglass
DB - Antonio Robinson Jr., Beechwood
P - Lance Gossett, Male

ATHLETES
ATH - Mitchell Berger, Beechwood
ATH -  Blake Birchfield, Pikeville
ATH - Gavin Copenhaver, Christian Academy of Louisville
ATH - Kenyon Goodin, Collins
ATH - Jeremiah Goodwin, Owensboro
ATH - JT Haskins Jr., Bryan Station
ATH - Max Johnson, Hazard
ATH - Jacob Jones, West Jessamine
ATH - Daisjaun Mercer, Hopkinsville
ATH - Aden Nelson, Woodford County
ATH - Montavin Quisenberry, Boyle County
ATH - Tyleeq Williams, Bardstown

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Travis Egan, Bullitt East
COACH OF THE YEAR: Keegan Kendrick, Bullitt East

What a great week, a lot of terrific games, and the rankings (at least to me) are becoming more and more clear.  Here is the BGP Top 10 as of this week:

1.  Cooper -- (13-2)  Went 2-0 last week.

2.  Ryle -- (15-5)  Went 1-2 last week, with losses at Sacred Heart and at Cooper.

3.  Dixie -- (12-5)  Went 3-0 last week.

4.  Holy Cross -- (14-5)  Went 1-1 last week, with a loss at CAL.

5.  Notre Dame -- (10-4)  Went 1-0 last week.

6.  Conner -- (11-5)  Went 3-0 last week.

7.  Highlands -- (12-6)  Went 2-1 last week, with a loss at Ursuline (OH).

8.  Grant County -- (12-6)  Went 1-1 last week, with a home loss to Great Crossing.

9.  Pendleton County -- (11-4)  Went 1-0 last week.

10. Bishop Brossart -- (13-5) Went 3-0 last week.