Pi

Last time they had the choice, they picked Holmes and stirred a lot of controversy. No word on where they will select this year.

I'm a new Gavin Lightning fan, but man, what a name to go with some game!

Lawrence County should dominate this year. What a run the Bulldogs are having athletically.

He inherited Turner, hired Owen, (can’t control that situation,) and then hired Franklin. Also, AD’s do not fire coaches. That’s an admins decision every single time.

My inside source tells me it was a lot less about W-L than it was about program direction and discipline.

Ashland has been to Rupp 6 straight times. (Including 2020 when they may have won the whole thing...) I look for Boyd to dethrone them this year.

The question I have, and will continue to wonder. Does the KHSAA have a problem with how things are going? We all can complain on message boards and Facebook until we're blue in the face, but do Julian and the gang want to see change in the playoff setup?

In 6A, this could almost work. But any other class the geography of just straight 1-16 is impossible. 2A would have OCath hosting Phelps. A 5 hour cheese ride.

10 years ago they were a fingertip away from a trip to the state semis. The facilities are good, the school is brand new, Dixie and SK are both “down” I think the right hire could propel Scott to be back to their 2015 days.

Heard the same. What will it take for Scott to be a contender?

Surely Frankfort will withdraw from their Paris game. They had to forfeit in the middle of the game last night against Western Hills.

So is he in his 5th year of High School?

This has to be the biggest frontcourt in the state-- right?

Especially in this era. Any team they will play has access to every film they have. There is no hiding anything anymore.

I just said “this play could be the game.” Thinking Highlands stopping them would finish it. I was more than right!

For context, I just went and looked at 1998-2005. Typically 1 game was a running clock, 2 were 14-24 points, and 1 game was 1 posession.

Title Games 17ppg difference Semis 19ppg difference

90 something games last year in the first round. 70+ were running clock. Only 7 saw the visiting team win (that number could be off by a few.)

I look for Holmes to take a big step forward in year 2 under Sam Elsbernd. I think the biggest story of the year will be Cooper and Newport both dropping off big time.

Who will contribute for the Eagles this year you think?

In light of the GRC news I didn't have, here is an updated ranking on Pi's 10th Region Preview: 1.) GRC. Adkins and Gay both add a tremendous amount to bolster Ashford. This catapults them to the very top. 2.) Campbell Co. 3.) Nicholas Co. 4.) Montgomery Co. I dropped them here, because they haven't yet been knocked off, but in retrospect, I have a hard time seeing them beat any of the top 3 with who they currently have. Defending champs or not, they aren't #1. 5.) Bourbon Co. 6.) Scott 7.) Mason Co. 8.) Paris 9.) Harrison Co. 10.) Pendleton Co. 11.) Bishop Brossart 12.) Calvary Christian 13.) Augusta 14.) Bracken Co. 15.) Robertson Co. 16.) St. Pat

My intelligence on this may have been flawed. Gay staying and Adkins arrival probably moves GRC to #1 for me.

How does GRC replace all that lost production?

It’s time to get your popcorn (Mason Co. Fieldhouse brand preferred) ready, because everyone's favorite region, the 10th, is about as wide open as it has EVER been, in my opinion. There are 16 teams in the 10th region, and realistically, with the way rosters are looking today, you could say 8 of those teams could make a run at winning it all, and hoisting the trophy at the site of this year's tourney. (TBD by the 37th district) There are, as always, the heavyweights. GRC, Montgomery, and Campbell are tough to topple, but there could be a few surprises this year, and from the middle to the top, the Tenth Region is primed for a few upsets. The battle for player of the year in the 10th will come down to 2 stars from the 40th, Tyce Jarvis (Jr. Montgomery) and Malachi Ashford (Sr. GRC) are the two obvious candidates, but Austin Davie (Soph, Campbell) JaZi Grayson, (Jr. Pendleton) and Braxton Martin (Sr. Nicholas) will all make those two earn every bit of accolades they get in the 10th, because they are prepared to fight until the bitter end. While the 39th district brings up the rear of the region, the 40th and 37th both will be battling for the top dog, all season. It’ll be an exciting year in north eastern Kentucky, and I look forward to watching some high-quality hoops, eating some higher quality popcorn, and seeing the best make it to Rupp in March. Here’s the official preseason rankings for the 10th. 1.) Montgomery County. Coach Jason Mays enters year 3 in Mt. Sterling, having to replace 33 points a game in the loss of Luke Fawns and Cayden Reed, but the offense still runs through Tyce Jarvis. (17.4PPG) His right-hand man this year will be Andrew Terry (9.4PPG) who also led the team in rebounds (6.8). They’ll keep Dawson Gentry 9.4PPG in the rotation and need an increase in production from Isaiah Rowlett and Price Campbell, but Coach Mays always gets his guys ready for March, and until they’re knocked off, they’re on the mountain top. 2.) Campbell County. The loss of Garyn Jackson (16.8 PPG) and Xavier Fancher (10.3PPG) just means more opportunity for Coach Brent Sowder’s 3rd season to be the year of Austin Davie. (17.9PPG) Davie led the Camels in scoring last year, and looks poised to do it again. This will be a breakout year for the Junior, and I look to see his 6’5” frame fill out and start garnering interest from some big names collegiately. His running mate will be Lucas Anthrop who looks to step up big time, Austin Daniel and Elliott Eaton both look to increase their roles this year too. The Camels are always in the mix come March and this year looks to be no different. 3.) Nicholas County. It’s a big swing here to put Nicholas this high, I admit, but if what the Bluejackets have returning has improved over the sermon like I am hearing? It could be an unforgettable year in Carlisle. The combination of, Braxton Martin 16.2 Peyton Hatton (So) 12.9 Caiden Smith 11.2 (12.8 rebounds) Preston Blake 9.9 (12.3 rebounds) all coming back a year more mature, taller, and stronger for the BlueJackets is a recipe for a lot of excitement in an overall down year for the 10th region. I see the BlueJackets walking through the 38th district and making a cacophony of noise in the 10th region tournament. 4.) GRC. Clark County’s skipper Josh Cook enters year 9 in WinCity with perhaps more questions than he has had in previous years. I’d venture to guess this may be his lowest preseason rank since he took the helm in the home of Ale81. But the loss of Montez Gay, (12.7PPG) Maddox Hager (9.6PPG) Conner Morguson (5.7PPG) AND Sam Spillman (4.7PPG) is a big hole to start from. Of course, if you’re starting in a hole, doing it with a candidate for Mr. Basketball is a great place to start. Holding multiple D1 offers, Malachi Ashford will be doing a lot of heavy lifting for the Cardinals this year, but Coach Cook will have his boys ready to rumble, and GRC always finds a way to get in the mix late in the season. 5.) Bourbon The middle of the pack is crowded in the 10th. Some of these are interchangeable, and any of them catching fire at the right time could shock the world, but not those of us who know 10th Region ball. Bourbon is one of those teams. The loss of Marquis Harrison’s 19.5PPG and Daymarion Birds 9.7PPG will hurt, but Noah Earlywine (13.9PPG and 6.9Reb) Nash Wilson (8PPG) and Mark Perraut (8PPG 5 Reb) will all pick up the slack. There are rumors about some of the Paris transfers from football joining the Colonels on the hardwood after the season, and that could help Coach Allen Martin’s team in what is always a tough district to escape. 6.) Scott. The Eagles were poised to be even a bit higher, but the injury to Aaron Hampton (13.9PPG 7.3Reb) on the gridiron, has them 6th, and in danger of dropping. Jordan Clemons (9.8PPG) is the leading scorer that is returning and he will be the leader of the blue and gray on the hardwood. Jayden Dodd led the team from beyond the arc (37%) and will be leaned on heavily to create scoring opportunities for JaMel Riley and Dereck Overman. Steve Fromeyer and staff always have Scott battling, playing tough defense and hard nosed basketball, I look for more of the same from them this year. 7.) Mason. Honestly, this might be more of a traditionalist bump for the Royals than they deserve, but my history in the 10th region doesn’t let me count out the kings of the hill for long. Coach Brian Kirk has a tough road, replacing almost 55 points a game on a team that averaged 63 points all season. It won’t be easy in Maysville, but Jace Merz, Trazon Lang, and Ben Brookbank are all Seniors looking to fill the holes left by 3 graduations and a transferring Myrick. It will be a slow start in the Fieldhouse, but by February, Kirk will show everyone why he has won the 39th every year he’s been in Blue and White. 8.) Paris. Coach Eli Strait’s first season on West Seventh Street started with a bang. Hiring former UK standout Marquise Estill as an assistant will do that. The question is, will Strait and Estill’s D1 skills transfer to their coaching ability? Paris is a mystery. They lost 3 top scorers, Carter Cobb (19PPG) Elijah Webb (14.2PPG) and Andrew Miles Johnson (9.3PPG) and don’t seem to be returning much, that we know about. But, I have a sneaking suspicion Strait and Estill will be building something in Paris that everyone will be talking about before long. Their histories and pedigrees prove they are competitors and here to win. 9.) Harrison County. Bianckes is a buzz with talk lately of the Thoroughbreds. They round out this middle of the pack that could surprise people in the spring. They return Landon Kinney and Blake Green, both of whom were averaging almost 8 points a game, and they need to replace 10 points per game from Jashon Lewis and 8 per game from Jayden Boyers, but the word on the street is they can and will. Sawyer Cracraft shot 72% from the charity stripe as a junior, and will only improve that in his senior year. Landon Kinney’s range will be a factor again in the 38th, as the Thoroughbreds are poised to take on the big bad Bluejackets to see who reigns supreme in the district that hasn’t seen a 10th region champion since 2005. 10.) Pendleton County. Mason Monroes 3rd season in Falmouth will feature his best lineup yet. JaZi Grayson (12PPG) Kamden O’Hara (9.3PPG) and Hunter Keeton(8.3PPG) return as leading scorers, and leaders on the hardwood. The Wildcats finished last year above .500, and are looking to build on that regular season success. More than that, they’re hoping to be in the thick of it to battle for the 38th. Nicholas is a tall task, but Harrison and Pendleton will match up well, and Pendletons experience might give them the edge. 11.) Bishop Brossart. Another surprise this low on the list, I’m not used to the Mustangs underachieving. But Coach Ben Franzen has to replace 29 points per game, and his leading returner was only averaging 7.2, in Beckett Kuntz. The Mustangs gave their all and found their way to the title game of the 37th district, but that experience only carries them so far this year. Franzen’s team lost top 3 point shooters, top rebounders and several on the floor leaders. It’s a rebuilding year in Mustangland, but the Green and White are always down to make you work for a full 32 minutes. 12.) Calvary Christian. I for one, am high on the red and yellow cougars to make some noise, at least in the All A. They lost almost no scoring to graduation or transfer, and are building on last years 17-14 record. They had a shot at Nicholas in the ALL A and almost came away with it. This now experienced group is not going to leave anything to chance, and I expect to see some epic games in Taylor Mill. Look for Peyton Morris (20.5PPG), Luke Getsy (11.3PPG) and (10.5 Reb) and Collin Duty (10.2PPG) to make a splash in the All A, and to not roll over easily I the 37th either. It could be a different year for Benjamin Mullin’s team. 13.) Augusta. George Clooney’s hometown team is looking more like Letterheads George and less like Oceans 11 George. They lost 44 points per game in three graduating seniors and have a shallow bench to help build back. But Jason Hinson’s teams are never out of it, and he’ll lean on Maddox Hesler (9.1PPG) and Carl Ross (4.8PPG) to lead the Panthers to a few upsets. They’ll make their names known in the All A, and they’ll battle everywhere they go. But I don’t think this will be a banner year for the Panthers. 14.) Bracken County. It is tough sledding in Brooksville right now, and there isn’t a lot of hope on the horizon. Last year’s leading scorer and TikTok sensation Noah Nelson is at KCU, Ashton Buchanan and Apolino Hermilo are also gone. Teegan Feldhaus (11.8PPG) is the returning leading scorer, and behind him is Greg Benedict, still recovering from a gruesome injury in football season. Outside of a lucky draw of St Pat for the 39th district, I don’t think the Polar Bears will have much to hang their hat on this season. 15.) Robertson County. Brandon Hinson is trying to build something in Mt. Olivet, but, construction is a slow business in the least populated county in the state. He returns Ashton Myers (10.7PPG) (10reb) Andrew Gooden (8.3PPG) Lucas Burden (6.3 PPG) Nathan Turner 5.2 (PPG) (7.8reb) so there is some hope to make an All A run, but a district or regional tournament win are pretty unlikely. 16.) St Patrick. The good news: I foresee St Patrick possibly doubling last years win total. The bad news? That still only gets them to 6 wins. Leading scorers Amari Myrick (13.8PPG) Abisai Ignacio (12.5PPG) and Rudy Ignacio (6.3PPG) All return for the Saints, but, it won’t be enough firepower for Coach Lex Turner to see many more wins.

I have heard more than one rumor that Lickert will be stepping down at NCC because he is now a Principal in Cincinnati. I also believe Conner and Holmes are both "interim" jobs that will re-open this offseason. Both coaches filling those slots should get the job should they want it, but I am not sure if they do or not.