TribeTime

Tough to fire your neighbor.

12 defensive players have been drafted in the last 3 drafts for the Bengals. It’s a drafting and developmental problem.

Was this a different direction or a resignation?

The 16th Region has run through Ashland since 2019. 7 straight trips to Rupp for the Tomcats. 5 of those Region Championship wins came at the expense of Boyd County. Can the Tomcats make it 8 in a row? Is this the year the Lions finally flip the script and make their first trip to Rupp since 2018? Will someone else rise up and take down the two powers? Boyd County - The Lions return Jacob Spurlock (24 PPG) and Ethan Rardon (9 PPG) but have added in some major reinforcements. Caleb Rimmer (15 PPG and 8 RPG at Russell), Gunnar Woods (19 PPG at Lawrence County), and Malachi Payne from Huntington will look to break the Tomcats 7 year region run. Ashland - The defending champs lose one of the best players in the state in Zander Carter but return a solid group of players including Caleb Clarke (12 PPG, 6 RPG), Drew Smith (11 PPG), and Elijah Neel (6 PPG). Championship experience and culture will go a long way in seeing if the Tomcats can return to Rupp. Raceland - Rams will look to replace leading scorer and rebounding Connor Thacker but have plenty returning to make the contenders. Jonah Arnett, Charles Welch, and Jacob Waller will handle the load this season. Russell - As mentioned, the Red Devils lost Mr. Everything Caleb Rimmer to Ashland but still return some young talent that will keep them right in the hunt this season. Look for Ryder Burgess to become a breakout player in the region this season. Morgan County - Cougars snuck up and took a district title from Elliott last season. That puts them ahead of the Lions here. Coach Griffith returns his top 4 scorers from last season and look to take another jump toward the top of the All-A and region. Elliott County - The Lions went 18-8 last season and won the All-A Region title and had zero seniors on the roster. They run into the buzz saw that is Ashland in the first round of region. Look for the Lions to take another big jump under Coach Adkins Greenup County - The Musketeers will be under new leadership in Coach Nathan Sutton. They will lean heavily on Kasey Gammon to build on his 14 PPG from last season. How quick they adjust to the new coaching scheme will determine a lot. East Carter - Coach Brammer’s Raiders will look to improve on their 8 win season from a year ago. They return their top 3 scorers and will look to avenge their 48-47 loss in the first round of the district tournament to eventual champion Morgan County. Rowan County - For the first time since 2008, the Vikings will not have Shawn Thacker on the sideline. In steps relatively unknown Tim Kochendoerfer who will inherit a young team that may not have a single senior on the roster. Grant Rose and Daniel Flannery played major varsity minutes last year and will look to lead the youth movement in Morehead. Lewis County - The Lions won 18 games but got upset in the district first round. Lions return point guard Julian Puente (17 PPG), and Daylen Bivens (11 PPG). Biggest factor this season is can they find someone to replace big man Drew Noble and his 16 PPG and 8 RPG. West Carter - I think this is the year the Comets make the jump they have been looking for. 6-24 last season with an interim coach, Tanner Glancy, and missing their leading scorer in Nathan Webb. Both Webb’s are back this season and the Comets look to take the next step up the All-A and district ranks. Fleming County - Feels weird putting a Buddy Biggs team this low but they are having to replace a lot of production off a 21 win team. Gone are Seth Hickerson, Bradley Robinson, and Lucas Jolly. Panthers return 2 starters but those two starters (Cropper and Johnson) together only averaged 15 PPG. The rebuild is on in Flemingsburg. Bath County - Out is Coach Matthew Perry and in is Coach Jared Gambrel. Coach Gambrel is an unknown outside of coaching two seasons in Oklahoma. He will return two of the Wildcats top 7 last season. Issac Ulery (7 PPG) and Cooper Cox (2PPG) will look to shoulder the load of a rebuilding Wildcats program. If they develop, they can contend with Fleming to make it to Morehead. Fairview - I’m putting the Eagles here because they return more than Menifee County. Coach Conley returns Tevin Smith (9 PPG) and Jace Manning (7 PPG) and will look to continue to build on the 4 wins last season. Beating Ashland and Boyd is almost mission impossible in that district but they can make some teams uncomfortable in the All-A. Menifee County - The Wildcats will start the year looking up at the rest of the region. Second year coach Jason Evans will look to replace the school’s all-time leading scorer in Brevon Ricker and 15 PPG in Aiden Manley. The Wildcats combined return 6 PPG of those in the rotation from last season. Could be a big rebuild in Frenchburg this season. Preseason players to watch: Jacob Spurlock - Boyd County Caleb Rimmer - Boyd County Gunnar Woods - Boyd County Calab Clarke - Ashland Drew Smith - Ashland Elijah Neel - Ashland Julian Puente - Lewis County Jonah Arnett - Raceland Charles Welch - Raceland Lake Adkins - Elliott County Aiden Barker - Elliott County Ryder Burgess - Russell Gabe Pridemore - Russell Grant Rose - Rowan County Daniel Flannery - Rowan County Kasey Gammon - Greenup County Asher Gamble - Morgan County Eli Bradley - Morgan County William Burton - East Carter Grant Menix - East Carter Nathan Webb - West Carter Brody Boggs - West Carter Preston Cropper - Fleming County Jacob Johnson - Fleming County Isaac Ulery - Bath County

Has been an assistant at a few Lexington schools. He was the girls coach at Bourbon then the boys coach at Bourbon before taking the job.

With 19 PPG from Corbin and two of the Top 5 players in the region while other top teams lost huge pieces as well.

I see this a race between GRC, MoCo, and Campbell but I think GRC will be at Rupp at the end.

It will be one of: 1. Jon Sumrall 2. Will Stein 3. Dan Mullen The first two have UK connections and Barnhart has a connection to Mullen.

Have heard a chance Montgomery County opens.

Some teams keep a guy just for returns but Jones doesn’t seem to be a good receiver or returner.

The returner for the Jets… Was cut by the Bengals before the season.

5th time in the last two seasons the Bengals have scored 30 points and lost.

That’s Zac’s last game as HC right?

Any assistants willing to take it on for a year?

Saw Coach McKinney is now an assistant at Centre. Who will be coaching the Panthers this season?

Imagine if Zac Taylor didn’t waste the first half of games or wait until garbage time to open up the playbook.

Rowan should be better.

GRC made another big addition... Coach Shawn Thacker. Former Head Coach at Rowan County.

Bengals needed a QB who will hit open receivers when they are open. Browning held the ball way too long. That also was not going to be Russell Wilson who looks for the home run every pass. I would’ve preferred Jameis but this is a steady hand who can keep the Bengals in the chase in a wide open division.

Bengals released Mike White off the practice squad. A lot of rumblings they are making room for a move.

Worst part about all this is the division is wide open. Pittsburgh doesn’t look overwhelming, Cleveland and Baltimore stink. With a decent QB, the Bengals can be in the thick of things. Browning bought himself time with the garbage time scores but they need to make a change. Wilson or Winston are the ones people will go after most. I’d prefer Winston.

It’s time to make the call.

Hard to see the Reds rebounding tonight but I am hopeful. Tito has done a great job but at some point you have to create an offensive lineup. Sal Stewart just seems to create offense, he needs to be at third or first tonight.

This has the chance to break the new franchise record for losing margin.