2nd and Goal

Final per scoreboard

Week in Review: Lyon County went 3-0 on the week, winning the 2nd Region All-A title over UHA on Saturday. They will represent the 2nd Region for a chance at an all-A state crown in a couple of weeks in Owensboro. Henderson County won its first district matchup on the road at Webster County, but followed that up with a disappointing loss against Graves County on the road Saturday. Webster County went 1-2 on the week, losing to Murray in the 2A section 1 and to Henderson County. Hard to believe this is the last year for the "Hoptown vs. County" rivalry. Hopkinsville took game 1 of the series on Friday defeating the Colonels 61-49. Top 50 in the State in Stat Categories from Region 2: Points: 6. Keshawn Moore - UHA - 27.9 ppg 7. Logan Wring - Livingston Central - 27.5 ppg 26. Pax Aikins - Caldwell County - 23.1 ppg 27. Bryson Walker - Livingston Central - 22.7ppg 49. Bray Kirk - Lyon County - 21.2 ppg Field Goal % 6. Rahsean Stevenson - Christian County - 71.3% Free Throw % 19. Xavion Johnson - Henderson County - 84.9% 26. Devonyae Butcher - Hopkins County Central - 83.3% 37. Blaze Sumner - Hopkins County Central - 81.1% 3-Point Field Goal Leaders 25. Jaydon Plunkette 3.1 per game 34. Landon Swann 2.9 per game 49. KeShawn Moore 2.7 per game Team Rankings: Lyon County (10-5) - Henderson County has the higher RPI; however, the Lions hold onto the top spot, going undefeated last week. Lyon County is at the top of the tier 1 teams in the 2nd region. All of the top 4 ranked teams are legit contenders to win a regional title, but the Lions have made a strong case to this point that they are the leading contender. Henderson County (11-4) - The Colonels moved to the head of the 6th district with a win on Friday over Webster County before taking one on the chin to Graves County on Saturday. Webster County (11-5) - The Trojans handled Hopkins Central on the road to make the 2A Section 1 Championship. However, Murray outlasted them for the title. Hopkinsville (10-7) - The Tigers went 3-0 on the week, including an important district win at Christian County on Friday. Coach Babb’s squad looks to be trending in the right direction halfway through the season. Hopkins County Central (8-4) - The Storm responded well to their 2A loss to Webster by defeating Paducah Tilghman on the road Friday. I think the Storm and the teams ranked 5-9 make up a second tier of teams in the second region that could beat anyone on a given night, but are not as likely as the first four teams to string three wins together in the regional tournament. Christian County (6-6) - The Colonels lost their lone game of the week to crosstown rival Hopkinsville. The Colonels can make a case to move up this week as they face off against the top two teams in the region on the road at Henderson County on Tuesday and at home against Lyon County on Thursday. UHA (5-6) - The Blazers beat Ft. Campbell and Dawson Springs to reach the All-A Final before falling to Lyon County. We will know much more about the Blazers in a few days as they face off against Hopkins Central and district rival Hopkinsville. Union County (10-5) - The Braves went 2-0 on the week, including a convincing home win over Caldwell County. However, the Braves will have to prove they belong with the top teams in the region in the coming weeks before they move up the rankings. Dawson Springs (4-9) - The Panthers move up the list for this week after beating Livingston Central in the All-A. Dawson Springs battled UHA for a chance to make the finals before falling 67-75. Caldwell County (6-7) - The Tigers took two lopsided losses this week to Lyon County and Union County. They will have a chance to bounce back on Tuesday against Heritage before hosting Henderson County on Thursday. Livingston Central (6-5) Madisonville North Hopkins (2-13) Ft. Campbell (4-9) Trigg County (3-10) Crittenden County (1-16) Heritage (1-14)

Week in Review: Lyon County made a strong statement with a 27-point win over Union County. Henderson County outlasted Taylor County in a 4OT marathon on the road Saturday. Webster County bounced back from 3-game losing streak over the Christmas Break, winning games against Grundy, WV, and Crittenden County. Lyon County (7-5) - The Lions remain at the top of the 2nd Region Rankings. They don’t have the best record, but they have the toughest schedule and have dominated 2nd Region opponents thus far. Henderson County (10-3) - The Colonels are closing the gap on the Lions with two good wins this week over Evansville Harrison and Taylor County. The Colonels will play Webster County and Graves County this week. Webster County (10-3) - The Trojans hit a snag in their holiday tournament in Tennessee, losing their first two games last week. However, they bounced back to grab two wins in a row, heading into a big week for them that includes a 2A tournament matchup against Hopkins Central, a road game at Christian County, and a district game against Henderson County. Hopkinsville (7-7) - The Tigers finished their trip to Ashland with a win over Cooper but dropped their only game in the new year to Kenwood, TN. The up-and-down Tigers can make a statement this week if they take care of business on the road at Owensboro and Christian County. Hopkins County Central (7-3) - The Storm went 1-1 at Franklin Simpson’s holiday tournament. They face Webster County in the 2A tournament tonight at home. Christian County (6-5) - The Colonels have been off this week. They have a chance to climb the rankings this week with home games against Webster County and Hopkinsville. UHA (3-5) - The Blazers move up to 7 this week without playing a game. However, the head-to-head matchups between teams 8-10 make me feel like the Blazers are slightly ahead of those teams below. Union County (8-5) - The Braves won the Ballard Memorial holiday tournament last week but dropped their first two games of the new year to Lyon County and Ohio County. Livingston Central (6-4) - The Cardinals move up in this week’s rankings with a win over Caldwell County. Caldwell County (6-5) - The Tigers drop to the 10th spot after going 1-1 on the week. Dawson Springs (3-8) Madisonville North Hopkins (2-10) Ft. Campbell (4-8) Trigg County (2-9) Heritage Christian (1-13) Crittenden County (0-14)

Final per scoreboard.

Final per Scoreboard

Final per Scoreboard

Final per scoreboard in 4 OTs.

Week in Review: No teams left undefeated in the 2nd Region after this week, as Webster County dropped its first game of the season on the road at McLean County. Lyon County bounced back from a rough showing at the KOB by winning its opener in Lexington Catholic's post-Christmas tournament against Collins. The Lions fell to the home team, Lexington Catholic, yesterday. After winning the General's Classic at Thomas Nelson, Henderson County dropped a game to DeSales in its own holiday classic. The Colonel's bounced back yesterday with a win over Atherton. Hoptown is 1 and 1 at the Ashland Invitation Tournament, with its win yesterday coming in a double OT thriller after Jonovan Leavell completed a rare 4-point play for the win. With everyone playing out-of-region competition and top-tier teams getting battle-tested playing high-quality programs, there was no change in this week's rankings. Rankings: 1: Lyon County (6-4) The Lions remain at the top spot in this week's rankings. The big 3 of Kirk (21 ppg), Coffman (17.2 ppg), and Defew (11.6 ppg) are producing at a high clip for Lyon County and will be a tough matchup for everyone in Region 2. 2: Henderson County (8-3) The Colonels hold onto the #2 spot this week. The duo of Johnson (15.6 ppg) and Stewart (13.2) paces the Colonels. Their depth is apparent as 11 different players have played in 10 games or more for Henderson County, and they have five other players averaging close to five points per game. 3: Webster County (8-1) - The Trojans remain at #3 even after their loss to McLean County. The Trojans have 3 players averaging double figures, with freshman Caleb Bumpus spearheading the attack at 19.6 points per game. 4: Hopkinsville (6-6) - The .500 Tigers remain at #4. Their balanced attack is led by All-Region forward James Bradley (12.8ppg). Leavell and Jayven Battle are both averaging double figures as well for the Tigers. 5: Hopkins County Central (6-2) - The Storm remain at #5 and have not played in the last week. 6: Christian County (5-5) - The Colonels hold tight at #6. They went 1-2 in the last week. Rahsean Stevenson (14.8 ppg) and Zion Acree (12.6 ppg) lead the Colonels. 7: UHA (3-5) - The Blazers dropped 2 games this week at the Faupel Automotive Groups Colonel Basketball Classic hosted at Henderson County. However, their opponents, DeSales and Atherton, were a combined 16-3 coming into the event. Height's won't be penalized in this week's rankings for testing themselves against some of the better teams of Region 6 and 7, and especially with lead guard KeShawn Moore (25 ppg) playing his way into All-State consideration. 8: Union County (6-3) - The Braves bounced back from a rough stretch before Christmas with two wins at the Ballard Memorial Christmas Tournament over Caldwell County and the host Bombers. Union County can make a case to move back up the rankings should they win the event tonight against Allen County Scottsville. All-Region guard Daishawn Curry leads the Braves with 19.4 points per contest. 9: Caldwell County (5-5) - The Tigers are 2-1 on the week and had an impressive 21-point win over ACS at home last Tuesday. However, losing the head-to-head matchup against Union County keeps them at the 9 spot in this week's rankings. Sophomore Pax Aikins is leading the Tigers with 23.4 points per game. 10: Livingston Central (5-3) - The Cardinals went 1-1 in the last week with a convincing win over Fulton City yesterday. Bryson Walker (27.6 ppg) and Logan Wring (25.2 ppg) clearly make Livingston Central go. 11: Dawson Springs (2-7) 12: Madisonville (1-7) 13: Ft. Campbell (4-7) 14: Trigg County (2-7) 15: Heritage Christian (1-8) 16: Crittenden County (0-13)

Fair enough, the golden triangle is also represented. My point is that the Lex Cath event usually looks more like the KHSAA Sweet 16, which I prefer to the more the more pro-Louisville KOB. 6 of the last 9 winners of the KOB have come from Louisville yet the 6th and 7th have only produced 1 KHSAA state champion over that same span. I’m not arguing it’s not a great tournament with good teams. I just prefer the tournament that represents a greater cross section of Kentucky.

I personally prefer the WGM Classic at Lex Cath. Prep Spin’s coverage is top notch and I think it gives more of a state tournament feel as they usually bring teams representing more regions of the state. The KOB has become a glorified LIT. They bring in a few average out of state teams and set up the bracket for an all Louisville final. I don’t blame them at all for wanting to make $ but let’s be honest, because while Lex Cath might charge $10 at the door, KOB is making plenty of money on gate with their bracket construction. On top of that, KOB seems to invite 5th-9th region teams or those they know will “travel well” to ensure they get their $’s worth.

Week in Review: The Webster County Trojans remain unbeaten, Lyon County ran into a buzzsaw in Louisville, and Henderson County continued to make its case for being a legit region contender. Rankings: 1: Lyon County (5-3) The Lions remain in the top spot because they took care of business against the preseason #2 team, Hopkinsville, last Tuesday in a 10-point home win. Lyon County isn't shooting the 3 as well as they did last season, but at 36 team rebounds per game, they give themselves extra possessions in every game. Double-digit losses in the KOB weren't what I was expecting, but they will have another shot this weekend at Lexington Catholic to prove they belong with the best teams in the state. 2: Henderson County (7-2) The Colonels move up to the #2 spot in this week's rankings. The Colonels battled #6 Daviess County for 3 and a half quarters before falling by 11 at home. Henderson bounced back in the Generals Classic at Thomas Nelson, going 3-0 and winning the tournament title over the host in OT. 3: Webster County (8-0) - The Trojans move up 2 more spots this week to #3. They made a believer out of many when they defeated Hopkinsville at home last Tuesday, 59-47. Since then, they have had convincing wins over Dawson Springs, Breckinridge County, and Butler County. The only reason they aren't in the number one spot is their schedule. At this point, we have only seen Webster defeat two teams with records above .500. We will have to wait until the upcoming 3-game stretch against Christian County, Hopkins County Central, and Henderson County to see if they deserve a higher ranking. 4: Hopkinsville - (5-5) - The Tigers have not performed well as of late, dropping 4 of their last 5 contests. However, they remain in my top 5 as their losses came to top 2nd region teams and excellent out-of-region competition at the Montgomery County Gateway Holiday Classic. 5: Hopkins County Central (6-2) - The Storm defeated district rival Caldwell County last Tuesday and went 2-1 at the St. Mary's Christmas Classic. They are in control of the 7th district to this point, but have more to prove against the 2nd Region competition outside their own district. 6: Christian County (4-3) - The Colonels hold tight at #6, going 2-1 last week. Their convincing road win over Calloway County shows the Colonels are trending in the right direction this season under coach Curtis Dior. 7: UHA (3-3) - The Blazers are trending up after winning 2 out of their last 3. After a 23-point road loss at Henderson County, UHA beat Dawson Springs at home and had an impressive showing on the road, defeating Union County 74-68 last Friday. 8: Union County (4-3) - The Braves have lost 3 of their last 4. Their only win came over 4-5 Hickman County in the Hardwood Classic at Calloway County. The game scores suggest Union County is still trying to recover from the home loss to district rival Webster County a couple of weeks ago. 9: Caldwell County (3-3) - The Tigers went 0-2 in the last week, dropping a district matchup on the road at Hopkins County Central and at home to a red-hot Murray Tigers team out of the 1st Region. 10: Livingston Central (4-3) - The Cardinals went 2-2 on the week, including a 1-2 finish at the St. Mary's Christmas Classic. 11: Dawson Springs (2-6) 12: Madisonville (1-7) 13: Ft. Campbell (4-7) 14: Trigg County (2-7) 15: Heritage Christian (1-8) 16: Crittenden County (0-12)

Final per scoreboard. Heard the Colonels and Panthers were tied going into the 4th before the Panthers broke it open with some big 3’s from Watkins and Moss.

Final Per Scoreboard.

Final per scoreboard.

Week in Review: After week 2, we have one undefeated team left in the 2nd Region, Jon Newton's Webster County Trojans. To this point, the Trojans look like a legit contender for the 6th district crown. Lyon County dropped its first game of the season to Florida Coastal Prep, a game that will likely pay dividends for them as their level of competition increases over the holidays. The Lions will be testing themselves against the best in Kentucky, attending the King of the Bluegrass and the White, Greer & Maggard Holiday Classic, Kentucky's premier high school holiday tournaments. Henderson County went 2-0 on the week, including an impressive 18-point road win at Paducah Tilghman. Off to a 3-1 start, the young Colonels seem to be in a position to compete against the region's best again this year. Rankings: 1: Lyon County (3-1) I'm looking forward to the Thursday matchup between Lyon County and Hopkinsville. #1 vs. #2 in the region. 2: Hopkinsville (4-1) The Tigers took care of Ft. Campbell and Todd County Central in a convincing fashion this week. The Tigers have their hands full this week with away games at Webster County and Lyon County. We will know a lot more about Coach Babb's Tigers by the end of the week. 3: Henderson County (3-1) - The Colonels move up to the #3 spot in this week's rankings after 18-point victories over Paducah Tilghman and Allen County Scottsville. Returning junior point guard Xavion Johnson picked up where he left off last season, looking like an all-region player, averaging 15 pts and 5 rebounds through 4 games for the Colonels. 4: Hopkins County Central (3-1) - The Storm won two district games this week, defeating both Dawson Springs and Caldwell County by double digits. The balanced scoring attack of Hopkins Central is impressive. For them to become a legit region contender against Hopkinsville or Lyon County, their effort on the glass will need to improve. 5: Webster County (4-0) - The Trojans move up to #5 this week after they won convincingly on the road at district rival Union County last Friday. Freshman Caleb Bumpus is looking like an All-Region caliber player, leading Webster County with 20.5 ppg. 6: Christian County (2-2) - The Colonels move up 2 spots this week after a 17-point victory over Madisonville and a respectable 4-point loss to Evangel Christian out of Louisville. 7: Union County (3-1) - The Braves drop 4 spots to #7 this week after a home loss to Webster County on Friday. Union County will get to prove its mettle against solid competition this week as it travels to Owensboro to play Catholic tonight and hosts UHA at home on Friday. 8: Caldwell County (3-1) - The Tigers are trending in the right direction and move up 3 spots with two district wins over Madisonville and Dawson Springs. 9: UHA (1-2) - The Blazers went 1-1 in their 2nd week of the season. The loss to Murray looks more lopsided than it would have been had the Blazers had star guard Keshawn Moore available for the game. The Blazers will look to prove they can compete against the top tier of the region as they visit Henderson County tonight. 10: Livingston Central (2-1) - The Cardinals went 1-1 on the week and dropped to #10 in the region. 11: Madisonville (0-4) 12: Ft. Campbell (3-2) 13: Trigg County (1-3) 14: Dawson Springs (0-4) 15: Crittenden County (0-8) 16: Heritage Christian (0-5)

Final per scoreboard

Final per scoreboard

Final per scoreboard

Rankings: 1: Lyon County - The Lions started the season as I expected, looking like a well-oiled machine. They defeated Murray at home by 20 in their home opener. Lyon County took care of business in the Hoopfest behind an impressive 31-point and 18-rebound performance from Nolan Coffman. 2: Hopkinsville - The Tigers got off to a good start in week 1 with a road win over Hopkins County Central. They dropped their 2nd game to Graves County, then bounced back in a Grind Session win over Mayfield. The Tigers look dangerous and balanced, as they have six players averaging double figures through three games. 3: Union County - The Braves move up to the #3 spot with a convincing 40-point win over Madisonville in their home opener. They followed that up with a win on the road at Owensboro Knights Christian School. 4: Henderson County - The Colonels opened their season with a 43-35 win across the river at Castle. 5: Hopkins County Central - The Storm dropped to the 5th spot after losing to Hopkinsville at home in their season opener. 6: Webster County - The Trojans made some noise with a come-from-behind road victory over Caldwell County to start their season. 7: University Heights - The Blazers lost a road contest against a good South Warren team out of the 4th Region. 8: Christian County - The Colonels lost their opener on the road to Apollo before bouncing back with a win over Kenwood out of Clarksville, TN. 9: Livingston Central - The Cardinals won their home opener with Logan Wring and Bryson Walker both scoring 20-plus points in the outing. 10: Madisonville - The Maroons lost on the road to Union County in their season opener. 11: Caldwell County (1-1) 12: Trigg County (1-1) 13: Ft. Campbell (1-1) 14: Dawson Springs (0-1) 15: Crittenden County (0-3) 16: Heritage Christian (0-3)

The 2025 2nd Region Tournament was the culmination of two decades of longing and heartbreak for the Henderson County faithful. Their pivotal challenge came in the semi-finals against a formidable Lyon County squad. Down by eight points with just over three minutes left in regulation, the Colonels turned up the defensive pressure, forcing Lyon County into critical, ill-timed turnovers and rushed shots. Henderson County capitalized, knocking down crucial three-pointers to send the game into overtime, where they completed the spectacular comeback, defeating the Lions in the extra period. The stage was then set for the final act: a championship rematch against rivals Madisonville-North Hopkins. Having lost to the Maroons in the regular season, the Colonels brilliantly executed their game plan in the final, securing the victory and, with it, the Colonels' first 2nd Region Title since 1999. The final buzzer signaled more than just a win; it was the end of a 26-year drought and potentially the start of a new era. Rankings: #1 Lyon County: If history taught the 2nd Region anything, it's that last year's heartbreaking loss only fuels the fire for the perennial contenders. Poised to reclaim the throne they nearly held is the Lyon County Lions, who will begin the season as the number one team in the region. Under the continued leadership of Head Coach Ryan Perry, the Lions return virtually all of their firepower from the squad that finished just one overtime period short of the Regional Final last March. The team is anchored by what many consider the best pair of players in the 2nd Region, Bray Kirk (22.1 ppg) and Nolan Coffman (17.4ppg). This tandem provides the Lions with a dynamic offensive attack, featuring consistent scoring and elite rebounding that few teams can match. They are bolstered by the sharp-shooting of Cooper Collins and the tireless work on the glass from post player Isaac Defew. This mix of top-end talent and complementary skills creates a tough matchup for opponents. The Lyon County faithful have every reason to be optimistic this year. With an experienced, fully-loaded roster and a desire to avenge last year's tournament exit, the Lions look ready to roar and secure their place as the favorite heading into the 2025-2026 season. #2 Hopkinsville: While Lyon County may hold the preseason top spot, the Hopkinsville Tigers have the firepower and balance to push for the 2nd Region Title and look ready to challenge the Lions all season long. The Tigers return their undisputed leader, senior James Bradley Jr., who was an All-Region caliber player last year, averaging nearly 16 points per game. He is supported by a rising core of young talent, specifically the sophomore guard duo of Jonovan Leavell and Jayon Bass, who combined for nearly 20 points per game last season. Their experience as underclassmen in big games will be invaluable. Additionally, the return of big man Layton Giltner gives the Tigers a crucial presence in the paint. This combination of an elite scoring wing, playmaking guards, and size inside gives Hopkinsville a balanced attack that makes them a legitimate contender for the 2nd Region Title. This is a team built to withstand the physical play of the region, and they are poised for a massive season. #3 Hopkins County Central: The most intriguing story heading into the 2025-2026 season belongs to the Hopkins County Central Storm. Tabbed as a dangerous dark horse contender, the Storm begin a new chapter under Head Coach Chris Sullivan, a coach known for his work as an assistant at Hopkinsville during their successful runs under Tim Haworth, who has taken over a roster suddenly loaded with talent. The foundation is set with the return of senior guard DeVonyae Butcher, one of the most prolific and electric scorers in the 2nd Region. Complementing him is sophomore point guard Channing Stone, who returns with critical varsity experience to run Coach Sullivan's system. They also bring back a powerful presence on the glass in athletic rebounder Devante Jagoe, giving them much-needed toughness inside. The Storm's sudden rise is fueled by late-offseason moves, notably the addition of Peyton Smith from rival Madisonville-North Hopkins and Semari Pettus, who played his freshman season in Georgia. These additions are rumored to round out their starting five and provide a critical injection of depth and athleticism. #4 Henderson County: The Colonels will begin the 2025-2026 season with a massive target on their backs, but they face the challenge of replacing significant production. Henderson County graduated four starters and nearly 70% of its scoring from the championship team. However, Coach Tyler Smithhart's program isn't focused on rebuilding; it's focused on reloading. The foundation for this new run starts in the backcourt as the Colonels return their seasoned, experienced leader in junior point guard Xavion Johnson. His ability to command the offense, handle pressure, and attack the rim will be vital as the new pieces are integrated. Also returning for his junior season is Amare Stewart, who proved his mettle by delivering late-game heroics in the comeback win over Lyon County last season, earning him a spot on the 2nd Regional All-Tournament Team. Henderson County will look to the depth of its successful program to fill the void. The roster will feature talent graduating from a successful JV team and a highly-touted freshman group that won the 2nd Region Freshman Tournament. While the Colonels may take time to find their rhythm, the defending champions have the system and the emerging talent to once again be a factor in March. #5 Union County Quaid Girten’s Union County Braves have been a consistent threat in the 2nd Region for years, and the 2025-2026 season should be no different. The Braves return a strong, proven core that positions them as a legitimate contender for the 6th District crown and a deep run in the regional tournament. The core of their attack features three returning starters. The team is anchored by Daishawn Curry, an established All-Region player who provides consistent scoring and leadership. He is joined by sharp-shooter Cale Johnson, whose outside presence stretches opposing defenses. Inside, the Braves boast the size and strength of post player Bubba Rapier, who will command the paint. Additionally, the Braves benefit from crucial depth, including the athleticism of Gavin Black, the length of Jace Wilson, and the three-point threat of Hayden Mills. This combination of returning talent and improved depth gives Union County a balanced roster capable of challenging any team in the region. #6 Christian County Ranked sixth heading into the season, the Christian County Colonels are arguably the most dangerous "sleeper" team in the region. Last season, the young squad battled through one of the region's most difficult schedules, and that experience paid dividends with a strong late-season run that ended with a District Championship. Head Coach Dior Curtis continues to impress, doing an exceptional job of putting his players in a position to succeed and building a winning culture. The Colonels return a solid group of players who benefited from last year's trial by fire, including Rahsean Stevenson, Zion Wharton, and Zion Acree. The addition of transfer Frank Pollard from University Heights Academy further bolsters the roster. With a tougher, more experienced core and a winning late-season pedigree, the Christian County Colonels are primed to challenge the top half of the region and could easily move up this ranking by March. #7 Webster County With Jon Newton back at the helm for the Trojans, expect them to be a contender that will make the 6th district very interesting this season. Returning for Webster County are Aiden Alstadt, Reid McDyer, and Trace Hardison. With these 3 returning starters to build around and Coach Newton's return, the Trojans will not often beat themselves and will be a tough out by March. #8 Madisonville North Hopkins The Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons, the reigning Regional Runner-Up, are facing the region's most significant turnover. Heavy graduation losses combined with multiple key transfers in the offseason mean Head Coach Caleb Nelson will be tasked with building a new identity. Despite the losses, the Maroons’ program maintains a high standard of success and still possesses a talented young nucleus. A key addition to this new-look roster is Lake Sumner, an experienced player transferring from Hopkins County Central, who should provide immediate leadership, perimeter shooting, and experience to help guide the younger Maroons through the district and regional gauntlet. The Maroons may not be the preseason favorite, but they are never an easy out. #9 University Heights Academy The University Heights Academy (UHA) Blazers enter the season in a state of transition under first-year Head Coach Jordan Grace, a UHA alumnus. Coach Grace is tasked with a difficult project, as the team suffered significant losses in the offseason, most significantly the loss of Tylin George. This departure of talent means the Blazers must immediately replace much of their scoring and leadership. However, the foundation for a quick turnaround exists. A major boost comes with a healthy KeShawn Moore, who was injured most of last season. His veteran presence and scoring ability should help Coach Grace and the Blazers find their footing early in the season. #10 Livingston Central Despite flying under the radar compared to the regional favorites, the Livingston Central Cardinals are poised to be a major threat and a difficult challenge for anyone on their schedule. The Cardinals are built around a spectacular returning one-two punch. Senior Logan Wring returns as an undisputed All-Region player who dominated last season, averaging approximately 24 points and 10 rebounds per game. His consistent scoring and work on the glass give the Cardinals a guaranteed foundation every night. Completing the duo is Bryson Walker, a proven sharp-shooter whose ability to stretch the floor and knock down the three will prevent teams from collapsing entirely on Wring. This formidable tandem, combined with a tough schedule, means that any team that overlooks the Cardinals will likely be on the wrong end of an upset. Livingston Central is a legitimate contender and earns a solid spot in the regional top 10. #11 Caldwell County Just outside the Top 10, the Caldwell County Tigers are a program with momentum and a winning tradition. The Tigers have successfully reached the Regional Tournament in the last two seasons, demonstrating they know how to navigate the difficult waters of their district. They return a proven leader in Pax Akins and possess a strong, young core of players waiting for their opportunity to contribute. With their recent history of regional tournament appearances and a solid foundation, Caldwell County is poised to challenge the teams at the bottom of the Top 10 and could easily surprise some opponents this year. #12 Trigg County Devaree Gude and Landon Swann will be a problem for Coach Fraliex's Wildcats. Both double-figure scorers have size and strength that will give teams trouble in the paint. If the Trigg County backcourt develops enough to provide a balanced attack, the Tigers can push Livingston Central for a 2nd Region Tournament birth. #13 Dawson Springs Jayden Plunkette and Easton Bourland will have to step up for a team that lost Region 2 Coach of the Year Mickey Blue and Region 2 Player of the Year Rex Blue. The most difficult loss of all may be the ball-handling and floor vision of Montgomery Johnson. This year's version of the Panthers will have a lot to prove. #14 Fort Campbell Coach King faces a difficult task each year as players move on and off base. However, if Tyreek Anthony and Israel Dillard return, the Falcons will certainly improve on their 3-win season from a year ago. #15 Heritage With Jason Leek gone, Heritage will rely heavily on Nathan Wheatcraft and other role players from last season's team to step up and fill his scoring void. #16 Crittenden County The Rockets were led in scoring by a pair of freshmen in Drake Young and Coby Larue. The future could be looking brighter for a program that did not win a game last season.

With the transfer of Tylin George from UHA and Lemontae Radcliff from Madinsonville, I figure it's worth taking a look at the remaining top players in the 2nd Region heading into the 2025-26 season. Tier 1: Bray Kirk- Lyon County Nolan Coffman- Lyon County James Bradley- Hopkinsville Xavion Johnson- Henderson County Daishawn Curry- Union County Logan Wring - Livingston Central Tier 2: Devonyae Butcher - Hopkins County Central Rahsean Stevenson - Christian County Pax Aikens - Caldwell County Amare Stewart - Henderson County Cooper Collins - Lyon County Jonovan Leavell - Hopkinsville Tier 3 Layton Giltner - Hopkinsville Isaac Defew - Lyon County Devaree Gude - Trigg County Reid McDyer - Webster County KeShawn Moore - UHA Tyreek Anthony - Ft. Campbell X Factors Peyton Smith - Madisonville North Devontae Jagoe - Hopkins County Central Jayon Bass - Hopkinsville Cale Johnson - Union County Bryson Walker - Livingston Central Zyon Wharton - Christian County

News broke this morning that University Heights' star senior guard Tylin George will be taking his talents to Moravian Prep in North Carolina. Additionally, he will be reclassifying to the class of 2027. Add George to the long list of Kentucky athletes heading out of state to a prep school. UHA loses 31.3 points per game, and the 2nd Region loses the preseason favorite for region player of the year. I would have considered Hopkinsville the preseason favorite in District 8 had George stayed; however, this certainly moves Christian County ahead of UHA in the pecking order.

With Henderson County graduating four of five starters and Madisonville graduating all five starters, the cream of the crop next year in the second Region is expected to be Lyon County. Coach Perry and the Lions return all five starters from a team that was the All-A state tournament runner-up, won more than twenty games, won another fifth district championship, and took Henderson County to the wire in the region tournament semi-finals. Union County returns 3 starters, including All-Second Region guard Daishawn Curry. UHA returns Mr. Basketball candidate Tylin George. Hopkinsville returns 3 starters, including All-Second Region forward James Bradley. Who else are regional contenders and players to watch for this off-season as we head into 2025-2026?

I would not be surprised if Brandon Fisher is a name that OC considers. He has plenty of head coaching experience on both the girls' and boys' sides. He spent last season as an assistant at Henderson County.

Since there is no longer a tryout, I understood that the pool of potential players would come from the KABC regional player of the year winners. I'm not saying that's how it should be done, but that was my understanding. However, that does not seem to be the case, as Miles, Mabe, Sperry, and Dawson don't fit that criterion.