2nd and Goal

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Week in Review - The top 5 haven't changed this week, they have just reshuffled. Henderson County retakes the top spot in the region after going 2-0 in their Colonel Basketball Classic. Lyon County drops a spot after going 0-3 at the WGM Holiday Tournament at Lexington Catholic. Like Lyon County, Madisonville finds itself on a bit of a slide after going 0-3 this week at a tournament at Thomas Nelson. However, because Union County didn't play this week and Hopkinsville lost their two games at the Colonel Basketball Classic it's hard to argue either should jump ahead of the top 3. Team Rankings Henderson County (7-3) - The Colonels beat Oldham County and Murray this weekend in their Colonel Basketball Classic. The Colonels continue to show a balanced offensive attack as Dwaine Moss led the Colonels with 23 points in a lopsided win over Murray. The Colonels have been led in scoring by 4 different players through their first 10 games this season. Lyon County (5-3) - The Lions competed in one of the most competitive tournaments in Kentucky this week as they traveled to Lexington to play in Catholic's WGM Classic. Lyon County dropped 3 games against Lexington Catholic, Boyd County, and Butler County. The Lions get credit however as they competed in each game as they lost each game by an average of 6 points. Madisonville (7-5) - The Maroons dropped 3 games this week to Perry County Central, Grayson County and Thomas Nelson. The Maroons look to bounce back this Friday against Webster County at home before an 11-day break in their schedule. Union County (5-4) The Braves took the week after Christmas off this year. They will play Ohio County on the road this Friday before an interesting 2nd region matchup against Hopkins Central next Monday. Hopkinsville (3-8) - The Tigers lost to Owensboro Catholic and South Warren this week. Coach Babb's young Tiger squad is competing with good teams for long stretches but is struggling to finish and find ways to win. Dawson Springs (6-5) - The Panthers are trending up as they went 2-1 this week at a tournament in Bellevue. Dawson Springs defeated host Bellevue and Ludlow out of the 9th region but took a lopsided loss to the Trojans of North Hardin. Hopkins County Central (5-4) - The Storm go 2-0 on the week and jump ahead of 8th District foe Caldwell County after beating them last Monday 64-55 at the St. Mary Christmas Classic. These two teams will play at least 2 more times this season what could be the matchup to decide who will take on Madisonville in the first round of the district tournament. Caldwell County (6 -5) - The Tigers went 1-2 on the week with losses to Hopkins County Central and Shades Valley, AL. Their lone win on the week came against Heritage Christian. University Heights (1-6)- The Blazers went 0-2 in the Colonel Basketball Classic at Henderson County. They took on a tough Warren Central team and then dropped their second game to Kirkwood, TN. Christian County (1-11) - The Colonels picked up their first win of the season in the Central Bank Jim Rose Classic at Lexington Christian by defeating Betsy Layne in OT. The Colonels went 1-2 on the week dropping their other 2 contests to Simon Kenton and host school Lexington Christian. Webster County (5-7) The Trojans rebounded from a 7-game skid going 2-0 this week. They defeated Whitesville Trinity and Hancock County at the Southwire Holiday Classic hosted at the Owensboro Sportscenter. Livingston Central (3-5) Trigg County (5-6) Heritage Christian (2-8) Ft. Campbell (1-8) Crittenden County (0-7)

Week in Review - Lyon County remains at the top of the 2nd Region, largely because they didn't play anyone this week. Starting this Friday, the Lions will be tested as they open up the WGM Holiday Classic against host school Lexington Catholic. Henderson County jumped back ahead of Madisonville in this week's rankings although neither team faired well against their opponents from the other side of the Ohio River. Union County and Hopkinsville make their debut in the top 5 of the rankings as both teams look to be trending toward the upper echelon of the region. Team Rankings Lyon County (5-0) - The Lions remain unbeaten after wins against Livingston Central and Union County this week. All 5 Lyon County starters are averaging double figures through their first 4 games led by junior Bray Kirk with 18.5 ppg. Henderson County (5-3) - The Colonels jump back to # 2 in this week's ranking as they went 1 and 1 on the week with a convincing 24-point road win at UHA on Monday night. Elijah Suggs led the Colonels with 23 points and 14 rebounds going 11/11 from the field. The Colonels dropped their Saturday game at the Bosse Winter Classic against Evansville North, losing 53-43. Madisonville (7-2) - The Maroons went 1-2 on the week after facing a tough 3-day stretch defeating Hopkinsville at home Thursday 66-60 before taking a couple of lopsided losses on the road on Friday and Saturday to Evansville Bosse and Evansville Reitz respectively. Union County (5-4) The Braves make the biggest jump in this week's ranking moving up 4 spots. The Braves finally have all their football players back. Union County went 2 and 1 in Todd County Central's Battle at the Border with solid wins over Smyrna, TN, and Muhlenberg County. Hopkinsville (3-5) - The Tigers are trending up as they went 2-1 on the week with wins over Webster County and Westview, TN. They also played Madisonville close on the road this week. The Tigers are starting to put points on the board consistently and senior Jonathan Hart has shot the ball extremely well from 3 over their recent stretch. UHA (1-4) - The Blazers played close with Henderson County for a half Monday night before the Colonels broke the game wide open in the 3rd quarter. The Blazers picked up their first win of the season Thursday at Ft. Campbell 81-39. The Blazers have the star power to beat anyone in the 2nd Region on any given night. Caldwell County (5-3) - The Tigers of Caldwell County went 2-1 this week with wins over Todd County Central and Livingston Central. Their game against Hopkins Central tonight will decide where both teams belong in the rankings next week. Dawson Springs (4-4) - The Panthers jump back into the top 10 after going 3-1 on the week. The most significant victory was their win over Hopkins Central. After Madisonville survived a scare from the Storm last week, Dawson Springs goes on the road to pick up a 77-74 victory over the Storm. The 8th district's parity is unlike it has been in a long time. Hopkins County Central (3-4) - The Storm look very dangerous but after dropping 2 games this week to Dawson Springs and St. Mary's they slide down a spot in the rankings. Christian County (0-9) - Still winless, there is no doubt the Colonels are battle-tested. Though the Colonel's are winless, I expect them to benefit from this tough early stint and be a factor in district and region play. Webster County (3-7) Livingston Central (3-3) Trigg County (5-3) Heritage Christian (2-7) Ft. Campbell (1-8) Crittenden County (0-7)

Week in Review - Madisonville survived a scare from 7th District rival Hopkins County Central to remain unbeaten, Lyon County continues to roll and pre-season favorite Henderson County bounced back with 3 convincing wins. After the top 3, the rest of the 2nd Region is still very much up in the air as the 3 traditional 8th district powerhouse teams (Hopkinsville, Christian County, UHA) have only 1 win between them through the first 2 weeks of the season. I'd be willing to say that stat has never been accomplished nor will it ever again. Team Rankings Lyon County (5-0) - The Lions remain unbeaten after wins against Livingston Central and Union County this week. All 5 Lyon County starters are averaging double figures through their first 4 games led by junior Bray Kirk with 18.5 ppg. Madisonville (6-0) - One could make a case for the Maroons to be ranked #1 in the region as well. They sit at 6-0 two weeks into the season and have found a way to come out on the winning side of 4 different one-possession ball games. The senior trio of Kanyon Johnson, Ryan Bryant, and Landen Smith pace the Maroons each averaging close to 15 points per game. Henderson County (4-2) - The Colonels had a strong bounce-back week after a rough trip to Great Crossing last Saturday. Henderson County earned convincing wins over Paducah Tilghman, Hopkinsville, and Dawson Springs with an average margin of victory this week of around 24 points. Seniors Cooper Davenport, Elijah Suggs, and Lacon McKinney are all averaging double figures for the Colonels through 6 games. UHA (0-4) The Blazers are still my #4 team in the region as they have had close losses to Owensboro, Madisonville and South Warren who are top 5 teams in their respective areas. Additionally, the Blazers' loss to Murray makes sense considering they played without 4 of their starters. I still expect UHA to be a problem for opponents night in and night out. Tylin George is leading the Blazers with 33 points per game. Hopkins County Central (5-2) - The Storm had lopsided wins over Webster County and Trigg County this week. They played district rival Madisonville very close in a 2-point loss on the road on Thursday. I expect the Storm to make some noise in the region this year and the next few years to come as they are led by junior Devonyae Butcher’s 28 ppg and sophomore Lake Sumner’s 12. Hopkinsville (1-4) - The Tigers played Muhlenberg close on the road before falling to Henderson County at home on Friday. The Tigers are getting consistent production from James Bradley at nearly 14 points per game. Caldwell County (3-2) - The Tigers of Caldwell County went 2-1 this week with wins over 6th district teams Union County and Webster County. JayDarius Wilson is leading the Tigers with 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. Union County (2-2) - The Braves look to be moving in a positive direction with a very good showing against Lyon County this week. Senior Cameron Miller and Junior Daishawn Curry lead Union County, averaging just over 16 points per game. Christian County (0-6) - I know it's hard to rank an 0-6 team in the top 10 but the Colonels of Christian County have played good competition every game so far this season. It's hard to measure them against the rest of Region 2 as they have very few games on their schedule that aren’t against top-tier teams. Webster County (3-3) - The Trojans dropped all 3 of their contests this week with losses to Murray, Hopkins County Central, and Caldwell County. Micah Austin leads Webster County with 18 points per game. Dawson Springs (1-3)-The Panthers are off to a disappointing start but they have tested themselves against solid competition so far. Rex Blue, Montgomery Johnson, and Jaydon Plunkett all average double figures. Livingston Central (2-1)- The Cardinals went 1-1 on the week with a lopsided loss to district rival Lyon County before returning the favor to Crittenden County on Friday. Bryson Walker, Logan Wring, and Mason Hargrove all average double figures for Livingston. Trigg County (4-2) - The Wildcats went 2-1 on the week with wins over Crittenden County and Dover TN. They are led by Devaree Gude’s 17.2 points per game. Ft. Campbell (1-4) - The Falcons went 0-2 on the week. They are led by Tyreek Antony’s 21 points per game. Heritage Christian (1-4) - The Warriors picked up their first win on the season this week over Clarksville Christian School. Jason Leek is averaging nearly 30 points per game for Heritage Christian. Crittenden County (0-5) - The Rockets went 0-3 on the week but took district rival Trigg County to the wire in a 69-72 loss. Cameron Belcher leads the Rockets with 14 points per game.

After a hot start for Madisonville and Lyon County, the Second Region pre-season rankings are already on the move with a reordered top 5 after week 1. 1) Lyon County: Lyon County's wins over Murray, Christian County and Caverna all on the road or a neutral sites give the Lions the number 1 spot heading into week 2. The Lion's are now on a 19 game winning streak dating back to last season's state title run. This is their region until someone knocks them off. 2) Madisonville: After going 3-0 on the week with wins over UHA, Evangel Christian, and Murray, the Maroons move up to number 2. The most impressive win of the week was the 1 point victory over 2nd region contender UHA. The Maroons had 4 scorers in double figures including Sr. Landen Smith's 16 point outing. 3) Henderson County: After going 1-2 this week, the Colonels drop to the #3 spot. Though the Colonels lost a close one on the road to 3rd region contender Daviess County and won a convincing victory over Castle, IN, it was their 30-point loss to Frederick Douglass on Saturday that drops them in my rankings 4) UHA: the Blazers drop to 0-2 on the season after losses to Madisonville and South Warren. 30 point performances by Tylin George in both games wasn't enough to but the Blazers over the top. 5) Hopkinsville: Though the Tigers are 1-2 to start the season, their win over Caldwell bumps them up to the top 5 in this week's 2nd Region rankings. 6) Caldwell County: 0-1 7) Union County : 0-0 8. Webster County: 3-1 9. Hopkins Central: 1-1 10: Christian County: 0-3 11. Dawson Springs 12. Livingston Central 13. Trigg County 14. Heritage Christian 15. Ft. Campbell 16. Crittenden County

Below are some of the more intriguing matchups for 2nd Region teams this week. Game of the Week - Madisonville vs. UHA, Tuesday, December 3rd at UHA. This game will show where these two region title contenders stand in the early going. Other Games of Interest: Henderson County vs. Daviess County- Tuesday, December 3rd at Daviess County. My preseason #1 in the 2nd and 3rd Regions start the season head-to-head. Lyon County vs. Christian County- Thursday, December 5th at the CFSB Center. New look Colonels take on the defending State Champion Lions on a neutral court. Hopkinsville vs. Caldwell County- Friday, December 6th at Caldwell County. Caldwell is the higher-rated team but tradition is on Hoptown's side. Henderson County vs. Frederick Douglass- Saturday, December 7th at Great Crossing. The Colonels testing themselves early in the season against the Courier Journal's #11 team in the state.

Saw today that Henderson County, Senior Guard Cooper Davenport committed to Samford University. Davenport is the school's all-time leader in 3-point field goal makes and games played. He is also a 1,000 point scorer headed into his senior season with the Colonels.

Per KHSAA Website: Faupel Automotive Chevrolet, GMC, Ford Colonel Basketball Classic At Henderson County High School December 27 and 28 Dec 27 12:30 Hopkinsville v. Owensboro Catholic 2:00 South Warren v. Kirkwood (Clarksville, TN) 3:30 University Heights v. Warren Central 5:00 Caverna v. Murray 6:30 Oldham County v. Henderson County 8:00 Male v. Daviess County Dec 28 11:30 Hopkinsville v. South Warren 1:00 University Heights v. Kirkwood (Clarksville, TN) 2:30 Oldham County v. Owensboro Catholic 4:00 Caverna v. Daviess County 5:30 Male v. Warren Central 7:00 Murray v. Henderson County

In last year’s preseason preview, I argued that Lyon County would be a legit contender for a state title. With Mr. Basketball Travis Perry on the Lions roster, I was hardly out on a limb in taking that stance. However, the tiny school from Western Kentucky did more than contend as they cut down the nets at Rupp Arena and brought a state championship back to the 2nd region for the first time since Christian County in 2011. However, between that Saturday night in March and today, the landscape of the 2nd region has shifted significantly. Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer Travis Perry graduated and moved on to the University of Kentucky, while teammates Jack Reddick and Brady Shoulders headed to Florida Gulf Coast and Mercer respectively. Additionally, word around Eddyville is that returning center Lukas Breedlove has decided to step away from the team. 2nd region runner-up Henderson County graduated 3-year point guard Alec Satterfield who set school records for season and career assists. Additionally, the Colonels graduated frontcourt size and physicality with the loss of Max Thompson, Yusef Sonogo-Kendrick, and Nick Belle. The other two region semifinalists Madisonville and University Heights also saw significant losses. The Maroons didn’t lose much to graduation but with the transfer of Nolan Coffman to Lyon County, and an ACL injury to starting guard Lemontae Radcliff, the Maroons will have to rely even more on All-Region guard Kanyon Johnson for production. UHA graduated all-region guards Gavin Grubbs and Quentin Quarles as well as a key big man Kyler Baker and shooter Matthew Hauret. On top of that, perennial powers Hopkinsville and Christian County graduated Kentucky All-Stars Antonio Williams and Darrell Bateman from their respective rosters. With the exodus of top-tier talent, the 2nd region will be a wide-open race with no clear-cut favorite. However, the last 4 teams standing from a season ago, look like the top tier teams as we start the 2024/2025 season. Henderson County gave Lyon County a fight last year and with the Colonels returning 4 of the top 5 scorers from a season ago, Henderson County can make a legit argument as the preseason favorite. Additionally, Madisonville, UHA, and Lyon County all return at least two key starters from last season. It would not be a shock to see any of those 3 as the last team standing at season’s end. Team Rankings 1. Henderson County (26-7) – 2nd Region Runner-Up – Coach Tyler Smithhart The Colonels went undefeated in the 2nd region during regular season play but came up short in the region finals to the eventual state champion Lyon County. A healthy Jack Reddick made the difference between the Lion’s early February loss to the Colonels and the regional championship game. Back for the Colonels is leading scorer and all-region guard Cooper Davenport who averaged nearly 14 ppg and 41% 3FG. Davenport will have plenty of help from an experienced supporting cast as seniors Lacon McKinney (8 ppg), Elijah Suggs (7 ppg) return and Dwaine Moss (6 ppg) return. Suggs who led the state in field goal percentage last season at 69.7% is a force in the paint, while Moss and McKinney are both 3-level scorers. The Colonels will look to senior Cole Branson and standout sophomore guards Xavion Johnson, and Amare Stewart to provide depth and length to the Colonel roster. 2. University Heights (24-7) – 2nd Region Semi-Finalist – Coach Terry Hayes UHA was one of the hottest teams down the stretch last season as they won 13 of their last 15 before falling to Henderson County in the region sem-finals. Back for the Blazers is the highly talented junior Tylin George. Averaging 15 points per game and shooting 48% from 3, George missed a good portion of the Blazers' stretch run with a collarbone injury that sidelined him for the latter part of the season. George is a 3-level scorer and D1 talent who will be counted on heavily to replace the loss of Grubbs, Quarles, and Hauret in the backcourt. Additionally, the Blazers return senior forward Elijah Walton (13 ppg, 9 rpg). Walton’s length and athleticism make him a matchup problem for most in the 2nd region. George and Walton's star power will make UHA a contender. The development of returning varsity players Bryson Northington and Frank Pollard could help the Blazers return to Rupp for the first time since 2021. 3. Lyon County (36-3) – 2nd Region Champions, KY State Champions – Coach Ryan Perry If rumors of Breedlove’s absence are true, Lyon County returns one starter from its state championship roster. However, that starter poses significant matchup problems for opponents. Junior guard Bray Kirk, a physical slasher who shot the ball particularly well from 3 during the Lion’s postseason run will lead the new-look Lyon County roster. Additionally, the Lions return Isaac Defew and Carson Collins who provided valuable minutes off the bench last season. 6’5 forward Nolan Coffman transferred to Lyon County late this summer and should provide the Lions with multiple scorers who can play inside and out. 4. Madisonville North Hopkins (18-16) – 2nd Region Semi-Finalist – Coach Caleb Nelson Madisonville has dominated the 7th district since the 09/10 season winning the last 14 district championships. This season, look for more of the same as the Maroons' depth, experience and athleticism will have them right back in the hunt as a legit title contender. Though Madisonville lost a key returner in Lemontae Ratcliff for the season to an ACL injury, the return of Kanyon Johnson, a star quarterback for the Maroons football team, solidifies their status as the preseason favorite in the 7th district. Johnson’s backcourt mate Landen Smith (10.8 ppg) is the team-leading 3-point threat, while seniors Ryan Bryant (7.5 ppg) and Aaron Richardson (7.1 ppg) will shore up a strong starting five. 5. Caldwell County (19-14) - 2nd Region Quarter-Finalist - Coach: Chuck Mitchell The Tigers are ranked here for two reasons. Returning forward JayDarius Wilson is a matchup nightmare for every team in the 2nd region. Averaging nearly 21 points and 11 rebounds last season, Wilson’s 6’7 presence in the paint will make Caldwell County a contender in the 7th district. Additionally, Coach Chuck Mitchell showed in his first season as head coach that he could lead his guys to the regional tournament. With the return of starters Colin Whittington (8.2 ppg) and Luke Parker (4.8 ppg), the Tigers have enough experience to make their way back to the regional tournament. 6. Hopkinsville (11-17) - Coach: Anthony Babb Coach Babb will rely on the experience of guards Deavery Ramey (7.8 ppg), Jonathan Hart (4.4 ppg), and forward Bradley James (4.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg) to lead this season’s team. Coach Babb’s teams are known for their toughness on the glass and their pressure defense. I expect this year’s version of the Tigers to be no different. Additionally, Coach Babb’s teams seem to improve significantly during the regular season, often due to an influx of football players in late November. Because of their backcourt experience and speed, Hoptown will be able to make a lot of teams uncomfortable, and in an uptempo game, the Tigers will come out ahead more often than not. 7. Dawson Springs (18-13) – Coach Mickey Blue The Panthers of Dawson Springs return their best team in over a decade, as all five starters return. All-Region guard Rex Blue (18 ppg) and Montgomery Johnston (20.3 ppg) will lead the Panthers, who averaged over 7 made 3s a game last season. Blue also led the Panthers with nearly 10 rebounds a game last season. Jayden Plunkette (11.1) also adds scoring and is a physical presence for the Panthers. The lack of depth on the roster will be an issue for the small school. Though Dawson didn’t make it out of district play last season, they return enough firepower that if shots fall, the Panthers could make their first trip to the 2nd region tournament since 2017. 8. Union County (13-18) – 2nd Region Quarter-Finalist – Coach Quaid Girten Another dangerous team returning all of its starters from last year’s team, Union County will push Henderson County for the 6th district title. Though they were streaky much of last season, the Braves showed flashes of being a contender. Back for UC are junior guards Daishawn Curry (13.9 ppg), and Cale Johnson (10.0 ppg). In the frontcourt seniors Cameron Miller (11.0 ppg) and Jaidyn Wilson (8.3 ppg) will be counted on. The Braves have the pieces and athleticism to knock off anyone in the postseason. 9. Hopkins County Central (10-18) - Coach: Mason Burgett Coach Mason Burgett left Trigg in the spring for Hopkins County Central. The Storm return some intriguing young players who gained valuable experience during a rocky 23/24 season. Junior guard Devonyae Butcher (16 ppg) and sophomore guard Lake Sumner (12.2 ppg) return. The Storm backcourt was known for letting it fly from 3 last season as they attempted over 30 3’s a game as a team. Additionally, junior forwards Sylas Guhn and Cohl Hoard give the Storm a couple of blue-collar rebounders who play their role well close to the basket. 10. Christian County (15-18) - 2nd Region Quarter-Finalist - Coach: Dior Curtis Christian County is certainly the biggest question mark on this list. The Colonels lost 5 starters and brought in a new head coach, Dior Curtis, who established himself as one of the best coaches in the first region during his time at Murray High. With only Kamren Williams (3.7 ppg) and Darren Bigbee (1.3 ppg) having played more than 20 varsity games last season, Coach Curtis will start with a relatively blank canvas. However, the Colonels still found their way into my top 10 because of tradition and coaching. Expectations are always high for the teams in the 8th district and Coach Curtis will likely have this group of young Colonels ready to make noise by season’s end. 11. Livingston Central (9-20) - Coach: Matthew Hargrove Livingston Central is my pick to get out of the 5th District with Lyon County and make the 2nd Region Tournament. Junior big man Logan Wring will return averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds a game. 12. Webster County (15-13) - Coach: Cory Garrard Senior guard Micah Austin returns averaging 12 points per game. The Trojans will have to rely on the development of their young players to have a shot at competing for a spot in the region tournament. 13. Trigg County (12-20) - Coach: Michael Fraleix Davaree Gude (10.3 ppg) and Caleb Fogle (6.7 ppg) will lead the way for the new-look Wildcats led by long-time 2nd region head coach, Michael Fraleix. 14. Heritage Christian (16-15) - Coach: Matt McGowan Senior Jason Leek returns with a 25 ppg scoring average and a ton of game experience to lead Coach McGowan’s Warriors into their second season of eligibility for KHSAA postseason play. 15. Crittenden County (3-25) - Coach: Matt Fraliex Junior guard Bryson Walker (19 ppg) returns to lead the Rockets. Matt Fraliex will rely on additional contributions from forward Jonah Reddick and guard Camron Belcher to help improve on their 3 win season from a year ago. 16. Ft. Campbell (6-15) - Coach: Orlando King Sophomore guard Lasheed Smiley (8 ppg), and junior guard Eric Greene (7.7 ppg) will return for the Falcons as coach King looks to build on the program’s 6 wins from a year ago. All 2nd Region Pre-Season First Team Tylin George - UHA Cooper Davenport - Henderson County Bray Kirk - Lyon County Kanyon Johnson - Madisonville North Hopkins JayDarius Wilson - Caldwell County All 2nd Region Pre-Season Second Team Elijah Walton - UHA Elijah Suggs - Henderson County Daishawn Curry - Union County Rex Blue - Dawson Springs Logan Wring - Livingston Central All 2nd Region Pre-Season Third Team Montgomery Johnson - Dawson Springs Landen Smith - Madisonville North Hopkins Devonyae Butcher - Hopkins County Central Lacon McKinney - Henderson County Dwain Moss - Henderson County Honorable Mention Deavery Ramey - Hopkinsville Micah Austin - Webster County Cameron Miller - Union County Duvaree Gude - Trigg County Bryson Walker - Crittenden County

Going to be hard for Butler County to be a top 10 team without Lawson Rice who is out for the season with an ACL injury from my understanding. I would replace them with Trinity or Manual.

The word out of Eddyville is Nolan Coffman has transferred from Madisonville to Lyon County. Coffman is a 6'5 sophomore who averaged a little over 5 points and 5 rebounds last season for Madisonville as a freshman. Coffman is a top 20 player in Kentucky in the class of 2027 according to Prep Hoops Kentucky.

Summer basketball may give us a better picture of things in the 2nd region but with the graduation of the big 3 at Lyon County, this year's region seems to be a wide-open affair. If I had to rank them today, here is what it would look like: 1A: Henderson County - The Colonels return 3 starters and 4 of their top 5 scorers from last year's region runner-up team. Leading scorer and all-region guard Cooper Davenport (13.8) returns along with guards Lacon Mckinney (7.8 ppg) and Dwaine Moss (6.0 ppg). The Colonels also return center Elijah Suggs (7.0 ppg) who exploded on the scene late in the season. Suggs led the state in field goal percentage at 69.7% and set the school record for blocked shots at 99 on the season. With this nucleus returning and several of Kentucky's top 2027 players ready to step into the fold, the Colonels will be considered one of the favorites in Region 2. 1B: Madisonville North Hopkins - The Maroons return 4 starters and 4 of their top 5 leading scorers from last year's team that reached the region semifinal. The Maroons return all-region guard and leading scorer Kanyon Johnson (13.3 ppg). Additionally, Madisonville brings back Lemontae Ratcliff (11.5 ppg), Landen Smith (10.8 ppg), and big man Ryan Bryant (7.5 ppg). The Maroons return a solid, athletic core of players. The X-factor for them will be the development and health of 2027 forward Nolan Coffman. He proved to be one of the best freshmen in the region when healthy last season shooting the ball efficiently from 3 and leading the Maroons in rebounds. 2. Lyon County - The Lyon's sit atop Kentucky High School Basketball as state champions. However, with the loss of Perry, Shoulders, and Reddick the Lyons have plenty of question marks on their returning roster. Guard Bray Kirk (9.4 ppg) is poised to take a big step and lead the Lyons. Kirk hit big shots in both regional and state tournament play. Additionally, forwards Isaac Defew (4.6 ppg) and Lukas Breedlove (4.4 ppg) will provide experience, size, and athleticism in the frontcourt. Can the Lyons find steady, playmaking guards to round out a region championship-level roster? Guards Carson and Cooper Collins could certainly take the next step and put Lyon County back in the region championship next season. 3: University Heights - Though the Blazers are losing significant production from all region guards Quentin Quarles and Gavin Grubbs, the return of star sophomore Tylin George will help provide enough firepower for the Blazers to be the 8th district favorite. Before a scary injury that caused him to sit the final 1/3 of the regular season, George was on a tear averaging 15 ppg and shooting 48% from 3. He is next in a long line of D1 players to come through UHA. Additionally, the Blazers return athletic forward Elijah Walton, a 6'5 slasher with a very high basketball ceiling. The off-season development of ultra-athletic Bryson Northington will be key for the Blazers to make a run at a region championship. 4. Union County - The Braves return their entire roster from last season. Union County had 3 players in double figures last season led by Daishawn Curry (13.9 ppg), Cameron Miller (11.0), and Cale Johnson (10.0). Physical point guard Jarren Johnson returns to run the show and forwards Jaidyn Wilson and Cortayvion Rapier provide a strong post presence. The Braves will surprise teams next season and will be a legitimate region contender. 5. Dawson Springs - Tiny Dawson Springs High School completes my top 5. They return their entire roster from a team that went 18-13 last season. Though they did not make the regional tournament last season, the return of All-Region guard Rex Blue (17.7 ppg), and leading scorer Montgomery Johnson (20.3 ppg) make the Panthers a legit contender. The starting 5 of Dawson Springs can compete with anyone in Region 2 next season, however, the lack of depth on the Panther roster will be a challenge for coach Mickey Blue's squad. 6. Caldwell County - Caldwell County could very well switch spots with any of the 3 teams ranked above them because of the impact of forward JayDarius Wilson. Wilson's 20.8 ppg, 61% FG shooting, and 10.8 rpg will give the Tigers enough production to compete with anyone in the region. Long-time starting guard Colin Whittington provides leadership and a steady hand to help lead the team's backcourt. 7. Hopkinsville - The backcourt tandem of Deavery Ramey (7.8 ppg) and Jonathan Hart (4.4 ppg) will have to take the lead for the Tigers. This pick is largely based on the tradition of Hopkinsville and the style of play they will employ. The Tigers run and jump press will keep them in contention against most teams in the 2nd region. They will be a contender if they can find consistent production to help replace the huge loss of Kentucky All-Star Antonio Williams (26.1 ppg, 13.5 rpg). 8. Christian County - Forwards Kamren Williams (3.7 ppg) and Darren Bigbee (1.3 ppg) will have their work cut out for them in trying to lead this roster of inexperienced players. However, the talent and athleticism are always there for the Colonels and I expect them to be in the hunt by season's end.

Cooper Davenport from Henderson County would be a great addition, as he can stretch the floor with his shooting and handles the ball under pressure extremely well. Additionally, I could see Kanyon Johnson from Madisonville or Elijah Walton from UHA. 2nd Region has 4 guys on the Senior team but none on the Junior team. I would love to see at least one added to the mix.

Looking at the big picture, this is a very good job for two reasons. First, the 3rd region often has a significant amount of parity, thus the program is in the hunt for a region title most years. Second, there is enough talent to compete though it comes in 2 or 3-year waves. Under Coach Decker's most recent tenure, his program dealt with a significant number of injuries with the last wave of talent thus preventing them from performing to their potential, especially against the difficult schedule the coach always put together to make sure his teams were battle tested. In the short run however, this job will require some patience by administration and fans. They graduated their 3 leading scorers. A few of this year's seniors took their Covid year which potentially delayed the development of their current underclassmen. Matt Brigance has been Decker's assistant for years. He has a great basketball mind and would be the logical replacement here.

Looks like my prediction was correct! Congratulations to Lyon County and I am happy to see the state championship trophy back in Region 2 for the first time since 2011.

Henderson County battled the Lions for a half, but Jack Reddick's 3-pointer to open up the 2nd half from a step in front of the center circle was a huge momentum shift in the game. The first half saw both teams trading jabs as Lyon County opened up in a man-to-man defense. The Lions abandoned their typical high-intensity zone pressure for a solid half-court defense. The Colonels struggled to get clean looks but stayed within striking distance by limiting Lyon County's transition offense and being deliberate with the ball. However, after Reddick drained the deep 3 to open the 3rd quarter, the Lion's defense went into attack mode and forced a handful of turnovers over the next two minutes. In 3 minutes, Lyon County had completed a 14-0 run to take a 16-point lead. The Colonels regrouped to launch their own 13-3 run to cut the lead to 6 with under 2 left in the 3rd Quarter. Perry ended the Colonel's run with a deep 3 of his own to put LC back up 9. At that point, strong ball handling and great FT shooting allowed Lyon County to play keep away for the last 10 minutes of the game. Henderson County took their first loss in the 2nd region last night to a great Lyon County team. They are losing some key pieces in PG Alec Satterfield, the school's new all-time leader in single-season and career assists. In addition, they are losing some key supporting role players, particularly Thompson and Sonogo-Kendrick who played key roles off the bench in last night's championship game. However, The Colonel's return all-region guard Cooper Davenport and juniors Suggs, Moss, and McKinney. Thus, I expect Henderson County to contend again next season. Lyon County proved they have the versatility to play a slow-tempo half-court game in addition to their trademark breakneck pace. This will serve them well at Rupp Arena next week. Lyon County has a special senior class boasting 3 D1 players in Perry- UK, Reddick- FGCU, and Shoulders- UT Martin. In addition, their young role players in Kirk, Breedlove and Defew have improved significantly this season. This is a much more complete team representing the 2nd region this year than last season. My prediction is the Lyon County Lions will cut down the nets at Rupp Arena next Saturday night.

Ranking the Field 1. Lyon County (29-3) 2. Henderson County (24-6) 3. University Heights (23-6) 4. Christian County (15-17) 5. Madisonville North Hopkins (17-15) 6. Caldwell County (19-13) 7. Union County (13-17) 8. Trigg County (12-19) First Round Matchups Henderson County vs. Trigg County (Wednesday, 6pm) Henderson County defeated Trigg County two weeks ago on the road 77-48. Trigg County played the Colonels to a 1 possession game at half-time before Henderson County went on a tear in the second half to put the Wildcats away. The potential absence of leading scorer and rebounder Jhaden Vaughn with a knee injury that kept him out of the district tournament could make this uphill climb even more difficult for Trigg County should he not be able to go on Wednesday. Trigg County has found a secondary scoring option down the stretch this season as junior guard Caleb Fogle has shot the ball extremely well from 3 over the last few weeks. However, the Colonels boast the most efficient offense in the 2nd Region shooting nearly 51% as a team, one of the stingiest defenses allowing only 52 ppg, and a host of offensive weapons with Cooper Davenport (14.3 ppg), Alec Satterfield (10 ppg) and Elijah Suggs (7.3 ppg) leading the Colonels as of late. It would take a monumental effort by Trigg County and an off night by the Colonels for the Wildcats to pull the upset. UHA vs. Caldwell County (Wednesday, 7:30pm) The Blazers of UHA are on a 5 game winning streak and boast a potent offensive attack. Gavin Grubbs (15.8 ppg) and Quentin Quarles (15.5 ppg) give the Blazer's backcourt a significant advantage in this quarterfinal matchup. Caldwell County's big man JayDarius Wilson (20.8 ppg and 10.9 rpg) will have to do much of the heavy lifting for the Tigers to overcome the Blazer's speed and athleticism. Because the height and length of Elijah Walton and Kyler Baker for Heights can help neutralize Wilson, I think Heights will win this game going away. The Blazers shoot the ball too well from 3 and will use their superior speed to create a tempo to their liking. Madisonville North Hopkins vs. Union County (Thursday, 6pm) Madisonville secured itself a winning season, taking care of business in the district tournament with wins over Hopkins County Central and Caldwell County. The Maroons have proven themselves to be a dangerous team with wins over Hopkinsville and Christian County. They gave Lyon County a scare 3 weeks ago in a 70-73 loss to the Lions. Madisonville won the regular season matchup over Union County in early January in a 77-70 victory at home. The backcourt of Kanyon Johnson (13 ppg) and Lemontae Ratcliff (11.8 ppg) will give the Maroons the advantage in this one. Union County lost its All-District sophomore star Daishawn Curry (13.9 ppg) to a sprained ankle in the 6th District Tournament and is doubtful to play on Thursday. His absence will be felt as Madisonville's press is likely to create problems for the Braves. Though Union County point guard Jarren Johnson had one of his best performances of the season against Madisonville, the Maroons will likely get the best of the shorthanded Braves. Lyon County vs. Christian County (Thursday, 7:30pm) Undoubtedly the best matchup of the first round. Lyon County defeated the Colonels of Christian County 66-49 in early January in the City of Hopkinsville Classic. Christian County's defense proved to be formidable in slowing the Lion's three-headed monster limiting Perry and Reddick to below their season averages. However, the Colonel's offensive struggles (0-13 from 3) kept the game out of reach. Christian County has played one of the toughest schedules in the state and finished their regular season schedule winning 4 of their last 5. However, Lyon County's offensive firepower, led by Kentucky's all-time leading scorer Travis Perry, will likely prove to be too much for the Colonels who average under 60 points per game. Lyon County's 87.4 points per game and uptempo style is really difficult to counter, even for deliberate teams like Christian County. The Colonel's physicality could keep things interesting for a while but Darrell Bateman (23.6 ppg and 12.3 rpg) is going to need a major effort from teammates Jordan Miles (14.2 ppg) and Prince Northington (7.6 ppg) to have a shot at beating Lyon County.

Final per Scoreboard.

Final per Scoreboard.

The 6th District used to include Providence High School. When Providence consolidated with Webster County, the 6th became a 3-teamer with Henderson County, Union County, and Webster County.

Week 13 Recap Lyon County made a strong statement to finish their season with 7 wins in a row including a lopsided 87-59 win over Calloway County to finish the year. Henderson County went 1 and 1 on the week with a convincing road win over Trigg County before losing the next night at Castle High School out of Newburgh, IN. UHA picked up 2 solid wins in their final week over an improved Hopkins Central Team and 3rd Region contender Owensboro Catholic. Webster County looks to be picking up steam at the right time winning their last 3 in a row including a home win over Madisonville to finish the season. Christian County and Hopkinsville both dropped their last game of the year on the road to Evansville Central and Owensboro respectively. Rankings 1. Lyon County (27-3) 2. Henderson County (23-6) 3. Christian County (14-16) 4. UHA (23-6) 5. Webster County (15-12) 6. Madisonville North Hopkins (15-15) 7. Hopkinsville (11-16) 8. Caldwell County (18-12) 9. Dawson Springs (18-12) 10. Union County (12-16) 11. Hopkins County Central (10-17) 12. Trigg County (11-18) 13. Livingston Central (9-19) 14. Heritage Christian Academy (15-14) 15. Fort Campbell (6-14) 16. Crittenden County (3-24) District Tournament Preview Best 1st Round Matchup: Hopkinsville vs. Christian County on Wednesday at CCHS. These two teams split in the regular season. In a half-court, tempo-controlled contest, Christian won 47-39 early in the season on their home floor. Hopkinsville won the late season matchup 57-55 on their home floor led by a 21-point, 19-rebound performance by Antonio Williams. Hopkinsville is the more efficient, higher-scoring team however Christian County's half-court defense is solid and if they can get the slower pace of play they prefer, and take advantage of hosting the Tigers on Kerry Stovall court, the Colonels will likely pull away late in what could be another instant classic between these programs. Can any of these avoid the sweep? Dawson Springs is 0-2 against Caldwell County this season. However, the Panthers are winners in 4 of their last 5 and are averaging 7 made 3's a game. Both teams are 18-12 this season. Dawson Springs has a shot to turn the tables on Caldwell but they will have to find an answer for Caldwell's big man JayDarius Wilson to make the 2nd Region Tournament. Webster County is 0-2 against Union County this season. However, those losses have been by a total of 5 points combined. Union County enters the District Tournament losing its last 3 games. Webster enters the tournament as winners of their last 3. Union County limited the Trojans to 4 made 3's in their first contest, however, Webster County hit 7 in their second matchup. Noticeably absent from that second matchup was Webster County's leading scorer DeShawn Murphy. With Murphy back in action and the Trojans trending in the right direction, I think Webster County has the best chance to avoid a sweep by Union County and punch their ticket to Hopkinsville. Livingston Central is 0-2 against Trigg County this season. The Cardinals have lost the two regular season matchups by a combined 10 points. Trigg County has been able to neutralize Logan Wring in the first their first two matchups this season, holding the big man under his season average in both contests. Trigg County's Jhaden Vaughn is the best player and athlete on the floor in this one and he is capable of taking the game over. However, Livingston Central has an advantage in the paint averaging 8 more rebounds per game. They also shoot FT much more efficiently than Trigg County. Maybe the 3rd time's a charm for the Cardinals.

Week 12 in Review This year’s 2nd Region Tournament is shaping up to be “must-see” basketball action. Christian County has won 4 games in a row including a road win over 1st Region favorite Calloway County. Madisonville played Lyon County to the wire on Friday, falling by 3 in a 73-70 contest. Henderson County lost 2 in a row this week before getting back on track with a convincing road win at Butler County. Lyon County dominated Adair County in a 50-point win on Saturday. UHA dropped a road game at Paducah Tilghman before routing district foe Heritage Christian. Caldwell County made a statement as well defeating 1st Region contender Graves County. Though Lyon County is certainly the favorite, the parity that has developed with the rest of the field will make for some exciting basketball over in the 2nd region over the next few weeks! Rankings 1. Lyon County (25-3) 2. Henderson County (22-5) 3. Christian County (14-15) 4. UHA (19-6) 5. Madisonville North Hopkins (15-13) 6. Hopkinsville (11-15) 7. Webster County (14-12) 8. Caldwell County (16-11) 9. Union County (11-13) 10. Dawson Springs (15-11) 11. Hopkins County Central (9-16) 12. Trigg County (10-16) 13. Livingston Central (9-17) 14. Heritage Christian Academy (14-14) 15. Fort Campbell (6-14) 16. Crittenden County (3-21)