BALLARD

* Coach: Chris Renner (19^th year).

* Last season: 22-11, lost to Trinity 67-62 in overtime in Seventh Region semifinal.

* Player to watch: Jamil Wilson, a 5-7 senior point guard, averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds last season and was an honorable-mention All-State selection by The Courier-Journal. Wilson said he focused on improving his jump shot during the summer.

* Other top players: G/F Clivonte Patterson (6-3, Sr., 12 ppg, 7.8 rpg); G Antoine Darby (5-11, Sr.); F Delonta Wimberly (6-3, Jr.); G Tyron Duncan (5-10, Jr.); F Dorion Tisby (6-2, Jr.); G Marshon Ford (6-1, Jr.); F Kereion Douglas (6-1, Jr.); G Orlando Higginbottom (5-11, Sr.); F Alex Holley (6-4, So.); G Jackson Molsberger (6-3, So.).

* Outlook: Ballard has one of the area’s top 1-2 punches in Wilson and Patterson, but there’s not a whole lot of varsity experience surrounding them. The Bruins’ title chances took a blow when Taylor County transfer David Sloan was ruled ineligible by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and moved to Florida. “We will rely heavily on pressure defense and up-tempo offense,” Renner said. “We will be looking to create organized chaos for 32 minutes.” Renner expects 12-15 players to see time in every game.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

* Coach: Chad Carr (third year).

* Last season: 14-14, lost to Ballard 65-49 in district semifinal.

* Player to watch: Parker Jones, a 6-1 senior guard, averaged 19.1 points and 3.2 rebounds last season on his way to first-team All-Seventh Region honors. He shot 43.8 percent (60 of 137) from 3-point range. It was a meteoric rise for a player who averaged just 2.8 points as a sophomore.

* Other top players: F K.C. Purvis (6-5, Sr., 11.7 ppg); G Michael Woodward (6-0, Sr., 9.1 ppg); F Nick Olsofka (6-2, Jr., 7.0 ppg); G/F Austin Carr (6-3, So., 1.9 ppg).

* Outlook: The Centurions return three of their top four scorers from last season in Jones, Purvis and Woodward and have added “a few transfers and some really skilled younger players that will contribute,” Chad Carr said. Carr said the team goals are to qualify for the Seventh Region Tournament for the first time since 1990 “and win a few games in the LIT.”

EASTERN

* Coach: David Henley (fifth year).

* Last season: 18-12, lost to St. Xavier 68-55 in Seventh Region semifinal.

* Player to watch: Caleb Williams, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, returns after averaging 9.2 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds last season.

* Other top players: G Javen Rushin (5-11, Sr., 7.1 ppg); G Sugar Ray Wyche (5-10, Sr., 7.0 ppg); F Kahlil Garmon (6-2, Sr.); G Braxton Johnson (5-10, Sr., 1.9 ppg); G Jordan Lyons (Jr.); G Myles Goodrich (Jr.); G Jacob Robinson (So.).

* Outlook: The Eagles lost their top scorer from last season, Chance Moore, when he transferred to Fern Creek, but Henley is excited about the return of three starters in Williams, Rushin and Wyche. “All of them are threats to shoot the 3 and get to the basket and score,” Henley said. Henley said he has focused on changing the culture of the Eastern program and so far this has been his “most enjoyable of my 29 seasons as a basketball coach. …. We might win five games. We might win 25. But we’re going to have fun.”

KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY

* Coach: James Booker (ninth year).

* Last season: 14-10, lost to Eastern 59-54 in district semifinal.

* Player to watch: Anthony “J.R.” Mathis, a 6-1 senior guard, is one of the region’s top players and averaged 21.3 points, three assists and three rebounds per game last season. He has committed to Navy. “His leadership has been tremendous this preseason, and we look for him to have another spectacular season scoring, assisting and playing tough defense,” Booker said.

* Other top players: G Solomon Mathis (5-10, Jr., 6.0 ppg); G Hayden Kraus (5-11, Sr., 5.4 ppg); F Wilder Brice (6-0, Jr., 1.9 ppg); F Justin Grissom (6-3, Sr.); F Connor Widman (6-2, Sr.); F Cedric Cosby (Jr., transfer from Eastern).

* Outlook: The Bearcats lost six players to graduation off last season’s team but have a solid group returning, led by Anthony Mathis. Booker expects Solomon Mathis, Anthony’s cousin, to have a breakout season. “He may be our most improved player,” Booker said. Kraus is a threat from the outside after shooting 43.5 percent (37 of 85) from 3-point range last season.

Simply getting to the state tournament might have been good enough for an unheralded Trinity High School basketball team last season. But for the seven seniors on this season’s squad, there’s a bigger goal.

“We got a taste of it, and now we want to win it all,” forward David Burton said.

As opening night for Kentucky high school basketball approaches Nov. 28, the Shamrocks appear to have all the pieces needed to make a run at their second state championship. The state’s coaches agree, as Trinity is the preseason pick to win the Seventh Region and ranked No. 2 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Top 25.

This time last year Trinity was a mystery, as several new players were coming together to replace what may have been the most talented class in program history. Now Jacob King, Lukas Burkman, L.J. Harris, Burton and the other veterans must face the burden of expectations.

25TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Central, Manual, Portland Christian, St. Francis, Shawnee

“This time last season … nobody knew any of these guys,” Shamrocks coach Mike Szabo said. “These guys have done a super job, and the thing that sticks out about this team is the way they complement each other. It’s not like we’re oozing with athletic ability and talent, but we have good players and they play really hard and they play well together.”

Trinity lost just one starter (Gabe Schmitt) from last season’s 29-7 squad. The Shamrocks surprised many observers by winning the Seventh Region title, but the season ended with a thud in the first round of the state tournament – a 48-33 loss to Newport Central Catholic.

Illness and injuries were key factors in that defeat, but Szabo also confirmed two areas for off-season focus in the defeat. First, Trinity needed to defend the post better. Second, the Shamrocks needed to become better offensive rebounder to offset cold-shooting performances.

26TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Brown, Collegiate, Male, St. Xavier

“We’re not a real big team, so we have to do a better job of being in position,” Szabo said.

The Shamrocks should have little trouble scoring. King (14.2 ppg) and Burkman (10.8 ppg) comprise one of the area’s top backcourts, and both shot 44 percent from 3-point range last season. Harris (8.0 ppg) and Burton (6.4 ppg) also return after solid junior seasons.

And there’s plenty of talent among the underclassmen. Sophomore David Johnson (4.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg) came on strong during the second half of last season and showed why he’s ranked among the state’s top players in the Class of 2019. Junior Jay Scrubb, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Central, “is the most athletic player on our team,” Szabo said. Justin Powell, a 6-4 freshman, also is expected to make big contributions.

Szabo wants to play a faster pace this season and said his team could surpass last year’s average of 21 3-point attempts per game. He also said it’s as deep of a team as he’s had in his 16 seasons at Trinity.

27TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Atherton, Seneca, Trinity, Waggener

“I think we can use anywhere from 10 to 13 players,” he said.

As usual, Ballard looks to be Trinity’s top road block toward a Seventh Region title. The Bruins return two of the region’s top players in seniors Jamil Wilson (17.4 ppg, 3.8 apg) and Clivonte Patterson (12.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg).

Ballard also had hoped to add one of the state’s top seniors in Taylor County transfer David Sloan, but he was ruled ineligible by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and moved to Florida.

Bruins coach Chris Renner said he expects to use 12-15 players in every game.

“We will be looking to create organized chaos for 32 minutes,” Renner said.

28TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS |Ballard, Christian Academy, Eastern, Kentucky Country Day

Waggener is ranked No. 4 in the region and would get a boost if senior guard De’Von Cooper is ruled eligible by the KHSAA. Cooper has transferred back to Waggener after playing at Henderson (Nevada) Findlay Prep last season.

NOTES

* There are four first-year coaches in the region – Portland Christian’s Jeremy Niestadt, Shawnee’s Clayton Reeves, Brown’s Erin Spalding and Collegiate’s Shannon Weaver.

Spalding is the first female coach of a boys team in the Seventh Region since Eastern’s Patti Jo Hedges in the mid-1990s.

* Walden, which finished 6-16 last season, will not have a varsity team this season. Athletic director David Gross said the school will have a junior-varsity team this season with the hope of returning to varsity action next season.

Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.

Here is The Courier-Journal’s preseason girls basketball Top 25 poll, as voted on by the state’s coaches. Every coach in the state was given a ballot. A total of 70 replied. First-place votes in parentheses.

CENTRAL

• Coach: Jana Costner (first year).
• Last season: 17-11, lost to Sacred Heart, 84-60, in the first round of the 7th Region Tournament.
• Player to watch: Stephonie Cole. The 5-9 senior forward was a second-team all-region selection last season.
• Other top players: F Precious Hereford (5-7, Sr.); F India New (5-7, Jr.); G Thelisia Beasley Guin (5-2, Sr.).
• Outlook: The Yellowjackets lost first-team all-region guard Peyton Evans to graduation, but the cupboard isn’t bare. Cole leads the group of returning players, but she should have help. Costner was named Central’s coach Friday after Janetta Johnson stepped down. Johnson, the mother of University of Louisville basketball player Jaylen Johnson, had been hired in June to replace Ashley Franklin. Costner was The Courier-Journal’s Seventh Region Coach of the Year at Christian Academy during the 2014-15 season.

MANUAL

• Coach: Jeff Sparks (fourth year).
• Last season: 21-8, lost to Murray, 58-41, in the first round of the Sweet 16.
• Players to watch: Jaela Johnson. The 5-5 junior guard averaged 14.8 points per game on her way to earning first-team all-region honors last season.
• Other top players: G Tonysha Curry (5-10, Sr.; 9 ppg, 7.4 rpg); G-F Aniah Griffin (5-10, Jr.; 6.7 ppg); F Nila Blackford (5-11, So.; 3.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg); G Tyonne Howard (5-1, Jr.; 2.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg).
• Outlook: The Crimsons return three starters from last season’s Seventh Region champs, but must replace departed 6-4 center Krys McCune. “We have a very talented core group returning from last year’s Seventh Region championship team, but we did lose some key players to graduation and injury heading into the season,” Sparks says. “In order to compete in this region this year we will have to figure out how this group will gel and come together.”

PORTLAND CHRISTIAN

• Coach: Kristi McCartney (first year).
• Last season: 2-12, didn’t participate in district tournament.
• Player to watch: Lydia Cyrus. The do-it-all junior averaged 10 per game and was the team’s leading rebounder last season.  “Lydia is a versatile player who can play any position on the court for our team, from point guard to post,” McCartney says.
• Other top players: PG Hannah Taylor (Jr.); F Carolyn West (Fr.).
• Outlook: “This year will be a building year,” McCartney says. “We have new coaches seeking to implement a new program, structure and vision. We hope to be a strong defensive team that can focus on defending and rebounding, along with playing a fast-paced game of transition.”

PRESENTATION

• Coach: David Jackson (15th year).
• Last season: 17-14, lost to Central, 58-47, in the 25th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Lilly Stephenson. The 5-6 senior guard averaged 15.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game to garner second-team all-region honors last season.
• Other top players: F Julia Vogt (5-8, Sr.; 7.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg); F Courtney Jackson (5-8, Jr.; 10.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg); F Ashley Swearingen (5-5, Sr.; 3 ppg); G Jaelin Thompson (5-6, Jr.; 2.9 ppg); F Madison Perkins (5-8, So.; 2.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg).
• Outlook: “We return seven of our top eight, so we have high hopes for a good year,” Jackson says. “We need to improve our shooting and rebounding.”

ST. FRANCIS

• Coach: Dean Zangari (third year).
• Last season: 5-17, didn’t participate in the district tournament.
• Player to watch: Alexis Nelson. The 5-9 junior guard averaged 33.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on her way to earning second-team all-region honors last season. Zangari says Nelson “continues to improve in all aspects of the game.”
• Other top players: G Maggie McGraw (5-4, So.; 5 ppg); G Norah Patrick (5-3, 8th; 3.5 ppg); G Jasmin Gonzalez (5-4, 8th; 3 ppg).
• Outlook: “Our goal at St. Francis has been to develop our program to a point where we can truly compete for an All ‘A’ Seventh Region title,” says Zangari, who has no seniors on his roster. “This year, and definitely next year, we are contenders as long as we stay healthy.”

SHAWNEE

• Coach: Charles Pearson (first year).
• Last season: 13-9, lost to Manual, 61-29, in 25th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Keiana Patterson. The 5-5 sophomore guard averaged 10.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season. “She pretty much plays 1-4,” Pearson said.
• Other top players: G Jalana Scruggs (5-3, Sr.; 7 ppg); G Ta Nysha Allen (5-4, Sr.; 5.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg); G Johmika McGee (5-4, So.; 7 ppg, 4.1 rpg).
• Outlook: The Golden Eagles, who closed out their 2015-16 regular season with victories in seven of their final eight games, will try to carry that momentum over into this season under their new head coach. “They’re showing really good signs of picking up everything really fast,” Pearson says. “I think we’re going to be very scrappy. I think we’re going to surprise some people.”

ASSUMPTION

• Coach: Amy Siegel (third year).
• Last season: 12-17, lost to Manual, 55-33, in the first round of the Seventh Region Tournament.
• Player to watch: Kristen Olinick. The 5-11 senior forward, who is entering her third season as a starter, averaged 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season. Siegel calls Olinick, “one of the toughest competitors that you will ever see. Kristen is a ‘team first’ type of player and she makes everyone around her better. She can defend any position on the floor and her athleticism makes her a tough match-up offensively.”
• Other top players: G Samantha Babey (5-9, Jr.; 3 ppg, 2.3 rpg); G-F Piper Gray (6-0, Sr.; 6.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg); G Taylor Allen (5-9, Jr.; 5.2 ppg); G Jenna Calhoun (5-8, Sr.; 2.1 ppg).
• Outlook: “We are still young, but we have grown tough and resilient,” Siegel says. “Our personal expectations have been elevated and we will expect to compete with everyone on our schedule. We play a very physical and intense style of basketball and we are not intimidated by any opponent. As we continue to develop as a team we will rely on our chemistry and physical conditioning to help us earn a significant win this season.”

BROWN

• Coach: Stacy Pendleton (first year).
• Last season: 9-17, lost to Male, 60-20, in the 26th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Pendleton says 5-8 sophomore center Madison Cockroft, who averaged 7.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season, “should have a big year for us. She is a very long athletic scorer and will have a big year.”
• Other top players: F-C Sydney Houseal (5-9, Sr.; 3.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg); G Jada McNeill (5-6, Sr.; 3 ppg, 2.7 rpg); G Fatima Abdur-Rahman (5-6, Jr.; 4.6 ppg); C Hanna Corus (5-10, So.; 5.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg); G Sydney Johnson (5-2, Fr.; 5.3 ppg); F Lexi Henderson (5-8, Fr.; 4.5 ppg).
• Outlook: “I am excited to be back in coaching,” says Pendleton, who guided Manual to the 2012 state championship. “We return all 10 varsity players from a nine-win season last year. The players have been amazing to work with and are embracing the new challenges of me as their coach.”

COLLEGIATE

• Coach: Gerard Mattingly (first year).
• Last season: 5-17, lost to Assumption, 60-10, in the 26th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Haylee Wright. The 5-8 freshman wing averaged six points and eight rebounds last season as an eighth-grader.
• Other top players: G Sophie Call (5-6, Jr.); F Caroline Doyle (5-9, Jr.); G Trinitie Sutton (5-5, Fr.), G Laila Hayes-Walker (5-9, 8th).
• Outlook: Mattingly, a former assistant at Assumption, Manual and Mercy, says he hopes to take that experience and “lay a solid foundation to build a special program.” He adds that he’s “looking to employ an aggressive, fast-paced style of play.” The Amazons have “a good mix of players with great attitudes and work ethic, but limited varsity playing experience,” Mattingly says. “(We’re) looking to improve over the course of the season.”

MALE

• Coach: Champ Ligon (fourth year).
• Last season: 29-3, lost to Manual, 64-47, in Seventh Region Tournament final.
• Player to watch: Emilia Sexton. The 5-4 junior guard was second on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg) last year as she made the all-region first team for the second straight season.
• Other top players: F Logan Calvert (5-11, Sr., 7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg); G Ciaja Harbison (5-5, Jr., 8 ppg, 2.9 rpg); C Cameron Browning (6-1, So.; 7.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg); F Kyra Hogan (5-11, Sr.; 4 ppg, 5 rpg); F India Green (5-9, Jr.; 10 ppg); F Jada Owens (5-7, Sr., 2.6 ppg).
• Outlook: The Bulldogs, who are 55-8 over the past two seasons, lost region player of the year I’Liyah Green (13.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) to graduation. However they return just about every other key contributor from last season and Green’s younger sister, India, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game last year. “We have the chance to very good again if our girls are willing to put the team ahead of themselves, improve their defense and rebounding and take care of the basketball,” Ligon says.

ATHERTON

• Coach: Nicki Dewitt (second year).
• Last season: 11-20, lost to Waggener, 58-55, in the 27th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Sarah Overley. The 5-6 junior guard averaged a team-best 12.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season.
• Other top players: G/F Caitlyn Taylor (Jr.; 7.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg); F/C Hailey Stone (Jr.; 2.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg); F-C TaeciAnn White (5-9, So.; 2.6 rpg); G Paige Taylor (Fr.); G Lauren Burks (Fr.).
• Outlook: “We are in a tough Seventh Region and have a young team mixed with strong returners who are willing to step up to any challenge as a team and win,” Dewitt says. “There are many leaders throughout the team with a great mix of talents.”

SACRED HEART

• Coach: Donna Moir (26th year).
• Last season: 23-8, lost to Male, 63-62, in overtime in the Seventh Region semifinals.
• Player to watch: Grace Berger. The 5-11 junior guard, who recently committed to Indiana University, averaged 14.4 ppg and 7.2 rpg to earn first-team all-region honors and second-team all-state accolades last season.
• Other top players: G-F Kia Sivils (5-7, Jr.; 7.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg); G Kiki Samsel (5-4, Jr.; 12.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg); G Ashlee Harris (5-5, So.; 10.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg); G-F Natalie Fichter (5-9, Jr.; 7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg); F Cierra Scott (5-10, Jr.; 3.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg).
• Outlook: The Valkyries, the ‘14 region champs, lost post player Lydia Taylor to graduation but return pretty much everyone else from last season. “We have a lot of talent back,” Moir says. “We had a great summer and we’ve had a really good preseason.”

SENECA

• Coach: Latasha Peterson (sixth year).
• Last season: 2-25, lost to Sacred Heart, 75-5, in the 27th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Dais’Ja Trotter. The sophomore wing averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season.
• Other top players: G-F Ashanti Starks (Sr.; 3.4 ppg); G-F Jamia Brightwell (So.; 3.2 ppg); G-F Diamond Smith (Sr.; 2.5 ppg).
• Outlook: The Redhawks will be “a very young team this year with a lot of developing talent,” Peterson says. “This year we should shock some teams and make a little noise.” She is looking for big things from freshmen Sadaria Rucker, Asia Smith and Samantha Watkins, all of whom “play with heart and determination,” according to Peterson, who calls that trio “the missing pieces to a successful season.”

WAGGENER

• Coach: Nicole Ambrose (first year).
• Last season: 6-17, lost to Eastern, 92-19, in the first round of the Seventh Region Tournament.
• Player to watch: Ne’zja Elliot. The 5-6 junior guard averaged 9.3 points per game last season.
• Other top players: F Tiara Biermacher (6-1, Sr.); G T’yana Tolbert (5-6, Jr.); G-F La’sha Dunn (5-9, Jr.).
• Outlook: “Waggener is looking to rebuild after losing Seventh Region All-Tournament selection Davianna Ruff,” Ambrose says. “With a core of sophomores and juniors we will endure some growing pains early on, but hope to become Seventh Region contenders by the end of the season.”

BALLARD

• Coach: Carl White (second year).
• Last season: 6-19, lost to CAL, 74-25, in the 28th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Shania Beason. The 5-6 junior guard averaged eight points, four rebounds and three steals per game despite a knee injury that forced her to miss much of last season. “(She) is a player capable of doing a lot of good things for us on the court, we just need her to get healthy,” White says.
• Other top players: F Jada Williams (5-7, Jr.; 4 ppg, 2 rpg); G Cameryn Austin (5-4, So.; 4 ppg); F-C Khaylah Brewer (Jr.); F-G Sayde Valentine (5-7, Jr.).
• Outlook: “We are a young team, but we have some athletes, some talent and we are setting some goals for the program,” White says. “I like our team, especially our depth. I am very hopeful that we will see a vast improvement on last season’s record. A lot of the young ladies are learning to play basketball the way we want them to play. First focusing on improving on defense, learning to take care of the ball and trusting everyone on the floor will do their job to the best of their abilities.”

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

• Coach: Perry White (second year).
• Last season: 18-12, lost to Male, 80-49, in the first round of the Seventh Region Tournament.
• Player to watch: Emma Wesley. The 5-7 senior guard averaged a team-high 19 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on her way to earning first-team all-region honors last season. “She’s a warrior when she gets on the floor,” White says. “She’s very aggressive when she’s attacking the basket, she can go right or left. I think she’s underestimated on her defense.”
• Other top players: G Summer Conti (5-5, Sr.; 7.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg); G Shelby Calhoun (5-9, Fr.; 13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg); F Sarah McDonald (5-9, So.; 4.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg); G Samantha Karst (So.; 3.8 ppg); F Mia Beam (Fr.).
• Outlook: Wesley and Conti, who White calls “the glue” of the Centurions, will lead a deceptively experienced squad. “On paper we look young, but two of our freshmen (Calhoun and Beam) and our two sophomores (McDonald and Hailey Ice) have played up on varsity the past two seasons,” White says. “That experience will help them in adjusting to more prominent roles this season.” Freshman Olivia Lawson and 5-11 senior Emma Frank, a transfer from Assumption who adds some much-needed height, will also play valuable roles, according to White.

EASTERN

• Coach: Josh Leslie (fifth year).
• Last season: 21-7, lost to Manual, 68-37, in the Seventh Region semifinals.
• Player to watch: Mikayla Kinnard. The 6-0 sophomore guard can do it all. She averaged 10 points and 6.1 rebounds on her way to earning first-team all-region honors last season.
• Other top players: G/F Natalie Collins (5-10, Sr.; 6.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg); G Briana Mishler (5-7, Jr.; 11.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg); C  Devin Beach (5-11, So., 2.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg); G Breanna Anthony (5-5, Jr., 2.8 ppg); G Kiara Pearl (5-9, So., 5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg).
• Outlook: Led by Kinnard and Collins, who has signed with Alabama A&M, the Eagles – region runners-up in 2015 – should be in contention again. One thing Eastern should be able to do, very well according to Leslie, is shoot the ball. Leslie is extremely happy with the cohesiveness of his squad. “I’d rather have this group than any other group,” he says.

KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY

• Coach: Nick Lepera (first year).
• Last season: 13-15, lost to Eastern, 69-13, in the 28th District Tournament semifinals.
• Player to watch: Olyvia Green. The 5-10 senior forward averaged 11 points per game in earning second-team all-region honors last season.
• Other top players: G Kierra Scott (5-10, Sr.; 6 ppg); F Tia Dowling (5-11, Sr.; 4 ppg); G Meghana Manchikalapudi (5-8, So.).
• Outlook: The Bearcats, the region’s reigning All ‘A’ champions, look to build off last season’s 13-win campaign. Lepera says he has a “strong group of seniors leading a young team with potential.”

The biggest change long-time Sacred Heart Academy basketball coach Donna Moir has seen in her team since last season isn’t obvious to the naked eye.

That’s because it has been between the ears.

“I think they are really believing in themselves,” Moir said. “The confidence level seems to be a lot better.”

While that’s good news for Moir, who is beginning her 26th season in charge of the Valkyries, it could be bad news for the rest of the Seventh Region.

25TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Central, Manual, Portland Christian, Presentation, St. Francis, Shawnee

That’s because confidence has been about the only thing lacking for Sacred Heart, whose junior class has been highly touted since its members were freshmen, the past couple years. This season the Valkyries have been picked to win the Seventh Region by the region’s coaches and are ranked No. 4 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s preseason Top 25.

The Valkyries have gone 43-19 over the past two seasons, both of which ended with losses to Male in the Seventh Region Tournament semifinals. The eventual state semifinalist Bulldogs beat them 55-50 in 2015, then 63-62 in overtime last season. The latter loss was especially painful considering Sacred Heart entered the fourth quarter with an 18-point lead before its youth and tournament inexperience showed. The Valkyries committed six turnovers to start the period and also missed the front end of a few one-and-one free throw opportunities.

“It was like the perfect storm,” Moir said.

The players and coaches have tried their best to move past the disastrous defeat.

26TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Assumption, Brown, Collegiate, Male

“I think the kids have kind of put that behind them and are ready for a fresh start,” said Moir, who said she still hasn’t watched the video of that game.

When you talk about Sacred Heart you have to start with Grace Berger. The 5-foot-11 junior guard averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season on her way to earning first-team all-region honors, for the second consecutive year, and second-team all-state accolades.

Moir expects Berger, who recently committed to Indiana University, to score even more this season.

“She just causes a lot of mismatches,” Moir said. “It’s hard to guard her.”

Three other returning juniors – each of whom play primarily on the perimeter – are Kiki Samsel (12.3 points per game last season), Kia Sivils (7.8 ppg) and Natalie Fichter (7.6 ppg). Last season the 5-5 Samsel was one of the top 3-point shooters in the state, making 79 for 172 (45.9 percent) shots from long range. The 5-7 Sivils, who has committed to Marshall, was second on the team in rebounding (5.5 per game), while the 5-9 Fichter was second in made 3-pointers (35) last season.

27TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Atherton, Sacred Heart, Seneca, Waggener

Cierra Scott (3.4 ppg), a 5-10 forward who was a member of the school’s state championship volleyball team, is also part of Sacred Heart’s stacked junior class.

The Valkyries have more than just the Class of 2018 on their roster, though.

Another key returnee is 5-5 sophomore guard Ashlee Harris, who was the team’s third-leading (10.2 ppg) and 3-point maker (33) last season. Moir also expects two freshmen – 6-0 center Kristen Clemons and 5-6 guard Erin Toller – to have immediate impacts this season. Clemons, who was also on the school’s championship volleyball team, will provide a post presence for the Valkyries.

“She moves everybody into their natural position,” Moir said.

Those eight players, along with a few others (including the team’s lone senior, Danielle Wethington), give Sacred Heart some depth as it prepares for the rigorous Seventh Region, and possibly beyond.

28TH DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Ballard, Christian Academy, Eastern, Kentucky Country Day

“They want to get to Northern Kentucky,” Moir said. “That’s a big goal of ours and they know it’s going to be a team effort.”

Male, defending champion Manual and Eastern should be the Valkyries’ biggest challengers in the region with Christian Academy of Louisville not far behind.

“The Seventh Region, as always, will be extremely tough, as there are plenty of talented and well-coached teams all competing for the regional championship,” Crimsons coach Jeff Sparks said. “We know we have our work cut out for us with talented teams like Sacred Heart and Male leading the way in this region.”

Tailgating and club seating will not be available for fans during Friday’s St. Xavier-Trinity high school football playoff game at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

The Shamrocks (13-0) and Tigers (10-3) are scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Class 6-A state semifinals. The winner will advance to the state final set for Dec. 3 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The following guidelines have been set for the St. X-Trinity game in order to allow time to set up for the University of Louisville’s football game against Kentucky at noon Saturday:

* No tailgating.

* No club seating. All tickets are $10 and general admission.

* Parking is $10, and lots will open at 4:30 p.m. Gates and ticket windows at PJCS will open at 5 p.m.

As the designated home team, Trinity made the decision to play at PJCS instead of its home field, Marshall Stadium (capacity: 4,500).

Tickets will be available at both schools throughout the week. The St. X ticket office will be open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 8:30-11 a.m. on Wednesday. The Trinity ticket office will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Wednesday-Friday.

The playoff game is a rematch from the regular season. The Shamrocks beat the Tigers 35-13 on Sept. 30 at PJCS. Trinity has won 11 of the past 12 meetings against St. X.

Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.

Here are The Courier-Journal’s high school football Litkenhous Ratings for Monday, Nov. 21:

COLLINS

Coach: Chris Gaither (sixth year),

Last season: 15-18, lost to South Oldham 74-70 in Eighth Region semifinals.

Player to watch: Dominique Turner, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, averaged 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds last season, hitting 45 percent from 3-point range. “He’s a very versatile player for us,” Gaither said. “He can score at any position on the floor.  He can be a tough matchup for other teams. And, he’s our best defender.”

Other players: F Nick Fort (6-5 Jr., 5.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg) G Jacob Feltner (5-10 Jr., 8.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg), F Nick Eades (5-10 So., 2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg), G Dayvion McKnight (5-11 Fr.), G Charlie Cochran (6-5 Sr., transfer from Seneca).

Outlook: “I really feel like we’ll be in the mix,” Gaither said of the regional-title race. Gaither said he’s comfortable with his freshman point guard (McKnight). “I’m really comfortable with his ability to lead our team. He’s the most competitive kid — from the standpoint of showing up every day to compete — that I’ve ever coached. He’s a great player. He makes good decisions on the court.” Feltner is one of the top shooters in Kentucky, hitting 48 of 98 3-point attempts last season.

NORTH OLDHAM

Coach: Rob Burton (third year).

Last season: 14-16, lost to Oldham County 65-48 in the first round of the 29th District Tournament.

Players to watch: The Mustangs have a couple of dynamic guards in PG Jalen Henry (6-1 Sr., 14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and SG Zach Wheeler (6-1 Sr., 14.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg).  “Jalen, he’s one of the quickest guards in the Eighth Region,” Burton said. “He does a great job of pushing the ball and making good decisions.” Last season Wheeler made 109 3-pointers. “He’s one of the best perimeter shooters in the region,” Burton said.

Other players: C William  Bonny (6-5 Sr., 3.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Jeffrey McLellan (6-3, So., 3.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg), F Justin Rose (6-3, Jr., 1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg), G Justin Burton (6-2 Jr., 2.3 ppg, 0.6 rpg), G Dylan Yates (6-1 Jr., 0.9 ppg, 0.5 rpg).

Outlook: “We’re pretty excited,” Burton said. “We have two guys with a lot of experience, and we have seven solid role players. We have a little bit of everything. We will try to pick up the pace this year and play up-tempo.”

OLDHAM COUNTY

Coach: Coy Zerhusen (fourth year).

Last season: 23-9, lost to Anderson County 59-55 in semifinals of Eighth Region Tournament.

Player to watch: Ismail Jones, a 6-0 guard who averaged eight points a season ago, should get more shots because he won’t have to handle the ball as much, according to Zerhusen. “He can really defend on the ball,” Zerhusen added.

Other players: F Zach Larimore (6-3 Jr., 6.0 ppg), G Jackson Gibson (5-10 Jr., 4.0 ppg), F Travis Henderson (6-4 Jr., 6.0 ppg).

Outlook: The Colonels lost four starters from last year’s 23-win team, and all four our playing collegiate sports of some kind. “But we have a good group of juniors,” Zerhusen said. Just as they have in the past, the Colonels will be employing a full-court press most of the time. The schedule is brutal, starting with a home date with North Hardin in the opener. Other foes include Madison Central, Scott County, Manual, Trinity and Eastern.

SHELBY COUNTY

Coach: Ken Cates (first year).

Last season: 16-14, lost to Collins 45-41 in the first round of the 30th District Tournament.

Player to watch: Jordan Armstrong, a 6-1 senior who averaged 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds last season, likely will play point guard for the Rockets, but Cates said he could play every position on the floor. “He just quietly gets it done,” Cates said. “He does nothing flashy.”

Other players: F Josh Edwards (6-6 Sr., 7.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), G Tyler Drane (6-0 Sr., 9.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg), F T.J. Robinson (6-3, So., 1.8 ppg, 1.6), F Sam Edwards (6-6 So.).

Outlook: “We have some quick, athletic guys, and we’re versatile,” Cates said. “There’s a lot of different things that we can do.” The Rockets will wear warmups commemorating former Rockets star Charles Hurt, who died in September Hurt, who led Shelby County to a state title, worked with and helped the basketball team the last several years. “We want to honor him in the way we play,” Cates said.

SOUTH OLDHAM

Coach: Steve Simpson (16^th year).

Last season: 29-6, lost to South Laurel 71-42 in Sweet 16 quarterfinals.

Player to watch: Joe Griffin (10.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg), a 6-2 senior combo guard, leads with a “very high basketball IQ,” Simpson said. “He probably started playing basketball when he could walk. He just does everything well. He doesn’t have a weakness.”

Other players: F Devin Young (6-4 Jr., 8.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg ), F Dyllon Hoover (6-1 Sr., 6.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg), G Aaron Franklin (5-10 Sr. 4.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg), F David Beyerly (6-1 Sr., 1.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg),

Outlook: The Dragons return just two starters from last year’s regional championship team. During its run to Rupp Arena, South Oldham hit a state-record 367 3-pointers and attempted 929. Simpson said to expect more of the same from the Dragons. “Our philosophy is everyone can shoot at any time,” Simpson said. “We just spend a lot of time shooting.” With so many pieces gone from last season’s team, Simpson said the Dragons need to develop depth as the season progresses. “The good news is I think we’ll shoot it well,” he said.

SPENCER COUNTY

Coach: Jason Burns (fourth season)

Last season: 11-18, lost to Anderson County 68-66 in first round of the 30th District Tournament.

Player to watch: Daniel Wheeler, a 5-11 senior guard (6.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), is the “coach on the floor” for the Bears, according to Burns. “He’s, by far, the best leader we’ve had here.”

Other players: F Jacob Coke (6-2 Jr., 2.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg), G/F Jacob Nichols (6-1 Jr., 3.1 ppg, 2.4 apg), F Kadin Smith (6-1 Sr., 4.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), G Jacob Seawright (5-8 So.), G Jackson Cole (5-11 So.), G Sam Conley (6-1 8th).

Outlook: The Bears lost seven seniors, so they’ll have some new faces on the floor. Still, Burns remains encouraged. “We’re young and inexperienced,” he said. “This is the deepest team we’ve ever had. We’re going to play 10 kids, and we’re going to be playing a lot faster.”

COLLINS

Coach: Sean Pigman (second year)

Last season: 18-13, lost to Simon Kenton 68-42 in the first round of the Eighth Region Tournament.

Player to watch: Hannah Renfro, a 5-11 power forward who is a three-year starter, is the only senior on the Collins team. “She’s a hard worker,” Pigman said. “She’s the ultimate team player. She’s obviously our senior leader.”

Other players: F Hannah Cleary (5-7 Jr. 0.5 ppg, 0.2 rpg), G Olivia Federle (5-6 Fr. 9.2, 2.7 rpg), G Carson Murray (5-6 So., 5.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg), G Jeian Hayes (5-8 So., 5.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg), G Hallie Renfro (5-6 So., 1.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg), C Mary- Clare Megibbon (6-2 So., 0.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg), F Trinity Warfield (6-0 So., 2.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg).

Outlook: The Titans have just one senior and one junior on their roster. “I only have one girl who is old enough to drive,” Pigman said. “The next two senior nights are going to be pretty lonely. But it bodes well for our future. … We can shoot the ball a lot better this year. We want to develop an inside-outside balance threat on the offensive end.”

NORTH OLDHAM

Coach: Dan Pfaff (sixth year).

Last season: 13-14, lost to Trimble County 70-45 in the first round of the 29th District Tournament.

Player to watch: Ann Thomas-Proctor (8.0 ppg), a 5-4 junior guard who was the primary ballhandler a year ago, will be asked to score more for the Mustangs this season. “She will be asked to do more at the offensive end,” Pfaff said.

Other players: G Sarah Fiorito (5-7 So., 6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg), G Caitlyn Chen (5-6 Jr., 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg).

Outlook: The Mustangs must replace Cat Fiorito, last year’s leading scorer (15.3 ppg) and the school’s second all-time leading scorer who now plays at Wooster College in Ohio. “I know I have a team with a lot of energy,” Pfaff said. “We’re going to be really strong defensively. We’ll get some offense from our (pressure) defense. We’re going to play hard at the offensive and defensive ends.”

OLDHAM COUNTY

Coach: Chris Jefferson (first year)

Last season: 12-18, lost to Owen County 62-46 in first round of the Eighth Region Tournament.

Player to watch: Kylee Neurnberger, a 5-7 senior guard, averaged 13.2 points last season. “She can really get to the rim,” Jefferson said. “She can step out and hit a three-pointer. She really is a multiple-dimensional player for us.”

Other players: G/F Sophia Head (5-7 So., 9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg), G Alexis Head (5-7 So., 6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg), F Ali Korzeniowski (5-10 Sr., 4.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg), F Madison Clark (5-7 Fr., 6.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg), G Audrey Gast (5-4, Fr., 2.9 ppg, 0.7 rpg), F Lakynn Goldsmith (5-10 Fr., 1.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg), F Jordan Simpson (5-8 Jr., 1.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg).

Outlook: Jefferson is Oldham County’s third coach in four years and admitted he’s taking it day by day. “We’re trying to install a new system for this kids,” he said. “We’re approaching it on a day-by-day, a game-by-game basis. First of all, we want to have great teammates. We’ve got great kids with good character. We want to enjoy the process. I think the process will drive the results.”

SHELBY COUNTY

Coach: Jason Holland (third season)

Last season: 22-6, lost to Collins 43-39 in first round of the 30th District Tournament.

Player to watch: Zebhy Gray, a 5-6 guard, averaged just a shade under 10 points last year. “She’s got a college basketball body,” Holland said. “She has really improved her shot. She’s really good at getting to the rim. She’s got a bright future. If she was 5-9, she’d get Division I looks. She needs to have a big year for us. She’s a great on-the-ball defender.”

Other players: G Zoey Holland (5-7 So., 4.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg) F Jenna Jones (5-10, Jr., 3.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg), C Amy Conley (6-1 Jr., 7.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) F Alyssa Roberts (5-8 Jr., 3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg).

Outlook: The Rockets don’t a have a lot of size, so Holland said 6-foot-1 Amy Conley must stay on the floor. “She’s one of the top thee (post players) in our region,” he said. After a poor practice Monday, Holland said he stressed to his team they can’t have wasted days. “We have a team in our region (Simon Kenton) that could win the state championship,” he said. “Simon Kenton — they’re absolutely loaded. We can’t have wasted days.”

SOUTH OLDHAM

Coach: Gene Heffington (second year)

Last season: 7-20, lost to Oldham County 65-57 in the first round of the 29th District Tournament.

Player to watch: The Dragons are led by Sydney Herold, a 5-8 combo guard who averaged 10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds as a junior. “Her basketball IQ is outstanding,” Huffington said. “She understand the game so well and she’s very unselfish. She’s a great shooter.”

Other players: F Maggie Smith (5-9 Jr., 7.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg), F Lexi Bowden (5-9 Jr., 4.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), G Peyton Herold (5-7 Soph., 4.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg), F Abby Miles (5-10 Soph., 0.6 ppg, 0.5 rpg), G Skylar Sahatjian (5-5 Fr., 0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg).

Outlook: The Dragons only won seven games a year ago, but Heffington believes brighter days are on the horizon because of solid depth and better size. Heffington said the Dragons will try to push the ball and play up-tempo. “I think we’ll be really good in transition,” he said. “And, I think we’ll be solid defensively.” Despite playing in a tough district, Heffington said the goal is to advance to the Eighth Region Tournament. “I think we’ll be OK this year,” he said.

SPENCER COUNTY

Coach: Brandy Scott (third year)

Last season: 11-19, lost to Anderson County 58-25 in the first round of the 30th District Tournament.

Players to watch: The Bears return several solid players, including guards Alyssa Howie and Lauren Lambdin. Both were double-digit scorers a year ago. Howie is a 5-6 sophomore and one of four team captains. “She’s very aggressive at both the offensive and defensive ends,” Scott said. Scott said Lambdin can really get the ball to the right spots. “She sees the floor really well,” she said.

Other players: F Audrey Michels (5-8 Jr., 4.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg), C Chelsea Stevens (6-1 Jr., 9.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), F Abby Myers (5-9 Jr., 8.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg), G Angela Le (5-6, Sr., 0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg), F/C Haylee Cox (6-2 So., 4.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg).

Outlook: “I’m really excited,” Scott said. “We’re really meshing together. We have a great attitude.” During the off-season Scott said the team started cross-fit workouts and is in better physical condition. “They’re stronger,” she said. “We’re a lot quicker, and we’ll be fast.” One of Spencer County’s goals is to break a 15-year-plus winless streak against teams in the 30th District. “One of our goals is to be in the district championship game this year,” she said.

Based on poll of coaches

FIRST REGION

* Teams: 1. Graves County, 2. McCracken County, 3. Paducah Tilghman, 4. Marshall County, 5. Mayfield, 6. Murray, 7. Carlisle County, 8. Calloway County, 9. Ballard Memorial, 10. St. Mary.

* Players: 1. Chris Vogt (Graves County), 2. Preston English (Murray), 3. J.J. Reed (Paducah Tilghman), 4. Will Sivills (McCracken County), 5. Ryan Mathis (Graves County), 6. Nathan Stonecipher (McCracken County), 7. Davis Major (Fulton County), 8. Rodriguez Thomas (Paducah Tilghman), 9. Anton Lumson (Mayfield), 10. Carson Guthrie (Mayfield).

SECOND REGION

* Teams: 1. Christian County, 2. Hopkinsville, 3. University Heights, 4. Henderson County, 5. Madisonville-North Hopkins, 6. Caldwell County, 7. Webster County, 8. Hopkins County Central, 9. Union County, 10. Trigg County.

* Players: 1. Tray Hollowell (University Heights), 2. Kyky Tandy (University Heights), 3. Jaylen Sebree (Christian County), 4. Jalen Johnson (Hopkinsville), 5. Steven Cager (Hopkinsville), 6. Rob Dawson (Henderson County), 7. Detorrion Ware (Christian County), 8. C.J. Henagan (Hopkinsville), 9. Dylan Simpson (Dawson Springs), 10. De’Angelo Ware (Henderson County).

THIRD REGION

* Teams: 1. Owensboro Catholic, 2. Muhlenberg County, 3. Owensboro, 4. Apollo, 5. Meade County, 6. Daviess County, 7. Ohio County, 8. Hancock County, 9. Butler County, 10. McLean County.

* Players: 1. Jacoby Harris (Owensboro), 2. Luke Hayden (Owensboro Catholic), 3. Zach Hopewell (Apollo), 4. Noah McElwain (Muhlenberg County), 5. James Baker (Meade County), 6. Sam Miller (McLean County), 7. Brenden Lewis (Hancock County), 8. Connor Wilson (Ohio County), 9. Rex Henderson (Butler County), 10. Max Reid (Owensboro Catholic).

FOURTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Bowling Green, 2. Franklin-Simpson, 3. Warren Central, 4. Russellville, 5. Clinton County, 6. Greenwood, 7. South Warren, 8. Monroe County, 9. Warren East, 10. Barren County.

* Players: 1. Tavin Lovan (Franklin-Simpson), 2. Terry Taylor (Bowling Green), 3. Pedro Bradshaw (Russellville), 4. DeAngelo Wilson (Bowling Green), 5. Kyran Jones (Bowling Green), 6. Skyelar Potter (Warren Central), 7. Dawson Crump (Greenwood), 8. Jared Coomer (Barren County), 9. Billy Michael Dyer (Monroe County), 10. Trey Radcliffe (Franklin-Simpson).

FIFTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Bardstown, 2. North Hardin, 3. John Hardin, 4. Adair County, 5. Taylor County, 6. Central Hardin, 7. LaRue County, 8. Marion County, 9. Nelson County, 10. Elizabethtown.

* Players: 1. Tony Jackson (North Hardin), 2. Mickey Pearson (John Hardin), 3. Kel Stotts (Adair County), 4. Kel Livers (Bardstown), 5. Devonte Guillory (John Hardin), 6. Santrel Farmer (Bardstown), 7. Trace Young (North Hardin), 8. Chance Melton (Adair County), 9. Derek Goode (LaRue County), 10. Dylan Gaines (Taylor County).

SIXTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Fern Creek, 2. Doss, 3. Pleasure Ridge Park, 4. Bullitt East, 5. DeSales, 6. Butler, 7. Valley, 8. Moore, 9. North Bullitt, 10. Fairdale.

* Players: 1. Trey Hill (Pleasure Ridge Park), 2. Jaylon Hall (Doss), 3. Anthony Wales (Fern Creek), 4. Chance Moore (Fern Creek), 5. Jaxon Burgess (DeSales), 6. Eric George (Valley), 7. Ahmad Price (Fern Creek), 8. Curt Lewis (Valley), 9. Austin Wise (Butler), 10. Travis Dunnavan (North Bullitt).

SEVENTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Trinity, 2. Ballard, 3. St. Xavier, 4. Waggener, 5. Central, 6. Male, 7. Eastern, 8. Christian Academy, 9. Kentucky Country Day, 10. Manual.

* Players: 1. Jamil Wilson (Ballard), 2. Jacob King (Trinity), 3. Anthony Mathis (Kentucky Country Day), 4. David Johnson (Trinity), 5. x-De’Von Cooper (Waggener), 6. Clivonte Patterson (Ballard), 7. Parker Jones (Christian Academy), 8. Pierce Kiesler (St. Xavier), 9. Hogan Brownley (Male), 10. Jay Scrubb (Trinity).

x-currently ineligible after transfer from Henderson (Nevada) Findlay Prep

EIGHTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Anderson County, 2. South Oldham, 3. Oldham County, 4. North Oldham, 5. Simon Kenton, 6. Collins, 7. Shelby County, 8. Spencer County, 9. Williamstown, 10. Gallatin County.

* Players: 1. Cobe Penny (Anderson County), 2. Joe Griffin (South Oldham), 3. Brennan Stanley (Williamstown), 4. Jalen Henry (North Oldham), 5. Dominique Turner (Collins), 6. Ismail Jones (Oldham County), 7. Jacob Feltner (Collins), 8. J.C. Hawkins (Simon Kenton), 9. Jordan Armstrong (Shelby County), 10. Zack Hinkel (Henry County).

NINTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Covington Catholic, 2. Cooper, 3. Newport Central Catholic, 4. Dixie Heights, 5. Conner, 6. Holmes, 7. St. Henry, 8. Lloyd Memorial, 9. Beechwood, 10. Ryle.

* Players: 1. Sean McNeil (Cooper), 2. Cole VonHandorf (Covington Catholic), 3. C.J. Fredrick (Covington Catholic), 4. Brennan Hall (Newport Central Catholic), 5. Adam Kunkel (Cooper), 6. Spencer Hemmerich (Conner), 7. Luke Moeves (Newport Central Catholic), 8. Hunter Meyer (Dixie Heights), 9. Reed Bradfield (Dixie Heights), 10. Sterling Hamilton (Lloyd Memorial).

10^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Campbell County, 2. Scott, 3. Paris, 4. Montgomery County, 5. Mason County, 6. Pendleton County, 7. Bracken County, 8. Bourbon County, 9. Clark County, 10. Bishop Brossart.

* Players: 1. Jake Ohmer (Scott), 2. Austin Crawford (Bracken County), 3. Dontaie Allen (Pendleton County), 4. Cole Hegyi (Campbell County), 5. Ameryon Blackburn (Bourbon County), 6. Jekobi Wells (Paris), 7. Jerryd Jones (Montgomery County), 8. Garren Bertsch (Campbell County), 9. Isaiah Garrison (Mason County), 10. Marcus Ashford (Paris).

11^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Scott County, 2. Paul Dunbar, 3. Lexington Catholic, 4. Henry Clay, 5. Lexington Christian, 6. Madison Central, 7. Lafayette, 8. Madison Southern, 9. Bryan Station, 10. Franklin County.

* Players: 1. Taveion Hollingsworth (Paul Dunbar), 2. Luke Johnson (Lexington Catholic), 3. Michael Moreno (Scott County), 4. Kyle Rode (Lexington Christian), 5. Justin Mitchell (Henry Clay), 6. Jake Duby (Sayre), 7. Zan Payne (Lexington Catholic), 8. Diablo Stewart (Franklin County), 9. Isaiah Cozart (Madison Central), 10. Michael Jefferson (Madison Southern).

12^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Pulaski County, 2. Mercer County, 3. Rockcastle County, 4. West Jessamine, 5. Southwestern, 6. Somerset, 7. Lincoln County, 8. Boyle County, 9. Wayne County, 10. East Jessamine.

* Players: 1. Trevon Faulkner (Mercer County), 2. Stephen Fitzgerald (Pulaski County), 3. Lucas Gentry (Rockcastle County), 4. Noah Young (Lincoln County), 5. Landon Powell (Pulaski County), 6. Peyton Gover (Southwestern), 7. Joe Saterfield (Pulaski County), 8. Treyvon Sylvester (Pulaski County), 9. Bryce Slone (Boyle County), 10. Danny Butt (Pulaski County).

13^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Harlan County, 2. Corbin, 3. North Laurel, 4. South Laurel, 5. Knox Central, 6. Pineville, 7. Clay County, 8. Whitley County, 9. Bell County, 10. Barbourville.

* Players: 1. Andrew Taylor (Corbin), 2. Peyton Broughton (North Laurel), 3. Jared Grubb (South Laurel), 4. Cameron Carmical (Harlan County), 5. Treyce Spurlock (Harlan County), 6. Markelle Turner (Knox Central), 7. Wade Liford (Knox Central), 8. Jaylen Adams (Knox Central), 9. Cody Carnes (Pineville), 10. Corey Johnson (Whitley County).

14^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Perry County Central, 2. Knott County Central, 3. Cordia, 4. Letcher County Central, 5. Breathitt County, 6. Buckhorn, 7. Estill County, 8. Hazard, 9. Wolfe County, 10. Powell County.

* Players: 1. Torell Carter (Letcher County Central), 2. Damon Tobler (Perry County Central), 3. Austin Combs (Knott County Central), 4. Isaac Caudill (Knott County Central), 5. Oumar Keita (Cordia), 6. Noah Back (Perry County Central), 7. Jordan Barnett (Breathitt County), 8. Camron Turner (Jackson City), 9. Princewill Anosike (Perry County Central), 10. Caleb Bonny (Estill County0.

15^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Magoffin County, 2. Johnson Central, 3. Sheldon Clark, 4. East Ridge, 5. Pikeville, 6. Shelby Valley, 7. Lawrence County, 8. South Floyd, 9. Pike County Central, 10. Belfry.

* Players: 1. Trenton Russell (Magoffin County), 2. Wyatt Battaile (Pikeville), 3. Timmy Dalton (Lawrence County), 4. Dylan James (Sheldon Clark), 5. Mason Blair (Johnson Central), 6. Jaren Lovely (Magoffin County), 7. Christian Mounts (Phelps), 8. Cole Grace (Johnson Central), 9. J.R. Tackett (South Floyd), 10. Lamont Wright (Shelby Valley).

16^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Elliott County, 2. Boyd County, 3. West Carter, 4. Rowan County, 5. East Carter, 6. Greenup County, 7. Ashland Blazer, 8. Fleming County, 9. Russell, 10. Fairview.

* Players: 1. Chase Porter (Elliott County), 2. Korbin Spencer (Elliott County), 3. Hadyn Roe (West Carter), 4. Ben Jordan (West Carter), 5. Gage Hughes (Greenup County), 6. Michael Antrobus (Rowan County), 7. Hunter Kenser (Boyd County), 8. Cameron Sparks (East Carter), 9. Jake Mitchell (Bath County), 10. Zac Alexander (Fleming County).

Based on poll of coaches

FIRST REGION

* Teams: 1. Murray, 2. Marshall County, 3. Graves County, 4. McCracken County, 5. Calloway County, 6. Carlisle County, 7. Ballard Memorial, 8. Paducah Tilghman, 9. Fulton County, 10. Mayfield.

* Players: 1. Macey Turley (Murray), 2. Hannah Langhi (Marshall County), 3. Maddie Waldrop (Murray), 4. Danielle Waggoner (Graves County), 5. Lyndi Qualls (Graves County), 6. Lex Mayes (Murray), 7. Raychel Mathis (Graves County), 8. Miyah Davis (Marshall County), 9. Alexis Burpo (Murray), 10. Leah Shelley (Ballard Memorial).

SECOND REGION

* Teams: 1. Henderson County, 2. Webster County, 3. Hopkinsville, 4. Madisonville-North Hopkins, 5. Christian County, 6. Hopkins County Central, 7. Crittenden County, 8. Union County, 9. Lyon County, 10. Livingston Central.

* Players: 1. Janiya Davis (Hopkinsville), 2. Alisha Owens (Henderson County), 3. Kaylee Duncan (Webster County), 4. Aaliyah Hampton (Christian County), 5. Jordyn Hornbuckle (University Heights), 6. Cassidy Moss (Crittenden County), 7. Karlie Keeney (Webster County), 8. Molly Stone (Madisonville-North Hopkins), 9. Emma Lander (Henderson County), 10. Tabby Padon (Livingston Central).

THIRD REGION

* Teams: 1. Breckinridge County, 2. Grayson County, 3. Apollo, 4. McLean County, 5. Owensboro Catholic, 6. Daviess County, 7. Muhlenberg County, 8. Edmonson County, 9. Owensboro, 10. Hancock County.

* Players: 1. Grace White (Grayson County), 2. Lily Grimes (Breckinridge County), 3. Emma Johnson (Daviess County), 4. Bailee Harney (Muhlenberg County), 5. Sarah King (McLean County), 6. Caitlin Simon (Edmonson County), 7. Whitley Patterson (McLean County), 8. Ellie Mitchell (Owensboro Catholic), 9. Lexi Payne (Apollo), 10. Braelyn Rhodes (Apollo).

FOURTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Monroe County, 2. Bowling Green, 3. South Warren, 4. Russell County, 5. Allen County-Scottsville, 6. Greenwood, 7. Glasgow, 8. Metcalfe County, 9. Warren Central, 10. Barren County.

* Players: 1. MacKenzie Coleman (Metcalfe County), 2. Amaya Lasley (South Warren), 3. Elli Bartley (Glasgow), 4. Reagan Turner (Monroe County), 5. Kailey Coffey (Russell County), 6. Keely Morrow (Bowling Green), 7. Ashlee McGeorge (Monroe County), 8. Rose Mary Jackson (Greenwood), 9. Zakoria Hill (Warren Central), 10. Sarah Sutton (Allen County-Scottsville).

FIFTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Elizabethtown, 2. Green County, 3. John Hardin, 4. Nelson County, 5. Marion County, 6. Adair County, 7. Bardstown, 8. Thomas Nelson, 9. North Hardin, 10. LaRue County.

* Players: 1. Jada Stinson (Elizabethtown), 2. Haeli Howard (Marion County), 3. Shyla Calbert (Nelson County), 4. Rayven Peeples (John Hardin), 5. Mya Schrembs (Green County), 6. Whitney Perian (Green County), 7. Taylor Thomas (Elizabethtown), 8. Marly Walls (Nelson County), 9. Sydney Coleman (North Hardin), 10. Presley Brown (LaRue County).

SIXTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Butler, 2. Mercy, 3. Bullitt East, 4. Pleasure Ridge Park, 5. North Bullitt, 6. Holy Cross, 7. Fern Creek, 8. Fairdale, 9. Doss, 10 Jeffersontown.

* Players: 1. Jaelynn Penn (Butler), 2. Lindsey Duvall (Bullitt East), 3. Lauren Deel (North Bullitt), 4. Tasia Jeffries (Butler), 5. Elizabeth Anderson (Mercy), 6. Teri Goodlett (Butler), 7. Perri Mitchell (Pleasure Ridge Park), 8. Danielle Feldkamp (Mercy), 9. Josie Woods (Mercy), 10. Janna Lewis (Butler).

SEVENTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Sacred Heart, 2. Male, 3. Manual, 4. Eastern, 5. Christian Academy, 6. Assumption, 7. Central, 8. Presentation, 9. Kentucky Country Day, 10. Ballard.

* Players: 1. Grace Berger (Sacred Heart), 2. Jaela Johnson (Manual), 3. Tonysha Curry (Manual), 4. Ciaja Harbison (Male), 5. Emma Wesley (Christian Academy), 6. Shelby Calhoun (Christian Academy), 7. Emilia Sexton (Male), 8. Logan Calvert (Male), 9. Mikayla Kinnard (Eastern), 10. Natalie Collins (Eastern).

EIGHTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Simon Kenton, 2. Trimble County, 3. Anderson County, 4 Owen County, 5. Collins, 6. Shelby County, 7. Walton-Verona, 8. Spencer County, 9. South Oldham, 10. Williamstown.

* Players: 1. Ally Niece (Simon Kenton), 2. Kaylee Clifford (Trimble County), 3. Sammy Rogers (Anderson County), 4. Mikayla Kennedy (Williamstown), 5. Alex Clifton (Owen County), 6. Madi Meier (Simon Kenton), 7. Shelbe Black (Trimble County), 8. Alyssa Howie (Spencer County), 9. Kaylee Terrell (Gallatin County), 10. Shelby Harmeyer (Simon Kenton).

NINTH REGION

* Teams: 1. Holmes, 2. Conner, 3. Highlands, 4. Holy Cross, 5. Ryle, 6. Cooper, 7. Notre Dame, 8. Newport Central Catholic, 9. Dixie Heights, 10. St. Henry.

* Players: 1. Lexi Held (Cooper), 2. Ally Johnson (Beechwood), 3. Tyrah Englemon (Holmes), 4. Jenna Martin (Highlands), 5. Maddie Scherr (Ryle), 6. Zoie Barth (Highlands), 7. Brooke Davis (Dixie Heights), 8. Lauren Schwartz (Ryle), 9. Laila Johnson (Holmes), 10. Aleah Tucker (Holy Cross).

10^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Mason County, 2. Clark County, 3. Scott, 4. Campbell County, 5. Nicholas County, 6. Bourbon County, 7. Bracken County, 8. Bishop Brossart, 9. Montgomery County, 10. Harrison County.

* Players: 1. Whitney O’Mara (Mason County), 2. Anna Clephane (Scott), 3. Lexie Stapleton (Scott), 4. Kennedy Igo (Clark County), 5. Taylor Clos (Campbell County), 6. Maddie Boone (Mason County), 7. Jordan Frodge (Mason County), 8. Jasmine Flowers (Clark County), 9. Chariss Wilson (Bourbon County), 10. Mackenzie Schwarber (Campbell County).

11^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Franklin County, 2. Lafayette, 3. Scott County, 4. Bryan Station, 5. Paul Dunbar, 6. Henry Clay, 7. Woodford County, 8. Madison Central, 9. Madison Southern, 10. Lexington Catholic.

* Players: 1. Princess Stewart (Franklin County), 2. Kiara Pankins (Lafayette), 3. Peyton Riddle (Scott County), 4. Rebecca Cook (Franklin County), 5. Mashayla Cecil (Paul Dunbar), 6. Carah Burdette (Bryan Station), 7. Autumn Herriford (Paul Dunbar), 8. J’lyn Martin (Bryan Station), 9. Lindsey Johns (Madison Central), 10. Delaney Enlow (Woodford County).

12^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Mercer County, 2. Lincoln County, 3. Southwestern, 4. Danville, 5. Pulaski County, 6. Boyle County, 7. Rockcastle County, 8. Somerset, 9. Casey County, 10. East Jessamine.

* Players: 1. Seygan Robins (Mercer County), 2. Emma King (Lincoln County), 3. Emmie Harris (Boyle County), 4. Lyric Houston (Mercer County), 5. Lexy Lake (Mercer County), 6. Ivy Turner (Danville), 7. Makaila Wilson (Somerset), 8. Alyvia Walker (Danville), 9. Emma Souder (Mercer County), 10. Emma Davis (Mercer County).

13^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Harlan County, 2. Harlan, 3. South Laurel, 4. Clay County, 5. North Laurel, 6. Whitley County, 7. Corbin, 8. Pineville, 9. Bell County, 10. Lynn Camp.

* Players: 1. Blair Green (Harlan County), 2. Jordan Brock (Harlan), 3. Kaylea Gross (Harlan County), 4. Kaylee Mathis (Clay County), 5. Abby Estes (Whitley County), 6. Shelby Davis (South Laurel), 7. Jill Enix (Pineville), 8. Emma Bianchi (Harlan), 9. Madison Sheppard (North Laurel), 10. Ally Collett (South Laurel).

14^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Knott County Central, 2. Perry County Central, 3. Hazard, 4. Leslie County, 5. Breathitt County, 6. Letcher County Central, 7. Owsley County, 8. Jenkins, 9. Estill County, 10. Lee County.

* Players: 1. Macie Gibson (Owsley County), 2. Lindsey Proffitt (Perry County Central), 3. Jada Higgins (Knott County Central), 4. Kristen Waugh (Knott County Central), 5. Hayley Caudill (Hazard), 6. Emily Griffith (Leslie County), 7. LaLa Tonlagha (Jenkins), 8. Hannah Kash (Lee County), 9. Sydni Hall (Perry County Central), 10. Amy Brewer (Breathitt County).

15^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Shelby Valley, 2. Johnson Central, 3. Paintsville, 4. Magoffin County, 5. Pikeville, 6. Sheldon Clark, 7. East Ridge 8. Prestonsburg, 9. Pike County Central, 10. East Ridge.

* Players: 1. Ali May (Johnson Central), 2. Hope Lafferty (Magoffin County), 3. Presley Chirico (Paintsville), 4. Lauryn Salyer (Johnson Central), 5. Kayla Newsom (Shelby Valley), 6. Jana Jarvis (Prestonsburg), 7. Savanna Nunemaker (Pikeville), 8. Summer Rose (Shelby Valley), 9. Allie Ohair (Magoffin County), 10. Leslie Stewart (Pikeville).

16^TH REGION

* Teams: 1. Russell, 2. East Carter, 3. Boyd County, 4. Rowan County, 5. Ashland Blazer, 6. Fleming County, 7. Greenup County, 8. West Carter, 9. Fairview, 10. Lewis County.

* Players: 1. Mykasa Robinson (Ashland Blazer), 2. Kristen Mayo (East Carter), 3. Savannah Wheeler (Boyd County), 4. Maggie Jachimczuk (Russell), 5. Madison Darnell (Russell), 6. Haley Hall (East Carter), 7. Journey Steward (Fleming County), 8. Allyson Callahan (Rowan County), 9. Morgan Berry (Rowan County), 10. Tori Ishmael (Fleming County).

Here are the coaches’ rankings of the top boys basketball players in Kentucky. Every coach in the state was given a ballot. A total of 65 responded. First-place votes in parentheses.

* – Young played at Huntington (West Virginia) Prep last season and is ineligible at North Hardin until Dec. 22.

# – Moore played at Eastern High School last season and is eligible at Fern Creek.

@ – Cooper played at Henderson (Nevada) Findlay Prep last season and is currently ineligible at Waggener.

$ – Fitzgerald played at Southwestern High School last season and is eligible at Pulaski County.

BETH HAVEN

* Coach: Paul Frazier (first year).

* Last season: 18-10 (lost to Holy Cross 70-49 in district quarterfinal).

* Player to watch: As a sophomore, Austin Streble averaged 12.2 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last season. He also serves as the Bearcats best 3-point shooter, as he made 34.4. percent of his attempts (42 for 122) last season.

* Other players: F Cody Mikel (Sr., 10.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg), G Aaron Rice (Sr., 7.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg).

* Outlook: Frazier takes over a program that lost five of its top eight players from last season. The Bearcats will get production from their top three players, but they’ll also need to identify some players to step up in complementary roles.

FAIRDALE

* Coach: David Hicks (third year).

* Last season: 11-17 (lost to Pleasure Ridge Park 77-59 in district semifinal).

* Player to watch: Glenn Queen, who averaged 10 points a game, is the Bulldogs’ top returning scorer.

* Other players: F Seth Dewboys (Sr., 4.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg), G Markelo Sullivan (Jr., 2.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg), F/C Craig Ashe (Jr., 1.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg), F/C Treziaun Allen (Sr., 3.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

* Outlook: This will be a younger Bulldogs squad as their top three scorers from last season all graduated. However, Hicks said his younger players worked to become stronger in the offseason, and he hopes that will lead to improvements over the course of the season.

HOLY CROSS

* Coach: Mike Durham (11^th year).

* Last season: 12-20 (lost to Valley 79-63 in district semifinal).

* Player to watch: Senior guard Chase Phillips is one of the area’s top perimeter shooters. The guard led the Cougars last season with a 12.2 scoring average and hit 85 3-pointers.

* Other players: C Ethan Driskell (6-9, Jr., 6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), F Max Bearden (6-4. Sr., 6.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) F Ethan Short (6-4, Sr., 5.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg).

* Outlook: Durham said Driskell has worked on his coordination in the offseason, and the coach is hopeful that will bring the center’s offensive performance in line with his defensive abilities. Holy Cross, one of the smallest schools in the region, could boast one of the biggest frontcourts with Driskell, Bearden and Short.

PLEASURE RIDGE PARK

* Coach: Dale Mabrey (36^th year).

* Last season: 16-10 (lost to DeSales 69-66 in Sixth Region quarterfinal).

* Player to watch: Junior guard Trey Hill (6-4) averaged 8.5 points in just two games for the Panthers last season after transferring from Fern Creek. He’s among the top recruits in the city of Louisville.

* Other players: G Gerald Gray (6-2, Jr., 7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), G B.J. Robinson (6-3, Jr., 13.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg), F Darius Osborne (6-7, So., 0.3 ppg), F Logan Hudson (6-4, Jr., 1.0 ppg), G Cashawn “Noodle” Beasley (6-2, So., 1.5 ppg), G Malik Bunzy (5-10, Sr., 3.4 ppg).

* Outlook: Mabrey has a bevy of talented guards, which he believes make up one of the state’s best backcourts, and the Panthers return 10 players from last year’s squad. That includes Hall, a midseason transfer last year who played in just two games for PRP. While Mabrey believes the Panthers are ahead of where they were at this time last season, the inside game will need to step up. The likely candidates there are a pair of 6-7 players in Osborne and senior Micah Kinnebrew, who is coming back to basketball after a couple of years concentrating on football.

VALLEY

* Coach: DeJuan Wheat (first year).

* Last season: 21-12 (lost to Doss 63-57 in Sixth Region quarterfinal).

* Player to watch: Senior swingman Eric George led the Vikings with his 14.2 scoring average and was sharp from the perimeter as he connected on 67 of his 162 3-point shots (41.4 percent)

* Other players: G Damont Walter (Jr., 11.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg), G Cameron Wilson (So., 10.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg), G/F  Curt Lewis (Jr., 10.5 ppg, 6.3. rpg), F Devious Brooks (Sr. 6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg).

* Outlook: Wheat, the former Ballard High and University of Louisville star, inherits a team that returns all of its top players from the school’s most successful season in recent memory. The Vikings won a Louisville Invitational Tournament game last year and advanced to the regional tournament for the first time since 2010. In addition, the Vikings have just four seniors on the roster, so they could be contenders for the next couple years.

BUTLER

* Coach: K.C. Goodin (second year).

* Last season: 12-13 (lost to DeSales 65-57 in district semifinal).

* Player to watch: Despite being just 6-2, senior Austin Wise can play both guard and forward positions. He led the Bears with averages of 13 points and seven boards a game.

* Other players: G Jaquay Wells (5-11, Jr., 10 ppg, 6 apg, 5 rpg), G Marcus Montgomery (5-11, Sr., 9 ppg), G Kel’Shawn Mozee (6-0, Sr., 8 ppg).

* Outlook: The Bears doubled their number of wins last year from the 2014-15 campaign, and more improvement could be in store as Goodin’s team returns five of its top six players. The Bears won’t have much size, so Goodin expects his team to play more up-tempo basketball, and while other schools may get more of the limelight, Goodin thinks his team could become a contender as well.

DESALES

* Coach: Tom Crews (third year).

* Last season: 10-21 (lost to Bullitt East 57-51 in overtime in Sixth Region semifinal).

* Player to watch: Senior Jaxon Burgess (17.6 ppg) can be one of the most prolific scorers in the city when he’s on. Twice last season he scored 37 points in a game. More than half of his shots were 3-point attempts. However, Burgess made just 31.6 percent (85 of 269) from beyond the arc.

* Other players: G Austin Black (Sr., 12.7 ppg, 50.6 percent 3-point shooting), C Travis Seibert (Jr., 5.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg).

* Outlook: Despite losing 12 of 13 games midway through the season, Crews found the right combination late in the year, and the Colts were just a minute away from making their second straight regional final appearance. Black and Burgess are among the three seniors on the team, and despite the youth, Crews believes his team’s shooting ability and size will make it a contender this season.

DOSS

* Coach: Tony Williams (third year).

* Last season: 30-6 (lost to Paul Dunbar 61-52 in state final).

* Player to watch: Jaylon Hall has helped lead the Dragons to consecutive Sweet 16 appearances. As a starter last season, the 6-4 Hall averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds and will be looked upon as one of the leaders this season. Williams said the senior can play either of the guard or forward positions effectively.

* Other players: G Cameron Maddox (6-3, Sr., 9.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg), G Stephon Franklin (6-1, Jr. 5.8 ppg), F Cobi Stokes (Sr.), G/F Darrius Washington (6-5, 8^th).

* Outlook: The Dragons lost three starters from last season’s state runner-up squad, but considering that team needed to replace 10 players, you have to consider these Dragons as one of the favorites in the region. Washington could be a wild-card player for Williams. Despite Washington’s age, the coach likes his basketball smarts and may play him in varsity games to see how he reacts. Despite winning back-to-back regional titles, Williams has installed an “us-against-the-world” mentality in the Dragons that has developed toughness in the squad.

IROQUOIS

* Coach: Jeff Morrow (fifth year).

* Last season: 7-22 (lost to DeSales 76-60 in district first round).

* Player to watch: Keelan Kennedy is one of the few Raiders returning with varsity experience. The 6-3 junior averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 boards a game last season.

* Other players: G Tresaun Edwards (6-0, Jr., 2.6 ppg), G Rickey Holt (6-0, Jr. 3.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg).

* Outlook: Morrow’s team returns little experience from last year’s team. While the Raiders will have no one taller than 6-4 on the roster, they’ll also have just one senior.

WESTERN

* Coach: Terrence Moorman (fifth year).

* Last season: 12-11 (lost to Doss 71-51 in district quarterfinal).

* Player to watch: Dajour Cameron gives Moorman a highly athletic guard. He averaged 6.6 points a contest as a junior last season.

* Other players: F O’Neal Swint (6-5, Sr. 4.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg at Central last season), G Vitto Taylor (Sr., 1.8 ppg).

* Outlook: Moorman believes this team will be the most athletic squad he’s had in his five years with the Warriors. Cameron and Swint provide a smoothness that could lead to the Warriors racking up points. Swint is a capable passer and has the ability to score. Waiting in the wings are a trio of sophomores with bright futures, Moorman said.

BULLITT CENTRAL

* Coach: Jessie Curry (first year).

* Last season: 9-18 (lost to North Bullitt 63-16 in district semifinal).

* Player to watch: The Cougars’ top returning player is 6-4 senior Danny Goldsmith. The center shot nearly 56 percent from the field last season.

* Other player: G Jax Lester (Sr., 0.8 ppg).

* Outlook: The graduations of Chase Craddock and Cameron Dukes means Curry must find a way to replace nearly 40 points of scoring a night. Lester and Goldsmith are the only seniors on the squad, which Curry said is loaded primarily with freshmen and sophomores.

EVANGEL CHRISTIAN

* Coach: Joe Washington, (seventh year).

* Last season: 13-13 (lost to Bullitt Central 73-62 in district first round).

* Player to watch: With the graduation of the Eagles’ top four scorers, shooting guard Billy Klinglesmith will be the primary threat this year, Washington said. After averaging 4.5 points a game as a junior last season, the 6-1 guard has been working on his shooting, the coach said.

* Other players: F Caleb Payne (6-3, Sr., 2.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg), G Malik Shabazz (6-2, Jr., transfer from Moore).

* Outlook: After consecutive .500 seasons, Washington must replace five seniors and will have a younger roster – more than half of the players are either freshmen or sophomores. However, he believes Klinglesmith and Payne will provide leadership to a team that will be smaller but quicker this season.

MOORE

* Coach: Roy Sutton (second year).

* Last season: 10-18 (lost to Fern Creek 64-52 in Sixth Region quarterfinal).

* Player to watch: Center J.J. Weaver is attracting interest from Division I colleges, including Louisville, for his football abilities, but the 6-7 sophomore will be a big contributor for the Mustangs. As a freshman, he was third in scoring (8.0) and second in rebounds (6.0).

* Other players: F Ramon Collins (6-6, Sr., 11.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg), G Shamar Overstreet (6-2, Sr., 2.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg).

* Outlook: Sutton lost seven seniors from last season’s squad, but he loves that this team is coachable and hard working. He plans to use Collins, the team’s top returning scorer and rebounder, off the bench this season, and he expects more scoring from Overstreet, who came over from Fern Creek (where Sutton previously served as an assistant) in the middle of last season.

NORTH BULLITT

* Coach: Korey Craddock (third year).

* Last season: 23-7 (lost to Bullitt East 72-55 in Sixth Region quarterfinal).

* Player to watch: Senior guard Travis Dunnavan is the top returning scorer for the Eagles. In averaging 13.8 points a game last season, Dunnavan shot better than 60 percent from the field and nearly 55 percent (40 of 73) from beyond the 3-point arc.

* Other players: F Brendan Holt (Sr., 5.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg), F Dylan Ing (Sr., 1.8 ppg), G Lance Johnson (Jr., 0.6 ppg).

* Outlook: After completing the school’s best season ever, the Eagles will need to find replacements for their two top scorers (Ryan Henson and Jared Free). Dunnavan was the team’s No. 3 scorer last season, and Craddock said the guard has the ability to score 25 points a game. Craddock hopes his starters, some of whom had only limited varsity experience last season, can step into starting roles. Having worked their near the top, Craddock said his Eagles are hoping they can stay there for a while.

SOUTHERN

* Coach: Shedrick Jones (fifth year).

* Last season: 15-12 (lost to Moore 72-64 in district semifinal).

* Player to watch: Center Kendall Jones was one of the Trojans top scorers last season, and the 6-5 senior will be called on to be the primary scoring threat this season. He scored 20 points in Southern’s 62-53 victory over Elizabethtown last season.

* Other players: G Charles Wilson (6-2, Jr.), G Dan Black (6-2, Sr.), F Matthew Jones (6-2, Jr.).

* Outlook: After posting their first winning season in five years, the Trojans don’t return a lot of experience or size. However, Jones expects his team to be quick and play at an up-tempo style, rotating at least 10 kids through games. It could be a rough start for Southern as the schedule keeps it from playing at home until January. “We’ll see who we are early,” Jones said.

BULLITT EAST

* Coach: Jason Couch (first year).

* Last season: 27-6 (lost to Doss 58-54 in Sixth Region final).

* Player to watch: With the Chargers looking to replace all five starters from last season, senior guard Jared Osborne will be called on to be a leader. As a reserve, he averaged 2.1 points last season.

* Other players: G/F Connor Green (6-3, Sr., 3.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg), G/F Konnor Polson (6-5, Sr., 5.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

* Outlook: It’s a new start in Mount Washington as Couch takes over for Bob Blackburn, but optimism abounds. While the seniors are relatively untested, they did go up in practice against one of the top teams in the region last season. Couch believes the talent is there to contend, but it may take some time to develop as players get used to new roles.

FERN CREEK

* Coach: James Schooler (fifth year).

* Last season: 19-13 (lost to Doss 57-44 in Sixth Region semifinal).

* Player to watch: While Fern Creek returns several players from last season, the addition of 6-6 senior Chance Moore may just put the Tigers over the top. Schooler calls the forward, who averaged 13.2 points a game for Eastern last season, a Mr. Basketball contender if he can improve on his defense.

* Other players: G Anthony Wales (6-0, Jr., 12.0 ppg, 2 rpg), G Ahmad Price (10.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg), F Daquan Jones (6-6, Sr., 4.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), G Tony Rogers (6-3, Jr. 4.0 ppg, 3.0 ppg).

* Outlook: The Tigers have one of the top trios in the area with Wales, Price and Moore. Schooler said he liked the way his kids developed over the summer. After some youthful inconsistency last season, when the Tigers lost close games to several of the area’s top teams, Fern Creek put together a run at the end to win its first district title in nine years. Now, the Tigers’ eyes focus on a regional crown.

JEFFERSONTOWN

* Coach: Miquel Coleman (second year).

* Last season: 11-18 (lost to Fern Creek 60-40 in district semifinal).

* Player to watch: Delvonte McCloud is one of two starters returning for the Chargers. The 6-6 senior forward showed flashes last season, including a 22-point, eight-rebound game against Butler on Feb. 16. McCloud hit 6 of 12 3-point tries in the 57-55 victory.

* Other players: G Jalen Davis (Jr.), G Dakota White (Sr.).

* Outlook: The Chargers lost their two leading scorers from last season and return just two starters in McCloud and Davis. Coleman said he plans to use sophomores to fill the holes in the lineup, along with White, who played a key role off the bench last season.

WHITEFIELD ACADEMY

* Coach: Chris Vaughn (first year).

* Last season: 2-28 (lost to Bullitt East 92-33 in district semifinal).

* Player to watch: Junior Tyler Nauert is the team’s top returning scorer from last season. The guard averaged 7.2 points a game and was the Wildcats’ primary 3-point shooter (37 of 123).

* Other player: F Connor Emmitt (Jr., 5.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

* Outlook: The Wildcats will look to improve after having to dip into the middle school to fill some varsity roster spots. Vaughn also will have a couple seniors rejoining the team after a year off to help Nauert and Emmitt provide some leadership.

Typically when preseason rankings come out, coaches will try to talk down their teams’ ranking, especially when they’re picked to win.

That’s not the case in Kentucky’s Sixth Region boys race. Not only has Fern Creek accepted its role as regional favorite, but the school right behind them, last season’s state runner-up Doss, has taken the coaches’ selection as a slight.

“To say we’re not in the top five in the state right now is disrespectful in itself,” said Doss coach Tony Williams earlier this month at The Courier-Journal’s High School Basketball Media Day.

Any time Williams sees the media promoting another school or player over his own, he said he lets his two-time defending regional champs know. Jokingly, Williams said he’d have preferred if his Dragons were picked in the middle of the pack, as they were last season.

21ST DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Beth Haven, Fairdale, Holy Cross, PRP, Valley

“We use that as our fuel throughout the season,” said Williams, a former University of Louisville star now entering his third year at his alma mater.

The Dragons graduated three starters from last season, but they have a strong core coming back, led by seniors Jaylon Hall and Cam Maddox. In addition, Williams has an eighth-grader, 6-5 swingman Darrius Washington, who may get some time at the varsity level this season, too.

Meanwhile, Fern Creek returns a couple of starters in junior guards Anthony Wales and Ahmad Price, but the Tigers also get a boost thanks to Eastern transfer Chance Moore coming over for his senior season.

STATE RANKINGS | See where Fern Creek, Doss, PRP, Bullitt East landed in coaches’ Top 25

Last season. Fern Creek started out the season as one of the region’s favorites as well. However, after winning their first five games of the season, the Tigers struggled to be consistent through the rest of the regular season. They lost one key player, Trey Hill, who transferred to PRP last December, and then Wales suffered a sports hernia, which sidelined him toward the end of the regular season.

However, the Tigers recovered once the postseason began and knocked off Bullitt East to win their first district title in nine years. Fern Creek lost just one senior from that team, which fell to Doss in a regional semifinal, and returns six of its top eight scorers as well.

22ND DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Butler, DeSales, Doss, Iroquois, Western

“I think Fern Creek returns the most experience,” said Pleasure Ridge Park coach Dale Mabrey. “After Fern Creek, I think it’s all a wide-open shooting match right now.”

Fern Creek coach James Schooler said in the last couple years his young team did not have the toughness needed to be competitive, but that should not be an issue any more.

“They’ve been down a long, hard road,” he said. “Now it’s our time to come out and compete. We’re not scared to say it. We’re coming for the Sixth Region title. No disrespect to any other program and what they do, but we worked on some of the toughness issues and our chemistry is getting better.”

The two schools will get a chance to see who is better in the first week of the season as Doss will host the Tigers on Dec. 2.

23RD DISTRICT PREVIEWS | Bullitt Central, Evangel Christian, Moore, North Bullitt, Southern

Beyond Fern Creek and Doss, there are several teams just behind them that could provide an obstacle to either squad making it to Lexington and the Sweet 16 come March.

Mabrey’s Panthers return 10 players from last season, including leading scorer B.J. Robinson. The backcourt of Robinson, Hill and Gerald Gray should be one of the best in the state, Mabrey said. While PRP has some height, the frontcourt is not quite as far along as the perimeter players, he said.

DeSales and Butler both return several experienced players to make the 22^st District more competitive this season. The Colts are likely to be led by senior guard Jaxon Burgess, who scored at least 33 points in four games last season, and Butler returns five of its top six scorers from last season. However, with Doss in the district, it likely means only one of the schools will have a chance to advance to the regional tournament.

24TH DISTRICT | Bullitt East, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, Whitefield Academy

There also are some new but not unfamiliar faces who will be working the sidelines in the region this season. At Valley, former University of Louisville and Ballard star DeJuan Wheat begins a new career as a high school coach. He takes over a Vikings program that returns its top seven scorers from the team that made its first regional appearance since 2010.

At Bullitt East, Jason Couch takes over for Bob Blackburn. Couch, who won two Seventh Region titles at Eastern before moving to Shelby County, takes over a Chargers program that lost all five starters from last season’s regional runner-up squad, but he believes there is talent there that can step up and be competitive come March.