Last year at this time Scott County was coming off a 34-2 season and the defending state champions. However the Cardinals had a brutal schedule and 6-4 Sr. Bud Mackey was unable to play due to off court problems and the Cardinals finished with a 20-12 record.  Scott County also graduated severa talented seniors from last year's team.

Coach Billy Hicks has some excellent talent returning and the roster was bolstered by some high profile transfers over the summer.  Chad Jackson, Dakotah Euton, and Robbie Barber transferred from Rose Hill and Austin Flannery transferred from Boone County.  6-5 So. Tanner Shotwell transferred back to Scott County from Lexington Christian Academy but may be inelgible this season.

6-7 Sr. Richie Phares scores well in the paint and can step out to nail the jump shot.  6-2 Jr. Ge-Lawn Guyn excels in the open court and can score in a variety of ways.  6-2 Sr. Aaron Ford is a solid guard who will earn a lot of minutes.  6-8 Jr. Dakotah Euton will not be outworked, rebounds well, and has three point range on his shot.  6-4 Jr. Chad Jackson is athletic, hard to defend off the dribble and is a lock-down defender.  6-3 Fr. Tamron Manning is one of the top freshmen in the state and logged quality varsity minutes last season.

Opponents don't get much of a break when Coach Hicks goes to the bench.  6-2 Jr. Austin Flannery is a deadly outside marksman and 6-2 Fr. Isaiah Ivey could be another special player down the road.  Other players expected to contribute include 6-2 Sr. Ryan Walker, 6-0 Jr. Hayden Willoughby, 6-0 Fr. Avery Ford, 6-3 So. Robbie Barber, and 6-6 Jr. Will Schu.  Scott County will also have receive the services of promising 5-11 Fr. point guard Josh Walls who has starred  on the gridiron this fall.

The 11th region is brutal and the Cardinals will have some worthy contenders in Paul Dunbar, Franklin County, Bryan Station, and Lexington Catholic.  However Scott County is talented, deep, have the advantage of an excellent tradition and facilities, a loyal fan base, and an experienced coach who knows how to win. Scott County received a lot of publicity because of the number of transfers, plus nobody loves the favorite and unfortunately will be expected by many fans to win every game by 20+ points.

While this team has a giant target on their back it will take a great effort to beat them on the court and they will be battle-tested for the 11th region wars because of a very tough schedule.

Lexington Christian will hold 2^nd Annual Lexington Christian Basketball Classic January 2^nd and 3^rd, 2009.

Lexington Christian Academy will host a two day Basketball Classic on Jan. 3^rd and 4^th, 2009.  This event will feature many Division I recruits and commitments.

2009 Lexington Christian Basketball Classic Participants

Lexington Christian (Boys)

Lexington Christian (Girls)

Findlay Prep, Henderson NV

New Creations Christian School, Richmond IN

Mount Zion Christian School, NC

Montgomery County High School

Scott County High School

Bearden High School, TN (Girls)

North Canton High School, OH (Girls)

The following are some of the players that will be featured at this event:

Lexington Christian (Girls)

• Anna Martin- signed with DePaul University
• Courtney Clifton- signed with Western Kentucky University
• Sara-Beth Barnette- committed to Kentucky

Lexington Christian (Boys)

• Will Evans- recruited by Air Force
• Grant Sparks- recruited by Kentucky Christian College

Findlay Prep

• Avery Bradley- signed with University of Texas
• DJ Richardson- signed with University of Illinois
• Carlos Lopez- signed with UNLV

Mount Zion Christian Academy

• Karron Johnson-signed with Oklahoma State
• Curtis Loving- recruited by St. Johns, Temple, St. Joes
• Christopher Coleman- recruited by W. Virginia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Pittsburg
• Bawa Muniru- recruited by Indiana, Oklahoma State

Scott County High School

• Dakota Euton- committed to Kentucky
• Richie Phares- recruited by Xavier, Cincinnati, Western Kentucky
• Chad Jackson- recruited by Kentucky, Louisville, Xavier
• Ge-lawn Guyn- recruited by Louisville, Xavier, Cincinnati

Bearden High School, TN

• Mary Hirst- recruited by Western Carolina, Belmont, Furman, Davidson

North Canton Hover High School, OH

• Jessica Carpenter- committed to Baldwin College

For more information regarding this event please contact Brad Carter @ 422-5781 or bcarter@lexingtonchristian.org.   

SWEET 16 CONTENDERS AND A FUTURE WILDCAT HIGHLIGHT THIS YEAR'S KENTUCKY BANK SHOOTOUT!!! 

            You might just see the next boys' state basketball champion in action at this year's Kentucky Bank shootout.

            Defending state champion Mason County, the team picked to dethrone the Royals in the 10th Region (Clark County), 16th Region power Elliott County and Franklin County, a leading contender in the powerful 11th Region, are part of the field for the 6th annual Kentucky Bank Shootout.

            Among the individual standouts in the field is Vinnie Zollo, the Clark County sophomore who has already committed to play for Billy Gillispie at the University of Kentucky.  Twin brothers Ethan and Evan Faulkner lead an Elliott County team that also features rising sophomore prospect Timmy Knipp.  There's Louisville Doss' Cameron Clemons, rated by one service as the top senior in the Sixth Region, and Mason County's Russ Middleton, who has already committed to play for NAIA powerhouse Georgetown College.

            The shootout is slated for December 19 and 20 at Bourbon County High School in Paris, KY and features eight games over the two days.  Here's the lineup:

FRIDAY

6:00 p.m.       Paris girls v. Anderson County

7:30 p.m.       Bourbon County girls v. Bracken County

9:00 p.m.       Bourbon County boys v. Madison Southern

SATURDAY

12    noon       Paris boys v. Nicholas County

1:45 p.m.        Owen County v. Letcher County

3:30 p.m.        Franklin County v. Mason County

6:00 p.m.        Clark County v. Louisville Doss

7:45 p.m.        Elliott County v. Charleston, WV

For more information:   www.kybank.com

Friday November 14th

5:00  Sayre vs. St. Henry

6:05  Randall K. Cooper vs. Williamstown

7:10  Berea vs. Whitefield Academy

8:15  Assumption vs. Dunbar

9:20  Scott County vs. Sacred Heart

Saturday November 15th

8:30   Conner vs. Bryan Station

10:15  Holmes vs. Carroll County

11:20  Beechwood vs. Owen County

12:25  South Laurel vs. Holy Cross

1:30    Casey County vs. Louisville Eastern

2:35    Whitley County vs. Louisville Butler

3:40     Hart County vs. Pike County Central

4:45     Clay County vs. Nelson County

5:50     Southwestern vs Ironton OH

7:00     Knox Central vs. Shelby County

8:05     Fern Creek vs. Harrison County

9:15     Madison Central vs. Simon Kenton

Thirty-two teams answered the invitation to play in the middle school tournament at the Kentucky Basketball Academy in Lexington November 8th and 9th.  The championship game will be played November 28th at 1:30 PM at Rupp Arena.

The teams were : Beaumont, Anderson County, EJ Hayes, Meyzeek, Crawford, Lincoln County, Jessie Clark, Frankfort, Larue County, Martin County, Lebanon, AB Combs, Trigg County, Wayne County, Whitaker, Bernheim, Crosby, Middlesboro, Bryan Station, McNabb, Lexington Southern, Somerset Southern, Dorton, Whitley County, Bracken County, Verity, Clay County, McCreary County, Hindman, Ballard County, Elkhorn, and Elkhorn City.

Eight teams advanced to the quarterfinals on Sunday November 9th.  Lincoln County defeated Anderson County 30-24, Lebanon defeated Wayne County 44-30, Clay County defeated Hindman 35-32, and Crosby defeated Whitley County 46-42.  Lebanon defeated Lincoln County 44-38 in one semifinal and Crosby defeated Clay County 50-41 in the other semifinal game.

The championship game will pit Lebanon led by Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers against Crosby led by China Dow. Epps is the daughter of ex-UK star Anthony Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers is the daughter of ex-UL star Tic Rogers. Epps and Goodin led Lebanon in their semifinal victory with 19 and 14 points respectively while China Dow led Crosby in their semifinal victory with 25 points.

Some of the players scheduled to appear at The 7th Annual High Potential Hooparama Showcase on November 22nd at the Basketball Academy in Louisville KY are: Samantha Drake (Nelson County), Adia Mathies (Iroquois), Antonita Slaughter (CAL), Avery Jones (Manual), Tiarra Hopper (Butler), Asia Mathies (Iroquois), Rachel Greenwell (Owensboro Catholic), Kayla Thacker (Bullitt East), Katie Allen (Highlands), and Therese Montano (Mercy).

Other top players scheduled to appear include Shontel Bates (Butler), Victoria Brown (Iroquois), Clair Buchanan (CAL), Morgan Clemons (Sacred Heart), Hannah Gerteisen (Owensboro Catholic), Beth Gillis (Nelson County), Madison Hardy (Mercy), Kayla Hickman (Iroquois), Lindsey Highbaugh (Hart County), Emily Hinkson (Paris), Autumn Miller (Sacred Heart), Jessica Philpot (Bullitt East), Chelsey Smith (Bullitt East), and Bekah Towles (Highland).

The 7th Annual High Potential Hooparama Showcase will be held at the Basketball Academy in Louisville KY on November 22, 2008.  This is an excellent pre-season event with several excellent teams and players scheduled to appear.

10:00 AM  Bullitt East vs. Paris (JV-court 1)

10:00 AM  Iroquois vs. Highlands (JV-court 2)

10:30 AM  Bullitt East vs. Highlands (JV-court 1)

10:30 AM  Iroquois vs. Paris (JV-court 2)

11:00 AM  Bullitt East vs. Paris (Varsity-court 1)

11:00 AM  Iroquois vs. Highlands (Varsity-court 2)

Noon        Bullitt East vs. Highlands (Varsity-court 1)

Noon        Iroquois vs. Paris (Varsity-court 2)

Noon        Louisville CAL vs. Owensboro Catholic (JV-court 3)

1:00  PM  Louisville CAL vs. Owensboro Catholic (Varsity-court 1)

2:00  PM  Manual vs. Hart County (JV-court 2)

3:00  PM  Manual vs Hart County (Varsity-court 1) 

4:00  PM  Butler vs. Sacred Heart (JV-court 2)

5:00  PM  Butler vs. Sacred Heart (Varsity-Court 1)

6:00  PM  Louisville Mercy  vs. Nelson County (JV-court 2)

7:00  PM  Louisville Mercy vs. Nelson County (Varsity-court1) 

Kendall Noble is a 5-10 guard that has helped lead Breathitt County to the girls state basketball tournament at Bowling Green the last two years.  She averaged 11.3 ppg and 9.9rpg last year.  Kendall led the team in steals and assists, was second in rebounds and blocked shots and third on the team in scoring.  She has excellent court awareness and did I mention she will actually start high school this year.  Yes, that is correct all her acoomplishments so far have been in the 7th and 8th grade.

Noble shot 53% from the floor last year and just seems to genuinely enjoy the game.  I first saw her play at the KBA in Lexington a few years ago in an AAU game playing on a boys' team.  She led the team in scoring that day also.  How good can Noble be down the road?  Who knows but judging from her beginning she could be very special.  I have also been impressed with her team first attitude.  Her success to me has never been measured in just scoring or any one stat but the complete stat line at the end of the game and in team success.

When discussions turn to the Miss Basketball race for 2009 several names are mentioned  including Adia Mathies, Ashley Rainey, Alyse Poindexter, and Avery Jones.

Adia Mathies 5-9 Iroquois Mathies has started on the varsity since the 6th grade and is a very versatile performer.  Mathies averaged 17ppg and 11.1rpg last season.  She can score inside and has excellent range on her jump shot.  She is an excellent ballhandler and is extremely difficult to defend.

Ashley Rainey 6-3 Warren East averaged 27.5ppg and 11rpg last season.  Rainey is a deadly scorer in the paint.  Her strength and quickness also makes her an excellent rebounder.

Alyse Poindexter 6-1 Henderson County Poindexter averaged 16.3ppg and 10.3 rpg last season.  Poindexter powers the ball to the basket from down on the blocks, rebounds well, and is a good shot blocker.

Avery Jones 6-1 duPont Manual Jones averaged 13.3 ppg and 8.4 rpg last season but had to share the spotlight with graduated star Brittany Wilson.  Jones scores well inside but can step out and hit the mid-range jump shot.  She is also a good rebounder and can defend.

A lot goes into winning this honor such as individual performance, team success, exposure, and publicity.  There are also several other seniors in the state that are worthy of consideration for this honor.

When discussions turn to the race for Mr. Basketball this season Jon Hood's name is always mentioned as one of the leading contenders.  However there are other worthy contenders including Richie Phares, Jacob Jenkins, Vee Sanford, and C.J. Penny.

Jon Hood 6-7 Madisonville North Hopkins  Hood has committed to play at the University of Kentucky.  He has the ability to score from mid-range as well as having tremendous range on his jump shot.  Hood is a versatile performer with a good work ethic.

Richie Phares 6-7 Scott County  Phares is a versatile frontcourt performer with the ability to score inside as well as step out and hit the jumper.  He plays for one of the top programs in the state and will be difficult to double-team because of the overall talent on the team.

Jacob Jenkins 6-3 duPont Manual  Jenkins has the ability to fill it up from beyond the arc.  He also has the ability to score off the dribble.

Vee Sanford 6-3 Lexington Catholic  Sanford has an excellent overall game and is a defensive stopper.  He is a good shooter during crunch time and will put up big numbers this season with the graduation of an experienced group of scorers.

C.J. Penny 6-5 Anderson County  Penny is an athletic performer with good quickness.  Penny is a smart player who scores well inside and has an improving jump shot.

A lot of factors go into this award ranging from publicity, exposure, and individual and team success.  There are several other seniors in the state worthy of consideration for this award.