PIKEVILLE, KY. — The 15th Region Basketball Tournament will kickoff on Monday at the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville and both LCHS Boys and Girls as well as the district champ cheerleading squad will be part of the show.
Lawrence Co. ( 27-5 ) the champs of the 58th District for the fourth time in a row will play Paintsville ( 19-11 ) the runners up of the 58th District on Tuesday at 8:00 in the last game of the first round.
Senior Kensley Feltner is ready to lead the Bulldogs in her last 15th Region Tournament.
The Dawgs, who came up one game short of Rupp arena last year, are led by Ky. Miss Basketball candidate and 4,000 point scorer senior Kensley Feltner who is leading the state in scoring at 29.6 points per game.
Sophomore Sophie Adkins is scoring 12.4 points per contest, Junior Kaison Ward 8.0 points per game, Junior Leandra Curnutte 6.0 per game, Junior Abby Nelson 4.0 per contest. Senior Emmalee Holt, Sophomore Abby Maynard and 7th Grader Jada Patton provide good minutes off the bench for 15th region coach of the year Melinda Feltner.
The Tigers are led by Kylie Kinner with 16.9 points per game, Junior Emilea Preece right behind scoring 16.0 per game.
The teams met in Paintsville on February 14th with Lawrence Co. winning 85-61 in the only meeting of the season.
In the first game of the tournament on Monday at 6:30 it will be champions of the 57th District Martin Co. ( 25-5 ) versus runners up of the 58th District Floyd Central ( 19-10 ).
In the second game Monday night at 8:00 it will be reigning 15th region champion Pikeville ( 26-5 ), who won the 59th District, versus 60th District runner up Belfry ( 17-13 ).
In the first game Tuesday at 6:30 it will be 60th District champion Pike Co. Central ( 15-14 ) versus Shelby Valley ( 9-20 ) who finished runner up in the 59th District.
On the Boys side the tournament will get going on Wednesday at 6:30pm when the champions of the 58th District the Lawrence Co. Bulldogs ( 18-14 ) face the Belfry Pirates ( 9-23 ) who finished runner up in the 60th District.
Senior Kaden Gillispie who suffered a season ending injury in football right before the playoffs is ready to lead the Dawgs in the 15th Region tournament.
The Bulldogs are led in scoring by Junior Andrew Bloomfield who knocks in 17.6 points per contest, 8th Grader Hayden Perry averages 12.1 points per game, senior Will Lafferty adds 10.1 points per contest, junior Blake Marcum 8.9 points per game, junior Logan Ratliff 7.4 per game, Kaden Gillispie 7.3 per game, and junior Ford Scaggs provide depth off the bench for Head Coach Chandler Shepherd.
Belfry is led by seniors Jonathan Banks at 16.9 points per game and Cody Erwin at 10.4 points per contest.
The two teams met on January 3rd in Louisa with Lawrence Co. winning 72-61 in the Class 2A section tournament in the only meeting of the year.
In the second game on Wednesday night at 8:00 it will be the Martin Co. Cardinals ( 21-10 ) who won the 57th District versus the runner up out of the 59th District Shelby Valley ( 18-9 ).
The Cards are led by Junior Luke Hale with 20.9 points per game, Junior Brayden McKenzie at 14.9 points per contest, Junior Dray Duff at 8.5 per game, Junior Jacob Sturgell 8.3 points per game, Sophomore Peyton Davis 7.4 and lone senior Matthew Linville at 5.3 per contest.
On Thursday it will be defending champion Pikeville ( 20-7 ) who won the 59th District versus 57th runner up Paintsville ( 14-16 ) at 6:30.
In the last game of the first round it will be 60th champ Pike Co. Central ( 20-8 ) versus 58th runner up Betsy Layne ( 19-10 ) at 8:00.
