Louisa, Ky. — Going into his fifth season Lawrence Co. Boys Basketball Head Coach Chandler Thompson says this team is as competitive as any team he has been around.
2023-24 Bulldogs
L to R front Ashton West, Braxton Davis, Blake Marcum, Andrew Bloomfield, Ford Scaggs, Logan Ratliff, Andrew Ratcliffe, Isiah Hughes
L to R back Keaden Ellis, Kasen Staniford, Kaden Muncy, Owen Pack, Hayden Perry, Weston Vanhorn, Colton New, Wyatt Branham, Kaden Johnson, Luke Fetherolf
The Dawgs Went 19-15 last year and won the 58th District tournament over Betsy Layne 70-56 on its home court, beat Belfry 65-45 in the first round of the 15th Region Tournament before losing to eventual region champion Martin Co. in overtime in the semifinals.
2023-24 Bulldog Seniors
Andrew Bloomfield, Logan Ratliff, Ford Scaggs, Blake Marcum
The Bulldogs return senior Andrew Bloomfield who was the teams leading scorer at 17 points per contest, freshman Hayden Perry burst onto the scene and averaged 11 points , seniors Blake Marcum and Logan Ratliff averaged 9 and 7 points per game respectively, senior Ford Scaggs and sophomore Braxton Davis should play a bigger role this year, sophomore Luke Fetherolf and freshman Kaden Johnson who is injured could also be a factor off the bench.
The schedule is once again very challenging with the 58th District being the most competitive in the 15th region, out of state trips to West Virginia to face the up and coming Huntington St. Joe and Wayne Pioneers, venturing into Ohio to play Portsmouth and Coal Grove, they will play on the Carolina invitational in South Carolina after Christmas, the Class 2A section tournament at Pike Co. Central. And will also face off with Ashland, Russell, Johnson Central and Paintsville.
2023-24 Bulldog Juniors
Kasen Staniford, Keaden Ellis, Wyatt Branham
The Dawgs will play Butler Co. in the Zip Zone Classic at Martin Co. on Saturday in their final Pre Season game before opening up the regular season at home next Tuesday versus West Carter.
Lawrence Co. Head Coach Chandler Thompson
COACH’S COMMENTS…
“… Five years man, honestly, time flies but I’m really blessed to be in this position and to be with these guys every day. One thing that sticks out to me is the leadership that we have on this team. The other thing is how competitive they are with each other. This is a very competitive group and I think coaches say that about every team but this team is different they really enjoy competing with each other no matter what they are doing. Making each other better every day and having that will and desire to compete everyday. And I think that can help us win games this year.”
“… These guys have been around for awhile and they know what this program is about and they know what to expect everyday and just to carry that forward and lead by example is something that they should be proud of. All four of our seniors come in and work and compete everyday and more importantly they are good people and I love being around them everyday.”
“… We have some younger guys who are very talented with some freshmen and sophomores that could carve themselves a role on this team. Several guys who are competing and several guys that can give us minutes and we told them that the other day in practice. I don’t think we have anyone on cruise control and that is such a good thing. Everyone is competing everyday and coming in with the right mind set.”
“… Our District was so close last year. A few buckets here or there and it could have went to any of the four teams. Fortunately for us we were able to come away with the championship on our home floor. When you can grind and compete the way our guys did in the District tourney after being down in the second half and finding a way to win is really special. That experience from last year should really help us once again this year.”
“… No matter who you get in the Carolina tourney they will be good. We haven’t done as good as we wanted the last couple of years but that is such a good bonding trip for us. The kids enjoy it and it’s always good to get away and see different teams. But if you don’t play hard and compete you will get run out of the gym. When we get back from there we got right into the Class 2A section tourney and it’s loaded this year every team in it is good. I’m a big fan of those mid season tournaments and it kinda gets you ready for the postseason.”
“… We have two tough scrimmages with Knott Co. Central and Butler Co. and then are schedule is as tough as it gets with Wayne and St. Joe from West Virginia, Coal Grove and Portsmouth from Ohio and then the likes of Ashland, Russell, East Ridge and Raceland along with Johnson Central and Paintsville. It’s not easy but it should prepare us for the postseason once again. We are excited to get started.”
Bulldog Sophomores
Ashton West, Braxton Davis, Owen Pack, Weston Vanhorn, Luke Fetherolf
LC Senior Andrew Bloomfield
PLAYER’S COMMENTS
“… It’s been like a blink of an eye, I can’t believe this is the last go around. I took an extra year to try and slow it down but it didn’t. Honestly it’s hard to believe.”
“… Man with Tyler Johnson got hurt a couple of years he was one of my best friends and I knew then that I had to step in and try to fill his shoes and it happened so fast it didn’t seem real. I just tried to do the best I could with the opportunity.”
“… I always looked up to Trenton Adkins by the way he carried himself. So smart and always brought so much energy to practice. Very good teammate, one of my favorites.”
“… I’ve just tried to work hard and never take anything for granted, like we takes about before with Tyler getting injured you just never know, so I try to take it one day at a time and make the most of it and word hard everyday.”
“… We have just been practicing hard and preparing in the preseason practices to get us ready for the scrimmages and then the regular season will be here before we know it. This team is super competitive everyday in practice and really passes each other.”
LC Senior Logan Ratliff
PLAYER’S COMMENTS
“… It’s went by in the blink of an eye. I know that sounds cliche and all of the older guys say it’s the truth. I can’t believe it’s my senior year, feels like I have only been here 20 minutes and now we getting ready to start my last year.”
“ I think it’s definitely a mind set thing going from a tough football loss last Friday to starting basketball practice on Monday. I know we have it everything we had against Rockcastle Co. but I think it was helpful that I had basketball practice the next week so I couldn’t dwell on it too long.”
“… Really looking forward to the Carolina trip, always good competition down there and we will get better from and also the bonding experience as well. We are with each other the whole time and that makes us closer when we come back.”
“… I think as a senior I can bring energy everyday and lead by example to the younger guys and show them what it takes everyday. We are so competitive with each other so that helps. Just come out everyday and make sure we aren’t flat and stay even keeled.”
LC Senior Blake Marcum
PLAYER’S COMMENTS
“… It has absolutely flew by, feels like yesterday we were playing with Cody Maynard and Trenton Adkins and now I’m a senior and this is our last ride and I’m just trying to make the best of it.”
“… I feel like in close games like Martin Co. we just need to push ahead and not think about a play that just happened. Need move forward and play the next play. I think since that loss we have preached just play hard and stay focused. This team is so competitive with each other.”
“… Looking forward to next Saturday against Butler Co. and Ty Price and we know it will be a challenge but I think those type of games will only help us in the long run. Also looking forward to the Carolina tournament even though we haven’t done that good record wise it’s such a good bonding trip for us to come together as a team.”
LC Senior Ford Scaggs
PLAYER’S COMMENTS
“… Man the last five years have really flew by, I can’t believe that this is my senior year. I’m just trying to make the most of it for sure.”
“… I’m really looking forward to playing Wayne, I know those guys really well, we played them a couple of summers ago and for it to be an actual game this time around will be really fun. Also the Carolina trip because when we come back I think we are more brothers than teammates because of all the time you get to spend with each other.”
“… Hitting the shot at Lewis Co. was big for my confidence. I don’t usually get to shoot threes but this time I got a shoot an important one and fortunately it went in and we won the game.”
“… Just trying to stay mentally strong throughout the season and try to instill that into our younger guys and hopefully they can keep this thing going after we leave.”
Bulldog Freshmen
Colton New, Kaden Muncy, Kaden Johnson, Hayden Perry, Andrew Ratcliffe
LC Freshman Hayden Perry
PLAYER’S COMMENTS
“… It was a lot different from what I was used to with the atmosphere like the District Championship game, the speed of the game was something that I had to get used to but I was used to playing against bigger opponents from AAU because we always played good competition.”
“… Tried to put the loss to Martin Co. behind us and work hard to take the next step. I think everyone has put in the work to get better.”
“… I’m looking forward to playing Russell this year, I have played with several of those guys in AAU and it will be fun to match up with them.”
“… I think the Carolina trip is good for us because you get to stay in a hotel and really bond with each other. I think we come back more as a team after that trip.”
