Louisa, Ky. — For only the second time in school history the Lawrence Co. Boys Basketball program will play in the KHSAA State Tournament this Thursday at Rupp Arena.
#5 Kaden Johnson, #0 Caden Muncy, and #4 Kaiden Harris have all stepped it up a notch in the postseason.
The Bulldogs will play at 1:30 on Thursday versus the champions out of the 10th region Montgomery Co. ( 22-10 ) after the Indians beat George Rogers Clark on a last second three pointer 59-56 on Wednesday March 19th.
Lawrence Co. is scoring 77.7 points per game with four different players averaging double figures led by Kaiden Harris with 18.8 PPG, Gunnar Woods is right behind with 18.7, Hayden Perry is scoring 15.7 and Kaden Johnson at 10.9 per contest, Luke Fetherolf comes in at 6.3, Caden Muncy has been very good in the sixth man role and Braxton Davis and Andrew Ratcliff have provided good spot minutes off the bench during this run for the Dawgs.
Perry is the leading rebounder with 5.7 followed by Johnson with 4.7 Woods 4.4 Fetherolf 4.2 and Harris 3.1 per contest.
The Bulldogs have made 266 free throws with Woods connecting on 82, Harris has made 65, Perry with 44, Fetherolf with 30 and Davis with 16 makes.
Perry is shooting right at 79% from the foul line, Harris is shooting 75% and Gunnar Woods is over 70% from the charity stripe.
For Montgomery Co. who scores 68.7 ppg is led by Cayden Reed who hit the game winning three pointer versus Clark Co. at 21.7 points per game, Tyce Jarvis scores 17.7 ppg, Luke Fawns 12.0, Andrew Terry 9.8 and Gentry Dawson 9.7 the five mentioned previously are usual starters for the Indians.
Lawrence Co. ( 23-10 ) is the first team to ever lose in the first game of the District tournament and win a Region tournament thanks to the Super Region tournament implemented by the 15th Region at the beginning of last year.
The Bulldogs have won four games in a row and are playing their best basketball of the season after winning at Johnson Central, and then beating Pikeville in overtime, at Pike Co. Central and then Martin County in the Region Championship game.
Lawrence Co. made their only other trip to the state tournament in 2016 and lost in the first round to eventual state runner-up Louisville Doss 66-57.
First year Bulldog assistant coach Austin Chaffins was the starting point guard on the team as a senior and he recalled the experience of playing on the first team and now being on the coaching staff for the second team.
“ Honestly it feels amazing to be a part of both teams. This team has went through the gauntlet to get to Rupp with the new super region and beat Johnson Central, Pikeville, Pike Central and Martin Co. in the title game. I’m just thankful that Coach Thompson gave me the opportunity to come back and help this team out. It is a special group that got hot at the right time and I’m looking forward to seeing this group play at Rupp Arena like we did.”
“ The whole group I was with worked so hard to get to Rupp Arena since they were little kids and to accomplish that our senior year it will be something that I will never forget and I know the guys that I played with feel the same way. We will message each other from time to time and just talk about playing in the state tournament at Rupp Arena.”
“ Unbelievable feeling you get when you walk out on that floor is amazing, just looking up into the stands and seeing all of the red and black and something I will cherish the rest of my life and I know this team will feel the same way. I’m excited to experience that with this group.”
This will be the third trip to the state tournament for the Indians and the first since 2013 when they beat Warren Central 71-63, John Hardin 66-57 and lost to eventual state champion Louisville Ballard 59-55 in the semifinals.
Lawrence Co. Head Coach Chandler Thompson
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… There is no other place that I would rather do this at than Lawrence County. When I played this was my dream just like it is for these boys and as a player we came up short but for these boys they got it done. And to see that and be a small part of it is really special.”
“… To do this with my dad right beside me is really unreal. To chase this dream together and to finally see it come to fruition is a really special experience for the both of us. To be able to hug his neck after the final buzzer went off was something I will always remember. Our coaching staff with Chase Sartin and Tyler Maynard started this journey with me as a coach and they lost their senior year to Martin Co. and they said it at halftime that we weren’t losing this time. And Austin Chaffins joining the staff this year and him being a part of both region titles is hard to put into words. It’s truly an amazing experience so far.”
“… There is nothing like going into Rupp Arena has a Lawrence Co. Bulldog and our community travels so well and I know we will have a great showing. I was an assistant at Boyd Co. in 2016 and watched the Bulldogs play and it was just awesome the pride I had that day to see the red and black was great. A lot of that team was at the region title game and one of our assistants was a starter on that team. It’s such a tight knit community and a whole lot of people are proud of these boys.”
Lawrence Co. Junior Luke Fetherolf
PLAYER’S COMMENTS
“…Man it’s been a great run, it’s awesome to be a part of this program. It has to go down in the history books.”
“… It’s an honor to play for this team and to play for Coach Thompson. Most of us have been playing together for a long time and just an honor to get to play in Rupp Arena with them.”
Lawrence Co. Junior Kaiden Harris
“… I think we are really confident after going on that run to win the region championship. I even like going to school now because their is such a buzz every where that we go. Super exciting to be a part of something so special.”
“… I’ve never been to Rupp Arena and I can only imagine what it’s going to feel like the first time I walked into that place. No matter how big of a game it is we just have to go out there and play how we have been playing.”
“… The last couple of weeks we have been trying to stay in shape from all of the food we have ate and then game planning before we play on Thursday.”
Lawrence Co. Sophomore Hayden Perry
“… Since we won the region it has been a long layoff in between games but we have been focusing on stuff that we always focus on like rebounding, playing hard for 32 minutes. After we figured out who we’re playing it’s been more into game mode and figuring out a game plan for Montgomery County.”
“… Our practices have been pretty intense and we have been running a lot and trying to stay in shape during the long layoff. We have also done some scrimmaging and fundamental stuff as well along with the game plan. I am extremely excited to play on Thursday it has been torture waiting for gameday. Hard to believe we won the region and now we get to play in Rupp Arena.”
Lawrence Co. Sophomore Kaden Johnson
“… It’s really special because of who we beat along the way. It was a chance to get them back for beating us earlier in the year. Everyone kept doubting us and saying we didn’t deserve to be there. And then proving them wrong is really special.”
“… During the Region tournament I had to step up and help my teammates because the opposing coaches were trying to lock them down and it opened some opportunities for me.”
“… The last couple of weeks have been amazing it is a great feeling to have everyone behind us and cheer us on during this run and now we are headed to Rupp Arena for only the second time in program history.”
Gunnar Woods is ready to hit the Rupp Arena floor on Thursday.
Lawrence Co. Junior Gunnar Woods
“… It’s going to be surreal walking out on that floor on Thursday afternoon. I remember watching the 2016 team and being so close to Robert and Timmy Dalton and seeing them play at Rupp and now we get to. I finally get to talk some trash back to mom and dad after all these years.”
“… It’s going to be real competitive game and even though I know those guys when I walk out on the court I don’t know anyone I have no friends once the game starts.”
“… We have had a big break in between games and the big thing that has stood out to me is all of the free food that we have had. We have been eating really good. School has been crazy with everybody getting fired up for the game. I can’t wait.”
