Louisa, Ky. — After winning the 58th District tournament and a 15th Region tournament game last season, the Lawrence Co. girls basketball team is poised to make that next step.
2021-2022 LCHS Girls Basketball
#1 Kensley Feltner
#2 Addison Bloomfield
#4 Emalyn Kitts
#5 Brylee Stafford
#12 Sophie Adkins
#15 Aubrey Endicott
#20 Brooke Neal
#20 Lilly Fitzpatrick
#21 Madison Artrip
#22 Caroline See
#23 Kaison Ward
#24 Emmalee Holt
#32 Emily Artrip
#33 Tyra Hammond
#44 Makayla Artrip
#45 Breana Ramey
#54 Abby Nelson
#55 Ally Hunt
The Dawgs went 19-11 last season and fell to Johnson Central in the semifinals of the 15th Region Tournament 64-49.
The Bulldogs have won back to back 58th District championships and will be the favorite this season behind Junior Kensley Feltner who averaged 28 points and 10 rebounds per contest, Junior Brooke Neal missed most of last season averaged 12 PPG and is a good three point shooter, Sophomore Kaison Ward averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds per contest, Freshman Sophie Adkins is another good outside shooter who averaged 8 PPG, Lone Senior Tyra Hammond does a lot of the dirty work underneath and provides aggressiveness and plays physical. Junior Emmalee Holt, Sophomore Abby Nelson and Freshman Emily Artip should also see some quality time this season.
The Dawgs will play a challenging schedule highlighted by a trip to Charleston, South Carolina and the 2A Section tournament at home. They will also play Johnson Central, Pikeville, Martin Co. and Tug Valley ( W. Va. ) the defending Class A state champions.
The Dawgs should be the favorite in the 58th District and will be looking for the three peat this season.
LCHS Senior and Juniors
Junior Emmalee Holt, Junior Kensley Feltner, Senior Tyra Hammond, Junior Brooke Neal
Lawrence Co. will open the season on Tuesday night at Home versus West Carter before traveling to Hazard on Thursday night.
See schedule and roster click below
Lawrence Co. Head Coach Melinda Feltner
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… We are trying to get to the next level, we are not satisfied, we know we have a lot of work to do and the girls have put in the work in the off-season on individual skill work. We know we need more balance in our offense and get more scoring from other players. Hopefully everyone got a little bit better so we can shoot better, dribble better, handle situations better and help us improve as a team.”
“… We hope to consistently play eight girls this season and if we can do that it will help us tremendously. During our two scrimmages that’s what we did and it helped keep girls fresh and be able to run and the things that we want to do.”
“… We played Lewis Co. Saturday and they should make some noise in the 16th region this season. They are big and have a lot of length it was a good match up for us. They really bothered us inside with their height and sticky man to man defense.”
“… I think our kids gained some confidence from the game on Wednesday to the game on Saturday and that’s what we want to see each and every time out on the floor. Getting Brooke Neal back is huge for us. She can stretch the floor and helps with our spacing. We will have her on a minutes restriction to start with but she is moving well and gaining confidence as well. She has taken the ball to the basket a few times so that is encouraging to see. Glad to have a her back.”
“… The schedule is challenging and that’s the way it needs to be to prepare us for a run in the postseason. The South Carolina tournament will be very good for us. It’s loaded from what we can tell with teams that have won multiple state championships. Our first matchup is with a team from Pennsylvania so it should be a fun trip with some nice competitive games which is what we want. Hopefully we can do some stuff with the girls on the trip as well. The boys team will be there so that should be fun to check them out.”
“… We are also excited to host the 2A this year. It should be a good experience for our kids. We have Belfry the first round and also Rowan Co. is with us as well so it should be a very good tournament.”
“… This is year eight for me and when we took it over we really struggled. I think we have started at the bottom in our youth program and built it up and this year we have over 200 kids participating. I’m definitely proud of where we are right now as a graduate from here in the 90’s. To me there is nothing more special than playing for your high school team. For me as a former Bulldog and now coaching and getting to share my love with these girls is pretty special. Making memories that will last a lifetime is what it is all about.”
“… Excited to get things started for real tomorrow night versus West Carter at Home.”
LCHS Lone Senior Tyra Hammond
Senior comment
“… It has flew by really fast, it’s kinda hard to believe that I’m a Senior and it’s going to be my last season. We have a ton of younger girls this season and I’m excited to see how far they can take this thing. I’m excited to get started and how far we can go.”
“… I feel like we can build off of the success from last season. We get Brooke Neal back from her injury and that should make us that much stronger this season. That should also help our inside out game with her shouting three pointers. We have players that can do multiple things so that will help.”
“… I think the overnight trips would be huge for us. We can grow as a team and bond. Those trips will be fun just to get away and play different teams and do stuff we wouldn’t normally get to do. I think it will be a great experience for everyone that is going.”
“… Looking forward to playing Johnson Central and Floyd Central and winning a third straight District championship and making some noise in the Region tournament as well.”
LCHS Junior Kensley Feltner
Player’s Comments
“… Seems like just yesterday I was an 8th grader getting ready and now it’s hard to believe that I’m a Junior now, I have been playing varsity since the seventh grade and was always the young one and now this season I’m all of a sudden one of the old ones.”
“… Last year we were really lucky that we didn’t get shut down. We only missed like five games and other schools missed a ton. I feel like this year we are back to normal a little bit and we are excited to get going.”
“… I feel like each year since I have been here that we have gotten better and made a little progress as well. Lost in the district championship and then won back to back titles and got to hang a banner so that felt great and then won a region game last year. So I think we are ready to make the next step and get to Rupp Arena.”
“… We are playing some really tough competition in South Carolina so that will be good for us. It will also be good to get out of Kentucky and play different teams and different styles and for us to be together and bond as well. It will prepare us for the postseason for sure.”
“… The Class 2A will be fun as well, we get to host it and may play Rowan Co. who has Haven Ford who is a really good player. Going to Owensboro would be exciting and winning a title would be great for our program. The boys win it a couple years ago and it was a huge deal everyone was so supportive of them.”
“… I’m looking forward to playing Johnson Central, Belfry, Shelby Valley and Pikeville. I don’t think there is a clear cut favorite this season. This region has a lot of talent so it should be a great season.”
“… Playing for my mom and dad is great, when I was younger it was tough for me to separate it but now that I have matured it’s been easier to do that. I wouldn’t trade them for any other coaches. We have a deeper connection now and when we are here they are my coaches not my mom and dad. They always push me to do the best that I can and I’m thankful for that.”
