The focus in boys basketball last season in the 2nd Region was dominated by University Heights and Madisonville. The Maroons would end up winning the region title, breaking the 8th District’s grip on the crown, which had been in place since 2002. With the new season getting underway, the big question appears to be whether or not anyone can stop the Maroons from repeating for the first time since 1989, when they won their 3rd straight regional title.
1 – Madisonville – Not only are the Maroons considered by many to be the favorite in the 2nd Region, there are those who view them as state title contenders. Ten seniors, including the twin towers of Kenny White and Ksuan Casey, are a big reason why knocking off the Maroons will be no small task to accomplish in the 2019-2020 season.
2 – Christian County – When you play the southern Colonels this year, you better be ready to run and to face pressure. Kerry Stovall has a talented team that is going to want to force the tempo and force mistakes. One of the big questions for the Colonels will be their shooting, both from the field and at the free throw line.
3 – UHA – The Blazers lose KyKy Tandy, Drew McGowan, and Taquan Hollowell to graduation, and those are big losses, make no mistake about it. However, Amani McGee, Will Bryan, DJ Quarles, and KJ Crump form the nucleus of what could be a very interesting team to watch over the course of the season.
4 – Union County – The Braves upended Henderson County to take the 6th District title last season, and while losing two of their top three scorers, they return plenty to be one of those dangerous teams in 2019-2020. Juniors Kale Gaither, Iverson King, Kaleb Kanipe, and Eli Wilkes give the Braves a nucleus that will be formidable for the next two years.
5 – Lyon County – A new coach during the offseason for the Lyons, after winning the 5th District title was a little bit of a surprise. What is not a surprise is that the Lyons return a very talented, but still fairly young team. The loss of the leadership of Gabe Board will be something the Lyons have to address, but otherwise, they enter the season as a team to keep a very close eye on.
6 – Henderson County – It may be a old, worn out line, but Henderson County is still Henderson County. The biggest school in the region is always going to be a team that can be a factor. Last season’s top scorer Corey Stewart is gone, but the northern Colonels return 3 seniors and 10 juniors. They will be a tough matchup for any team in the region.
7 – Hopkinsville – Graduation losses hit the Tigers hard after the 2018-2019 season. But, there is enough talent for this team to be one of the dark horse contenders in the region. Don Victor and Reece Jesse lead a group of Tigers that will be a handful for most every team in the region. Developing consistency could be the big issue for Hoptown this season.
