Senior Tripp Branch is Caldwell's top returning scorer.
The 2019-20 season was an uphill battle for Caldwell County after dropping its first five games.
However, a seven-game winning streak late in the season got the Tigers above .500 before losses in the district championship game and the regional tournament left Caldwell even at 16-16 on the campaign.
The Tigers improved to 16-14 after turning away Hopkins County Central 70-52 in the 7th District semifinals. But Caldwell couldn’t mount an upset bid in the title tilt against Madisonville-North Hopkins, falling 85-58.
The Tigers then fell to Lyon County 65-59 in the opening round of the 2nd Region tournament at Hopkinsville.
Caldwell played in the championship game of the 2nd Region All A Classic in January, but fell in overtime to University Heights Academy 69-61.
The Tigers got some measure of revenge late in the season by beating UHA 82-63 in Princeton.
Caldwell graduates four of its top five point producers, including leading scorer Adarius Riley (13.1 points a game), who was named to the all-region team.
Also gone are Jamarius Blaine (9.8 ppg), Cayden Fraliex (9.8 ppg) and Cole Smiley (7.9 ppg). Smiley also led the team in rebounding at 6.2 a contest. Fraliex was next at 5.0.
In all, the Tigers lose six players to graduation.
The only returning starter for the Tigers next year will be Tripp Branch, who scored 12.7 points a night as a junior this season. Branch shot 39.7 percent from 3-point range, making 79 of 199 attempts from behind the arc.
Caldwell won’t be without talent next season, but will count on the quick development of several youngsters.
Sophomore Jabrion Spikes scored 5.9 points a game this season and shot 37.3 percent on 3-pointers.
Eighth grader JaSean Riley figures to take on a much bigger role next season. He played in 20 games this season after helping lead the Caldwell County Middle School eighth grade team to an undefeated 24-0 mark this year.
Expect to see some other members of the middle school squad playing key minutes on the varsity level next season as well.
If the Tigers’ youngsters develop quickly, Caldwell could become a player next year in the 7th District, which figures to be more balanced next year after Madisonville dominated district play this season.
But Caldwell could take some bumps again early in 2020-21 as it tries to find the right mix with its younger players.
