HOW GOOD WILL THE NEW LOOK LADY PANTHERS BE? It was a big summer on New Hartford Road. Head Coach Stephen Haile exited to follow his Father at Henderson County after spending just 2 seasons. Adylan Ayer graduated as the KABC 3rd Region Player of The Year & is now playing collegiately. That makes for big shoes to fill for a new coach.. However, the athletic department moved quickly & hit a home run with the hire of Natalie Payne. Payne has a regional crown under her belt & is regarded as one of the top coaches in West Kentucky. Back to the Big Shoes to fill in replacing Ayer.. insert Apollo transfer Kennedy Lane. Lane is one of the most prolific scorers in the region regardless of class & is only a sophomore. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of Lane’s game is familiarity with Coach Natalie Payne. You mix Lane in with Junior Forward Zoey Beehn & oft forgotten about, but sneaky good Lily Hoagland & you’ve got a core that can contend in a loaded 9th district. It may take a few weeks to get going, but DC is a team that will surprise people and very capable of beating anyone. Just how good will they be?

CAN BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY GET OVER THE HUMP? Breckinridge County is a regional power & returns everyone, including Region POY Candidate Caroline Lucas after an impressive 25-8 season a year ago in what was supposed to be a rebuild. Lucas, now a senior is as relentless of a player as you’ll find in the area on both ends of the floor. Chad Moorman is preseason Coach of the Year and has solidified himself as one of the best coaches in the region. He, however has yet to get over the hump and take the beautiful people of Hardinsburg on a field trip to RUPP Arena. It’s been 41 years since the Lady Tigers have claimed a regional championship. It doesn’t help that Meade County, Brecks Bitter rival, has been a juggernaut and has had The Lady Tigers number as of late. In a loaded & very top heavy landscape in the region, can Chad Moorman finally get over the hump? He’s got a great chance. Let’s go to work!

WAS OWENSBORO A FLASH IN THE PAN LAST SEASON? What a season for OHS. Knocking off Owensboro Catholic for the first time since Vietnam, finishing as Regional Runner Up & Head Coach Jansen Locher winning Coach of The Year. The Lady Devils followed the season with a really good summer as well. They gain transfers from Apollo and Henderson County in Abby Sapp, Gizelle Whitlock & Shalyn Sprinkles (assuming all reach eligibility clearance). You return Player of The Year Candidate Alyrica Hughes & Unique Carter Swannigan among others. They will lack size, something the likes of O’Cath, Breck & Daviess all have, but have an abundance of talent in the backcourt. The big question is how does Coach Locher spread the wealth, so to speak & get the team to build chemistry with as many new faces as they have. On paper, OHS is going to be really, really good. Will they take another step forward this season or will they get lost in the shuffle of the Meade’s, O’Cath’s & Breck’? This season is going to be fun!