Donald Foster WBONTV
The All A tournament returns home to Eastern Kentucky for the first time since 2011, it was held in Richmond for 20 years before moving. It is a great opportunity for the smaller schools in the state to get a chance to play on a big stage for a state championship. There are only 3 teams ranked in the top 25 of Cantrall ratings that will be participating in the tourney.
In the boy’s side of play 11th region champion Lexington Christian is the top ranked team in the field. They have the 11th region All A 13 of the past 14 seasons but have never played for the championship. The Eagles match-up with University Heights from the 2nd region in the opening round Thursday at 11:30 am. University Heights is the only team in the field who has won the All A tourney in the past. Go to WBONTV.com for match-ups and game times. Players to watch in the boy’s side of things include Carter Hendrickson of LCA who has signed with North Florida and averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. Another star player in the field comes from University Heights, KyKy Tandy. Tandy is second in the state at 32.5 points a game scoring and has offers from Florida, Oklahoma, and Western Kentucky. Brennan Stanley from Walton Verona recently scored his 2000th career point. He is averaging 15 points a game. One of the top freshman in the state comes from Beechwood of the 9th region. Scotty Druad averages 21 points a game and is the only one of two freshman who rank in the top 20 in scoring, the other freshman is Zion Harmon who leads the state in scoring. Besides 11th region champ LCA the other team playing that will have a loud local fan base will be Somerset. The Jumpers are playing in the All A for the first time since 2012 and are coached by first year coach and former Madison Central assistant Jeron Dunbar. Expect the Indian’s fan to cheer for their former coach.
On the girl’s side of the things Murray from the 1st region are heavy favorites to win the championship. They have lost in the finals in 2015 and won last year. They are the highest ranked team in the field by the Cantrall. They are led by Miss. Basketball candidate Macey Turley who averages 16 points a game. Perhaps the best player, defiantly one of the most watched players, will be 8th grader Cassidy Rowe of Shelby Valley. She was voted 2nd best player in the 15th region preseason by coaches, she attended Big Blue Madness in October so she is on the radar of top schools. Of the local schools playing Lee County will be making an appearance, Lee County is led by Hannah Kash who is averaging 27 points a game. Danville from the 12th region is led by Ivy Turner who is averaging 27 points a game.
It’s the All A tournament where anything can happen and hoop dreams come true! If you can’t make it up to Alumni Coliseum for any of the action we have you covered here at Wallingford broadcasting. You can hear all the action live on Y92.5 FM or WEKY 1340 AM.
