3 Teams that we are Thankful to Watch This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is something special about high school basketball in the Bluegrass state! From district rivalries to records being broken to once in generation team success that a whole community rallies around! Here are a few teams that we are thankful to keep an eye on!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johnson Central High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson Central is coming off an&nbsp;<strong>incredible year under Coach Jim Hicks</strong>, finishing undefeated in both district play and the 15th Region. The Lady Eagles are loaded again and are&nbsp;<strong>poised for an even bigger leap</strong>&nbsp;this season. Here are the players you need to know.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1302830' first='Allie' last='Slone'] — Freshman Point Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allie is one of the&nbsp;<strong>top freshman prospects in Kentucky</strong>. She is extremely quick off the dribble, an efficient scorer, and already one of the&nbsp;<strong>best lockdown defenders in the 15th Region</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934138' first='Karlea' last='Stanley'] — Sophomore Combo Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Karlea is&nbsp;<strong>strong, tough, and explosive</strong>, and she has already surpassed the 1,000-point milestone. She is expected to become the team's leading scorer and is an&nbsp;<strong>extremely disruptive defensive presence</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253055' first='Kamryn' last='Duncan'] — Freshman Guard Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kamryn is a&nbsp;<strong>three-level scorer</strong>&nbsp;and a rising name who will gain major recognition by season's end. She can handle the ball, create her own shot, and offers a&nbsp;<strong>versatile skill set for her size</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexington Christian Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LCA posted a strong 25–8 season including four separate win streaks of at least four games! Coach Tim Bradshaw has another dangerous group with talent, leadership, and depth. These players will keep the Lady Eagles soaring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1003232' first='Piper' last='Graham'] — Senior Point Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Piper will be the team's heartbeat this season. She can score from all levels, creates unselfishly for her teammates, and is willing to do&nbsp;<strong>whatever it takes to win</strong>. Her list of college offers continues to grow and her future is&nbsp;<strong>exceptionally bright</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1120434' first='Jentry' last='Bertram'] — Senior Combo Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A&nbsp;<strong>five-year starter</strong>&nbsp;and a true Swiss Army knife, Jentry has played any role her team has needed. This season she is expected to become an even more reliable scorer. She is already committed to play&nbsp;<strong>Division I soccer</strong>&nbsp;next year!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fairjana McLaughlin — 8th Grade Small Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FJ is stepping into her first season with major varsity minutes after a breakout summer where she hit&nbsp;<strong>five threes in a single game</strong>. She is long, versatile, high IQ, and already&nbsp;<strong>excellent at contesting shots</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grayson County High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After reaching the semifinal round of the 3rd Region tournament, Grayson County enters this season ready for the next step! Coach Mike McClintic has a roster full of players who can make noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='782512' first='Breigh' last='Jones'] — Sophomore Point Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breigh is an&nbsp;<strong>elite playmaker</strong>&nbsp;with a tremendous basketball IQ. She scores at all three levels and impacts the game in countless ways. By season's end, she&nbsp;<strong>could emerge as the best point guard in the 3rd Region</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='963038' first='Hannah' last='Smith'] — Sophomore Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standing at 6'3, Hannah is a&nbsp;<strong>true game changer</strong>. She is strong in the paint, stretches the floor with her shooting, and will make a significant jump as a&nbsp;<strong>paint protector and rebounder</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902271' first='Payton' last='Bowman'] — Sophomore Small Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payton is the type of&nbsp;<strong>glue player every winning team needs</strong>. Her versatile skill set and ability to knock down shots from deep will quickly make her one of the region's&nbsp;<strong>most reliable shooters</strong>! GC will rely on a big jump this season from Payton!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lucy Tarrance — Senior Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lucy is a&nbsp;<strong>high-energy workhorse</strong>&nbsp;who battles on every possession. Grayson County will lean on her toughness inside, and she is expected to take on a more aggressive scoring role this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->