3 Teams We’re Thankful to Watch This Season – Pt 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is something truly special about high school basketball in the&nbsp;<strong>Bluegrass State</strong>! From heated district rivalries to records being shattered to once in a generation team success that unites entire communities, Kentucky basketball delivers magic EVERY SINGLE WINTER!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are&nbsp;<strong>three teams you should be thankful for and excited to follow this season!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bowling Green High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowling Green, led by proven head coach&nbsp;<strong>Calvin Head</strong>, is hungry to return to the top of the&nbsp;<strong>4th Region</strong>! Even in a developmental year, the Lady Purples secured yet another&nbsp;<strong>14th District Championship</strong>. This season, the Lady Purples are ready to make noise again!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maddie Davenport – Junior Shooting Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maddie had a&nbsp;<strong>breakthrough season</strong>, especially down the stretch! She is a competitive defender who&nbsp;<strong>stretches the floor with her perimeter shooting</strong>&nbsp;and has shown clear improvement creating off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aniyah Smith – Senior Center</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aniyah has a&nbsp;<strong>high ceiling</strong>&nbsp;and continues to evolve! She's a strong&nbsp;<strong>rim protector</strong>&nbsp;with improved finishing around the basket and growing confidence in her outside touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1038039' first='Kori' last='Ware'] – Senior Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kori plays with&nbsp;<strong>tremendous physicality</strong>&nbsp;and is a reliable finisher around the rim! Her outside shooting has taken a step forward, making her an even more versatile threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902346' first='Jooniper' last='Strow'] – Sophomore Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jooni is a&nbsp;<strong>versatile, high-IQ guard</strong>&nbsp;who can both score and facilitate! Expect a&nbsp;<strong>huge season</strong>&nbsp;as her skill set and confidence continue to rise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Owensboro Catholic High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owensboro Catholic, guided by head coach&nbsp;<strong>Michael Robertson</strong>, finished 26–7, won the&nbsp;<strong>9th District Championship</strong>, and came just one win shy of reaching&nbsp;<strong>Rupp Arena</strong>! While they graduated key seniors, this new group of Lady Aces is&nbsp;<strong>hungry to prove themselves</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='958540' first='Katie' last='Hagan'] – Junior Power Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Katie is poised for a&nbsp;<strong>breakout season</strong>! Her blend of perimeter shooting and rim-attacking ability makes her a tough matchup every night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='812951' first='Taylor' last='Mannahan'] – Junior Point Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor will command the offense! She excels at&nbsp;<strong>getting into the paint</strong>, creating for teammates, and hitting tough shots when it matters most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997467' first='Claudia' last='Munsey'] – Junior Small Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claudia will serve as a&nbsp;<strong>deep-range threat</strong>, forcing defenses to extend and opening up driving lanes for guards and post players!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999589' first='Layla' last='Martin'] – Junior Small Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Layla will be one of OC's&nbsp;<strong>top defenders</strong>, often taking on the opposing team's best scorer! Her defense sparks transition offense, where she can sprint the floor for layups or knock down jumpers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913673' first='Sophia' last='Newby'] – Sophomore Wing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophia is a strong&nbsp;<strong>inside out threat</strong>&nbsp;who also shines defensively! She has fantastic timing on&nbsp;<strong>blocks, steals, and deflections</strong>, making her a disruptive force on both ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pulaski County High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pulaski County finished 19–12 last season, and under new head coach&nbsp;<strong>Brian Miller</strong>, expectations are even higher! With a blend of senior leadership and a talented group of underclassmen, the future is extremely bright for the&nbsp;<strong>Lady Maroons</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='547491' first='Madeline' last='Butcher'] – Senior Point Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madeline is the&nbsp;<strong>engine that drives this team</strong>. A physical playmaker who gets to the rim at will, she's also a&nbsp;<strong>knockdown three-point shooter</strong>&nbsp;and a steady veteran presence!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='540767' first='Brooklyn' last='Thomas'] – Senior Wing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After taking last season off, Brooklyn returns looking as explosive as ever! She is an&nbsp;<strong>ATHLETE</strong>&nbsp;who rebounds like a post and shoots confidently from the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1057204' first='Lilee' last='Todd'] – Sophomore Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lilee is&nbsp;<strong>Country Strong</strong>&nbsp;with impressive vertical pop! She can shoot from three, attack off the bounce, and is an absolute&nbsp;<strong>rebounding machine</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884341' first='Caroline' last='Heist'] – Sophomore Point Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caroline had a&nbsp;<strong>huge AAU summer</strong>&nbsp;and is poised for major impact! She's a dynamic athletic defender with excellent court vision, and the ability to score from&nbsp;<strong>all three levels</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->