Best of the Best

As the Fall sports season begins, we know one thing…there will be a champion in the end.
Whether it is on the grid-iron, soccer field, volleyball courts or golf course, there will be one champion when it is all said and done.
No doubt, the volleyball champion will come from the Louisville or Northern Kentucky area. If I am correct, that’s the only area of the state the past state champions have been from. Louisville Assumption has been the most dominant team in the past and the Lady Rockets will be among the top once again.
The state golf champions have traditionally been from the larger schools as well as boys’ soccer. Of the 30 state champions, 22 are from Louisville while the other eight are from Lexington. 28 of the schools are 4A with two being 3A. The girls have been a little more balanced but no rural school as ever won the state soccer title. Louisville owns 10 girls’ state champions, two were from Lexington and two were from the large Northern Kentucky area.
The private schools have won the last four in a row,
Thank goodness for football and the class system. I think it needs to be in every sport, even basketball, but it will never happen in Kentucky in the roundball sport.
With that said, let’s take a look at best football teams and players in the area districts and their possible first-round match-ups in the state playoffs. In Class A and 4A, there will be no change as District 7 will meet the winner of District 8 in both classes. The change, however, only the district winner will travel across district lines. Instead of Distrct 7 winner meeting the fourth place team in District 8, this year, it will be played like basketball with the District 7 winner meeting the fourth place team within their own district and the two and three seeded teams meeting. The winners will play at the highest seed with that winner taking on the District 8 survivor.
However, in Class AA, District 4 will play the winner of District 6. Here’s a closer look at those possibilities.

Class A, District 7, District 8

Teams: District 7: 1. Lynn Camp, 2. Somerset, 3. Williamsburg, 4. Harlan, 5. Cumberland, 6. Evarts, 7. Pineville. District 8: 1. Pikeville, 2. Paintsville, 3. Hzard, 4. South Floyd, 5. Phelps, 6. Allen Central, 7. Jekins.
Players: 1. Daniel Pugh, Paintsville; 2. Chase Hamblin, Williamsburg; 3. Joe Roskopf, Lynn Camp; 4. Ross Deaton, Somerset; 5. Casey Rowe, Pikeville; 6. John Michael Mayo, Pikeville; 7. Mitch Jackson, Pikeville; 8. Thomas Frazier, Williamsburg; 9. Will Pope, Harlan; 10. Jonathon Foreman, Lynn Camp.
You can put the top three teams in a hat and pull out a regional champion. I picked Pikeville because they have the deepest talent returning. But with Lynn Camp’s big front line and the running of junior Joe Roskopf, the Wildcats will be a threat. Somerset with Ross Deaton and a target in Joe Cole, the Jumpers will be in the hunt for another regional title.
If there is a dark horse, it’s Williamsburg. Everyone knows the number one threat will be (Thomas) Frazier to (Chase) Hamblin, but I will say it again, Aaron Root will make a difference.
Looking at the schedules, Lynn Camp has the advantage, will the Wildcats take it and run with it to a regional title.

Class AA, District 4, District 6

Teams: District 4: 1. Corbin, 2. Garrard County, 3. Wayne County, 4. Casey County. District 6: 1. Russell, 2. Fleming County, 3. Morgan County, 4. East Carter, 5. West Carter, 6. Lewis County, 7. Powell County, 8. Estill County.
Players: 1. Kasey Clark, Russell; 2. Clint Cashen, Corbin; 3. Jacob Sizemore, Russell; 4. Nick Lewis, Russell; 5. Blake Freeman, Corbin; 6. Marcus Patterson, Casey County; 7. Jared Prewitt, Garrard County; 8. Josh Martin, Corbin; 9. Josh Sanders, Corbin; 10. Derrick Young, Morgan County.
If anyone but Corbin and Russell emerges as winners of these two district, something will drastically go wrong. The only thing that could possibly go against the Redhounds, is if they get beat up in their non-district schedule. That portion of the schedule is second to none. The likes of Rockcastle County, Middlesboro, Bell County, South Laurel and Lexington Christian is enough to put a serious hurt on any team in the Commonwealth.
Russell is in the same boat. Fleming County and Morgan County may put a scare into the Red Devils, but with the talent they have coming back it is very unlikely. Once they get past those two teams it will be a cakewalk to the third-round of the playoffs against Corbin.

Class AAAA, District 7, District 8

Teams: District 7: 1. Henry Clay, 2. Scott County, 3. Dunbar, 4. Lafayette, 5. Woodford County, 6. Tates Creek, 7. Bryan Station. District 8: 1. Clark County, 2. Madison Central. 3. Whitley County, 4. North Laurel, 5. South Laurel, 6. Lincoln County, 7. Montgomery County.
Players: 1. Chase Minnifield, Henry Clay, 2. Clark Jeter, Henry Clay, 3. Rodney Haddix, Scott County, 4. Robbelle Rogers, Clark County, 5. Zach Warmouth, Dunbar; 6. Marcus Bentley, Henry Clay, 7. Cody Jeffries, Whitley County. 8. Chaz Hope, Madison Central. 9. Ricky Bowling, South Laurel, 10. Shawn Asher, North Laurel.
Two districts that are loaded with talent. How did I pick Henry Clay and Clark County? Those two may be the hungriest teams in those two districts. Madison Cemtral lost to North Laurel last year and it may take some big wins to gain that confidence back. Clark County has been building for this title run for a long time and it just may be their year. North Laurel could be loaded, South Laurel has a new coach and it might take a year while Whitley County could be a huge sleeper.