Central Hardin Bruins: 2021 Record- 4-14

Last season, the Bruins struggled through a rough four-win season thanks to an early injury to young emerging star guard Brett Decker. However, head coach Matt Nickell really likes the look of this season’s team which will have plenty of experience and should be more consistent. “With 96% of our scoring, rebounding and minutes played back from last season, we are looking forward to having a very productive season. Our team will go as far as our sophomore point guard goes, Brett Decker is one of the best guards in our Region and is going to be a major breakout year for this young man. We have four seniors that have played a ton of minutes over the last couple of seasons, Carter Robinson 6’3 Wing, Hayden Ash 5’11 Guard, Preston Keith 6’2 Wing and Landon Elmore 6’5 Wing will provide leadership and scoring.” Junior Adam Hobbs, senior Reece Sherrard, Junior Nolan Stith and Sophomore Ace Jaggers will be in the mix as well, while Jakob Fredericksen 6’6 Junior is a newcomer that will be able to do a lot of different things on the floor for them. Last season was a struggle for Central Hardin. This season should show a lot of the development from younger players getting time.

                         Central Hardin Lady Bruins: 2021 Record-16-7

Head coach Kristina Covington-Jones has seen the bad and the good over the years and the growing pains during her first several seasons at Central Hardin were necessary to help rebuild a proud program that once was an annual contender for the Region Crown. The 2021 season was the crowning glory as the Lady Bruins showed plenty of consistent growth and finished the season with a win over Elizabethtown in the District Championship game and then a drive towards the programs first Region Final appearance since 2006. “I think our program is back in a position where we want it to be. These girls have put many hours in the gym on their own time. Getting a taste of District Championship and the Runner-up in the Region Tournament just made them hungrier. The goal is to compete for the Region Championship every year.” Covington-Jones will have a solid core returning from last year’s team with sisters Monica and Alyssa Lindsey (374-points and 259-points), the Lady Bruins have a duel threat that can drive to the basket and shoot from outside (they were one and two in made three’s). Mallory Reed is back and so is Katie Gray who give the team a good strong defensive presence as well. Khana Jones is running the floor really well and Harper Hynes should give Central Hardin a lot of good minutes. Juliana Stith should be a factor as well. Right now a projected starting five would be Monica and Alyssa Lindsey, Jones, Reed and Gray.