2020 Basketball Preview

                                              Bardstown Tigers

                                                          2019-2020 Record – 25-9

After being eliminated in the first round of the 5^th Region Basketball Tournament for the past three seasons, the Tigers finally put everything together with their most talented team in years and made a serious run at another trip to the KHSAA Basketball State Tournament only to fall just a little short. Bardstown had fought injuries to several key players and not only ended John Hardin’s season in a thrilling overtime victory, but fought tooth and nail against the eventual Region Champs until simply running out of time in the end to Elizabethtown.

Now head coach James Brewer must rebuild again quickly to make another such run. The Tigers graduated seven seniors off last year’s 25-win team including forward JJ Traynor, who led the team in points and rebounds, along with Jarel Montgomery and Tereylin Calbert, who also were second and fourth on the team in scoring.

Brewer does return senior Javaughn Smith, who put 512-points on the board and Adarius Anthony, who scored 245-points of his own along with several other newcomers who came into the system and should make an immediate impact on the team, this season. Because of the high up tempo transition game Bardstown likes to play, Brewer likes to play plenty of bodies during the game and his ability to get the new faces ready by opening day will determine just how fast the team can adjust to the loss of such quality talent.

Still, Brewer is use to losing multiple starters every season since coming to Bardstown and should make the adjustment again. The Tigers open the season January 5^th against Trinity (Louisville) and should have all cylinders firing by then.

                                               Bardstown Lady Tigers

                                                               2019-2020 Record – 20-10

For the sixth time in six seasons, the Lady Tigers have made a serious run into the 5^th Region girls basketball tournament and for the third straight season they fielded their strongest team during that time and were disappointed in the end. Last season, head coach Amber Courtney fielded possibly their strongest squad and had their season ended in the quarterfinals of the Region Tournament by eventual Region Champion Elizabethtown. The season before suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to Marion County in the first round of the Tournament and the season before reached the Region final before bowing out to the Lady Panthers.

This season, the Lady Tigers will look a little different as they lost just three seniors, but were major contributors to last seasons team. The loss of Katrina Brown, who led the team in not just scoring, but also rebounding as well could hurt and both Jordan Boggs and Jasmine Boggs were also key parts to the Bardstown attack as well.

Courtney will return the second leading scorer in junior  guard Kadence Walls, who also was the best outside shooter on the team and senior guard MaTija Yocum, who put up 236-points which was good for third on the team will also be back. Junior guard Jaileyah Cotton scored 235-points will be back and players like  sophomore Kaia Grabbert, 8^th grader Nariyah Crowe, senior Sophia Downs and junior Jayla Sheckles should get more time on the court.

Since taking over for Jamie Neal, Courtney has taken the Lady Tigers to the Region Tournament every season since 2015 and appears to have the program in a good place.