Panthers 3-peat
falls short in
finals, 66-61
PIKEVILLE – Johnson Central head coach Tommy McKenzie is no stranger to winning. He was part of the Golden Eagles’ 2000 title run as a player. McKenzie was an assistant in 2006 when JC won.
The veteran Golden Eagle coach captured his fifth championship in eight years and Johnson Central won its 10th with a 66-61 victory over two-time defending 15th Region champion Pikeville before of a crowd of nearly 4,000 Saturday night at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center.
The Golden Eagles are now 21-8 over the last eight years in the Expo, which brings the best out of the 57th District kingpins.
Isaiah May poured in 19 points to lead four Golden Eagles in double-figure scoring. Jacob Rice, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, followed with 15 while John King hit for 13 and Cory VanHoose tallied 12.
Pikeville, which saw its season end at 23-9, was led by Kyle Watkins’ game-high 21 points. Zac Lockhart came off the bench to finis with 11. Christian Billiter tossed in nine.
Johnson Central, now 27-7, will face Louisville Trinity at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
At Pikeville
(15th Region championship)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
PK (23-9)…..9 19 12 21 – 61
JC (27-7)….16 18 17 15 – 66
Scoring:
Pikeville (61) – Kyle Watkins 6(3) 0-0 21; Bryon Hammonds 1 0-0 2; Christian Billiter 3(1) 0-0 9; Connor Roberts 2 0-1 4; Rylee Sammons 1(1) 3-3 8; Laithan Hall 3 0-0 6; Zac Lockhart 1(3) 0-0 11; and Connor Byers 0 0-1 0. Totals: 17(8) 3-5 61.
Johnson Central (66) – Isaiah May 4(1) 6-10 19; Jacob Rice 2(3) 2-4 15; Cory VanHoose 6 0-0 12; Gabe Ferrell 0(2) 0-0 6; John King 5 3-4 13; and Braxton Bentley 0 1-2 1. Totals: 15(8) 12-20 66.
Semifinals
Johnson Central….56
Shelby Valley………47
PIKEVILLE – Johnson Central punched its ticket to an eighth straight championship game appearance in the boys’ 15th Region Tournament with a 56-47 victory over Shelby Valley in a game played at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center Friday night.
Cory VanHoose led three Golden Eagles, now 26-7, in double figures with 13 points. Isaiah May and Jacob Rice finished with 12 apiece. Gabe Ferrell and John King added eight each.
Keian Worrix led the Wildcats, who saw their season end at 28-6, with 17 points and Cody Potter added 12 and nine rebounds.
At Pikeville
(15th Region semifinals)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
SV (28-6)….13 7 14 13 – 47
JC (26-7).….15 8 11 22 – 56
Scoring:
Shelby Valley (47) – Sam Stanley 2 4-6 8; Keian Worrix 4(3) 0-0 17; Cameron Worrix 0(1) 4-5 7; Cody Potter 3(2) 0-0 12; Orbie McPeek 1 1-2 3. Totals: 10(6) 9-13 47.
Johnson Central (56) – Isaiah May 3 6-6 12; Jacob Rice 1(1) 7-9 12; Cory VanHoose 2(2) 3-3 13; Gabe Ferrell 1(2) 0-0 8; John King 4 0-1 8; Braxton Bentley 1 0-0 2; and Zach Russell 0 1-2 1. Totals: 12(5) 17-21 56. JCJj