Melinda Feltner, Kensley Feltner, Rylee Samons honored
BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PIKEVILLE — Martin County High School’s boys basketball head coach Jason James has been named 15th Region Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches. He was among coaches honored in each region Friday.
This is the second KABC Coach of the Year recognition for James, who last won it in 2020.
“It’s a great honor,” James said. “There are a lot of really good coaches in our region and I really appreciate them voting for me.”
In his eighth year as head boys basketball coach (four years at MCHS and four at Sheldon Clark), James led his Cardinals to a 15th Region All “A” Classic championship over Pikeville and advanced to the Elite 8 last month. He also led MCHS to 57th District titles in 2020 and 2022 and a 15th Region title in 2020.
James and his Cardinals have won 19 games this season.
“The kids deserve a lot of credit. They have bought into everything we are teaching them and they have had a great year,” said James. “The assistant coaches Jaryd Crum, Mike Dingess, Wesley Hager, PJ Harris and Josh Penix also deserve a lot of credit. They have been a tremendous help to the kids and me.”
James’ Cardinal squad takes on Johnson Central at 7 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 22) in the 57th District tournament at Paintsville High School. The winner plays in the championship game at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Feltner selected girls 15th Region Coach of the Year
Melinda Feltner of Lawrence County was named 15th Region Coach of the Year.
Feltner has been coaching the Bulldogs since 2013. She led her squad to 25 wins this season.
15th Region Players of the Year
Lawrence County’s Kensley Feltner is the 15th Region girls Player of the Year and a Miss Kentucky Basketball candidate. The Belmont commit is averaging 29.3 ppg for the Bulldogs. She reached 4,000 career points last week to move to the KHSAA fourth all-time leading scorer.
Pikeville’s Rylee Samons is the boys 15th Region Player of the Year and a Mr. Kentucky Basketball candidate. The 6-6 forward is averaging 23.4 ppg and has committed to Tennessee Tech.
Feltner and Samons are Miss and Mr. Kentucky Basketball candidates. The winners will be announced at a ceremony March 19 at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington.
