CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
PIKEVILLE — The 15th Region Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches hosted the 15th Region Basketball Banquet at the Appalachian Wireless Arena on May 1.
The banquet was held to announce the KABC All-15th Region girls and boys basketball team, players and coaches of the year.
Martin County Lady Cards one-two punch of Laken Williams and Katie Marcum were named to the KABC 2022-2023 All-15th Region Team for the second year in a row. Marcum and Williams were among 15 honorees named to the team.
Both players were pivotal in leading the Lady Cardinals to a 26-6 season and a 2022-2023 57th District Conference and District Tournament championships.
Junior sensation Williams finished the 22-23 season ranked 20th in the state among girls basketball stat leaders, averaging 21.2 points per game. Williams led the team in assists, was second in rebounding and shot 40% from the field. She scored 679 total points this season and has scored over 1,500 career points.
“Call me double-double Marcum” averaged 12.2 points per game and led the Lady Cards in rebounding with eight per game. Marcum had 10 double-double games this season. She scored 411 points on the season and pulled down 287 rebounds.
The 15th Region team is voted on by the 15th Region Basketball Association. No coach is allowed to vote for their own players.
The girls basketball KABC 15th Region field consisted of the following honorees.
15th Region Girls Basketball Coach of the Year: Melinda Feltner (Lawrence County).
15th Region Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Kensley Feltner (Lawrence County).
All-15th Region Girls’ Basketball Team: Kensley Feltner (Lawrence County), Trinity Rowe (Pikeville), Kyera Thornsbury (Pikeville), Laken Williams (Martin County), Kennedy Harvel (Floyd Central), Emilea Preece (Paintsville), Kylie Kinner (Paintsville), Emalie Tackett (Pike County Central), Celina Mullins (Prestonsburg), Jada Johnson (Floyd Central), Sophie Adkins (Lawrence County), Katie Marcum (Martin County), Angel Mullis (Magoffin County), Taylor McKenzie (Johnson Central), Madi Meade (Floyd Central).
On the boy’s side Martin County’s Luke Hale, Brayden McKenzie and Dray Duff were among 15 players named to the KABC All-15th Region Boys Team.
All three players played a huge role in leading the Cardinals to a 24-11 season and a 2022-2023 57th District championship, 15th Region All-A championship and 15th Region Tournament championship.
Hale had a season to remember. He was named the 15th Region MVP. He shot 46.4% from the field and 81% from the free-throw line. Hale scored 691 points this season, leading the team in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game.
McKenzie was the second-leading scorer on the team averaging 15.2 points per game. He scored 502 points this season and pulled down 146 rebounds. McKenzie was named to the 15th Region All-Tournament Team.
Duff averaged 8.3 points per game and led the team in assists. He was a member of the 15th Region All-Tournament Team.
The 15th Region team is voted on by the 15th Region Basketball Association. No coach is allowed to vote for their own players.
The boys basketball KABC 15th Region field consisted of the following honorees.
15th Region Boys Basketball Coach of the Year: Jason James (Martin County).
15th Region Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Rylee Samons (Pikeville).
All-15th Region Boys Basketball Team: Austin Stone (Johnson Central), Dray Duff (Martin County), Andrew Bloomfield ( Lawrence County), Brayden McKenzie ( Martin County), Charlie Fitzer ( Pikeville), Andrew Kidd (Betsy Layne), Ryan Rose (Johnson Central), Ronnie Samons (Floyd Central), Jaden Stewart (Pike Central), Aden Barnett (Magoffin County), Brady Robinson (Betsy Layne), Luke Hale (Martin County), Connor Fugate (Paintsville), Jaylan Rigdon (Pike Central).