1st District basketball preview

High school basketball season is here. Here's a look back at how Region 1 boys and girls teams fared last year, and what to look forward to in the coming weeks:


​1st District  Boys

Fulton County (2022 district champion)
2021/22 record: Overall 12-13. In the Region 10-8. In the District 6-2

Key stats from last season: The Pilots were led by senior Dakyran Gossett's 16.9 points a game on a team that averaged 54.7 each night. Gossett was the only player in double-figures each night. As a team they shot 39% from the floor and 29.9% from behind the arc.

Things to know this season: The Pilots have a new coach this season in Craig Clay. The Pilots lost their leading scorer, but do return their second, third, and fourth top scorers in seniors Omarion Pierce and Willie Campbell, as well as sophomore Jayden Smith. All three averaged just over eight a game.


Carlisle County (2022 district runner-up)
2021/22 record: Overall 15-12. In the Region 8-8. In the District 3-4

Key stats from last season: All-region performer senior Garrett Hayden led the team with 24 points a game, while senior Isaiah Keeling added 10.7 each night. The Comets shot 39.0% from the floor and 28.5% from three while averaging 55.3 points each game.

Things to know this season: The Comets will be much younger this season after graduating seven seniors. They do return two of their top-five scorers from last season in juniors Zack Grogan and Carter Burnett. Grogan was third on the team with 9.8 a game and Burnett fourth with 5.8.     


Hickman County 
2021/22 record: Overall 11-15. In the Region 6-12. In the District 3-4

Key stats from last season: As a team the Falcons shot 48.2% from the floor and 35.4% from three while averaging 57.2 points each game. Junior Kelen Johnson led the team with 18.6 a game, while junior Eli Prince and senior Garrett Ward added 13.6 and 11.6 a game.  

Things to know this season: The Falcons are experienced and will be returning four of their top five scorers from last season, including their top two in seniors Johnson and Prince. They also return seniors Isaiah Pettit and Walker McClanahan. Pettit was fourth in scoring with 7.2 a game and McClanahan fifth with six a game.


Fulton City 
2021/22 record: Overall 2-24. In the Region 0-18. In the District 0-7

Key stats from last season: Last season's team started 2-1 on the year before losing their next 23 games to end the year. As a team they shot 40.8% from the floor and 30.9% from three. Seniors Dylan Jackson and Camarae Cobb led the team with 14.5 and 14 a game on a team that averaged 49.3 points each night.
 
Things to know this season: Last year's team lost nearly 80% of their offensive production from a year ago, while only returning one of their top five scorers in senior Isaiah Kimble. Kimble averaged 4.5 a game. 



1st District Girls

Carlisle County (2022 district champion)
2021/22 record: Overall 21-7. In the Region 16-2. In the District 10-0

Key stats from last season: The Lady Comets were led by all-region performer sophomore Kiera Whitaker who averaged 18.8. Meanwhile senior Maddison Wright was second on the team with 10.6 a game. As a team they shot 37.2% from the floor and 23.9% from three while averaging 51.4 a game.

Things to know this season: Leading scorer Whitaker returns for her junior season, but the reigning district champs will be looking to replace their second and third leading scorers with a young roster that features just two seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and six eighth graders.


Hickman County (2022 district runner-up)
2021/22 record: Overall 8-16. In the Region 8-12. In the District 4-6

Key stats from last season: Last season's district runner-up were led in scoring by senior Rancey Skaggs who averaged 11.6 a game. Skaggs was the only Lady Falcon in double-figures each night on a team that scored 35.1 a game. Hickman County shot 32.6% from the floor and 30.3% from three.

Things to know this season: They will be looking to replace their lone double-digit scorer from last season, but do return junior Justice Midyett and seniors Anna Howell and Bayleigh Basch who finished second, third and fourth in scoring. 


Fulton County
2021/22 record: Overall 8-10. In the Region 6-7. In the District 4-3

Key stats from last season: Freshman JaMesha Brown made up nearly half of the team's scoring with 19.8 points a game on a team that averaged 42.3. The Lady Pilots shot 31.9% from the floor and 22.5% from behind the arc.

Things to know this season: Brown returns for her sophomore season and the Lady Pilots will be looking for others to step up on a team that looks to be in a position to compete in the district for a chance to play in the Regional Tournament. They have some other experienced players to go around Brown in sophomore Hannah Murphy, junior Ja Vona Davis and senior Emily Scott who all finished third, fourth and fifth in scoring a year ago.


Fulton City
2021/22 record: Overall 4-21. In the Region 3-16. In the District 0-9

Key stats from last season:  Last year's team was led in scoring by junior Mia Martin and senior Takyra Taylor. Martin averaged 12.8 a game, while Taylor scored 11.8 a game. They were the only two Lady Bulldogs in double-figures. As a team they shot 57.2% from the floor and 43.4% from three while averaging 38 points a game. 

Things to know this season: This year's team will have a new coach on the sidelines in Jeffrey C. Klimper. Leading scorer Martin returns, but the team will be searching from the loss of second leading scorer Taylor. 



For more on these teams and other high school sports talk, download The Region 1 Sports Report, available anywhere you get podcasts or by clicking here.