Region 1 Sports 1st District basketball preview

1st District Boys
Carlisle County (2024 1st District Champion)
Coach: Brian O'Neill 
Last Season's Record:  Overall 21-11, in region 14-9, in district 9-0

Last season's team:  The Comets shot 44.2% from the floor, 33.1% from three and 72.0% from the foul line while averaging 66 points a game. Two players averaged double figures for the Comets in Carter Burnett's 14.6 points a game and Zack Grogan's 10.8 points a game. Sophomore Wyatt Rickard was the top scoring underclassman from last year at 8.3 points a game.

This year's outlook:  The Comets graduated six seniors off of last year's squad, including four of their top five scorers. However, a talented group of underclassman led by Rickard will look to keep the Comets on top of the district and back in the regional tournament. 



Fulton County (2024 1st District Runner-up)
Coach: Craig Clay
Last Season's Record: Overall 6-23, in region 6-14, in district 4-5

Last season's team:  The Pilots shot 37.9% from the floor, 29.2% from three and 50.6% from the foul line while averaging 49 points a game. They were led by Tristan Kinney's 15.4 points a game and Davarius Freeman's 10.7 points a game. Kinney was a junior last year, Freeman just an 8th grader. 

This year's outlook:  Experience will help the Pilots as they look to return everyone from last season's district runner-up team. A team that saw three players in double figures in their lone regional tournament game against Marshall County. 



Fulton City
Coach: Eric Kerney
Last Season's Record: Overall 6-23, in region 2-12, in district 1-7 

Last season's team:  The Bulldogs shot 41.9% from the floor, 27.2% from three and 58.1% from the foul line while averaging 45 points a game. They were led by TaZiyah Ware's 9.4 points a game and Jamal Martin's 9 points a game. Neither player appears to be back for the Bulldogs this season.

This year's outlook:  A new roster and a new coach as Noah Croak's first year ended as his only season at the helm. Eric Kerney will replace Croak and will look to replace all of the Bulldogs production from last year.



Hickman County 
Coach: Noah Croak
Last Season's Record: Overall 5-17, in region 5-14, in district 3-5

Last season's team:  The Falcons shot 37.6% from the floor, 24.1% from three and 50.6% from the foul line while averaging 43.5 points a game. They were led by Anderson Burpo's 16 points a game and Aidan Byassee - Newton's 11.1 points a game. Both players were juniors last season. 

This year's outlook:  The Falcon's had no seniors on last year's team as they return an experienced roster for first year Falcon coach Noah Croak, who spent last season coaching district foe Fulton City.



1st District Girls
Carlisle County (1st District Champion)
Coach: Ember Wright
Last Season's Record: Overall 18-11, in region 16-7, in district 9-1

Last season's team:  The Lady Comets shot 36.7% from the floor, 25.3% from three and 56.5% from the foul line while averaging 54.5 points a game. They were led by senior Kiera Whitaker's 20 points a game, while freshman Macee Hogancamp scored 13.7. Freshman Gracyn Edging was just shy of double figures with 9.3 a game. 

This year's outlook:  The Lady Comets will certainly miss All-Region performer Whitaker, but they return 63% of their production, with most of that back in now sophomores Hogancamp and Edging. Carlisle County looks poised to once again win the district and punch their ticket back to the Regional Tournament where their season ended in the semifinals last year.



Fulton County (1st District Runner-up)
Coach: Leonard Smith
Last Season's Record: Overall 17-9, in region 14-7, in district 6-3

Last season's team:  The Lady Pilots shot 41.4% from the floor, 27.1% from three and 56.2% from the foul line while averaging 53.7 points a game. They were led by All-Region junior JaMesha Brown's 22.2 points a game, while sophomore Jaleeha Smith averaged 11.5 a game. 

This year's outlook:  The Lady Pilots lost one senior in Ja Vona Davis who was fourth in scoring with five points a game. That means the Lady Pilots return 91% of their production from a team that went 1-3 against district champ Carlisle County and took them to the wire in the championship game.



Hickman County 
Coach: Lisa Britton
Last Season's Record: Overall 9-18, in region 9-17, in district 3-6

Last season's team:  The Lady Falcons shot 34.1% from the floor, 31.1% from three and 51.1% from the foul line while averaging 37.3 points a game. Last year's team had just one senior, but it was leading scorer Justice Midyett who averaged 16.6 points a game.  

This year's outlook:  The Lady Falcons lost their leading scorer, but return everyone else, including second leading scorer Brooklyn Naranjo's 11.1 points a game. First year coach Lisa Britton replaces longtime coach Shane Midyett, but will have an experienced group to work with in her first year at the helm.



Fulton City
Coach: Melissa Spears
Last Season's Record: Overall 0-20, in region 0-13, in district 0-8

Last season's team:  The Lady Bulldogs shot 25.1% from the floor, 16.8% from three and 32.8% from the foul line while averaging 23.3 points a game. They were led by Ashlyn Virgin and Asianna Patton who averaged 7.7 and 7.3 points a game. 

This year's outlook:  The Lady Bulldogs will look to improve on a winless season with first year head coach Melissa Spears now at the helm. Coach Spears will have an older team as all of their top production is back.


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