Last year: 26-10; 20th District champion; 5th Region champion; lost to Grayson County in state first round

The Cardinals won 10 straight games heading into their state-tournament showdown with the Cougars, capped by a 68-49 win over North Hardin in the 5th Region championship. Three of the top four players in their rotation are back and they added a 6-foot-4 transfer from Texas, Josh Augmon, to the mix.

Notable games: Dec. 1 at Bardstown; Dec. 8 at Spencer County; Dec. 18-22 King of the Bluegrass; Jan. 5 at Bowling Green; Jan. 16 at Marshall County; Jan. 19 vs. George Rogers Clark; Jan. 21 at Daviess County; Jan. 26 vs. Adair County; Jan. 30 at Danville Christian Academy; Feb. 12 at Adair County; Feb. 16 vs. Barren County

All 8 first-place votes, 48 total points

Last year: 26-7; 17th District champion; lost to Taylor County in 5th Region championship

The Trojans, who bring back 10 players with experience, have finished runner-up in the 5th Region each of the last two years (lost to Adair County in 2025). Senior Terrion Mack, who has an Air Force offer, was second in scoring last season (17.0 ppg) and projects to shoulder a heavier load as North Hardin works to become a groom.

Notable games: Dec. 1 at Jeffersontown; Dec. 5 at St. Mary; Dec. 8 vs. LaRue County; Dec. 12 at Male; Dec. 15 vs. Greenwood; Dec. 21 at George Rogers Clark; Jan. 23 vs. Christian County; Jan. 25 at Bowling Green; Feb. 8 at Evangel Christian; Feb. 13 vs. Warren Central; Feb. 18 vs. Apollo; Feb. 19 vs. Nelson County

37 total points

Last year: 19-11; 18th District runner-up; lost to North Hardin in 5th Region first round

Last season was the first since 2020-21 that the Hawks didn’t reach 20 wins. They lost six of their last 10 but appear poised to bounce back after taking some lumps to end 2025-26. Senior Mikey Harris (19.6 ppg) is a top-10 player in the region and leads a rotation that brings back five of its top six contributors.

Notable games: Dec. 5 vs. Eastern; Dec. 8 at North Hardin; Jan. 15 at Green County; Jan. 19 vs. Bardstown; Feb. 2 vs. Green County; Feb. 5 at Campbellsville; Feb. 6 vs. Nelson County

31 total points

Last year: 14-15; 19th District champion; lost to Adair County in 5th Region first round

Folks are high on the Tigers, who rebounded nicely after losing their first five games and taking a 4-7 record into the new year. Bardstown, a perennial winner in the 19th District, took another crown after surviving a 58-56 double-overtime championship game against rival Thomas Nelson, which lost its head coach to the girls game. Chi Pointer (18.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg) should be in the Mr. Basketball conversation come 2028.

Notable games: Dec. 1 vs. Taylor County; Dec. 2 vs. South Oldham; Dec. 5 vs. Bowling Green at Marion County; Dec. 12 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park; Dec. 18 at Nelson County; Jan. 11 at Adair County; Jan. 19 at LaRue County; Jan. 26 vs. Bethlehem; Jan. 29 vs. Nelson County; Feb. 5 vs. Bethlehem; Feb. 9 at Eastern; Feb. 15 vs. Campbellsville; Feb. 19 vs. Spencer County

20 total points

Last year: 19-10; lost to Thomas Nelson in 19th District semifinals

Trey Sparrow is the lone returnee from a quintet that all average double-figure scoring; he was third at 10.4 ppg for the Cardinals, who lost four straight to finish last season. Owen Scholes, who led Bethlehem with 13.8 ppg in 2025-26, is in the fold now.

Notable games: Dec 18 vs. Bardstown; Dec. 26 at Campbellsville; Jan. 12 vs. Adair County; Jan. 15 vs. Thomas Nelson; Jan. 22 vs. Bethlehem; Jan. 29 at Bardstown; Feb. 6 at LaRue County; Feb. 12 at Thomas Nelson; Feb. 19 at North Hardin

11 total points

Last year: 29-7; 20th District champion; 5th Region champion; lost to Assumption in state SFs

After breaking through for their first Sweet 16 trip in 2025, the Cardinals went even deeper after repeating as 5th Region champs. Four starters — Kennedy Deener, Greta Bradstreet, Jaylee Vernon and Avery Raikes — are back from that run, accounting for about 75% of their production. They’ll have a different head coach for the third year in a row; Maze Stallworth resigned from the boys job at Thomas Nelson to lead the Cardinals, who dealt with an unexpected coaching exit ahead of last season. Longtime area coach Donnie Swiney came out of retirement and stepped in on an interim basis.

Notable games: Dec. 8 at Southwestern; Dec. 12 vs. Male; Dec. 15 at Campbellsville; Dec. 19-22 Queen of the Commonwealth (Bullitt East); Dec. 27-30 Lady Invitational of the South (Allen County-Scottsville); Jan. 5 at Bowling Green; Feb. 6 at Frederick Douglass; Feb. 9 vs. Campbellsville; Feb. 13 at Owenboro Catholic; Feb. 16 vs. Barren County

5 first-place votes, 45 total points

Last year: 20-13; 19th District runner-up; lost to Taylor County in 5th Region championship

The Banshees’ loss to Taylor County in the region final wasn’t close (52-35) but the Cardinals’ battle with Elizabethtown a round earlier was contentious (64-58). Why’s that relevant? Well, E-town’s best player, 5-11 junior Maliah Courtney, joined Bethlehem in the offseason. She and Loren Macy, the likely Miss Basketball candidate from the region, will make a formidable duo. Oh, and Bethlehem didn’t lose a single player from last season’s squad, which featured another double-digit scorer behind Macy in Kaylee McElroy (16.8 ppg as a junior). “For the first time in my eight years coaching girls high school ball, I have really good depth,” head coach Glenn Wathen said. “And I have kids that really know how to play the game.”

Notable games: Dec. 1 at Sacred Heart; Dec. 19-22 Queen of the Commonwealth (Bullitt East); Dec. 27-30 City of First Holiday Tournament (Boyle County); Jan. 4-8 hold for All “A” 5th Region tournament; Jan. 26 at Bardstown; Feb. 13 at Bowling Green

3 first-place votes, 43 total points

Last year: 19-10; 19th District champion; lost to Elizabethtown in 5th Region first round

Sharpshooter Ella Buckman (21.6 ppg) gave Bardstown chance in every game last season. She leads a host of underclassmen back for the Tigers’ district-title team that beat Bethlehem before falling to E-town in the region tournament. Journey Kimberland Graves also averaged double figures (12.2 ppg) and Bailee Prewitt wasn’t far off (8.8); both were freshmen last season.

Notable games: Dec. 15 vs. Washington County; Dec. 18 at Nelson County; Dec. 27-30 City of First Holiday Tournament (Boyle County); Jan. 4 vs. Moore; Jan. 9 at Grayson County; Jan. 12 vs. Washington County; Jan. 26 vs. Bethlehem; Jan. 29 vs. Nelson County; Feb. 6 at North Oldham; Feb. 9 vs. Male; Feb. 11 vs. Barren Couny; Feb. 13 at Daviess County; Feb. 19 vs. Campbellsville

28 total points

Last year: 20-10; 20th District runner-up; lost to Bethlehem in 5th Region SFs

Campbellsville couldn’t get wins against the region’s upper echelon last year — 0-5 against Bethlehem and Taylor County, thought they stayed within striking distance in the first two meetings with the Cardinals — but took care of business elsewhere. Those lumps should pay dividends: everyone’s back except seniors Alexis Knifley (their second-leading scorer) and Tazaria Owens. Karsyn Smith (16.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Symone Headspeth (11.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg) are both names to know in the junior class. Former UK star Kyvin Goodin-Rogers is the Eagles’ head coach.

Notable games: Dec. 3 at Metcalfe County; Dec. 15 vs. Taylor County; Dec. 27-30 City of First Holiday Tournament (Boyle County); Jan. 4-8 hold for All “A” 5th Region tournament; Jan. 18 at Barren County; Feb. 2 at Anderson County; Feb. 8 vs. Pulaski Couny; Feb. 9 at Taylor Couny; Feb. 11 at John Hardin; Feb. 16 vs. Bowling Green; Feb. 19 at Bardstown

19 points

Last year: 19-10; lost to Elizabethtown in 17th District SFs

The Bulldogs lost Ja’Leigha Bussey, a standout in the 2030 class who averaged 17.2 ppg last season, to The St. James Performance Academy in Virginia. It’s a good thing they have the top sophomore recruit in Kentucky on their roster in Charlotte McCurry, an ESPN Top 30 player in the class who’s gonna get to go just about wherever she wants to in college. Head coach Jared McCurry, in year two leading the girls after over a decade on the boys staff, is eager to see who steps up in the scoring department. “I really like this squad because they work hard and listen,” he said. “They want to get better each day. It will take some time for eveything to come together but hopefully we will have a good season.”

Notable games: Dec. 5 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park in The Cecilian Bank Tip-Off Classic (Breckinridge County); Dec. 11 vs. Male; Dec. 15 vs. North Hardin; Dec. 21-23 Play It Again Sports Caveland Classic (Edmonson Couny); Jan. 12 vs. Moore; Jan. 22 at Central Hardin; Feb. 2 at North Hardin; Feb. 5 vs. Central Hardin; Feb. 11 vs. Campbellsville; Feb. 16 vs. Butler; Feb. 18 at Christian Academy of Louisville

16 total points

Last year: 14-13; 21st District champion; lost to Jeffersontown in 6th Region first round

It’s rare for a team that finished around .500 to be picked to be tabbed the best in its region, let alone among the best in the state: the Bulldogs were ranked No. 8 in KHSD’s preseason top 25. But it’s also rare for such a team to lose a special talent to a prep school and then have that player return from those greener pastures. Ferlandes Wright, who as a sophomore averaged 18.0 ppg and led Fairdale to 21 wins, is now a senior Louisville commit and back to help his school do something it hasn’t done since 2007: play in the Sweet 16.

Notable games: Dec. 3 vs. Danville Christian Academy; Dec. 5 vs. Grayson County in Marshall County Hoopfest; Dec. 18-22 King of the Bluegrass; Jan. 8 at Jeffersontown; Jan. 22 at Pleasure Ridge Park; Jan. 23 vs. Warren Central in Bobby Rascoe Classic (Daviess County); Feb. 6 vs. Montgomery County in King of the Coliseum (Breathitt County); Feb. 9 at W.E.B. DuBois; Feb. 16 vs. North Oldham

10 first-place votes, 65 total points

Last year: 22-10; 24th District champion; lost to Butler in 6th Region SFs

This school is one of two on the list that didn’t exist the last time Fairdale won its last 6th Region title. DuBois, which began competing in 2022-23, won its first postseason games last season in March and gave eventual 6th Region champion Butler all it wanted in the semis. And they did all of that without a home gym, something they’ll finally have this winter. In addition to Ja’Rye Brown — who might’ve been the frontrunner for Region POY if not for Wright’s return — they bring back six others, including 6-2 guard Rashad High, a track-and-field state champ.

Notable games: Dec. 5 vs. Grayson County in Mr. Basketball Classic (George Rogers Clark); Dec. 8 at Montgomery County; Dec. 18-22 King of the Bluegrass; Dec. 27-29 Jim Rose Classic (Lexington Christian Academy); Dec. 27 at Warren Central; Jan. 22 vs. Jeffersontown; Jan. 26 vs. Evangel Christian; Jan. 28 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park; Feb. 9 vs. Fairdale

1 first-place vote, 46 total points

Last year: 20-10; lost to W.E.B. DuBois in 24th District SFs

The Eagles appeared well-positioned for the present and future: their top returning player, Aristophane “Pablo” Molima, is a 6-8 power forward bound for Kent State after the season, but the bulk of their other expected top contributors were in eighth and ninth grades last season. Molima was their leading scorer (14.2 ppg) along with Tyson Darko (14.1 ppg), who’s regarded as the best freshman in Kentucky after North Oldham’s Pierre Rondo.

Notable games: TBD All “A” Classic tournament qualifiers; Dec. 1 vs. Spencer County; Dec. 11 vs. Jeffersontown; Dec. 29 vs. Highlands; Jan. 26 at W.E.B. DuBois; Feb. 2 at North Oldham; Feb. 6 at Bryan Station; Feb. 8 vs. North Hardin; Feb. 16 at Christian Academy of Louisville; Feb. 19 at Warren Central

38 total points

Last year: 21-0; 24th District runner-up; lost to Butler in 6th Region championship

The Chargers have won the 6th Region three of the last five seasons, an incredible accomplishment for a program that had five total state-tournament trips (winning it all in 2006) but none since moving over from the 7th Region in 2011-12. Their top three scorers graduated or ventured elsewhere (UK football commit Larron Westmoreland, their third leading scorer, ended up at Corbin.)

Notable games: Dec. 1 vs. North Hardin; Dec. 5 at North Laurel; Dec. 11 at Evangel Christian; Dec. 12 at Warren Central; Dec. 17 at Pleasure Ridge Park; Dec. 28-30 Ashland Invitational; Dec. 28 vs. Campbell County; Jan. 8 vs. Fairdale; Jan. 22 at W.E.B. DuBois; Feb. 2 at St. Xavier; Feb. 12 at Male; Feb. 16 vs. Ballard; Feb. 19 at Christian Academy of Louisville

32 total points

Last year: 18-9; 21st District runner-up; lost to Butler in 6th Region first round

PRP fell to Butler twice in the span of about two weeks to end last season and have lost six straight to the Bears since a 67-46 win on Feb. 10, 2023. But they edged them for the fifth spot here. Head coach Larry Kihnley, who’s been with the program for 44 years overall, is excited about the Panthers’ guard rotation, in particular. “In Neyko Jenkins, JaQuay Gabriel and TJ Tribble I think we have the best three-guard lineup in the state,” Kihnley said. “All three can score, shoot the ball and get down hill.”

Notable games: Dec. 1 vs. Warren Central; Dec. 12 at Bardstown; Dec. 17 vs. Jeffersontown; Dec. 28-30 Mountain Schoolboy Classic at Belfry; Jan. 2 vs. Barren County at Grayson County New Years Classic; Jan. 22 vs. Fairdale; Jan. 28 at W.E.B. DuBois; Feb. 12 at Butler

24 total points

Last year: 19-8; 22nd District champion; lost to Pleasure Ridge Park in 6th Region SFs

The Bears won two state titles and made eight Sweet 16 appearances from 2003-2017. They’ve punched a state-tournament ticket just once since (2024). Few girls coaches in the region returned surveys but that likely didn’t impact too much at the top: it’s been a hotly contest region as of late — no team has repeated since Bullitt East from 2020-2022 — and the polling reflects that. Seniors Amiya Civils (10 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Khmiah Verble (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) lead Butler’s returnees along with junior Faith Mosley (10.7 ppg).

Notable games: Dec. 2 vs. Spencer County; Dec. 15 vs. Bullitt East; Dec. 19-22 Century Bank Classic (Anderson County); Jan. 8 at Male; Jan. 14 at Mercy Academy; Jan. 22 at Central; Feb. 2 at Manual; Feb. 12 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park; Feb. 16 at John Hardin

1 first-place vote, 23 total points

Last year: 21-10; 21st District champion; lost to Bullitt East in 6th Region championship

While Butler’s been the belle of the ball in this region, Pleasure Ridge Park has won it just twice (1998 and 2002). The Panthers were achingly close to a third state-tournament trip last season, falling 57-55 to Bullitt East in the final. PRP graduated three seniors, including second-leading scorer JaLaisah Hamblen, but have Miss Basketball hopeful Mar’Ryah Carr back along with three other starters.

Notable games: Dec. 5 vs. John Hardin in The Cecilian Bank Tip-Off Classic (Breckinridge County); Dec. 8 vs. Manual; Dec. 27-30 City of First Holiday Tournament (Boyle County); Jan. 5 at Mercy Academy; Feb. 9 at Central; Feb. 12 at Butler; Feb. 19 vs. Moore

2 first-place votes, 22 total points

Last year: 19-13; 23rd District champion; lost to Franklin-Simpson in state first round

The Chargers look to become the region’s first repeat champion since they strung together a threepeat from 2020-2022. Last year’s title run was their first since that stretch. Among their returnees are senior center Lyla Packer, a 6-2 center, and Charley Petrowski, who started at point guard as an eighth-grader.

Notable games: Dec. 15 at Butler; Dec. 19-22 Queen of the Commonweath (host); Jan. 8 at Moore; Jan. 12 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park; Jan. 20 vs. Mercy Academy; Feb. 6 at Grayson County; Feb. 15 vs. Franklin County

2 first-place votes, 21 total points

Last year: 20-14; 24th District champion; lost to Bullitt East in 6th Region SFs

Mercy has taken the 6th Region crown six times, nearly matching the seven it won as a 7th Region team for three decades. Two of those came over the last four seasons (2023, 2025). Keith Baisch, who led the Jaguars from 2013-2020, is back in the captain seat with a roster stocked with underclassmen. Seniors Carly Shephard (5.6 ppg) and Caitlin McCauley (3.7 ppg) are the lone veterans among several players who contributed similar totals last year.

Notable games: Dec. 3 at North Oldham; Dec. 11 at Christian Academy of Louisville; Dec. 19 at Highlands; Dec. 20 at Bishop Brossart; Jan. 2 vs. Greenwood in German American Bank Shootout (Bowling Green); Jan. 5 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park; Jan. 8 at Sacred Heart; Jan. 14 vs. Butler; Jan. 20 at Bullitt East; Feb. 2 at Spencer County; Feb. 8 vs. Assumption; Feb. 10 at Ryle; Feb. 15 vs. Manual

17 total points

Last year: 13-13; lost to Bullitt East in 23rd District SFs

Saryah Todd averaged 16.1 ppg and 10.1 rpg last year as a freshman for Moore, which sought consecutive 6th Region trips for the first time since 2018-19. The Mustangs should be well in the mix again with all three of their top scorers — Todd plus senior Asia Bowens-Jackson (10.4 ppg) and freshman VaNiyah Tiller (9.7 ppg) — on the court.

Notable games: Dec. 1 vs. Butler; Dec. 7 vs. Christian Academy of Louisville; Dec. 22 at Meade County; Jan. 4 at Bardstown; Jan. 5 at Male; Jan. 8 vs. Bullitt East; Jan. 9 at Central; Jan. 12 at John Hardin; Jan. 19 vs. Manual; Feb. 19 at Pleasure Ridge Park

9 total points