After a two-year absence from the 2nd Region tournament, the Webster County boys’ basketball team made the most of its return in 2019-20. A first 6th District title in four years preceded the Trojans’ run to the regional championship game, where they were turned away by a dominant Madisonville-North Hopkins. Coach Jon Newton’s ninth season in charge in Dixon yielded a record of 27-6, topping win totals of 25 and 26 in back-to-back years ending with 2014-15.
The Trojans announced their contender status with a ten-game winning run to start the season, including wins over Christian County and Caldwell County, before a loss to Buford, GA in the Marlin Classic at Panama City, FL. They began the New Year with a couple of wins, before a 58-54 loss to Calloway County ended the Trojans’ run in the 2A Championship Sectionals.
A six-game win streak followed, highlighted by second wins of the season over both Hopkinsville and Caldwell, before an overtime loss to district foe Henderson County and a 5-point loss to visiting Lyon County. Henderson would complete the regular-season sweep with a 73-65 over the Trojans, putting the Colonels in the driver’s seat for the district tournament.
Senior leading scorer Tyler Camplin poured in 29 points in a 1-point win over visiting UHA, building momentum for the postseason run. Camplin was at it again in the district tourney, tossing in 24 points in an upset of Henderson to give the Trojans their first district title since the 2015-16 season. Camplin, Destin Allen, Hunter McNaughton and Ayden Winn were each named to the All-District team.
The Trojans’ path the the region final would be daunting, beginning with a second meeting of the season with the revenge-minded UHA Blazers. Webster led throughout, before holding off a late run for an 88-79 quarterfinal victory. Camplin was instrumental with 28 points, while McNaughton shot an incredible 11/13 from the field on the way to a 27 point, 7 rebound performance.
Awaiting in the semifinals was one of only three teams to beat the Trojans during the regular season, Travis Perry and the Lyon County Lyons. Camplin and Allen both finished with double-doubles, earning a 12-point victory and punching their ticket to the regional title game for the first time since a loss to Hopkinsville in the 2014-15 season.
However, the Maroons proved to be too much, despite 27 points from Camplin in his final game in a Trojan jersey. With Madisonville big men Ksuan Casey and Kenny White patrolling the paint, Webster paid the price for a frigid 5/28 from 3-point range, while only attempting 9 free throws in the game. Camplin and fellow senior Zaine Geary were the only Trojans in double figures, with Allen, McNaughton and Winn held to a combined 18 points.
If the Trojans are to match the heights of this season, they will need to replace the Camplin-sized hole in the backcourt. The All-Region guard led the team in scoring at 17.8 ppg, while also knocking down a team-high 39 3-pointers at 39%. Winn also graduates, after posting 9.5 ppg and 4.5 rebounds per outing.
Seniors Allen and McNaughton will lead Trojans into next season after All-Region campaigns, averaging 13 and 12.2 points a game, respectively. Allen led the team in rebounds with 6.4 per game, while connecting on 40.5% of his 3-point attempts. McNaughton was just behind at 37.9% from 3, while pulling down 5.5 rpg. Junior Aaron Harmon will be called upon to expand his role, after scoring 4.2 ppg this season.
