For the last couple of seasons, the Todd County Central boys basketball program has fielded a squad full of underclassmen with an eye toward future success, including last year’s 7-12 team that didn’t feature any seniors.
First-year coach John Stigall inherits a team with 12 upperclassmen, including seven seniors, and it looks like the window may be open for the Rebels to return to the 4th Region tournament for the first time since the 2017/18 13th-District champions made a run to the regional semifinals.
Senior guard Preston Moore leads the returnees after pacing the team in points (9.8) and rebounds (5.4) per game. Juniors Perez Whitlock and Preston Rager join Moore in the backcourt, with Rager averaging 5.5 ppg a season ago and knocking down 10 3-pointers to lead the team.
Senior forward Amari Andrews was 2nd on the team with 8.3 points and just under five rebounds per outing and shot 57% from the field. Sophomore center Jamison Glass came on late in the season for the Rebels to average 4.5 points, including 11 and the game-winning bucket in a 1-point victory over Logan County in the regular-season finale.
Guard Mareke Johnson was 4th on the team with just under six points per game last year, and fellow-senior Logan Burgess was in and out of the starting lineup with almost five points per outing. Junior Jacob Brandon led the squad at 31% from 3-point range, and sophomores Tray Foster and Hayden Strader and junior Nate Reding will also provide depth in the backcourt.
Senior Anthony Johnson was strong down low for the Rebels a season ago, finishing 3rd in points (6.1) and rebounds (3.5) and shooting 56.5% from the field.
The Rebels hit the court to get things started on November 29 when they travel to South Warren. District play begins on January 7 when they look to avenge last season’s district tournament loss to Franklin-Simpson.
The Rebels have a pair of tournaments scheduled for the holidays, beginning with a trip to Edmonson County for the Rafferty’s Caveland Classic on December 20-22. Just ahead of the New Year they’ll host the Zaxby’s Christmas Classic.
Todd Central will begin play in the 4th Region All-A Classic against Foundation Christian Academy on January 10.
