PREVIEW – Tigers Hoping to Become Players in District, Region

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Caldwell County senior Jabrion Spikes figures to be one of the top scorers in the 2nd Region this season. The Tigers hope they can put enough role players around him to be players in the 7th District and the 2nd Region this season.

Spikes, a 6-foot-1 guard, shared top scoring duties with Tripp Branch last season at Caldwell. Spikes scored 19.5 points a night while Branch got 18.7.

But Branch is now playing football at Centre College, leaving Spikes to carry much of the scoring load this season.

Caldwell also lost Tate VanHooser and his 7.2 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. VanHooser is now on the baseball team at Rend Lake College.

“Tate and Tripp were roughly 25-30 points a game,” noted Daniel Kukahiko, who begins his 10th season as Caldwell County head coach. “We’re not looking for one guy to score 30 points a game, that’s just not how it’s going to work for us. But I think we have four or five guys who can average around that 10-point mark— and, on any given night, maybe get around that 20-point mark. So that’s what we’re trying to do. And we have lots of guys that can fill that role.”

Three starters return this season, and Caldwell picked up a few extra players from the football season to add depth to its ranks this year.

Spikes is drawing interest from several colleges and has received an offer from Howard College in Big Spring, Texas. Expect more offers to come his way throughout the season.

Sophomore point guard Carter Whittington is back for Caldwell along with his brother, freshman wing player Collin Whittington.

Collin got 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds a night while Carter averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 boards last season.

Sophomore Carter Whittington returns at the point guard spot this season for Caldwell.

Both will be counted on to improve those numbers this year, as will junior guard Zavy Bumphus, who saw extensive time last season, scoring 4.3 points a contest.

Caldwell will have some height and bulk inside, and will be looking for defense and rebounding out of the post. Senior Giovante Riley saw action last season while senior Elijah Shaheen joined the basketball squad this year following football season.

Camden Woford, a sophomore, will add depth inside while sophomore swingman Demaurius Thompson can get on the boards.

Senior guards Blake Vivrette and Isaiah Joyner add good size and length out front and are starting candidates as well. Senior Logan Smiley and junior Jamus Carneyhan supply even more depth after coming over from the Tiger football team.

That gives Kukahiko a lot of options as the Tigers try to build an offense around Spikes.

“Our biggest goal, and I think I say this every year, is just to compete every single game. Every time we step on the court, no matter who we play against, we want to compete and at the end of the game have a chance to win.

“I think if we have that mindset, it allows us to talk about some of those goals that haven’t been accomplished around here in a while — talk about cutting down the net for a district championship, talk about cutting down the net for a regional championship.

“Our district is shaping up to be a tough district, so another goal is to get to that district championship game first. We have a tough district, so we’re going to have to make sure that we’re not the same team come postseason time as we are right now.”

Freshman Collin Whittington is one of three returning starters this season for the Tigers.

The Tigers will open the regular season on Tuesday at home against defending 2nd Region champion University Heights Academy.

The Caldwell home schedule will be highlighted by the West Kentucky Hoops Classic Dec. 27-28.

That event, which features 14 games over two days, was not played last year because of COVID-19.

Caldwell will host the 7th District tournament in February.

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