While a lot of people in the Second Region are garnering preseason attention when listing their favorites, the Union County Braves appear to be sliding under the radar. And that may come back and bite the people in February who are overlooking them now.
Buoyed by three players who opted to return for a fifth year, Coach Quaid Girten has his top seven scorers returning from last year’s team that finished 16-10 but missed the region tournament with a district semifinal loss to Henderson County.
6-foot-4 forward Kaleb Kanipe is one of the fifth-year starters returning after scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds a game last year. Also back for an extra go-around are 6-4 senior Iverson King who averaged over four points and four rebounds and 6-foot senior guard Gabe Mayes who scored four points a game.
Izaiah Manuel, who nabbed all-region honors after scoring 14 points a game and shooting 37% behind the arc, also returns to give the Braves some solid backcourt scoring.
Girten will also factor in the return of 6-foot junior Kristopher Hughes, who averaged nine points, three rebounds, and knocked down 35% of his three-point shots, as well as seniors Eli Mackey and Ethan Corbett who both scored seven points a game last year.
The Braves don’t have as much size as they did last year when they shot 45% from the field, but they should be quicker and able to play more pressure defense this year. And it appears they have just enough size to match up against anyone in the region.
The Braves are the favorite to claim the 6th District championship and don’t be surprised if they make a long postseason run and get back to the region championship game for the first time in 21 years.
The Braves open their 2021-22 season Tuesday night against Crittenden County.
