The 2022-23 Coaches Association 2nd Region Basketball Coach and Player of the Year were recognized following the championship game of the girls’ regional tournament on Sunday.
Henderson County’s Jeff Haile is the Coach of the Year.
Haile will guide the Lady Colonels into the Sweet 16 later this week at Rupp Arena in Lexington after beating Crittenden County 71-53 for the regional title.
It’s the fifth straight year that Henderson has claimed top honors in the region. The Lady Colonels own 10 of the last 11 2nd Region championships.
Haile, in his 37th season, was inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in August and recorded his 800th coaching victory in December.
Haile will carry an 819-239 all-time record to the state tourney. He is second on Kentucky’s Coaching Wins list behind only Randy Napier, who went 886-285 in 38 years at M.C. Napier and Perry County Central.
Meanwhile, Crittenden County’s Taylor Guess is the Coaches Association Player of the Year in the 2nd Region.
Guess finished her career in the regional championship game on Sunday, totaling 2,643 career points. That’s more than any girls’ player ever in the 5th District and is fourth on the 2nd Region’s all-time scoring list.
Guess averaged 24 points a game this season while helping the Lady Rockets go 25-6 — tying the school record for wins in a single season.
Guess will play college basketball at Lindsey Wilson.
