Head coach: Neil Hayden (6th year)
2019-20 record: 8-21
With only a few seniors on the roster, Daviess County coach Neil Hayden will look to his younger players this season as the Panthers will try to bounce back from their lowest win total during Hayden’s tenure as DC had eight wins a year ago.
In high school hoops in Kentucky, there isn’t a game more important than the first game of the district tournament and for Hayden, that’s what he’s using the next couple of months for.
“We want to use the regular season games to prepare for the 9th District Tournament,” he said. “We have a blend of experience with youth and we want to mesh together and be the best team we can be by February.”
As it is with everything in 2020, Covid has been a factor for DC and many other teams but Hayden said it hasn’t made them deviate from their normal schedule as they’re focusing on what they can do.
“It hasn’t drastically changed the preparation for the season,” he said. “The team is preparing as it would, knowing we can only control our controllables. COVID has added an additional layer of things such as screening, social distancing in the locker room, etc … But as far as preparation on the court, it hasn’t overhauled anything. If anything, it has made me appreciate getting back in the gym and being around the team.”
Hayden will look to senior duo Camron Johnson (9.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Bo Stratton (6 ppg, 4 rpg, 61% FG) to help the scoring for the Panthers this season but another trio could also play big minutes this season.
Koki Kato (junior), Joe Humphreys (junior) and Cole Burch (sophomore) will also provide scoring for DC with Kato providing a spark when he hits the floor.
Hayden said his team has more size this year than in recent seasons and he’s hoping they can use that to their advantage.
“We need to use our length to help us rebound and get defensive stops,” he said. “If we can get stops and limit our turnovers, I believe we can give ourselves a chance to win.”
With the success of other programs in the city in recent years, Hayden said he feels like his Panthers are close and have been right in the thick of things but they’ll definitely take the underdog role this season.
“I think even the teams that we’ve had here, I felt like were the better teams in the region, we still have been ranked below some of the district reams,” he said. “I’m fine with that. I think overall, our team has been competitive with all three teams in our district. What matters to me is what they think of our program and what our coaches think. Outside of last year, I think we’ve had a chance to win the region every year. There is some underdog and I’m good with that. Hopefully it’ll add an edge and we can use that to our competitiveness.”
Daviess County starts the season Tuesday at home against Breckinridge County as they have three games during the first week.
