Earlier this week, the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches (KABC) announced the Players and Coaches of the Year for all 16 regions, with Daviess County well represented in the 3rd Region. The Lady Panthers, Natalie Payne, and Kennedy Lane were named Coach of the Year and Player of the Year, respectively, while Jonathan Moss was namedthe boys’ Player of the Year. Ohio County’s Matt Brigance and Trinity (Whitesville)’s Nathan West were named co-Coach of the Year.
The reigning 3rd Region champs, Payne and the Lady Panthers are currently 24-5 and have already punched their ticket back to the regional tournament. Averaging 54 points per game, the Lady Panthers are one of the more efficient teams from deep, shooting 37.8%.
“I think it’s a great honor,” Payne said. “The longer I’m in it, the more it’s about what I can do to help these kids after the game. After the season is over and after their career is over. Those are my awards and wins. That is what keeps me in it. When you have kids like I have and the families that are here at Daviess County, it makes my job so much easier.”
Looking to return to Rupp Arena, Lane is having a career, averaging 23 points and 5.1 rebounds, while shooting 50.8% from the field and 31.4% from deep. On Monday night against Apollo, the senior displayed her ability to hurt defenses from multiple areas, scoring a game-high 32 points.
“I’m biased, but to me it was a no-brainer,” Payne said. “I’ve coached Kennedy since she was in the summer of her seventh-grade year, and she’s just continued to blossom each year and added more to her game. She just has the ability to will us to win. She just does so much for us, so it’s a blessing to be able to coach a kid like that.”
One of the top players in the state, Moss and the Panthers are 22-6 on the year and 13-1 in 3rd Region play. The senior has elevated his game to the next level, averaging 24.2 points and 3.2 rebounds, while shooting 52.8% from the field and 45% from deep.
A year after finishing 7-22, West and the Raiders are in the midst of a massive turnaround, currently sitting at 16-14.
“It’s an incredible honor to be nominated by my peers,” West said. “The 3rd Region has a lot of incredible coaches, so I’m feeling really blessed. Of course, these types of recognition don’t happen if we have a down year, so I don’t win an award like this without a great group of players and a tremendous coaching staff. I get the recognition, but it’s really a team award. My family also needs a shout-out because my wife maintains everything at home while I’m at practice or away games. It’s not easy with five kids either.”
