PREP BASKETBALL: Scrimmages set for this weekend in Elizabethtown (11/16)

The high school basketball season doesn’t get underway until Nov. 26, but area fans can get their prep hoops fill this weekend without even leaving the Elizabethtown city limits.

The inaugural Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic is today and Saturday at T.K. Stone Middle School, while the annual Mark Harris Construction/Physical Therapy Associates Preseason HoopFest is Saturday at Elizabethtown High School’s Charlie Rawlings Memorial Gym and auxiliary gym.

TIP-OFF CLASSIC. The opening boys’ game at 6:30 tonight pits the 5th Region Tournament quarterfinalist North Hardin Trojans (12-18 last season) against the 10th Region semifinalist Montgomery County Indians (23-11). It’s a meeting of a veteran high school coach (North Hardin’s Ron Bevars) and a longtime college coach (Montgomery County’s Happy Osborne, formerly of Georgetown College). Montgomery County is led by 6-foot-6 senior guard Omar Prewitt, a NCAA Division-I signee who’s headed to William & Mary.

Another D-I signee will take the floor in tonight’s girls’ game at 8:15 as 6-1 Duke-bound guard Becca Greenwell leads the 3rd Region quarterfinalist Owensboro Catholic Lady Aces (18-15) against 2nd Region semifinalist Webster County (18-13). Greenwell is ranked as the country’s No. 6 senior by ESPN.com’s HoopGurlz. Owensboro Catholic also features 5-5 senior point guard Leah Greathouse and 5-9 sophomore forward Destiny Howard. Webster County is led by 5-9 junior guard Mariah Herrera.

Saturday’s first girls’ game at 1:30 p.m. features the 5th Region semifinalist North Hardin Lady Trojans (22-11) against state tournament quarterfinalist Montgomery County (29-7). North Hardin features reigning Area Player of the Year Chanel Roberts, while Montgomery County is led by the senior tandem of 6-1 center Macie Spence and 5-10 guard Olivia Colliver. Spence signed with Campbellsville University during the early signing period in September.

Saturday’s second girls’ game at 3:15 p.m. pits the 17th District semifinalist Central Hardin Lady Bruins (9-21) and new coach Kristina Covington against the 3rd Region semifinalist Hancock County Lady Hornets (18-13) and 6-3 senior center Beth Rates.

Saturday’s boys’ game at 6:30 p.m. pits the 17th District semifinalist Elizabethtown Panthers (16-12) against the 23rd District semifinalist Bullitt Central Cougars (23-9). Elizabethtown is led by junior guard Nic McDonald, last year’s Area Boys’ Sophomore of the Year.

Saturday’s nightcap girls’ game at 8:15 p.m. pits the 5th Region runner-up Elizabethtown Lady Panthers (26-6) against the state tournament champion Louisville DuPont Manual Lady Crimsons (37-2). Elizabethtown has three players ranked among the state’s elite by recruiting guru Rick Bolus in 6-foot freshman wing Erin Boley, 6-1 sophomore center Reauna Cleaver and 5-5 sophomore guard Darien Huff. DuPont Manual counters with its senior duo of 6-1 wing Kayla Styles and 5-7 guard Destony Curry. Styles is headed to Xavier, while Curry is bound for Bellarmine.

Admission to each of the three sessions (Friday, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night) is $5 per person and all proceeds go to the KHSBHF.

PRESEASON HOOPFEST. The 5th Region semifinalist Green County Lady Dragons (26-7) meet the 7th Region quarterfinalist Louisville Male Lady Bulldogs (16-14) at 10 a.m. in the main gym. Male features a solid young tandem in 6-2 freshman center I’liyah Green and 5-7 sophomore guard Taylor Jackson.

The 10 a.m. game in the auxiliary gym pits the 3rd region quarterfinalist Edmonson County Lady Cats (11-19) against the 27th District semifinalist Louisville Waggener Lady Wildcats (15-13) and 5-7 junior wing Jada Jackson, who is drawing interest from Eastern Kentucky, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

The 1 p.m. game in the main gym features the 8th District semifinalist Christian County Lady Colonels (14-14) against the state tournament semifinalist Lincoln County Lady Patriots (26-10). Lincoln County features 6-0 senior wing Sydney Harris and 5-8 senior guard Emily Fox, who’s headed to Austin Peay.

The 1 p.m. game in the auxiliary gym pits the 6th Region quarterfinalist Bullitt Central Lady Cougars (21-9) against the 8th Region runner-up South Oldham Lady Dragons (27-5).

The 4 p.m. game in the main gym features the state tournament quarterfinalist Louisville Butler Bearettes (24-10) against the 8th Region champion Walton-Verona Lady Bearcats (29-7). Butler has four players ranked by Bolus in 5-10 senior wing Aareon Smith, 5-9 junior post Danielle Lawrence, 5-10 sophomore center Miah Casey and 5-9 senior guard Alexis Stallard. Walton-Verona is led by the senior duo of 6-foot center Michele Judy and 5-11 forward Courtney Sandlin, who is Bellarmine bound.

Nathaniel Bryancan be reached at (270) 505-1758 or nbryan@thenewsenterprise.com.