[HappyGilmore]

Tackett tops coaches' balloting for 2005 Pike County Team

BY TOM KOPACZ



SPORTS EDITOR

Shelby Valley senior Patrick Tackett finished off his high school basketball career with a third trip to the Sweet Sixteen and an armful of awards.

Tackett was voted the Appalachian News-Express Pike County Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player by the county's boys' basketball coaches in voting that wrapped up this week. He had four of five possible first-place votes in voting for the All-County team and three out of the five possible MVP ballots.

East Ridge's Aaron Branham and Brad Lowe of Pike Central were the only other players mentioned on five ballots. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.

Tackett played in all 32 games for the Wildcats this season, averaging 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game to lead Shelby Valley in both categories. He was part of three regional championships in four years at Shelby Valley and was named 15th Region Tournament MVP twice. He bounced back from an elbow in the back of the head to hit six straight free throws in the second overtime to lead the Wildcats to a 90-86 victory over Paintsville in the first round of the regional tournament.


Tackett narrowly edged out Branham for Player of the Year honors. Branham was named 15th Region Player of the Year in 2005 by the KABC. Branham averaged 21.5 points per game as a senior. He was voted Third Team All-State by The Associated Press and was a national finalist for the boys' Wendy's High School Heisman Award in December after being named the Kentucky boys' winner of the award.

Belfry's Randy Casey was voted Coach of the Year by his colleagues, narrowly edging out David Rowe of Pike Central. He helmed the Pirates to a surprise appearance in the 15th Region championship game in March and an 18-10 record in his first season as the head coach, improving seven games over the Pirates' 2003-04 campaign. Casey also was named regional Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.

It's the second time in less than a year that Casey has been named Pike County's top coach. Last summer, he was named Coach of the Year in baseball after directing the Belfry baseball team to the 60th District championship and a spot in the regional tournament semifinals.

Doug Howard, who sparked Belfry to that regional runner-up spot and tried to singlehandedly push Belfry past Shelby Valley, joins Wildcat senior Kris Bentley and Pike Central junior Brad Lowe on the First Team.

[HappyGilmore]

In short they are:

Patrick Tackett - Shelby Valley (MVP)
Aaron Branham - East Ridge
Doug Howard - Belfry
Kris bentley - Shelby Valley
Brad Lowe - Pike Central (the only jr.)

Randy Casey gets another Coach of the Year award.

Congrats to all!!!

[imported_imported_torQQue]

Congratulations. Thanks for the list HG!! :oops:

[Stunt101]

Matt Maynard from Belfry

[alfus21]

What about Maynard from Belfry?

[x-factor]

branham er
bentley sv
lowe pc
friend sv
tackett sv

[HappyGilmore]

There was some kind of tie and Matt Maynard is on the first team. I think Maynard, Kelsey Friend, and someone else tied with 5 votes apiece. For some reason I think it was Brad Lowe who also had 5 votes, so that makes 7 total on the first team.

Sorry for the confusion, I thought it said that in the article. Here it is again with every body in it.

Patrick Tackett - Leading vote getter
Aaron Branham - 2nd
Doug Howard - 3rd
Kris Bentley - 4th
Brad Lowe, Kelsey Friend, & Matt Maynard - 3-Way tie for 5th