The Hopkinsville Tigers are chasing one last Region 2 basketball championship as they play the last season in school history in 2025-26.
Head Coach Anthony Babb can hardly suppress his grin when talking about his team, which is coming off a 15-16 record a year ago.
The Tigers return four starters from last season’s team including All-Region senior guard Jay Bradley Jr., who averaged 15.6 points and 8.2 rebounds a year ago.
Also back are 6-foot-4 junior forward Layton Giltner (8.8 p., 9.6 r.),6-3 sophomore guard Jayon Bass (5.5 p., 4.2 r.), and sophomore guard Jonovan Leavell (12.2 p.)
Hoptown also has a solid group of players who saw productive minutes last season. Babb said he feels he has plenty of experience to challenge for a region title.
At guard alone, the Tigers will not only rely on Bradley Jr., Leavell, and Bass, but CJ Dillard, Katyes Fleming and transfer Jayven Gissendanner also figure to see time.
Giltner, junior sophomore TaShaun Quarles, sophomore Jordan Burse, and Christian County transfer Aiden Jesse also make the Tigers’ even deeper at the post position.
Babb said that many players gives him the depth to play at a faster tempo, which has him excited about this team’s potential.
Jesse, a 6-4 senior, averaged 4.4 rebounds and 3.7 points at Christian County last season. He will join Giltner, the 6-4 Quarles and the 6-4 Burse in giving Hoptown some height and length in the post.
Babb said he and the team are aware that this is the final season of Hoptown Tigers’ basketball before the school consolidates with Christian County next year. He said it is even more motivation for the team to succeed this season.
Hopkinsville will open the season Thursday night at Hopkins County Central.
The schedule is a tough one as usual for the Tigers, who will play Graves County in the Farmer’s Bank and Trust Tip-Off Classic, Henry County, Tenn., in the Gateway Holiday Classic, and Jeffersontown in the Ashland Invitational Tournament.
Hoptown also will play traditional rivals Henderson County, Paducah Tilghman, Madisonville-North Hopkins and Lyon County. The final Hoptown-County game is scheduled for Jan. 23 at Tiger Gym.
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