For the Point Guard, it’s the final dime of a highly entertaining season.

The Point Guard will have next week off to prepare for the birth of a miniature Point Guard which will take place in the coming weeks.

But, before looking forward, it’s time to look back at the top 10 storylines of the season in a region that can be likened to the NCAA this year.

Heading into the 16th Region Tournament, any of the lower-seeded teams could have knocked off a top team. A Cinderella story could have climaxed in the championship game. An unsung hero could have stolen the spotlight.

In the end, it was a recollection of the past (East Carter) and a team of the present (Rowan County) which set the tone for the future.

The Dime

10. Girls’ basketball milestones. In February, Lady Eagles sophomore Kayla Day notched the 1,000th point of her career, which contains time at both Fairview and Rose Hill Christian. First-year Fairview girls’ coach George Bellamy earned his 300th career win in early January at Fairview’s George Cooke Memorial Gymnasium — where he earned his very first win 23 years ago.

Chelsea Dietrich accumulated her 500th assist during an Ashland win at Fairview on Feb. 4. The school’s all-time girls’ assist leader was recognized before the following home game, against West Carter. Katelyn Connor, who will head to Coastal Carolina University to further her basketball career, tallied her 1,000th career point.

East Carter coach Hager Easterling achieved his 300th career win during a season in which he led the Lady Raiders to a 26-5 record and runner-up finish in the 16th Region.

9. Difference-maker for Lewis County. What a difference Terrence Smith may have made for Lewis County, which finished as 63rd District runners-up. Smith, a senior and point guard, was severely injured in an automobile accident the day before practice started and could not play all season.

8. Fairview boys’ win All ‘A’ regional championship. In the Eagles’ first of two key wins over Elliott County this season, they rode seniors Brent Jackson and Caleb Collins (both 1,000-point career scorers), along with sophomore Mike Terry, to the Touchstone Energy All ‘A’ State Tournament. The Eagles fell to Owensboro Catholic in the first round.

7. Dominant individual performances. When West Carter went into Ashland on Feb. 8, the game plan was fairly simple — make Connor try to block shots and get in foul trouble. The plan worked, and what resulted was Kristin Perry turning into the most dominating individual girls’ performances of the season. She scored 30 points, had 18 rebounds and tallied seven blocks as the Lady Comets pulled off the upset.

For the boys, Timmy Knipp’s fourth-quarter outburst in the first round of the 62nd District Tournament was crucial for Elliott County to overcome a 12-point deficit to West Carter with five minutes to go. The junior lifted his team on his back and carried them to the district championship game with 45 points.

6. Tough times for Rose Hill. After the Royals were slammed with a postseason ban for boys’ basketball, both the girls’ and boys’ suffered through winless seasons (0-36 combined). And, if that wasn’t enough, former Royals Corey Gregg, Mike Terry, J.D. Adams, Kayla Day, Kyle Bair and Connor Robinson each experienced success at their respective schools.

5. Tim Fraley suspended. Greenup County boys’ basketball has had three coaches in the last three seasons, and could be looking at a fourth for next season. Fraley agreed to resign at season’s end after returning from a two-week suspension for undisclosed reasons in January. According to Fraley, he will re-apply for the position. Whoever does take over will inherit a group of length and talent.

4. Dave Wooten resigns. The search is officially on for Boyd County boys’ basketball. Both a talent search in the hallways and a coaching search. Wooten had a rough two seasons, but the Point Guard is hearing that the Lions have a good class of freshmen coming up. They might not be too far away. By the way, Glasgow coach Jeff Hall is officially not a candidate. According to Hall, he couldn’t be happier where he’s at.

3. Timmy the Time Bomb. Going off at any minute and at any rate, Elliott County junior Timmy Knipp led the state in scoring at 31 points per game, including 16 30-point performances this season.

2. Rowan’s captivating run. The Rowan County Lady Vikings stumbled into the 16th Region Tournament after losing to Fleming County in the 61st District title game. As two-time defending regional champions, expectations were still there, and Rowan didn’t disappoint. The Lady Vikings took down East Carter in a rough-and-tumble tussle and took advantage of a favorable draw by defeating Breathitt County and Clay County in the state tournament before falling to eventual champion Louisville Mercy in the semifinals.

1. East Carter ends 24-year drought. Raiders coach Brandon Baker celebrated East Carter’s first 16th Region championship since father and coach Charles Baker led the 1986 team, on which Brandon was a sophomore guard, to regional glory.

Can East e-Rupp-t?

East Carter will continue its memorable 23-5 season at Rupp Arena on Wednesday against 4th Region champion Warren Central.

Of the Raiders’ five losses, only one was by double digits — an 84-57 blowout loss to Glasgow in the Ashland Invitational Tournament. And only one came within the region — a four-point defeat to Fleming County.

The Point Guard thinks that Warren Central is more battle-tested, but if East Carter can start hot, as it normally does not, the Raiders do stand a chance. After all, it is March Madness and the Raiders are well-coached and experienced.

Prediction: Warren Central 61, East Carter 52.

Noteworthy

-Another interesting note for the Baker boys of East Carter: Earlier this season, Brandon actually filled in and coached the Raiders freshmen team in the Freshmen Ashland Invtitational Tournament. His father, Charles, drove the bus.

-Charles Baker loaned a VHS game tape of East Carter-Paducah Tilghman of the 1986 state tournament. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the tape, Baker would like to have it returned to him if possible.

-Wonder who Highlands coach Mike Flynn is pulling for in the opening round matchup? Flynn, a former coach at Warren Central and Ashland, worked atop current Warren Central coach Tim Riley at Warren Central and as the coach at Ashland with Brandon Baker as an assistant.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.