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   The Patriots (10-19 last year) open the new year under the direction of new coach Nick Chaykowsky. The 30-year coaching veteran will take to the court with four seniors leading the way---Marcus Carter, Sean Carter, Sam Clarke, and Phillip Kinslow. 

   Carter averaged nine points and seven rebounds last year. The 6’4” forward shot over 50% from the floor, led or shared rebounding honors 17 times, and was a starter 27 times. Clarke started five times and averaged 4.7 points per game. Sean Carter and Kinslow are essentially new to the varsity line-up.

   The Patriots return juniors Brett Rippy, Cayden Ross, Bryce Carter, Camden Carver, Jacob Lightfoot, and Chase Ward. Rippy averaged 12.7 points and 2.5 assists last year while Ross contributed five points and 1.4 rebounds. 

   AC-S opens Tuesday against a South Warren squad that posted a 6-24 record in coach Nelson Cundiff’s first season at the Bowling Green school. The Spartans roster includes five seniors and six juniors.

   Friday, the Patriots will be on the road at Russellville. The Panthers were 22-12 last season, losing to Bowling Green in the finals of the Region 4 tournament. Russellville will be led by first year coach Rex Booth.

   “We must play great team defense and team rebound,” explained coach Nick Chaykowsky when asked the keys to a successful first week. “We must also play half-court offense that is team strong and takes high percentage shots. We must also limit our team turnovers.”

   The Lady Patriots---under 11th year coach Brad Bonds—will look to start the season strong. AC-S will face two of the region’s top three teams in the first eight days of the season---South Warren and Barren County.

   AC-S (14-16) returns the nucleus of last year’s team. Five seniors----Bailee Alderson, Baylea Cook, Sydney Day, Kali Mutter, and KaeLee Stafford---will serve as the team’s leaders. Juniors Sarah Sutton, Mason Towery, and Jaylee Woods will offer scoring, rebounding, and depth to the line-up.

   Sutton led the team last year in scoring and rebounding---averaging 17.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. Towery added 13.7 points and six rebounds. Sutton starts the season ranked as the fourth best player in the region in a pair of preseason rankings while Towery is rated as high as seventh in preseason ratings.

   The Lady Patriots open against South Warren (22-9). The Lady Spartans are led by University of Tampa signee Amaya Lasley. The shooting guard averaged 17.9 points and 4.9 rebounds as a junior.  South Warren starts the season regarded at the team to beat in Region 4 this season in both The Cats Pause magazine and The Courier-Journal’s pre-season coaches poll.

   “We must play solid defense by rebounding, closing off driving gaps, and defending the perimeter,” noted coach Brad Bonds. “South Warren is a really explosive offense and we must do our part defensively by making it as hard as possible on them.  Offensively we must value the basketball by limiting our turnovers against pressure and making shots."

   Saturday, the Lady Patriots will step outside Region 4 play with a game against Central Hardin at the Corky Cox Showcase at LaRue County. The Lady Bruins will be looking to build upon last season’s 14-14 record.

   The opening week for the Lady Patriots and Patriots will conclude with a District 15 match-up against rival Barren County.

   The Trojanettes enter the 2017-18 year looking to improve upon last season’s 20-13 campaign---a season in which Barren County reached the Region 4 tournament for the first time since 2009. Barren County and AC-S split regular season games last season.  

   “We are not going to define our district play and the rest of our season on our first game, however, it is extremely important that we come ready to play and defend our home court,” coach Bonds added. “Obviously being 1-0 in district is a lot better than being 0-1 in a very competitive district as the 15th."

   The Trojans (17-16) feature on the region’s best player in Jared Coomer, who scored 15.5 points and grabbed 5.2 rebounds last year. The Patriots dropped both regular season games to the Trojans last season.

   The Lady Patriots open the 44th season of girls basketball with an overall record of 790-429. Ten wins will enable AC-S to reach the 800-win mark, thus becoming the sixth girls program in the state to achieve the milestone.

   The Patriots open the 44th season of Allen County-Scottsville basketball with a record of 594-596---six wins shy of the 600-win mark.