Lawrence Co. on the move once again, but will host present District tournament this season
Move includes Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball and Baseball
Lexington, Ky. — For the third time in 11 years Lawrence Co. High school will be in a new sports district beginning play in 2017/18. This time the Bulldogs will compete in the 58th district, which is made up of Floyd Co. schools. Lawrence Co. will join Prestonsburg, Betsy Layne and Floyd Central which is a new school opening in the fall of 2017 after South Floyd and Allen Central will be consolidated. This move will affect Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball and Baseball. Football will not be part of the move.
Also Lawrence Co. got some huge news when it was announced that the Dawgs will host the 60th District tournaments in Girls and Boys basketball plus baseball and softball this season. They were set to host next season. LC hasn’t hosted a district tourney since 2009/10 in the 57th district.
The Dawgs were in the 16th region until 2006/07 when they moved to the 57th district which is in the 15th region and then were moved to the 60th in 2014/15 and will only spend three years there.
The KHSAA board of control approved a trial pilot program which entails all 16 teams will compete in the 2018 Region tournament. The 16 team super regional tourney would force each team to cut one game from the regular season schedule to allow for the extra contest in the four round tournament. District tourneys will continue. Teams will be seeded by regular season play, rankings, voting by coaches or other methods to be worked out in future meetings.
15th Region is losing one team because of consolidation but will gain a new member when Jenkins Independent moves from the 14th region and will be placed in the 59th district beginning 2017/18.
15th Region beginning in 2017/18
57th District
Johnson Central, Magoffin Co., Paintsville, Sheldon Clark
58th District
Betsy Layne, Floyd Central, Lawrence Co. Prestonsburg,
59th District
East Ridge, Jenkins, Pikeville, Shelby Valley
60th District
Belfry, Piarist, Phelps, Pike Co. Central
Lawrence Co. Superintendent Dr. Robbie Fletcher
” With the consolidation of Allen Central and South Floyd and Jenkins moving into the 15th Region, it was necessary to make some changes in the district alignment. Even though we have built a good relationship with the schools in Pike County, this change will cut down travel time for district play. We were also able to work out hosting the district tournaments this year, before we moved. Overall, this change was a good decision for our students. We appreciate Superintendent Webb and the Floyd County community welcoming us to the 58th.”
Lawrence Co. Athletic Director Travis Feltner
” We had heard so much talk and you can’t believe everything you hear or read. I was in communication with all of our coaches to keep them updated.”
Lawrence Co. Softball Head Coach Kenny Horn
” It doesn’t effect our preparation no matter what District we are in. Everybody seem to dread the long trips in the 60th but it wasn’t that bad.” Excited to host it has been a while always good to play at home.”
Lawrence Co. Girls basketball Head Coach Melinda Feltner
” I think it will be good to be in the 58th. The kids will enjoy playing here for districts. It’s been a long since we hosted.”
Lawrence Co. Boys basketball Head Coach Travis York
” We are excited to host District this season, we heard so many scenarios that we might be moving that I didn’t know what to believe.”
