Many of the current players may not know about it.
But in 2005, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association did a massive statewide redistricting that summer trying to eliminate three-team districts. The Simon Kenton Pioneers basketball teams moved from the Ninth Region, 33rd District with the Boone County schools to the current Eighth Region, 32nd District.
The Simon Kenton boys basketball team has for the most part been a staple in the Eighth Region Tournament making it all but twice in 18 seasons in that alignment, missing out in 2017 and last season Trent Steiner has been there that entire time sporting a record of 320-260 in his 20th season as head coach of the Pioneers and has won ten 32nd District championships.
The Pioneers (21-10) head to Henry County for the region semifinals Thursday against the 29th District runner-up Oldham County Colonels (16-15) at 6:30 p.m. Simon Kenton beat the host Colonels, 62-50 on Feb. 3.
Simon Kenton ventured to the region championship in the first two years in the region championship losing to Shelby County (67-56) in 2006 then to Oldham County (63-57) in 2007. The Pioneers made it back to the region championship in 2014 losing 50-47 to South Oldham in overtime for the closest they’ve come to winning their first region championship since winning the Ninth Region in 1995.
But in recent years, Eighth Region Tournament wins have not come easy for the Pioneers. Simon Kenton bested Anderson County, 58-45 in the region quarterfinals two years ago before losing 66-64 to North Oldham in the region semifinals for their lone region tournament win since 2014.
This group has won the most games since going 22-10 during the 2019-20 season. The Pioneers have outscored opponents, 1,757-1548. They make 53% from the field, 43% from three and 66% from the free throw line.
Things start in the paint with 7-foot-3-inch center Gabe Dynes, especially when he has the ball near the basket. Dynes averages 12.3 points and a team-high 9.6 rebounds per game. The Youngstown State commit anchors the middle of Simon Kenton’s 2-3 zone defense making it tough for opponent to penetrate and dish.
Junior guard Travis Krohman and senior Isaac Gabbard have given Simon Kenton balance averaging 15.7 and nine points per game respectively with sophomore point guard Jay Bilton averaging 8.5 per game. Junior guard Miles Brown, senior forward Logan Crisp and sophomore forward Brayden Polly among others have made their contributions in small ways. Steiner said he loves the camaraderie of this team.
“They don’t care who does what,” Steiner said. “They just want to play and win. It’s great in the locker room. It’s a great group of kids. They’re really resilient and they learn pretty quick trying to pick stuff up.”
Oldham County is back in the region tournament after making it to the region semifinals last year where the Colonels lost to Woodford County. The Colonels come in just above .500 at 16-15 losing 71-50 to North Oldham in the 29th District championship game.
The Colonels have not had issues putting up points as much as stopping teams. They’ve outscored opponents just 2,042-2,039, making 46% from the field, 39% from three and 76% from the free throw line.
Oldham County has three players in double figures in junior Max Green, senior Luke Amburgey and junior Abram Steinbruner averaging 23.9, 13.4 and 12.2 points per game. Henry Marcum leads the Colonels averaging 7.8 and Amburgey averages 7.1 per game.
“They’ve got a great player in Max Green. They have another really good shooter (in) Steinbruner and they have a workhorse type kid in the middle (Amburgey),” Steiner said. “It should be a good game. (Dynes) doesn’t guard on the perimeter so we have to make sure our perimeter defense is locked in.”
The win this year for Simon Kenton broke an eight-game losing streak to Oldham County. The Pioneers last faced the Colonels in the 8th Region Tournament on March 10, 2014 winning 60-57 in the semifinals.
The winner faces the Gallatin County-Collins winner on Monday at 8 p.m. in the semifinals. The championship is on Tuesday with all games played at Henry County.
On the other side of the bracket, North Oldham faces Grant County, Woodford County and Owen County facing off on Wednesday night. North Oldham is the defending champ.