The Auburn middle school basketball season came to an end in the county championship game in late January. The players that are returning for next year’s 2016-2017 season were not ready for basketball to be over. So coaches Travis Hurt, Brandon Coursey, and Shannon Burton decided to let them keep practicing, playing, and working on their basketball skills in the offseason.
They had played in five tournaments by late April, finishing as runner-up in three of those. They played teams from the Fourth Region including Allen County-Scottsville, Franklin-Simpson, Russell County, Warren County, Barren County, and Glasgow, beating all of those except AC-S. They also have gone against teams from Tennessee and other parts of Kentucky.
“I'm proud of how only one community in Logan has fared against these county teams,” says Coach Hurt. “When we went to Franklin for a basketball showcase tourney, we were the three seed going in to Sunday's Single elimination, facing Franklin-Simpson, and one player from south Warren. We trailed by five points with less than five minutes remaining. After our timeout the boys executed our full-court man-to-man defense, causing several turnovers, and capitalizing from the free throw line. We won 45-39.”
In that game, Auburn had three players scoring 12 points each (Preston Hurt, Kamden Coursey and Maurice Gordon), Landon Larson with 6, and Brady McLellan 3, The Tigers lost in the championship game against Allen County.
“Our boys are not done working. We have practices scheduled running through August with six tourneys throughout the summer,” Hurt continues. “I'm proud of our boys’ efforts, improvements, and work ethic in the offseason!”
Pictured are, from left, back row, Head Coach Travis Hurt, Kamden Coursey, Brady McLellan, Landen Larson, Maurice Gordon, Assistant Coach Norm Larson; front row, Assistant Coach Shannon Burton, Jacob Burton, Preston Hurt, Aaron Hinton and Henry Ham.