In the opening night of the 2025–2026 basketball season, the Knott County Central Patriots traveled to Shelby Valley to take on the Wildcats. Two storied mountain programs squared off in a hostile, high-energy environment, each looking to claim early-season bragging rights.
First Quarter – Wildcats Take Early Control
Both teams came out firing offensively. The Wildcats jumped ahead early as Knott County Central’s sensational senior, Chance Amburgey, picked up his second foul and was forced to sit most of the first half. Shelby Valley capitalized, pushing the tempo and attacking the rim.
One of the biggest highlights of the night came when Brady Johnson picked off a pass in the backcourt and threw down a monstrous dunk, bringing the home crowd to its feet.
Shelby Valley stretched the lead to 18–11, but Knott County responded.
- Drew Little grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback.
- On the following inbounds play, the Patriots forced a turnover, and Conner Napier buried a quick three-pointer to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 18–16 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter – Patriots Swing the Momentum
The tempo slowed as both defenses tightened. Knott County Central controlled the quarter, outscoring Shelby Valley 15–7. Without Amburgey on the floor, the Patriots relied on smart possessions and tough defensive stands to take a 31–25 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter – Wildcats Fight Back
Shelby Valley refused to go away. With renewed energy, the Wildcats trimmed the deficit to five, trailing just 42–37 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter – Amburgey Returns, Patriots Hold On
Offense picked up again in the final frame. The Wildcats surged behind the strong play of Brady Johnson, who scored nine second-half points and nearly tied the game in the final minute. His three-point attempt with under sixty seconds remaining rattled out, and Knott County Central secured the rebound.
With Amburgey back on the floor and attacking relentlessly, the Patriots steadied themselves.
Amburgey poured in 14 second-half points, helping Knott County Central hold off Shelby Valley for a hard-fought 65–61 victory. The second half performance earned Chance Amburgey the Surplus Products Player of the Game honor.
Scoring Recap
Knott County Central Patriots
- Chance Amburgey – 18
- Drew Little – 16
- Michael Gibson -8
- Jadon Hall – 8
- Conner Napier – 7
- Peyson Dials – 6
- Gavin Mosley – 2
Shelby Valley Wildcats
- Brady Johnson – 18
- Jonah Bartley – 14
- Caden Johnson – 13
- Gavin Hamilton – 6
- Colin Newsome – 6
- Jase Hall – 4
Photo Credit- Hometown Sports Corner
