I love the beginning of basketball season.

Of all the sports, the start of a new hoops season always holds the most promise, because – for a variety of reasons – it seems like basketball is the one sport where improbably turnarounds can most often occur.

In football and baseball and other team sports, you have to put together more players on the field at one time than you do in basketball.

So, in hoops, just one or two players can make a big and immediate impact.

And as the local high school teams begin another year on the hardwood this week, I can’t help but think that this could be a very special year at both Logan County and Russellville.

Of the four squads, none has a higher ceiling than the LCHS boys.

That’s partially because they have been so down the past several seasons.

Even though it didn’t always translate into wins last year, the Cougars made some huge strides throughout the season.

Logan County finished with only four wins, but was competitive in the majority of its games – getting even more so at the end of the season.

The Cougars also had a fantastic summer program. They finished with a winning record and had a great run in the Georgetown College team camp.

What’s all this mean?

Maybe not much, but maybe a lot.

I feel optimistic about Logan County’s upcoming season.

I don’t know exactly what that means. I think the Cougars could easily have a double-digit victory season. Maybe even a winning year with a berth in the region tournament.

That would be a great accomplishment, considering where they’ve been.

Similarly, I think the Russellville boys could really have a breakout season.

The Panthers have all the pieces in place to accomplish some things this year that have eluded them in the past few years – like winning the District 13 Tournament or an All “A” Classic regional title. Winning the Fourth Region and playing in Rupp Arena for the Sweet 16 isn’t even out of the question.

With some NCAA Division I caliber players, most of the regional focus is on Warren Central and Bowling Green, but don’t count Russellville out.

On the girls side, both Logan County and Russellville have been stuck behind Franklin-Simpson and Todd Central the past couple years.

Both local teams return most of their players while Franklin-Simpson and Todd Central both lost a lot from last year.

Both the Lady Cougars and Lady Panthers might not make the Fourth Region Tournament this year – but I feel pretty confident one of them will.

The past couple years, only the RHS boys have played in Diddle Arena for the Fourth Region Tournament.

This time, I expect we’ll have more than one team up there.

— OJ Stapleton is the editor of the News-Democrat & Leader.