The Adair County Indians boys’ basketball team has had a good 2025-26 season under Head Coach Deron Breeze, and continues to build momentum.
Adair County opened the regular season with a win over Elizabethtown on Dec. 1, 2025, setting the tone for the season. The Indians currently hold a 14-4 overall record and are 3-1 in district play. Five of their wins have been down to the wire, winning by five points or fewer.
The team plays hard and continues to fight for the win regardless of the scoreboard. They have proven that they have the tenacity and ability to win in high pressure situations.
Senior leadership has been a defining factor for Adair County. Dawson Gilbert, Landon Blakey and Tylin George are each averaging 20 points per game, providing consistent scoring and on-court leadership. George ranks fifth in the state in points per game, while Blakey is 16th and Gilbert 17th.
Milestone achievements have been reached, with George attaining 1,000 career points and Blakey surpassing the 1,500-point mark this season. Blakey also recorded a career-high 35 points in a win against Russell County.
The Indians claimed the 2A Section 4 Tournament championship, earning a spot among the top eight 2A teams in the state. Their postseason run came to an end in the opening round of the state tournament, where Bell County led from start to finish in a 70-46 win over Adair County.
Beyond scoring, the Indians have received strong contributions across the stat sheet. Sophomore John Shehan is averaging 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Blakey leads the team in total rebounds with 142, followed by George with 105 and Shehan with 97. George also paces the team in assists with 69, while Gilbert has 45 and Shehan 36.
With 12 games remaining before postseason play, the Indians continue to develop their skills. Gilbert is the only returning senior with both Blakey and George being new to the team. Despite not playing together throughout high school, the three have adapted to each other’s playing style and continue to grow with each game.
Players and coaches alike credit Adair County’s fan base for its unwavering support. The Indians’ fans travel well, bring energy to every gym and provide constant encouragement, creating an atmosphere that continues to fuel the team’s success.
“Season has been fine to date, 14-4 record, tied for first in district standings and won the 2A section. So to this point in the season, anything we had realistic aspirations for have been achieved,” said Breeze.
“Twelve games left, have lot of tough games on there. Realistic expectations for the rest of the season are we want to get 20 regular season wins, be the one seed in the district tournament and qualify for region tournament. Beyond that is a bonus,” he said.
“Everyone wants to win regional tournament but it’s not that easy to do every year,” he said. “You just don’t show up and win them cause you want to, 17 other schools in the 5th region want the same. They don’t had those championships out.”
“At this point, it’s not a realistic goal to achieve but something we can get better and work toward but as of now, we haven’t earned to be mentioned in that conversation,” he said.
By Amy Pike
amy@adairvoice.com
