article 2nd Region Tournament Preview

The 2016/17 basketball season has came and gone, a lot of teams’ season has come to an end but there are still teams out their playing, trying to get to the 2017 KHSAA Sweet 16 and a chance at a state championship. Lots of good basketball was played this season in the 2nd region and that regional tournament should be nothing short of a fantastic one. Let’s take a look at the bracket and matchups!

Top Bracket:

Mar 1 – 6 PM – Lyon County vs. Webster County

Mar 1 -7:45 PM – Madisonville North-Hopkins vs. Christian County

Bottom Bracket:

Mar 2 – 6 PM – Hopkinsville vs. Livingston Central

Mar 2 – 7:40 PM – Henderson County vs. Dawson Springs

March 6 Semi-Finals

March 7 Championship

All games will be played at Hopkinsville High School

Lyon County vs. Webster County:

These two teams will kick off the 2017 2nd region tournament on Wednesday night. Lyon County comes in with a record of 17-12 (12-9 region). The Lyons come in on 2 game win streak and district champions of the 5th district where they defeated both Trigg County (57-51 opening round game) and Livingston Central (61-59 Championship) and have won 7 of their last 8 games heading into the regional tournament.

Webster County comes in with a record of 17-14 (11-7 Region). The Trojans defeated Union County 46-26 in the opening round game of the 6th district tournament but falling to Henderson County 77-59 in the championship game. The Trojans come in having won 5 of their last 8 games.

These two teams met back on January 2nd at Lyon County, where Webster County pulled out a 50-41 victory over the Lyons. Senior forward Ethan Gilbert led the way for the Trojans scoring 17 points including 9/11 from the charity stripe in the win.

Senior center Josh Mincey led the way for Lyon County with 9 points in the loss. The Lyons didn’t have one single person to have more than 3 field goals in that game, in fact, the Lyons were 13/42 from the field in the loss.

Madisonville North-Hopkins vs. Christian County:

The Maroons vs. the Colonels will follow the first game on Wednesday. (Lyon County vs. Webster County) MNH comes in with a record of 15-14 (11-5 region), having won the 7th district championship, defeating Caldwell County 74-57 (opening round game) and Dawson Springs 60-45 in the championship game. Despite carrying a 2 game win streak into the regional tournament, The Maroons have actually lost 5 of their last 8 games.

The Colonels, one of the favorites to win the region, come in at 25-7 and 9-3 (region) district 8 runners up, defeating UHA 87-73 before falling to the other heavyweight in this region, Hopkinsville 62-61 in a thriller of a district championship game. Despite the loss to Hoptown, the Colonels are actually, probably one of the hottest if not the hottest teams coming in the regional tournament, having won 6 of their last 8 games.

These two met back on December 6th where Christian County defeated the Maroons 66-53 at Christian County. Junior forward Detorrion Ware led the Colonels with 24 in the win including 5 trey’s. Senior guard T’Aiveyhon Mason added 17 for Christian County.

Senior guard Noah Cunningham led the Maroons with 21 in the loss.

Hopkinsville vs. Livingston Central:

Hoptown and Livingston Central will kick off session #2 on Thursday at 6 PM. Hopkinsville comes in with a record of 25-6 (11-1 region) and winners of the 8th district, defeating Fort Campbell 93-50 in the opening round game of the district tournament and then upsetting the district favorite, Christian County 62-61 in a thriller.

Livingston Central comes in with a record of 18-14 (10-8 region) 5th district runner up. The Cardinals got to the regional tournament by defeating Crittenden County 50-45 in a thriller in the opening round of the 5th district tournament. Livingston Central however, would lose the district championship game to Lyon County 61-59.

This will be the first meeting between these two teams this season. This is actually the first meeting between these two teams since the 2006/7 season, where Hopkinsville won 63-42.

Henderson County vs. Dawson Springs:

This will be the final first round game of the 2nd region tournament. Henderson County comes in with a record of 21-9 7-3 (region), having won 4 straight. Having won the 6th district championship, defeating Webster County 77-59. The Colonels had a buy so they automatically advanced to the district championship game and regional tournament.

Dawson Springs comes in with a record of 17-15 (9-11 region) having won 3 of their last 4 games. Dawson Springs made it to the regional tournament by defeating Hopkins County Central 71-62 in the opening round game of the 7th district, the Panthers would fall to district foe, Madisonville North-Hopkins 60-45 in the district championship game tho.

This will be the first meeting between these two teams this season. 2005/6 season was the last time these two teams hooked up and it wasn’t a good game at all for the Panthers as the Colonels rolled to an 80-35 victory.

Top 10 Players:

1. Stephen Cager (Hopkinsville):

Junior guard is Mr. Do It Everything for Coach Haworth’s Tigers. Although he averages 16 points a game, Stephen shoots almost 50% from the field for the Tigers.

2. Detorrion Ware (Christian County):

Detorrion seems to led the Colonels in all aspects of the game, shooting, rebounds. You name it and he more than likely leads it. Detorrion has scored 648 points this season in 31 games and shoots 35% from 3.

3. Jalen Johnson (Hopkinsville):

The second best player, behind Cager, on Hoptowns team. In 27 games this season, he’s scored 462 total points and is shooting 35.5 % from 3 and 68 % from the charity stripe.

4. Taye Calloway (Henderson County):

Henderson County’s leading scorer at 15 points a game is about as dead aim as your gonna get from long range, shooting almost 45% from 3.

5. Jaylan Sebree (Christian County):

The senior forward has scored a total of 513 points this season in 30 games. That’s on shooting 53.1% from the field, 73.1% from the free throw line and all on 17 points a game.

6. Noah Cunningham (Madisonville North-Hopkins):

If your down and need someone to come up huge at the free throw line, then this is the guy you want. Noah is shooting an unbelievable 90% from the charity stripe. In 97 attempts, 89 of them have fell through.

7. Peyton Martin (Lyon County):

In 25 games this season, he’s scored 347 points. His team has played 29 games thus far. 81 of those 347 points have came from none other than the free throw line.

8. Cameron Dean (Livingston Central):

Junior forward is averaging nearly a double double a game for the Cardinals at 14.2 PPG and 7.4 RPG. Cameron should and more than likely will be a top 5 region player for the Cardinals next season.

9. Dylan Simpson (Dawson Springs):

The main go to guy for Coach Wayne Simpson’s Panthers. Dylan is averaging some unbelievable stats. 61/170 from 3 (35.9%), 74/103 Free Throw Line (71.8%) and 46.3 from the field, 194/419.

10. Chatman Ellis (Webster County):

Although he averages just 14 points a game, most of his shots go through, as he’s well over 50% from the field this season.

Team Rankings:

1. Christian County (25-7)

2. Hopkinsville (25-6)

3. University Heights (13-15)

4. Henderson County (21-9)

5. Hopkins County Central (21-10)

6. Lyon County (17-12)

7. Madisonville North-Hopkins (15-14)

8. Livingston Central (18-14)

9. Caldwell County (16-14)

10. Dawson Springs (17-15)

11. Webster County (17-14)

12. Union County (8-22)

13. Fort Campbell (4-24)

14. Crittenden County (7-24)

15. Trigg County (8-19)

Why is Christian ranked ahead of Ho-town when Hoptown won last week?

Hoptown won both games by 20 points combined. Christian County blew out Hoprown. Granted all games where either at hoptown or christian county. I just feel if it was on a netural court Christian County would win

Hoptown won both games by 20 points combined. Christian County blew out Hoprown. Granted all games where either at hoptown or christian county. I just feel if it was on a netural court Christian County would win

The Region is not on a neutral court

No it's not but I still feel County would beat Hoptown

Whoever thinks that Taye Calloway is better than Jaylen Sebree.....Must be out of their mind!

No it's not but I still feel County would beat Hoptown

They may win it but they will have to do it on Hoptown's floor

Yea I don't get the criteria for the players list either...

You all do realize I'm not that familiar with WKY, right? I filled in for someone during the season.

Some of this stuff I could probably have flip-flopped...