article 6th Region Tourney Preview

The 6th region has had many say that the depth of good teams this year has made it one of the best regions in all the state this year. When teams like Bullitt East, Butler, Fairdale, and even Iroquois fail to make the regional championships it highlights just how good the Top 10-12 teams really are. All of those aforementioned teams have good victories this past season, but failed to punch their ticket to the 6th regionals. But 8 did and here is the preview for each. All 1st seeds receive the advantage of home games and playing two seeds. In order of the draw:

Valley at Southern- Southern has been on a roll in the end of the season and Valley has briefly struggled. Southern has not played the toughest of schedules, but that has been the knock on Valley also. It is a great match-up and of all the one seeds, this has the potential for a two seed advancing. The winner plays Fern Creek/DeSales winner on Friday at 6 out in the Valley gym where all semi-finals & finals for both the 6th & 7th are held. Will Valley make it back to their home gym, the prediction here is they will.

DeSales at Fern Creek- On paper the Tigers should advance as they are the highest ranked team with only 2 losses on the season. They play at home where they are very good in the win column the past several seasons. But this is playoffs and records are thrown out. DeSales will be coming to advance, and the coaching staff will be prepared. However, Fern Creek does have some revenge going into the game as they were put out of the Regionals two years ago by DeSales when some of their leading players were finishing their freshmen campaign. Prediction here goes with Fern Creek to move on to the semi-finals.

Jeffersontown at Doss-- To state the obvious is to acknowledge the back to back defending champions of the 6th make Doss a very solid choice to repeat. They are tourney experienced and in their first game they face a team that has not been to the regional event in several years. Could JTown pull off the upset? This is a game that could come down to the wire, but the prediction here is Doss will advance to play the PRP/Moore winner on Friday at 7:30.

Moore at PRP- PRP has the advantage of not only playing at home, but they have the experience edge with their coaching staff being very accomplished in post season play. Moore won their district last year and lost to Fern Creek at home. Can they turn this 2 seed pairing with PRP into an upset to advance to play again on Friday? The prediction is that PRP moves on for another rematch with Doss.

Semi-Final Predictions

Valley vs Fern Creek- Winner Fern Creek

Doss vs PRP- Winner Doss

I'm picking PRP to win it. They are healthy and playing well. Have the best coaching staff in the region. They will be prepared each night. Fern Creek should win it, but when things don't go their way it shows with how the players respond. Saw that last night. Valley is the same. They had 4 T's on players in the district final against PRP. Doss has the talent and the coach has control of the team. Wouldn't surprise me to see them back for a third time. They just don't seem to play hard each night. Should be a great semi final night at Valley.