Rematch of last year's 39th District Tournament championship game, which Augusta won 46-43. Both teams enter the game undefeated & Augusta (4-0) fresh off a convincing win over Bourbon County. Brent Bach (30.8 ppg) has been as advertised for the Panthers. Connor Maddox might be the 10th Region's best spot-up shooter. Camryn Snapp is coming off arguably his best performance of the young season.

 

Bracken County (2-0) leans heavily on freshman point guard Austin Crawford, who has been sensational so far, scoring 21.5 ppg & pulling down 8 rpg. Nate Haight is still nursing an injury, but is expected to play. And the Bears have received solid front court play from Ryan May, Scott Fite, & Steven Cummins. Bracken's calling card is undoubtedly on the defensive side of the ball.

 

Who wins this rivalry game & why?

A-Town by 11. Game will be close until the final minutes, where FTs push it out to final margin.

 

Bracken may keep Bach in check, but Maddox/Snapp/Gray will make up the difference.

Bracken County has to keep the score low IMO. Like 50's low. Can't get into a track meet with Augusta, because the Panthers can score in bunches.

 

Augusta, on the other hand, needs to attack the glass, because Bracken County can do some damage there. May and Fite are both good leapers and very aggressive, so Augusta needs to put a body on them both.

 

They may not guard each other, but Crawford/Bach will be a good matchup. I feel like Bach will get his, but the Polar Bears need to make sure someone is constantly shadowing Connor Maddox. You can beat Augusta if Bach gets 35, but you can't beat Augusta if Bach gets 35 & Maddox gets 20.

 

I think this one will be close, but I'll take Augusta 69-62.