Schedule

 

Monday, February 24

at Kentucky Country Day

4) Kentucky Country Day vs. 5) Walden; 7:00 pm

 

Tuesday, February 25

at Christian Academy

4) KCD/5)Walden winner vs. 1) Ballard; 6:00

2) Eastern vs. 3) Christian Academy; 7:30 pm

 

Friday, February 28

at Christian Academy

Championship; 7:00 pm

 

Breaking Down the Matchups

 

4) Kentucky Country Day vs. 5) Walden

The reigning Seventh Region All A Champions bring a 16-10 record into the postseason along with an 0-4 record against district competition. That record includes two losses to Ballard, so there’s one team from the 28th they’ve yet to play: Walden. Kentucky Country Day operates primarily on the play of senior guard Zach Lyles and junior guard Maliyek McCray, son of former UofL star Scooter McCray. These two talented guards were enough to propel the Bearcats over smaller opposition but have not been enough to bring KCD into the realm of the East End powerhouses that dominate the 28th.

 

Walden has compiled a 9-16 record while playing many similarly-situated, smaller schools around the state. This is the first year the Wolverines have competed in district tournament play since 2003. They do have several close losses to local schools which may provide some glimpse as to what we might expect from Walden but they likely will not have enough to overcome a talented KCD team.

 

1) Ballard vs. 4) KCD/5) Walden

What can possibly be said about Ballard that hasn’t been said already? The roster boasts two Mr. Basketball candidates in point guard and University of Louisville signee Quentin Snider and forward and Butler University signee Kelan Martin. It also boasts a supremely talented junior in Jalen Perry and an outstanding sophomore, Malik Dow, each of whom will get their own time in the spotlight after Snider and Martin graduate in May. Ballard already owns two wins over KCD this season (101-62, 90-57) and has compiled a 25-5 record against top competition both from inside the state and around Kentucky. They are undefeated against all competition from the Seventh region including two wins against statewide top-five Trinity. They are the clear favorites to win the 25th District; the favorites to win the Seventh; and the expected favorites to win the state title.

 

2) Eastern vs. 3) Christian Academy

Perhaps the most intriguing game of any of the district tournaments taking place in the Seventh region this week is this semifinal matchup between Eastern and Christian Academy. Eastern is still putting itself back together under second-year coach David Henley (formerly of Covington Holmes). They’ve made great strides behind the play of senior guards Austin Howard and Bryce Walker-Byrd and junior forward Trey Moses. The Eagles have won five of six to close out the regular season with the lone loss coming by two points to Scott County, one of the top teams in Kentucky.

 

Unfortunately for Christian Academy, one of Eastern’s wins during that stretch was at their expense, an 84-81 heartbreaker in overtime. For several years since the last district realignment, Coach Casey Smallwood’s Christian Academy team has struggled to get out from under the shadow of its big-time district opponents and perennial powerhouses, Ballard and Eastern. In recent years, he’s come very close. Last year, the Centurions battled Eastern to a 67-62 loss in the district semifinals and after their first encounter, expect this year’s rematch to be no less competitive.

 

Predictions

 

KCD over Walden

 

Ballard over KCD

Eastern over Christian Academy

 

Ballard over Eastern

 

 

Ballard (Champion) and Eastern (Runner-Up) to represent the 28th in the 2014 7th Region Tournament at Valley.

Per the scoreboard, KCD won 59-40 over Walden last night. That sets up the Bearcats' third game against Ballard this season. The Bruins won the first two decisively.

 

This region features one of the more intriguing district semifinals you're likely to see anywhere in Louisville between Eastern and Christian Academy.

 

Any predictions for how this thing shakes out?

Planning to attend both of the games tonight. The first game should be a blowout, but the second will be interesting.

Edited February 25, 201412 yr by price499