The Panthers are 22-8 on the season and the Cardinals are 26-6 coming into the 6pm semifinal Monday at Marion County HS.

 

The teams played Jan. 2 at TCHS, a 12-point Cardinal win that allegedly has left some hard feelings after Taylor students rushed the court afterward. The Cardinals are 20-0 against 5th Region competition, while the Panthers' lone loss in 17 games against the rest of the region was at TCHS.

 

E'town can beat you a number of ways, whether it's with guards Ja'Von Cotton and Nic McDonald off penetration or behind the arc, or with Dominique Harding inside.

 

Taylor County counters with super-soph Quentin Goodin and the region's co-POY in Caleb Wigginton. Both had subpar games in the Cardinals' narrow 60-59 escape Thursday against Thomas Nelson. E'town won handily over LaRue Co., 64-48, in the other first-round game Thursday.

 

Should be a dandy.

I have to go with Elizabethtown in this one. I have felt from day one they had the best team in the 5th Region despite a few setbacks this year. They have a ton of experience and I think that will come into play in a close game.

I still think Taylor Co is a year away. I know they beat Etown earlier in the season, but it's a different season now. Etown is better coached and has more experience in bigger games.