article Inside the 1st Region: District Finals

[Region 1 Basketball]

District Finals:

 

1st District:

 

#1 Carlisle County vs. #2 Fulton City: This will be the 3rd time in 4 years these two have meet in the Finals. Fulton City won in 2012 and Carlisle County in 2013. This is the 5th straight appearance in the Finals for Carlisle. The Comets won both regular season contests, 52-47 and 78-61. Carlisle is led by junior Ethan Weatherspoon, Paxton Crider, and Noah Norsworthy in scoring. Trey Carrico is key as well at the point. Fulton City is led in scoring by Steven Houston but the play of PG Areon Ferrell and post player Michael Thomas. The Comets have won the last 6 meetings.

 

The Bulldogs missed the tournament last year.

The Comets will be making their 5th straight appearance.

 

Prediction: Comets by 5

 

 

 

2nd District:

#1 Paducah Tilghman vs. #3 St. Mary: St. Mary is making their 4th straight regional appearance which has never happened in school history. They knocked off McCracken County in a slight upset. The Vikings had lost both times to the Mustangs during the season. Paducah Tilghman has been impressive as of late winning their last 5 games. The Vikings beat Marshall County in their last regular season game which was a 1st in school history. Then they knocked off McCracken a team that they lost 2 times to. I said going into the last week of the season that the Vikings had played teams close but could not pull out a win against one of the top teams. They have done that the last 2 games. Both teams have multiple weapons on offense. Tempo will be key. If the Tornadoes are hitting behind the arc then they are tough to defend.

 

The Vikings have made 4 straight regional appearances.

The Tornadoes missed the tournament last year.

 

Prediction: PT by 8

 

 

 

3rd District:

#1 Graves County vs. #2 Ballard Memorial: Graves swept the season series winning 66-50 in both games. The Eagles have won 4 in a row and the Bombers have won 6 of their last 7 games. Ballard’s balanced scoring has been big. Keagan Cooper leads them in scoring but both Newton, Dre Bledsoe, and Tolar Terrel have lead them in scoring throughout the year. They had four players in double figures in their win against Mayfield. Graves has balance as well in their top 3 in Smith, Hannan, and Vogt. Vogt can be a game changer in the paint. The big question is do the Bombers think they can win? The Eagles have won the last 8 meetings.

 

The Bombers last made the regional tournament in 2011.

This is the 8th straight year the Eagles have made the regional tournament.

 

Prediction: Eagles by 8

 

 

 

4th District:

#1 Calloway County vs. #2 Murray: Calloway swept the season series, 61-37 and 43-39. In the 1st game Murray tried to force tempo and Calloway picked their press apart. In the 2nd match-up it was a slow tempo which Calloway prefers. This game is at Murray so the Tigers do have home court advantage. Calloway is led by KABC POY Parker Adams. He has Skylar Hunter and Conner Wagner who are capable of big offensive nights. The key maybe Wade Carter’s ability to handle Murray’s pressure. Murray is a balanced team led by James Boone, Duane Curtis, Preston English, and Tandyn Sheppard. Murray goes deep in the bench but that has not been a factor in the two previous games. The Lakers have won the past 8 meetings.

 

Calloway has made 14 straight regional appearances.

Murray last made the regional in 2001.

 

Prediction: Calloway by 3