BluegrassPreps.com 15th Region Boys Basketball Tournament Preview

[SportsLife]

 

Game 1 (Monday, March 22, 6:30 pm.) - Johnson Central vs. East Ridge: After falling in double overtime to Paintsville in the 57th District title game, Johnson Central will enter the 15th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament following a loss. Johnson Central (19-3) is set to face 59th District champion East Ridge in the opening round of the 15th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament at Appalachian Wireless Arena. East Ridge edged Shelby Valley 45-44 in the 59th District Boys' Basketball Tournament title game. 

Excelling late in the season, East Ridge (15-8) has won 10 of its last 11 games. 

The Golden Eagles defeated the Warriors 71-65 in the two teams' lone regular season meeting on January 22. 

 

Game 2 (Monday, March 22, 8:15 p.m.) - Pike County Central vs. Betsy Layne: Pike County Central (60th District Runner-up) and Betsy Layne (58th District Champion) are poised to meet for the second time in less than one month - this time during the opening round of the 15th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament at Appalachian Wireless Arena. The Hawks and Bobcats split a pair of regular season games. Pike County Central pulled away to beat Betsy Layne 90-65 on February 10. However, Betsy Layne prevailed 94-76 over Pike County Central when the two teams met on February 24. 

Pike County Central (16-10) finished runner-up to Belfry in the 60th District.

Betsy Layne (12-8) beat Lawrence County in the 58th District boys' basketball title game. 

 

Game 3 (Tuesday, March 23, 6:30 p.m.) - Shelby Valley vs. Belfry: Familiar Pike County rivals, Shelby Valley and Belfry are slated to meet in the opening round of the 15th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament.

Shelby Valley beat Belfry 49-46 when the two teams met in an early-season matchup on January 21. 

Despite finishing runner-up to East Ridge in the 59th District, perennial title contender Shelby Valley (17-8) has won nine of its last 12 games. 

One of the most improved boys' high school basketball teams in Eastern Kentucky, Belfry (16-9) has won 12 of its last 15 games. 

 

Game 4 (Tuesday, March 23, 8:15 p.m.) - Lawrence County vs. Paintsville: Former 57th District rivals Lawrence County and Paintsville are set to meet in the final game of the 15th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals. 

The Bulldogs and Tigers did not meet during the regular season.

Lawrence County (11-10), the runner-up out of the 58th District, won three of its last five regular season games, nearly knocking off Belfry, another former district rival. Determined Belfry outlasted Lawrence County 78-77 in double overtime in a regular season finale. 

The Tigers pulled away to beat crosstown rival Johnson Central 84-73 in double overtime in the 57th District boys' basketball title game. Paintsville (12-8) has won seven of its last eight games. 

 

15th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament

at Appalachian Wireless Arena, Pikeville

 

Quarterfinals

Monday, March 22

Johnson Central vs. East Ridge, 6:30 p.m.

Pike County Central vs. Betsy Layne, 8:15 p.m.

Tuesday, March 23

Shelby Valley vs. Belfry, 6:30 p.m.

Lawrence County vs. Paintsville, 8:15 p.m.

 

Semifinals 

Friday, March 26

6:30 p.m.

8:15 p.m.

 

Championship Game

Saturday, March 27

7:30 p.m.