Region 6 Tournament Preview!

After this crazy season - we are to the Regional!  Here is the Draw:

Monday 7pm

RU 21 Beth Haven (19-6) AT W 22 DeSales (18-6)

RU 23 Evangel (10-13) AT W 24 Bullitt East (12-8)

RU 24 Fern Creek (11-6) AT W 21 PRP (13-3)

RU 22 Western (10-7) AT W 23 Bullitt Central (12-14)

Thursday AT VALLEY

5:30  DeSales/Beth Haven vs. Bullitt East/Evangel

7:30  Fern Creek/PRP vs. Western/Bullitt Central

Saturday AT VALLEY

7:00 FINAL

The obvious favorite is DeSales.  The LIT champs played one of the hardest schedules around and finished the season at a respectable 18-6. 6th region POY Devin Perry leads the Colts (20p 4r) but Akron signee Sekou Kalle (20p 12r) was LIT MVP and so. Keith Robinson (13p) gives them a 3-prong attack that is tough to stop. They received a favorable draw, facing first-time Region participant Beth Haven.  Led by jr. Luka Mateski (22.5p/10r) and senior Luke Easley (14p) - they won a school record 19 games and can score a lot of points at times.

The other reason that DeSales is favored is that they avoid defending champ Fern Creek and 21st D champ PRP.  With Bullitt East upset win in the 24th D - these two will tangle in the first round @ PRP.  Fern Creek won the regular season match-up at home in the LIT.  They have the deepest roster possibly in Jeff Co, lead in scoring by Darian Lewis (13.5), who made the all-LIT team.  Bigs Darrius Washington and CeArius Warren rule the paint, while guards Jaden Rogers and TJ Toney are tough match-ups for all.  However, PRP is undefeated since that loss, and will be confident in turning the tables at home.  Super Soph Zee McCown has put in a first-team all region season (19.6p 7a 3.2s), and he gets help from sr. Nevin White (10.3p 6r) and jr big men Vic Lado (11.5p 5r) and Vonte Harris (9p 4r).  Based on the first game, you have to give FC a slight nod, but this will undoubtedly be one of the State's top QF match-ups.

Bullitt East will be feeling very confident coming off of their upset win over Fern Creek in the 24th district final.  They have a balanced attack, led by the Blanford's, jr. Tucker (17p), sr. Will (12.6p) and sr. Collin Powell (11.3p).  They will be favored over Evangel, who lost the 23rd district final to Bullitt Central in controversial fashion (according to multiple reports).  The Eagles, led by G Dawson Black (18p), G Gage Mabry (16.8p) and C Cyr Malonga (11.5p 11r), will cause some match-up problems for the Chargers, but BE should take care of business at home.

The last QF match-up is two longshots - Western vs. Bullitt Central.  Western, who advanced to the district 22 final with a half-court shot in double OT to beat top-seed Butler, is an athletic squad who can beat anyone on a given night.  Led by so. G Trent Hinkle (14p) and sr. G Janhoi Lee (13p), the Warriors are probably the favorite in this game, especially with the late addition of G Jamal Chambers, a Male High transfer, who hit the big shots down the stretch to advance.  Bullitt Central has a solid 1-2 punch in jr. Hunter Coleman (18.7p) and sr. Gavin Hedges (17.4p) and will feel good about their upset win over Evangel in the 23rd district.

I will follow up next week with a tourney review and STATE tourney preview!!