What:  8th Region All-A Tournament finals

When:   Tipoff at 6 pm ET; live hi-def video coverage begins at 5:45 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com

Where:  Eminence HS

Who:   Owen County (9-6) vs. Walton-Verona (9-7)

This is probably just as it should be; the two tournament favorites squaring off in the championship.

Owen County's Lady Rebels came into the tournament as the decided favorites, and they wound up with a relatively easy path, getting a bye in round one and then pounding a very youthful Carroll County team, 72-16, in the semi-finals, scoring their season-high in points along the way.    Lexie Moore closed to within shouting distance of the school record for career points (1,902 - held by former 8th Region Player of the Year Rianna Gayheart); it's possible she could claim the record today in the finals - against Gayheart's team, the Walton-Verona Lady Bearcats.   Owen is a veteran squad, led by Moore and Gracie Ferguson, who've both been suiting up for the Lady Rebels for at least twenty years (LOL).

Walton-Verona is the four-time defending champs, but the Lady Bearcats will play today's game in a role they haven't taken on in a while, that of an underdog.   Walton survived a major upset bid from Williamstown in round one, winning 44-33 after trailing, 21-20, at the half.    A wakeup call?  Perhaps, as the Lady Cats - trailing 25-22 early in the third - scored 22 unanswered points to seal the deal and advance.

Former Owen County star Rianna Gayheart is now the head coach in Walton after coach Clinkenbeard had to step down during the Christmas holiday due to health concerns.

Walton got an unexpected pass in the semis when Gallatin County had to forfeit due to COVID protocols.

CM