Owen and Anderson in the Finals, as it should be.  Anything can happen, obviously, but I love Owen and Anderson's chances for round 3.  

Owen has played well, but I think Anderson has really turned in up defensively and they walk to State.

I've seen 6 of the 8 teams....some thoughts.

Owen (23-9) vs. North (12-18) - tough matchup for North Oldham in the school's first-ever trip to the girls' 8th Region tournament.    Owen has an extremely short bench, but their "5+1" are simply pretty darn good.    You don't win the state All-A championship without doing something right.    It will be an interesting game to watch, however - Owen's Ferguson and Moore will be challenged on the inside by North's 5'11" power forward Riley Neal, who has scored over 2,000 points in her career and is the #3 scorer in the state.   Neal has already claimed the school's record for most points in a career and is a mobile big who can shoot the three.   Favorite:  Owen County

Spencer County (20-11) vs. Walton-Verona (15-13) - The Lady Bearcats of W-V have established a long history of excellence in the region, and - despite losing longtime (and uber-successful) coach Mark Clinkenbeard (who stepped down in mid-season due to health issues), the Bearcats have kept the flame alive under coach Rianna Gayheart, a former 8th Region Player of the Year for Owen County.    W-V has won 6 of their last 8 games, including a victory over Simon Kenton in the 32nd District finals.    Unfortunately for W-V, they face last year's 8th Region runner-ups, the Spencer County Lady Bears, who have won 6 of their last 7.   The Bears don't have the long-standing region pedigree that W-V boasts, but that makes them hungry and dangerous.   Like Owen County, the Lady Bears aren't overly deep, but Spencer is long, athletic, and have allowed only one team (Anderson County) to score over 49 points in the last 9 games (Anderson got 56).  Favorite:  Spencer County

South Oldham (20-7) vs. Henry County (13-15)   This would appear to be the biggest mismatch of the first round, but it's the post-season, clutch players may rise to the occasion, and sometimes favorites don't perform due to the pressure.   South has won 11 of their last 12 games, and has scored 65 points or more in 9 of those games.   The Lady Dragons are young, overall, but don't lack experience.    This squad excels in transition, and runs the break in fundamentally sound fashion.   Senior Sierra Kemelgor can legitimately play all five positions, and is a tremendous scorer at 20+ ppg.   Sophomore guard Ella Morrison - sister of former 8th Region POY Luke Morrison - is a 3-year starter and averages 16 per contest.    8th grader Maddie Young broke into the starting lineup in mid-season and is #3 in scoring at 11.9.    If the game is close, SO has the advantage, shooting 72% as a team at the stripe.    Henry County is led by Junior center Ashyln Tingle (12.6 ppg / 10.2 rebounds).    The Lady Cats will try to keep this from becoming a track meet and take advantage of the muscle they have inside with Tingle.    Favorite:  South Oldham

Simon Kenton (17-12) vs. Anderson County (27-4)   Anderson County has been the region favorites all year long, and the Lady Bearcats have done nothing to change most people's minds.   Anderson has been ranked highly all season, and the Lady Cats have played - and been successful against - a brutal schedule featuring the likes of Male (a 33 point victory), George Rogers Clark, Cooper, Ryle, and CAL, along with 8th Region contenders Spencer County and Owen County.   A tremendous shooting team, Anderson is hitting 48% from the floor overall, 41% from beyond the arc, and nearly 72% at the line.   The athletic Amiya Jenkins leads the way at 19.9 ppg.    SK hasn't exactly had a typical Lady Pioneer season, in terms of wins and losses, but Jeff Stower's bunch has won 10 of their last 15 coming into the tournament they have so often dominated over the past two decades.   SK has also played a challenging schedule, going against the likes of Ryle, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Notre Dame, Franklin County, Conner, and Cooper.   SK has only played 6 Region 8 games this year; they are 1-2 against tournament competition, with a loss to Owen County and a two-game split against Walton-Verona.  Senior center Sereniti Webb leads the way at 16.1 ppg, but the Lady Pioneers have two other double-digit scorers in senior guard Alexis Baker (11.9 ppg) and junior forward Emilee Eggleston (10.2 ppg).    But SK has not been a great shooting team this year, hitting only 38% of their shots overall and 30.1% from beyond the arc.   They will need to have a stellar defensive effort, and a better-than-average shooting night to claim the upset win.   Favorite:  Anderson County

That puts the four Region 8 teams with 20+ wins all in the semi-final round.   An Owen County - Spencer County semi-final wil be a VERY interesting game; a rematch of a January 15th battle won by Owen, 41-38, in Owenton.    In the other bracket, a South Oldham - Anderson County semi-final (a rematch of the 2020 region final game).    Prediction:   Spencer County vs. Anderson County in the finals, in a rematch of the 2021 title game.

Pegasus Sports (www.pegasussportsky.com) will provide FREE, live hi-definition video coverage of each and every game from Grant County HS in Dry Ridge, KY.   All broadcasts will also be archived on the site for one year afterwards.

CM

Anderson & Owen in the finals, felt like fait accompli when the draw came out.  Owen will make it hard, but difficult to see them getting the win over Anderson.