8^th Region Tournament Preview

 

By:  Colonelmike

 

Today I drove over to New Castle for the 8^th Region tournament draw.   I turned left off highway 1861 onto Highway 55, towards New Castle, and Henry County High School came immediately into view.   Dominating the view was the arched roof of the big gym – the Roy L. Winchester gymnasium (which officially seats 5,400, per the KHSAA).  

Now I’m sixty years old, and I graduated from high school in 1980 – 42 years ago for those who struggle with high math – but that view immediately transported me back to all the emotions I felt over four decades ago, arriving at Henry County HS via school bus for another 8^th Region basketball tournament.   Even today, those feelings are so real, so tangible, that the sight of that big gym elicits memories of specific sights, sounds, smells – they all come flooding back.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over this annual rush of memories and emotions, and I hope I never will.   I feel younger every March….

For those that don’t know, the 8^th Region tournament – held annually at Henry County HS in New Castle – currently holds the state record for the longest current tenure for the region tournament at the same venue.   The last 8^th Region tournament held outside New Castle was in 1961, when the Henry County Wildcats won the 8^th Region tournament at the old Shelbyville High School.

In 1962, the big new gym in New Castle was opened.   Stories say that the gym was modeled – loosely – after Freedom Hall, which had just opened six years earlier at the brand-new Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.    Relatively centrally-located in a geographically large region, and far bigger than any other school’s facility, the huge gymnasium quickly became a favorite environment for big basketball games, and there hasn’t been a serious attempt – or even desire – to move the region tournament from New Castle ever since.

That’s SIXTY years of region tournament action.    420 tournament games played to date, and counting.  

Let’s take a look at the eight teams headed to New Castle this week, the schedule, and the favorites:

Miscellaneous Stats among the 8 Contenders:

Team	District Champ/R-up	Record	Streak	Record vs Tournament Teams	PPG	Allowed PPG
Woodford Co	D30 champ	25-5	Won 5	3-1	64.4	52.2
Grant County	D32 r-up	18-15	Lost 1 (lost 7 of 10)	4-5	59.8	57.2
Oldham County	D29 champ	19-10	Won 2 (won 6 of 10)	4-3	66.0	58.1
Gallatin County	D31 r-up	17-12	Lost 1 (won 5 of 10)	0-8	65.7	62.4
North Oldham	D29 r-up	15-12	Lost 4 (won 5 of 10)	3-2	62.9	59.7
Walton-Verona	D32 champ	19-10	Won 8	6-2	75.6	71.9
Owen County	D31 champ	21-10	Won 2 (won 9 of 11)	3-5	61.2	51.8
Collins	D30 r-up	22-6	Lost 1 (won 10 of 12)	6-2	62.0	54.6

 

Region 8 Ranking for the 8 remaining teams:  All eight teams present to New Castle with winning records….

1 – Woodford County (25-5) The Yellowjackets, winners of the 30^th district, come in as the only team ranked in the final Bluegrasspreps.com Top 20 (#13).   Woodford has the second-longest winning streak in the region at five and has an average margin of victory of +12.2, the largest of any of the tournament teams.

2 – Oldham County (19-10)  The defending 8^th Region champs stumbled a little against really good competition the last two weeks, but they also put together a February win at Collins and a 13-point victory at defending state champ Highlands.  Any question marks generated by losses late to DeSales, Walton-Verona, and Great Crossing may have been erased by an impressive performance in the 29^th District tournament, where the Colonels held high-scoring South Oldham to a season-low 34 points and then were dominant in a win over North Oldham in the finals.

Oldham County placed the most players on the All-Region team of any squad in the 8^th Region, with three Colonels earning the honor:  Senior forward Sam Powell, senior center Hayden Burgess, and sophomore point guard Max Green.

3 – Collins (22-6)    Collins is second only to Woodford in terms of victories, and Collins has only lost once (a 68-48 loss early to #16 Madison Central) by more than five points.  The Titans are hot, having won 10 of their last 12 games, and few teams are as stingy on defense as Chris Gaithers’ squad, allowing just 54.6 ppg.    The Titans are 6-2 against tournament competition, and they have beaten every team in the tournament except Oldham County, who defeated Collins in Shelbyville, 55-52.   (they split two games against Woodford County).    The Titans boast a long line of quality wins, including victories over Mason County, Woodford County, Walton-Verona, Owen County, St. Xavier, Fleming County, Boyle County, CAL, and Bullitt East. 

4 – Walton-Verona (19-10)  Nobody is as hot as Walton is heading into the tournament.   The Bearcats boast a region-best eight game winning streak, and it came at the expense of some quality opponents:   Walton got a win on the road at South Oldham, followed it the next night with a victory at 21-win Owen County, defeated #18 Dixie Heights two nights later, and then trounced Henry County for their fourth win in just five days.   They followed this stretch with wins over Holmes, Oldham County, Simon Kenton, and Grant County to advance to the Region tournament as District 32 champs for the first time since 2019.     Walton-Verona averages an 8^th-region best 75.6 ppg.   Although they give up 71.9 ppg, it usually doesn’t matter – they simply score a few more points. 

Walton senior guard Brant Smithers won the KABC 8^th Region Player of the Year award and the team won the 8^th Region All-A championship in January.

5 – North Oldham (15-12)   North Oldham began the season as the top-ranked team in the region – and last year’s 8^th Region runner-ups are still more than capable of winning it all.   North is potent enough on both ends of the floor, and although the Mustangs’ top 6 players are all underclassmen, they are veterans:   Junior guard Dallas Roberts is a 4-year starter and on pace to become the school’s all-time leading scorer, junior 6’6” forward Ian Higdon is a 3-year starter, and 6’7” junior center Luke Anderson and 6’4” junior guard Jack Scales both played considerable varsity minutes last year.    North has lost four in a row, but the Mustangs have faced a daunting schedule (those losses were to Fern Creek, Collins, St. X, and Oldham County), and they own quality region victories over teams like Oldham County, Walton-Verona, and Grant County, plus wins over ranked teams like #8 Western.

6 – Owen County (21-10)  Owen County has quietly dominated the 31^st district this year, winning all 12 of their games against district rivals.   But the Rebels haven’t fared as well outside their backyard, going just 9-10 against non-District 31 opposition.   Owen is just 3-5 against tournament competition, with all three victories coming against District 31 runner-up Gallatin County.

The Rebels bring 8^th Region Player of the Year Teagan Moore to New Castle, a 6’6” junior guard who was spectacular last year, and is seemingly twice as good this year.   Moore is tops in scoring in the 8^th Region and ranks among the state’s elite at 28.9 ppg and 8.9 rebounds per contest.   Isaac Wash (11.0 ppg) and 6’8” sophomore center Brax Ward (9.5 ppg / 7.0 rebounds) give Moore enough scoring support to help keep defenses honest.  

Owen is on a roll coming into the tournament, with 9 wins in their last 11 games, and 13 of their last 16.   Among their wins during that stretch was an impressive 13-point victory over a 19-win Spencer County squad from the 30^th district.

Defensively, Owen is one of the stingiest teams around; of the 8 teams in the region tournament, the Rebels surrender the fewest points per game (51.8).

7 – Grant County (18-15)   Grant has lost 7 of its last 10 after starting the year 15-8.    Coach Joseph Utter has had to deal with one calamity after another this year, and the Braves have largely battled through.   Grant first had to deal with the loss of expected starting point guard Mason Guffey, who transferred to Taylor County HS, where he averaged team highs of 18.3 ppg and 6.4 rebounds for a 19-11 Cardinal team that is playing in the 5^th Region tournament this week.   Then, before the season even began, backup sophomore point guard Jackson Utter suffered what appeared to be a season-ending injury (he ultimately did return late in the season).  Then, on 2/11/22, second-leading scorer Wayne Ziegler (11.3 ppg) suffered a season-ending ACL tear.  

Still, despite losing 7 of their last 10, Grant has shown considerable fight.    They lost to 25 win Breathitt County by just one (64-63) and to 23-win Mason County by just 5.   Guard Spencer Breeden has raised his offensive game in Ziegler’s absence, averaging nearly 13 ppg over the last six contests without Ziegler.   And, of course, Braves’ star forward Dylan Hammonds remains one of the region’s most indomitable inside presences, averaging 25 points and 11.7 boards.   Hammonds had three consecutive games against Gallatin, Mason County, and Williamstown in which he scored over 30 points and had at least 10 rebounds (32/13 vs. Gallatin, 31/10 vs. Mason, and 35/16 vs. Williamstown).

8 – Gallatin County (17-12)     Gallatin County comes into the tournament as the runner-ups of the 31^st district after an up-and-down campaign that never saw them win more than four in a row or lose more than two in a row.    A region tournament frequent-flyer, the Wildcats are typically a very tough out in the region, no matter how their season went.   This year should be no different, as first-year head coach Vance Sullivan brings a senior-laden team to Henry County HS.

The Wildcats boast 5 players averaging between 8 and 15 points per game, led by senior sharpshooter Drake Skidmore (14.2 ppg / 86 made threes at 36%).    Mason Arnold (8.0 ppg / 8.6 rebounds) and Logan Riddle (11.7 ppg / 6.7 rebounds) are double-double threats every night.   And sophomore Kellen Dossett – if he’s able to return from an eye injury suffered in practice last week – averages 12.5 ppg and has hit 62 threes at a nearly 39% clip.

Depth has been the Achilles’ heel for this Wildcats’ squad, but Gallatin is a solid team composed of veteran parts and won’t be an easy out in this tournament.

Gallatin County is the only team in the tournament without a victory over a fellow tournament team; the Cats are 0-8 against tournament opponents.

  

The first round games:

1 – Owen County (21-10) vs. Collins (22-6)     Wednesday 3/2/22   6:30 pm  Previous matchup:   Collins won, 67-49, on December 7^th, in Shelbyville.   The Titans hit 53.5% from the floor and an incredible 15 of 15 at the stripe.  Four Titans, led by Quinton Simmons’ 15, reached double figures.   Collins overcame Owen’s Teagan Moore, who scored a game-high 25 points.

This matchup features two of the three region 8 teams that won 20 or more games this year, but Collins has fashioned a 22-6 record against one of the region’s most brutal schedules.  

Both teams are incredible stingy on defense, with Owen giving up just 51.8 ppg and Collins surrendering just 54.6.

Owen has the advantage in size, with 6’8” sophomore center Brax Ward and 6’6” junior guard Teagan Moore.    The Rebels have done a better job working the high-low action with those two players, including times when they sent Moore down low and let Ward handle the high-post; the big man is a solid passer.   

Collins has the ability to wear a team down with their quickness and defensive intensity, and that’s largely what happened in December.  For Owen to get this upset win, the Rebels can’t let the Titans dictate tempo, and they have to find ways to exploit their size advantage.    Furthermore, it may take a heroic effort by Moore of 30-40 points to get the Rebels what they need to win.

Collins has to bounce back mentally after a heartbreaking overtime loss to Woodford in the District 30 finals.    Though the Titans are the favorites, they can’t afford to snooze through this one; Owen has the weapons to take advantage.   But if the Titans come focused and ready to play, advantages in quickness and depth, and a suffocating defense should prove to be enough.

Favorite:  Collins

North Oldham (15-12) vs. Walton-Verona (19-10)   Wednesday 3/2/22   8 pm – Last meeting:  12/14/21 at Walton-Verona; North Oldham won, 75-68.   North Oldham shot 50% from the floor and hit 16 of 22 (72.7%) from the line in the win, with junior guard Dallas Roberts connecting for 32 points.     Cameron Christy had 24 for W-V.

Nobody is hotter than Walton, who rides a region-best 8 game winning streak into the tournament; North has been up-and-down of late, splitting their last 10 games.   Walton averages a region best 75.6 ppg, but surrenders a region 8 worst 71.9 ppg.

Both teams have played Oldham County in the last two weeks, with Walton scoring a 92-89 overtime victory over the Colonels, and North falling to OC, 65-56, in the 29^th district finals.

North has an overwhelming size advantage on the inside with the junior twin towers:  6’6” Ian Higdon (12.8 ppg / 9. Rebounds) one of the best offensive interior players in the region, and 6’7” shot-blocker extraordinaire Luke Anderson, who just may be the region’s best defensive big man.    Walton will counter with perhaps the quickest lineup in the region; trying to defend the Bearcats is like trying to hold back the ocean – they keep coming in waves, and even double-digit leads aren’t safe for long.

Dallas Roberts (17.3 ppg) finished as the runner up in the 8^th Region Player of the Year balloting by the region’s coaches; W-V’s Brant Smithers (21.6 ppg) finished #4 in the voting, but won the region Player of the Year award in the balloting by the KABC coaches.   Smithers has averaged over 19 ppg in each of the last three seasons.   The matchup between these two stud guards will be fun to watch, and the battle between these two teams should be the best game of the region opening round.

North is just an average shooting team at the line, overall, but they become well above average if the right people go to the line; Walton has been below-par at the stripe all year, and that could be the difference in this ballgame.

Favorite:  North Oldham by 3

Oldham County (19-10) vs. Gallatin County (17-12)     Thursday  3/3/22   6:30 pm Previous matchup, Oldham County won, 84-60, on 2/10/22 in Buckner.     The Colonels shot 62.7% from the floor and were led by a dominating performance by 6’10” senior center Hayden Burgess who missed just one shot all night en route to 24 points.   (11 of 12 from the floor; 2 of 2 at the line).    Gallatin hit 12 of 26 from beyond the arc and shot nearly 48% overall from the floor, but succumbed late to the Colonels’ pressure defense.   Drake Skidmore was the only Wildcat in double figures with 16.

It probably goes without saying that Gallatin really needs to shoot well to win this game; Oldham superior height will make inside play very difficult for the Cats, and the Colonels’ full-court pressure defense paid dividends in the previous meeting.   Although Gallatin beat the press relatively easily throughout the first half, the constant pressure – coupled with Oldham’s deeper bench – noticeably wore down the Wildcats in the second half, when Oldham blew the game open.

Still, this is a senior-laden Gallatin team.   Expect a gritty, blue-collar effort from this bunch, and Oldham will need to cast memories of the 24 point win in Buckner aside for the moment.   But even if Gallatin can deny Burgess the ball – no easy task – to avoid a repeat of the last game, it will be a real challenge to also shut down talented 6’6” senior forward Sam Powell, who leads the Colonels in scoring at 16.5 ppg, and who is a true inside-outside threat.   Powell, who just claimed the MVP trophy in the 29^th District basketball tournament, comes into the region tourney with the hot hand, having averaged 19.3 ppg over the last six games (including 30 points against Walton-Verona), while hitting 52% of his shots during that stretch.

Key to the Colonels’ success will be the play of rapidly-maturing sophomore point guard Max Green, an incredibly talented shooter with deep range, who will be starting in the region at point guard for the first time.    Green played well in the district tournament, showing restraint and poise and making few mistakes under the pressure of playing against county rivals South Oldham and North Oldham.

Gallatin County is hoping to get back the services of the only non-senior in the Wildcats’ starting lineup, talented sharpshooter Kellen Dossett (12.5 ppg).   Dossett, who is number two on the team in scoring, suffered an eye injury in practice last week and missed the district tournament.  

Favorite:   Oldham County

Woodford County (25-5) vs. Grant County (18-15)     Thursday  3/3/22   8 pm Previous matchup, Woodford won, 58-55, on 12/2/21 in Dry Ridge.    The Yellowjackets won despite not having transfers John McRear (8.4 ppg / 4.4 rebounds), Jackson Twombley (13.2 ppg / 4.0 rebounds), and Aden Nelson (4.7 ppg / team-high 6.0 rebounds), who were still awaiting clearance by the KHSAA.

Grant fell despite a 30-point, 14 rebound effort by junior forward Dylan Hammonds.

Woodford has size – Twombley and McRear both check in at about 6’6”/6’7” – and talent on the outside with veteran guards.   The Jackets are among the region’s best in shooting the ball, hitting 54.4% from the floor overall and 41.9% from beyond the arc.    If Woodford has an obvious weakness, it’s the fact Woodford doesn’t shoot well at the line (64.3%).   Seven different players average between 6.4 and 13.3 ppg, and all seven can lead the team on any given night.  (In fact, the player averaging 6.4 ppg – Makhi Smith – led the Jackets in scoring in the previous meeting with Grant, scoring 15 points).

Grant County will have to go without the services of #2 scorer Wayne Ziegler, who averaged 11.3 ppg this year.   But the Braves will focus on star forward Dylan Hammonds, who has been largely unstoppable this year, averaging a double-double at 25.0 ppg / 11.7 rebounds.   Guard Spencer Breeden – who has raised his average by nearly 50% since Ziegler went down – needs to continue his recent play; he’s averaging nearly 13 ppg over the last six games, scoring in double digits in 5 of the 6 games.

But the Braves will probably need a little more.   Perhaps a good shooting night from Carter Gabbert or Colton Scalf, both of whom are capable three point shooters.   Gabbert hit 5 of 6 against Gallatin County 4 games ago…..Scalf has hit 39 threes on the season, the most on the team.

Expect Hammonds to get his due….but expect Woodford to move into the semi-finals next Monday as the Yellowjackets have just too many weapons for a short-handed Grant County squad.

Favorite:  Woodford County

Pegasus Sports  (www.pegasussportsky.com) will cover each and every game of the boys’ (and girls’) 8^th Region tournaments.   The broadcasts will be free, live, hi-definition video coverage, and will start each night 30 minutes prior to tip of the first game.    Pegasus began covering select 8^th Region games in 1979, but this marks the 25^th consecutive year that Pegasus has covered each and every game of the tournament. 

Dossett surprisingly played for Gallatin in the finals on Saturday and had 13 points and 10 assists.

As per usual, extremely thorough and informative preview.  This sentence about Owen County made me say “What?” out loud:

“Among their wins during that stretch was an impressive 13-point victory over a 19-win Spencer County squad from the 30^th district.”

surely that’s not right, I had to go look.  That was during a weird stretch for Spencer County when they lost 4 of 5, including a mystifying 43 point loss to OC, and the lone win was by 3 over a pretty mediocre Shelby County team.  I wonder if they were battling illness or injurie…

anyway, really looking forward to this tournament….

17 hours ago, Mack The Knife said:

Dossett surprisingly played for Gallatin in the finals on Saturday and had 13 points and 10 assists.

Thanks!   I was trying to find out if he had....knew he had not played in the semis....

I'm not sure the 8th has the one dominant team that they've had in past years.....but this tournament may well be one of the most wide-open I've seen played in New Castle in many a year.   

Every team in the tournament has the ability to knock off someone else on any given night.

Going to be berrrryyy interestink..... (with apologies to Arte Johnson)

Owen County vs Collins tonight in the first game....only 3 teams won 20 or more games in the 8th this year....these are two of them....

North Oldham vs. Walton-Verona in the second game tonight.....North, last year's runner-up, entered this year as the favorites, but it's W-V who is the hottest team in the region entering the tournament, riding an 8 game winning streak.

www.pegasussportsky.com

On air at 6 pm tonight.