? vs. ? The Regional champions from Somerset and Mount Washington collide today at 11:00 am.

✓ Please post predictions and updates here.

The Warriors have a young core, led by F Ayden Smiddy (14.5 pts/4.3 rbs), C/F Payton Acey (14.1/6.9), and Coach Molden's daughter - G Kinsley (14.1/3.5). 

Southwestern has one of the few tourney teams that can match up with BE's size. Center Payton Acey - 6'1", forwards Makayla Noritis - 5-11 and Kaylee Young - 5-10.

Bullitt East has a more seasoned squad, both by class and an additional two years of Sweet 16 experience. Bellarmine commit and Miss Basketball finalist, 6'6" senior C Gracie Merkle (18.2 pts/9.8 rbs) leads the team. The top trio is rounded out by senior W Emma Egan (12.5/7.8) and junior PG Lilly Reid (9.8/3.7).

Links to the teams (records with sub links to rosters and stats) can be found through the links below ~

Southwestern

https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kygbk21/86974

Bullitt East

https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kygbk21/86775

Starting lineups ~

Bullitt East: Ortega, Egan, Rodgers, Merkle, and Reid.

Southwestern: Young, Smiddy, Noritis, Molden, and Acey.

BE out to a 5-2 lead, ~5:00 1Q.

WoW! Chargers now lead 13-2. SW hasn't scored in almost five minutes. 2:35 1Q.

Goodness Gracie-ous, Merkle - 8 pts and 6 rbs. ?

15-5. Smiddy has scored all of SW's points.

End of 1Q

Bullitt East 19

Southwestern 5 

Merkle - 10 pts and 7 rbs

SW: FG 18%; 3PT 13%

Merkle shoots 70% from the floor and I can see why. She’s nearly impossible to stop around the basket. 

19-7 Chargers, 4:40 2Q.

Merkle already has a double-double 10/12.

Merkle coming out beyond the arc to block a trey by McDonald. ❗

Warriors trying to make up ground from deep. They aren't falling.

BE now in the Bonus.

Merkle layup. 24-11 BE, 1:05 2Q.

Molden trey followed by a Merkle jumper - 15 1st half points.