3rd Region Tournament Preview and District Tournament Review

[ApolloFan98]

1.Butler County (20-8, 12-0) – Butler comes in as the tournament favorite but drew the co-favorite in Daviess County in Round 1.  They feature one the of the best scorers in the state in Ty Price.  Price has a tremendous starting lineup around him, highlighted by big man Lawson Rice.  Rice averaged a double-double on the season.  Briar Griffin is a great compliment to Ty Price at the guard spot.  Trevor Deweesse and Justin Castlin do all the little things for Coach Dockery to round out the lineup.  If the Bears have any weakness at all, it would be their depth.  Butler County has never won a 3^rd Region title.  This is their best chance in school history.

 

2.Daviess County (24-7, 13-3) – The Panthers come into the regional off a disappointing loss to Owensboro Catholic in the 9^th district tournament.  That said, they sport one of the best rosters in the region, led by dynamic point guard, Jonathan Moss.  The Sophomore has been electric in the second half of the season and is being courted by several division 1 level programs.  Gage Phelps is the lone senior in the starting lineup and brings great leadership and scoring.  Jaxon Brown has emerged in the post season proving to be a scorer when other teams try to take Moss away.  Aydan Ayer and DeAaron Watkins bring the defensive energy to round out the starting lineup and both are capable of scoring 20 on any given night.  This is the Panthers first trip to the Regional Tournament since 2017.  They want to leave their mark and end their season in Rupp Arena.

 

3.Ohio County (18-12, 10-3) – Ohio County comes in hot, having won 13 of their last 16 games.  Elijah Decker has been incredible in the back half of the season to lead the Eagles.  Versatile guard Carter Young has been consistent all year long as Deckers top compliment.  Bo Morse emerged as a scorer over the past few weeks and can be someone who helps elevate Ohio County to a Regional contender.  The Eagles have battled injuries and adversity all year, but they have put all of that behind them now.  They are primed to make a run for Rupp.

 

4.Owensboro Catholic (21-9, 12-4) – The Aces won the 9^th district championship with one of their best players in Tutt Carrico on the sidelines with a back injury.  Luke Bieckman was incredible in the tournament, scoring 28 and 33 in back-to-back performances.  When the entire gym knew he was getting the ball, they still couldn’t stop him.  Coach Tim Riley thrives during tournament season and is getting the most out of guys like Dre Corothers, Waryn Eblhar, Solly Smith and Kiser Frick.  Never go against Riley in elimination games.  He is 9 for 9 in district elimination games since taking over as Head Coach for the Aces.  He is hunting his 3^rd Region title in 9 seasons.

 

5.Meade County (16-15, 8-5) – Meade County comes in playing their best basketball of the season.  They have won 9 of their last 12 games, including an 11^th District Title.  Coach Tripure knows his way around the Sportscenter.  He took Meade to 3 straight regional title games a few years back and is looking to make another run this season.  The Waves are led by Garrett Hardesty at 16.2 ppg.  Hayden Shouse and Peyton Johnson are as good of a big 3 as you are going to find in the region. The key for Meade will be their role players.  Michael Blackman had a big District Championship game and will look to carry that into this week.  The Waves got a favorable draw and could be a dark horse to make a run at the who tournament.

 

6.Breck County (16-12, 13-7) – Breck has won 10 of their last 12 games but fell to Meade County in the district title game on Friday.  Consistency will be the key for the Tigers.  They are led by Mercer Rogers at 14.9 ppg.  Lance Poole has emerged as of late and pushed his scoring average to almost 11 ppg.  Big man Brayden Carmen is one of the regions best rebounders at 7.4 rpg.  The Tigers got a tough draw but have the potential to upset anyone on any given night.

 

7.Edmonson County (14-15, 5-7) – The Wildcats upset their way into the regional tournament, knocking off a good Grayson County team in the district first round.  Kollin Doyle led them with 17 points.  Edmonson does everything well as they stack up in the top half of this backet in every statistical category.  They will have to translate that to on court success.  Joshua Decker is right at a double-double on the season, scoring 11 ppg and pulling 9.1 rpg.  Will Alexander is also in double figures at 11.6 ppg while Wyatt Gravil has the best field goal percentage in the tournament at 63.9.  Do not sleep on the Wildcats in that first round match-up with Catholic.

 

8.Muhlenberg County (8-22, 4-9) – The Mustangs fought their way into the regional with a win over Mclean County in district play.  They are led by Madox Jernigan at 16 ppg.  The key for the Mustangs will be consistency around him.  Jace Sommers and Issac Coats are capable scorers to compliment Jernigan.  The Mustangs got a draw they can work with and could find themselves making an improbable run if they play to the level, they are capable of.

 

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT GAMES

Owensboro Catholic Aces vs Edmonson County Wildcats

                These two teams did not play during the regular season but the match-up is intriguing.  Owensboro Catholic is coming off an improbable run to the 9^th District Championship behind incredible performances from Luke Bieckman.  The Aces expect to have Tutt Carrico back in the lineup for the regional games.  Edmonson comes in off an upset of Grayson County in the district.  They do a lot of little things well.  Statistically, they stack up very well in this game.  If they can find some way to limit Bieckman, they will have a shot but that has proven to be a tough task for anyone during tournament season.  The Cats only scored 40 in the district championship loss to Butler.  They will need to find the 60’s to have a shot at the upset.

 

Meade County Greenwave vs Muhlenberg County Mustangs

                On paper, this is a pretty even match-up between two teams that did not play during the regular season.  Meade has had more success finding wins on the season, but Muhlenberg has a group of guys that can compete with anyone when it is all clicking.  Jernigan for Muhlenberg and Hardesty for Meade are big time scorers and expect to lead their respective teams.  Which program can get the most out of their role players should determine who survives and advances into Saturday’s semifinal round.  Whoever that may be, will have momentum and another winnable game to put themselves one win away from Rupp.

 

Butler County Bears vs Daviess County Panthers

                It goes without saying that this is the game of the first round.  The two best teams all season long drew each other in round one.  The teams are 1-2 in pretty much every major statistical category in the region.  Ty Price vs Jonathan Moss should be worth the price of admission.  In the pain you are going to have Lawson Rice matched up against DeAaron Watkins.  Gage Phelps for Daviess and Briar Griffin are each capable of scoring 30 to lead their respective teams.  Jaxon Brown is coming off a great District Tournament for the Panthers.  Castlen and Deweese from Butler and Ayer from Daviess have been built as some of the best defenders in the region all year.  This game has all the makings of a classic and should not be missed.  It will open the night on Thursday.

 

Ohio County Eagles vs Breckinridge County Tigers

                Ohio County comes into this game playing as well as anyone in the region.  Elijah Decker has elevated himself even further over the past few weeks and will be a load for the Tigers to have to slow down.  Mercer Rogers put on a nice show at the Sportscenter last year and has the potential to do it again.  Breck will need him too, to have a shot.  Brayden Carmen vs Bo Morse should be a great match-up in the paint.  Carter Young and Lance Poole are both “X factor” type of players that could make a difference in a close one.  The Eagles beat Breck back in the first week of the season, but a lot has changed since then.  Ohio will be the favorites, but the Fighting Tigers have been playing well.  Both teams bring great crowds.  Thursday night will be an atmosphere in the Sportscenter.

 

 

All Region – 1^st Team

Ty Price – Butler County – 28.9 ppg

Lawson Rice – Butler County –  18.4 ppg // 10.9 rpg

Luke Bieckman – Owensboro Catholic – 20.7 ppg

Elijah Decker – Ohio County –  20.5 ppg

Jonathan Moss – Daviess County – 16.6 ppg

 

2^nd Team

Jack Logsdon – Grayson County – 19.4 ppg

Gage Phelps – Daviess County – 15.7 ppg

Dayshaun Sanders – Owensboro – 16.9 ppg

Keaton Hughes – Owensboro – 16.6 ppg // 10.2 rpg

Gunnar Revelett – Mclean County – 19.1 ppg