5th Region Basketball Tournament Preview

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Ranking the Teams:

1.      North Hardin

2.      Larue County

3.      Washington County

4.      Adair County

5.      Elizabethtown

6.      Taylor County

7.      Bethlehem

8.      Hart County

This should be a fun regional tournament. I could see 6 teams potentially making it to Rupp from this field.

Game 1 Adair County (25-7) vs. Washington County (22-9)

The first game of the region pits two of the best teams in the region all season against each other. Adair County is the 20^th district runner-up, losing 45-47 to Taylor in the district finals. Adair has been at the top of the rankings for most of the season. They’ll face the Commanders of Washington County, who have been in the top 5 most of the season. Since 1998, these two teams have faced off 21 times. Adair leads the series 14-7 including a run of 10 in a row.

Adair County is led in scoring by junior Connor Loy, averaging 17.8 points per game, followed by Isaiah Cochran with 16.2 points per game. The big question for the Indians will be are those two healthy. While neither Loy nor Cochran played poorly in the district finals, neither of them played up to their potential. Both were said to not be feeling well. Loy playing with a high fever and strep throat and Cochran vomiting before the game.

Washington County is led by Beau Baker, averaging 17.1 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game. Noah Reynolds and Riley Brown are both contributing just over 11 points per game. Gabe Weiss is injured and not expected to play the rest of the season.

I think this game comes down to the role players. Which team has a role player step up and make a big shot in a crucial moment or get a big steal late in the game? I’ll take Washington County by 4.

Game 2 North Hardin (21-9) vs. Hart County (17-12)

Game #2 sees top ranked North Hardin take on Hart County. North Hardin was dominant all year in the region and finished out the regular season as the top ranked team. They’ll face the Raiders of Hart County who have been in the 9-12 spot in the rankings all season. North won the 17^th district championship for the first time since 2016 and this will be their first trip back to the regional tournament since 2017. The Trojans are led in scoring by Shaun Boykins, averaging 18.6 points per game and Taveon Smith averaging 16.8 points per game. The big man, Darius Wiley is averaging 7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

Hart County is the runner-up in the 18^th district, losing in the finals to Larue County 58-31. The Raiders were the #4 seed going into the district and pulled off the upset against #1 seed Green County. Hart has been to the region a few times in the last several years, most recently appearing in 2022, but Hart County hasn’t advanced past the first round in the regional tournament since 2002. Ironically, the Raiders were defeated by North Hardin in the semifinals that year. The Raiders are led in scoring by the Shoulders brothers. Jaxon averages 16 points and Jacob averages 14.6 points per game.

North has dominated this series. Hart County hasn’t defeated North since before 1998. North has won 14 in a row. I’ll take North in a runaway.

Game 3 Taylor County (19-12) vs. Bethlehem (14-14)

Taylor County comes into the regional tournament as winners of the 20^th district, pulling off the 2-point upset and avenging 2 regular season losses to Adair County. Early on, Taylor County was expected to be among the regional contenders but then had a stretch during the middle of the season that really caused the Cards to falter. They have rebounded well though and are playing as good right now as they have all season. They’ve won 11 out of their last 12 games dating back to January 30^th and that lone loss came to Elizabethtown by 3. Taylor County is led in scoring by junior Layken Lyons with 20.8 points per game and C.J. Johnson right behind with 15.9 points per game.

Bethlehem comes into the tournament as the runner-up in the 19^th district, losing to Washington County 52-51. Bethlehem was the #2 seed in the district and 1^st year Head Coach Brad Greenwell has to be happy with how his team has performed. I don’t think anyone realistically expected Bethlehem to be in the region this year. The Eagles are led by Nicholas Osborne, averaging 17.5 points per game.

This series is pretty even dating back to 1997. They have played each other 23 times. Taylor holds the advantage 12-11. I’ll take the Cardinals in the first round by 10.

Game 4 Larue County (22-9) vs. Elizabethtown (19-10)

A rematch of last year’s finals rounds at the first-round games. These 2 teams have a lot of history between them, having faced off against each other 32 times since 1998. Etown leads the series 26-6. 7 of those games have been in the regional tournament with Etown winning each of those games.

Coming into the tournament, Larue is another team that is playing as well as anyone else. The Hawks are on an 8-game winning streak, that dates back to February 9^th. One of those wins includes an 18-point thumping of Etown at Etown.  The Hawks get contributions from Daniel Allen, averaging 21. 3 points and 8 rebounds per game. Jagger Mardis has come on strong as of late and is averaging 16.4 points per game.

The Panthers have not had their typical dominant season although they have played well most of the season. Etown went into the 17^th district as the #3 seed, defeating Central Hardin in the semi-finals and then losing to North Hardin by 5. North dominated that game in the 1^st half, but a 2^nd half comeback nearly gave Etown another 17^th district championship. That seems to be the story for the Panthers. They seem to be a much better 2^nd half team, so if you don’t put them away early, don’t sleep on them in the 2^nd half. The Panthers are led by Ayden Evans with 16.6 points per game and Alex Evans with 15 points per game.

This should be another classic, but I think history repeats itself and the Panthers bounce the Hawks from the regional tournament again. Etown by 7.