Calloway County - 1st Region Champions State Tournament Preview

[All State Baseball]

School: Calloway County.

Nickname: Lakers.

Head Coach: Brad Cleaver.

Sweet 16 Opponent: Region 16 (Boyd County / Ashland / Rowan County) - If Ashland wins this region, then a Calloway County-Ashland game will be one that must be a must see game.

Record: 31-3.

 

Key Wins: Marshall County (3x), Trinity (Louisville) (Playing St. X for 7th Region Championship), North Laurel (Playing South Laurel for Region 13 Championship), Harlan County, St. Mary, LaRue County, Father Ryan (TN), Pope John Paul (TN).

Key Losses: McCracken County, LaRue County.

 

Calloway County comes into the KHSAA Sweet 16 red hot, having won 13 straight games. The Lakers are the only team that have been able to defeat Marshall County, they're fourth district foe, in fact, the Lakers handed the Marshals they're first loss of the season back on Feb. 7th, winning 65-60. These two would meet two more times, those two would be for the district and regional championships. Calloway County would cruise past Marshall County to win both the fourth district championship 67-56 and regional championship 73-56.

 

Fourth District Tournament:

The Lakers would be this year's host of the fourth District. They would end up being the #2 seed behind #1 seed Marshall County, and would host Murray in the opening round. The Lakers would have little to no trouble out of the Tigers as they would storm past Murray, winning by 20, 88-68. This would set up game 3 between Marshall County and Calloway County with both teams having a win a piece. Marshall County got to the fourth district championship by cruising past Christian Fellowship 90-56.

Calloway County would win the fourth district championship by defeating Marshall County 67-56. This would make Calloway County's second win over the Marshals this season.

 

First Region Tournament:

By winning the fourth district championship, would ensure that the Lakers would draw a district runner-up. The Lakers would draw St. Mary in the opening round of the first region tournament, St. Mary would come into the regional tournament with a record 23-8 and being second district runner-up. Calloway County wouldn't have any issues out of the Vikings as they would run past St. Mary, winning 72-43.

Calloway County would advance to the semi-finals of the first region tournament and would face Mayfield, who defeated Carlisle County 71-49 in the game before. It would be a low scoring affair between Calloway County and Mayfield but it would be Calloway County coming out victorious, defeating the Cardinals by 16, 42-26.

Calloway County would advance to the first region championship game and a fourth game against, non other than district foe, Marshall County. The Lakers wouldn't have any issues out of the Marshals in this one was they would cruise past the defending first region champions, 73-56.

 

Key Players To Watch:

Jonah Butler (SR) (PF) - Averages a double double a game at 22 points a game and 10 rebounds a game. Also is an 85% FT shooter.

Eli Finley (SR) (PG) - Averages 22 points a game and 5 rebounds a game. Shoots 76% from FT and 35% from 3.

Conner Lockhart (SR) (SG) - Came back from injury late in the season. Averages 12 points a game. Is one of Calloway County's best three point shooters. Also shoots 76% from FT.