stepscalled

Final.

Girls have been postponed to Wednesday night and Thursday night. Boys hope to start on Friday night with girls semis on Saturday afternoon and boys playing on Saturday night. Girls finals will be Sunday afternoon and then the boys are back on schedule. Knowing who is involved, Livingston Central, Union County, and Trigg County are the 3 most concerned about. Livingston Central and Union due to 2 lane roads and Trigg County due to the amount of snow (6 in) on top of the ice they received. All this can change but at least its a plan. If any other of the schools start hosting which would not start until after next season, there would be no way to have the semis on the same night. Unless you did clear the gym. And if you have to do that don't host it.

I am not for sure the seating capacity for them. Our regional tournament has been on a rotation from Madisonville to Hopkinsville since mid 70's that I know about. The girls regional has rotated to several gyms in our region. Hopkinsville and Madisonville do have the two largest gyms though. There has been some "talk" about the boys regional to go on a rotation after next year. Attendance has dropped over the 10 years and many feel that it can now be played in several other locations. I like the two facilities they are using now just for the fact they are located where most schools can get there by taking a 4 lane road. And if they are not taking a 4 lane road to these two gym, they should not try to host the regional tournament in the future. IMO

Second night of action looks like this. Union County gets to play #1 Hopkinsville. Union County is the only team in the regional tournament that pulled off an upset when they defeated Webster County in district action. Union County has a record of 12-19 and I don't see them pulling off another upset when they get to play this game. Hopkinsville hasn't lost to a team from Kentucky yet and Coach Hayworth should have them focused in for another trip to Lexington. The last game of first round action has Madisonville (18-9) hosting Crittenden County (9-20). These two teams met on Jan 4, with Madisonville winning by 25. Denis Hodge had his team ready in the 5th district finals when they faced Trigg County, taking the Wildcats into overtime. Coach Hodge gets the most out of his Rockets but they face an uphill challenge against the Maroons. Matt Beshear has his team focused on defense. They held Caldwell County to a season low 44 points in the district finals, and they get to host the tournament this year. The Maroons (18-9) could be looking past the Rockets and looking at Hoptown but I think they will still get the win. But who knows, that's why we play the games. When we get to play is everybody's question. 3 inches of snow on top of sleet and ice and temps staying below freezing makes it difficult. The other thing that the coaches want is practice time. Its not fair to expect them to show up and play without being able to get back into their own gym for at least a couple days of practice. The boys have the advantage as they wait for the girls tourney to start but that is one decision I'm glad I don't have to make.

I really thought the Scribe would give us a much closer look at the tournament, but here is a quick look. The first night of action has Trigg County (18-7) winners of the 5th district, playing UHA (15-11) runners-up of the 8th district. These two teams feature a pair of coaches who are experiencing their first regional tournament as head coach. Trigg's Payton Croft is in his first season while Grant Shouse is in his second season as head coach at UHA. UHA had a 9 game winning streak halted in the first game of the All-A Classic state tournament by Louisville Holy Cross earlier in the season while Trigg County enters the game winners of 8 of their last 10 games. Game two features Henderson County (19-7) winners of the 6th district, playing Caldwell County (17-11) runners-up of the 7th district. Henderson County is coached by Tyler Smithhart, who is in his second season as head coach of the Colonels. The Colonels hope to return to the championship game where they were defeated last year by Hopkinsville. Henderson is 13-3 since Christmas break, losing only to Hopkinsville, Scott County, and Bowling Green. Caldwell County is under the direction of Daniel Kukahiko who is in his second season as head coach of the Tigers. The Tigers have not won a regional game since 2007 but this year they have the talent to advance. These two teams met earlier in the season on Jan. 4 in Henderson. The Colonels won that game 68-52. The first night of the second region tournament should be great night of high school basketball. I will take a closer look at the second night later today. Scribe feel free to add to this but I think you would agree the first night offers two games that could be very close.

Games will be played at Madisonville North Hopkins.

UHA might possibly be the second best team in the region. Henderson might have something to say about that.

Not a fun game to watch. A lot of fouls and a lot of free throws. Caldwell shot 50% from the line which has been a thorn in their side all year. The game was close at halftime, but the Tigers went 1-8 at the line in the third quarter and that gave the Maroons a 10 point lead and held on.

Battle to the end. This game was close the entire way. Hopkinsville fouls UHA with less than 8 seconds left with the 3 point lead.

Upset in the 9th district. Apollo many considered to take the 3rd region.

Mild upset in the 6th district. Union will face Henderson County in the finals.

Christian County lead for 3 quarters. UHA puts CCHS out of the second region tournament for the first time in 8 years.

1- Graves County 2- Hopkinsville 3- Apollo 4- Warren Central 5- Taylor County 6- PRP 7- Ballard 8- Collins 9- Newport Central Catholic 10- Montgomery County 11- Scott County 12-Wayne County 13- Knox Central 14- Knott County Central 15- Johnson Central 16- Fleming County TB #1- Region 7 TB#2- Region 1

Caldwell outscored Livingston 13-0 in overtime. I don't know the circumstances of this game, but this could have been the biggest upset in the second region for the whole season.

Trigg County at Fort Campbell Webster at Todd County Central Lyon Co at Hopkins County Central These 3 have already cancelled.

Can they give Hoptown a good game?

Edwards should be the player of the year in the region, but you never know in the second region.

I don't think so; the 3 team district they are in all went 2-2. Last year McLean County defeated Muhlenberg twice during the regular season but lost to them in the district. Ohio County finished with the 1 seed; so these two meet again next week.

Final.

Final.

18 for 32 and 15 for 29 at the free throw line. Pepper did have foul trouble, But Eaves sat a lot for Madisonville with ankle issues and I'm not for sure if he ever came back into the game. It was ugly.

Being from one of the two schools in discussion. I feel at this time there is no way either team even dreams about playing up in 5A. Central is on a two year losing streak. So there is no desire there to move up. Calloway has struggled lately also; both teams are trying to rebuild programs that were competitive in years past. I don't know the answer, but from Central to FS is over an hour and to ACS its an hour and a half. Breck County is a possibility?

7 Union County 5 Russell County 3 Carlisle County 2 Owensboro 1 Fulton City TB Union County

Second Region 8) HOPKINSVILLE, UHA, Christian County, Fort Campbell 6) Henderson County, Union County, Webster County 7) Madisonville, Caldwell County, Hopkins County Central, Dawson Springs 5) Trigg County, Crittenden County, Livingston Central, Lyon County

7- Caldwell County 5- Daviess County 3- Carlisle County 2- Marshall County 1- Elizabethtown TB Carlisle County