The Scribe

Just the second time since 1990 that neither Highlands nor CovCath won a region title. 2005 was the other year.

Christian County is a deeper team than Hopkinsville at this point. This was obvious in the region tournament last year. If teams pack in a zone and make UHA shoot jumpers, they will not advance out of the district. Madisonville could be a team to watch even with the loss of Eaves and Singleton. Teams 5-10 you can throw in a bag, shake up, and draw out. I can't see Caldwell as a top five team with the loss of Anderson inside.

My kid struck him out in a 10-year all-star tournament once. Their paths are taking much different turns. Rook is a great pickup for UK. Good kid and hard worker.

Fort Campbell is still in rebuilding mode. They are getting better but nowhere near their 07-09 run. Mayfield will win big, but I think the Falcons will look better in this year's game than last year's

Yeah. No red flags there at all.

Caldwell County will not be better than Hopkinsville. Caldwell may not be better than Russellville.

Three classes for basketball would help drive up attendance but we all know that ain't happening

Attendance on a sharp decline for the fourth straight year. Attendance in 2012 (last year for a Saturday final) = 105,766 Attendance in 2013 (first year for Sunday final) = 123,363 2014 = 101,683 2015 = 94,464 2016 = 88,170 The two lowest attended championship games in the past decade have been the last two years

Preview of the game here with audio from the coaches. Last time they met in the region title game was 1985. Hoptown lost to County in the district championship but beat them for the region title. Then went on to win the state tourney

Caldwell County led 37-30 with 2:50 left and was outscored 14-1 by Trigg to end the game. Detaveon Day had 19 points and 17 rebounds for Trigg County. Elijah Anderson had 12 points, Russel Brandon added 15 rebounds. Neither team hit a three-pointer. Trigg County has now won 15 of 19 against Caldwell County. Caldwell was 10-of-22 at the free throw line, including 7-of-18 in the second half. Trigg County will play Christian County Saturday

Henderson's streak of 14 straight first round region tourney wins is kaput. Christian County limited Henderson to just 32-percent shooting and committed just five turnovers. Four players scored in double figures for Christian DeAngelo Ware led Henderson County with 15 points six rebounds It was the first time Henderson County failed to score 40 points in a Second Region Tourney game

The Road to Rupp has been a one-way street between Lexington and the Eighth District over the past 15 years. Since 2001, Hopkinsville, University Heights, or Christian County has been the Second Region rep at the Sweet 16. There’s a good chance that streak extends to 16 this year. Christian County (26-2) has been the top-ranked team in the state for most of the season and hasn’t lost to a Kentucky school all season. The Colonels rolled to their first district title in six years, holding off Hopkinsville for the third time this year. Christian County opens play in the region tournament Wednesday at Hopkins County Central against Henderson County at 7:30. Christian County has won more region titles (17) than anyone. Their last region title in 2011 came with a state championship. They will face a Henderson County team (12-16) that they beat 73-61 back on Feb. 5. Henderson County’s streak of 14 straight first round wins at the region tournament will be in jeopardy Wednesday against a Christian County, who has won 17 of 18 first round games. Sophomore Detorrion Ware leads Christian County in both scoring (18.1) and rebounding (6.6) and will be tough for Henderson to defend due to Christian’s size inside. In Wednesday’s opener, Trigg County (20-7) faces Caldwell County (11-16), a team they beat twice during the regular season. The Wildcats are trying to get back to the semifinals for the second straight year, while Caldwell County has lost four straight region openers. Caldwell’s main task will be to stop Trigg County’s Detaveon Day, who is averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds on the season. The most interesting first round game comes Thursday when Webster County and Hopkinsville meet in a rematch of last year’s region final. Webster County (25-4) features one of the state’s top defenses, giving up just 41 points a game. However, both Madisonville and Christian County had success speeding up the Trojans in wins against them. Hopkinsville (18-12) is the four-time defending region champion and will be looking to become the first school in the region to win five straight. The Tigers average 70 points a game and have four players averaging in double figures. Madisonville (20-7) and Lyon County (13-16) meet in the 7:30 game Thursday. The teams did not meet during the regular season. The Maroons have won nine of their last 10 games coming into the region and have won more first round games (46) than any other region school. Lyon County took Trigg County to overtime in the district finals but come into the region tournament having dropped 14 of 15 first round games. Lyon’s last region title came in 1951. The semifinals will be played Saturday with the title game to be played Monday. Predictions Trigg County 59 Caldwell County 47 Christian County 77 Henderson County 59 Hopkinsville 63 Webster County 55 Madisonville 71 Lyon County 43 Christian County 76 Trigg County 61 Hopkinsville 81 Madisonville 77 Christian County 77 Hopkinsville 71

The road to Rupp goes through the Eighth District. Every year since 2002, the Second Region champion has hailed from District 8. In fact, in 2011 when Christian County won the school’s first state title, they didn’t even win their own district. They advanced to the region tourney as a runner-up to University Heights. It appears that streak will be safe for another year as Christian County has been ranked number one in the state for most of 2016, while Hopkinsville took the Colonels to overtime a few weeks back. The Colonels (24-2, 6-0) haven’t lost to a Kentucky school all season and haven’t lost a game since the calendar switched to 2016. They are looking for their first district title since 2010. Frankie Smith won KABC Coach of the Year honors in his first season with the Colonels. Smith was hospitalized over the weekend with an illness but is expected to coach their tourney opener against Fort Campbell Tuesday. The Falcons (1-21, 0-6) are the only team in the region to have never won a district title and haven’t won a district game since 2009. Christian County beat the Falcons 83-30 and 94-59 during the season. One of the more interesting first round matchups in the state features Hopkinsville and University Heights. The Tigers (17-11, 4-2) are the four-time defending district and region champion. They play a UHA team that they beat by just seven points a few weeks ago. UHA (12-16, 2-4) features the top two scorers in the Second Region in Tray Hollowell and Kyky Tandy. Last year, UHA pulled off a first round upset of Christian County in the district tourney. The district championship will be Friday at 7pm. Meanwhile, Madisonville (19-7, 6-0) is looking for their seventh straight Seventh District title. They play cross-county rival Hopkins County Central (8-16, 1-5) Tuesday night at 6. Madisonville beat Hopkins Central 93-82 and 83-64 in the regular season. The Storm will be looking for their first district title in seven years. In the other semifinal game, Caldwell County (10-15, 4-2) will face Dawson Springs (8-20, 1-5) Tuesday at 7:30. The Tigers beat Dawson twice during the regular season by scores of 71-32 and 76-66. Caldwell won a district title in 2007 in their first season after moving from the Fifth District. Meanwhile, Dawson Springs hasn’t won a district tourney game since 2006 and haven’t won a district title since 1959. The boy’s title game will be played Friday at 7pm. In the Sixth District, Webster County feels like they have enough to challenge the bigs for a region title. The Trojans (24-4, 3-0) are the number one seed in the three-team Sixth District which means Webster is already into next week’s region tournament. Webster County is seeking their first district title in four years. Henderson County (11-15, 2-1) has won the last three district titles and hasn’t had a losing season since 2000. Both of those streaks are in jeopardy. The Colonels are battling injury and inexperience as they open play Tuesday against a dangerous Union County team coached by former Henderson skipper Mark Starns. The Braves (13-15, 0-4) lost to Henderson County 81-42 and 68-51 during the regular season. Union County is looking for their first district title since 2000. The championship is Thursday. Trigg County will be seeking history when the Fifth District Boys’ Basketball Tournament begins Monday night in Eddyville. The Wildcats (18-7, 6-0) have won three straight district titles, the last two under head coach Payton Croft. Trigg has never won four straight district titles and would become the first team to do so in the Fifth District since Lyon County won titles from 1999-2002. They will face Crittenden County (5-23), who lost all six of their district games but enter the postseason having won three of their last five. Trigg easily won the two regular season matchups between schools that have met for the district title the past two years. This game kicks off the tournament Monday at 6pm. The 7:30 nightcap features two-seed Lyon County (12-15, 4-2) and three-seed Livingston Central (6-20, 2-4). The Lyons have lost five of their last six games but beat Livingston 60-38 and 50-45 during the regular season. The Cardinals enter the postseason on a seven-game losing streak and have lost 16 of 18 overall. Monday’s winners meet in the title game Thursday night at 7. CLICK HERE FOR THE SECOND REGION STAT LEADERS Second Region Rankings 1. Christian County - The Colonels have not lost to a Kentucky team all season and are rolling into the postseason. 2. Hopkinsville - The Tigers have scuffled late against solid competition but should be ready for an anticipated third meeting with Christian County 3. Madisonville - The Maroons have been playing well down the stretch now that they have found a workable rotation. 4. Webster County - The Trojans feel like they have the team to challenge for the region title but don't have a win against any of the top three teams in the region. 5. Trigg County - The Wildcats enter the postseason on a four-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 11. Those losses were to Hopkinsville and Christian County. 6. University Heights - The Blazers feature the best 1-2 scoring punch in the region but defensive issues and lack of depth have hurt them in recent losses. 7. Henderson County - The Colonels have battled through a youth movement and could have enough to upset Webster County in the district tourney. 8. Union County - The Braves could pull off a district upset of Henderson County on their home floor. 9. Caldwell County - The Tigers are playing well down the stretch. 10. Lyon County - The Lyons have lost five of six but should advance to the region tourney due to the district tourney being on their home floor. 11. Hopkins County Central - The Storm have been mercurial all season. 12. Dawson Springs - The Panthers earned brownie points last week when they added Christian County to their late schedule 13. Livingston Central - The Cardinals have lost seven straight and 16 of 18 games. 14. Crittenden County - The Rockets have won just five games but three of those have come in the last two weeks. 15. Fort Campbell - Football season starts in five months.

Christian County remains the number one team in the Second Region with convincing wins over University Heights, Trigg County and Henderson County in consecutive days last week. Sophomore Detorrion Ware kept his hot hand for the Colonels, knocking down 18-of-33 from behind the 3-point arc in those three wins. Hopkinsville held off Trigg County 63-55 Saturday, two days after Trigg lost to Christian County 79-57. Webster County (21-4) has won six straight games, and Madisonville (16-6) has won seven of eight. While Hopkinsville and Christian County are the favorites to meet in the region title game, it should be fun watching the paths the teams have to take to get there. Second Region Rankings 1. Christian County – The Colonels are 9-0 against teams in the region and the only team left unbeaten against Kentucky schools 2. Hopkinsville – The Tigers took the Colonels to overtime a week ago. 3. Madisonville – The Maroons are playing well at the right time 4. Webster County – The Trojans have won six straight, including snapping a long losing streak to Henderson County 5. University Heights – The Blazers may very well be the best team in the state to not make the region tournament this year. But don’t throw dirt on their grave just yet. 6. Trigg County – Held up well to the top two teams in the region last week. Detaveon Day had 20 points and 18 rebounds in the loss to Hopkinsville 7. Henderson County – More ups and downs than the road from Henderson to Sturgis 8. Union County – Their last six losses have been of the blowout variety. 9. Lyon County – The Lyons like them close. They are 6-5 in games decided by five points or less 10. Caldwell County – The Tigers have dropped five straight and eight of nine 11. Hopkins County Central – The Storm have lost seven of eight 12. Dawson Springs – They could probably be ahead of Hopkins Central after beating the Storm last month. Hard to overlook the loss to Crittenden County 13. Livingston Central – Played Fifth District leader Trigg County tough in early January. Have dropped nine of 11 since. 14. Crittenden County – The Rockets escape the region cellar thanks to the win over Dawson Springs 15. Fort Campbell – The Falcons haven’t won since the week before Christmas, it went all through the court. Not a ball was bouncing. Nowhere on the Fort.

I'm curious to see the Bowling Green/Christian County match up Tuesday in Hopkinsville. Just 12 days until Christian County and Hopkinsville meet for the first time this season.

While most people south of Robards figured Henderson County was in for a long rebuilding season, those in the know knew the Colonels would be in the mix of things by the time the postseason rolled around. With a win over Madisonville and a close loss to Hopkinsville, the Colonels make the biggest jump in this week’s region poll. Both Christian County and Hopkinsville had globe-trotting wins this week, although Hoptown dropped a close game to Wayne County a day after beating Madison Central. Christian County held off an improving University Heights and beat First Region favorite Paducah Tilghman to remain atop the region standings. After a hiccup at Christmas, Trigg County has won six of seven games with two different players reaching 1,000 career points in the past three weeks. Webster County split a pair of games with First Region foes Mayfield and Graves County. Second Region Rankings 1. Christian County – The Colonels have done nothing to remove them from atop the rankings and have won despite playing without a player or two due to sickness 2. Hopkinsville – Tiger head coach Tim Haworth picked up career coaching win #150 last week. 3. Madisonville – The Maroons are wobbling a bit in the three-slot but still own wins over Webster County and UHA 4. University Heights (+1) – The Blazers are the overwhelming favorite to win the All-A Region and could make some noise in Frankfort. 5. Henderson County (+1) – The Colonels are starting to click. 6. Webster County (-2) – The Trojans almost knocked off First Region Top Three Graves County. 7. Trigg County – The Wildcats have a measuring stick game with Christian County Friday. 8. Caldwell County – The Tigers have dropped seven of nine games but don’t drop in the poll because they have beaten everyone below them 9. Union County – Bo Robison gets his 23 points a game, but an inconsistent supporting cast keeps the Braves from gaining ground in the region 10. Lyon County (+2) – The Lyons beat Hopkins Central in overtime to leapfrog the Storm into the Top Ten 11. Hopkins County Central (-1) – Even roller coasters get nauseous watching the Storm play 12. Dawson Springs (+2) – The Panthers are playing better of late 13. Livingston Central (-2) – Just when you thought the Cardinals were turning the corner, a pesky seven-game losing streak pops up 14. Fort Campbell (-1) – The Falcons have that Feb. 13 date with Crittenden County circled on their calendar 15. Crittenden County – See Fort Campbell above

Whoever gave up the 3-pointer is going to be runnnnnnniiiiinnnnnnn.......

Because St. Francis has enjoyed the same athletic success as UHA? I used percentages because I knew the enrollment was different. I know there is no other private school in the state where 85-percent of their financial need students are athletes.

I honestly think those schools are creating the Tri-River Tournament as an alternative to the All-A Region. And with as much dislike as the other region schools have toward UHA, don't be surprised if in 3-4 years more teams are playing in that than the All-A Region. It could be that UHA will gain an automatic state berth by default and make the All-A people have some decisions to make.

The Second Region All-A Classic is down to three teams after Crittenden County, Livingston Central, and Lyon County decided to sit this year out because they feel they can’t compete with private schools that provide scholarships to student-athletes. University Heights is the only private KHSAA school in the region and have won 20 of the 26 region titles. When the All-A was first created statewide in 1990, West Hopkins, South Hopkins, Providence, and Trigg County were among the teams that competed with UHA, Lyon, Crittenden, Livingston Central, and Dawson Springs. Over the years, Caldwell County, Fort Campbell, and Webster County have rotated in and out. Providence, West Hopkins, and South Hopkins were lost to consolidation. West Hopkins sat out a year or two in the early 1990s over the same protest of how UHA acquires their players. Trigg County and Webster County are now too big for the event. The boycott means UHA will play Caldwell County in the semifinals with tourney host Dawson Springs getting a bye to the championship game. The boycott does not affect the girls' tourney as Crittenden, Livingston, and Lyon are scheduled to play per normal. So does UHA have a "private school" advantage? Let's take a look at a 2014 financial aid survey conducted by the KHSAA of all of their member schools. The number of students receiving need-based financial aid from UHA is 47.7%. In relation to other selected private schools, that compares to: Owensboro Catholic - 35.1% Trinity - 33.6% St. Xavier - 25.6% Lexington Catholic - 18% Newport Central Catholic - 25.8% Of those students receiving need-based financial aid at UHA, 85.7% are athletes. In relation to other selected private schools, that compares to: Owensboro Catholic - 52.7% Trinity - 33.6% St. Xavier - 49.5% Lexington Catholic - 53.6% Newport Central Catholic - 60.2% Of the six private schools in the comparison, UHA ($97), Lexington Catholic ($219), St. Xavier ($35), and Owensboro Catholic ($60) offers more need-based financial aid per student to athletes than the average. Trinity ($70) and NCC ($93) offer less per student to athletes. Do the numbers above back the argument of Lyon, Livingston, and Crittenden Counties or is their sitting out just a case of sour grapes?

We are still less than three weeks away from the first of two showdowns featuring the top two teams in the Second Region – Christian County and Hopkinsville. Neither team has done anything in recent weeks to alter any arguments that they are indeed the top two teams in the region. And none of the teams chasing those two have done anything to show they can crash their party. Webster County, ranked fourth in the region last week, was clobbered by Christian County 65-33, while Hopkinsville beat Madisonville, ranked third, 88-76. University Heights has a Tuesday matchup with Christian County before embarking on another All-A Classic run, made a bit easier this year with the decision by Crittenden County, Livingston Central, and Lyon County to sit this year out because they feel they can’t compete with private schools that provide scholarships to student-athletes. Henderson County continued their inconsistent play, which is expected from a young team, and Trigg County has struggled to find that same consistent play. Second Region Rankings 1. Christian County 2. Hopkinsville 3. Madisonville 4. Webster County 5. University Heights 6. Henderson County 7. Trigg County 8. Caldwell County 9. Union County 10. Hopkins County Central 11. Livingston Central (+1) 12. Lyon County (-1) 13. Fort Campbell 14. Dawson Springs 15. Crittenden County

Christian County is not at full strength. Sebree missed the Tilghman game (sick).

Throttled a 10-4 Daviess County team by 19 Hammered a 9-4 Madisonville team by 41 Beat a 9-4 Warren Central by 28 I'd consider them top 5-10 in the state based just on their in-state resume. Beating previously unbeaten Champagne Central (Ill.) in 3 OTs bolsters their resume.

Christian County is a top five team, at worst top ten team in the state.

The top half of the Second Region put together some impressive performances over the holiday vacation, which sets up 2016 for an interesting finish. Christian County knocked off previously unbeaten Champagne Central (Ill.) in three overtimes in the Centralia Holiday Tournament and finished fourth out of 16 teams. Hopkinsville took second at the Next Level Hoops Classic in Nashville, beating teams from Arkansas and Tennessee. Madisonville had a strong showing in Florida, while Webster County showed they were a team to be reckoned with after a third place finish in Eldorado, Ill. Second Region Rankings for Jan. 3 1. Christian County – The Colonels did very little to be bumped from the top spot in the region. They host Webster County Tuesday in just their second home game of the season. 2. Hopkinsville – Jalen Johnson continues to put up huge numbers for the Tigers, who travel to Madisonville Tuesday 3. Madisonville – The Maroons took two of three games in Florida, including a 24-point thumping of traditional First Region power Marshall County. They will have a measuring stick game Tuesday against Hoptown 4. Webster County (+1) – The Trojans continue to get the job done with defense, holding 13 of their 14 opponents to 56 points or less. That will be put to the test Tuesday against Christian County. 5. University Heights (+1) – Bounced back from a tenth place finish at the Lake Cumberland Hoops Classic with a 10-point win over Ohio County. The Blazers can solidify themselves as a top-five region team with a win at Henderson County Tuesday. 6. Henderson County (+1) – Here come the Colonels. Beat Region One Top Three Murray in Lexington and hung tough with Region 15 Top Three Lawrence County. 7. Trigg County (-3) – The biggest dropper in this week’s poll. The Wildcats had a starter leave the team over Christmas where they lost three straight at the Meijer Holiday Classic in Bowling Green. Had to eke out a one-point win over Lyon County, a team they handled by 21 last month. 8. Caldwell County – The Tigers haven’t played since before Christmas but could move up the polls with a win at Trigg County Tuesday. 9. Union County – The Braves went 2-2 at the tough Eldorado, Ill. Tourney after Christmas. They play Webster County in a big Sixth District game Friday. 10. Hopkins County Central – It’s tough to get a read on the Storm, but they aren’t doing anything to warrant a move up in the rankings. 11. Lyon County – Took Trigg County to the wire Saturday on their home floor. They dropped to 3-7 12. Livingston Central – The Cardinals are improving, taking Hopkins Central to overtime Saturday. They can be a mover in the next month. 13. Fort Campbell – Have not played since Dec. 19 and have played the fewest games of any team in the region (8). 14. Dawson Springs – They keep beating up on weak teams and taking their lumps from the good teams 15. Crittenden County – They are still winless but they share the same color blue in their uniforms as Kentucky so there’s that.