Basketball Jones

6th Region Week 13 Review and Tournament Preview Here are the key scores from last week. 21st District Tournament final: Pleasure Ridge Park def. Fairdale, 65-60 22nd District Tournament final: Butler def. DeSales, 59-51 23rd District Tournament final: Evangel Christian def. Moore; 85-58. 24th District Tournament final: Jeffersontown def. Fern Creek, 76-70 All eight teams qualified for the regional tournament. HIGHLIGHTS: Pleasure Ridge Park captured its 13th consecutive 21st District championship behind Keith Robinson's 25 points in the tournament final. The Panthers needed every one of them as Fairdale proved stubborn with 20 points from Dalton Hicks. In the 22nd District final, Dontre Russell's 25 points propelled Butler past DeSales for its first district title since 2020. In the 23rd, Evangel Christian repeated as champion by crushing Moore behind Cyr Malonga's 29 points and 15 rebounds. Brandon Gatewood's 18 points led four scorers in double figures as Jeffersontown took down Fern Creek in the 24th District final for a repeat. REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AT VARIOUS SITES AND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL TUESDAY FIRST ROUND AT VARIOUS SITES Fairdale (22-9) at Butler (22-8), 7 pm Moore (13-18) at Jeffersontown (14-12), 7 pm Fern Creek (12-16) at Evangel Christian (28-4), 7 pm DeSales (19-11) at Pleasure Ridge Park (23-5), 7 pm SATURDAY SEMIFINALS AT VALLEY Fairdale-Butler winner vs. Moore-Jeffersontown winner, Noon Fern Creek-Evangel Christian winner vs. DeSales-Pleasure Ridge Park, 1:30 pm MARCH 7 FINAL 7 PM AT VALLEY OUTLOOK: Turnover at the very top keeps toppling the champion as the region annually demonstrates a penchant for spreading the love when it comes to handing out championship hardware. The region has had a different tournament winner each of the last four years and six different winners in 10 years. There hasn't been a back-to-back champion since Fern Creek in 2017 and 2018. Parity among the perennials is the problem for dynasty wannabes as everybody keeps knocking off each other, making it difficult to repeat. Every champion but one since 2016 is back again this year. Jeffersontown is defending champ but the Chargers have struggled to a 14-12 record. They are 8-6 over the last seven weeks and the Jeffersontown-Moore winner gets either Butler or Fairdale in the semifinals, so it's very likely a changing of the guard is once again in store at the regional summit. Even so, Jeffersontown should count itself lucky to be in this spot. Last season's runner-up Doss and four teams from this season with 20 wins, Western, Holy Cross, Beth Haven and Iroquois, aren't even here as the perils of parity claimed high-profile victims. For the opening round, Jeffersontown drew a Moore squad that's lost 11 of its last 17 games. In a rugged district tournament, it looks like Jeffersontown has a viable path to the semifinals. The Chargers beat Moore by four during the season, so expect a competitive game. Butler beat Fairdale by eight during the season. But Fairdale has won 12 of its last 15 games with those three losses coming to Butler and twice to Pleasure Ridge Park. Butler has won four straight games and 10 of 13 and plays Fairdale at home for the advantage. The bottom bracket is loaded with solid teams and dripping with intrigue. Three potential winners are ready to duke it out as top-ranked Evangel Christian, No. 3 Pleasure Ridge Park and No. 5 DeSales are all capable of running the table. Evangel hasn't lost to a regional team this season. DeSales and PRP suffered just two regional losses each. DeSales ended No. 2 Western's season in the districts, so don't sleep on the Colts. However, there is some mystery involved. Evangel and Fern Creek did not meet during the season. Neither did DeSales and Pleasure Ridge Park. DeSales and Evangel did not meet. There is some recent history for some. Evangel beat PRP by three during the season. PRP hasn't lost to DeSales since 2016. Favorites: Evangel Christian and Pleasure Ridge Park. Sleeper: Butler. Darkhorse: DeSales. FINAL REGULAR SEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS (unchanged): 1. Evangel Christian 2. Western 3. Pleasure Ridge Park 4. Butler 5. DeSales 6. Fairdale 7. Iroquois 8. Holy Cross 9. Fern Creek 10. Jeffersontown 11. Beth Haven 12. Bullitt East 13. Moore 14. Doss 15. Southern 16. North Bullitt 17. Bullitt Central 18. Valley 19. Whitefield Academy

You mean punny. You mean punny. Hoot!

Thanks for catching my oversight. Not sure how I left him out.

11th Region Week 13 Review and Tournament Preview Here are the key scores from the recently completed week of basketball. 41st District Tournament final: Great Crossing def. Western Hills, 78-73 42nd District Tournament final: Frederick Douglass def. Scott County, 69-39 43rd District Tournament final: Lexington Catholic def. Lexington Christian, 61-39 44th District Tournament final: Madison Central def. Madison Southern, 57-47 All eight teams qualified for the regional tournament. HIGHLIGHTS: Central overcame shooting woes (31.6% FG, 17.4% 3FG) and escaped Southern in a battle of the Madisons in the 44th District with 27 points and 13 rebounds from Jaylen Davis. Madison Central won the district for the fifth time in six years. Robby Todd added a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds and Jayden West had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Indians. Mad Central has won seven of its last nine games and is 13-8 since the 5-6 start. The Indians last won the region in 2021. NOTEWORTHY: Not a lot of competitive championship games with some very hot teams involved, although Western Hills pushed repeat champion Great Crossing in the 41st District. Great Crossing has won 14 of its last 16 games. In the 43rd, Lexington Catholic won the district for the second year in a row. The Knights are riding an 11-game winning streak and did not lose to a regional team this season. Frederick Douglass won the 42nd for the fourth straight year while extending its winning streak to 25 games. The Broncos haven't lost since Dec. 10 vs. Great Crossing. Their only other loss was to LexCath in the season opener. REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AT VARIOUS SITES AND EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY TUESDAY FIRST ROUND AT VARIOUS SITES Western Hills (17-11) at Madison Central (18-14), 7 pm Lexington Christian (23-9) at Frederick Douglass (28-2), 7 pm Scott County (11-21) at Great Crossing (27-5), 7 pm Madison Southern (19-13) at Lexington Catholic (30-2), 7 pm SATURDAY SEMIFINALS AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY Western Hills-Madison Central winner vs. Lexington Christian-Frederick Douglass winner, 1 pm Scott County-Great Crossing winner vs. Madison Southern-Lexington Catholic winner, 3 pm MARCH 6 FINAL 7 PM AT EKU OUTLOOK: There will be a new champion as Henry Clay didn't make it back to the tournament. Lexington Catholic is favored but the upset-prone Knights have a recent history of being on the receiving end of first-round knockouts, losing early each of the last two years to the eventual tournament champion. The last time the Knights made it to the final in 2020, they finished the season 31-3 but were upset by 19-16 Scott County. LexCath's last regional crown came in . . . 2015. If a similar early-round fate befalls the Knights once again and the regional drought continues, Great Crossing could possibly benefit while sitting on the other side of the bottom half of the bracket. In the top half, everybody has a lot to prove. Mad Central has been on a mission while circling the wagons in the aftermath of a major mid-season lineup change. Western Hills, 13-3 since a dreadful 4-8 start, has an opportunity to show its mettle after losing six of its 11 games by margins of 5, 4, 6, 3, 4 and 6. Lexington Christian is 0-3 vs. LexCath this season and 12-1 vs. everybody else in the region, 23-6 overall. That's bad news for Frederick Douglass which cannot claim Lexington Christian as a victim this season because the Broncos and Eagles did not meet. The Broncos would love to show that even though they aren't as battle-tested as LexCath and Great Crossing doesn't mean they can't wind up in the final against one of them in a revenge match, and win. Favorite: Lexington Catholic. Sleeper: Frederick Douglass. Darkhorse: Madison Central. FINAL REGULAR SEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS (unchanged): 1. Lexington Catholic 2. Great Crossing 3. Frederick Douglass 4. Lexington Christian 5. Madison Central 6. Madison Southern 7. Sayre 8. Henry Clay 9. Western Hills 10. Scott County 11. Paul Laurence Dunbar 12. Tates Creek 13. Bryan Station 14. Lafayette 15. Franklin County 16. Frankfort 17. Model 18. Frankfort Christian 19. Berea

16th Region Week 13 Review and Tournament Preview Here are the key scores from the recently completed week of basketball. 61st District Tournament final: Fleming County def. Bath County, 76-61 62nd District Tournament final: Morgan County def. East Carter, 81-48 63rd District Tournament final: Lewis County def. Russell, 66-50 64th District Tournament final: Boyd County def. Ashland Blazer, 74-67 All eight teams qualified for the regional tournament. HIGHLIGHTS: Boyd County ended Ashland Blazer's three-year reign as 64th District tournament champion with a seven-point win in the final at Boyd County Middle School. Boyd last won the crown in 2019. Boyd destroyed Fairview 108-69 in the semifinals for its sixth 100-point game of the season. The Lions have played 30 games which means they have scored 100 points 20 percent of the time or once every five games. Boyd beat Ashland with balanced scoring as five players reached double figures led by Cole Hicks' 16. Jason Ellis had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Six players were in double digits vs. Fairview, led by Hicks' 22. Ellis had 20 points and 11 rebounds in that one. You know it's a good team when leading scorer Jacob Spurlock doesn't make the top of the highlights. All he did was post a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds vs. Fairview followed by 14 points and six rebounds against Ashland. NOTEWORTHY: Lewis County, ranked No. 13 in the final regional rankings, shocked No. 4 Russell in the 63rd District championship game with a 16-point win as Xavier Prater recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds and Caden Box scored 17. Lewis County's late-season turnaround enabled it to come away with a fourth district title in five years. The Lions have won six of their last eight games. They were 3-13 on Jan. 14. Over in the 62nd, Morgan County won the district for the first time since 2018 with a rout of East Carter thanks in part to a 22-point effort from Cameron Adams. Morgan County has won nine of its last 10 games. Fleming County put its winning streak into double figures while winning the 61st District tournament for the first time in nine years. Rowan County had won the last eight crowns. REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AT MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY FIRST ROUND Ashland Blazer (19-11) vs. Morgan County (22-7), 6:30 pm Russell (25-6) vs. Fleming County (22-8), 8 pm THURSDAY FIRST ROUND Bath County (16-13) vs. Lewis County (11-18), 6:30 pm East Carter (19-10) vs. Boyd County (25-5), 8 pm MARCH 6 SEMIFINALS Ashland Blazer-Morgan County winner vs. Russell-Fleming County winner, 6:30 pm Bath County-Lewis County winner vs. East Carter-Boyd County winner, 8 pm MARCH 7 FINAL 7 PM OUTLOOK: Most everybody is expecting yet another clash between defending champion Ashland Blazer and returning runner-up Boyd County in the championship game. Ashland won last year's final between the city archrivals, 84-52 for a 4-0 sweep of the Lions with an average winning margin of 24 points. This season has been a different story. Boyd has won the last two times out against Ashland after losing the season's first meeting, so confidence is running high. Boyd has won 14 of its last 15 games. Ashland is 7-5 over its last 12. There could be some intrigue along the way. How will Boyd County match up against Bath County should both win first-round games and meet in the semis. They haven't met since 2018. It's worth noting that Bath County pushed Ashland in last year's regional semifinals before losing by just five. However, balance would be an issue. Bath County gives up too many points and gets most of them from its only double-digit scorer, Zack Otis, while Boyd scores points in bunches and gets them from a bunch of different players. There is something similar in the upper bracket. Ashland has not played Morgan County this season. Ashland and Russell could meet in the semis (if Russell beats Fleming County in the first round) after not meeting this season. Russell beat Ashland in their last meeting in 2022. It's been more than two years since Ashland beat Russell. It's a longshot encounter. Russell lost to first-round opponent Fleming County by 21 earlier this season and Fleming is riding a 10-game winning streak. Russell has gone 4-3 since its 16-game winning streak. Co-favorites: Boyd County, Ashland Blazer. Sleeper: Fleming County. Darkhorse: Bath County FINAL REGULAR SEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS (unchanged) 1. Ashland Blazer 1. Boyd County 3. Fleming County 4. Russell 5. Morgan County 6. Rowan County 7. Bath County 8. East Carter 9. Greenup County 10. Raceland 11. Menifee County 12. Fairview 13. Lewis County 14. West Carter 15. Elliott County 16. Rose Hill Christian

I appreciate all the hard work and thoughtfulness that went into this. It should be getting more than just one reaction. Thank you. Nice job.

Bardstown won tonight, so make that 10 district titles in a row for the Tigers. The updated list: 14 Madisonville-North Hopkins (7th) 13 Pleasure Ridge Park (21st) 10 Campbell County (37th) 10 Bardstown (19th) 7 Ballard (28th) 7 LaRue County (18th) 7 Mason County (39th) 6 George Rogers Clark (40th) 5 Lyon County (5th)

Are we ready for a CovCath-Newport final...

2nd Region Week 13 Review and Tournament Preview Highlights: Lyon County became the first team in 5th District history to win five tournament titles in a row with a 41-point win over Trigg County in the final. Previously, Trigg County won four in a row ending in 2016, Lyon County won four consecutive ending in 2002 and Livingston Central won four successive ending in 1980. The Lyons' winning margin is the largest in a Fifth District final in 28 years. Jack Reddick, returning from injury that forced him out a spate of games, led the Lyons in the district final with 22 points and Travis Perry added 20. Bradin Nelson, freshly eligible after the KHSAA denied his eligibility following last year's transfer from Webster County, added 13 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in his season debut. He's finally eligible after sitting out the regular season. WORTH NOTING: Madisonville-North Hopkins' 14 straight district tournament titles is the longest active streak in Kentucky, one ahead of Pleasure Ridge Park (13). 5th District Tournament final: Lyon County def. Trigg County, 88-47 6th District Tournament final: Henderson County def. Webster County, 60-54 7th District Tournament final: Madisonville-North Hopkins def. Hopkins County Central, 73-49 8th District Tournament final: Christian County def. Hopkinsville, 64-56 REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AT MADISONVILLE-NORTH HOPKINS WEDNESDAY FIRST ROUND Webster County (17-12) vs. Christian County (18-12), 6 pm Hopkins County Central (14-17) vs. Lyon County (27-5), 7:30 pm THURSDAY FIRST ROUND Trigg County (15-16) vs. Henderson County (21-8), 6 pm Hopkinsville (13-16) vs. Madisonville-North Hopkins (22-9), 7:30 pm MARCH 6 SEMIFINALS Webster Co.-Christian Co. winner vs. Hopkins County Central vs. Lyon Co. winner, 6 pm Trigg Co.-Henderson Co. winner vs. Hopkinsville-Madisonville North Hopkins winner, 7:30 pm MARCH 7 FINAL 6 PM Outlook: There are some hot teams ready to take the stage. It looks like an easy path to the final for regional No. 1 Lyon County with no other team in the top four of the final regional rankings in its half of the bracket. The defending champion Lyons, who've lost just one contest against a regional opponent (ousted University Heights) and have won 13 straight games, beat every team in its side of the bracket by at least 10 points during the season. They are at what can be considered full strength for the first time all season. There are three teams in the top six appearing in the lower bracket, No. 3 Henderson County and No. 4 Madisonville-North Hopkins vs. No. 6 Hopkinsville. Madisonville-North Hopkins has won eight of its last 10 games and plays on its home floor. Henderson County has won nine of its last 11. Favorite: Lyon County. Sleeper: Henderson County. Darkhorse: Madisonville-North Hopkins. FINAL REGULAR SEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS (unchanged) 1. Lyon County 2. University Heights 3. Henderson County 4. Madisonville-North Hopkins 5. Christian County 6. Hopkinsville 7. Webster County 8. Hopkins County Central 9. Crittenden County 10. Trigg County 11. Union County 12. Livingston Central 13. Dawson Springs 14. Caldwell County 15. Fort Campbell

The all-Eighth District Tournament Team, announced following the event: Derrell Bateman, Jordan Miles, Breland Morrison, George Sanders (Christian County) Bubba Leavell, KeiMarion Smith, Antonio Williams (Hopkinsville) Cameron Brown, Gavin Grubbs (University Heights) John Arnold, Aidan Blaszkowski (Fort Campbell) Congratulations to these players!

The 2022-23 all-Seventh District team Destin Cheirs, TaMarcus Eaves, Javion Martin, DeAaron Watkins (Madisonville-North Hopkins) Davonyae Butcher, Trevahn Jones, Drake Skeen (Hopkins County Central) Carter Whittington, Collin Whittington, Jaydarius Wilson (Caldwell County) Rex Blue, Montgomery Johnston (Dawson Springs) Congratulations to these players!

The 2022-23 all-Fifth District team voted by coaches based on regular season play. Player of the year: Travis Perry (Lyon County) All-District: Travis Perry, Jack Reddick, Brady Shoulders (Lyon County) Jhaden Vaughn, Luke Washer (Trigg County) Will Orr, Logan Wring (Livingston Central) Travis Champion, Case Gobin, Preston Morgeson (Crittenden County) Congratulations to these fine players!

6th Region Tuesday's opening round at various sites Fairdale (22-9) at Butler (22-8), 7 pm Moore (13-18) at Jeffersontown (14-12), 7 pm Fern Creek (12-16) at Evangel Christian (28-4), 7 pm DeSales (19-11) at Pleasure Ridge Park (23-5), 7 pm Saturday semifinals at Valley Fairdale-Butler winner vs. Moore-Jeffersontown winner, Noon Fern Creek-Evangel Christian winner vs. DeSales-Pleasure Ridge Park winner, 1:30 pm Tuesday, March 7 final at Valley, 7 pm (From the KHSAA)

Monday, March 6 – Semifinals, 6 and 7:30 pm Tuesday, March 7 – Final, 6 pm

Second Region At Madisonville-North Hopkins Wednesday – Webster County (17-12) vs. Christian County (18-12), 6; Hopkins County Central (14-17) vs. Lyon County (27-5), 7:30 Thursday – Trigg County (15-16) vs. Henderson County (21-8), 6; Hopkinsville (13-16) vs. Madisonville-North Hopkins (22-9), 7:30 (from the LCJ) 2nd region draw.jfif

11th Region At various sites Tuesday – Western Hills (17-11) at Madison Central (18-14), 7; Lexington Christian (23-9) at Frederick Douglass (28-2), 7; Scott County (11-21) at Great Crossing (27-5), 7; Madison Southern (19-13) at Lexington Catholic (30-2), 7 Saturday (at Eastern Kentucky) – Semifinals, 1 and 3 Monday, March 6 (at Eastern Kentucky) – Final, 7 (From the LCJ)

Hopefully, you can see this attachment. 11th region draw.jfif

Oh, Snapp!

The fourth time is the charm!

That's five straight district titles for Lincoln County and nine in 10 years, all under coach Jeff Jackson, who does a pretty nice job year in and year out. I think he's pushing 400 career wins at Lincoln. His son James Jackson coaches the Lincoln County girls.

That's it. You're on it. According to my records, here's the longest active district tournament championship streaks: 14 Madisonville-North Hopkins (7th) 13 Pleasure Ridge Park (21st) 10 Campbell County (37th) 9 Bardstown (19th) Can win a 10th straight today vs. Washington Co. 7 Ballard (28th) 7 LaRue County (18th) 7 Mason County (39th) 6 George Rogers Clark (40th)

Lewis County has sorta quietly won the district four of the last five years. Impressive.

6th Region Top Scorers Marcus Barker, Doss 21.1 Jacob Hand, Holy Cross 20.7 Jordan Harris, Beth Haven 20.3 Jamir Ford, Iroquois 19.9 Jordan Williamson, Iroquois 19.7 LeeTwon Bray, Doss 19.7 Christian Doerr, Evangel Christian 18.6 Keith Robinson, Pleasure Ridge Park 18.5 Jacob Tucker, Fairdale 18.1

16th Region Top Scorers Zack Otis, Bath County 28.0 Brevon Ricker, Menifee County 24.2 Zander Carter, Ashland Blazer 22.3 Tanner Johnson, Fairview 20.7 Jacob Spurlock, Boyd County 20.6 Christian Blevins, Rose Hill Christian 18.6 Cole Hicks, Boyd County 18.5 Seth Hickerson, Fleming County 18.3

2nd Region Top Scorers Travis Perry, Lyon County 32.4 Travis Champion, Crittenden County 24.3 Izaiah Manuel, Union County 21.2 TaMarcus Eaves, Madisonville-North Hopkins 19.8 Jack Reddick, Lyon County 18.8 Antonio Williams, Hopkinsville 18.4 Brady Shoulders, Lyon County 18.2 Jhaden Vaughn, Trigg County 18.0