If KHSAA basketball teams are fortunate enough to win three games in their respective region tournament, they’ll know who they’ll potentially face if they can make it to Rupp Arena for the Sweet 16.
The KHSAA held its annual draw show in Lexington on Wednesday afternoon on the heels of the postseason beginning on Monday. Ping pong balls coming out of the roller revealed the matchups for the 16 regions with the girls draw first and the boys followed.
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Locally, the Ninth Region will be looking at a matchup with the Second Region in the first round of the tournament on March 16 at a time yet to be determined (KHSAA will release the matchup times at a later date). Top contenders in the Ninth Region are Conner, Covington Catholic, Holy Cross and Newport. The Second Region has Lyon County who should be considered the favorite with Travis Perry, the second all-time leading scorer in KHSAA history and is on the brink of breaking Kelly “King” Coleman’s record. Other contenders in the Second Region are University Heights Academy (UHA), Madisonville North-Hopkins, Christian County and Henderson County.
The 10th Region favorite is George Rogers Clark with Mason County and Campbell County also in the mix. They’ll be paired with the 13th Region champion, North Laurel the favorite out of that region with University of Kentucky signee Reed Sheppard. The Jaguars have some solid competition with Harlan County, Harlan and Corbin.
The Eighth Region favorite is North Oldham, but their lone loss in region play is Simon Kenton. If the Pioneers can make it out of the Eighth with Collins, Woodford County and Grant County also as contenders, they’d be paired with the Sixth Region. Sixth Region contenders include All “A” state champ Evangel Christian, Pleasure Ridge Park, Western, Butler and DeSales.
The bottom half of the bracket has the potential to be loaded, while state No. 1 Warren Central has a clearer projected path to the finals, assuming they make it out of the Fourth Region.
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The Ninth Region could very well have the premiere first round game in the girls’ Sweet 16. Assuming region favorites Cooper and Mercy make it out of their respective regions, the Ninth would play the Sixth in a matchup of two of the top five teams in the state in the first round. But Holy Cross, Dixie Heights, Ryle and or Conner could have something to say about that if they can do what no one has done this season, beat Cooper. Mercy’s biggest resistance in region play would be Bullitt East, Whitefield Academy, Butler and Bullitt Central.
The 10th Region is heavily favored by George Rogers Clark, but Montgomery County, Paris, Bishop Brossart and Pendleton County should provide the most resistance. The winner of the 10th is paired with the 12th Region, Danville, Pulaski County, Southwestern, Danville Christian and Mercer County the contenders to come out of the 12th.
If Simon Kenton could make a run out of the Eighth Region, they’d have to get through contenders Anderson County, Grant County, Spencer County, Owen County and South Oldham. The Eighth is paired with the Second Region, Henderson County the favorite to come out of there with Hopkins County Central and Crittenden County as the contenders.
Here’s the boys matchups (all games played at Rupp Arena in Lexington):
Top bracket
March 15
Region 5 vs Region 1
Region 6 vs Region 8
Region 4 vs Region 12
Region 3 vs Region 14
Bottom bracket
March 16
Region 11 vs Region 15
Region 7 vs Region 14
Region 2 vs Region 9
Region 10 vs Region 13
Quarterfinals
March 17
Region 5/1 winner vs Region 6/8 winner
Region 4/12 winner vs Region 3/14 winner
Region 11/15 winner vs Region 7/14 winner
Region 2/9 winner vs Region 10/13 winner
Semifinals
March 18, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Championship
March 18, 7 p.m.
Here’s the girls matchups (all games played at Rupp Arena in Lexington):
Top Bracket
March 8
Region 3 vs Region 4
Region 7 vs Region 15
Region 12 vs Region 10
Region 11 vs Region 13
Bottom Bracket
March 9
Region 14 vs Region 16
Region 5 vs Region 1
Region 6 vs Region 9
Region 8 vs Region 2
Quarterfinals
March 10
Region 3/4 winner vs Region 7/15 winner
Region 12/10 vs Region 11/13 winner
Region 14/16 winner vs Region 5/1 winner
Region 6/9 winner vs Region 8/2 winner
Semifinals
March 11, 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Championship
March 11, 7 p.m.
