The Day After: Regional Semifinals are set after Thursday’s games
Night 3 of the regional tournaments across Kentucky saw 14 regions finalize their semifinals. I was lucky enough to see 2 really close games in the 8th region. Other regions were riddled with blowouts, highlighted by Scott County setting some scoring records in the 11th Region. Here’s a quick recap of action across the state:
- In 1st Region action Graves County obliterated Hickman County 88-48 but Marshall County upset Paducah Tilghman 68-61. Marshall and Graves will play on Monday night as Coach Terry Birdsong faces his former employer.
- In the 2nd Region, Union County ended Crittenden County’s season with a 54-42 victory. The other quarterfinal saw University Heights run away from Hopkins County Central 104-74. Top ranked 2019 Guard Dekeyvan Tandy put on a show. Video courtesy of Frankie Vision:
KyKy Tandy (@TandyDekeyvan) recently coming off his unofficial with UK, showed last night with his 34 points why he’s the best prospect in Kentucky in the ‘19 class. Scores in bunches. @Frankie_Vision pic.twitter.com/3TKDgWhMuq
— T.Hood (@TdotHood) March 2, 2018
- The 3rd Region saw Muhlenberg hold Grayson County to 33 points in 32 minutes as the Mustangs won 49-33. They’ll face Owensboro Catholic. The Aces outlasted Breckinridge County 64-54 to advance to the semis.
- Russell County beat Franklin-Simpson 53-38 in the first game of the night in the 4th region. They will take on Warren Central in the semifinals. The Dragons survived a very good (and very young) Glasgow team that will likely be the team to beat in the 4th next season. The score in that one was 68-63
- Adair County has a semifinal date with LaRue County after the Indians beat Central Hardin 64-52 and the Hawks decimated Bethlehem by a final score of 66-32.
- The 8th had two competitive games as Gallatin County withstood 37 points from freshman Kelly Niece to beat Simon Kenton. They’ll take on Oldham County on Saturday. The Colonels beat Collins 68-61. More on both of those games coming later in a separate article.
- The inevitable rematch is coming in the 9th region. Cooper beat Newport Central Catholic 74-60 and Covington Catholic felled St. Henry 64-21. Cooper and Cov Cath will have their Rubber Match on Saturday night at 830.
- The 10th region saw a pair of really good games that came down to the wire. In the opener, Paris survived a last second shot opportunity to advance. Credit to Evan Dennison for the video:
Paris wins 51-50. pic.twitter.com/C7IZeO8qe3
— Evan Dennison (@EvanDennison1) March 2, 2018
- The second game the Mason County fieldhouse ended with Trey Meister hitting a game winner to put Scott over Mason County and into the semifinals against Paris on Monday night:
This tweet didn’t go through earlier, but here’s the game winner from Trey Meister at the elbow with 2.6 seconds left to give Scott a 55-53 win over Mason County: pic.twitter.com/ImsCW1ckOi
— Evan Dennison (@EvanDennison1) March 2, 2018
- The 11th region saw a historic performance from Scott County as they beat Madison Southern 114-36. That’s the most points ever scored in an 11th region tournament game. It was 38-3 after the first quarter and Scott’s starters didn’t play in the second half. The second game set up a Scott/Lafayette match-up in the semis as they beat Woodford County 51-39.
- In the 12th region, Trevon Faulkner strengthened his case for Mr. Basketball by going for 43 points in a 75-51 win over Danville. Mercer will face Somerset on Saturday. They beat Wayne County soundly, 80-62.
- Laurel County has cause for celebration as North beat Lynn Camp 63-54 and South beat Harlan County 53-31 in the nightcap. North Laurel vs South Laurel should be a good one on Saturday.
- Business as usual in the 14th region as Knott County Central beat Breathitt County 53-35 and Perry County Central beat Powell County 72-53.
- No upsets in the 15th region. Paintsville beat Floyd Central 82-70 and Pikeville beat Pike Central 57-49. Paintsville versus Pikeville should be a good one!
- In the 16th, region favorite Boyd County survived a challenge from Elliott County, winning 59-55. Rowan County defeated Lewis County 49-43 in the other quarterfinal.