The Apollo High School Boys' Basketball Team is being sent to the Sweet 16 Basketball Tournament in style today.
The Eagles will board the bus heading to Lexington at 10 this morning, but, before leaving Daviess County, the team will tour all the feeder schools in the area.
Students will have signs, balloons and pep rallies to cheer the eagles on to victory.
After leaving Apollo this morning, WEHT reports, the Eagles' bus was scheduled to visit seven schools (including West Louisville, 1923 and '27 state girls' basketball champion!) and a Chick-Fil-A. Then, ... "On the road to STATE!"
We've got your route from there, Eagles (and 15 other teams headed to Rupp Arena in Lexington):
First Region champs--Marshall County Marshals of Draffenville. Marshall County has been making bus plans, too.
Second Region champs--Hopkinsville Tigers. WHOP plans to get on the air at 12:30 p.m. Central with coverage from Lexington.
Third Region champs--Apollo Eagles of Owensboro. WBIO, "We Believe In Owensboro," is scheduled to carry Wednesday evening's games.
Fourth Region champs--Bowling Green Purples. WBGN plans to broadcast the whole tournament.
Fifth Region champs--John Hardin Bulldogs of Elizabethtown. “This is the best moment of my life right now.” “I’m a truly blessed man.”
Sixth Region champs--Bullitt East Chargers of Mount Washington. Get used to seeing Derek Willis in Rupp Arena.
Seventh Region champs--Trinity Shamrocks of Louisville. "From a talent perspective, this has to be one of the better fields for the state tournament in a while."
Eighth Region champs--Oldham County Colonels of Buckner. “Rupp! A-re-na! Rupp, Rupp A-re-na!”
Ninth Region champs--Boone County Rebels of Florence.
10th Region champs--George Rogers Clark Cardinals of Winchester.
11th Region champs--Scott County Cardinals of Georgetown. At No. 3 in The Courier-Journal Litkenhous Ratings, Scott County is the highest-rated team in the bottom of the bracket. (No. 1 Trinity is in the top half, and No. 2 Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park was eliminated in the Sixth Region tournament by No. 5 Bullitt East.)
12th Region champs--Southwestern Warriors of Somerset.
13th Region champs--North Laurel Jaguars of London. Les Dixon, writing in Corbin's Times-Tribune: "A lot of people moan and boo in the stands, but like it or not, North Laurel coach Brad Sizemore’s deliberate style of play is a winner."
14th Region champs--Knott County Central Patriots of Hindman.
15th Region champs--Johnson Central Golden Eagles of Paintsville. Shane Hall is another one to watch in this tournament.
16th Region champs--Rowan County Vikings of Morehead. The head coach has history with the coach of his first-round opponent.
Great preview, Eric!
ReplyDeleteThe sheer amount of basketball energy being generated in the Commonwealth right now is unbelievable -- I can't remember anything this intense for a very long time.
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe 1952-53 Sebree Red Devils advanced to the Third Region tournament by turning "one of the major upsets of the year of the state:" 59-53 over Dixon in the Ninth District semifinals. After losing to Providence in the district championship, Sebree kept things rolling by clipping Calhoun, 61-59, in overtime. But that was the end of the road for the Red Devils. "After leading all the way until final minutes of the game, we lost to Owensboro Tech 61-66."
ReplyDeleteOwensboro (not sure if this is the same as "Owensboro Tech") ended up winning the Third Region tournament and then losing in the first round of the Sweet Sixteen, 65-64 to Shelbyville. Lexington Lafayette won the 1953 state championship, 84-53 over Paducah Tilghman.
Owensboro Tech and Owensboro were different schools. In 1953, as you said, Owensboro Tech beat Sebree in the 3d Region Semi-Finals, but then Owensboro Tech lost to Owensboro 84-55 in the 3d Region Final.
ReplyDeleteSebree also made it to the 3d Region Semi-Finals in 1951-52, but that year they were beaten in the Semi-Finals by Daviess County, 79-49.