3 Games Left

Here are the scores from yesterday's quarter-finals in the Boys' State Basketball Tournament:

Newport Cent. Catholic 75, Murray 54
(7) Lex. Dunbar 57, (5) Bowling Green 51
Lou. Doss 69, Taylor Co. 58
S. Laurel 71, S. Oldham 42

By the way, here are where the quarter-finalists are classified for purposes of football:

Newport Cent. Catholic -- 2A (lost in the State Finals to Mayfield this season)
Murray -- 2A (went 7-5 this season)
Lex. Dunbar -- 6A (went 3-8 this season)
Bowling Green -- 5A (State Champs this season)
Lou. Doss -- 5A (went 4-7 this season)
Taylor Co. -- 4A (went 5-6 this season) 
S. Laurel -- 5A (went 2-9 this season)
S. Oldham -- 5A (went 10-3 this season)

So the State Quarter-Finalists were mostly bigger schools, but two 2A schools made it to the quarter-finals, and one of those schools has now reached the semi-finals.  Three of the Semi-Finalists are from the three main urban regions of the Commonwealth, but South Laurel -- the most rural team left -- is the only one of the three schools to ever take the crown.  On the whole, a very finely balanced tournament, with more drama to come.  All four teams will feel that they have earned their place in the semi-finals, and all four teams will think that they can go all the way.

The First Region still hasn't won the State Championship since 1959, but we will try again next year.  Someday it will happen.

Here are today's semi-finals (all times Central):

5:30 P.M.
Newport Cent. Catholic (30-4) v. (7) Lex. Dunbar (31-6)

7 P.M.
Lou. Doss (29-5) v. S. Laurel (29-6)