16 Teams Left

Here are the scores from tonight's regional championships:

2d Region Final (at Hopkinsville):
(3) Madisonville-N. Hopkins 73, Webster Co. 58

Madisonville wins the Second Region for the second year in a row.  That's really hard for a team from outside Christian County.  Last year, the Maroons lost to Warren Central in the quarter-finals.  This year, they get Warren Central in the first round.

3d Region Final (at Owensboro Sportscenter):
Owensboro Catholic 56, Owensboro 45

Owensboro Catholic goes to State for the first time since 2016.

4th Region Final (at W. Kentucky Univ.):
Warren Central 53, Bowling Green 42

Last year, the Dragons reached the final four -- beating Mayfield and Madisonville before losing to Scott County.

5th Region Final (at Taylor Co.):
(8) Elizabethtown 74, Bardstown 72

This tournament -- where Bardstown upset one top-ten team in John Hardin before losing by two points to another -- was one of the most dramatic regionals I can remember.

7th Region Final (at Lou. Valley):
(1) Lou. Male 71, (10) Lou. Ballard 61

Good job by the pollsters on this one.  In fact, the pollsters did quite well -- five of their top 8 teams made State.

8th Region Final (at Henry Co.):
Collins 61, Oldham Co. 53

9th Region Final (at N. Kentucky Univ.):
(6) Cov. Catholic 59, Ft. Thomas Highlands 54

Last year, Cov Cath had a lousy draw at State -- they faced Scott County in the first round.  The Cardinals beat them 64-61.

10th Region Final (at George Rogers Clark):
George Rogers Clark 53, Montgomery Co. 50

George Rogers Clark will play McCracken County.  Remarkably, these teams met on December 28 as part of the Central Bank Classic at Lexington Christian.  McCracken County won that game 77-75, and then beat Lexington Christian 52-36 to win the tournament.

12th Region Final (at Pulaski Co.):
W. Jessamine 78, Danville 64

14th Region Final (at Knott Co. Cent.):
Hazard 57, Wolfe Co. 51

16th Region Final (at Morehead St. Univ.):
(2) Ashland Blazer 84, Lewis Co. 60

Last year, Blazer went to State.  They beat Owensboro in the first round, but were crushed by Trinity 60-30 in the quarter-finals.  They haven't lost a game since.

So here's how the State Tournament will begin (all games at Rupp Arena) (all times Central):

Wednesday, March 18:
11 A.M.:  (3) Madisonville-N. Hopkins Maroons (30-3) v. Warren Central Dragons (25-7)
12:30 P.M.:  (8) Elizabethtown Panthers (26-3) v. (2) Ashland Blazer Tomcats (33-0)
5:30 P.M.:  Knox Central Panthers (25-8) v. Scott County Cardinals (19-16)
7 P.M.:  McCracken County Mustangs (30-5) v. George Rogers Clark Cardinals (27-7)

Thursday, March 19:
11 A.M.:  Lou. Fern Creek Tigers (28-6) v. Hazard Bulldogs (28-5)
12:30 P.M.:  Owensboro Catholic Aces (20-14) v. Martin Co. Cardinals (22-12)
5:30 P.M.:  (1) Lou. Male Bulldogs (30-4) v. Collins Titans (26-7)
7 P.M.:  (6) Covington Catholic Colonels (28-5) v. West Jessamine Colts (20-11)