42 Games Left

For so long, it seems as though we have an infinite supply of basketball, just like it seems like the winter will last forever.  But the season is running out fairly quickly now, and two of the most prominent teams in the Commonwealth were eliminated today:

1st Region Final (at Murray St. Univ.):

McCracken Co. 46, Mayfield 32

As we will see below, not all the favorites got it done today.  But the Mustangs did, and they will go to Rupp Arena with a record of 28-5.

5th Region Semi-Finals (at Taylor Co.):

Elizabethtown 65, Bardstown 53

LaRue Co. 67, Washington Co. 59

7th Region Semi-Finals (at Knights Hall, Bellarmine):

Lou. Male 75, (6) Lou. Ballard 67

Lou. Trinity 51, Lou. Manual 36

Male-Ballard is always a huge fixture.  Ballard was ranked because Ballard beat Male 80-71 on January 14 to win the LIT.  But Male beat Ballard 81-76 at Male on January 27, and today Male won the rubber match.

9th Region Semi-Finals (at N. Kentucky Univ.):

Cooper 57, (5) Cov. Catholic 54

Newport 49, Lloyd Memorial 42

The Ninth Region -- normally one of the strongest and stateliest regions in the Commonwealth has been nuts.  Covington Holy Cross was 21-7 and went to the finals of the All "A" Tournament, but they couldn't even get to the Region, as they were knocked off by Beechwood (11-20) in the 35th District.  And Covington Catholic was considered a strong possibility for State Champion, but they are out after losing to a Cooper team they had beaten 78-69 back on January 24.  CovCath finishes with a record of 27-5, and Cooper (17-12) will advance to play Newport (26-6) for the Regional Title.

Only one ticket to the State Tournament has been punched, and we have already lost four of the top ten teams in the Commonwealth:  (5) Covington Catholic, (6) Lou. Ballard, (7) Great Crossing, and (10) Lou. Evangel Christian.  Great Crossing lost to (2) Lex. Catholic, but the others were eliminated by teams from outside the top 10.