And then there were . . . not as many as we started with

When we started the week out on Monday morning, high school basketball fans were geared up for the start of what used to be known as “March Madness” but since it gets underway now in the middle of February, we just call it “tourney time” now.

In Kentucky, Monday morning began with 268 boys teams and 269 girls teams still in the running, all with the common goal of winning the next game in those some 64 separate district tournaments that are being held across the Commonwealth of Kentucky this week.

Those tournaments will go on in some fashion, regardless of weather conditions, although they could, like our own 16th District Tournament, see some altered dates and times from original plans.

By the time we get out of bed on Sunday morning, those teams will have been whittled down to just 32 teams for each and all will be making plans for what comes next – the regional tournament round.

Our 4th Region Tournament move back to Bowling Green this year onto the campus of Western Kentucky University and the E.A. Diddle Arena after a one year absence last year – when participating schools did a little muscle flexing to convince WKU that there were in fact other alternatives available. (It’s also a little interesting that during that same time when WKU decided they might be the only game in town, the KHSAA has voted to move the Girls Sweet 16 to Northern Kentucky University after this year).

Anyway, back to the next level of play, our 4th Region at WKU will see the eight teams in each division heading to Bowling Green, with girls’ play getting underway on March 2 and concluding on March 8, while boys’ play gets underway March 4, winding down on March 10.

Then there were 16 each from one end of Kentucky to the other, meaning the girls’ best will converge on Bowling Green first to play that Sweet 16 March 11-14, while the boys’ turn will come the following week, March 18-22.

By then, we will have whittled 537 high school basketball teams down to a pair of champions, all in a matter of a month.

When we threw up the rock back in December, this was the stretch we were all thinking about. Can’t believe it got here so soon!

Booster Club radio auction is Saturday

A front page article gives more details, but just a reminder that the annual Clinton County Basketball Booster Club/WANY Radio Auction that was halted last weekend due to weather conditions, has been set to be held this Saturday night.

The program has also been moved back to it’s original format, beginning at 5:00 p.m. and continuing until everything is gone, or likely at sign-off time, 10:00 p.m.

Always a fun event, myself and my long-time cohort, I mean co-host, Jackie Flowers will once again be working the microphones, with players, coaches and parents working all of the other aspects of the auction on the floor.

While we urge radio listeners to get in on the act, the fact that everyone has spent so long cooped up indoors, might translate into us having an even larger than normal crowd of in-house auction audience that normal, and we certainly invite everyone out to enjoy the night from the C.C.H.S. cafeteria.

Not only will there be plenty of action – and fun, I’m sure the concessions will be tasty as well – they always are.

Come on out and support out teams Saturday night.

The calendar may say it’s February, but in Kentucky, March Madness is here already.

Don’t call me until April!