And then there were . . . 16 each,

and this is what we’ve been working toward

After just over three months of games, preceded by several weeks of practice, we’ve finally come down to what was actually the final goals of all of the Kentucky basketball teams when we first threw up the rock back at the end of November.

The KHSAA Sweet 16 – dubbed the Greatest Show in Hoops.

This week, it’s the girls’ turn to take center stage and for this 2018 State Tournament – center stage is located in Kentucky, but just barely,

The 2018 girls Sweet 16 again heads to the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. This will be the third straight, and last year, the BB&T will be the venue for the girls’ Sweet 16 as it was recently announced the tournament will be moving to Rupp Arena beginning in 2019, flip-flopping with the boys’ tournament for at least the next four years.

Back to roundball and what we’re going to see this week.

The 16 regional representatives headed to northern Kentucky for Wednesday’s start of the tournament will include the 4th Region champion that emerged as an upset winner of sorts in the girls’ tournament.

The Purples of Bowling Green dispatched Barren County, Logan County and finally the 4th Region favorite South Warren to earn the 4th Region Championship title, and the right to advance to this week”s Sweet 16 State Tournament.

My money would have been on seeing either #1 South Warren or #2 Russell County coming out of the 4th, but the Lady Lakers were surprised by Glasgow in the semi-finals last Tuesday, setting up the South Warren – Bowling Green championship game.

Taking an overall look at the 16 teams that will face off this week looking to lay hands on the big Sweet 16 trophy and that coveted banner, things don’t look so great for Bowling Green as they will face one of the top rated squads in the tournament in opening round action, Elizabethtown.

Bowling Green (20-12) is ranked #12 in the field while E-town (33-2) is the #3 team. Says here the Purples will enjoy their week at the Dance, but they are one and done and watching for the rest of the tournament.

The Girls’ Sweet 16 will see the top two squads, #1 Mercer County (32-3) and #2 Scott County (31-2) headed toward the championship game on Sunday from opposing brackets, which means if the numbers are correct, that’s the two teams we will be seeing play for the 2018 title, trophy and banner.

Says here, although it doesn’t always shake out this way, which is why we play the game to begin with, that Mercer County’s Titans will outlast the Lady Cardinals of Scott County to emerge as the champions come Sunday afternoon.

Next week, a closer look at the boys’ Sweet 16 in Rupp.

Kentucky Lions Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Banquet

Next Tuesday night, on the eve of the start of the 2018 Boys’ Sweet 16, the annual Kentucky Lions Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony will be held in Lexington.

In addition to naming the winning candidates for the Mr. and Miss Ky. Basketball, the banquet also serves as a means to recognize season stat leaders from regular season action.

A table of Clinton County coaches will be on hand for the ceremony as one of our own is set to be recognized as one of the best in Kentucky for the season.

As we noted a couple of weeks ago in the Clinton County News, our own Seth Stockton will be cited for being the boys’ leading rebounder for the regular season action during the 2017-18 play.

Seth, also known as “Big Red” by CCHS Bulldog fans, finished the year with a state leading 367 rebounds for a 12.7 per game average.

Congrats certainly goes out to a well deserving Seth – and as a junior, it’s even more exciting to think that we’ll see him in the blue and white again next year!

and…

It’s high school basketball season and I’ll see you in the gym – don’t bother me until April!