Final Thoughts

Boy what an unpredictable boys’ state basketball tournament. The National City/KHSAA Tournament saw Louisville Jeffersontown emerge with the big trophy.
Jeffersontown was a surprise entry after beating Louisville Ballard in the regional finals, then to walk past some stiff competition was awesome.
I predicted Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park and Shelby County in the final game. PRP was eliminated by Apollo and Shelby County lost in the second-round to the Jeffersontown Chargers.
South Laurel won its first game of the tournament, beating Christian County 71-65 only to lose Friday night to Graves County by one point and a real thriller.
It was one of the finest state tournament’s I have attended and I think it you could replay it, you would have a different state champion. It was that balanced.

Cov. Catholic fans
Anyone attending the Covington Catholic/Apollo game had to be entertained by the all-boys cheering section. I’ve been to at least 20 state tournaments and never have I seen anything like the Colonels’ cheering section.
Everything they did from the first quarter to the half-time boxing match to the final horn was well designed and rehearsed.
By the end of the half, they had everyone doing the wave and at the end were giving a loud ovation by all the fans in the stands.
The student section was awarded the First Corbin Sportsmanship Award given to a participant in the tournament who best exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play throughout the tournament.

Top players
There were some outstanding players to say the least. If I had chosen an all-tournament team it would have consisted of Randon Cavette (Graves County), Justin Towery (Graves County), Jake Wells (Apollo), Tyler Brown (Apollo), Vincent Crutcher (PRP), Troy Frazier (PRP), Nick Gagel (J-town), A.J. Slaughter (Shelby County), Brian Staed (Boyle County), Jordan Hammons (South Laurel), Ty Proffitt (South Laurel), Thomas Coleman (J-town), Rashad Basey (J-town). I agree with Ceedrick Ware as the MVP.

Ted Sanford Award
Walt Allen of South Laurel was presented the Ted Sanford Award sponsored by the Louisville Courier-Journal, given to a tournament participant based on citizenship, basketball ability, academic achievement and sportsmanship. The $1,000 scholarship will help with his education at Presbyterian College.

At the top
Speaking of cheerleading. Corbin and Williamsburg gave an outstanding account of themselves in the KAPOS State Cheerleading competition Saturday at Eastern Kentucky University. Williamsburg finished second to Clark County, who won the title for the ninth straight time.
I actually thought Pikeville and Williamsburg were the two best, but Clark County played it safe with a nonchalant routine and repeated as state champions.
Corbin finished fifth and a lot of people are saying “so what”. Not to have been in KAPOS for the last six years and to come out and win three regional titles is a statement from the Corbin girls. They, like Williamsburg, have put in a lot of hard work.
And, that’s because they have two of the finest coaches, I have ever met in Teresa Black and Tony Carloftis. The sky is the limit with those two coaches.
Cheerleading is not a two-three month sport, it is nearly a 12-month job.

Girls’ state this week
The Houchens/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 begins today with Clay County representing the 13th region.
The opening game should be one of the finest in the tournament with Louisville Mercy (26-5) taking on Lexington Catholic (31-1). The second game features former 13th region queen, Rockcastle County (23-9) meeting Letcher Central (25-6).
The two night games will find Henderson County (17-10) meeting Marshall County (25-3) while Magoffin County (26-5) playing Elizabethtown (26-6).
Thursday’s first-round games will match Muhlenberg North (25-6) against Franklin-Simpson (24-4) while Shelby County (25-8) takes on Rose Hill (24-7). The night games will see Montgomery County (27-6) take on Boone County (24-8) while Clay County (31-2) gets Iroquois (25-8).
Lexington Catholic, the tournament favorite will run past Mercy in the first game while Rockcastle County’s experience helps them beat Letcher Central. Marshall downs Henderson County while E-Town takes out Magoffin County.
Franklin-Simpson edges Muhlenberg North, Rose Hill routs Shelby County, Boone takes Montgomery County and Clay County slips past Iroquois.
Going to the semifinals will be Lexington Catholic, Elizabthtown, Rose Hill and Clay County. Meeting for the state title will be Lexington Catholic and Clay County with the Lady Knights taking the title.