Girls 11th Region tourney draw reactions: Ranked favorites, underdogs seek path to Rupp
Daryl Moberly, coach of the No. 12 Frederick Douglass girls basketball team, doesn’t cede any ground to rival Franklin County, even though the No. 5 Flyers are the defending 11th Region champs who have won seven of the last 10 region crowns.
When it was suggested Douglass might have been unfortunate in drawing the region’s “500-pound gorilla” on their semifinals side of the bracket Saturday morning at Paul Laurence Dunbar, Moberly scoffed.
“We feel like we’re the gorilla, Peck,” Moberly said. “Any year when the ball is tipped, we feel like we’re the gorilla, no matter who we play.”
Douglass won the 11th Region Tournament in 2023 but suffered a 53-46 loss to Franklin County in last year’s region finals. A last-second shot separated the two on Dec. 14, a 51-49 Flyers win on a neutral court. Those are the only two meetings between the two in Douglass’ eight years of existence.
But first, each will have to win the first-round games they host on Monday.
Franklin County (25-5) welcomes 43rd District runner-up Lexington Christian (25-7), the 11th Region All “A” Classic champ who is making its first full-field region tournament appearance since 2010. The two haven’t met since then.
“(Douglass) is a lot better than they were in December, and I hope we are too,” Franklin County coach Joey Thacker said. “But LCA is my first concern because they shoot the ball so well. We’ll have to guard the way we’re capable of guarding in order to win the game.”
The Broncos (22-7) should not have much trouble with their Monday opponent, 44th District runner-up Berea (14-16), who lost 64-12 to Madison Central in Friday’s district finals. Douglass beat Madison Central 64-58 in Richmond on Feb. 7.
The 11th Region girls basketball tournament includes three teams ranked in the top 15 of the final media poll of the regular season among four Lexington schools and four more out-of-Fayette County rivals. All girls first-round games will be played at 7 p.m. Monday at the home of each champion from the 41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th districts.
Thursday’s semifinals and Saturday’s finals will be played at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. The semis and finals will be streamed live by Glicod.com.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 11 Madison Central (26-2) hosts 41st District runner-up Great Crossing (17-13). The Indians routed the Warhawks 66-46 at home on Dec. 5. Madison Central’s only two losses this season have come to ranked teams, No. 7 North Laurel and Douglass.
Lafayette (25-4) will host city rival Henry Clay (10-18), the 42nd District runner-up. The Generals blew out the Blue Devils 79-48 on Jan. 29.
The possible semifinals matchup of Madison Central and Lafayette would be a rematch of the Indians’ 62-45 win at home on Jan. 25.
11th Region girls tournament
First-round games listed in bracket order. Semifinals and finals at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
MONDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
7 p.m.: Lexington Christian (25-7) at Franklin County (25-5).
7 p.m.: Berea (14-16) at Frederick Douglass (22-7).
7 p.m.: Great Crossing (17-13) at Madison Central (26-2).
7 p.m.: Henry Clay (10-18) at Lafayette (25-4).
THURSDAY’S SEMIFINALS
6 p.m.: Lexington Christian-Franklin County winner vs. Berea-Frederick Douglass winner.
8 p.m.: Great Crossing-Madison Central winner vs. Henry Clay-Lafayette winner.
SATURDAY’S FINALS
7 p.m.: Championship game.
