Here are the first-round pairings for the Sweet Sixteen basketball tournaments
The first-round regional pairings for the 101st Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen and the 57th St. Elizabeth Healthcare/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen basketball tournaments have been set.
Draws for each tournament bracket were broadcast live Wednesday on The CW in Lexington and KHSAA.tv online.
The girls’ Sweet Sixteen is set for March 7-11 at Northern Kentucky University’s BB&T Arena in Highland Heights. The boys’ edition will be held March 14-18 at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
OFFICIAL 2018 BOYS’ SWEET SIXTEEN BRACKET
OFFICIAL 2018 GIRLS’ SWEET SIXTEEN BRACKET
Each tournament had first-time winners last March. Bowling Green won the boys’ tournament, which kicked off a yearlong celebration of Kentucky high school basketball’s centennial. Mercer County won the girls’ title over Franklin County.
The 11th Region — in which all of Lexington’s high schools compete — was paired with the Seventh Region in both the boys’ and girls’ events.
As of Wednesday, Scott County appears to be the favorite to win the 11th Region. Scott County was the No. 1 boys’ team in the latest edition Dave Cantrall’s Rating the State and the newest Associated Press rankings, and the Cardinals have not lost to an in-state opponent this season.
Scott County’s girls’ team is the highest-ranked team in the 11th Region. The Cardinals are ranked fourth in the state but would likely have to play Sacred Heart, the top-ranked girls’ team, in the first round. The Valkyries won the Louisville Invitational Tournament last weekend, routing defending Mercer County in the finals.
Mercer County’s girls, ranked sixth in the state, returned most of their starters from the state-championship run and are again the favorite to win the 12th Region, which was paired with the First Region in the opening round. Murray, which won the girls’ All “A” Classic last weekend, is ranked seventh overall.
The complete regional pairings are below. Times for the first-round games will be revealed later.
Boys’ Sweet Sixteen
(In bracket order)
Wednesday, March 14
13th Region vs. 14th Region
11th Region vs. 7th Region
12th Region vs. 4th Region
15th Region vs. 5th Region
Thursday, March 15
2nd Region vs. 10th Region
8th Region vs. 1st Region
3rd Region vs. 9th Region
6th Region vs. 16th Region
Friday, March 16
Quarterfinals: Noon, 1:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 17
Semifinals, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 18
Finals, 2 p.m.
Girls’ Sweet Sixteen
(In bracket order)
Wednesday, March 7
15th Region vs. 3rd Region
1st Region vs. 12th Region
10th Region vs. 13th Region
5th Region vs. 4th Region
Thursday, March 8
9th Region vs. 8th Region
6th Region vs. 14th Region
16th Region vs. 2nd Region
11th Region vs. 7th Region
Friday, March 9
Quarterfinals: Noon, 1:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 10
Semifinals, 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 11
Finals, 2 p.m.
Josh Moore: 859-231-1307, @HLpreps
Boys’ Sweet Sixteen
This story was originally published January 31, 2018 at 1:32 PM with the headline "Here are the first-round pairings for the Sweet Sixteen basketball tournaments."