11th Region boys’ basketball tourney tips off Tuesday night. ‘It never gets old.’
The road to the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen continues this week and hopefuls must navigate a dangerous 11th Region Tournament field to make it to Rupp Arena. Pairings for the 11th Region boys’ tournament were drawn Saturday at Eastern Kentucky University, and the tournament gets underway Tuesday night.
Lexington Catholic (29-2) will be one of four district champions hosting its first-round games on Tuesday before the event moves on to Eastern Kentucky’s McBrayer Arena for the semifinals and finals later in the week. Frankfort (18-15), Frederick Douglass (20-11) and Madison Central (14-17) also earned home games for round one.
“I’ve been in coaching for over 20 years and it never gets old playing in the 11th Region Tournament,” LexCath Coach Brandon Salsman said. “It’s a special place. We have a great venue in EKU, and getting a home game is something that’s important. We’re going to do the best we can with whatever draw we get and just go one game at a time.”
LexCath, ranked No. 5 in the state in the Cantrall Ratings ahead of region play, opens with Franklin County (16-15), the runner-up in the 41st District. The two played each other Feb. 15 with the Knights winning 69-48.
On the same side of the bracket, 42nd District champion Frederick Douglass (20-11) will host Berea (22-9). The Pirates are the lowest-rated team in the 11th Region field, according to Dave Cantrall.
If rankings hold, that sets up a blockbuster semifinal matchup on Thursday between LexCath and Douglass, two of the hottest teams in the state, right now.
Tates Creek (16-13) faces the unenviable task of playing Madison Central (14-17) on its home floor. Despite their losing record, the Indians gave LexCath one of its toughest games of the season before falling 78-75 in overtime on Feb. 11. Tates Creek lost to LexCath by 20 in the 43rd District finals.
In what could be the best game of the opening round, Scott County (16-16) travels to face Frankfort (18-15), the 41st District champ and this year’s All “A” Classic runner-up. Frankfort took two out of three from Scott County’s sister school, Great Crossing, its most common opponent with the Cardinals. Scott County and Great Crossing split their series.
11th Region Boys’ Basketball Tournament
(First round at district winners, remainder at EKU’s McBrayer Arena)
Tuesday, March 3
8 p.m.: Franklin County (16-15) at Lexington Catholic (29-2)
7 p.m.: Berea (22-9) at Frederick Douglass (20-11)
7 p.m.: Tates Creek (16-13) at Madison Central (14-17)
7 p.m.: Scott County (16-16) at Frankfort 18-15)
Thursday, March 5
6:30 p.m.: Franklin County-Lexington Catholic winner vs. Berea-Frederick Douglass winner
8 p.m.: Tates Creek-Madison Central winner vs. Scott County-Frankfort winner
Saturday, March 7
5 p.m.: Championship game
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 1:17 PM.
