One and done: Girls' Sweet Sixteen

When I wrote for newspapers, I never used the front parts of the names on these tournaments because I figured the front end was just a promotion and the back end was what the thing was. But now that I do PR for companies, I always try to go to the trouble of using them. I spent $5 to get into the Second Region boys' semis the other night and $2 on unnaturally-yellow nachos once I got in there the other night. And I pay for the Internet connection and electricity in the house to follow the action from afar. And I'm sure I've purchased something if only subconsciously under the influence of some ad I've seen or heard along the way. But, by and large, I get to have all this fun with the girls' state basketball tournament over the next four days thanks to the expenditures of Houchens Industries and the other sponsors (even if they are for the tax break) and the efforts of the schools and their communities. I'm thankful for all of them.

Today's first-round games in the 2012 Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen® Basketball Tournament at Western Kentucky University's E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green:

-- Glasgow Lady Scotties vs. Suda E. Butler Traditional Bearettes of Louisville at noon Central

-- Boone County Lady Rebels of Florence vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar Lady Bulldogs of Lexington at 1:30 p.m. Central

-- Alfred Victor duPont Manual Lady Crimsons of Louisville vs. Perry County Central Lady Commodores of Hazard at 6:30 p.m. Central

-- Muhlenberg County Lady Mustangs of Greenville vs. Montgomery County Indians of Mount Sterling at 8 p.m. Central

Thursday's first-round games:

-- Hopkinsville Lady Tigers vs. Marshall County Lady Marshals of Draffenville at noon Central

-- Marion County Lady Knights of Lebanon vs. Walton-Verona Bearcats at 1:30 p.m. Central

-- Magoffin County Lady Hornets of Salyersville vs. Paul Blazer Kittens of Ashland at 6:30 p.m. Central

-- Lincoln County Lady Patriots of Stanford vs. Clay County Lady Tigers of Manchester at 8 p.m. Central

I'm for all of these teams. Here's a printable bracket for you, and here are the pre-tournament notes they're handing out to the media, and here are links to the iHigh.com live video. You rock, KHSAA. Rah!