8 Teams Left

Here were the first round results on Thursday at the KHSAA Boys' Basketball Tournament:

(19) Lou. Butler 54, Hazard 39

Tough draw for Hazard.  The 14th Region hasn't won a game in the Tournament since 2017.

(5) N. Oldham 74, Lyon Co. 61

Really tough draw for Lyon Co.

(6) Geo. Rogers Clark 75, Johnson Cent. 60

Rough year for the teams in the provinces.

Marshall Co. 67, (10) Boyd Co. 63

Huge win for the Marshals.  First win for the First Region at the Tournament since 2022.  First win for the Marshals at the Tournament since 2011.

45 Teams Left

The First and the Ninth Regions are the ones most likely to play on Sunday -- I have never understood why.  Anyway, Marshall Co. (24-8) becomes the first team to qualify for the Sweet 16:

FIRST REGION FINAL (at Murray St. U.):

Marshall Co. 76, Paducah Tilghman 40

NINTH REGION SEMI-FINALS (at N. Kentucky U.):

(1) Cov. Catholic 92, Conner 41

Ryle 64, Erlanger Lloyd 37

It all wraps up tonight and tomorrow night.  Here are tonight's regional finals:

7th:  (4) Lou. St. Xavier v. (9) Lou. Ballard

11th:  (7) Lex. Frederick Douglass v. Great Crossing

13th:  (16) N. Laurel v. Bell Co.

14th:  Hazard v. Powell Co.

15th:  Pikeville v. Johnson Cent.

48 Teams Left

Now the season starts to run out very quickly, and there were huge games all over the Commonwealth on Saturday, with a fair number of upsets:

FIRST REGION SEMI-FINALS (at Murray St. U.):

Marshall Co. 47, (11) McCracken Co. 44

Paducah Tilghman 53, Murray 51

THIRD REGION SEMI-FINALS (at Owensboro Sportscenter):

Grayson Co. 65, (8) Daviess Co. 62

Meade Co. 48, Owensboro Apollo 46

SIXTH REGION SEMI-FINALS (at Valley H.S.):

(19) Lou. Butler 62, Lou. W.E.B. DuBois 56

(13) Lou. Jeffersontown 63, Lou. DeSales 45

NINTH REGION QUARTER-FINALS (at N. Kentucky U.):

Conner 79, Ft. Thomas Highlands 76

(1) Cov. Catholic 71, Dixie Heights 41

Erlanger Lloyd 63, Cov. Holy Cross 50

Ryle 56, Newport 46

ELEVENTH REGION SEMI-FINALS (at E. Kentucky U.):

Great Crossing 50, (15) Lex. Catholic 41

(7) Lex. Frederick Douglass 58, (2) Madison Cent. 49

THIRTEENTH REGION SEMI-FINALS (at Corbin Arena):

Bell Co. 68, Whitley Co. 39

(16) N. Laurel 66, Corbin 46

FOURTEENTH REGION SEMI-FINALS (at Breathitt Co. H.S.):

Powell Co. 56, Perry Co. Cent. 54

Hazard 57, Wolfe Co. 46

FIFTEENTH REGION SEMI-FINALS (at Pikeville Expo Center):

Johnson Cent. 79, Floyd Cent. 59

Pikeville 70, Martin Co. 61

SIXTEENTH REGION QUARTER-FINALS (at Morehead St. U.):

(10) Boyd Co. 63, Elliott Co. 53

Russell 68, Fleming Co. 47

Raceland 64, Morgan Co. 61

Ashland Blazer 75, Rowan Co. 40

66 Teams Left

Twenty teams had their dreams end yesterday, as we move closer to the Sweet 16:

FIRST REGION SEMIFINALS (at Murray St.):

Paducah Tilghman 63 - 79 (4) Marshall Co.

Mayfield 26 - 42 (6) Calloway Co.

So the two Purchase Powerhouses will meet for the fourth time today, and this is the one they'll remember.  Here's the results of the previous three meetings this season:

01/14/25:  Calloway Co. 52 - 79 Marshall Co.

02/07/25:  Marshall Co. 60 - 65 Calloway Co.

02/27/25:  Calloway Co. 67 - 56 Marshall Co. (4th District Final)

Today it's for all the marbles.  The winner goes to Lexington and history; the loser goes home.

THIRD REGION SEMIFINALS (at Owensboro Sportscenter):

Daviess Co. 67 - 45 Breckinridge Co.

Grayson Co. 62 - 49 Meade Co.

SIXTH REGION SEMIFINALS (at Valley H.S.):

Lou. Pleasure Ridge Park 42 - 43 Lou. Butler

Lou. Moore 62 - 66 Lou. Jeffersontown

NINTH REGION QUARTERFINALS (at No. Kentucky):

(9) Cooper 58 - 45 Ft. Thomas Highlands

(7) Cov. Catholic 75 - 36 Dixie Heights

Newport 50 - 47 Cov. Holy Cross

(13) Erlanger Lloyd 51 - 46 Ryle

ELEVENTH REGION SEMIFINALS (at E. Kentucky):

(2) Great Crossing 59 - 56 (5) Lex. Bryan Station

Lex. Catholic 38 - 49 (3) Lex. Frederick Douglass

It's brutal to have to play a Top Five matchup in the Regional Semifinals, but the Eleventh Region is loaded this year.  Yesterday's games set up a huge matchup game between two Top Three teams for the championship of the Eleventh Region.

THIRTEENTH REGION SEMIFINALS (at The Corbin Arena):

Harlan Co. 47 - 53 N. Laurel

(18) S. Laurel 66 - 56 Pineville

FOURTEENTH REGION SEMIFINALS (at Knott Co. Cent. H.S.):

Breathitt Co. 83 - 61 Powell Co.

Wolfe Co. 47 - 73 (12) Hazard

FIFTEENTH REGION QUARTERFINALS (at Pike Co. Cent. H.S.):

Pike Co. Cent. 53 - 48 Paintsville

Pikeville 67 - 68 Lawrence Co. (OT)

Martin Co. 100 - 72 Phelps

Betsy Layne 56 - 63 Floyd Cent.

The following teams from the MaxPreps Top 20 have been eliminated:

5.  Lex. Bryan Station (lost to Great Crossing in Regional Semifinals)

10.  Lou. Manual (lost to Lou. Trinity in Regional Semifinals)

Everyone else is still dancing, although the First Region Final will eliminate another Top Six team.

128 Teams Left

Here are the quarterfinals for the First Region Boys' Basketball Tournament, which will take place at Murray State University.  MaxPrep rankings shown for teams in the top 20.  That's a tough draw for St. Mary, although at least they don't have to play on Ash Wednesday:

Wednesday, March 5:

Paducah Tilghman (16-11) v. Fulton Co. (9-13)

Graves Co. (19-9) v. (4) Marshall Co. (27-2)

Thursday, March 6:

Carlisle Co. (14-16) v. Mayfield (20-9)

(6) Calloway Co. (28-3) v. Paducah St. Mary (23-8)

Meanwhile, here are the quarterfinals for the Second Region Tournament, taking place at Madisonville-N. Hopkins H.S.:

Wednesday, March 5:

Madisonville-N. Hopkins (15-12) v. Livingston Cent. (9-20)

Christian Co. (8-22) v. Union Co. (15-10)

Thursday, March 6:

Henderson Co. (22-6) v. Hopkinsville (15-15)

Lyon Co. (24-7) v. Dawson Springs (17-15)

MaxPreps has Henderson Co. ranked number 26, which is the highest ranking for any team in the Second Region.  (Lyon Co. is ranked number 61.)

KHSAA MaxPreps Rankings

District Tournaments start this week, so it's a good time to check in on the MaxPreps Top 20 for KHSAA boys' basketball.  It's amazing to see two teams from the Fourth District ranked in the Top Five:

1.  Great Crossing:  26-4

2.  Lou. St. Xavier:  25-2

3.  Lex. Frederick Douglass:  20-3

4.  Marshall Co:  26-1

5.  Calloway Co:  26-3

6.  Lex. Bryan Station:  22-6

7.  Cov. Catholic:  20-8

8.  Lou. Manual:  23-5

9.  Cooper:  18-5

10.  Ashland Blazer:  20-7

11.  G.R. Clark:  24-4

12.  Hazard:  26-2

13.  Lloyd Mem:  22-6

14.  Danville Christian Academy:  24-3

15.  Warren Cent:  22-5

16.  S. Laurel:  22-7

17.  N. Oldham:  19-6

18.  S. Oldham:  24-5

19.  Lou. Butler:  21-4

20.  Bowling Green:  22-6

46 Teams Left

Personally, I don't think they should play high school basketball on Sunday.  But we have four big games today:

First Region Final (at Murray St. U.):

McCracken Co. (26-7) v. Marshall Co. (24-7)

Fifth Region Final (at Green Co.):

Adair Co. (27-7) v. Bethlehem (16-14)

Ninth Region Semi-Finals (at No. Kentucky U.):

Lloyd Memorial (25-8) v. (3) Newport (30-3)

(6) Cov. Catholic (26-5) v. (14) Cooper (23-8)

Congratulations to the Lady Marshals

Marshall County reached the final of the KHSAA Girls' State Tournament -- the first time any team from the First Region has made it that far since Marshall County won it all in 1984.  Here's how they got there:

April 8:  Marshall Co. 56, Pikeville 52

April 9:  Marshall Co. 58, Bethlehem 51

April 10:  Marshall Co. 50, Henderson Co. 33

That put the Lady Marshals in the final against long-time power Sacred Heart Academy.  With about 2 minutes to go, the Lady Marshals led 47-44, but Sacred Heart pulled out a 49-47 victory.  On one of the last plays of the game, with Marshall Co. down two, the Lady Marshals tried inbounding the ball -- only to have a Sacred Heart player crash into the Marshall Co. player trying to catch the ball.  It was an obvious foul, but it wasn't called, and that play will be remembered in Benton for a long time.

Oh, Kentucky

44 Teams Left

Only five boys' basketball games yesterday, but a fair amount of drama:

1st Region Final (at Murray State Univ.):
McCracken Co. 43, Marshall Co. 42

Jackson Purchase twitter melted down over this game last night.  The two best basketball programs in the First Region met on Sunday afternoon in front of an enormous crowd at Murray State.  McCracken County swept Marshall in the regular season, winning 63-59 at Marshall on December 13, and winning 58-53 at home on January 10.  Yesterday's game, as often happens at the First Region Final, was a low-scoring, nerve-wracking affair.  Marshall County led 42-41, but was called for a foul with about two seconds left.  Rage and fury from the Marshall folks; two free throws and the lead for McCracken County.  Now Marshall has to go the length of the court.  They throw a long pass to half-court, where a Marshall player and a McCracken County player bump into each other going for the ball.  The Marshall player hits the floor and pleads for a foul.  No doing -- McCracken is going to state.  The place erupts with fans on both sides screaming and hollering.  And then everyone went home and argued about the officiating, the media, and pretty much every other aspect of Jackson Purchase life on Twitter.  And people say that tradition is dead.

5th Region Semi-Finals (at Taylor Co.):
(8) Elizabethtown 78, LaRue Co. 48
Bardstown 71, (5) John Hardin 63 (OT)

Spare a thought for John Hardin.  The Bulldogs didn't lose a game until January 21, winning the 2A State Tournament.  They were 30-3 going into yesterday, and were looking forward to a fourth game against E-Town in the regional final (they had gone 2-1 in the other three).  But instead they were upset by a red-hot Bardstown team that has lost only two games since December.  What a year for the Fifth Region.

Four of the 10 teams in the last AP poll -- (4) Lexington Catholic, (5) John Hardin, (7) Lex. Henry
Clay, and (9) South Laurel) -- have been eliminated.

14th Region Semi-Finals (at Knott Co. Cent.):
Wolfe Co. 74, Knott Co. Cent. 64
Hazard 65, Letcher Co. Cent. 38

District Tournament Play from Last Night

There were no games in the First through Eighth District Boys' Basketball Tournaments on Wednesday night.  But last night, four district championships were decided in our end of the Commonwealth:

3d District Championship (at Mayfield):
Mayfield 46, Graves Co. 36

4th District Championship (at Marshall Co.):
Marshall Co. 45, Calloway Co. 43

6th District Championship (at Webster Co.):
Webster Co. 62, Henderson Co. 56

8th District Championship (at Christian Co.):
Christian Co. 81, University Heights 59

The other district finals are being played tonight.  Here's an update on the top 10 teams in the state, according to AP:

1.  Lou. Male -- won the 26th District
2.  Ashland Blazer -- won the 64th District
3.  Madisonville - N. Hopkins -- in the 7th District Final
4.  Lex. Catholic -- in the 43d District Final
5.  John Hardin -- won the 17th District
6.  Cov. Catholic -- in the 35th District Final
7.  Lex. Henry Clay -- eliminated
8.  Elizabethtown -- lost in the 17th District Final
9.  S. Laurel -- in the 50th District Final
10.  Lou. Ballard -- won the 28th District

4th District Basketball, 2010-2019

Here are the last 10 finals of the Fourth District Boys' Basketball Tournament:

2019:  Murray 59, Marshall Co. 46
2018:  Marshall Co. 60, Murray 50
2017:  Calloway Co. 70, Marshall Co. 58
2016:  Murray 50, Marshall Co. 49
2015:  Calloway Co. 49, Murray 45
2014:  Marshall Co. 57, Calloway Co. 47
2013:  Calloway Co. 54, Marshall Co. 51
2012:  Marshall Co. 57, Calloway Co. 52
2011:  Marshall Co. 81, Calloway Co. 34
2010:  Marshall Co. 59, Calloway Co. 46

Marshall Co:  5 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018)
Calloway Co:  3 (2013, 2015, 2017)
Murray:  2 (2016, 2019)

Oh, Kentucky

Bad jobs news from Shelbyville. Here was the best of the good from last year.

OK, now that the Christmas19 hustle and bustle are behind us, it's time to take it easy. For example, it's a perfect time to start thinking about your 2020 vacations, because this year's visitor's guide is out!

Per Angela Turner's reporting in the local Times-Tribune, there are at least three good reasons that Corbin is excited about its upcoming third World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event in the last three years: One, the 2018 bash broke attendance records for The Corbin Arena; two, some wrestling fans reportedly say the scheduled card is more appealing than what Rupp Arena gets for Monday Night Raw, and, three, there's the building's improved sound quality.

Living in these troubled times demands creativity sometimes, and Marshall County got some, and now it has a Caring Community Center. Good play by play from Channel 6's Chris Yu.

Ready for the times to get better? Well, Danville's Advocate-Messenger says Kentucky's waiving testing fees for the General Education Diploma (GED) portends positively: "If just 50 more people earn their GEDs over the next two years as a result of this change, that could mean $420,000 more in annual income for some of Boyle County’s poorest residents."

Hallelujah, these people seem to love Burnside so! Christopher Harris on Somerset's Commonwealth Journal has a happy, fun story from the first city council meeting of the new year.

It's like we never said goodbye to Michael Scott and all of the gang. The Office! is coming to The Kentucky Center.

Oh, Kentucky

Happy new year (from Calvert City)!

Good jobs news from Florence, Newman and Owensboro.

Marshall County is considering whether to declare itself a sanctuary county, but it's not what you would think. (Or, in other words, gunsgunsguns. And maybe it is what you would think.)

Holiday open houses: ACLU of Kentucky, today.

There's a darkness on the edge of Floyd County.

Fish management: Asian carp in Lyon County, shad and sunfish in Henry County.

Here's a solid WDRB report on Kentucky's back and forth on marijuana legalization, with interesting perspectives from Jackson, Russell and Winchester legislators.

Who is Paducah's mystery Park Avenue pine-tree planter?

What's next for Lexington's old Romany Road Kroger?

Turning to sports, "the state of Kentucky and high school basketball have always been intertwined and can’t really be separated."

Oh, Kentucky

Catching up from the weekend ...

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Central City, Nov. 24; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29;  Greensburg, Guthrie and Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs, Murray, Salem and Sebree, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Clay, Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Irvine/Ravenna, London, Maysville, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond, Smiths Grove, Stanton and Trenton, Dec. 6; Arlington, Barbourville, Beattyville, Berea, Bloomfield, Bowling Green,  romley/Ludlow, Brownsville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Clinton, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, East Bernstadt, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Greenville, Hawesville, Henderson, Horse Cave, Inez, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Munfordville, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Prestonsburg, Rabbit Hash, Raceland, Russell Springs, Salyersville, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Auburn, Georgetown and New Haven, Dec. 8, and Augusta, Benton, Burkesville, Burnside, Campbellsville, Cave City, Edmonton, Elkton, Franklin, Hopkinsville, Louisa, Mayfield, Providence, Tollesboro, Williamsburg and Woodburn, Dec. 14.

Oh, Kentucky

Catching up ...

Good jobs news from Benton, Bowling Green, Crittenden, Eddyville, Erlanger, Lexington, Louisville (and Louisville), Maysville and Paducah.

Bad from Clay and Hopkinsville.

The governor before the Paducah Rotary, per Channel 6: "Not rules that 'take away this or stop access to that.'"

Pete Koutoulas in The Winchester Sun: "I am not advocating taking away people’s guns. Nor am I advocating a free-for-all in which everyone walks around packing. I’m not supporting any particular new laws. What I am urging my fellow Americans to do is start taking this issue seriously. I am a gun owner. I own a pistol, a shotgun and a .22 rifle. I taught my sons how to shoot and how to be safe, responsible gun owners. It is absurd that we require higher standards of those seeking to operate a motor vehicle than we do of those who wish to own a firearm. It is absurd that we refuse to consider all possible solutions when dealing with a problem that has become a national health crisis. It is beyond absurd that we allow one organization to control the narrative — an organization that represents not the majority of gun owners, but gun manufacturers. Meanwhile, we allow our elected leaders to stifle attempts to conduct serious research into the causes of the epidemic of gun violence that has seized our nation. No other nation experiences the level of gun violence that America does. No other country would tolerate it. What makes us different?"

Oh, Kentucky

WKMS also has the full text of the House resolution, which passed despite the "no" vote of U.S. Rep. Comer of Tompkinsville.

"Obviously, I want you to read all of bell hooks books. I mean, I want to read all of her writing. She does it with passion and grace that leaves me in an awe that is difficult to describe. Recently, she has released a string of children’s books that I hope you’ll also read. I hope that this will give you a little teaser into what she is capable of.  Her writing is so important right now. She writes with a grace and love that is difficult to come by. Whew, are we really hurting for some real love right now." Brandie Derusha enrolls us in bell hooks, at Book Riot.

A native western Kentuckian comes home, and he's focused on re-introducing Mayfield's YMCA to the region. Eric Walker has an interesting report in the local Messenger.

Pine Mountain Settlement School drops the soup-to-nuts farming 411--"from seed to table and even marketing"--on the kids.

There's a name change, but Wyatt's--a locally owned grocery in Falmouth for more than 70 years--rolls on.

Ingram Barge of Paducah, Louisville Metro Corrections and The Entrepreneur Source of Simpsonville are among the employers to be represented at today's hiring/networking event hosted by Fort Campbell's Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program.

Stories about retail development are among contemporary journalism's hottest click properties, and, for sure, I quickly clicked on this Channel 6 survey of new stuff coming to Kentucky Oaks Mall.

A nonprofit that runs homes for people with disabilities--with reported revenue growth of $70 million over the last three years--is pulling out of Kentucky because it says it is having funding problems with the state. I found this (fantastic) Leah Shields/Justin Jones report for WPSD was considerably less fun to digest.

The eastern Kentucky miners whose pay was reportedly taken back from a bankrupt coal operator got a boost from a Harlan priest this week.

Oh, Kentucky

You're going to want to check this list before you get your LBL on.

Madisonville's Dr. Festus Claybon Memorial Park is getting a new football field and all-inclusive playground.

Sam Adler Bell delivers in New Internationalist an economical, power-packed 2,300 words on eastern Kentucky and coal's decline.

100 years for Lexington-based A&W, purchased by its franchisees from YUM! Brands in 2011.

Rest in peace, Lt. Brown, Covington firefighter of 25 years who "found little blessings in helping people."

Oh, Kentucky

Henderson reconsiders LGBTQ rights and fairness 20 years later. Chris Kenning with The Courier-Journal visits in advance of Tuesday's vote.

Hiring in Salem (for CNAs for all shifts and with a $1,500 signing bonus), Dixon (for Webster County High archery, cheer, golf and soccer coaches) and throughout the state (for career, elementary, special and technical education, among others).

"A quirky history podcast produced right here in Kentucky," The Past and The Curious, is getting a lot of love.

Thanks, Feds, for not shutting donw Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers in Edmonson, McCreary and Menifee counties.

Happy 50th, Louisville Zoo.

Oh, Kentucky

"This is a sad day for our wonderful, close-knit community. If we can't extend a helping hand for our elderly that have blazed the path for our current and future generations then that speaks volumes for our integrity." Rachel Keller Collins delivers the breaking and heartbreaking news in The Marshall County Tribune-Courier that the Marshall County Senior Citizens Center is giving up the fight.

Madisonville's hoping to draw new residents from Fort Campbell.

The Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is leaving Owensboro for Central City.

Muhlenberg County is also getting a new indoor-sports facility.

For what (I think) is its third CEO in three years, Lexmark taps a lifer.

A couple of Erlanger-Elsmere originals are shutting down Florence's "hands-on" Herbs & More after 22 years, and it sounds like backroads driving, family visiting and maybe even (finally again) some fishing might be on the agenda. Patricia Scheyer's farewell feature at The River City News is a fun read.

Banking hiccups are holding back hemp in Kentucky, an Eddyville operator and other industry leaders tell Sen. McConnell and other congressional leaders.

There's a Head Start hard stop in Flemingsburg, but no one's yet saying what's up.

More on the passing of "King" Coleman: Per Steve LeMaster in the Floyd County Chronicle, visitation will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday in the Wayland High School gym, and the family asks memorial contributions go to the Mountain Sports Hall of Fame.