It’s that time again when the District races have come to a close and the Region tournament looks like it is finally going to get underway. With this being said there are two things for certain: 1. The Boys race is still more than a two team horse race. 2. The Girls is not. It would be easy to say that this year’s boy’s district race will produce a new Region champion. That’s the beauty of the Boys game in that there is more diversity in the ranks and with the exception of North Hardin in 2001-2003 and 2011-2012, we have seen a different champion every year.
On the Boys side in the 17th District, the Elizabethtown Panthers look to be the team to beat as they have a very strong inside game and can shoot the lights out from the perimeter with three different guards. Both JaVon Cotton and Nic McDonald are dangerous and consistent this season and Dominque Harding has provided the Panthers with a great inside game when necessary. But to say Elizabethtown is a shoe in for a Region appearance could be the kiss of death. The John Hardin Bulldogs would love to repeat as Region Champs, but an inconsistent outside game and the loss of Daveon Green through graduation did not help their chances. The Panthers first hurdle will be North Hardin and despite beating the Trojans by a large margin in both games, Coach James Haire will not enter that game overconfident.
Outside the 17th, Bardstown has once again emerged as a power and once again surprised many with a 21-win season despite losing so many seniors every year. Coach James Brewer’s team is fast and very athletic and has at times looked like a legitimate contender, but when the three’s don’t fall the results are a bit different. Like most teams that depend on the consistency of their outside shooting, the Tigers will go only as far as their shooting takes them.
Taylor County has emerged as a top threat to ending John Hardin’s streak and with the one-two punch of Quintin Goodin and Caleb Wiggington and they proved their medal with an early season win over Elizabethtown. LaRue County has been a surprise, but inconsistent and Coach Paul Childress has tried to tweak things knowing that turnovers and bad decisions have hurt them in the clutch. This cannot happen when you want to be the last team standing at the Robey dome in Marion County which is where the Boys 5th Region Tournament will be held this month.
On the Girls side it’s more cut and dry as really only a small handful of teams look to be serious threats to make it to the final day of the Girl’s 5th Region Basketball Tournament. Elizabethtown looks to be the favorite as it has been among the top of the elite all season long and has lost to only two instate teams. They are strong and fast and are led by sophomore center Erin Boley and another star in waiting junior Reauna Cleaver and a consistent support cast. Their toughest challenge will be from the only Region team to beat them this season in LaRue County. The Lady Hawks are a carbon copy of the Lady Panthers with a tall inside game in Ivy Brown and Ally Evans and Alexis Brewer. LaRue County is the only team in the area that can match Elizabethtown size for size and quickness, but must beware because of their penchant of playing up and down to the competition. Nelson County could make an argument as the third best area team with Brianna Harmon, a multi talented athlete and Caitlin Hagan, but do not match up well with taller teams. North Hardin could surprise, but like LaRue County haven’t always been consistent this season, still in a field of parity who knows. So there you have it. The region champ will not necessarily be the strongest or the most talented, but will most likely be the survivor as has been the case in some seasons past. So let the games begin.
