The 2021 5th Region Tournament at Nelson County high school should be an exciting event with plenty of great teams and several storylines as well
Wednesday evening is when it gets started with Hart County (12-5) against Bardstown (19-6) at 6:00. Winning the 18th District Championship against Green County, the Lady Raiders are led in scoring Dea Bradley, Haley Sturgeon and Kiley Adcock. Bradley and Adcock are the two most dangerous outside shooters, but coach John Burd will have a tall task in facing the 19th District runner-up in Bardstown, who are led by one of the most dangerous scorers in the Region in Junior Jaileyah Cotton. Kadence Walls is the most effective three-point shooter and the Lady Tigers full court press is smothering. Coach Amber Courtney put together one of the toughest schedules to help prepare the Lady Tigers for the tournament.
Game Two will pit 17th District Champion Central Hardin (14-6) against Campbellsville (14-9) in the 8:30 game. The Lady Bruins are fresh off their huge win over previously unbeaten Elizabethtown and have lived by a strong defense and the scoring of sisters Monica and Alyssa Lindsey. The key to victory is holding opponents to around 40-points and they have done that which makes coach Kristina Covington-Jones team a tough out. Campbellsville has put together a great 14-win season behind scorers Briante Gowdy and Lainey Watson and the rebounding of Abi Wiedewitsch and coach David Petett will have his hands full with the defensive minded Lady Bruins.
Thursday evening will feature Taylor County (11-11) against Green County (13-7) in the first game of the double header. The 20th District Champions are coached by Jamie Vernon and are led by scorer Emma Maynard, who also leads the team in rebounding as well. Green County ended the regular season on a high note winning their last seven games and qualifying with a District Tournament victory over LaRue County before dropping a 47-40 loss to Hart County in the Final. Coach Chris Bladyes got great performances by Kylie Jackson (back from an injury) and Madi Corbin while Emma Howell led the team in rebounding.
The final game of the first round may be the most anticapated with Bethlehem (22-4) against Elizabethtown (23-1) at 8:30. Despite losing the 17th District Championship, the Lady Panthers have rebounded this season after losing four of five starters last season and the reigning Region Champs are led in scoring by Eight-grader Leah Macy and senior guard Kayra Freeman. The Lady Panthers coach Donnie Swiney’s team will really be tested against the Bethlehem Banshees. The 19th District champions played perhaps the most difficult schedule in the area and are as battle tested a squad coming into the Tournament. Seniors Ella Thompson and Amelia Hodges provide scoring and experience and the young twin towers of Xavier Smalley and Emma Filiatreau are a defensive problem for any opponent to solve.
Semi-Finals are Monday 6:00 and 8:30 and the Championship game on Tuesday at 6:30
