16th District Girls Basketball Tournament Preview
February 25-29 – Russell County High School
2023 Champion – Metcalfe County
Then-freshman Aubrey Jolly hit three three-pointers en route to 17 points as the Lady Hornets won their third-straight 16th District championship over. Jozie Allen and Anna Blythe each grabbed ten rebounds in the 54-34 victory over Clinton County. The Lady Bulldogs’ Landree Moons had 17 points and 12 rebounds in defeat.
Last Five Championship Games
2023 – Metcalfe County over Clinton County
2022 – Metcalfe County over Clinton County
2021 – Metcalfe County over Russell County
2020 – Russell County over Metcalfe County
2019 – Russell County over Metcalfe County
Schedule
Sunday, February 25 @ 3:00pm – #4 Cumberland County vs. #5 Clinton County
Monday, February 26 @ 6:00pm – #1 Metcalfe County vs. Winner of Cumberland County/Clinton County
Tuesday, February 21 @ 8:00pm – #2 Russell County vs. #3 Monroe County
Thursday, February 29 @ 7:00pm – Championship Game
#1 – Metcalfe County (17-12)
How They Can Win
Metcalfe County may have lost three of its final five regular season games; however, the Lady Hornets won 8 of 11 over the season’s final month and seem to be trending up. The road to a fourth-straight district title will not be easy: a talented Cumberland County or Clinton’s Landree Moons await Metcalfe in the semifinals. If the Lady Hornets win that game, they will qualify for a ninth-consecutive 4th Region Tournament. Two stalwarts of this Metcalfe County run over the last half-decade have been Kassady London and Anna Blythe. Both are averaging double figures and will play critical roles as Metcalfe seeks to clinch the first four-peat since Russell County from 2010-13.
#2 – Russell County (17-10)
How They Can Win
Since 2014, the only other team to win a 16th District title is Russell County (2015-16, 2018-20). Before ‘22 & ‘23, the Lady Lakers had qualified for the past twelve 4th Region Tournaments. A win over Monroe County will get Russell back into Diddle Arena. The Lady Lakers swept the season series, but the two victories were by a combined six points. Rachel Bolin is averaging 11 points and 8.9 rebounds and will be the key to RC advancing to the district finals. She had 15-points and 14-rebounds in the January meeting with Monroe.
#3 – Monroe County (13-13)
How They Can Win
Monroe County uses a balanced attack on offense with three players averaging more than ten points a game. Freshman Sarah Thompson took a major step this season and is leading the Lady Falcons in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (9.6). Coach Clifton Hamilton’s club will be looking to return to Diddle Arena after missing the region tournament in 2023. Monroe was swept by Russell in the regular season but will be hoping the old adage is true: it’s hard to beat a team three times.
#4 – Cumberland County (18-11)
How They Can Win
The fact that 18-win Cumberland County is seeded fourth shows just how deep the 16th District is this season. The Lady Panthers won eight of nine in January as they reached the All-A state tournament. When the calendar flipped to February, coach Kristen Anderson’s club lost four, successive district games which led to their seeding in this week’s tournament. Sophomore forward Madi Cooksey leads the team in scoring (13.8) and rebounding (6.3). Cumberland will have to defeat a Clinton County team that swept them in the regular season.
#5 – Clinton County (12-18)
How They Can Win
Clinton County last won the 16th District in 2014. From 2015 to 2022, the Lady Bulldogs were unable to get over the hump and advance to the 4th Region Tournament. In 2022 and 2023, Coach Tim Moons’ club finished runner-up and reached the regionals at Diddle Arena. The 2024 squad will find it a little more difficult after placing fifth in the 16th District this season. Senior Landree Moons is averaging 20.4 points and 7.9 rebounds for Clinton County, who won three of its final four regular season games. If the Lady Bulldogs can get by Cumberland, they will face off with top-seed Metcalfe County who beat them three times this season. The two schools have faced off in each of the last three district tournaments.
Prediction
In what is being called the District of Depth, any team in the event is more than capable of claiming the trophy this week in Russell Springs. Metcalfe County has to be the team to beat after winning each of the last three titles and qualifying for the region tournament eight-straight times. Clinton and Moons will upend the Lady Panthers in the 4-5 game before giving the Lady Hornets all they can handle in the semifinals. Monroe County will battle Russell County, but the home team will come out on top and advance to the finals for the first time since 2021.
Metcalfe and Russell played two competitive games in the regular season, both won by the Lady Hornets. The three-time champions will get a fourth-consecutive title as Kassady London and Anna Blythe help put the finishing touches on another title.
Champion – Metcalfe County
