The 100th annual Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen begins on Wednesday at Rupp Arena in Lexington. With much excitement all throughout the state for the tournament to get underway, we break down each opening round matchup:
Game 1: Bowling Green vs. Graves County – 12 p.m. EST Wednesday
- Team: Bowling Green
- 2016-17 Record: 32-2
- Head Coach: D.G. Sherrill
- Mascot: Purples
- Location: Bowling Green
- Last Time in Sweet 16: Lost to Paul Laurence Dunbar, 57-51, in 2016 second round
- Key Players: Terry Taylor (Sr/F) – 17.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg / Zion Harmon (8th/G) – 16.8 ppg / Kyran Jones (Sr/F) – 11.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg / Deangelo Wilson (Sr/G) – 11.0 ppg
- Preview: The Purples, making their fourth-straight trip to Rupp Arena, do so carrying much momentum and are considered one of the favorites to win the title. Bowling Green has won 25-straight games and is fresh off a fourth-straight Region 4 Tournament championship. The Purples are a fast-paced club, as they average 76.1 points per game and shoot an impressive 55 percent from the field as a whole.
MORE COVERAGE | BG humbled to represent District 14, Region 4
- Team: Graves County
- 2016-17 Record: 27-7
- Head Coach: Josh Frick
- Mascot: Eagles
- Location: Mayfield
- Last Time in Sweet 16: Lost to Hopkinsville, 50-34, in 2013 quarterfinals
- Key Players: Chris Vogt (Sr/C) – 16.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg / Ryan Mathis (So/G) – 13.3 ppg / Jordyn Naranjo (So/G) – 11.4 ppg
- Preview: The Eagles, riding a 12-game winning-streak, venture into Lexington with their powerful and lengthy frontcourt looking to cause its opponents trouble. Although its dealt with multiple injuries to a pair of its top players, Graves County is playing good basketball at the right time and looks to make a run in the Sweet 16, but to do that, they’ll first have to get by Bowling Green.
Game 2: Pikeville vs. Perry County Central – 1:30 p.m. EST Wednesday
- Team: Pikeville
- 2016-17 Record: 23-8
- Head Coach: Elisha Justice
- Mascot: Panthers
- Location: Pikeville
- Last Time in Sweet 16: Lost to Ballard, 63-43, in 1999 quarterfinals
- Key Players: Wyatt Battaile (Jr/G) – 20.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg / Connor Roberts (So/G) – 10.1 ppg
- Preview: The Panthers’ biggest problem entering the Sweet 16 is their size disadvantage. While they only have two players taller than 6-feet, all of Perry County Central’s starters are 6-foot-2 and taller. Pikeville looks to junior athletic guard Wyatt Battaile’s 20+ points per game to carry it.
- Team: Perry County Central
- 2016-17 Record: 27-7
- Head Coach: Shannon Hoskins
- Mascot: Commodores
- Location: Hazard
- Last Time in Sweet 16: Lost to Wayne County, 68-58, in 2011 first round
- Key Players: Damon Tobler (Sr/G) – 16.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg / Noah Back (So/G) – 13.6 ppg / Princewell Anosike (Sr/F) – 8.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg / Idris Akenyemi (Sr/F) – 6.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg
- Preview: The Commodores have a trio of experienced talent that could help them make a run at Rupp. With Damon Tobler leading the charge, who turned from a post player to a guard when big-men Princewell Anosike and Idris Akenyemi arrived after transferring together, and the lengthy presence under the basket, Perry County Central is a team to look out for.
Game 3: Scott vs. Harlan County – 6:30 p.m. EST Wednesday
- Team: Scott
- 2016-17 Record: 21-12
- Head Coach: Steve Fromeyer
- Mascot: Eagles
- Location: Taylor Mill
- Last Time in Sweet 16: Lost to Wayne County, 65-61, in 1989 first round
- Key Players: Jake Ohmer (Sr/G) – 27.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg) / Chad Ohmer (So/G) – 8.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg / Nelson Perrin (Jr/G) – 8.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg
- Preview: Making its first Sweet 16 trip since 1989, the Eagles venture into Rupp Arena with the leading scorer in this year’s tournament leading them. Jake Ohmer, a senior guard, pours in 27.1 points per game and shots 53.3 percent from the field and 85.8 percent from the free-throw line. Scott starts five guards and don’t have a player taller than 6-foot-1.
- Team: Harlan County
- 2016-17 Record: 31-3
- Head Coach: Michael Jones
- Mascot: Black Bears
- Location: Harlan
- Last Time in Sweet 16: This is Harlan County’s first appearance
- Key Players: Cameron Carmical (Sr/G) – 19.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg / Treyce Spurlock (Sr/G) – 15.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
- Preview: The Black Bears may be playing in their first-ever Sweet 16, but they are a really good team that loves to spread the floor and presents a pair of experienced guards. Seniors Cameron Carmical (19.6) and Treyce Spurlock (15.5) combine to score 35.1 points per contest and are both four-year starters.
Game 4: Scott County vs. Pulaski County – 8 p.m. EST Wednesday
- Team: Scott County
- 2016-17 Record: 30-5
- Head Coach: Billy Hicks
- Mascot: Cardinals
- Location: Georgetown
- Last Time in Sweet 16: Lost to Covington Catholic, 59-51, in 2014 final in overtime
- Key Players: Michael Moreno (So/F) – 22.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg / Cooper Robb (Jr/G) – 14.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg / Bryce Long (So/G) – 11.7 ppg
- Preview: Scott County is a young, but talented group. The Cardinals start three sophomores and a junior, but three out of the four in Michael Moreno (22.2), Cooper Robb (14.9) and Bryce Long (11.7) combine to average 48.8 out of their usual 76.5 points per game.
- Team: Pulaski County
- 2016-17 Record: 27-7
- Head Coach: John Fraley
- Mascot: Maroons
- Location: Somerset
- Last Time in Sweet 16: Lost to Lexington Catholic, 88-84, in 1992 quarterfinals
- Key Players: Steven Fitzgerald (Jr/G) – 25.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg / Landon Powell (Sr/G) – 17.3 ppg / Treyvon Sylvester (Sr/G) – 15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg
- Preview: The Maroons average 78.5 points per game and are the top scoring team in the Sweet 16, but also allow their opponents to score 68.2 points per outing, which is also the top mark in the tournament. First-year head coach John Fraley has guided Pulaski to a successful season.
–Follow Sporting Times High School Insider Tyler Mansfield on Twitter @TylerOnSports—
