2024 KHSAA Boys' High School Basketball Sweet 16: Wednesday Preview
March Madness is officially underway!
With many one-seeds in conference tourneys getting bounced, along with the Wildcats in the first round of the SEC Tournament, it truly feels like March — even if it’s not the feeling we were hoping for. While it’s easy to get lost in the razzle-dazzle of March Madness, the main reason that the appeal of the tournament grew was due to the love of one’s team.
Even at the high school level, the same can be said.
In my years traveling for my athletic journey (does soccer count in Kentucky?) I never sensed a love for high school sports like Kentucky. For me, Indiana High School basketball and Kentucky High School basketball were always the true gamekeepers against the AAU/Overtime takeover of high school hoops.
And what better place to celebrate the love of basketball and one’s home county than in Rupp Arena?
While the Cats head into the big dance, their home will be taken over by the Kentucky High School Basketball Boys’ Sweet 16 Tournament.
Starting on Wednesday (March 20), 16 teams will look to make history for their respective schools and win the state championship. In Kentucky, there isn’t division 1, 2, 3, etc. for the basketball tournament. In Kentucky, there is only one true state champion. Now, before each team battles at Rupp, KSR will have you covered in a preview detailing each first-round matchup.
We start with Wednesday’s four-game slate.
Magoffin County vs. Perry County Central
The Sweet 16 will kick off at 11:00 am on Wednesday between the 15th and 14th Region. The 15th Region’s representative is the Magoffin County Hornets (21-13), which dethroned Martin County in the 15th final 67-57. For the 14th Region, it’s the Perry County Central Commodores (22-13) who knocked off Breathitt County in the final.
Poetically, Magoffin County and Perry County Central met in the very first game of the season for the Commodores on December 1st in the DJ Begley Classic. In the matchup, Perry County Central came away with the 78-73 victory behind 20 points from Kizer Stone. The Hornets were led by Grayson Whitaker’s 22 points and Aden Barnett’s 20 points.
Aden Barnett is a Star
Since that loss, Aden Barnett has emerged as Magoffin County’s true scorer—the senior averages 29.4 points per game, good for sixth in Kentucky. Barnett scored 34 points in the final against Martin County. He was incredibly efficient, shooting 16 free throws and knocking down 15 of them.
In fact, Magoffin County as a whole was incredible from the line, going 24/28 from the stripe in the 67-57 win at Appalachian Wireless Arena. As Kentucky has learned many times in March, free throws matter… a lot. If the Hornets keep this efficiency from the line moving forward, they could prove to be a tough out in the tournament.
Perry County Central was seen as an afterthought in the 14th Region. Hazard and Knox County Central were viewed as the two viable threats to represent the region at Rupp. This continued after Hazard defeated Perry County Central in the 54th District championship. However, after Hazard was bounced, the field opened for the Commodores. They defeated Knox County Central 59-54 in the semis, then took care of Breathitt County in the final.
Trayten Woods led Perry County Central with 23 points in the 62-55 victory. Woods went 4-6 from two, 3-4 from behind the arc, and a perfect 6-6 from the line. This one should be an even matchup and a great way to kick off the Sweet 16.
KSR’s pick: Perry County Central
Ashland Blazer vs. Lyon County
The 1:30 pm matchup features Kentucky commit and Mr. Basketball winner Travis Perry. The successor to Reed Sheppard in elite Bluegrass scorers, Perry is already beloved. He’s seen as one of the best scorers in the country and has shattered every record set in front of him in high school. However, a state championship has alluded Perry and the Lyon County Lions (32-3). Lyon County’s record obviously catches the eye, with only two losses in the state of Kentucky all year. Critics will look at Lyon County’s schedule for question marks on the strength of the schedule.
However, Lyon County has defeated multiple great teams this season. This includes DeSales, Frederick Douglass, Warren Central, Lexington Catholic (by 20 points), and Bowling Green. While this proves the Lyons have won quality games, their losses show even more strength within the Lyons road to Rupp. Lyon County suffered back-to-back losses; they dropped a 50-48 game to Newport and then lost 78-73 at home against regional rival Henderson County.
Lyon County’s Hot-Streak
Since the late January slip-up, the Lyons have been unstoppable with 12 straight wins. This includes a get-back game for Lyon County in their 56-44 2nd Region victory over Henderson County last week. The big three, Travis Perry (Kentucky), Jackson Reddick (FGCU), and Brady Shoulders (uncommitted), are some dogs. They’ve been playing together for years, and the chemistry shows on the court.
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For the Ashland Blazer Tomcats (23-10), they have been hovering amongst some of the good teams across the state. No slouches, Ashland Blazer dismantled a good Boyd County squad 61-47 in the 16th Region final. They did so behind star Zander Carter’s 16 points and Nate Freize’s 15 points. The Tomcats have an Ole Miss-like resume, defeating every team they should, but they lack a signature win. Wins over Eastern, Jeffersontown, and Warren Central are good, but Wednesday is their chance for the statement alluding to the Tomcats all season.
KSR’s pick: Lyon County
Adair County vs. Marshall County
Adair County (28-7), out of the 5th Region, will meet Marshall County (25-7), out of the 1st Region. Both teams are very similar, with both hovering around .62 RPI and both having good wins throughout the season. For Marshall County, their regional championship victory over McCracken County was huge for the program.
After splitting the season series with McCracken, those around the game were interested in who would win the rubber match. Marshall County’s squad played great in the final, taking home a 54-46 victory at Murray State’s Arena. The 5th Region has enjoyed great success recently as McCracken’s girls’ team just made the Sweet 16 finals representing the region, so Marshall will look to do the same.
For Adair County, their 80-62 victory in the 1st Region final against Bethlehem was a statement win. After a disappointing loss to Taylor County in the 20th District championship, Adair was on a war path. They dismantled Washington County and North Hardin en route to the title. Isaiah Cochran leads the Indians in points and dropped 29 in the regional finals. He’s a pure scorer who has carried Adair County in the moments they’ve needed him most.
He knocked down five 3-pointers in the final, proving himself to be a competent shooter from behind the arc. The matchup will come down to who shows up for the bright lights, and after their victory over McCracken, I’m going to have to go with Marshall County.
KSR’s pick: Marshall County
Spencer County vs. Great Crossing
Last on the card for Wednesday is the number one team in the state and top-15 team in the country, Great Crossing Warhawks (34-1), which will take on Spencer County (25-9).
First-ranked Great Crossing is coming off their 11th Region championship victory over #2 Lexington Catholic Knights in an all-time classic at Paul Lawrence Dunbar, where KSR was on hand for the game. Vince Dawson’s game-winner will go down in infamy as one of the greatest shots in 11th Region history. Many (including myself) believe that Great Crossing and Lexington Catholic was a matchup of the two best teams in Kentucky.
After seeing the victory over Lexington Catholic and the domination all year (0 losses to a team in Kentucky), this tournament is Great Crossing’s to lose. Junior Kentucky target Malachi Moreno is a 7-foot-1 monster who blocked five shots in the matchup with Lex Cath. Point guard Junius Burrell has become one of the most trusted guys in the Warhawks. With Dawson, Moreno, and Burrell, Great Crossing is one of the most complete teams the state of Kentucky has seen in a long, long time.
Spencer County’s Chances
With this, Spencer County will have the tough task of trying to knock Great Crossing out in the first round. But as we heard John Calipari say all week, “The hardest game is the first one,” and Spencer County will hope that’s true for the Warhawks. The Bears defeated Simon Kenton to earn the 8th Region championship, a region known for toughness with many great teams, including Woodford County and North Oldham.
However, it was Spencer County that earned the right to represent the great region behind Camden Cox’s superb performance. He scored 20 points against Simon Kenton and made many great plays to bring the Bears to Rupp Arena. However, Spencer County just got the tough draw, and this one may not be too close.
KSR’s pick: Great Crossing
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