Sweet 16 Bracket set with Travis Perry coming to Rupp Arena

Next week’s KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 will be loaded with star-power, Cinderella stories, and schools making their first trip to Rupp Arena for the Kentucky high school state basketball championship tournament.

After knocking on the door in the 6th Region for years, Evangel Christian punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 with a 64-54 win over Fairdale. The school only has a high school enrollment of 37.

They are one of five schools making their first trip to Rupp Arena this week. Butler County, Spencer County, Magoffin County, and Great Crossing will be playing at the home of the Kentucky Wildcats for the first time. Great Crossing, the top-ranked team in the state, advanced thanks to late heroics from Will Dawson in one of the wildest finishes you’ll ever see.

GREAT CROSSING WINS IT AT THE BUZZER. WARHAWKS HEADED TO THE SWEET 16.

It was a CRAZY final 45 seconds with two massive shots by Vince Dawson. pic.twitter.com/IMImY3cW6z

— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) March 13, 2024

Great Crossing enters the Sweet 16 undefeated against Kentucky competition. Over the last seven years, three schools have entered the Sweet 16 undefeated against instate foes. George Rogers Clark is the only team to remain undefeated, cutting down the nets in 2022.

The Campbell County Camels also advanced to the state tournament on a buzzer-beater. This late shot was hit by Garyn Jackson in overtime of the 10th Region Championship.

FINAL: Boys Basketball
Campbell County 64
Harrison County 63

Garyn Jackson with a three at the buzzer to win the 10th Region Championship! pic.twitter.com/7Qmmv2C9Rl

— 10thRegion.com (@tenthregion) March 13, 2024

Malachi Moreno, the No. 32 player in the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings, is the highest-ranked player in the tournament, but the 7-footer will not be the biggest name in the building. Last year Travis Perry broke King Kelly Coleman’s state scoring record at Rupp. The future Kentucky Wildcat is returning to the Sweet 16 with the Lyon County Lyons after avenging a loss to Henderson County.

Speaking of avenging losses, Ashland Blazer fell to Boyd County three times in the regular season. They’re the first Region 16 team to lose three times before defeating the runner-up in the finals. The Tomcats are making their sixth straight Sweet 16 appearance.

Louisville Trinity is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. They did it without head coach Mike Szabo on the sidelines. The Rocks are looking for their third state title since 2012. They can become the only team with three state championships in the 21st century.

2024 KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 Bracket

Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16. The tournament begins next Wednesday at Rupp Arena.