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Houchens Industries Girls Sweet Sixteen Draw and Predictions
On March 14, 2007, the Houchen Industries Girls Sweet Sixteen state basketball tournament will get underway from E.A. Diddle Arena, on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Just to see how bad I am, as I’m the king of bracket-busting, I am going to try and pick who I believe will be crowned regional champions in each of the 16 regions, and earn their way to playing for the most coveted prize of Kentucky state basketball champions. March 14, 12:00CST- Region 6 vs. Region 14 At the stroke of noon, central time, on March 14, the champions of region 6 and the champs of the 14th region will get the Sweet Sixteen started. The ladies of Louisville Iroquois are the defending regional champions, and gained a semi-final berth last season before Rose Hill knocked them out in a hotly contested matchup. Butler and Fairdale are also to be considered to come out of the sixth, but I am going to give the nod to Iroquois to make it three regional championships in a row, with a real good shot to make it back to Saturday morning. They will have to get by the 14th region champions before that, though, as Perry Co. Central and Breathitt Co. are widely considered the two favorites to come out of this mountain region. It has been 3 years since the Lady Commodores hoisted the regional championship trophy, and it is going to be another year before they have that chance again, as coach Peggy Moore and her Lady Bobcats are primed and ready to make up for their runner-up finish of a year ago, and make a date for Bowling Green.March 14, 1:30CST- Region 13 vs. Region 5 For the first time this decade, and in more than 7 years, the Clay Co. Lady Tigers finally punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen a year ago, and that ticket will be punched again this year. South Laurel will have a little to say about that, I am sure, but it is this writer’s opinion that the Tigerettes are just too tough to be denied a second consecutive trip to Bowing Green. Who they will face is about as tough as cutting through steel with a pocket knife, as Central Hardin, North Hardin, and Elizabethtown are about as equal as 3 teams can be at this time of year. E-town beat Central Hardin in the regional finals last season, so look for another runner-up team of a year ago to gain some revenge, and put Central Hardin in the Sweet Sixteen to face Clay Co. March 14, 6:00CST- Region 3 vs. Region 4 I’ll be honest, I really don’t know a whole lot of these two regions. What I do know is that there are at least 5 teams in region 3, and three in region 4 who have serious, legitimate shots at playing in the first game of the evening session on March 14. The Lady Stars of Muhlenberg North are the defending champs, but Grayson Co. is ranked number one overall, and after a disappointing end to such a great season last year in the first round of the regional tournament, losing to Muhlenberg North, Grayson Co. will exact their own bit of revenge and make the short trip to Bowling Green, where they will face another team who will be avenging a regional tournament loss, another runner-up team of a year ago, Barren Co. Barren fell to the current defending champions of region 4, Franklin-Simpson, who will defend their regional crown to the end, and you can’t forget about the team ranked number one in the 4th region right now, Warren East. But when all is said and done, Barren Co. will just keep their stuff in their lockers at Diddle Arena, site of the 4th region basketball tournament as well, and await their opponent in the first round of the Sweet Sixteen. March 14, 7:30CST- Region 12 vs. Region 7 While the Lady Rockets of Rockcastle Co. are the top team in the 12th region, and the defending regional champions, and are also back-to-back-to-back regional champions, having won the 13th region the two years previous before they were re-aligned into region 12, don’t just hand the trophy to these Rockets just yet for a fourth time. They will have to contend with traditional power Wayne Co., who is starting to peak at the right time, and Southwestern, who has been building for a regional championship run the past 2 years. But when all is said and done, tournament, and championship, experience will win out, and Rockcastle Co. will be heading to Diddle Arena for the fourth year in a row. What awaits them is one tough opening round game, as they will be facing the champs of region 7. This used to be an easy pick, as Sacred Heart had a stranglehold on this title for quite a number of years. But after Mercy knocked them off a year ago, and also knocked them off this season as well, by the way, it has been 3 seasons since the Lady Valkyries tasted regional championship glory. Well, that taste is about to be savored once again, as Sacred Heart will regain their regional championship form, and head to Bowling Green for another Sweet Sixteen appearance. March 15, 12:00CST- Region 16 vs. Region 15 One thing is certain, for at least the eighth year in a row, there will be a mountain team in the quarter-finals of the state basketball tournament. Unlike the boys, eastern Kentucky schools have had good success in the girls state tournament, and that success will continue this season. Out of region 16, while Rowan Co. and East and West Carter will make some noise to claim the crown, the Lady Red Devils of Russell, currently ranked number one in the 16th, will punch their ticket for the first game of the second day of the Sweet Sixteen, where they will await the champs of region 15. The Magoffin Co. Lady Hornets are the defending champs, and have played that way the entire season. And while Belfry, Shelby Valley and Pike Central will give them all they have, the Lady Hornets will be heading to Bowling Green again, where they really have a shot at playing on Saturday morning. March 15, 1:30CST- Region 8 vs. Region 9 The Lady Pioneers of Simon Kenton and the Lady Rockets of Shelby Co. played for the regional championship a year ago, where Shelby Co. pulled out the victory. These 2 teams should battle it out once again for the 8th region crown, and this time, as I have picked before, a runner-up team should exact some great revenge as the Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers will finally have their dreams come true and play in the Sweet Sixteen. Who they play should be quite familiar to them, as Simon Kenton came from the 9th region in re-alignment. Their opponent has quite a familiar name as well, and are also a team who will take the runner-up moniker off their name from a season ago, as the girls from Notre Dame should also, finally, punch their ticket to Bowling Green. March 15, 6:00CST- Region 11 vs. Region 2 These 2 regions met in the semi-finals of the 2006 Sweet Sixteen, where Lexington Catholic defeated Henderson Co. on their way to second consecutive state title. Union Co. and Christian Co. will put up a fight to knock off the defending 2nd region champs, but the Lady Colonels should make it 3 in a row. They may be facing the champions of the 11th region again, but I don’t believe it will be the Lady Knights this time around. The Scott Co. Lady Cardinals are more than way overdue for a regional championship crown. And after falling in the semi-finals to Catholic last season on a last second shot, and then watched the Lady Knights go on to win another state title, you know these Lady Cards have some extra motivation in finally getting past their nemesis, and making a run to a state championship. March 15, 7:30CST- Region 1 vs. Region 10 In 2004, Marshall Co. beat Paducah Tilghman. In 2005, Tilghman beat Marshall. In 2006, Marshall beat Tilghman. These two teams are ranked 1-2 again this season, and if things hold to form, in 2007, Tilghman should get the crown this time over Marshall. That is the way it is going to play out. And when the Lady Tornado get to Bowling Green, a team who’s playing some hot basketball at this time out of the tenth will be awaiting them. And no, it will not be the Montgomery Co. Lady Indians. The Lady Royals of Mason Co. will show that peaking at the right time can carry you a long, long way, straight to a regional championship. There you have it. My picks for the 2007 Houchens Industries Sweet Sixteen girls state basketball tournament. Let’s see how busted things are once the districts and regionals are over. I will probably be changing some things around. Stay tuned
Posted by: Marc Hall
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