The bottom bracket of the 2018 Whitaker Bank Boys Sweet 16 features a distinct western Kentucky flavor with Regions 1, 2, and 3 drawing in the four bracket slots.
Region 2 drew Region 10 for a Thursday matchup. Although the matchup is in the first bracket slot for Thursday, the KHSAA can change the start times for attendance purposes. That happened last year when Hopkinsville’s first round game with Fern Creek was moved to a noon start despite the bottom bracket position.
Many feel the Region 2 winner will come from the Eighth District – Christian County, Hopkinsville or University Heights. Madisonville and Henderson County could make a deep run in the region given a good draw.
Clark County, Campbell County, and Scott are the top-ranked teams in the 10th Region, according to the Litkenhous Computer Ratings. Scott, led by current Western Kentucky freshman Jake Ohmer, made a run the state semifinals last year.
The last time Regions 2 and 10 met in the first round of the Sweet 16 was 2007 when Clark County beat Christian County 77-71 in overtime. The last time Region 2 beat the 10th Region winner in the first round was 1992 when UHA beat Mason County 65-52 on their way to the state title. It’s the only time in six career meetings that the Second Region winner beat the 10th Region winner in the first round.
The winner could meet the First Region winner in the quarterfinals. The top teams in the First Region are Paducah Tilghman, Mayfield, and Graves County. Region One plays the Region Eight winner, considered by many to be Oldham County or Walton-Verona.
Also in the bottom bracket will be a first round matchup between the Third Region winner and the Ninth Region Winner.
In the upper bracket, Region Four drew Region 12 – the first time that’s happened since 1973.
The Whitaker Bank Boys Sweet 16 will be played March 14-18 at Rupp Arena with KHSAA officials hoping for increased attendance this year. The total attendance for the last three years was the lowest since the Sweet 16 moved to Rupp Arena in 1979.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BOYS SWEET 16 BRACKET
