Trigg County begins its 83rd season of basketball Monday with the latest opener since World War II.
The impact of COVID-19 caused the KHSAA to delay the start of winter sports until this week. The 1942-43 season began on Jan. 14 with a 27-25 loss to Cobb. Trigg only played seven games that year, going 2-5. Because the school didn’t have an athletic director and wanted to conserve gasoline during the war, their season ended on Feb. 5.
Things aren’t that dire in 2021, but fans can expect some jumbling of the schedule thanks to late cancellations, postponements, and reschedules.
In order to get a full season in, the regular season was pushed back to mid-march with the postseason scheduled for the final two weeks of March.
The only other time Trigg County has played regular-season games in March was 1958-59 when they played three games between March 4-7 before losing to Crofton 60-52 in the 7th District opener on March 11, 1959.
Last year, Trigg County played six teams for the first time in program history. This season, Cloverport is the only newbie on the Wildcat slate.
Trigg County has 14 home games and 13 road games on the schedule. The original schedule had 11 boy/girl doubleheaders. The new COVID-forward schedule has four.
HERE IS THE COVID-19 FAN POLICY FOR TRIGG COUNTY HOME GAMES FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE SEASON.
Trigg County’s 27-game schedule features no in-season tournaments for the first time since 1985-86.
Fort Campbell does not appear on Trigg County’s schedule for the first time since 2003-04. The DoDEA will not allow Fort Campbell and Fort Knox to play basketball or compete in wrestling this winter due to COVID-19.
Other Second Region schools not on the Trigg schedule include Henderson County, University Heights, Madisonville, and Christian County.
Here’s a closer look at the 2021 Trigg County basketball schedule –
Jan. 4 vs. Marshall County – The Marshals come to Wildcat Gym for the first time since 1990. These schools played the regular-season finale from 1976-90. Trigg County won four of the first six meetings between the schools from 1976-82, but the Marshals have won the last 13. Their last meeting was a 67-31 Marshall County win in the 2018 HoopFest.
Jan. 5 at McLean County – The Wildcats make their first trip to Calhoun since 1994. Trigg County is 0-3 all-time against the Cougars. Their last game was an 86-66 McLean County win in the 2000 Houchen’s/RC Invitational at Ohio County. Trigg was added to the tournament after the first round when two schools had to withdraw due to winter weather.
Jan. 9 vs. Hancock County – Trigg County lost twice to the Hornets last year by a combined 14 points. Trigg won the only other matchup with Hancock County in the 2000 Ohio County tournament referenced above.
Jan. 15 at Cloverport – Is it Cloverport or Federick Fraize? The schedule says Cloverport. So does the school’s website. The sign in front of the school says Frederick Fraize. Either way, the Aces are playing Trigg County for the first time this year. The 132-mile trip through the backroads of Breckinridge County is the longest for the Wildcats this year.
Jan. 19 vs. Hopkinsville – Trigg County is playing Hoptown in January for the first time since 2003. The Tigers lead the all-time series 62-24 and have won the last 13 games with Trigg dating back to 2006.
Jan. 21 vs. Caldwell County; Feb. 11 at Caldwell County – Two of Trigg County’s four doubleheaders this year are against the Tigers. Caldwell has won five straight against Trigg and leads the all-time series 74-64.
Jan. 23 at Dawson Springs; March 12 vs. Dawson Springs – The Panthers swept both games from Trigg last year, snapping a 14-game losing streak in the series. The wins were especially big for Dawson as they came against their former coach. Trigg County still leads the series 69-28.
Jan. 25 at Todd County Central – The series with the Rebels dates back to 1955 but the schools haven’t played since 2018. Trigg is 7-22 all-time in Elkton and 26-42 against the Rebels all-time.
Jan. 26 vs. Crittenden County; Feb. 19 at Crittenden County – Trigg County won both regular-season matchups last year, but the Rockets got revenge in the district tournament with a last-second win. If Trigg County can beat the Rockets twice this year, Crittenden would become the first school to lose 100 games to Trigg County, who leads the series 98-45.
Jan. 29 vs. Lyon County; Feb. 16 at Lyon County – Trigg has played Lyon more than any other school in its history. Although the Lyons have won seven straight in the series, they hold a slim 84-83 all-time advantage over the Wildcats. Trigg last won in Eddyville in 2016.
Feb. 2 at Livingston Central; Feb. 23 vs. Livingston Central – Trigg County has opened up a 75-63 all-time advantage over the Cardinals thanks to winning 12 of the last 17 in the series, including both games last year. Only the first three district games count toward tournament seeding which makes the Feb. 2 game in Smithland huge.
Feb. 5 at Hopkins County Central; Feb. 26 vs. Hopkins County Central – Trigg County is playing a home-and-home series with the Storm for the first time. The teams met twice last year but one of the games was in the Class 2A Championships. Hopkins County Central leads the all-time series 11-10.
Feb. 8 vs. Union County; March 4 at Union County – The Wildcats and Braves split their two games last year which pretty much sums up the series that began in 1968. Each team has beaten the other 17 times.
Feb. 13 at Daviess County – Trigg County will be making its first-ever trip to play at an Owensboro school. Trigg has played Owensboro and Owensboro Catholic on neutral courts and won four games against Owensboro Majesty at Wildcat Gym. Trigg has never played Apollo. Trigg’s first game with Daviess County was a loss at home last year.
Feb. 20 at Fulton City – Trigg County is 5-1 against Fulton City with their lone loss coming in 2016.
Feb. 25 vs. St. Mary; March 9 at St. Mary – Trigg County is 6-5 all-time against the Vikings but have lost four straight in the series. Their last win over St. Mary came in 2007 and Trigg’s only win on the Vikings’ home floor came in 1995.
March 2 at Webster County – The Wildcats last played in Dixon in 2015. It’s their only win in the last six games of the series that Webster County leads 22-11.
March 6 vs. Hickman County – Trigg County is a perfect 5-0 against the Falcons, including two wins in as many days at the 2018 KME Christmas Classic.
March 13 vs. Whitesville Trinity – The only time these teams have played was a 115-111 Trigg County win in 1997. Trigg either set or tied school records for 115 points scored, including 66 points in the first half. The 226 points scored in the game is still tied for 10th most in state history. Don’t expect the 2021 versions to reach 226 points in their second meeting.
