Despite shutdowns during the season that reduced the number of games the teams could play, the boys 8th District tournament is set to get underway Monday night at Hopkinsville High School. This year’s event will feature only three teams, as the Fort Campbell Falcons were not allowed to participate in basketball during the 2020-21 school year.
By virtue of their 82-78 win over University Heights on March 4, the Hopkinsville Tigers are the top seed in the tournament and will not play until Wednesday night’s championship game. The Tigers are also guaranteed a berth in next week’s 2nd Region tournament.
Monday night’s action will find University Heights, the #2 seed, taking on third-seeded Christian County. The two teams met twice in a three-night period during the last week of February, with the Blazers winning on the road 67-56, and then rolling past the Colonels at home, 65-45.
COVID-19 protocols hit the Colonels hard. Christian County was only able to play ten games over the course of the season, going 0-10 in an abbreviated schedule. The Colonels’ best game of the season was at Paducah Tilghman, where they lost a tough 62-61 decision.
Bubba Leavell is the top scorer for Christian County at 9.2 points per game. Jordan Miles averages 8.4 points on the season. The key for the Colonels’ chances at pulling off the upset Monday night could be the inside play of Derrell Bateman. The freshman big man is averaging 6.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
University Heights has been the “almost team” during the 2021 season. The Blazers are 10-9 on the season, but six of the losses have come by a combined total of 16 points, so the Blazers could just as easily have been headed into the postseason at 16-3.
UHA has four players scoring in double figures led by D.J. Quarles at 18.3 points per game. K.J. Crump is next at 17.1. Amani McGee averages 13.4 points per game. And, Willliam Bryan rounds out the double figures “quartet” with 10.5 points a contest.
Quarles also leads the Blazers in rebounding at 6.3 boards a game.
Awaiting Monday night’s winner are the Hopkinsville Tigers. Hoptown has played only nine games this season, going 6-3. However, it is the Tigers’ play since they returned from a mid-season shutdown that has everyone’s attention. In that stretch, the Tigers have wins over UHA, McCracken County, Caldwell County, and Christian County.
The Tigers are lead by the trio of Alijah Watts, Jamarcus Burks, and Reece Jesse. Watts is averaging 14,9, Burks 11.9, and Jesse 10.8 points per game. Just below double figures is Daisjuan Mercer, who is scoring at 9.7 per game.
Jesse is the leading rebounder for the Tigers at 6.1 rebounds per contest and has become a blocked shot threat in the lane on the defensive end.
The championship game, with both teams going to the regional tournament, will have some added importance this season, as district winners will host a first-round regional tournament game. The semifinals and finals will be played at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
The game between UHA and Christian County is set for Monday night at 6:30 pm, with the championship game to be Wednesday night at 6:30 at Hopkinsville High School.
CLICK HERE FOR DISTRICT TOURNEY TICKET INFORMATION
