What a night by William Slick Willie McKay
What a night in the 10th Region for basketball in the State of Kentucky. The first round started with off tonight with Robertson County Black Devils taking on the ninth-ranked team in the state Campbell County Camels. Through the first quarter, it looked like the young Black Devils came out ready to fight by pounding the ball to junior Alex Schalch and freshman Justin Becker. The score was 18 to 15 in favor of the Camels at the end of the first quarter and that was as close as Black Devils would get to the rest of the game. The tenured guard play from the Camels ended up being the deciding factor of the game. At the start of the 2nd Quarter the Camels came out running and gunning speeding up the tempo of the game and they never looked back. The Camels ended the 2nd Quarter with a 19 to 2 run leaving for half time with the score being 42 to 25 in favor of the Camels. To start the 3rd quarter the Black Devils came out fighting to cut the lead down to thirteen but that was the closest they would get for the rest of the game. The Camels were able to pull back to a twenty point lead at the end of the 3rd Quarter leading 65 to 45. The 4th Quarter scoring went back and forth but unfortunately, the Camels would win the game 74 to 55.
Black Devils return everyone on the basketball team next season, eager to return to the region and look to make a run to the state tournament. The Black Devils leading scorer was Alex Schalch with 21 points, who also was also selected All 10th Region Team from Robertson County. Campbell County looks to take on Mason County on Friday at 6:00. The Camels were led by the twenty-fifth ranked player in the state, via max preps, Reid Jolly who had 33 points.
The second game in the first round of the 10th Region was Bourbon County Colonels taking on the Mason County Royals. The Royals came out red hot from the three-point line scoring most of their points from there in the first quarter. While the Colonels came out a little sluggish missing some shots next to the basket but they played fast and physical only being down by six heading at the end of the 1st Quarter. Even though the Royals would cool down from the three-point line they were seeing the court very well in making some amazing passes stretching the lead to ten at one point in the quarter. The Colonel’s still struggling to find a scorer in the first half was able to cut the lead to only eight before halftime. The Colonels came out ready to fight cutting the lead down to only four points multiple times in the 3rd Quarter but the Royals still not backing down from the fast pace of play holding onto a six-point lead heading to the 4th Quarter being up 49 to 43. The 4th Quarter was filled with hard-fought basketball that you would expect from the 10th Region. The Colonels were able to storm back and take the lead for the first time in the game leading 59 to 57 with four minutes left to go in the game. The score would go back and forth neither team being able to pull away with the hard nose defense and textbook offense that was being executed by both teams. The colonels would call a timeout with forty seconds to draw up a play with the score tied 64 to 64. The coach drew up a back door play which was performed flawlessly in leading to a score putting the Colonels up 66 to 64. The Royals call a timeout with 20 seconds left on the flock in the 4th Quarter. The coach drew up a play that was executed impeccably that opened up a corner three that was nailed by Braden May at the end of regulation. The three-pointer gave the Royals the lead 67 to 66 with no time left on the clock.
The future looks bright for the Colonels even though they lost a game they were able to fight back and have a chance to win the game at the end. The Colonels leading scorer was Nakwan Joyce who was also named All 10th Region Team for Bourbon County. Mason County looks to take on the task of having to play the 9th ranked team in the state Campbell County in the semifinal round of the 10th Region Tournament on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The Royals were led by Jake Swolsky who had 19 points.