By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
If Northern Kentucky boys’ basketball teams win the 9th and 10th Region championships like they did last season, they’ll be facing each other in the opening round of the 2015 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 state tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Pairings for the boys’ and girls’ state tournaments were decided Thursday in draws that were held at the WKYT television studio in Lexington. In the boys’ draw, the 9th and 10th Region champions were selected to play each other in a first round game at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday March 18.
Last year, Covington Catholic won the 9th Region title and Campbell County won the 10th Region title, but those two teams did not meet in the state tournament. Campbell County lost in the opening round and CovCath won four straight games to claim its first championship trophy.
CovCath (20-4) is considered the top team in the 9th Region once again this season while Mason County (21-2) is the team with the best record in the 10th Region.
Holmes and Newport Central Catholic are also considered contenders for the 9th Region title. NewCath won the Kentucky All “A” Classic boys’ small-school state championship for the third straight season.
The draw for the Houchens Industries/KHSAA Sweet 16 girls’ state tournament has the 9th Region champion playing the 13th Region champion in a first-round game at 6:30 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, March 11 at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green.
The leading contender for the 9th Region girls’ title is Holy Cross (21-3) after beating Holmes and Highlands in close games last month. Holy Cross also won this year’s Kentucky All “A” Classic girls’ small school state championship.
Here’s a look at the first-round pairings for both state tournaments with the top three teams listed in each region based on current won-loss records.
GIRLS’ STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
(March 11-15 at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green)
First round games on Wednesday, March 11
REGION 2 (Henderson County, University Heights, Lyon County) vs. REGION 16 (East Carter, Ashland Blazer, Fleming County).
REGION 6 (Louisville Butler, North Bullitt, Bullitt East) vs. REGION 7 (Louisville Male, Manual, Sacred Heart).
REGION 9 (Holy Cross, Holmes, Highlands) vs. REGION 13 (Clay County, Bell County, Harlan).
REGION 5 (Elizabethtown, Adair County, Nelson County) vs. REGION 12 (Mercer County, Pulaski Southwestern, Danville).
First-round games on Thursday, March 12
REGION 15 (Shelby Valley, East Ridge, Prestonsburg) vs. REGION 14 (Leslie County, Breathitt County, Knott County Central).
REGION 3 (Daviess County, Grayson County, Owensboro Catholic) vs. REGION 10 (Bracken County, Scott, Bourbon County).
REGION 4 (Clinton County, Allen County-Scottsville, South Warren) vs. REGION 11 (Lexington Henry Clay, Dunbar, Franklin County).
REGION 1 (Murray, Paducah Tilghman, Graves County) vs. REGION 8 (Shelby County, Simon Kenton, Gallatin County).
BOYS’ STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
(March 18-22 at Rupp Arena in Lexington)
First-round games on Wednesday, March 18
REGION 8 (Owen County, Oldham County, Collins) vs. REGION 3 (Owensboro, Daviess County, Grayson County).
REGION 5 (Taylor County, North Hardin, Caverna) vs. REGION 2 (Webster County, Henderson County, Hopkinsville).
REGION 9 (Covington Catholic, Newport Central Catholic, Holmes) vs. REGION 10 (Mason County, Clark County, Campbell County).
REGION 13 (Clay County, Williamsburg, Barbourville) vs. REGION 6 (Louisville Doss, DeSales, Beth Haven).
First-round games on Thursday, March 19
REGION 15 (Betsy Layne, Johnson Central, Sheldon Clark) vs. REGION 7 (Louisville Ballard, Manual, Trinity).
REGION 11 (Bryan Station, Lexington Christian, Lexington Catholic) vs. REGION 12 (Lincoln County, Boyle County, Pulaski Southwestern).
REGION 4 (Monroe County, Bowling Green, Barren County) vs. REGION 16 (Rowan County, Boyd County, Elliott County).
REGION 14 (Knott County Central, Perry County Central, Buckhorn) vs. REGION 1 (Calloway County, Murray, Paducah Tilghman).