Wednesday and Thursday’s Best Regional Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The regional tournament start on Monday with the 9th region tipping off at NKU and there are some awesome opening matchups across the state. Here's a look at the regional openers on Wednesday and Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wednesday:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1st Region: Murray vs Paducah Tilghman at Murray State - According to the RPI, this is the number 3 and number 4 teams in the region facing off in the first round. Murray has looked more like themselves since getting Senior [player_tooltip player_id='932780' first='Grant' last='Whitaker'] back from injury but Tilghman has been good all season long. Jayvion Powell and Mian Shaw combine for 35 points per game for the Tornadoes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9th Region: Cooper vs Highlands at NKU - Cooper get [player_tooltip player_id='1208147' first='Jashaun' last='Pouncy'] eligible just in time for the postseason and helped get the Jags a district title. Highlands is capable of winning the 9th when they're making threes and their brand of offense against the suffocating Cooper defense will be a contrast in styles. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1513491' first='Yamil' last='Rondon'] could be the difference for Cooper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12th Region: Wayne County at Lincoln County - Lincoln will be tough to beat, especially at home but Wayne is young and talented. Don't be shocked if the [player_tooltip player_id='1543323' first='Kendall' last='Phillips'], [player_tooltip player_id='1564305' first='Seth' last='Farmer'] and the rest of the young Cardinals give [player_tooltip player_id='932784' first='Tramane' last='Alcorn'] and Lincoln County all the can handle in the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13th Region: North Laurel vs Harlan at the Corbin Arena - North Laurel and Harlan City are two of the top three teams in the 13th and drew each other for the first round in Corbin. [player_tooltip player_id='932765' first='Reed' last='Sheppard'] will hope to get the Jags to Rupp Arena but [player_tooltip player_id='1763792' first='Kyler' last='McClendon'] and the Dragons won't be afraid of North Laurel like other potential first round opponents would have been. Should be a really good game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thursday:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First Region: McCracken County vs Marshall County at Murray State - McCracken finished 26-5 but one of those losses was to Marshall County in January. Marshall had an up and down year but have already shown they're capable of a big win. The winner of this one could be the favorite to win the first region all together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third Region: Owensboro vs Ohio County at the Owensboro Sportscenter - Two of the three best teams in the third manage to face off in the regional tournament opener. [player_tooltip player_id='932792' first='Elijah' last='Decker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1287898' first='Parker' last='Culbertson'] are a tough duo on the perimeter but Owensboro has [player_tooltip player_id='932776' first='Kenyata' last='Carbon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1359130' first='Jonathan' last='Moss'] in the backcourt. This should be a high level game and the winner should see Owensboro Catholic in the regional championship game next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thirteenth Region: Harlan County vs Corbin at the Corbin Arena - It's always hard to beat Corbin in Corbin and even with out of region referees, the Hounds will have a huge advantage on their home away from home court. [player_tooltip player_id='939116' first='Trent' last='Noah'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1130313' first='Maddox' last='Huff'] are among the best duos in the state but [player_tooltip player_id='1022272' first='Hayden' last='Llewellyn'], [player_tooltip player_id='1130844' first='Carter' last='Stewart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1558736' first='Eli' last='Pietrowski'] are tough perimeter defenders who can make life hard on Harlan County's three point centric offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fifteenth Region: Betsy Layne vs Pike County Central at Appalachian Wireless Arena - [player_tooltip player_id='1197227' first='Jaylan' last='Rigdon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1269603' first='Jaden' last='Stewart'] are probably the best duo in the 15th but Betsy Layne has Brady Robinson and Andrew Kidd combining for more than 40 points per night. Defense is going to be optional in this one but it will definitely be an entertaining game to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->