Congrats to the District Champs!

But what I'm interested in here today is what interesting things came from the regional tournament draws...let's go through them region by region...

1st Region
It was a pretty fair draw, all things considered. The only top regional contender that didn't make it here was Graves County. Paducah Tilghman looks to be the favorite, but they'll likely have to see Calloway County in the semifinals. Marshall County and Heath square off in the first round, and the winner will likely make the finals. St. Mary, however, sits in the bottom of the bracket; it was them who defeated Graves County in the district tournament.

2nd Region
Tough draw for Hopkinsville, as the Tigers must face Henderson County in the opening round. Caldwell County is the sleeper in this tournament, and the Tigers will likely make the semis to face the winner of that opening game. Christian County received the best draw possible and should waltz into the finals. Madisonville-North Hopkins could play spoiler in the bottom bracket though.

3rd Region
This one is wide open. Winning the district tournament was the best thing Owensboro could have done, as the Red Devils get Edmonson County while Apollo must play Grayson County. Meade County and Muhlenberg South will likely be a great opening round game. Muhlenberg North avoided a tough opening round game by sliding past South in double overtime in their district championship game.

4th Region
The road could not be tougher for Warren Central. Russellville will present the toughest challenge the opening round could pose. Allen County-Scottsville lurks in the semis, much as they did two years ago. The finals will likely be the winner of the opening round Greenwood-Franklin-Simpson game, unless Clinton County surprises much the way Metcalfe County did a season ago.

5th Region
Who's left here? North Hardin, the surprising 17th district champ, now appears to be the favorite to go to Rupp, but the road is ridiculously difficult. The Trojans open with Bardstown and will likely see Adair County in the second round. The top bracket will be wide open, as district champs Bethlehem and Hart County, along with John Hardin, all pose threats. With no Central Hardin or Elizabethtown, this tournament will be crazy.

6th Region
Here's where the draw screwed us over. Thanks to Butler stunning Doss, the Dragons will face PRP in the first round, and the winner will become the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament...at first it would appear. Fairdale, Western and Bullitt East all have nice records, and Butler is coming off a wonderful run in the 22nd District where they beat both DeSales and Doss. However, the 6th region will play second fiddle once more to the 7th...

7th Region
The first game will be the first round's best, as J-Town faces a tough Trinity squad. Also, Ballard will take on Manual to close the first round. But the Bruins appear to be the team to beat. They have won 29 of their last 30 and haven't been beaten by a 7th region team. Jeffersontown, you would believe, poses the greatest threat, but the Chargers will have difficulty escaping Trinity and Male in the top bracket.

8th Region
Like the 6th region, a horrendous draw. Shelby County, surprise losers to Anderson County in the district finals, draws Gallatin County. Simon Kenton also sits in the bottom of this bracket. Oldham County, on the other hand, must be rejoicing with their draw, although Anderson County and Henry County could both challenge in the semis. However, it's Oldham that's sitting pretty after this draw.

9th Region
It seemed this tournament has become Covington Catholic's to lose, but Holmes came within three points of beating the Colonels in the 35th District Championship. Of course, they are set on opposite sides of the draw, and St. Henry lurks in the semifinals. Many of the region's top teams during the season failed to make it this far, so be surprised if it isn't Cov Cath and Holmes playing for the right to roll at Rupp.

10th Region
It's all about where Mason County is, and for George Rogers Clark, it could not be better. The Cardinals would only be tested by Scott (it seems) in the bottom half of the bracket. Mason County must go through the gauntlet to reach the finals again. Montgomery County serves as a tough test in the opening round, and Bishop Brossart won the All 'A' State Tournament this season. But the Royals should be good enough anyway.

11th Region
With so many solid teams left out here (Dunbar, Henry Clay, Lafayette), one would wonder if any drama could be left in this region. Oh yes, there will be. Scott County and Lexington Catholic will meet in the semifinals (barring a fantastic upset), while Bryan Station should await the winner of the Madison Central/Tates Creek death match. For Central's Indians, the road could not be tougher to repeat as regional champions.

12th Region
The best two teams (record wise) will meet in the first round, as Pulaski County will entertain Lincoln County. Remember, the Patriots slipped in the district final against Boyle County. Southwestern sits in fantastic shape in the bottom bracket; they were the main beneficiaries of Lincoln County dropping their district final. But both Jessamine County school bear watching throughout this tournament.

13th Region
We all want to know: South Laurel and Bell County? It would happen in the finals. This bracket is remarkably balanced, with the region's best facing the region's fourth or fifth best in the second round (South Laurel vs. Clay County/Cumberland). Bell County should be wary of Corbin should they see them in the second round. All in all, this regional tournament looks a lot more wide open than it did earlier this season.

14th Region
No Perry County Central makes this field quite worse than what it could have been, but the bottom of the bracket is stacked. Breathitt County has a sterling record, Powell County has a solid seasonal mark, and June Buchanan makes as good a regional runner-up in the state. The winner of those three should see Hazard in the finals.

15th Region
Paintsville's loss to Magoffin County proved costly, as the Tigers dropped the opening game of the regional round to Belfry. They will likely see Shelby Valley in the second round. Magoffin County's Cinderella run will have to go through Pikeville and Allen Central, but if the Hornets can take out Paintsville, they could probably make another magical run to the finals. Should be a competitive tournament.

16th Region
The fun will take place in the bottom of the bracket, where Russell, Elliott County, and Boyd County will have to duke it out. Ashland Blazer and Rowan County will be the teams to fight out of the top of the bracket. It will be a good tournament, especially with the bottom bracket games in the first round.

My regional tournament champs...

1 Paducah Tilghman d. Marshall County
2 Christian County d. Caldwell County
3 Owensboro d. Apollo
4 Warren Central d. Franklin-Simpson
5 Adair County d. John Hardin
6 Doss d. Butler
7 Ballard d. Male
8 Oldham County d. Simon Kenton
9 Covington Catholic d. Holmes
10 Mason County d. George Rogers Clark
11 Scott County d. Madison Central
12 Lincoln County d. Southwestern
13 South Laurel d. Bell County
14 Hazard d. Breathitt County
15 Shelby Valley d. Magoffin County
16 Elliott County d. Ashland Blazer