The Trinity and Ballard high school boys basketball teams posted victories to advance to Saturday’s 8 p.m. championship game of the Republic Bank Louisville Invitational Tournament at Valley High School.
Jacob King scored 20 points, Gabe Schmitt had 19 and L.J. Harris posted 16 as Trinity (16-3) – No. 5 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – beat No. 11 Male 67-51 in Saturday morning’s first semifinal.
Bellarmine University signee Alex Cook scored 18 points to lead Male (14-3).
Jake Ramsey (17 points, nine rebounds) and Clivonte Patterson (14 points, 11 rebounds) both had big games as Ballard (12-6) beat St. Xavier 60-54 in the other semifinal. The Bruins were 8 for 8 from the free-throw line in the final 2:31 to seal the victory.
Connor McKim scored 17 points to lead St. X (12-6).
Ballard is the defending LIT champion. Trinity won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.