The Kentucky Country Day boys basketball team is headed to the Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic state tournament for the third straight year, but the Bearcats will face a big obstacle in their quest to advance past the first round.
KCD (10-5) will face Owen County (18-2) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Frankfort Convention Center. Owen County is No. 16 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings and features 6-foot-7 forward Carson Williams, a Northern Kentucky University signee who is among the top candidates for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball award.
Williams is averaging 23.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
“Owen County is definitely one of the better teams in the tournament,” KCD coach James Booker said. “But you have to beat the best in order to be the best.”
The All “A” Classic – open to the smallest 120 high schools in Kentucky, based on enrollment in grades 9-12 – will tip off Wednesday with eight first-round girls games. The boys tournament will start Thursday. Quarterfinals are set for Friday, semifinals Saturday and finals Sunday.
Here’s a look at both tournaments:
BOYS
KCD lost to Green County in the first round of the 2014 event and to Elliott County in the first round last year. Booker said his players expect to make a deep run this year.
“They’re ready to finally get a win,” Booker said. “It’s not just about getting there but getting a win and making a run at the state title.”
The Bearcats feature a strong 1-2 scoring punch in senior forward Colin Ferguson (22.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and junior guard J.R. Mathis (21.7 ppg). Mathis is shooting 40 percent (46 of 115) from 3-point range and already holds scholarship offers from IUPUI, Samford, Kent State and Bellarmine.
“He runs the show for us,” Booker said of Mathis. “When the ball is in his hands, good things happen.”
Shawnee (5-11) is Louisville’s other representative in the tournament and will face Danville (10-9) at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
No. 11 Newport Central Catholic (15-3) is the top team in the field, according to the Litratings. The Thoroughbreds have won three straight All “A” titles after beating Monroe County 78-36 in last year’s final.
GIRLS
Sixth Region champion Presentation (12-10) and Seventh Region winner KCD (9-10) will represent Louisville in the event.
KCD will open the tournament at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday against No. 19 Owensboro Catholic (17-4). Presentation will face Walton-Verona (14-5) at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
No. 11 Murray (20-1) and Owensboro Catholic are the top teams in the field according to the Litratings and could meet in Sunday’s final. Murray was the runner-up last year, falling to Covington Holy Cross 47-46 in the final.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
TOUCHSTONE ENERGY ALL “A” CLASSIC
At Frankfort Convention Center
GIRLS SCHEDULE
* Wednesday – Owensboro Catholic (17-4) vs. Kentucky Country Day (9-10), 8:30 a.m.; Shelby Valley (16-2) vs. Danville (10-11), 10; Harlan (17-3) vs. Bracken County (12-5), 11:30; Menifee County (14-7) vs. Frankfort (9-8), 1 p.m.; Presentation (12-10) vs. Walton-Verona (14-5), 5; Green County (18-3) vs. Murray (20-1), 6:30; Livingston Central (7-10) vs. Newport Central Catholic (14-6), 8; Glasgow (13-6) vs. Breathitt County (15-4), 9:30
* Friday – Quarterfinals at 8:30 a.m., 10, 11:30 and 1 p.m.
* Saturday – Semifinals at noon and 1:30 p.m.
* Sunday – Final at noon.
BOYS SCHEDULE
* Thursday – Cordia (10-6) vs. Glasgow (8-11), 8:30 a.m.; Pineville (14-4) or Oneida Baptist (7-8) vs. University Heights (10-10), 10; Danville (10-9) vs. Shawnee (5-11), 11:30; Lexington Christian (12-10) vs. Newport Central Catholic (15-3), 1 p.m.; McLean County (7-11) vs. Morgan County (15-4), 5; Kentucky Country Day (10-5) vs. Owen County (18-2), 6:30; Bishop Brossart (15-3) vs. Murray (16-4), 8; Shelby Valley (14-4) vs. Green County (14-6), 9:30
* Friday – Quarterfinals at 5 p.m., 6:30, 8 and 9:30
* Saturday – Semifinals at 6 p.m. and 7:30
* Sunday – Final at 2 p.m.