GAME 7: TAYLOR COUNTY VS. MASON COUNTY, 6:30 P.M. THURSDAY
TAYLOR COUNTY
Coach: Richard Gatewood.
Record: 24-8.
Nickname: Cardinals.
Location: Campbellsville.
Region: Fifth.
Enrollment: 857.
Litkenhous Rating: 87.8.
Sweet 16 trips: Seventh (2-6).
Last trip to State: 2015 (lost to Hopkinsville 76-64 in the first round).
What to look for: The Cardinals may finally be living up to the lofty expectations given to them in November, when the state’s coaches voted them as the top-ranked team in The Courier-Journal’s preseason poll. Though they’re outside the top 20 of the boys’ Litkenhous Ratings, the Cardinals have won 11 in a row and 17 of their last 18. The current winning streak, which includes a 55-54 victory over No. 1 Paul Dunbar, started just days after Dylan Gaines became eligible. The former Warren East player gives Taylor County a third option behind its powerhouse backcourt combo of Quentin Goodin and David Sloan. Gatewood also credited the team’s resurgence to its decision to put as much emphasis on defense as it placed on scoring.
Key player: Goodin, who has signed with Xavier, is a top contender for Mr. Basketball. In addition to leading the team in scoring and rebounds, he’s one of the most athletic players in the state. He’s considered a four-star recruit as he’s listed No. 83 in Rivals 150 and No. 91 in the ESPN 100 prospect rankings.
Coach-speak: “We’ve been able to score points. Any time you’re averaging 75 points, scoring’s not the problem. It’s about stops,” Gatewood said about the team’s early struggles, which he attributed to “guys spending more energy on offense than defense” before figuring it out midway through the year.
STARTERS
2-Devin Rafferty, 6-4, Sr., 5.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg
3- Quentin Goodin, 6-4, Sr., 23.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg
10- David Sloan, 6-0, Jr., 20.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg
14- Dylan Gaines, 6-4, Jr., 11.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg
24- Ezra Oliver, 6-0, Jr., 6.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg
KEY RESERVES
20- DeJhon Irvin, 5-8, Fr., 1.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg
5- TreVon Smith, 6-2, Fr., 1.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg
35- Jack Miller, 6-2, Sr., 0.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg
MASON COUNTY
Coach: Buddy Biggs.
Record: 23-10.
Nickname: Royals.
Location: Maysville.
Region: 10th.
Enrollment: 814.
Litkenhous Rating: 80.2.
Sweet 16 trips: 15th (21-12)
Last trip to State: 2010 (lost to Shelby Valley 71-51 in the semifinals).
What to look for: In his first year at Mason County, Biggs inherited a team that returned only returned one starter. But this is a Royals team that grew together over the course of the season. Biggs pointed to a 60-56 win at Paris on Jan. 26 as a turning point. Mason County used a 13-2 run in the final three minutes to pull out the win, which he said served as a confidence booster. Expect Mason County to be very active on the boards in Lexington as they ranked third in team rebounding this season (37.1 per game).
Key player: Antwavon Williams, better known as Pig, is the Royals lone returning starter from last season. As the point guard, he leads the team in scoring and assists and ranks third in rebounding. In the past month, Williams has served as a coach on the floor helping to groom the younger players, Biggs said. He also has a knack for staying calm regardless of the situation, just as he did on Mar. 2 when he hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift the Royals to a 72-70 victory over Campbell County in the first round of the regional tournament.
Coach-speak: While Mason County may not be considered one of the main contenders, that doesn’t lessen the expectations for the team, said Biggs, who also guided Pendleton County to the Sweet 16 in 2005. “Why else would you go,” he said. “We respect every opponent, but we don’t fear anyone.”
STARTERS
1-Antwavon “Pig” Williams, 6-0, Sr., 19.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg
13- Conner Sweeney, 6-6, Sr., 14.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg
24- Darren Williams, 6-6, Sr., 9.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg
11- Isiah Garrison, 5-10, So., 12.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg
35- Jaylen Lofton, 5-9, Fr., 4.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg
KEY RESERVES
10- Levi Dunaway, 5-9, So., 4.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg
2- Darell Henry, 5-7, Sr., 2.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg
31- Dalton Perkins, 6-8, So., 1.4 ppg, 0.7 rpg