The annual South Central Bank-Halton Classic
(SCBHC) will feature eight boys’ teams and four girls’ teams competing December
27-29, 2018 at Allen County-Scottsville High School in Scottsville Kentucky.
The
eight-team boys’ tournament begins on Thursday, December 27 at 11 a.m. when the
Franklin-Simpson Wildcats (7-23 last year) battle the Owensboro Catholic Aces (23-10).
The Wildcats are rebuilding under veteran coach Dee Spencer. The Aces---under the
direction of Tim Riley---will look to return to the state tournament this year
after losing in the Region 3 finals last March.
The second game of the first day at 12:45 will
have the Henderson County Colonels (15-14) pitted against the Greenwood Gators (16-15).
The Colonels were a Region 2 semifinalist in 2018 while the Gators were eliminated
in the District 14 tournament.
Lower bracket
action on the first day starts at 2:30 p.m. and pits a pair of 19-game winners
from last season. The Todd County Central Rebels (19-13) plays the Daviess
County Panthers (19-11). The Rebels recorded their first winning season since
2004 and were a surprise Region 4 semifinalist last March. The Panthers just
missed the 20-win mark after falling to Owensboro Catholic in the first round
of the District 9 tournament.
The final game
of the opening round will see the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots (9-19)
facing the Lexington Sayre Spartans (13-17). The Patriots will be under the
direction of first-year coach Brad Bonds. The Spartans are seeking improvement
from last year’s 13-win total.
The boys format
will see consolation bracket games at 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. and semifinal
games at 6 and 7:45 on Friday, December 28. Seventh, fifth, and third place
games will be played at 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December
29. The boys’ championship is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, December 29.
The girls side
of the SCBHC will see four teams that averaged 20 wins last season engaged in
three-days of round-robin matchups. Thursday’s games will have Logan County
(22-11) playing Covington Holmes (21-8) at 4:15 p.m. and AC-S (18-12) against Nelson County (19-14)
in the 7:45 p.m. game. Friday, Nelson County will meet Holmes at 2:30 followed
by Logan County and AC-S at 4:15. Saturday’s game see Logan County battling Nelson
County at 2:30 with Holmes and AC-S facing off at 4:15.
Covington
Homes represents Region 9 where they reached the regional final last year.
Nelson County was a Region 5 semifinalist and Logan County reached the Region 4
semifinals. AC-S was eliminated in the first round of the District 15
tournament.
This will be
the 10th year for the girls SCBHC and the eighth year for a boys’ counterpart.
The Lady Patriots have an overall record of 21-8 in the history of the event
while the Patriots are 11-11. Last year, the Lady Patriots finished as
tournament runner-up, losing to Upperman (TN) in the finals. The Patriots
dropped a 59-50 overtime game to Todd Central before defeating Russellville and
Lecanto (FL).