Southwestern coach Junior Molden has his team back in the state tourney for the third time in four years.(Chris Zollner Photo)
Southwestern coach Junior Molden knew he had to find a way to reshape his team this year after losing key players off the 2021 12th Region championship team. Not only did he move some players, but he also loaded the schedule. The Warriors lost to Sacred Heart, Bullitt East, George Rogers Clark, Bowling Green, Corbin, and Anderson County — the top six teams in the state — during the regular season. All the games were on the road and at a neutral site. All six of those teams are also going to be playing in this week’s state tourney.
So will Southwestern after its 58-42 win over Mercer County in Saturday’s 12th Region final. Mercer is the same team Southwestern beat in the 2021 final and also the only other team to beat Southwestern this year. The Titans won 63-54 at Southwestern on Feb. 18.
“Our schedule was unreal. I knew it was tough and set it up that way,” Molden said. “I went to (defending state champion) Sacred Heart. (Coach) Donna Moir sent an email out (looking for games). I answered in 15 minutes. We got our butts whipped but we learned.
“I went to Bullitt East. I was not worried about winning or losing. I just worried about getting better and it helped. Our schedule is why we are here.”
Southwestern has won three of the last four regional titles and started only one senior this year. Molden never worried about the difficult schedule overwhelming the Warriors.
“In this program it is not a loss, it’s a lesson. That is what we preach every day. I knew we were going to have a lot of lessons this year. I even told them before the season started that we may lose 10 games but we can still win the 12th Region,” Molden said.
His team lost 62-61 in overtime to George Rogers Clark Dec. 21 in the Traditional Bank Holiday Classic in Lexington. He told his team that day he knew then the Warriors could win the regional again.
The Warriors (25-7) now get to face Region 1 champion McCracken County in the state tourney Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rupp Arena. McCracken is 31-1 and has won 24 straight games since a December loss to Manual.
“They are the real deal. When you win 31 games, you have to be the real deal,” Molden said. “They are physical. It will be a true challenge. It will be tough. I wish we had more time to get ready but we are thrilled to have a chance to be back in Rupp Arena.”
