Madisonville-North Hopkins hosts the 7th District tournament this week looking for its 15th straight boys’ championship.
The Maroons have been up and down this season, fashioning a 15-15 overall mark but going 5-1 in district play.
However, Madisonville lost one district game to Hopkins County Central 65-61 and trailed by eight late at Caldwell County before rallying for a 63-62 victory.
Madisonville ended the regular season with four straight losses — to Lyon County, Ohio County, Marshall County and Webster County.
The Maroons still own the No. 1 seed as they look to continue their streak of championships, but they will face No. 4 Hopkins Central (10-17, 1-5) at 6:00 Tuesday night in semifinal round action.
Kanyon Johnson, a junior, leads a balanced offensive attack for Madisonville at 12.9 points a game.
Senior Drake Skeen heads up four double-figure scorers for Hopkins Central with 18 points a contest.
The Storm was the last team besides Madisonville to wear the district crown, winning its last title in 2009.
Tuesday’s second semifinal will feature No. 2 Caldwell County (18-12, 4-2) and No. 3 Dawson Springs (18-12, 2-4).
The Tigers took both regular-season meetings with the Panthers, but both games were competitive before Caldwell claimed wins by 16 and 15 points.
Caldwell is led by junior Jaydarius Wilson’s 20.9 points and 10.9 rebounds a game.
The Tigers won three of their last four games heading into postseason play.
Caldwell has taken 15 of its last 16 meetings with Dawson including the last three.
Junior guards Montgomery Johnston and Rex Blue lead the Panthers with 20 and 18.1 points a game, respectively. Blue is tops on the team in rebounds at 9.5 a contest.
Dawson went 7-2 in its last nine regular-season tilts.
Dawson Springs hasn’t won a boys’ district championship since 1997. The Panthers are looking for their first trip to the regional tourney since 2017.
Since being moved to the 7th District from the 5th District prior to the 2005-06 season, Caldwell’s boys have won just one district title. That came in 2007.
The boys’ championship game is for Friday at 6:00.
The district champion and runner-up will advance to next week’s 2nd Region tournament at Hopkinsville High School.
