For the second time in three years, the boys’ Second Region basketball winner will face the Region 9 winner in the first round of the Sweet 16.
The Second Region drew the Ninth Region at Friday’s draw held at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association headquarters in Lexington. The game will be played at Rupp Arena in Lexington on Thursday, March 27 with the time to be announced once the region winners are known.
The boys’ Sweet 16 is being played a week later this year due to the University of Kentucky hosting the NCAA first round at Rupp Arena.
It’s the second time in three years Regions 2 and 9 have drawn each other in the first round of the Sweet 16. Lyon County beat Newport 61-46 in 2023. A year earlier, Lyon County lost to another Ninth Region team – Covington Catholic – in the second round of the Sweet 16.
Lyon County (19-6) is No. 2 in the latest KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) which factors strength of schedule but not margin of victory. Their only region loss came to the No. 1 RPI team, Henderson County.
The Colonels (19-5) are 10-1 against region teams and will be looking for their first trip to the Sweet 16 in 26 years.
Madisonville (13-11), the only region team to knock off Henderson County this year), is No. 3 in the RPI followed by Union County (13-8), Dawson Springs (15-12), and Caldwell County (16-9).
Cooper (16-5) is the No. 1 team in the Ninth Region RPI, slightly ahead of Lloyd Memorial (18-6). Cooper last advanced to Rupp Arena in 2017 while Lloyd Memorial has never played in the state tournament.
Covington Catholic (18-7), Dixie Heights (18-6), and Newport (15-10) are also among the Ninth Region favorites.
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