With the 20th District tournament set to start next week, Adair County will play the number three seed Marion County in the second game of the tournament which is on Thursday night at 6 p.m. and held at Taylor County High School.
“We play Marion County and are 1-1 against them but they have played better than us six of the eight head-to-head quarters,” Coach Deron Breeze said. “The game will come down to rebounding.”
In order to make it to the 5th Region tournament, a team has to win its first game of the district tournament to secure their spot. Each of these teams will look to do just that once the tournament gets started.
Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
#1 Taylor County vs. #4 Campbellsville
The opening boy’s game will be on Wednesday night as host and top-seeded Taylor County Cardinals will play against the bottom seed Campbellsville Eagles. Taylor County finished the regular season with a 5-1 record in district play while Campbellsville finished at 1-5.
The Cardinals swept the regular season series by winning both games very easily. In their first meeting early in the season, Taylor County won 77 to 54 and later beat the Eagles 65 to 43 for another easy win.
Taylor County has three players averaging double figures with their star and Xavier commit, Quentin Goodin, leading the way with 23 points per game. Junior’s David Sloan and Dylan Gaines are averaging 20 and 14 points per game, respectively.
The Eagles also have three players who average double figures and are led by sophomore Tyrion Taylor with 16 points per game. Two seniors, AJ Vaught and Clayton Russell, average 13 and 11 points per game, individually.
Thursday, Feb. 25
at 6 p.m.
#2 Adair County vs. #3 Marion County
The second game of the tournament will be held on Thursday night and will feature the Indians of Adair County and the Knights of Marion County. Adair County finished with a 4-2 record in the district while Marion County ended with a 2-4 record.
During the teams meetings during the regular season, the Indians won the first game 77 to 68 at Marion County but later the Knights defeated Adair County on their own floor, 75 to 58. Both teams have been up and down here near the end of the regular season. The Indians are 3-2 in their last five games while Marion County is 1-4.
The Indians are led in scoring by two juniors, Cameron Lasley and Chance Melton. Lasley is averaging 18 points per game while Melton is averaging 15. Melton also averages eight rebounds per game as well.
Marion County is led by senior guard Tyler Wethington. He averages 17 points and four rebounds per game.
They also have two other players that average nine points per game, Deshay Epps and Lez Means.
Saturday, Feb. 27
at 6 p.m.
Championship game
The winner of each game will vie for the 20th district championship on Saturday night and look to be the 2016 district champion.
Over the past ten years dating back to 2006, Taylor County has been in the district championship game every season. They are 5-5 in championship games and have won the title for the past three seasons in a row.
Adair County has also been a favorite in district championship as they have played in six of them in the past ten seasons and have a 2-4 record in those games.
They last won the 20th District title in 2007 and 2008 by defeating the Cardinals but have lost to them in the championship game for three years straight as well.
Marion County has had two trips to the championship game in the ten year span, going 1-1 with the championship coming in 2012.
The Eagles of Campbellsville are also tied with Marion County with only two trips to the district championship game in the ten year period.
Campbellsville won both of their games and claimed the championship trophy in 2010 and 2006.
All times are central.
By Josh Withers
Sports Writer
