It has long been considered one of the premiere basketball tournaments in the state, outside of the Sweet 16, and this year, not one, but two teams out of the 2nd Region will be taking part. Both University Heights and Madisonville, who were ranked #1 and #2 in last week’s YSE Boys 2nd Region Super 7, are headed for Fairdale High School this week and the Chad Gardner Law “King of the Bluegrass.”
UHA will open play Thursday night against Lexington Christian, in a rematch from the opening round of last year’s All A Classic in Richmond. The Blazers enter the tournament at 7-0 and well tested. In the opening weeks of the season, the Blazers have already faced Doss, Hopkinsville, Callaway, Mississippi, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, and Evansville Reitz.
LCA comes in at 6-1, with their only loss coming to Scott County.
The game features two of the best players in the state, with KyKy Tandy from UHA, who has signed with Xavier, and Kyle Rode, from LCA, who has signed with Liberty.
In last year’s matchup in the All A State Tournament, LCA jumped on the Blazers early and never looked back, on the way to a 68-47 win. That team, however, graduated two of the top three scorers from the matchup with UHA.
UHA and LCA will square off Thursday night at 9pm eastern.
The game just prior to that will find Madisonville taking on the host Fairdale Bulldogs. The Maroons enter the game at 4-2. Madisonville lost in the Marshall County Hoop Fest to one of the best teams in Illinois, Belleville West. The Maroons other loss was back on Thursday night at University Heights.
The Maroons had a double digit lead in the second half, before losing in the final second on a free throw, 80-79.
Fairdale, who has hosted the event since its inception, comes into the tournament at 4-4. The Bulldogs finished last season at 21-11, losing to Doss 72-70 in the quarterfinals of the 6th Region tournament.
Fairdale and Madisonville will tip off Thursday night at 7:30.
YourSportsEdge plans to be at Fairdale this week for coverage of both the Blazers and the Maroons.
For those who would like to watch the action, but cannot make the trip to Louisville, all 28 games will be streamed live for a cost of $14.95. Go to NFHSNetwork.Com and search for King of the Bluegrass.