Kenny White picked up where he left off in the region tournament with a 21-point, 8-rebound performance for Madisonville in their 57-49 win over Lincoln County Thursday in the first round of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena.
White hit 9-of-12 from the field and blocked six shots for Madisonville, who won their first game at the Sweet 16 since 1989. Fellow junior K’Suan Casey added a double-double of 11 points, and 12 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham scored nine points.
Madisonville led 10-9 after one quarter and extended their lead to 27-21 at halftime by hitting 50-percent from the field.
The Maroons led 39-31 after three quarters, and a bucket by White and two buckets by Marquise Parker gave Madisonville their biggest lead of the game at 45-33. Lincoln County had one last run in them, scoring 11 of the next 13 points to cut deficit to 47-44 with 2:46 left. Buckets by White and Cunningham pushed the lead to 51-44, and Lincoln County never got closer than five points the rest of the way.
The Maroons shot 54-percent for the game, and 16-of-22 at the free throw line. They also outscored the 12th Region champs 36-16 in the paint.
Lincoln County (23-13) is coached by former UHA skipper Jeff Jackson, who fell to 0-3 at the Sweet 16 while at Lincoln County.
Madisonville (30-5) advances to the quarterfinals where they will face Warren Central (21-11), looking to make the semifinals for the first time since 1984.