The Republic Bank Holiday Classic boys’ basketball tournament began Thursday at Lexington Catholic High School. The event continues through Monday and showcases 11 of the top 25 teams in the state.
Seven games were played on the opening day of the tournament with Clinton County and Bardstown tipping off the action. Senior forward Seivon Schooling scored 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Tigers to a 60-51 win over Clinton County. Keanu Young added 12 points for Bardstown. Keifer Dalton led Clinton County with 18 points. Colby Langford chipped in 15 points for the Bulldogs.
*Photos by Regina Rickert
Brandon Hatton used a 17/18 day at the line to help Dixie Heights edge out Henderson County 66-61 in game two. The senior guard finished with 34 points for the Colonels. David Simmons led Henderson County with 23 points, including a huge dunk to pull his team within 5. Jared Savage added 14 points for the Dragons.
Warren Central took a 28-27 lead over Cordia into the half in game three of the afternoon. The Dragons led by the same margin heading into the fourth quarter, but a 16-4 run sealed the 60-54 win for the Lions. Felix Fimpong led Cordia with 19 points, including nine straight to give Cordia a 53-50 lead with two minutes left in the game. Senior transfer (Henry Clay) Christen Cunningham notched a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Chris Porter-Bunton recorded 15 points and 7 rebounds for the Dragons.
With several Butler players out due to disciplinary action, Scott County cruised to a 75-61 win over the Bears in game four. Trent Gilbert had a game-high 24 points and 6 rebounds. Raekwon Long added 6 points and 8 rebounds to go with 3 blocks. Jalen Bradley led Butler with 15 points. Joshua Whetstone had 14 points for the Bears.
Knott County Central rolled past Henry Clay 74-44 in game five. Jordan Green did not start for the Blue Devils, sitting through the first quarter. The Patriots cruised to a 35-16 halftime lead and never looked back. Tennessee commit Camron Justice scored 23 points, dished out 7 assists and grabbed 5 boards. Evan Hall helped pace the Patriots with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Jeremiah Tisdale led Henry Clay with 11 points.
Lexington Catholic hit 5/6 free throws in the final seconds to advance past Harrison County 66-61 in game 6. Tanner Johnson had a game-high 26 points. Reese Ryan contributed 14 points and 6 rebounds. D. J. Jenkins and Trent Thompson combined for 31 of Harrison County’s points. The Thorobreds had four players in double-figures.
Bryan Station closed out the day with a 69-62 win over Apollo in game 7. The Eagles led by a point heading into the fourth quarter, but a flurry of three-pointers capped a 17-9 run by the Defenders that proved too much to overcome for Apollo. Jordan Henry and Marcellous Washington fueled Bryan Station with 13 points each. Eli Wright led all scorers with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Sam Sergeant added 17 points for the Eagles.
The Republic Bank Classic resumes Friday at Lexington Catholic beginning at noon.
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