Scott Humphrey has been the coach at George Rogers Clark since 2004.    When 13-year-old Carson Hunter lost his dad in 2009, Humphrey asked him to become team manager. In the regional championship, Carson told the players, “You better win because I want to hand out water at Rupp Arena.”  George Rogers Clark  last won state in 1951, led by future U.K.  player Linville Puckett. They were runner-up in 1950.

No.1 Louisville Eastern vs. #10 Warren Central (Eastern is picked by 14)

  Tournament favorite Lou. Eastern feels  no pressure. Coach Jason Couch said, "If we play bad, it won't be because of pressure. It will be just because we don't play well and somebody gets us."  Eastern won state in 1997 and was runner-up in 1957.
  Tim Riley has guided Warren Central to seven regional titles, as well as the state crown in 2004 and runner-up in 2005.

No. 9 Christian County vs. Shelby Valley (Christian County is favored by 35)

Kerry Stovall coaches Christian County. His assistant Marty Martin has been with him for 18 years and tells the story, "We were in the region semi-finals. Kerry used to be hyper and he kneeled down and passed out. He fell right back into me and was out 8 or 9 seconds. I smacked him. When he came to, he said, 'Don't tell my mama'.   Christian County was state runner-up in 1976 and 1979.  My dad was the starting PG for Lacy High School (now part of Christian County) in 1944. After he was drafted into WWII in February, the undefeated Wildcats were upset in the district tournament.

 Shelby Valley is the small school that charmed the state by winning the title last season. A surprise returnee, with a record of 13-16, they are a 35 point underdog. 

No. 5 Lexington Catholic vs No. 20 Dixie Heights (Lex Catholic is picked by 11)

  Brandon Salesman was an assistant at Lex. Catholic for 10 years, including their state championship in 2002. He left for a head coaching job but returned to Catholic in 2006 when that job opened up. Catholic won state in 2002 and was runner-up in 1992 and 2000.
 Three weeks ago, Dixie Heights coach Ken Chevalier asked  the last Dixie Heights regional champions, the 1957 team, to have lunch with this year's squad. Star guard Brandon Hatton was asked to define 'a long time ago.' He answered, "1980, so 1957's a real long time ago."

Rowan County vs. Daviess County (toss-up)

Shawn Thacker took over Rowan County in 2009, after 9 successful seasons at Somerset. He guided Somerset to three state runner-up finishes in the Class A tournament (held each January for small schools only).  Breckinridge (now part or Rowan Co.) won state in 1946.
Daviess County coach Caleb Smith, age 29, is in his 3rd season with the Panthers. Daviess County was runner-up in 1958 but this is only their 2nd appearance since then.
Rowan Co. is also home to Morehead St. which meets Louisville this week. Morehead's Kenneth Faried is the NCAA's all-time rebounding king.
.
Wayne County vs. Perry County Central (Wayne is favored by 2)

  Wayne County's Rodney Woods won his 700th game this season.  A star at little Lone Jack H.S. (now part of Bell County), Woods was a star at the U. of Tennessee. Wayne County was runner-up in 1989.

 At Perry County Central, Scott Hatcher was hired to replace Allan Holland, the only coach in the history of the school. He left after getting in a dispute with the superintendent and was hired by Perry County's bitter rival, Hazard H.S.   To add fuel to the fire, in Hatcher's first season, his star guard transferred mid-season....to hated  Hazard.

#13 Bullitt East vs. Bardstown (Bullitt East is picked by 11)

  Bardstown has the best shot for a small school winning this season.  But Bulitt East is tough, surviving a tough Louisville regional.

Marshall County vs. Bell County  (Marshall is favored by 5)

 Bell County is here for the first time since 1980.  Marshall County's former coach, Allen Hatcher, is in their bracket with Perry County Central. Neither school has won state although champions (Sharpe '38, Brewers, '48, and North Marshall '59) are now part of Marshall County