The girls teams with the best records in the region drew into the same bracket today for the Girls 12th Region Tournament, which opens Wednesday at Pulaski County.
Defending champion Lincoln County and Mercer County, each of whom has 24 wins, could meet in the semifinals next week if they get past their first-round opponents.
Lincoln drew Somerset, one of three teams in the field with a losing record, for a first-round game Thursday, and Mercer drew McCreary Central for a game later that night in today's regional draw at Somerset.
Lincoln, the 45th District champion, defeated 47th District runner-up Somerset 60-42 on Jan. 28; Mercer, the 46th District winner, and McCreary, the 48th District runner-up, have not met this season.
Lincoln is 15-0 against 12th Region foes, and the Patriots' ledger includes a 64-55 win over Mercer on Feb. 5.
The other two sub-.500 teams, 47th District champion Casey County and 45th District runner-up Burgin, will meet in the opening game of the tournament Wednesday just 13 days after Casey defeated Burgin 63-46.
Boyle County, the 45th District runner-up, will meet 48th District champion Southwestern in Wednesday's second game. Southwestern defeated Boyle 61-34 in the Rebels' season opener Nov. 30.
The first-round winners meet in semifinal games March 4, with the championship set for March 5. The regional champion will play March 14 in the Girls Sweet Sixteen in Bowling Green.
12th Region Tournament
GIRLS
At Pulaski County
First Round
Wednesday, Feb. 27
Casey County (13-15) vs. Burgin (14-15), 6 p.m.
Southwestern (19-11) vs. Boyle County (17-13), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 28
Lincoln County (24-5) vs. Somerset (13-17), 6 p.m.
Mercer County (24-8) vs. McCreary Central (16-14), 7:30 p.m.
———
Monday, March 4
Semifinals
Casey County-Burgin winner vs. Southwestern-Boyle County winner, 6 p.m.
Lincoln County-Somerset winner vs. Mercer County-McCreary Central winner, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5
Championship
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
