By CHRIS HOLLIS<br>Record Sports Writer
The McCreary Central Raiders advanced to the finals of the 48th District Tournament with a dominating 86-46 win over Monticello Monday night. The Raiders will face Wayne County in a rematch of last year's championship game in which McCreary won to capture their first district tournament in nearly two decades. Friday’s game will be played at Southwestern High School in Somerset with a scheduled tip off time of 7:30. The Cardinals advanced to the finals with a 51-46 win over Southwestern Tuesday night.
In Monday’s win McCreary wasted no time taking care of the 5-23 Trojans who came into the contest without their best player who was injured in a car wreck last week and was on crutches on the Monticello bench. After jumping to a 12-5 lead McCreary scored 18 unanswered points to extend the lead to 30-5 early in the second period. Central led 45-15 at the half and 60-26 at the end of the third quarter. The Raider lead stretched to as much as 44 points, 72-28, early in the final period.
Jacob Dixon hit four three pointers and scored 18 points to lead all scorers as the Raiders improved to 23-6. Aaron Watts scored 14 and Zack Roark 13. Twelve different Raiders entered the scoring column on the night.
The win automatically puts the Raiders into the 12th Region tournament which will begin next Wednesday at Pulaski County High School. Six of the eight teams that will make up the tournament field have already been determined. From the 47th District Casey County and Pulaski County have already punched their ticket as have Mercer County and West Jessamine from the 46th District. The other two teams will come from the 45th District at Danville. The winners of Wednesday’s Danville/Lincoln Co and Garrard Co./Boyle Co. games will round out the field.
Pairings will be set for the 12th Region Tournament over the weekend with first round games being played next Wednesday and Thursday.
LADY RAIDER COMEBACK FALLS FOUR POINTS SHORT
McCreary Central’s Lady Raiders did not fare as well in their opening round contest with Monticello on Monday. A Lady Raider rally in the final two and a half minutes came up four points short and the Lady Trojans were able to hold on for a 46-42 win that ended McCreary’s season. Monticello led by as much as twelve points with four minutes remaining but McCreary fought back to cut the lead to four with twenty-three seconds left. Central had a chance to draw closer after a missed Monticello free throw with :20 on the clock gave them the ball but Monticello’s defense forced the Lady Raiders to use most of the remaining time trying to get a shot. Senior Bryanna Hodge scrambled to get the rebound of her own miss from just inside the free throw line but was tied up before she could get the ball to a team mate. The jump ball alternating possession pointed in Monticello’s direction with only four seconds left and the Lady Trojans ran out the clock after getting the ball inbounds.
Senior guard Holly Stephens finished her high school career with 15 points to lead the Lady Raiders who finished the season at 7-23. Monticello improved to 17-11 and will face Southwestern for the district title on Thursday at Southwestern. The Lady Warriors narrowly beat Wayne County Tuesday 49-46 to advance to the finals.
