Kentucky

With KHSAA basketball district tournament action underway, here are 16 numbers to know

Published

2 years ago

February 25, 2024

Press Room

With KHSAA basketball district tournament action underway, here are 16 numbers to know

For Kentucky high school basketball fans, it’s the best time of the year.

District tournaments are under way, tipping off four straight weeks of action that will culminate with the Sweet 16s.

The Mingua Beef Jerky Girls Sweet 16 is set for March 13-16, and the UK Healthcare Boys Sweet 16 is slated for March 20-23. Both will be held at the University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena.

Here’s a postseason primer, with (Sweet) 16 numbers you need to know:

Boys

0 – Times Evangel Christian has reached a regional final. The Eagles (24-6) are ranked No. 8 in the state and considered by many to be the favorites to take the Sixth Region title. Evangel has one of the state’s top backcourts in seniors Kyran Tilley (17.5 ppg) and Christian Doerr (16.7 ppg).

5 – Seasons Great Crossing has been playing basketball after the school opened in 2019. The Warhawks have yet to reach an 11^th Region final but have even higher goals this postseason as the state’s No. 1-ranked team. Great Crossing (29-1) will carry a 17-game winning streak into the 41^st District Tournament and features one of the nation’s top junior recruits in 7-foot-1 Malachi Moreno (15.6 ppg, 13.3 rpg).

19 – Consecutive victories for Newport, the longest current winning streak in the state. The No. 3 Wildcats (27-3) haven’t lost since dropping a 76-71 overtime decision to Trinity on Dec. 23 in the fifth-place game of the King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at Fairdale. Newport returned four starters from last season’s team that won the Ninth Region and captured the All “A” Classic state title last month. Tay Kinney (18.7 ppg) is the No. 1-ranked sophomore in the state.

29 – Years since St. Xavier won its last Seventh Region championship in 1995, a team that included current head coach Kevin Klein. The No. 7 Tigers (27-3) are poised to end that drought this season behind an offense that ranks second in the state in scoring (83 ppg). All five starters are underclassmen, led by junior Chance Dillingham (18.2 ppg) and sophomore Jeremiah Jackson (14.3 ppg).

32.3 – Average points per game for Oldham County senior Max Green, the state’s leading scorer. The 6-foot-6 guard also ranks second in the state in 3-pointers made (136). The Holy Cross signee was named Eighth Region Player of the Year and is looking to make a deep postseason run with the Colonels (22-8), who will host rival South Oldham (16-12) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a 29^th District semifinal.

42.6 – Points per game allowed by Danville Christian, the No. 1-ranked defense in the state. The Warriors (23-5) are in their sixth season of varsity play and are 16-0 against 12^th Region opponents this season. Behind 6-4 senior Emmanuel Dut (13.6 ppg) and 6-10 sophomore Geu Ateny (10.5 ppg, 12.2 rpg), Danville Christian could make its first-ever trip to the Sweet 16.

1986 – The last year Ballard didn’t reach the Seventh Region Tournament. The Bruins (13-14) are in danger of finishing with a losing record for the first time in program history. They’ll face Christian Academy at 6 p.m. Monday in a win-or-go-home 28^th District semifinal at Eastern. CAL is 2-0 against Ballard this season, winning 79-63 and 67-64.

5,260 – Career points for Lyon County senior Travis Perry, who passed “King” Kelly Coleman as Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer at last year’s Sweet 16. Perry ranks second in the state in scoring this season (30.0 ppg) and is looking to lead the No. 5 Lyons (state-best 87 ppg) to the state tournament for the third straight year. The University of Kentucky signee is the front-runner for the Mr. Basketball award that will be presented March 17.

Girls

3 – Consecutive Sweet 16 championships for Sacred Heart, which will try to become the first program in state history — boys or girls — to win four consecutive titles. The No. 1-ranked Valkyries (22-7) have won 64 straight games against Kentucky competition and feature one of the nation’s top juniors in ZaKiyah Johnson (19.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg).

5 – Consecutive Second Region titles for Henderson County, which has reached the Sweet 16 in 10 of the past 11 seasons. Jeff Haile retired as Henderson County’s head coach after last season — ranking second in state history with 821 victories — and turned the job over to his son, Stephen. The Colonels (21-7) are back on top of the Second Region and enter the postseason with an 11-1 record in their past 12 games.

7 – Years since Butler won its last Sixth Region title in 2017. The Bearettes have five state titles but have struggled in recent years as several coaches have come and gone. Enter Candyce Wheeler, the former Candyce Bingham, who starred as a player at the University of Louisville. Wheeler has helped put Butler (21-8) back on top of the Sixth Region behind a pair of senior stars — Mariah Knight (15.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, Jacksonville commit) and Ramiya White (11.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, Kentucky signee).

15 – Years since Franklin-Simpson won its last Fourth Region championship in 2009. The Wildcats (27-1) have blitzed through their schedule and enter the postseason with an 11-game winning streak. Their only loss came to Boyd County, 70-61, on Jan. 14 in the final of the Kentucky 2A Championships. LaReesha Cawthorn, a 5-11 junior, leads the Wildcats in scoring (17.6 ppg) and rebounding (9.8 rpg).

21-1 – Cooper’s record since a 3-3 start, the only loss coming to Sacred Heart, 61-56, in the semifinals of the Louisville Invitational Tournament. The No. 2 Jaguars (24-4) may pose the biggest threat to Sacred Heart’s four-peat hopes. Four senior starters — Logan Palmer (Evansville), Liz Freihofer (Eastern Kentucky), Maleah Alexander (Liberty) and Bella Deere (Gannon) — have committed to colleges, and Haylee Noel (7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is one of the state’s top freshmen.

29.0 – Average points per game for Hart County senior Dea Bradley, the state’s leading scorer and Fifth Region Player of the Year. The 5-5 guard scored her 3,000^th career point earlier this season and has committed to Campbellsville University.

70.9 – Scoring average for Bethlehem, the highest-scoring team in the state. The Banshees (21-8) were ranked No. 3 in the state in The Courier Journal’s preseason coaches poll but fell off the radar a bit following a 4-5 start. Star junior Leah Macy (24.2 ppg, 13.3 rpg) missed 10 games with a knee injury but has returned to put Bethlehem back on top of the Fifth Region. The Banshees are 14-2 since the calendar flipped to 2024.

1998 – The last year Whitefield Academy — then called Highview Baptist — reached a regional tournament. The Wildcats (21-8) have the talent this season to make a run in the Sixth Region but must get past Bullitt East at 6 p.m. Wednesday in a 24^th District semifinal at Mercy. Whitefield beat Bullitt East 61-48 on Dec. 5. Senior guard Allison Spieker (13.2 ppg) is Whitefield’s top scorer.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.

Kentucky Mr. and Miss Basketball: Eight from Louisville area among finalists

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Kentucky

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for March 1, 2026

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for March 1, 2026

The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Sunday, March 1, 2026 winning numbers for each game.

Cash Ball

03-07-16-32, Cash Ball: 25

Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Evening: 4-5-5

Midday: 3-1-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Evening: 3-8-0-2

Midday: 6-2-3-9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Millionaire for Life

10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kentucky

Woman dies in head-on collision in Bullitt County

Published

20 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Woman dies in head-on collision in Bullitt County

Kentucky State Police is investigating after a Shepherdsville woman died Feb. 28 in a two-vehicle crash in Bullitt County.

A preliminary investigation shows the crash, which occurred at 7:34 p.m. at the intersection of KY 44 East and Watergate Drive, began when the passenger-side tires of a Toyota Tacoma heading westbound on KY 44 East dropped off the right side of the roadway and onto a steep shoulder, Master Trooper Bryan Washer said in a statement March 1.

The teenage driver “overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross the centerline into the eastbound lane and into the path of a Ford Escape.”

Due to a head-on collision, the Ford Escape went down a small embankment and overturned on its roof before coming to rest, Washer said. The driver of the Ford Escape, Sarah Weisman, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bullitt County Coroner’s Office. The driver of the Toyota Tacoma was not injured from the crash.

Trooper Scott Wheatley and Detective Brad Holloman of the State Police conducted the initial investigation into the crash, Washer said. Holloman continues to investigate.

Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@usatodayco.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

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Kentucky

Three NKY girls wrestlers win titles, including a third for Emma Moore

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Three NKY girls wrestlers win titles, including a third for Emma Moore

LEXINGTON, KY – The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has sponsored a girls state tournament for three seasons.

That’s three seasons of wrestling over the dirt at Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park

That’s three seasons of the girls having their own day to crown winners and placers.

And three seasons of Emma Moore climbing up the podium, taking her place as a Kentucky state champion.

Moore, a Walton-Verona senior who said she picked up the sport once the KHSAA started sanctioning, has gone 12-0 in her three trips to state with eight pins and a tech fall on the record.

“I feel great,” Moore said of ending her preps career on top again. “I feel like I made a lot of growth season and I’m really proud of what I was able to accomplish.”

Moore won the all-Northern Kentucky state final at 107 pounds, besting Ryle eighth grader Peyton Brinkman, 13-5. Moore beat Brinkman with a 17-1 tech fall in the regional championship, but had to battle with Brinkman for three complete periods in the state final.

“I felt like she was better at stopping my attacks today,” Moore said. “But, I just make sure to get to my offense and wrestle like myself.”

Brinkman was one of three Brinkmans to place at the state tournament. While younger sister finished as runner-up, older twin brothers and Ryle sophomores Aiden and Bryant placed second and fifth respectively.

Moore’s championship was the 14th in Walton-Verona history. Of those 14, three came from Emma, two came from brother Spencer and two more came from brother Ryan.

Highlands junior Emma Hood grinds out 152-pound championship

Emma Hood had a 3-0 lead in the 152-pound KHSAA state final and just around a minute needed to hold on to win her first championship.

When opponent Bralyn Maynard of Prestonsburg tried to get out of Hood’s grasp, she bent Hood’s leg sideways at the knee, causing Hood to immediately react to the injury. Hood’s injury time ticked away before she hopped up, ready to continue on.

With the knee barking, Maynard scored a quick reversal and cut Hood’s lead to 3-2. For 44 seconds, Hood had Maynard wrestling on top, but unable to score any more points.

“That last minute was just pure fight or flight,” Hood said. “After the knee, adrenaline kinda kicks in and I really couldn’t feel it at all for the last minute of the match.

“She gets the reversal with about 46 seconds left. The whole time I’m replaying how it felt last year to lose to her and making sure that didn’t happen again.”

Hood was a runner-up last year, losing to Maynard by a pin in the match’s final seconds. The championship was the fourth state placement for Hood, who also placed fifth in 2024 and eighth in the Kentucky Wrestling Coaches Association girls tournament in 2023 that ran before KHSAA sanctioned a tournament.

With the win, Hood became the first wrestler in Highlands history ‒ boy or girl ‒ to win a KHSAA wrestling championship.

Cooper freshman Aaliyah Svec finishes off undefeated season

Aaliyah Svec’s freshman season is one that will hard to improve on, but she’s up for the challenge.

Svec’s first season as a high schooler saw her go 19-0 for the year, claiming Kentucky’s 138-pound state championship. She didn’t even wrestle a full-length match in the postseason, going 8-0 across the regional and state tournaments with six pins and a pair of tech falls.

One of those pins came in the 138-pound final as Svec pinned North Hardin’s Payton Perry in the third period while Svec was already sitting with an 8-2 lead.

“It’s absolutely wild,” Svec said. “I never thought I would be here. I’ve grown up doing this sport and I’m just so, so grateful for these opportunities.”

Like Hood, Svec’s championship was also historic for Cooper as she also became the first wrestling state champion ‒boy or girl ‒ in the program’s history.

Northern Kentucky girls wrestling state placers

107 – 1. Emma Moore (Walton-Verona), 2. Peyton Brinkman (Ryle); 114 – 6. Leah Boggs (Campbell County); 138 – 1. Aaliyah Svec (Cooper), 6. Preslee Steiber (Ryle); 152 – 1. Emma Hood (Highlands), 7. Devon Banks, Simon Kenton; 165 – 5. McAyla Steffen (Campbell County); 235 – 6. Fanta Mariko, Cooper.