Bearcats draw Owen in regional opener; Lady Bearcats to play Grant

The Anderson County boys' basketball team team will play Owen County, Monday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. in the first round of the Eighth Region Tournament at Henry County High School.

Anderson defeated Owen, 62-50, on Feb. 7 at Owen County. That broke a three-game losing streak to the Rebels, including the first round opener of last year's regional tournament.

The Eighth Region field is wide open with nearly every team making the tournament given a chance of advancing.

Here is the complete regional draw. All games will be played at Henry County.

First round

Monday, Feb 25

Oldham County (29th District winner) vs. Grant County (32nd District runnerup), 6:30 p.m.

Owen County (31st winner) vs. Anderson County (30th runnerup), 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 26

Collins (30th winner) vs. South Oldham (29th runner-up), 6:30 p.m.

Simon Kenton (32nd winner) vs. Eminence (31st runner-up), 8 p.m.

Semifinals, Friday, March 1, 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Finals, Saturday, March 2, 7 p.m.

Lady Bearcats open with Grant

The Anderson County girls, ranked at the top of the Eighth Region all year, will play Grant County in the regional tournament opener on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. The girls' tournament will be held at North Oldham High School.

Grant, the 32nd District runner-up, pulled the region's biggest upset of the tournament season when the Lady Braves stunned two-time defending regional champion Walton-Verona in the opening round of district tournament play. Grant features a Division I signee, Billie Hearn, who will be playing at Morehead State. 

On paper, it looks like Anderson and Simon Kenton, ranked in the state's Top 15 most of the year, will be strong favorites to reach the championship game, but Gallatin County, which is on Anderson's side of the bracket, is considered by many to be a team that could upset one of the favorites.

Here are the girls' Eighth Region Tournament pairings:

First round

Wednesday, Feb. 27

South Oldham (29th District winner) vs. Collins (30th runner-up), 6 p.m.

Simon Kenton (32nd winner) vs. Owen County (31st runner-up), 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 28

Gallatin County (31st winner) vs. Oldham County (29th runner-up), 6 p.m.

Anderson County (30th winner) vs. Grant County (32nd runner-up), 7:30 p.m.

Monday, March 4 Semifinals, 6 and 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5 Championship game, 7 p.m.