Raiders Win District Tournament

First District Championship in over 10 years

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

MONTICELLO – McCreary Central pulled away to defeat rival Southwestern 79-69 in the 48th District Boys’ Basketball Tournament championship game at Wayne County High School on Wednesday, March 17.
With the win, McCreary Central improved to 10-8.
Southwestern dropped to 10-11 with the loss.
Both McCreary Central and Southwestern advanced to the 12th Region Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
The Raiders excelled offensively.
McCreary Central shot 65 percent (26-of-44) from the field. The Raiders were 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from 3-point range.
McCreary Central finished 20-of-38 (52.6 percent) from the free throw line.
Kyle Stephens led McCreary Central with a near-double-double, scoring 24 points and hauling down nine rebounds. Stephens connected on 8-of-10 shots from the field.
Trent Conatser followed Stephens in scoring for the Raiders, netting 22 points.
Accompanying Stephens and Conatser in double figures, Trey Davis scored 21 points for the Raiders.
The additional scorers for McCreary Central in the win were Carson McKinney (five points), Noah Loundermilk (three points), Aaron Trammell (three points) and Maddux McKinney (one point).
McCreary Central claimed the 48th District championship after entering the postseason as the tournament’s top seed.
Four Raiders named to All-48th District Boys’ Basketball Tournament Team: McCreary Central’s Carson McKinney, Trent Conatser, Kyle Stephens and Trey Davis were named to the All-48th District Boys’ Basketball Tournament Team following the Raiders’ win over Southwestern in the title game.