Kentucky boys' basketball Sweet 16 wide-open with Ballard gone

Since practices began last October, most coaches agreed the Ballard High School boys' basketball squad was the one to beat in Kentucky this season.

But with the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys' Sweet 16 set to tip off Wednesday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ballard no longer is in contention for the championship — leaving the door open for several other talented teams.

"If this was a seven-game series, you could just hand the trophy to Ballard," Scott County coach Billy Hicks said. "Nobody was going to beat them four out of seven. But that's the cruel world of high school basketball. Once you're in regional play, it's one and done. …

"Obviously, now the spotlight is on some other teams. I think it's one of the most balanced state tournaments I've been in."

Trinity (29-5), No. 2 in The Courier-Journal's Litkenhous Ratings, beat No. 1 Ballard 59-58 on March 11 in the Seventh Region Tournament final and enters the Sweet 16 as the highest-ranked team in the field.

Six other teams ranked among the top 11 are scattered through the bracket: No. 3 Scott County (32-3), No. 5 Hopkinsville (30-2), No. 6 Covington Catholic (29-2), No. 7 Wayne County (31-1), No. 8 Pleasure Ridge Park (26-7) and No. 11 Knott County Central (25-6).

Several others believe they have a chance to make a deep run.

"When I look at the field, the only thing I can say is that I'm glad we're not in the top half of the bracket (with Trinity, Scott County and Hopkinsville)," Bardstown coach Boo Brewer said. "I think there are 16 quality teams that are going to be playing on Wednesday and Thursday. The team that plays the best defense and gets hot will win it."

If defense does decide the championship, Trinity should have a solid chance. The Shamrocks, the 2012 state champions, are allowing just 46.8 points per game and have one of the state's most imposing players in the middle with 6-foot-10 junior Raymond Spalding (3.3 blocks per game).

Trinity coach Mike Szabo agreed with Hicks that several teams have a legitimate chance at winning the title.

"I like where we're at as a team and the enthusiasm we have right now," Szabo said. "We have a good vibe right now. The team is incredible excited about this week."

Scott County, the runner-up to Trinity in 2012, has the top scorer in the field in 6-2 senior guard Trent Gilbert (25.9 ppg). The Mr. Basketball finalist is shooting 40.1 percent from ­3-point range and 91.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Fleming County coach Mark Starns, whose team will face Scott County in the first round, said Gilbert is a tough matchup.

"All I can say about Trent Gilbert is, 'Wow!' " Starns said. "He's had 300 trips to the foul line? Really? And he's made 274 of them? We can't let him get to the foul line. If we do, it's going to be a long night for us."

Hopkinsville is in the field for the third straight season, having lost to eventual champion Madison Central in last year's semifinals, and is 27-0 against Kentucky competition this season. Jaqualis Matlock (17.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg), a 6-5 forward, is one of the state's top juniors and leads four starters with double-figure scoring averages.

Covington Catholic and Wayne County both have high-scoring players who also are sons of their head coaches.

Covington Catholic senior Nick Ruthsatz (21.7 ppg) is the son of Scott Ruthsatz, and Wayne County junior Peyton Woods (24.9 ppg) is the son of Rodney Woods.

Wayne County's only loss this season was at Montgomery County, 81-72 on Feb. 9 in the Joe B. Hall Classic.

"They're not overly athletic, but they make up for it with sound fundamentals," Hicks said of Wayne County. "And Rodney is a heck of a coach."

PRP and Knott County Central also will be in the mix for the title.

PRP must play its opener against Bardstown without Sixth Region Player of the Year Lamontray Harris, who will complete a two-game suspension after being ejected from the regional semifinals against Doss.

Knott County Central has one of the state's top juniors in Camron Justice (25.5 ppg), who is in his third straight Sweet 16.

PRP coach Dale Mabrey pointed to Trinity, Scott County and Hopkinsville as legitimate contenders in the top half of the bracket.

"At the bottom, people better watch out for Covington Catholic, including us if we're lucky enough to advance," Mabrey said. "They rebound, they're ornery, they're strong. They break their necks with hustle. They shoot the heck out of it."

Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and on Twitter @kyhighs.

BOYS' SWEET 16

• Wednesday-Sunday

• Rupp Arena, Lexington

Today's games

South Oldham vs. Hopkinsville, noon

Trinity vs. Owensboro, 1:30 p.m.

Scott County vs. Fleming County, 6:30.

Campbell County vs. Johnson Central, 8