Basketball Teams Ready for District Action

Model's basketball teams have given the Eagles some problems this year.  The boys' basketball team lost to Model 74-68 on January 10th and the girls' team split a pair of games with Model this season.  As the Eagle basketball teams go into district tournament action, not only is there a shot to Region on the line, but also some pride.

"We were missing two players when we played them in January, so I think that's going to make a difference," Boys' coach Shane Buttry said.  "We're playing the best we have all season and I really feel like we deserve to go to Region," he added.  The Eagles are coming off a victory over Frankfort Friday night.  Junior guard Tyler Abshear also broke the school's single game scoring record in the victory by tossing in 42 points.  "He [Absher] is always a key for us and I think he'll step up tonight," said Buttry about his leading scorer.  Buttry also said that seniors Brandon McGuire and Chris Roberts would need to shoot the ball well from outside the arc. 

Despite losing to Model in early December, the Lady Eagles were able to find recent success against the Lady Patriots.  Southern defeated Model two and a half weeks ago by eleven points in Berea.  The game was close for three quarters, but the Lady Eagles were able to pull away in the fourth quarter.  "We're a young team and we're finally figuring out what it takes to win close games," coach Summer Simmons said about her team.  Jordan Renner, the team's lone senior, will need to play smart and control the tempo of the game for MSHS.  Simmons also believes her younger players, including freshman Kristen Hayes and eighth grader Briana Lanham, will need to be aggressive and not be intimidated by playing on the district tournament stage. 

The cost of admission is $6 for tonight's games at Eastern Kentucky University.  The girls' game will tip off at 6:30pm and the boys will tip off around 8:15pm.