Previewing The Inaugural KHSAA State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's tournament time in the Bluegrass!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a stretch of six days in which all eight regions crowned champions, the inaugural Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) state boy's lacrosse tournament is set in stone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional champions, as well as runner-ups, fill out the field of 16 and play begins on Wednesday, May 14th. The 16 teams still standing will fight for the right to head to Shelbyville where the first-ever KHSAA champion will be crowned on May 21st at Collins High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Wednesday's first round games and Friday's quarterfinal contests, regional winners will face regional runner-ups from different regions. Those first round pairings were set in November and are on a six-year cycle. The most notable first round matchups of this inaugural tournament involve the seventh and eighth regions, which are the easternmost in the state and contain the Lexington area. Seventh region champion Frederick Douglass host eighth region runner-up Lexington Catholic while eighth region champion Woodford County host seventh region runner-up Henry Clay. The later is a rematch of last season's CLL championship game. The winner of those two aforementioned contests will play in the quarterfinals at Frederick Douglass on Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bluegrass State powerhouses St. Xavier and Trinity came out on top in the third and fourth regions. St. Xavier pays fourth region runner-up Kentucky Country Day at Bellarmine University on Wednesday while Trinity host third region runner-up Louisville Collegiate. The winner of those two contests will play on Friday, which means the Tigers and Shamrocks could play in a top-two matchup with a trip to Shelbyville and the final four on the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other first round matchups include first region champion South Warren hosting second region runner-up DeSales while second region winner Manual will play first region runner-up Greenwood at Trinity. Fifth region winner Dixie Heights host sixth region runner-up North Oldham and sixth region winner South Oldham plays host to fifth region runner-up Ryle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can find a full bracket for the KHSAA boy's state lacrosse tournament <a href="https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kylcb25/tournament_230200">here</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kentucky lacrosse is made up of eight regions and Wednesday's first round slate will feature eight games between 16 teams. Thus, here is a look at eight of the state's top players to watch in this year's tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20799"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823d63d403b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A strong threat from the midfield who knows how to get downhill and find space, Bryant enters the state tournament leading the Commonwealth in both goals and total points on the season. The Fairfield signee has cashed in 71 goals and dished out 26 assists for a total of 97 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["31919"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823e48a9c791"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">St. Xavier enters the state tournament on a nine-game winning streak and Mayer has been a huge part of the Tigers' success over the past month. A well-rounded playmaker who has been a key off-ball threat for the Tigers this spring, Mayer leads his team with 55 points off 33 goals and 22 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["24119"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823e66bbafac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A strong dodger who can consistently beat his man and get his hands free, Rogers has put together an exceptionally strong junior campaign. The leader of the South Oldham offense, Rogers has netted 48 goals and dished out 18 assists for a total of 66 points this spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["24850"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823e9023a30d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The backbone of a Frederick Douglass defense featuring some real talent, Hart has continued to be exceptional as a junior this spring. He has made 122 stops with a 68.5% save percentage through 12 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["124709"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823e9023a399"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The sophomore has come one strong this spring as the leader and a focal point of the Henry Clay Blue Devils' offense. A versatile player who looks comfortable making plays from anywhere and can be a good initiator, Thayer has notched 88 points off 52 goals and 36 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Greyson Hodge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"142","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Woodford County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823e9023a4bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After breaking out as a freshman, Hodge has continued to show improvement and impressed during his sophomore campaign. A speedy attackman who knows how to get to the rack consistently, Hodge has 96 points on the year off 52 goals and 44 assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Roehn Dye","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"143","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"DuPont Manual","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823e9023a5c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dye has been arguably Manual's most important player this spring as he can make an impact in multiple facets of the game. He has 28 goals and nine assists for 37 points this spring while also going 63-for-104 (60%) at the faceoff dot and grabbing 67 ground balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jordin Stinson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"144","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Greenwood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6823e9023a6ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stinson has proved to be a more than solid anchor for the Gators defense this spring. The senior has shown to be one of the best and most consistent goalies in the state, making 158 saves with a 69% save percentage through 12 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->