Sun-Democrat, February 8, 1974

 

Basketball Roundup -

Six Area Top Ten Confrontations Slated for Tonight and Saturday

 

By Jerry Atkins, Sun-Democrat Sports Editor

 

Six top ten showdowns--four of those in Western Kentucky--are slated for this weekend as the 1973-74 basketball season heads down the final stretch.

 

Top-rated Murray High travels to North Marshall (eighth-ranked), sixth-ranked St. Mary goes to Hickman County (ninth-rated) and No. 4-rated Carlisle County journeys to South Marshall (10th-ranked) in Western Kentucky; and, in Southern Illinois, second-rated Vienna hosts No. 10-ranked Meridian and fourth-rated Metropolis entertains fifth-ranked Anna-Jonesboro in tonight’s actions. 

 

But, the weekend’s “big” game takes place Saturday night when Paducah Tilghman, which shares the No. 1 spot in the First Region with Murray High, meets fifth-ranked Calloway County.

 

Both Tilghman and Calloway have put together long winning streaks after suffering through dismal season christenings.  The Bluemen, now 13-6, have won four straight and 11 of their last 13 games, while the Lakers, 11-6 have rolled up seven consecutive victories.

 

Murray’s Tigers, co-leaders in the First Region according to the Sun-Democrat coaches’ poll, have notched six straight wins to up their season record to 15-2.  North Marshall, on the other hand, has lost three of its last four to drop to 8-10. 

 

The defending regional champion Falcons will be meeting St. Mary’s hustling Vikings for the first time this campaign at Clinton tonight.  Hickman County has won five of its last six encounters to extend its record to 13-7, while the Vikes, winners of four out of their last five contests sport a 16-9 worksheet.

 

South Marshall will be out to avenge an earlier loss, and Carlisle County will be trying to gain ground on the three teams above it when the two cage powers meet at Hardin tonight.  The Comets, who have dropped two straight to fall to 19-5, outdueled the Rebels, 67-62, in the semi-final round of the St. Mary Thanksgiving Tournament in November.  South Marshall, which has lost five of its last six games, shows 13-11 ledger.

 

Vienna and Meridian will both be trying to prove something to their fans when they square off tonight in Vienna.  The Eagles, now 16-3 after winning eight of their last nine games, could use another win over a ranked team to convince area coaches that they are worth a number one ranking.

 

Vienna occupied the top spot a few weeks ago, but a loss to Brookport (presently the top-ranked quint) dropped them to second.  And, Meridian, which is suffering through its first losing season in several years with a 7-9 record, would like a triumph over the highly-regarded Eagles before they make final preparations for regional tournament play.

 

Metropolis will be trying to make up for a 75-73 double overtime loss handed them by Anna-Jonesboro in the A-J tournament last month.  The Trojans have won three of four since the set-back to up their mark to 15-8.