Mason County Finishes Season at 25 - 7

The Mason County Royals, on a 12 game winning streak, advanced to the Final Four where they lost on saturday march 13th in the state semifinals 71 - 51 to the Shelby Valley Wildcats.

Jordan Gilbert led Mason County in scoring with 15 points, Justin Lang had 10 points and Treg Setty added 8.

Jordan Gilbert and Rhueben Bluford were named to the all-tournament team.

Shelby Valley went on to win the state championship saturday night over Ballard, 73 - 61.

This was the first loss ever in 3 trips to the final four for the Royals who coming into the game were 4 - 0 on championship saturday having won the state title in 2003 and 2008in their only two previous trips.


MC (25-7) Gilbert 15, J. Lang 10, Bluford 5, Setty 8, Pawsat 7, Black 6
SV (31-4) Justice 31, Ramey 4, Hatfield 15, Ta. Newsome 7, Varney 5, T. Tackett 3, D. Tackett 2, Ty. Newsome 4

MC FG 38.9% 3 PT FG 23.1% FT 60% REB 33 TO 18
SV FG 52.1% 3 PT FG 46.7% FT 63.6% REB 28 TO 10

MC 11 19 11 10-51
SV 22 17 16 16-71

Royals Handle Butler 58 - 47

On Rupp Arena's grand stage, with over 14,000 people watching the Sweet Sixteen nightcap, The Royals were down early to Butler but as the game wore on Mason County had too many players and too much defensive quickness for the Bears.

The Royals amped up their signature up-in-your-face guarding style, turning up the heat in the second half , throwing Butler into chaos with a relentless press that turned the game around in the third quarter.

Butler, up by five to end the first half, found themselves down by 6 at the end of the third quarter and never really challenged in the 4th as the Royals poured it on and won by 11.

Tyler Black scored a game high 18 points on 6 of 11 shooting and has hit 8 of 15 shots from the field in the state tournament (53%). He busted up the surprise 1st half zone of the Butler Bears by scoring 12 smooth points in the half when Mason County was otherwise struggling to find their offensive rhythym.



The total team offense came alive in the 2nd half on the heels of the defensive surge. In addition to the points spurred by the defensive pressure, Jordan Gilbert hit back to back threes and Neal Pawsatt was 4 of 5 from the free throw line and shot 50% from the field (3 of 6).


Mason County advances to play Shelby Valley in the state semifinals saturday morning at 11:30 am following the game between Ballard and Scott County. The winners of both games will meet in the KHSAA State Championship game at 8:30pm.

MC (25-6) Gilbert 10, J. Lang 9, Bluford 1, Setty 3, J. Lang 7, Pawsat 10, Black 18
B (20-12) Wesson 9, Saunders 2, Stone 12, McReynolds 6, Smith 2, Butler 4, Blackmore 6, Allen 6
MC FG 41.3% 3 PT FG 23.1% FT 68% REB 28 TO 10
B FG 45.9% 3 PT FG 14.3% FT 75% REB 26 TO 14

MC 07 12 21 18-58
B 12 12 10 13-47

Mason County Holds Off North Hardin

Royals Win First Round at Rupp by 2 points in OT

Video :

Click play > for game highlights


The Mason County Royals, on a state best 12 game winning streak, defeated The North Hardin Trojans 58 - 56 in Overtime in the 2010 KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Tournament.

With the score tied in the closing seconds of overtime, the Royals' Jordan Gilbert faked the 15 foot jumper, drove to his right and lofted a shot over the trailing outstretched defenders that banked off the glass perfectly to give Mason County the dramatic victory.

Gilbert and Senior Brad Lang led the Royals in scoring with 12 points each while Justin Lang added 9.

Rhueben Bluford was voted game MVP for pulling down 14 rebounds and blocking 5 shots.Mason County (24-6) faces Butler (20-11) at 8pm Friday at Rupp Arena.

MC (24-6) Gilbert 12, J. Lang 10, Bluford 9, Setty 7, B. Lang 12, Pawsat 4, Black 4

NH (27-5) Phelps 15, Rol. Emerson 5, Ruttley 9, Roo. Emerson 5, Hendrix 2, Berry 20

MC FG 36.8% 3 PT FG 8.3% FT 65.2% REB 43 TO 12

NH FG 41.7% 3 PT FG 27.3% FT 59.1% REB 33 TO 13

MC 17 08 16 08 09-58

NH 07 15 13 14 07-56

Video Highlights 10th Region Championship

VIDEO



The Royals who defeated Clark County in a 62 - 60 thriller to win the 10th Region Championship on Monday night at The Fieldhouse.

Mason County (23-6) will play North Hardin (27-3) Thursday March 18 at 6:30pm in the 2010 KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Tournament.

Mason County Defeats Clark County 62 - 60

Royals Win 10th Region Championship for 3rd Straight Year

In a classic game played before a roaring crowd, the Mason County Royals rallied from 6 points down in the 4th Quarter to win the 10th Region Championship by 2 points over the favored Clark County Cardinals.

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Justin Lang and Jordan Gilbert led the Royals in scoring with 16 points each. Treg Setty had 10 points and 6 rebounds, Neal Pawsatt added 8 points and Rhueben Bluford grabbed 11 rebounds.

Courtside and around the state most thought that Clark County could win the 10th Region Championship but it was the Royals who held the trophy high, cut down the nets, and will advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year.
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Although the Royals gave up size to a stalwart Cardinal team the quicker play of Mason County and the overall relentless movement by the Royals on offense and their signature pressure defense wore down Clark County and ultimately earned them the victory.

The Royals were the quickest team off the dribble, to the basket and on defense. They hit their shots when it counted most and forced the Cardinals into missed shots, errant passes, and 12 turnovers in the 2nd half.

It was a total team effort but the Royal's two guards, Lang and Gilbert, were the offensive one-two punch that Clark County had no remedy for. Driving around, up and under, shooting over or from the outside, the two guards shocked the Cardinals, scoring a combined 26 points in the 2nd half and leading the charge in the deciding moments of the game.


Treg Setty made a crucial deep 3 point shot to tie the game at 55 in the the closing minutes and soon after Justin Lang scored on a breakaway to give Mason County a 2 point edge at 57 - 55 that proved to be the difference.

Clark County missed three critical 3 point shots down the stretch but still kept close and had the ball with 8 seconds remaining, down by only 2.

In the closing seconds, under pressure, the Cardinal's Robbie Stenzel attempted a long pass up the court that was deflected by Setty.

The Cardinals never got up a shot.

Time ran out as the blue-clad Royal screamers ran onto the floor and joined the players in a center stage celebration.

MC (23-6) Gilbert 16, J. Lang 16, Bluford 3, Setty 10, Harris 2, Pawsat 8, Black 7
CC (26-7) Daniel 3, Kindred 2, Stenzel 12, Purvis 7, Zollo 19, Rogers 17

MC FG 40.4% 3 PT FG 35% FT 50% REB 37 TO 9
CC FG 37.3% 3 PT FG 26.3% FT 68.8% REB 42 TO 13

MC 09 20 11 22-62
CC 16 14 16 14-60





10th Region Championship Game Notes :


> Senior Guard Justin Lang had an incredible clutch performance :
16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. He shot 50% from the field and scored 10 points in the game deciding 4th Quarter. Big game on a Big stage. Ice.

> Jordan Gilbert was in the zone, unguardable and drove around whoever was guarding him whenever he wanted scoring 16 tough points on exasperated defenders. Quick with the ball and a tireless defender, Clark County could not match up.

> Treg Setty battling the big guys all night, was instumental in the closing minutes : grabbing rebounds in traffic, hitting a clutch baseline 3 which was the tipping point, altering shots and tipping a clark county pass at game's end to keep the cardinals from getting off a last second shot attempt.

> Neal Pawsatt played strong on the inside against the bullying Cardinal frontline, moving them around in the paint with bravado. Handled the ball perfect in set plays in the 4th and at the end, tore down a tough rebound, was fouled, and sank the pressure free throw.

> Tyler Black had 7 points and 4 rebounds in just 11 minutes of play, hitting 3 of 4 shots from the field.

> Senior Center Rhueben Bluford played a relentless 24 minutes showing great length and quickness to the ball with 11 rebounds.

+++++++ The Royals outscored GRC 22 to 14 in the 4th Qtr

+++++++ Clark County shot just 26% from 3 point range (5/19)

+++++++ The Royals have won 7 regional titles in the past 9 years

+++++++ Mason County won the state championship in 2003 and 2008



MC (23-6) Gilbert 16, J. Lang 16, Bluford 3, Setty 10, Harris 2, Pawsat 8, Black 7

CC (26-7) Daniel 3, Kindred 2, Stenzel 12, Purvis 7, Zollo 19, Rogers 17MC FG 40.4% 3 PT FG 35% FT 50% REB 37 TO 9CC FG 37.3% 3 PT FG 26.3% FT 68.8% REB 42 TO 13

MC 09 20 11 22-62

CC 16 14 16 14-60

Go Royals !

Royals to face Clark County in Championship

The Mason County Royals (22-6), the 10th Region defending champions, will face the Clark County Cardinals (26-6) in the 2010 Regional Finals at 730pm monday at the Fieldhouse.

The heated rivalry and championship match up pits the tough defense of Mason County against the explosive scoring of Clark County.

Mason County is 7th in the state in defense (KHSAA, points allowed), ranked 20th in the state overall by maxpreps.com and currently on a 9 game winning streak.

The Royals are strong, quick defenders and will be challenged by the high scoring Cardinals.

Mason County Rolls Over Pendleton County

On saturday night at the Fieldhouse, in the 2nd round of the 10th Region Tournament, the Royals romped to a 13 point victory over Pendleton County winning 65 - 52.

Mason County was led in scoring by Jordan Gilbert and Brad Lang, both with 16 points, while Justin Lang had 10.

MC ( 22-6) Gilbert 16, J. Lang 10, Bluford 6, Setty 8, B.Lang 16, Pawsat 9
CC (17-14) Monroe 6, Cooper 11, Greene 16, Farrell 6, Jones 6, Taylor 6, Valentine1

MC FG 40.4% 3 PT FG 31.3% FT 56.3% REB 43 TO 6
CC FG 32.6% 3 PT FG 39.1% FT 65% REB 31 TO 11

MC 16 15 15 19-65
CC 10 10 15 17-5

Royals Hold Off Brossart 51 - 46

Mason County beat Bishop Brossart in the opening round of the 10th Region Tournament at The Fieldhouse friday night.
The Mustangs ran hard against the favored Royals and were leading by 5 in the 3rd quarter but Mason County proved to be deeper and stronger in the long run and won by 5.

Treg Setty led the way with 16 points, Jordan Gilbert had 10 and Brad Lang added 8.

MC (21-6) Gilbert 10, J. Lang 2, Bluford 6, Setty 16, B. Lang 8, King 1, Pawsat 4, Black 2
BB (19-7) Armstrong 5, Norton 9, Morscher 11, Rieger 16, Fardo 3, Saunders 2

MC FG 38% 3 PT FG 21.4% FT 76.9% REB 36 TO 12
BB FG 35.1% 3 PT FG 40% FT 82.4% REB 24 TO 14

MC 08 16 14 13-51
BB 12 13 13 08-46

10th Region Tournament

The Mason County Royals (20-6) will play the Bishop Brossart Mustangs (19-5) in the first round of the 10th Region Tournament at 8pm Friday March 5 at The Fieldhouse in Maysville.

The Royals are 7th in the state in Defense (points allowed, KHSAA) and ranked 20th in the state by maxpreps.com (2/28/10).

Total Team Effort has characterized the Royals in their 50th Season :

+ Treg Setty #35 6'8" junior leads the Royals in scoring (14.2) and rebounds (7.0). 77% Free Throws (81 of 105).

+ Jordan Gilbert #10 junior, leads the team in assists, 2nd in scoring (9.1), averaged 17.0 ppg in the district tournament.

+ Neal Pawsatt #23 junior, has shot 58% from the field since returning from injury. Strong, vital.

+ Justin Lang #32 (8.0 ppg) senior, tough, quick defender that can hit the three (37.1%).

+ Tyler Black #15 (8.5 ppg) efficient scorer (46.8%) and rebounder (4.3rpg), sophomore, missed 9 games to injury.

+ Rhueben Bluford #42 senior, aggressive defender and shot blocker, efficient scorer (56.3%) , 2nd in rebounds (5.8)

+ Bradley Lang #34 senior, shoots 51% from the field, active around the basket, 3rd in rebounding (4.0)

+ Ryne King #4 senior , can drive or shoot the set shot, three point threat