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
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