The pairings for the 2022 Shelby County Tournament are set in stone.
Waldron High School (photo) is the host site for January’s tournament. Athletic director Alex Engelbert hosted the annual pre-tournament meeting Monday morning at Grandma’s Pancake House in Shelbyville.
The four-team brackets for the girls and boys tournaments were randomly drawn.
The opening game of the girls tournament Jan. 6 at Waldron features the host Mohawks (7-0), ranked No. 2 in Class A, taking on Southwestern (3-4) and first-year coach Jason West.
“There are two very good teams in this tournament to go up against. I am really excited to be a part of this for the first time,” said West, son of Hank West, who won multiple Shelby County tournament titles during his coaching career. “As a young boy, I saw a lot of good games (in the county tourney). I have a lot of good memories with my family.”
Waldron defeated Southwestern, 59-39, on Nov. 12.
“Waldron is a great team that we saw earlier this year. They do a lot of great things,” said West. “It’s another opportunity to get better as a team and go against a quality opponent.”
The second semifinal Jan. 6 pits Morristown (5-4) against Class 2A, No. 1 Triton Central (6-0). The Tigers defeated Morristown, 42-21, on Nov. 24.
The girls tournament championship game is slated for 6 p.m. on Jan. 8 at Waldron.
The boys tournament draw produced identical pairings.
In the first semifinal game on Jan. 7, Southwestern (1-1) takes on Waldron (2-0). The Spartans and Mohawks will meet on Dec. 18 at Southwestern.
“We drew Waldron and Waldron is starting off pretty good,” said Southwestern head coach Brady Days, who will be participating in his 16th county tournament this season. His three coaching counterparts in the tournament have a combined four county tourney appearances as head coaches. “They are much improved. Coach (Beau) Scott has to be happy he has an experienced bunch for once.”
The second semifinal has Morristown (0-2) taking on Triton Central (2-0). The Tigers defeated the Yellow Jackets, 52-24, on Nov. 24 in the season opener for both teams.
The boys tournament championship game will follow the conclusion of the girls tournament celebration on Jan. 8.
“If you look at it on paper, Southwestern and Morristown graduated a lot of kids but I wouldn’t look past anybody,” said Days.
Triton Central is the defending county tourney champions in both tournaments.
