The Elliott County Lions had to sweat out a close one last night, defeating the East Carter Raiders 73-68. It was there first game since February 1 that they did not win by double digits.

Evan Faulkner drives on Mason County in the 2008 State Tournament with Darius Miller (21) looking on

Its almost conference tournament season, so it’s about time that the cliche “it’s not easy to beat a team three times in one year” gets trotted out nonstop. Elliott County had already handily defeated East Carter twice this season. On top of that, with all the attention the Lions had been getting, I have to believe East Carter and its fans were pretty jacked up for this one.

Elliott County now moves on to play the winner of West Carter and Morgan County. Elliott County will advance to the 16th Region Tournament whether they win or lose their next game, but the outcome will determine seeding.

Tuesday, February 24 District Results
21st at Pleasure Ridge Park
Western 57, Beth Haven 44
The Warriors (11-13) got 14 points from Aldo Gapin and 12 from NaQwan Crowell to cruise past the Cougars (18-7) in 21st District play at Pleasure Ridge Park.
22nd at Doss
Doss 64, DeSales 59
Cameron Clemons scored 17 and Rashawn Colbert chipped in 16 to lead the host Dragons (11-16) to a 22nd District win over the Colts (8-14). Derek Thornberry scored 13 for DeSales.
23rd at Shawnee
Central 66, St. Francis 32
Ridge Wilson scored 14 and Tim Patterson added 12 as the Yellowjackets (13-13) crushed the Wyverns (6-20) in the 23rd District at Shawnee.
25th at Male
Manual 60, St. X 53
Aleksandar Nikolic scored a career-high 25 points and Jenkins added 23 as the Crimsons rallied from a 15-point third-quarter deficit to beat St. Xavier 60-53 in last night’s semifinals of the 25th District Tournament at Male.
Male d. Collegiate
The Bulldogs (16-10) hit five three-pointers in the first quarter — three by James Pillischafske — to take a 25-4 lead and cruised past the Titans (8-18). Pillischafske finished with four three-pointers and joined Kevin Glenn with 12 points to lead Male, which had 13 players score. Shane Winebrenner added 10 points for the Bulldogs. Chris Townsend scored 12 points and Layth Masri added 10 to pace Collegiate.
26th at Moore
Moore 69, Whitefield Academy 36
Eric Mosley scored 25 points for the Mustangs (22-7) in a 26th District win over the Wildcats (11-17). Tim Harrison added 12 points for Moore, and Tyler Fryling scored 13 for Whitefield.
Atherton 87, Fern Creek 82
Troy Weatherford scored 30 points as Atherton held off Fern Creek 87-82 in a 26th District contest at Moore in boys’ basketball last night.
Dwayne Gordon added 26 points for the Rebels (13-11), who knocked off the Tigers (10-13) for the second time this season. Orlando Rutledge scored 29 and Jerell Moore had 18 points for Fern Creek.
29th at Oldham County
North Oldham 83, Trimble Country 71
Tyler St. Julian scored 24 for the host Mustangs (19-9) and Alex Foley added 20, which included six three-pointers, in a 29th District semifinal. Aaron Law scored 20 points and Larry Sullivan 18 for the Raiders (10-16).

Tonight’s District Match-Ups
21st at Pleasure Ridge Park
Pleasure Ridge Park vs. Holy Cross, 7:30
22nd at Doss
Iroquois vs. Butler, 7:30
27th at Waggener
Ballard vs. Waggener, 6
Trinity vs. Seneca, 8
28th at Eastern
Jeffersontown vs. Kentucky Country Day, 6
Eastern vs. Christian Academy, 7:30
29th at North Oldham
Oldham Co. vs. South Oldham, 7:30

4th at Various Sites
Calloway Co. vs. Murray, 7:30 at Murray St.
10th at Muhlenberg North
Ohio Co. vs. Muhlenberg South, 7
12th at Whitesville Trinity
Edmonson Co. vs. Whitesville Trinity, 7
14th at Greenwood
Warren Central vs. Warren East, 7
19th at Washington Co.
Bardstown vs. Washington Co., 7
20th at Adair Co.
Adair Co. vs. Marion Co., 6:30
30th at Anderson Co.
Shelby Co. vs. Spencer Co., 7:30
31st at Carroll Co.
Owen Co. vs. Gallatin Co., 6
Henry Co. vs. Carroll Co., 7:30
32nd at Williamstown
Grant Co. vs. Walton-Verona, 7
33rd at Boone Co.
Boone Co. vs. Cooper, 6
Ryle vs. Conner, 8
34th at Villa Madonna
St. Henry vs. Villa Madonna, 7:45
36th at Newport Catholic
Highlands vs. Dayton, 7:45
37th at Campbell Co. Middle
Campbell Co. vs. Bishop Brossart, 6:30
Scott vs. Silver Grove-Calvary Christian, 8
41st at Frankfort Conv. Center
Woodford Co. vs. Western Hills, 8:15
43rd at Paul Dunbar
Lexington Catholic vs. Tates Creek, 8
44th at EKU
Madison Southern vs. Model, 8:15
45th at Boyle Co.
Lincoln Co. vs. Boyle Co., 6
Danville vs. Garrard Co., 7:45
47th at Somerset
Casey Co. vs. Pulaski Co., 7
48th at Monticello
Wayne Co. vs. Monticello, 7
51st at Barbourville
Pineville vs. Barbourville, 7
52nd at Harlan
Harlan Co. vs. Bell Co., 7
53rd at Knott Co. Central
Knott Co. Central vs. Cordia, 7:30
55th at Wolfe Co.
Wolfe Co. vs. Jackson City, 7.
56th at Estill Co.
Estill Co. vs. Owsley Co., 7
57th at Sheldon Clark
Lawrence Co. vs. Magoffin Co., 8.
58th at Betsy Layne
Prestonsburg vs. South Floyd, 6:30.
59th at E. Kentucky Expo Ctr.
Shelby Valley vs. Pike Co. Central, 6:30
Phelps vs. Belfry, 8
61st at Menifee Co.
Bath Co. vs. Fleming Co., 7:30
62nd at East Carter
West Carter vs. Morgan Co., 7
64th at Ashland Blazer
Ashland Blazer vs. Rose Hill Christian, 7:30