Paducah Tilghman (24-6, Second District Champions) v. Fulton City (6-18, First District Runner-Up)

Head to Head...January 12 @Fulton City...Paducah Tilghman defeated Fulton City 81-63.

Last five games...Paducah Tilghman 5-0, Fulton City 2-3

Games decided by five points or less...Paducah Tilghman 8-3, Fulton City 1-5

When scoring 60 points or more...Paducah Tilghman 22-4, Fulton City 6-11

When scoring less than 60 points...Paducah Tilghman 2-2, Fulton City 0-7

Average points per game...Paducah Tilghman 71.0, Fulton City 65.2

Average points allowed per game...Paducah Tilghman 57.1, Fulton City 71.2

Against the regional tournament field...Paducah Tilghman 10-1, Fulton City 0-8

Strength of Schedule...Advantage, Paducah Tilghman.  Fulton City has faced some good teams, including the Tornado, and they own wins over a couple of fine squads in Lake County, TN and Carlisle County.  They squared off with Heath once, Lake County and Calloway County twice, and Fulton County three times.  But the 0-8 mark against the regional field is haunting, and at any rate, matching up with Tilghman's schedule would be difficult for anybody.  The Tornado had road contests at Christian County and Henry County, TN while still trying to put their club together, and they ended December by making their annual trip to the punishing Centralia Holiday Classic.   Tilghman joined Marshall County and Calloway County at the Superman Classic, where they faced Marshall in the first of their two meetings.  And they swept a pair of close ones from Graves County to go along with three wins over Heath.  The Tornado's 10-1 mark against the tournament field is the best of the eight tournament entries.

Finding Forrest...In the glow of his role as a star for Tilghman's state championship football team, Josh Forrest's basketball season got off to a late...and by his standards, slow...start.  A combination of Caleb Hardy's blazing December and plenty of balance from Tilghman's lineup may have kept Forrest from the forefront of player of the year consideration, but as his game has rounded into form, the amazingly talented junior has reminded us that no player in the region can change the game in more diverse ways.  When he wants to be, the 6-4 Forrest is the boys' answer to Averee Fields.  He can be the best scorer on the floor.  He can be the best rebounder.  The best defender.  The best passer.  His only limitations are his own level of engagement and a balky shooting stroke, which slowly seems to be getting better.  If he is great this postseason, Tilghman will be too.

Fantastic Forwards...Fulton City has a pair of forwards the mostly fly under the radar, but their impressive seasons deserve attention.  Jacquise Lockett is one of the region's best athletes, and the gridiron star will take his talents to Kentucky State University.  In the meantime, he is an irresistible force on the way to the basket thanks to his quickness and strength, and he is a fabulous offensive rebounder.  He posts a double-double per night, and he gets plenty of help from smooth scoring forward Demarquis Young.  Young leads the Bulldogs with 16 points a game, and he grabs six rebounds per contest.  Tilghman's JB Harmon is a spectacular high-riser, and he gives fans their money's worth from pre-game warmups to the final buzzer.  Harmon scores 13 points a night, and his abilities as a game-changing force defensively and in transition can turn the Tornado's fortunes one rim-rattling dunk at a time.  He led the region by making better than 68% of his shots.

Deep Blue...We've talked a lot about Marshall County's depth, but Tilghman has developed its own deep resorvoir of talent.  Along with Forrest and Harmon, the Tornado offers up sharp-shooting Trevonte Cole, who provides huge offensive support for the Tornado with his perimeter scoring ability. Many observers consider Cole to be the glue that holds the Big Blue together, and veteran Kris Jackson is a fine defensive guard and capable passer.  JD Harmon can swing between the front and backcourts, bringing strength and athleticism, and Brad Stieg has raved about the solid play of Cody Schultz in the Tornado guard rotation.  And up front, Dejaun Edmonds, Chaveon Harper, and Decardia Key have all proved to be reliable options around the basket.  Tilghman's five best is scary enough...nine is downright frightening.

Guard 'Dogs...If Fulton City is to be successful in staying with Paducah Tilghman tonight, they will have to get great play from their guards.  Michael and Eric Kerney are both capable of making threes in bunches, and the brother combo typically puts up 20 points a night.  Vance Maze has played very  well down the stretch for the Pilots, scoring 18 points as the Bulldogs upset Carlisle County.  He'll need to have the best game of his career tonight as he's faced with Tilghman's unyielding pressure.