Georgetown, Kentucky

February 19, 1999

by Ron Harrison

This game was played February 19th before a capacity crowd at Georgetown, Kentucky, home of the Scott County Cardinals. The game pitted Madison Central (24-3), ranked number 2 in the state by one of the polls, against Scott County (26-1), ranked number 6 in the nation. Madison Central (Richmond, Kentucky) features Kentucky signee 6-9 1/2 Sr. Center Marquis Estill and the acrobatic wing forward 6-3 Sr. Kenneal Jenkins. Scott County is led by 6-1 Sr. Guard Rick Jones, 6-3 Sr. Guard/Forward A.W. Hamilton, and 6-5 Jr. Forward Scott Hundley.

Madison Central started out fast, and led 20-15 at the end of the first quarter. Things livened up in the second quarter as consecutive technical fouls resulted in the ejection of the Madison Central head coach. With Madison Central leading 24-22, Estill, already hampered by a sprained ankle, went down with an apparent knee injury and did not return to the game. Scott County led at the half by a score of 42-40. Madison Central played hard throughout the game, but Scott County pulled away to win 77-66.

Scott County was led by Jones with 21, Hamilton tallied 16, and Hundley added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Madison Central was led by Jenkins, who scored 23 points on a variety of acrobatic moves around the basket. He also snared 15 rebounds. Madison Central's 5-9 Sr. Guards Brandon Fritz and Chuckie Campbell added 14 and 9 points respectively. Estill tallied 5 points and 5 rebounds in his cameo role.

I have seen Scott County sharper, but they continue to take on and beat top competition. Scott County won the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, Florida, the Fifth Third Bank Kentucky Holiday Classic in Lexington, Kentucky, and their own Toyota Classic. This was a great atmosphere with a full house at least one hour before tip-off, and an excellent preview of the tournament play starting next week in the state of Kentucky.