Royals edge Clark Co. 62-60 for three-peat

The Mason County Royals rallied from six down in the fourth quarter to beat the Clark County Cardinals 62-60 tonight in the championship game of the 10th Region Tournament at The Fieldhouse. It's the Royals' third straight regional title, their fourth in five years and their seventh in nine years. Clark County led 55-49, but Mason County went on an 8-0 run to go up 57-55. Treg Setty tied the game on a three-pointer and the Royals took the lead on a run out layup by Justin Lang. Corey Rogers hit a shot to tie the game at 57-57. Jordan Gilbert made 1-of-2 free throws to put the Royals up by one. Lang sank two free throws to make it 60-57 with 33 seconds left. Neal Pawsat made 1-of-2 from the line to make it a two possession game at 61-57 with 18 seconds to go. Vinny Zollo swished a three-pointer for Clark County to cut Mason County's lead to one with 9.9 seconds left. Lang went back to the line and hit 1-of-2 foul shots to put the Royals up 62-60 with 8.8 seconds remaining. Clark County turned the ball over and time ran out. Mason County has won 10 straight games. Gilbert and Lang scored 16 points apiece. Treg Setty added 10 points and Rheuben Bluford grabbed 11 rebounds. Zollo had a double-double for Clark County with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Corey Rogers scored 17 points and Robbie Stenzel added 12. Mason County will play the 5th Region champion March 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the state tournament at Rupp Arena. Campbellsville and North Hardin meet in the 5th Region finals Tuesday night at Nelson County.

MC (23-6) Gilbert 16, J. Lang 16, Bluford 3, Setty 10, Harris 2, Pawsat 8, Black 7
CC (26-7) Daniel 3, Kindred 2, Stenzel 12, Purvis 7, Zollo 19, Rogers 17

MC FG 40.4% 3 PT FG 35% FT 50% REB 37 TO 9
CC FG 37.3% 3 PT FG 26.3% FT 68.8% REB 42 TO 13

MC 09 20 11 22-62
CC 16 14 16 14-60

Notes:

• Mason County has won 14 10th Region titles;
• The Royals have won a record 74 10th Region Tournament games. Mason County began this year's tournament tied with Maysville with 71 victories;
• This is Mason County's third three-peat. The Royals also won three straight region titles in 1992, 93 and 94 and in 2002, 03 and 04;
  
• Mason County senior manager Kenton Murphy will receive a $1,000 PNC Sweet 16 scholarship at the state tournament. One senior boy and one senior girl from each region wins a scholarship. Karlie Smith of Bracken County will also receive a $1,000 scholarship

(Edited to correct Clark County's rebound total)