Alex Schalch signs with Shawnee State University

2020 Mason County High School graduate Alex Schalch has signed to continue his basketball and academic career at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth.

Schalch shot 58.7 % from the field and averaged 18 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Royals last season after transferring from Robertson County after his junior season. He scored his 2,000th career point on February 14.

Schalch helped lead Robertson County to the 2018 All "A" Classic during his sophomore season.

Local sports notes

Here are a few local sports notes including two that I meant to post last week:

• Former Mason County Lady Royals Briana McNutt scored a career-high 23 points last night to lead the Thomas More Saints to a 75-68 victory over Life. McNutt was 8-of-11 from the field.

• The draws for the girls' and boys' 10th Region tournaments will be held tomorrow morning. The girls' tournament begins Monday night at Campbell County Middle School. The boys' tournament begins Wednesday night at George Rodger Clark Arena.

• Tickets for the girls' and boys' state tournaments can be purchased via Ticketmaster. There is a link on KHSAA.org

• Former Mason County Darren Williams pitched a scoreless inning in relief in Eastern Kentucky's 2-0 win over LSU last week. Williams faced five batters. He walked one, struck out one and gave up two hits.

• Mason County center Alex Schalch is the 2020 Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches 10th Region Runner-up Player of the Year and is eligible to tryout for the Kentucky All-Star Team.

• Mason County Indoor Track and Field Meet #4 takes place tomorrow at the Carmeuse/Mason County Schools Indoor Athletic Complex.

High scoring 39th District players in opening week of season

While NBA fans are getting used to seeing 50-point performances by star players on an almost nightly basis, local high school basketball fans have been treated by several high scoring games from players on teams in the 39th District during the first week of the season.

Bracken County 8th grader Blake Reed poured in 44 points in the Polar Bears' loss to Augusta.

Augusta sophomore Kason Hinson, Mason County senior Alex Schlach and St. Patrick 8th grader Jaylan Rigdon are already members of the 30-Point Club. 

Hinson poured in 39 points against Bracken County and 36 in the Panthers' win over Sayre.

Schalch scored 32 points in the Royals' season-opening loss to Lewis County.

Rigdon tossed in 30 points in the Saints' road win over Burgin.

Who is next?

Summer basketball video: Mason County’s Alex Schalch scores inside

Reid Jolly scores 33 points to lead Campbell County past Robertson County 74-55

Reid Jolly, the 10th Region Coaches Association Player of the Year, scored 33 points to lead the Campbell County Camels to a 74-55 victory over the Robertson County Black Devils in the opening game of the 10th Region Tournament tonight at The Fieldhouse.

The game was tied 23-23, but Campbell County pulled away by ending the first half on a 19-2 run.

The Camels led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter.

Campbell County shot 53.4 percent from the field and scored 18 points off Robertson County's 17 turnovers.

Drew Wilson scored 17 points for the Camels who ran their winning streak to 14 games.

Alex Schlach led Robertson County in scoring with 21 points. Justin Becker added 12 points.

CC (27-4) Wirth 2, Wilson 17, G. Jolly 4, R. Jolly 33, Helton 8, Gross 4, Lawrence 6

RC (22-9) Dixon 8, Dice 8, J. Becker 12, Dotson 2, Gooden 2, R. Becker 4, Schlach 21, 

CC 18 24 23 09- 74
RC 15 10 20 10- 55

Libby Gallenstein scores 1,000th career point in Lady Saints' loss

St. Patrick junior Libby Gallenstein scored 16 points including her 1,000th career point in the Lady Saints' 54-35 loss to the Robertson County Lady Devils tonight at Robertson County.

The Lady Saints were outscored 24-10 in the fourth quarter. 

The Saints trailed 60-38 at the half and lost the Black Devils 101-57 in the second game of the girls and boys doubleheader.

Pat McKay led the Saints in scoring with 15 points. Jaylan Rigdon tossed in 11 points and Jack Gallenstein added 10 points.

Alex Schlach scored 27 points for the Black Devils.

The Lady Saints host St. Joseph Central Thursday night. 

The Saints are back in action Friday night at home against the Berea Pirates.

Girls

RC (5-17) Roberts 6, Gray 5, Hester 8, Green 19, Turner 3, Courtney 13

SP (9-12) Gallenstein 16, C. McKay 3, Klee 6, Hughes 4, 
L. McKay 2, Riggs 4

RC 13 06 11 24- 54
SP  06 06 13 10- 35

Boys

RC (18-6) Dixon 12, Dice 3, J. Becker 17, Dotson 5, Gooden 2, Horn 6, Wyatt 7, R. Becker 19, Schlach 27, Pilosky 2

SP (1-25) McKay 15, Gallenstein 10, Muehlbauer 9, Rigdon 11,
Mastin 8, Hamilton 2, Gibbs 2

RC 31 29 24 17- 101
SP  18 20 13 06-  57

Royals run past Robertson County 87-69 in US Bank Mike Murphy Classic

The Mason County Royals sped up the tempo and ran past the Robertson County Black Devils 87-69 tonight in the US Bank Mike Murphy Classic.

The Royals led 30-12 at the end of the first quarter and led by as many as 29 points in the third quarter.

Carson Brammer hit six three-pointers and scored a career-high 26 points. He drained four of the treys in the third quarter.

The Royals made a season-high 12 three-pointers including seven in the third quarter when they scored 31 points.

Mason County scored 27 points off Robertson County's 20 turnovers.

The Royals had 20 assists and outrebounded the bigger Black Devils 41-37.

Jaylen Lofton had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Xylon Frey scored 15 points.

Robertson County was led in scoring by Ross Becker with 22 points. Alex Schlach followed with 18 points and Sebastion Dixon tossed in 15 points.

Mason County plays at Dixie Heights Tuesday night.

MC (3-4) Lofton 17, May 7, Jones 9, Frey 15, Brammer 26, Butler 5, Perry 8

RC (5-2) Sbastion 15, Schlach 18, J. Becker 7, R. Becker 22, Dice 4, Doyle 3

MC 30 11 31 15- 87
RC  12 16 17 24- 69

Robertson Co. and St. Patrick split doubleheader

Robertson County and St. Patrick split a boys and girls doubleheader tonight at Robertson County.

Alex Schalch scored 30 points to lead the Black Devils to a 92-67 victory over the Saints.

The St. Patrick Lady Saints led 30-11 at halftime in the girls game and hung on for a 50-44 win to snap a five-game losing streak.

St. Patrick sophomore Libby Gallenstein hit six three-pointers and scored a game-high 21 points before fouling out with 4:08 left in the game.

Elizabeth McKay added 10 points for the Lady Saints.

The Saints were led in scoring by Brevin Jones with 24 points.

Patrick McKay followed with 14 points and Jake Swolsky added 12 points.

The Lady Saints and Saints both play Augusta in the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region All "A" Classic Saturday at Nicholas County.

Girls

SP (4-9) Gallenstein 21, E. McKay 10, Hughes 8, Klee 4, C. McKay 2, Tesmer 2, Faust 2, Roush 1

RC (5-6) Green 17, Hester 10, Courtney 7, Limville 4, Roberts 5, Maybrier 2

SP  15 15 06 14- 50

RC 02 09 14 19- 44 

Boys

RC (7-6) Dixon 11, Dugan 3, Dotson 9, Dice 6, R. Becker 4, Schalch 30, Burden 11, J. Becker 16

SP (5-10) Bauer 7, McKay 14, Black 8, Mastin 2, Swolsky 12, Jones

RC 18 20 24 30- 92

SP  16 07 15 29- 67