Royals edge North Hardin 58-56 in overtime

Jordan Gilbert's layup with four seconds to play in overtime gave the Mason County Royals a 58-56 win in the first round of the PNC/KHSAA Boys Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena tonight.
Mason County led by 12 in the first quarter. North Hardin rallied to go up 49-47 with 1:41 left in regulation. Gilbert made a layup to tie the game with 1:32 to go. North Hardin Coach Ron Bevars says his team was playing for the last shot, but took a shot early and missed. Mason County got the rebound but a turnover gave the ball back to the Trojans with 11 seconds to play. North Hardin was called for a walk with eight seconds left. Mason County went the length of the floor, but Gilbert missed a layup with four seconds to go. North Hardin missed a three-pointer at the buzzer. A three-point play by Rheuben Bluford put Mason County ahead 56-54 with 1:37 left in overtime. James Berry hit a jumper to tie the game at 56-56 with 1:28 remaining. Mason County then spread the floor looking for the last shot. Gilbert drove to his right and banked in the layup. North Hardin took a timeout with 1.6 showing on the clock. The Trojans desperation shot at the buzzer was an air ball and Mason County advances to the quarterfinals. Gilbert and Bradley Lang led Mason County in scoring with 12 points a piece. Justin Lang added 10 points. Bluford had nine points and 14 rebounds. Mason County will play Butler in the quarterfinals Friday at 8 p.m. Butler beat Knott County Central 57-46.

MC (24-6) Gilbert 12, J. Lang 10, Bluford 9, Setty 7, B. Lang 12, Pawsat 4, Black 4
NH (27-5) Phelps 15, Rol. Emerson 5, Ruttley 9, Roo. Emerson 5, Hendrix 2, Berry 20

MC FG 36.8% 3 PT FG 8.3% FT 65.2% REB 43 TO 12
NH FG 41.7% 3 PT FG 27.3% FT 59.1% REB 33 TO 13

MC 17 08 16 08 09-58
NH 07 15 13 14 07-56

Malcolm Jones and Bradley Lang sign with Pikeville College

Mason County seniors Malcolm Jones and Bradley Lang signed today to play football at Pikeville College. Jones and Lang were wide receivers and defensive backs for the Royals. Pikeville recruited both to play as wide receivers. Jones had 20 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns last season. Lang had 10 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns last season. Both players rushed for a touchdown. Jones returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown against Bourbon County.

(In photo, Lang, second from the left, and Jones, fourth from the left, with their families and coaches)

Royals start fast, beat Pendleton Co. 65-52

The Mason County Royals jumped out to a 14-0 lead and went on to beat the Pendleton County Wildcats 65-52 tonight in the semifinals of the 10th Region Tournament at The Fieldhouse. Mason County had a 15-0 advantage on second chance points. Bradley Lang was 6-of-7 from the field and scored a career-high 16 points. Jordan Gilbert also scored 16 points. Justin Lang added 10 points, and Rheuben Bluford grabbed 12 rebounds. Mason County advances to the region championship for the fifth straight year. The Royals will play Clark County Monday at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets will be sold at The Fieldhouse box office Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MC ( 22-6) Gilbert 16, J. Lang 10, Bluford 6, Setty 8, B.Lang 16, Pawsat 9
CC (17-14) Monroe 6, Cooper 11, Greene 16, Farrell 6, Jones 6, Taylor 6, Valentine1

MC FG 40.4% 3 PT FG 31.3% FT 56.3% REB 43 TO 6
CC FG 32.6% 3 PT FG 39.1% FT 65% REB 31 TO 11

MC 16 15 15 19-65
CC 10 10 15 17-52

Royals pulled away early in an 84-55 win over the Saints

The Mason County Royals scored 17 straight points in the first quarter on their way to an 84-55 victory over the St. Patrick Saints tonight in the semifinals of the 39th District Tournament at Bracken County. Jordan Gilbert scored a career-high 21 points for Mason County. Treg Setty and Bradley Lang scored 14 points apiece. Rheuben Bluford and Neal Pawsat each scored 10 points. Ryan Gallenstein led St. Patrick in scoring with 11 points. Josh Newman added 10 points. Mason County will play Bracken County in the championship game Thursday at 8 p.m.

MC (18-6) Gilbert 21, Bluford 10, Setty 14, B. Lang 14, King 4, Harris 3, Pawsat 10, Black 6, Osborne 2
SP (10-14) Yeary 9, Burton 2, R. Gallenstein 11, Mason 8, L. Gallenstein 6, Slack 6, Jodrey 3, Newman 10

MC FG 51.6% 3 PT FG 23.5% FT 60.9% REB 37 TO 7
SP FG 32.7% 3 PT FG 42.9% FT 68% REB 36 TO 17

MC 22 21 16 25-84
SP 05 14 15 21-55

Note: Stephen Mason moved past Kevin Pawsat into 6th place on the Saints' all-time scoring list. Mason ends his career with 1,452 points.

(Photo of Ryne King by David Gallenstein. Here is a link to Gallenstein's sport photos.

Four Mason County football players have scholarship offers

Four Mason County football players have received scholarship offers. All four are seniors. Wide receiver/defensive back Malcolm Jones has been offered full tuition, room and board by New Mexico Institute Junior College. Wide receiver/defensive back Bradley Lang has an offer from Kentucky State University. Pikeville College has offered scholarships to wide receiver/defensive back Colt Fearis and running back/linebacker Akeem Jackson. Center Lee Sutton is being recruited by several colleges including Union and Hanover.

Royals rally to beat Ashland 58-54

The Mason County Royals rallied from a 13-point second quarter deficit to beat the Ashland Tomcats 58-54 tonight at The Fieldhouse. Mason County had more turnovers (8) than points (6) in the first quarter. After scoring only 16 points in the first half, the Royals outscored the Tomcats 25-14 in the third quarter. It's Mason County's second win over Ashland this season. Justin Lang (photo) and Bradley Lang scored 13 points apiece. Treg Setty had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Mason County hosts Henry Clay Friday night.


MC (12-5) Gilbert 2, J. Lang 13, Bluford 7, Setty 10, B. Lang 13, King 9, Harris 4
A (13-3) Skaggs 13, Delaney 7, Johnson 9, Withrow 16, Gregg 7, Hunter 2,

MC FG 42.9% 3 PT FG 21.4% FT 61.9% REB 38 TO 17
A FG 36,5% 3 PT FG 31.3% FT 61.1% REB 31 TO 14

MC 06 10 25 17-58
A 17 08 14 15-54

(Photo credit: Whitney Allen)

Royals hold off Pendleton County 62-57

The Mason County Royals led by 12 points in the third quarter and trailed by two in the fourth quarter before pulling out a 62-57 win over the Pendleton County Wildcats tonight at The Fieldhouse. It's the school's 11-hundredth win. Mason County was up 41-29 in the third quarter. Pendleton County ended the quarter on a 14-4 run to close the gap to two. The Wildcats took their only lead at 51-49, but Mason County answered with a 9-0 run and sealed the win at the free throw line. Treg Setty led Mason County with 15 points. Jordan Gilbert hit 4-of-4 free throws late in the game and ended up with 12 points. Bradley Lang (photo) made 3 of his last four free throws and added 11 points. Justin Lang hit a three-pointer and 2-of-2 foul shots down the stretch. Pendleton County senior Tim Cooper hit four three-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points. The Royals play at Madison Central Friday night.

MC (10-4) Gilbert 12, J. Lang 6, Setty 15, B. Lang 11, King 3, Fearis 8, Bluford 4, Osborne 3
PC (10-8) Monroe 9, Cooper 25, Greene 15, Farrell 5, Taylor 3

MC FG 56.1% 3 PT FG 33.3.% FT 52.4% REB 26 TO 13
PC FG 40.9% 3 PT FG 33.3.% FT 77.8% REB 26 TO 13

MC 19 18 08 17-62
PC 12 15 16 14-57

(Photo credit: Whitney Allen)

Royals win 3rd place game 60-50

The Mason County Royals scored the last 13 points to beat the Daviess County Panthers 60-50 in the third place game of the Citizens National Holiday Classic in Bowling Green. Jordan Gilbert and Tyler Black scored 13 points apiece. Bradley Lang added 12 points.

MC (6-2) Gilbert 13, J. Lang 7, Black 13, Setty 8, B. Lang 12, King 5, Fearis 2
DC (5-5) Lasbrook 5, Belcher 10, Wilkerson 2, Simon 17, Herzog 4, Stevenson 12

MC FG 46.6% 3 PT FG 22.2% FT 36.4% REB 37 TO 17
DC FG 44.9% 3 PT FG 33.3% FT 50% REB 28 TO 20

MC 18 12 14 15-60

DC 15 10 18 07-50

Royals hold off late charging Ryle 51-46

The Mason County Royals led by 13 after three quarters only to see the Ryle Raiders open the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run. But the Royals regrouped and won 51-46 tonight in the Citizens First Holiday Classic at Bowling Green High School. Jordan Gilbert's three-pointer at the end of the third quarter made it 43-30, but the Royals didn't score again until the 3:28 mark of the fourth quarter. Gilbert and Justin Lang each had a steal and a lay-up down the stretch. Treg Setty led the Royals in scoring with 16 points and Bradley Lang scored a career-high 14 points. Mason County wins its pool and advances to the semifinals to play Greenwood Tuesday at 2 p.m. Central Time.

MC (5-1) Gilbert 5, J. Lang 8, Black 4, Setty 16, B. Lang 14, Bluford 4
R (3-5) Perkins 4, Stauffer 12, McLeish 16, Coleman 9, Stinson 1, Vollet 4

MC FG 38.9% 3 PT FG 20% FT 60% REB 33 TO 12
R FG 44.7% 3 PT FG 33.3% FT 72.7% REB 26 TO 17

MC 07 16 20 08-51
R 08 12 10 16-46

Royals hang on for a 52-50 win over Franklin-Simpson

The Mason County Royals used an 18-2 second half run to build an 11-point lead, but had to hang on to edge Franklin-Simpson 52-50 tonight in the Citizens First Holiday Classic at Bowling Green High School. Franklin-Simpson led 35-30 midway through the third quarter, but went 9:48 before scoring again. Mason County led 48-37 with less than two minutes left in the game. The Wildcats got to within three points at 50-47. Jordan Gilbert made two free throws to make it 52-47 with seven seconds to play. Mickey Lewis hit a long three-pointer right before time expired. Treg Setty had a double-double for the Royals with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Gilbert added 10 points and Bradley Lang grabbed 10 rebounds. Lewis led Franklin-Simpson with 22 points and scored all 14 of the Wildcats' points in the fourth quarter. Mason County will play Ryle Monday at 7 p.m. Central Time.

MC (4-1) Gilbert 10, J. Lang 5, Black 6, Setty 22, B. Lang 4, Fearis 5
FS (4-3) Lewis 22, Patterson 6, Randolph 9, Curtis 13

MC FG 39.1% 3 PT FG 45.5% FT 84.6% REB 33 TO 19
FS FG 40% 3 PT FG 37.5% FT 52.4% REB 29 TO 18

MC 15 11 11 15-52
FS 07 20 09 14-50

Royals use strong defense to beat Dixie Heights 48-34

The Mason County Royals scored 25 points off turnovers and scored the last nine points of the game in a 48-34 win over the Dixie Heights Colonels tonight in the 8th Annual Bluegrass-Buckeye Charity Holiday Classic at Northern Kentucky University. Treg Setty scored a game-high 17 points. Bradley Lang added 10 points. The Royals play at Highlands Friday night.

MC (3-0) Gilbert 7, J. Lang 5, Black 2, Setty 17, B. Lang 10, King 4, Fearis 2, Hamm 1
DH (1-4) Trammel 5, Raleigh 2, Smith 11, Pike 8, 2, Hatton 2, Stahl 4, Boone 2

MC FG 40.5% 3 PT FG 23.1% FT 73.3% REB 27 TO 17
DH FG 35% 3 PT FG 25% FT 66.7% REB 28 TO 23

MC 12 09 14 13-48
DH 10 07 11 06-34

Notes:

• Justin Lang received the Scholar Athlete Award for Mason County;
• Jordan Gilbert was named Most Valuable Player for Mason County;
• The Royals have held two of their first three opponents under 40 points;
• Mason County is 5-0 at The Bank of Kentucky Center;
• For the second consecutive year at the Bluegrass-Buckeye Charity Holiday Classic, basketball great Oscar Robertson walked into The Bank of Kentucky Center with the Royals.

(Edited to correct Mason County's record)

Royals win home opener over Scott 58-49

The Mason County Royals had a 15-0 run early in the game and closed the game on a 12-3 run to win their home opener over Scott 58-49 tonight. The Eagles scored off the opening tip. Then Mason County reeled off 15 unanswered points. Scott then went on a 27-13 run to regain the lead at 29-28. There were five ties and seven lead changes in the game. The last tie was at 46-46. The Royals then ended the game with a 12-3 run. Tyler Black scored a career-high 15 points. Treg Setty followed with 13 points. Jordan Gilbert and Bradley Lang each scored 11 points. That's a career-high for Lang. Mason County is back in action Sunday at 5:45 p.m. against Dixie Heights in the 8th Annual Bluegrass-Buckeye Classic at The Bank of Kentucky Center at Northern Kentucky University.

MC (2-0) Gilbert 11, J. Lang 5, Black 15, Setty 13, B. Lang 11, King 3
S (2-1) Smith 5, Jones 13, Niederegger 16, Haynes 7, O'Conner 6, Farris 2

MC 20 08 09 19-58
S 10 15 13 11-49

(Photo of Keylo Jones of Scott and Treg Setty of Mason County going for a rebound by Whitney Allen)

Royals let loose the Hog and roll past East Ridge 62-6

Josh Harris scored four touchdowns in the first half and Malcolm Jones scored a touchdown in each half as the Mason County Royals routed the East Ridge Warriors 62-6 tonight in the first round of the Class 3A football playoffs. Harris ran for three touchdowns and returned an interception for another touchdown. Jones ran for a touchdown out the Hog formation and had a touchdown reception. Harris' first TD was out of the Hog formation. (Mason County calls the Wildcat formation the Hog). Brad Lang, normally a receiver, scored a touchdown from the tailback position. It was 35-0 at the end of the first half. After Mason County went up 49-0 in the third quarter, the rest of the game was played with a running clock. East Ridge scored on a kickoff return as time expired. East Ridge quarterback Bryan Casey suffered an injury in the closing minute of the first half and missed the rest of the game. Colt Fearis, making his first start at quarterback for Mason County, completed 6-of-8 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown with an interception. Mason County (11-0) will host Pike County Central in the second round. Pike County Central defeated Fleming County 74-50.

MC 1st Q 5:01 Josh Harris 51 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 7, ER 0
MC 1st Q 00:06 Josh Harris 61 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 14, ER 0
MC 2nd Q 10:10 Malcolm Jones 71 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 21, ER 0
MC 2nd Q 8:25 Josh Harris 2 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 28, ER 0
MC 2nd Q 2:33 Josh Harris 47 interception return (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 35, ER 0
MC 3rd Q 10:03 Brad Lang 7 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 42, ER 0
MC 3rd Q 7:02 Malcolm Jones 56 yard pass from Colt Fearis (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 49, ER 0
MC 3rd Q 1:53 Akeem Jackson 5 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 56, ER 0
MC 4th Q Tyler McFarland 48 yard run (run failed) MC 62, ER 0
ER 4th Q 00:00 Dalton Lewis 86 yard kickoff return MC 62, ER 0

(Edited to correct Pike County Central-Fleming County score)

Royals football team taking part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Mason County football team has several special events planned to promote breast cancer awareness:

• Proceeds from the tailgate party prior to the Oct. 23 game against Fleming County will be donated to a breast cancer charity;
• Proceeds from the sale of pink spirit gear during the month of October will go to a breast cancer charity;
• The Royals will wear the breast cancer decal on their helmets;
• The following players have or will do community service for breast cancer and will wear additional pink on Friday night: Jordan Gilbert, Josh Harris, Neal Pawsat, Brad Lang, and Lee Sutton.

Many of the schools in Kentucky are doing this in particular support of the Paul Rains family and Jeff Reese family. Paul is the head coach at Lexington Christian and his wife, Denise, is fighting breast cancer. Jeff coaches at Owensboro. His sister, Julie, is currently fighting breast cancer. Jeff's dad, Randy Reese, is a former coach at Paris

Mason County football weekly awards

Here are the Mason County football team's weekly award winners based on last week's play:

Special Teams
Akeem Jackson

Defense
Josh Harris

Offensive Line
Matt Eads

Scout Team
Josh Ginn
Brad Lang

The Big Hit Award winner is announced at Thursday's practice.

Royals hang on for 28-26 win over Rowan County

The Mason County Royals made two defensive stops in the closing seconds to edge the Rowan County Vikings 28-26 on Homecoming tonight. Rowan County had 2nd-and-two on the Royals' 23 yard line when Gus Bauer and Tyler Black combined to sack Vikings quarterback Adam Wing for an 18 yard loss. On the final play, as time ran out, Wing's Hail Mary pass was batted away by Brad Lang. Mason County led 28-20 early in the fourth quarter. Wing scored on a five yard run to cut the Royals' lead to two, but Wing was stopped on the conversion run. Mason County was unable to run out the clock, but the defense came up big at the end. Mason County quarterback Neal Pawsat completed 18 of 28 passes for a career-high 268 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Gilbert had eight receptions for 137 yards (both are career highs) and a touchdown. Gilbert also scored a rushing touchdown on a reverse. Lang made a spectacular catch over a defensive back for a touchdown.
Josh Harris used a spin move to break a tackle and score on a 23 yard run.
Rowan County tailback Darrell Cross rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
Vikings fullback T.J. Chin ran for 113 yards on 18 carries. Mason County (4-0) plays at Harrison County Friday night.

RC 1st Q 10:35 Darrell Cross 76 yard run (Rhett Hughes kick) RC 7, MC 0
MC 1st Q 10:22 Jordan Gilbert 62 yard pass from Neal Pawsat (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 7, RC 7
MC 1st Q 2:39 Jordan Gilbert 23 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 14, RC 7
RC 2nd Q 9:47 Darrell Cross 13 yard run (Rhett Hughes kick) MC 14, RC 14
MC 3rd Q 10:53 Brad Lang 32 yard pass from Neal Pawsat (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 21, RC 14
RC 3rd Q 3:58 Adam Wing 12 yard run (pass failed) MC 21, RC 20
MC 4th Q 11:23 Josh Harris 23 yard run (Jordan Gilbert kick) MC 28, RC 20
RC 4th Q 5:19 Adam Wing 5 yard run (run failed) MC 28, RC 26