The 2nd ranked Saint Xavier Tigers (7-0) secured a hard-fought 60-55 victory over the 8th ranked Woodford County Yellow Jackets (4-3) in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Gardner Law King of the Bluegrass tournament. Jeremiah Jackson shined in the spotlight, earning Central Bank Player of the Game honors with 15 points, five rebounds, and clutch plays that helped the Tigers remain unbeaten on the season and advance to their first-ever KOB semifinal appearance.
The Yellow Jackets came out firing in the first quarter, led by Armelo Boone’s aggressive scoring. Bone, a WKU commit, scored nine points in the opening quarter, including a steal and dunk that gave Woodford County an early 13-12 lead. Thurman Wade chipped in five points as the Yellow Jackets shot an impressive 65% from the field in the first half.
Saint Xavier responded with a balanced attack, led by Jackson and Chief Cameron. Cameron’s driving layups and Jackson’s perimeter shooting kept the Tigers within striking distance. A three-pointer by Jackson late in the second quarter helped Saint Xavier take a narrow 33-30 lead into halftime.
The Tigers opened the third quarter with a strong defensive effort, forcing multiple turnovers and converting them into points. Cameron scored six of his 16 points in the quarter, including a layup that extended Saint Xavier’s lead to 10 points. The Tigers outscored the Yellow Jackets 13-10 in the period, maintaining a 46-40 advantage heading into the final frame.
Bone continued to carry the Yellow Jackets offensively, finishing with a game-high 28 points and eight rebounds. Despite his efforts, Woodford County struggled to match Saint Xavier’s defensive intensity, committing 22 turnovers that led to 29 points for the Tigers.
The final quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with Woodford County cutting the deficit to two points after a Wade three-pointer and a Boone layup. However, Jackson stepped up in the closing moments, sinking a crucial free throw and hitting a fast-break layup to secure the win. Will Hanke also made a significant impact for the Tigers, contributing 11 points and a key putback late in the game.
Jackson led the Tigers with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including two three-pointers, and added five rebounds and a steal. Cameron was equally impactful with 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Hanke’s efficient shooting (5-of-8) and defensive effort rounded out the Tigers’ balanced attack.
For Woodford County, Boone’s stellar performance stood out, while Wade added 12 points, and Makhi Smith chipped in seven points and three rebounds. The Yellow Jackets shot 50% from the field but struggled from three-point range, hitting just 26.7% of their attempts.
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