No. 9 Male (7-1) is headed back to the King of the Bluegrass championship game for the first time in nearly two decades after holding off No. 2 Frederick Douglass (5-1), 62–59, in a hard-fought semifinal Sunday afternoon.
The Bulldogs leaned on poise, toughness, and timely execution to survive repeated late pushes from the Broncos, earning their first KOB finals appearance since 2007 and the fifth championship berth in program history.
Jordan Mitchell turned in a championship-level performance to lead Male, finishing with 27 points and 10 rebounds to earn Central Bank Player of the Game honors. Mitchell scored in the paint, knocked down jumpers when needed, and controlled the glass down the stretch, delivering several key defensive rebounds and late free throws to keep Douglass at bay.
Frederick Douglass was powered by DeMarcus Surratt, who poured in 27 points of his own. Surratt ignited multiple comeback attempts with aggressive drives and second-chance baskets, helping the Broncos claw back into the game time and again.
The contest was tight throughout, featuring 10 lead changes and seven ties, with neither team able to gain lasting separation. Douglass briefly pulled even early in the fourth quarter, but Male responded with timely baskets from Mitchell and Cornellius Barnett to regain control. In the final minute, the Bulldogs’ defense forced tough shots and limited second chances, sealing the victory.
Male now stands one victory away from another KOB title. The Bulldogs enter the championship game with a 3-1 all-time record in KOB finals, their most recent championship coming in 2007. Frederick Douglass fell just short of a reaching the KOB finals for the second straight year.
Now, Male will look to finish the job and add another championship chapter to its King of the Bluegrass legacy as they take on 7th region rival Saint Xavier at 7:30pm on Monday. Frederick Douglass will play Madison Central in the 3rd Place Final at 6:00pm on Monday.
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