LEXINGTON, Ky. — The 2026 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16® tipped off this morning at Rupp Arena with the two favorites, St. Xavier and Covington Catholic, opening the 108th edition of the tournament. That matchup followed North Laurel and Mr. Basketball candidate Reece Davidson vs. the 2023 state champion Warren Central.

View the tournament hub with scores, stats, and more: 10thSegion.com/Sweet16/

St. Xavier 75, Covington Catholic 61

The Colonels led by 11 points, 28-17, one minute into the second quarter. However, St. Xavier would put up their best scoring run from there, outscoring Covington Catholic 24-7 from that point to lead 41-35 at halftime. The Tigers kept the lead from there, taking the third quarter 18-15 and the fourth 16-11.

Covington Catholic started off hot, shooting 10-for-16 (62.5%) from the field and shot 4-for-6 (66.7%) from 3-point range. That hot hand cooled a bit, but St. Xavier heated up quickly in the second quarter, going 9 of 13 (62.9%) from the field and 4 of 5 (80%) on 3-pointers.

For the game, St. Xavier shot 30-for-48 (62.5%) from the field and 12-for-18 (66.7%) from 3-point. Covington Catholic shot 25-for-53 (47.2%) and 8-for-22 (36.4%). 

St. Xavier led Covington Catholic in nearly every scoring category: off turnovers 25-13, in the paint 36-28, fast break 18-5, and bench 16-10. CovCath led in rebounds 23-21, and had 17 second-chance points to St. X’s five.

Josh Lindsay led St. Xavier with 21 points. Jermaine Cameron added 14 points, and Connor Klein and Bryce Johnson added 12 apiece. For Covington Catholic, they were led by Braeden Myrick with 19 points, shooting 4-for-10 from 3-point. Athens McGillis had 11 points with four assists, and Teegan Stava and Dylan Gaiser scored 10 each.

Covington Catholic’s season ends at 31-2, and St. Xavier moves to 26-7 and will face North Laurel Friday morning in the quarterfinals.

View the full box score here.
View game photos here.
View the postgame press conference here.

North Laurel 52, Warren Central 38

Reece Davidson, 13th Region Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball candidate, scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in the Jaguars’ win over the 2023 Sweet 16 champions.

North Laurel’s starters scored all 52 points, while Warren Central’s bench contributed 21 points. The Dragons only scored four points in the second quarter while the Jaguars put up 13. The score at halftime was 26-16, North Laurel ahead.

North Laurel improves to 28-7 and will face St. Xavier Friday morning at 11. Warren Central’s season ends at 26-3.

View the full box score here.
View game photos here.
View the postgame press conference here.