LOUISVILLE TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL

Louisville women's basketball head coach Jeff Walz announced Thursday night on his weekly coach's show CARDS EYE VIEW that the team will take part in the post season tournament. The teams participating in the 16 team, single elimination tournament will be announced Monday, March 15th. First round action starts Wednesday, March 17th. Louisville is hopeful of securing a first round game at Freedom Hall. This is the first year for the WBI.

The tournament will feature an east coast and west coast bracket format, with the higher seeded teams hosting the home games. Teams that do not participate in the NCAA or WNIT will be elgible for the event.

Walz also expressed hope that junior guard LaToya Johnson and freshman guard Nikki Burton would be available for action in the games. According to Walz, both players have recovered sufficently from their regular season injuries to possibly be cleared by the trainers and doctors to suit up for the Cards.

The aspect of getting as many as four additional games in for this young Louisville squad would be valuable in helping the Cards prepare for the 2010-11 season. Louisville is still able to hold practices and any extra time spent working on fundamentals and skills under coaching supervision will be of great benefit for the team.

Walz has been on the west coast this week scouting and recruiting Portland, Oregon high school senior point guard Shoni Schimmel. Schimmel lists Louisville at the top of the colleges she is considering. She is the highest ranked guard in high school girls basketball that is still uncommitted. The official spring signing period begins April 15th.

The tournament announcement is great news for Lady Cards fans, who still might get another opportunity to see the team play another game in Freedom Hall.

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Upsets galore in the first round of the Kentucky Girls High School Basketball Tournament. Favorite Marion County bowed out to Mercy 67-51 on Wednesday. Same for Bowling Green, eliminated Thursday by Boone County 48-44. Butler failed to advance to the 2nd round with a loss to Henderson County 62-54. Other first round results:

Rowan County 47 - Breathitt County 39
Clay County 70 - Anderson County 55
Scott County 65 - Belfry 54
Rockcastle County 69 - Murray 36
Clark County 67 - Ohio County 63

The quarterfinals today match up:

Mercy vs. Henderson County 1 p.m.
Rowan County vs. Clay County 2:30 p.m.
Boone County vs. Scott County 7:30 p.m.
Rockcastle County vs. Clark County 9 p.m.

Written by Sonja
3/12/10