Men's Basketball
Georgetown, KY
February 25, 2008

Community Trust Bank Presents Mid-South Conference in Pikeville (2-25-08)

Several of the top teams in the nation will be in Pikeville for the Community Trust Bank Mid-South Conference Basketball Tournaments at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center, March 8-10, 2008.

The Mid-South Conference is traditionally one of the strongest National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) conferences in men’s and women’s basketball. Three of the MSC men’s teams and one of the women’s teams have been ranked in the top 10 of the NAIA Div. I poll this season. Included in that are the men from Georgetown College, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the country. Additionally, two men’s teams and three women’s teams have gotten votes this season as well.

Community Trust Bank is the major sponsor of the tournaments. “We are pleased to be a partner with the Mid-South Conference in promoting the 2008 basketball tournaments,” said Mark Gooch, president of Community Trust Bank. “We are proud of the accomplishments of the student-athletes in the classroom and on the basketball court. These young men and women are the leaders of tomorrow for our region. We look forward to seeing them compete at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center.”

Schools in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) include Pikeville College, Georgetown College, Campbellsville University, the University of the Cumberlands, Lindsey Wilson College and West Virginia University Tech.

“The Mid-South Conference is excited about coming to Pikeville for our 2008 basketball tournaments,” said MSC Commissioner Mike Pollio. “It is a first-class town with a first-class facility and first-class people. We appreciate the community and Community Trust Bank for their hard work to help make this tournament an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the teams and their fans.”

The event will begin on Friday, March 7 with a banquet for MSC student-athletes, coaches and administrators at the Mark V. After the banquet, the MSC cheerleading competition will be held at the Pikeville College Gymnasium. The cheerleading competition will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students.

The basketball tournaments begin on Saturday and conclude on Monday afternoon, with a total of 10 games. There will be four games (two men’s and two women’s) on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. and four games (two men’s and two women’s) on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. The championship games will be played on Monday, March 4, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase our community, not to mention the significant economic impact the tournament will have on the city, county and region,” said Pikeville College President Hal Smith. “We will be hosting 10 teams (five men’s teams and five women’s teams), as well as their respective cheerleading squads, faculty, staff, students, fans and media. We have received outstanding support from community leaders in our efforts to bring the tournament to Pikeville and our local host committee plans to make this tournament the best tournament in the history of the conference.”

Tickets are only $10 per day for adults, while students tickets are $6 per day. Tickets may be purchased online through www.ticketmaster.com, at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center box office in person, or by calling the Expo Center box office at 606/433-1793.