Kentucky high school basketball Sweet 16 bracket 2026, KHSAA schedules

The stage is set for the 2026 Kentucky high school basketball tournaments, with brackets revealed for both the boys’ and girls’ Sweet 16 competitions. Both tournaments will take place at Rupp Arena in Lexington, with the girls’ competition running from March 11-14 and the boys’ from March 18-21.

Boys’ Sweet 16: Potential Showdown Looms

Tuesday’s draw for the UK HealthCare Boys Sweet 16 has created a potential first-round matchup that could quickly become the focal point of the tournament. The Seventh Region champion will face the Ninth Region winner on Wednesday, March 18. This pairing could pit the state’s top two teams – currently No. 1 St. Xavier and No. 2 Covington Catholic, according to the Kentucky High School Boys Basketball Elite 16 media poll – against each other in the opening round.

Did You Know? The UK HealthCare Boys Sweet 16 has a long history, with the 2026 tournament marking the 108th installment of the championship.

Both St. Xavier and Covington Catholic still need to win their respective district and regional tournaments to reach Rupp Arena. St. Xavier features Jeremiah Jackson, a Southern Illinois signee, while Covington Catholic is led by Athens McGillis, who has committed to Nova Southeastern. The top half of the bracket also includes potential contenders from the Third Region (led by No. 3 Daviess County), Fourth Region (led by No. 7 Warren Central), and 11th Region (led by No. 4 Madison Central).

Girls’ Sweet 16: Sacred Heart Aims for Continued Dominance

The Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls Sweet 16 will also be held at Rupp Arena, running from March 11-14. No. 1 Sacred Heart will be looking to secure its sixth consecutive title. The winner of the Seventh Region – featuring Sacred Heart and No. 2 Assumption – will face the winner of the First Region on Wednesday, March 11. The First Region boasts No. 4 Calloway County (24-0), the only undefeated team in the state.

Expert Insight: The early bracket matchups in both the boys’ and girls’ tournaments suggest a high level of competition and potential for upsets. The concentration of highly-ranked teams in the top half of the boys’ bracket, in particular, could lead to several closely contested games.

The Sixth Region champion will face the Fourth Region champion in a first-round game on Thursday, March 12. Tickets for both tournaments will go on sale next week.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Boys Sweet 16 begin?

The UK HealthCare Boys Sweet 16 begins on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Who are some of the top teams to watch in the Boys Sweet 16?

According to the Kentucky High School Boys Basketball Elite 16 media poll, St. Xavier and Covington Catholic are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, and could meet in the first round.

Which team is favored to win the Girls Sweet 16?

Sacred Heart is the No. 1 ranked team and will be looking to win its sixth straight title in the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls Sweet 16.

With regional tournaments still underway, will any underdog teams defy expectations and make a deep run in either the boys’ or girls’ Sweet 16?