The last time the Henderson County Colonels made the trip to Rupp Arena for the Sweet 16, the year was 1999 and Tyler Smithhart was a player on the team. On Thursday, Smithart, recently named the 2025 2nd Region coach of the year, will lead the Colonels in action at the UK Healthcare Boys’ Sweet 16.
Smithart, a freshman on the 1999 team, said his was more of a scout team role then, helping starters like current assistant coaches Brandon Fisher and Ervin Miller get ready for their opponent.
“I took a lot of pride in helping get those guys ready. Coach Fisher was a senior and Coach Miller was a junior. They embraced me as a freshman,” Coach Smithhart said of his time on the 1999 team. “(As a coach), it’s not about you. It’s about these guys that get to play. Really, now I’m excited for them to play and compete. I’m excited to guide them in that process.”
The Colonels were able to capture their first 2nd Region championship in 26 years by knocking off host Madisonville-North Hopkins Tuesday by a score of 52-34, avenging an earlier loss to the Maroons. Senior Cooper Davenport led the way with 14 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Xavion Johnson added 13 points and four rebounds. Davenport and Johnson were joined on the all-tournament team by Elijah Suggs and Amare Stewart.
On the way to the region championship, Henderson County beat Hopkinsville 79-58. In the game, Suggs recorded just the third triple double in Colonel history with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 blocks. Davenport led the way with 28 points. Lacon McKinney scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Johnson had 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
“I just went into that game with more intensity than I usually do,” said Suggs of his historic performance. “I was trying to do better on defense…my teammates just got me the ball, so I got the triple double. I wasn’t really trying to do it, but it just happened.”
In the region semifinals, the Colonels had to overcome a fourth quarter deficit to win an overtime thriller against Lyon County 59-55. Davenport scored a game-high 19 points and collected four rebounds. Stewart had a big game with 13 points on 4-6 shooting from three.
Davenport credited his team’s success to their togetherness and defense.
“We’ve had each other’s backs and because of that we’ve been able to play fearless,” Davenport said. “Nobody really cares who gets the credit…we just want to win. Everyone’s really bought into the defense and learned their role and because of that everyone kind of clicks together and we can hold teams to low point totals.”
Prior to the region tournament, Henderson County won its fifth straight sixth district championship by defeating Union County 77-49. Davenport had 18 points and five rebounds. Johnson scored 16 points. Dwaine Moss contributed 13 points, while McKinney added 10 points and four boards.
In Thursday’s matchup, the Colonels will face the Cooper Jaguars (23-5) who claimed the 9th region championship by defeating Lloyd Memorial 53-38. According to the KHSAA website, this will be the first ever meeting between the Colonels and Jaguars.
KHSAA calculates an RPI for each of its teams. In its own words, “It is a way to measure a team’s strength relative to other teams, based largely on their own success and their strength of schedules.” Henderson ranks 28th in the RPI, while Cooper stands at 13th in the state.
Henderson County (25-6) boasts some impressive stats heading into the state tournament. As of March 20, they are in the top 10 in scoring defense in Kentucky, allowing just 48.7 points per game, while being inside the top 25 in the state in both three point shooting percentage (37.9%) and field goal percentage (50.6%). Suggs owns the third best individual field goal percentage at a staggering 70.8%. Cooper’s Roman Combs is fourth at 69.8%.
Cooper also has a top 20 scorer in senior Andy Johnson who averages 23.3 ppg. Johnson also leads the team with 64 made threes on 38.8% shooting and in rebounding at 6.4 rpg. Led by head coach Tim Sullivan, a product of Brescia University, the Jaguars defense allows 51.6 ppg and is shooting 49.6% from the field.
“I’m so impressed with them as a team and a program. They’re just tough, hard-nosed, physical, and known for their defense,” Smithhart said of Cooper. “They’ve got an all-stater in Johnson. When you’ve got that caliber of player leading you and a coach that’s obviously done a good job getting them to buy in on the offensive side and gritty team defense, you’ve got a formidable opponent on your hands.”
According to several reports, they are facing a bit of controversy, which has also served as extra motivation, as Sullivan has allegedly been asked to step down at the end of the season, due to an issue with the team’s culture.
Davenport knows that this is a special moment for Henderson and is confident in his team.
“I think it’s big for the community to bring us all together,” Davenport said. “It’s an awesome thing. I really appreciate all their support this year. No matter who we’re playing…they’re always here to support us. We’re going to embrace the moment since we haven’t been there in a while and we’ll be ready to roll.”
Henderson County’s Sweet 16 experience will tip off at 7:30 p.m. (CT), Thursday, March 27. There is a longer than usual delay between the girls’ and boys’ Sweet 16s due to first and second round games of the NCAA tournament being played at Rupp Arena on March 20 and 22.
Tickets for the state tournament will be available for purchase on khsaatickets.org. Subscribers to the NFHS Network will be able to watch the action live on khsaa.tv. A monthly pass to the site is $11.99. Additionally, an audio feed will be available for free on khsaa.net.
