A tightly fought alumni showdown
The Basketball Tournament opened with a clash between two of the state’s most storied alumni programs, La Familia and The Ville, at Lexington’s Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night.
The Ville drew first blood, building a six‑point edge in the opening quarter, but the contest remained tightly knit as both squads exchanged baskets.
Second‑quarter explosion
La Familia answered with a 14‑0 run in the second quarter, sparked by sharp shooting from Darryl Morsell and Sean McNeil, while Andrew Harrison contributed a steady flow of points.
That burst propelled the Kentucky alumni to an eight‑point halftime lead, 41‑33, and they shot a sizzling 60 percent from the field while The Ville struggled, hitting just four of 17 three‑point attempts.
Late rally falls short
The momentum carried into the second half, where La Familia stretched the margin to as many as 17 points, only to watch The Ville rally with a 16‑3 spurt before the Elam Ending sealed the outcome.
Key contributors for the victors—Morsell, McNeil and Harrison—combined for 43 points, underscoring the depth of the roster heading into the next meeting.
The series will resume on Monday at Freedom Hall in Louisville, where the two sides hope to continue the competitive narrative that has captivated fans across the Commonwealth.