MAYSVILLE, Ky. — When it was time for Campbell County to cut down the nets Saturday after winning the 10th Region boys basketball championship, it took a minute or so to find a pair of scissors. It was about the only thing that went wrong for the Camels.

        Junior forward Kevin Reinhardt and senior guard Steve Sigmon each scored 17 points in a 72-59 victory over Mason County on the Royals' floor.

        “I can't believe it — it's great,” said Reinhardt, who also had 11 rebounds. “... We just did our job.”

        The Camels won their first regional championship since 1960. They will play South Laurel, which beat North Laurel 78-51 in the 12th Region title game, at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the opening round of the state Sweet Sixteen in Rupp Arena.

        Coach Kevin Sullivan decided coaching a state tournament team is more difficult than playing on one.

        “Forty-one years is a long, long time,” said Sullivan, who was a senior on Highlands' 1979 title team. “Hopefully it won't be so long to win again. It's a lot harder at this end; fortunately, we have great kids.”

        Mason County lost to Simon Kenton in the 1981 state title game, and the Royals have been shut out of the Sweet Sixteen since 1994.

        Campbell County did its job on both ends of the floor Saturday. The Camels were 27-of-40 from the field (67.5 percent); they made four of nine 3-pointers and were 14-of-16 on free throws, and their defense held Mason County to 23-of-64 shooting from the field and 7-of-23 from 3-point range.

        Sullivan had worried about Mason County's full-court press, which caused 27 and 19 turnovers in wins over Clark County and Bishop Brossart, respectively. His team handled it early by passing across the court — the Camels made 14 of 20 shots in the first half.

        “We're a four-guard team and we all pass the ball great,” Sigmon said.

        What's more, Sigmon scored nine first-half points and senior Jordan Futscher added six. Reinhardt went inside for nine points.

        But by halftime, Mason County's press had prevailed. The Royals outscored Campbell County 25-14 in the second quarter and took a 39-31 halftime lead.

        “They had 11 offensive rebounds the first half; we didn't have any,” Sullivan said. “Second half, we contested the shots.”

        Campbell County owned the third quarter. Reinhardt's eight points led a 16-6 run, and the Camels were up 47-45 with 1:22 left. The defense kept Mason County scoreless the final 3:54.

        In the fourth quarter, even Campbell County's mistakes ended up as field goals, such as freshman forward Chris Cornetet's basket with 6:29 left. He missed a 3-pointer but stuck the ball in when Reinhardt bobbled it on the way up for a shot.

        And with 3:57 left, Sigmon scored when a pass intended for Cornetet was deflected.

        Campbell County clinched the title by hitting eight straight free throws over the game's final 1:29.

        With the scissors found and net-cutting underway, Reinhardt tried to give Sullivan the championship trophy. Sullivan refused it.

        “It's not mine,” Sullivan said. “It's theirs.”

        CAMPBELL COUNTY (72) — Miller 2 4 8, Sigmon 7 1 17, Clines 1 2 4, Futscher 4 0 9, Reinhardt 7 3 17, Krift 1 4 7, Cornetet 5 0 10. Totals: 27 14 72.

        MASON COUNTY (59) — Commodore 2 0 4, Lofton 6 2 18, R. Myrick 3 3 11, Lewis 5 1 11, N. Myrick 2 0 5, Chambers 2 0 4, Cecil 3 0 6. Totals: 23 6 59.

        Campbell County ....... 17 14 20 21—72

        Mason County ....... 14 25 6 14—59

        3-pointers: CC-Sigmon 2, Futscher, Krift; MC-Lofton 4, R. Myrick 2, N. Myrick. Records: CC 22-7, MC 24-7.

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