George Rogers Clark Advances to Boys' Sweet 16 Title Game

Cardinals knock off North Oldham in semifinals, seek to become first school in modern era to win both boys' and girls' state titles in same season.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:53pm

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The George Rogers Clark Cardinals defeated North Oldham 53-45 in the semifinals of the UK HealthCare Boys' Sweet 16 state basketball tournament. The Cardinals, led by 12 points from Montez Gay and 10 each from Amari Bartelson and Ryder Akins, will face St. Xavier in the championship game on Saturday night at Rupp Arena. George Rogers Clark is bidding to become the first school in the modern era to win both the Boys' and Girls' Sweet 16 titles in the same season.

Why it matters

George Rogers Clark's quest to win both the boys' and girls' state basketball championships in the same year would be a historic accomplishment, as the last time a school achieved that feat was in 1928. The Cardinals' run to the title game also highlights the continued excellence of their boys' basketball program, which won the state championship in 2022 under head coach Josh Cook.

The details

In the semifinal matchup, George Rogers Clark led North Oldham 27-24 at halftime. North Oldham's Pierre Rondo, the 8th-grade son of former UK star Rajon Rondo, led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting and 3 assists. However, the Cardinals were able to pull away in the second half, led by the balanced scoring of Gay, Bartelson, and Akins.

  • The semifinals were played on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Boys' Sweet 16 championship game will be played on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

The players

George Rogers Clark Cardinals

The boys' basketball team from George Rogers Clark High School in Kentucky, seeking to become the first school in the modern era to win both the Boys' and Girls' Sweet 16 state championships in the same season.

Josh Cook

The head coach of the George Rogers Clark boys' basketball team, who is seeking his second state title after winning in 2022.

Pierre Rondo

An 8th-grade player for North Oldham High School, the son of former NBA star Rajon Rondo.

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What’s next

The George Rogers Clark Cardinals will face St. Xavier in the Boys' Sweet 16 championship game on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in Rupp Arena.

The takeaway

George Rogers Clark's quest to become the first school in the modern era to win both the Boys' and Girls' Sweet 16 state basketball championships in the same season would be a historic accomplishment, highlighting the continued excellence of their basketball programs under coach Josh Cook.