LEXINGTON — A championship was at stake Saturday evening, but something more important was in store as well — Pride.

LEXINGTON — It just wasn’t Paintsville’s day.

The Paintsville Lady Tigers are coming off of a 20 win season and are the defending 15th Region All “A” Classic champions, but coach Les Trimble will have to rely on his underclassman heavily if they want to repeat that success from a year ago.

Class 4A 2019 UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA

Class A 2019 UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA

Paintsville’s Nick Keeton dives on a loose ball last week against Williamsburg in the Class A semifinals. The Tigers picked up a 44-20 win over Kentucky Country Day in the Class A semifinals. Paintsville will take on rival Pikeville in the Class A state championship next Friday at 2:00 p.m. …

Madsionville North-Hopkins travelled the entire length of the Bluegrass State Friday night as they made their way to Eagle Field for the Class 4A state semifinals against Jim Matney and his Johnson Central Golden Eagles. It will be a long and reflective ride home for the Maroons as Johnson C…

Class 4A state semifinals

Class A state semifinals

Johnson Central likes collecting region championships.

It wasn’t easy, but Paintsville coach Joe Chirico and the Tigers didn’t think it would be.

Class 4A playoffs

Class A playoffs

Paintsville’s John Walker Phelps tries to shake off a Raceland defender Friday night in the Class A playoffs. The Tigers picked up a 32018 win over the Rams to advance to the region final round of the Class A playoffs. Paintsville will host Williamsburg next week in the Class A playoffs.

Johnson Central’s Jesse McCoy (53) signals for a touchdown alongside the referee Friady night in the Golden Eagles’ 50-6 win over Harlan County in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Class 4A playoffs

Class A playoffs

Who: Letcher Central (4-6) at Johnson Central (10-0)

Who: Fairview (3-7) at Paintsville (7-3)

Football weather finally arrived Friday night as Lexington Christian Academy paid a visit to Memorial Field. The temperature wasn’t the only thing cold however, as the Eagles topped the Paintsville Tigers 35-7.

BELFRY — Johnson Central came out focused.

Who: Johnson Central (9-0) at Belfry (6-2)

It wasn’t easy, but Paintsville took the first step in defending its 15th Region championship.

Paintsville has had a stranglehold on the 57th District in recent years.

It was a wet and rainy night for football as the Raceland Rams traveled to Paintsville’s Memorial Field with a shot at the district crown on the line. Paintsville used the field conditions to its favor as the Tigers outlasted the Rams, 19-15.

Who: Johnson Central (8-0) at Letcher Central (3-5)

Who: Raceland (5-3) at Paintsville (6-2)

Johnson Central’s Bryce Tackett runs with the ball against Harlan County Friday night. The Golden Eagles crusied to a 56-6 win over the Black Bears in Class 4A District 8 action. Johnson Central improved to 8-0 on the season with the win. The Golden Eagles are scheduled to travel to Letcher …

Paintsville’s Fredrick James tries to come up with an interception against Betsy Layne Friday night. The Tigers rolled to a 44-0 win over Class A District 6 rival Betsy Layne. The win sets up next week’s district showdown against Raceland at home to decide who gets the No. 1 seed heading int…

Who: Harlan County (6-1) at Johnson Central (7-0)

Who: Betsy Layne (2-5) at Paintsville (5-2)

Prestonsburg wascrowned as the champions of the 57th District in both girls and boys soccer for 2019.

Johnson Central at Perry Central

As the 2019 57th District Soccer Tournament got under way Monday night, Prestonburg blanked the Martin County Cardinals 10-0 and two arch rivals went at it as Johnson Central was the home team on the scoreboard against the Paintsville Lady Tigers in lady’s action with the Lady Golden Eagles …

The Johnson Central Golden Eagles improved to 6-0 on the year Thursday night as they rolled the Tigers from Clay County 44-0.

Who: Paintsville (3-2) at Union (5-0)

Who: Clay County (3-2) at Johnson Central (5-0)

The Johnson Central Golden Eagles improved the record to 5-0 on the season as they dismantled Class 6A power Simon Kenton 49-11 Friday night.

HAZARD — Paintsville had its back against the wall on the road at Hazard without starting quarterback Jake Hyden.

Paintsville at Hazard