A defending state champion, traditional power programs and up-and-coming teams are in the field for the 23rd annual South Central Bank Lady Invitational of the South basketball tournament December 27-30th at Allen County-Scottsville High School.

Monroe County, the defending Touchstone Energy All “A” State Champions, highlight the 16 teams in this year's field. The Lady Falcons were 30-3 record last season. Monroe County won the SCBLIS title in 1995.

2005 SCBLIS champion Franklin-Simpson returns to defend their crown. The Lady Cats posted a 25-5 mark last year including winning the Fourth Region title. Franklin-Simpson advanced to the quarter-finals of the Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen® Basketball Tournament.

Iroquois, last year’s SCBLIS runner-up, appears in their second tournament. The Lady Raiders, the 2005 and 2006 Sixth Region champions, were 27-9 last year with the season highlighted by a semi-final effort in the state tournament.

The field includes a Louisville power and an eastern Kentucky mainstay. Butler (24-8) captured Sixth Region titles in 2003 and 2004, reaching the state semi-finals in 2004. The Bearettes were the Sixth Region runner-up last spring. Tournament newcomer Johnson Central, the 15th Region champions in 2001 and 2002, posted a 19-11 record last season.

Hart County (21-11), a four-time Fifth Region champion and past SCBLIS champion (1999), returns to the tournament. The Lady Raiders are joined in the field by Fifth Region foes Nelson County (24-6) and Adair County (16-12). This will be Nelson County's second tournament with Adair County in their first SCBLIS.

Meade County (20-10) and Edmonson County (14-10) repersent the Third Region. Both schools are returning to the tournament for the first time in several years. Lyon County (22-8), the defending Second Region All "A" champion, makes their first appearance in the tournament.

Four Tennessee schools are in the field. First time participant Red Boiling Springs (30-7) reached the Tennessee Class A state tournament last March. Smith County (19-13) and Gallatin (11-17) return to the SCBLIS for the first time since the 1990s. White House (20-9) is also in their first SCBLIS tournament. .

Allen County-Scottsville (11-15) serves as the host school. The Lady Patriots' tradition includes seven Fourth Region championships yet the program is still looking for a SCBLIS title.

The tournament tips off at 9:30 a.m. December 27th at Allen County-Scottsville High School

#