When the Bowling Green Purples open play at 11 a.m. CDT Thursday in the PNC/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen at Rupp Arena in Lexington, it will be the school’s first time in the state tournament since 2009 and the second time since 1991.
It may be unfamiliar territory for some, but for seven Purples, it is a chance to add another state championship.
Scooter Hollis, Nacarius Fant, Jalen Hunter, Blue Tisdale, Devin Hayes, Blake Pillow and Malik Crothers were all members of the Bowling Green football team that won a Class 5A football championship in December.
Now they have a chance, along with fellow Sweet 16 member Louisville Trinity, to do something that has never been done before.
If either Bowling Green or Trinity, which won the 6A football title, cut down the nets in Lexington, it will be the first time that a program has claimed basketball and football titles in the same school year.
The feat has been accomplished in the same calendar year, when St. Xavier won both in 1962, and has nearly been pulled off in recent seasons. Christian County finished runner-up in football last year and went on to win the basketball championship. Louisville Central won the Class 3A football title in 2008 and lost the Sweet Sixteen title game.
“That would certainly be special, but that’s not at the top of our list right now,” said Hollis, the football team’s quarterback. “We’re just trying to win some basketball games, taking it one game at a time.”
Bowling Green coach D.G. Sherrill hasn’t discussed the historic opportunity much.
“As soon as they won the state championship in football, they became basketball players,” Sherrill said. “It was a great run from our football program, but we’re still a long way from a basketball championship. Trinity has been the No. 1 team all year long. We’ve just been fighting for respect all year long.”
While the Purples aren’t talking about the potential history, they agree that the success on the football field has translated to the basketball court.
“Winning is contagious,” Hollis said. “We’ve been able to take that winner’s mentality into our basketball season, but we’re staying humble. We’re not thinking state championship right now. We’re thinking about getting the win on Thursday.”
Hunter said winning a title in one sport has motivated him to do it again in another sport.
“After that state championship, we don’t want to lose,” said Hunter, a tight end. “We want another one. We want to put another banner in the gym.”
Fant also feeds off that motivation. He added that Hollis has been a leader on the court, just like he led as the starting quarterback.
“It would say we are a special group and we have good seniors that lead this team,” said Fant, an all-state wide receiver. “They’ve gotten us through the regular season and now tournament time.”
Sherrill said the success from the state football run could come in handy once the Purples take the floor Thursday against an Oldham County team that played in the Sweet Sixteen last season.
“The one thing it might do for us, is that a lot of these guys have been on the big stage,” Sherrill said. “They’ve been under the bright lights. They’ve played the big games in the big environments. Hopefully, the big game experience they have will serve them well in this game.”
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