[Welcome]

Does anyone have a schedule for this tournament?

[Truth]

I know of Ashland, Bracken County, Newport, and Paintsville. I don't know the other four but, if they are like the named four, it may be the weakest field in tournament history.

[Wolverine]

I am pretty sure Clark County is playing in this event.

[Truth]

I am pretty sure Clark County is playing in this event.

High school or middle school?

[anotherfootballnut]

Elliot co is playing in it

[checkmate9113]

The Ashland Invitational Tournament used to be full of great teams. I would invite schools like: Scott County, Covington Catholic, Trinity, Ballard, Male, then go out of state for top teams in WV, OH, TN, VA, NC, SC, Missouri, Indiana etc. Make this tournament mean something

[Truth]

Elliot co is playing in it

Elliott County would be a decent addition. Still no "glitz" like in its earlier years. A couple of years ago, Cincinnati Roger Bacon was a last minute addition. Roger Bacon, an average team in the Cincinnati Catholic League, waltzed through the tournament. It is good to have at least one or two "name" teams.

[E's Army]

AIT used to be one of the most prestigious tournaments in the state.

[Truth]

AIT used to be one of the most prestigious tournaments in the state.

And Army and navy used to be the big names in college football. Times have changed both in college football and in the AIT.

We still don't know the identity of all the teams in the tournament although it starts in a little more than a week. It does look like there will be several sub .500 teams in the field and Ashland, at 4-2, has one of the best records in the field. Times have sure changed but, for the sake of paying attendance, they need to figure a way to keep Ashland in the hunt. We can't find fault with that since the bills must be paid.

At this time, Ashland, Newport, and Bracken County have winning records and Clark County, Boyd County, and Paintsville have losing records. The other two schools have not been identified. If Elliott County is in the field, they aren't mentioned in the KHSAA pairings. Elliott County and a team of equal ability would, at least, btreath a little life into an otherwise anemic field.

[fp_atl]

Monday, December 28:
2:30 – Elliott County vs Bracken County
4:00 – Harrison County vs Newport
7:00 – Ashland vs Paintsville
8:30 – Boyd County vs George Rogers Clark

Tuesday, December 29:
Consolation bracket semifinals at 2:30 and 4:00
Championship bracket semifinals at 7:00 and 8:30

Wednesday, December 30:
2:30 – 7th Place
4:00 – 5th Place
6:00 – 3rd Place
7:30 – Championship

[Truth]

Monday, December 28:
2:30 – Elliott County vs Bracken County
4:00 – Harrison County vs Newport
7:00 – Ashland vs Paintsville
8:30 – Boyd County vs George Rogers Clark

Tuesday, December 29:
Consolation bracket semifinals at 2:30 and 4:00
Championship bracket semifinals at 7:00 and 8:30

Wednesday, December 30:
2:30 – 7th Place
4:00 – 5th Place
6:00 – 3rd Place
7:30 – Championship

Thank you, fp_atl, for the information. The teams have a combined record of 35-26 with five of them, including Ashland, having winning records.

Can we assume that the four other teams with winning records will be in one bracket and Ashland and the three with losing records in the other bracket? That would make sense. Of course, that would put Boyd County, a team that cleaned Ashland pretty well earlier this season at Ashland, in the same bracket with Ashland. But, then, you can set up the pairings just so far.

Nonetheless, this must be the most lackluster field to ever appear in this tournament.

[McLovin]

It really did used to be the beat tourney around. I remember watching Huntington Prep and Rose Hill when OJ Mayo played. Prob the best high school game I ever watched outside the sweet 16. I wish someone would put together a good like that again, the fans are ready, and someone stands to make a load of money. Fastlane Classic used to be good too, and Mountain School Boy tried for a few years. But you really dont see conpetitive tourneys anymore around here.

[Fly By Night]

Upper Bracket (with records)

Elliott County (7-1) vs Bracken County (5-3)
Harrison County (6-4) vs Newport (7-2)

Lower Bracket (with records)

Ashland (4-2) vs Paintsville (2-3)
Boyd County (2-7) vs George Rogers Clark (3-5)

[Fly By Night]

It was just 4 years ago when GRC (11-2) and Rowan County (7-4) met up in the Championship game with GRC winning by 2.

GRC made it to the Elite 8 in 2011 and 2012 while Rowan County lost to Christian County in the State Championship in 2OT in 2011 and made it to the Elite 8 in 2012.

[Truth]

Clearly, the most likely four best teams are in the upper bracket. Good job of pairing by Ashland. It opens the door for Ashland to advance into the winners bracket and allows them to play teams with losing records all the way to the finals. Nonetheless, if they beat Paintsville, it is doubtful that they will beat Boyd County or Clark County.

But, they sure don't want to finish eighth out of eight teams like last year. The tournament manager has done all he can to avoid that embarrassment, Now it is up to the actual play on the floor.

Boy. Many years ago, this was a first rate tournament.

[Fly By Night]

I expect GRC to make a good run in the tournament this week. All of the pieces will soon fall into place after several members of the team have been banged up for the past 4 to 6 weeks.

:betterthanexpected:

[hoghead]

you dont want trinity,ballard scott county or teams like that you dont want to finish last in your own tournament....Ashland and the 16th not very strong so keep it were it is. Unless you had a powerhouse then add one but not at this time.

[Truth]

This is a competitive field which often makes for an interesting tournament. All participants are "second tier" teams so the "glitz" isn't present as it was when this was one of the premier holiday tournaments in the state.

Still, it should be competitive and four or five of the schools could win it.

Ashland area fans should show their support by buying tickets and attending. Good luck to all participants. I'll root for Bracken County since it has always been an underdog through the years and for Newport because it is from the home area.

[walterwhite]

Clay County played in the AIT several years ago and it was a strong tournament at that time.

[checkmate9113]

you dont want trinity,ballard scott county or teams like that you dont want to finish last in your own tournament....Ashland and the 16th not very strong so keep it were it is. Unless you had a powerhouse then add one but not at this time.

Playing tough teams in non-region games is the key to success late in February/Early March. I never understood scheduling cupcakes. I played in Indiana and we went into the state tournament every year with no less than 9 or 10 losses, but those games we played were against Top 10 teams from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, WV, even played some teams from Florida in a Holiday Tournament and it payed off tremendously. Finished 7th out of 8 in a tournament we hosted... Got runner up to Lawrence North in State Title game.