[Basketballguru1]

Is the All A considered a State Tournament?

[Spud6]

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[4 Quarters]

Is the All A considered a State Tournament?

No it is not, it is not recognized by KHSAA. 

It is recognized as the All A Championship.

[pirateforlife]

Is the All A considered a State Tournament?

No it is not, it is not recognized by KHSAA. 

It is recognized as the All A Championship.

Yes it is. Every team who competes in the All A is eligible to participate in the Sweet 16. Lyon County did not win the All A last year but won the sweet 16. I think it is for all schools with enrollment under 500 in the state. It is a mid season state tournament.

[15thregionwatcher]

Is the All A considered a State Tournament?

No it is not, it is not recognized by KHSAA. 

It is recognized as the All A Championship.

Yes it is. Every team who competes in the All A is eligible to participate in the Sweet 16. Lyon County did not win the All A last year but won the sweet 16. I think it is for all schools with enrollment under 500 in the state. It is a mid season state tournament.

The All A has nothing to do with KHSAA.  It is an invitational tourney ran by its own board.  It has nothing to do with the state association. 

it is a big deal and should , but by no means is same as a state champion.   The All A decides who can and can’t play in their event.

[4 Quarters]

Is the All A considered a State Tournament?

No it is not, it is not recognized by KHSAA. 

It is recognized as the All A Championship.

Yes it is. Every team who competes in the All A is eligible to participate in the Sweet 16. Lyon County did not win the All A last year but won the sweet 16. I think it is for all schools with enrollment under 500 in the state. It is a mid season state tournament.

Trust me, neither the All A or the so called 2A tournament is sanctioned by the KHSAA.  The All A consists of 125 smallest enrollments in the state.  These two tournaments are classified as invitiational tournaments or championships.  The 2A schools are from the max All A enrollment up to 1,000 students.  Do the research.

[Bluecat]

I feel like with the type of games and atmosphere of the All A (never been to the 2A) a 3 or even a 4 class system in KY would work. Yea I know, it will never happen but.

[HCS]

I feel like with the type of games and atmosphere of the All A (never been to the 2A) a 3 or even a 4 class system in KY would work. Yea I know, it will never happen but.

No need to do that now. With the All A, small schools have the best of both worlds. Lyon County can play in the All A and also win a state championship.
Those great Harlan and Paintsville teams of the 90s got to play in both. Hazard could do the same this year,
Just no reason for class basketball, if there ever was.

[Sports72]

No its not associated with KHSAA!!  Not all small schools even participate!!  Same as 2A

[i82much]

I look at it as a large mid-season tournament, plain and simple. Do I consider it a state championship? No. What each of us considers it is a matter of opinion. If you just won it I'm sure you would argue differently and that's fine. I know little to nothing about it but I do know this, Boyd County was last year's 2A girls winner. They brought the trophy home, played against the girls team next door and got beat by almost 40 points (a smaller school by the way). They weren't the best team in their district, let alone the state. Again, congratulations but to me winning it doesn't translate to a state championship which would imply that you are the best team or at least one of the best teams in your classification. Just my opinion....

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I look at it as a large mid-season tournament, plain and simple.  Do I consider it a state championship? No. What each of us considers it is a matter of opinion. If you just won it I'm sure you would argue differently and that's fine. I know little to nothing about it but I do know this, Boyd County was last year's 2A girls winner. They brought the trophy home, played against the girls team next door and got beat by almost 40 points (a smaller school by the way).  They weren't the best team in their district, let alone the state. Again, congratulations but to me winning it doesn't translate to a state championship which would imply that you are the best team or at least one of the best teams in your classification. Just my opinion....

After reading my comment it seems a little harsh. I don't mean to disrespect any of the teams playing. It's a huge tournament and winning it is quite an accomplishment.

[LOOKAYANNER]

It’s is definitely a state tournament, but for small schools. The enrollment size has gone upward in recent years because there have been so many consolidations and loss of small schools in the state. Until recently the All A Committee used a criteria of the smallest 125 schools in the state. Now it’s my understanding they have set the number at any school with 575 enrollment and below.
I suppose one could call it the All A Classic Statewide Invitational Tournament. But because every district and region across the state is involved (although all have the option to decline playing in it) it is a state tournament even if it’s not a KHSAA sanctioned event. That’s my opinion anyway for what it’s worth.

[Gridiron_Raid]

Like others have said it’s not a state tournament but an in season invitational, and I believe winning the All-A state title is an achievement and worthy accomplishment. Being the best team with under 500 enrollment should be celebrated accordingly.

BUTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!

If you win the All -A region, and hang a banner, shoot off fireworks, have a parade, etc… You need therapy. For example, Pineville celebrated winning the all-A 13th region with a celebration worthy of a True region championship. However, the path to win that said championship was to beat Williamsburg, OBI, and Barbourville. Can anyone tell me if that is worthy of a banner??!?! And that’s not just this year, i’ve seen many teams with banners in the gym for the All-A region.

[HCS]

Not unusual at all to celebrate an All A championship. I've covered the tournament since it started in 1990. It brought a lot of excitement for the smaller schools during an era when Clay County made it all but impossible to win the regional title in March.
Not sure how you would determine what years the region was tough enough to earn a celebration. I know in the early years of the tourney it was very tough. I don't think Pineville should be penalized though because they have a strong team in a year others are down.
Williamsburg has won a bunch of four-team Class A district titles when the competition wasn't very tough in recent years. No reason anyone should try to downplay the achievement though.
Bell probably won 1 or 2 district titles in the 90s when the other 3-4 teams were down. They earned it though and get to hang a banner if they want.
I saw Cumberland girls and Harlan boys win state All A titles in the early years of the tourney and it was a HUGE deal locally.

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I should have said the Williamsburg and Bell district references are related to football.

[Gridiron_Raid]

Not unusual at all to celebrate an All A championship. I've covered the tournament since it started in 1990. It brought a lot of excitement for the smaller schools during an era when Clay County made it all but impossible to win the regional title in March.
Not sure how you would determine what years the region was tough enough to earn a celebration. I know in the early years of the tourney it was very tough. I don't think Pineville should be penalized though because they have a strong team in a year others are down.
Williamsburg has won a bunch of four-team Class A district titles when the competition wasn't very tough in recent years. No reason anyone should try to downplay the achievement though.
Bell probably won 1 or 2 district titles in the 90s when the other 3-4 teams were down. They earned it though and get to hang a banner if they want.
I saw Cumberland girls and Harlan boys win state All A titles in the early years of the tourney and it was a HUGE deal locally.

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I should have said the Williamsburg and Bell district references are related to football.

For the two football teams you have mentioned, when they win district titles they add them to a single banner. They don’t hang a new one. For basketball since this is a basketball thread, what year would the ALL-A REGION be considered an accomplishment worthy of parade or fireworks. Just curious. Like I said it’s an accomplishment, about like winning a lower level christmas tournament. You win the state tournament, or even compete in it, it’s worthy of claim. But you cannot act like winning the All-A region since the Harlan County schools consolidated is worthy of fireworks, unless maybe it’s the first time your school has ever done it. BTW, Pineville did the same thing in 2017.

[HCS]

Not that it really matters, but I took a minute to look when I got to Bell yesterday and there are flags for each district championship at the football stadium, starting in 1987. People talk about Bell like they have always been a powerhouse in football, but they weren't very good until Dudley got there. I guess 1987 was a long time ago for most, but it doesn't seem that way to me. I don't know if there is a single district banner somewhere, but there were 15-20 district flags.
I'm not saying that it took a monumental effort this year considering the Class A teams are down overall, but i guess my point is it doesn't bother me if they want to celebrate. I thought Pineville would win last year and didn't, so I guess that makes this one sweeter, especially with a huge senior class.

[dodger]

Like others have said it’s not a state tournament but an in season invitational, and I believe winning the All-A state title is an achievement and worthy accomplishment. Being the best team with under 500 enrollment should be celebrated accordingly.

BUTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!

If you win the All -A region, and hang a banner, shoot off fireworks, have a parade, etc… You need therapy. For example, Pineville celebrated winning the all-A 13th region with a celebration worthy of a True region championship. However, the path to win that said championship was to beat Williamsburg, OBI, and Barbourville. Can anyone tell me if that is worthy of a banner??!?! And that’s not just this year, i’ve seen many teams with banners in the gym for the All-A region.

Zero issues with Pineville treating this like a major accomplishment. Take out the team with the Bishop brothers in the mid 70's and the Mountain Lions have probably never had a legitimate chance to win a 13th Region title. Any time that you can beat a field of 10 or so similarly sized schools in your neck of the woods is an accomplishment, especially at a place with very few natural competitive advantages. Jackson County is bigger, Middlesboro, Williamsburg, and Harlan often have more athletes, and Barbourville has a solid basketball tradition and focus. I'd argue this Pineville team is the poster child for a program that should truly celebrate and hang a banner. Good for them and happy they competed well out in Owensboro.

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Not that it really matters, but I took a minute to look when I got to Bell yesterday and there are flags for each district championship at the football stadium, starting in 1987. People talk about Bell like they have always been a powerhouse in football, but they weren't very good until Dudley got there. I guess 1987 was a long time ago for most, but it doesn't seem that way to me. I don't know if there is a single district banner somewhere, but there were 15-20 district flags.
I'm not saying that it took a monumental effort this year considering the Class A teams are down overall, but i guess my point is it doesn't bother me if they want to celebrate. I thought Pineville would win last year and didn't, so I guess that makes this one sweeter, especially with a huge senior class.

People forget how bad that Bell High football was in the early 80's. The '82 team that only scored 27 points all year might be the worst football team that I've ever seen from a school that size. Dudley going 10-1 just two years later still might be one of the most incredible coaching turnarounds I've ever seen.

[4 Quarters]

There has never an All A Classic for football.

[HCS]

There has never an All A Classic for football.

I didn't see anyone say there was.
I still think you can compare football and basketball. The All A has quite a few more teams overall than Class A football.

[4 Quarters]

There has never an All A Classic for football.

I didn't see anyone say there was.
I still think you can compare football and basketball. The All A has quite a few more teams overall than Class A football.

The title of the thread was All A, not 1A.  Two different topics.

[Gridiron_Raid]

Not that it really matters, but I took a minute to look when I got to Bell yesterday and there are flags for each district championship at the football stadium, starting in 1987.  People talk about Bell like they have always been a powerhouse in football, but they weren't very good until Dudley got there. I guess 1987 was a long time ago for most, but it doesn't seem that way to me. I don't know if there is a single district banner somewhere, but there were 15-20 district flags.
I'm not saying that it took a monumental effort this year considering the Class A teams are down overall, but i guess my point is it doesn't bother me if they want to celebrate. I thought Pineville would win last year and didn't, so I guess that makes this one sweeter, especially with a huge senior class.

They did the district and region title banners until they ran out of room on the outside of the stadium. Probably should take them down in my opinion it looks tacky. They have won multiple districts and at least 3 unless i’m forgetting region titles since they ran out of room. Once again this a basketball thread, and there’s one single banner in the gym for the district titles before they joined the 52nd, and then another for afterwards. Not single individual ones for basketball just a list.

[HCS]

There has never an All A Classic for football.

I didn't see anyone say there was.
I still think you can compare football and basketball. The All A has quite a few more teams overall than Class A football.

The title of the thread was All A, not 1A.  Two different topics.

And I just put them in one :)

[Ramcat77]

I'll never understand why Kentucky only has separate championships by class in football, but not in the other sports. We all know the KHSAA is greedy, so it just makes more sense. Anyway...

[HCS]

If they were that greedy, they could have six tournaments instead of one. Not sure many people would want to see them though if it's that watered down.
No need anyway with the All A Classic since 1990. Small schools can win both.

But to clarify, cross country and track have classes and have for decades.