[JerryGarcia]

Also wanted to add- it's not as if the schools that have won it have been the only small and/or Mountain school's shots.

Hope I'm not leaving anyone out, but there were some really good teams that might fit the criteria but didn't win it, many due to tough first round draws:


Contenders:

Paintsville ('98) -
Runner-up to Scott County.

Wayne County ('04) -
Lost to eventual runner-up Mason County

South Laurel ('06) -
A favorite going in, lost in OT to Graves County in the quarterfinals

Elliott County ('08) -
Lost to eventual champion Mason County by 4 in the first round.

Elliott County ('09) -
Lost to eventual champion Holmes in the semis.

South Laurel ('16) -
Lost to eventual runner-up Doss by 7 in semis.


Puncher's Chance:

Corbin ('00) -
May be a stretch, but a wide open tournament where they lost in the first round to Tony Key and Russellville by 6 or so. Very underrated team.

South Laurel ('01) -
Lost to eventual runner-up (and probably the best team in the field) Male by 10 in the quarterfinals. Very wide open field past Male.

Ashland Blazer ('01) -
Lost to North Hardin by 6 in the quarters. Very wide open field that year (as mentioned above).

Ashland Blazer ('02) -
Lost to eventual champion Lexington Catholic by 14 in opener. Best player, Mark Surgalski, was playing with a broken hand. Team also had Arliss Beach.

Shelby Valley ('03) -
Lost to a very good Ballard team in the opener. Game was closer than the final score indicated. Would have another solid team that drew Henry Clay in the opener the next season.

Clay County ('14) -
Lost to eventual champion Covington Catholic by 2 in first round.

Knott County Central ('14) -
Upset by Bowling Green in first round. Led by Mr. Basketball, Cameron Justice.

Perry County Central ('17) -
Intriguing team that had some talent. Lost in quarters to Scott.


Seems like there was a good Perry County Central team in there during the late, late 90's with Ben Bowling, but they kept drawing the 6th Region.

Also saw a good Hazard team was eliminated during district play in 2004 (blind draw with the region's #2 team, Perry County Central), but had won the All A State title that year and had the kind of team that would have been dangerous in Rupp (good size with Sizemore and also athleticism with Olinger... fairly deep team too).

Very good Breathitt County team was completely screwed in 2003 as well. While I don't think that they would have won State or anything like that, I do think that they would have been capable of winning the opener as well as able to hang with anyone if they were at the very top of their game (team had Haddix, Sperry, and some bulk inside).

You can also throw Harlan and U.Heights in among the contenders in the 90’s

[zaga_fan]

I would hate to see it, but I think classes are on the way.
With the 2A Championships coming, I would imagine the KHSAA will look at the All A and the 2A tournaments will think, "Why can't we be making this money?"

[J. R. VanHoose]

Good food for thought for this debate.


Think Kentucky’s Sweet Sixteen is struggling? Take a look at other states.
BY JOSH MOORE
[email]jmoore@herald-leader.com[/email]

March 22, 2018 10:35 AM

Sweet Sixteen attendance isn’t where it once was, but it has ticked upward along with live-stream viewership over the last couple of years.

A total of 96,527 fans turned out for the 101st Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen last week at Rupp Arena. That was the highest total attendance for the eight-session event since the 2014 tournament, which drew 101,683 people to downtown Lexington, and was up from last year’s total of 92,437.

It was the fourth straight year that total attendance was below six figures, the longest such streak since a five-year stretch from 1958-1962.


This year’s best-attended session was the first one of the tournament — a twin billing of Corbin-Estill County and Scott County-Trinity. A mountain team, a first-time challenger and two teams who were considered favorites to win it all brought in a crowd of 15,271.


The tournament is far from its heyday in 1987, when a record 140,266 showed up, but it remains one of the highest-attended state basketball events in the nation.

“I tell other states our attendance is down a little bit and they laugh at me,” KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett said. “‘You mean you’re not happy with 10,000 (for the finals)?’ Well, you don’t understand.”

Hoosiers

Indiana, often cited along with Kentucky as the most basketball-hungry state, hosts four state championship games every season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The state semifinals and other preceding rounds are held at various sites around the state over the course of several weekends, so it makes 1:1 comparisons to Kentucky’s Sweet Sixteen difficult.

It’s less difficult to compare the championship round, though. Last year’s attendance for Indiana’s four championship games — divided into two sessions — was 34,980, an average of 8,745 per game. Last year’s finals between Bowling Green and Cooper — the only title game in Kentucky — drew 11,346.

Attendance for this year’s finals between Covington Catholic and Scott County was 12,637, making it the most well-attended championship since 17,315 fans watched Madison Central beat Ballard for the 2013 title.

Indiana will hold its 2018 championship games this Saturday.

Elsewhere

Indiana has two million more people than Kentucky. How does our tournament fare against those held in similar-sized states?

Louisiana’s population is about 200,000 more than that of Kentucky but the state awards twelve state championships — seven public and five private. The total attendance for its “Marsh Madness” events — during which the semifinals and finals are played for all 12 championships — was 36,018.

Oregon, which has a population of about 400,000 fewer than Kentucky, awards six boys’ and six girls’ champions over the course of six separate events held at six different sites and each lasting three or four days. The combined attendance for all six tournaments this year was 77,545.

Alabama, which has 500,000 more people, holds its seven boys’ and seven girls’ basketball championship games in conjuction with one another during the first week of March. Three-day attendance — Thursday-Saturday — for the 14 finals this year was 33,829 — an average 2,416 fans per game. The Thursday-Saturday total for the Kentucky boys’ tournament and was 58,386, and swells to 78,250 if the girls’ Thursday-Saturday totals are included; Kentucky doesn’t play its championship games until Sunday.

Delaware has about 3 million fewer people than Kentucky but is worth mentioning because it is the only other state that doesn’t classify basketball. The total attendance for its 2017 boys’ state tournament — five rounds played over 12 days — was 19,928.

Texas, the second-largest state in the union, awards six boys’ basketball champions. Semifinals for each class are held at one site on Thursday and Friday with all six finals played on a Saturday; total combined attendance for the nine-session event in 2016 was 80,805.

Streaming success

This was the first year that NFHS Network streaming statistics were made available to the KHSAA.

The 15 tournament games generated a total of 17,787 live views, and average of 1,186 views per game. The semifinals bout between Scott County and Warren Central generated the highest live-view total — 2,154 — with the first-round game between Corbin and Estill County (1,653) coming in second. The championship game and Covington Catholic’s first-round matchup with Apollo both had 1,553 live views.

A total of 17,435 live views occurred for the 2017 tournament, buoyed by 3,156 fans who streamed the quarterfinals game between Bowling Green and Scott County that year.

The 2016 tournament — the first year for which numbers are available — had only 5,813 live views; the highest-watched game was the first-round matchup between Mercer County and Paul Laurence Dunbar (802 views). That tournament, which attracted 88,170 fans, also was the lowest-attended event since 1994.

It’s only a three-year sample, but the upward trend in attendance and live-streaming viewership seems to fly in the face of the oft-heard assumption that making the games available as part of a streaming subscription negatively impacts attendance.

Alabama, Louisiana and Oregon were not yet able to provide their live-stream reports.

Josh Moore: 859-231-1307, @HLpreps

[Fred Sanford]

I have been told Indiana games prior to state are packed houses.
A steady decline in attendance for HS hoops in KY.
Really sad to see.

[bball_fan]

If it happens in the next five years, it will be Paintsville that does it with their up and coming Freshman class. Loaded with talent that won the middle school state tournament at Adams plus what Paintsville already had.

[99PIRATEFAN]

I think 3 maybe 4 teams under 3A has won it since 1978 that’s not a very good average for the smaller teams so it could be a long time before we ever see it again if we ever. I have been waiting to go to class system for years WV does it I’ve went to there State Tournament and it is always packed but they only have a 3 class system Ky would double maybe triple there attandence you would get more people to the tournament plus the small schools would have something to play for because 3 or 4 teams in 40 years isn’t a very good average for the little guys

[KYHoopFan]

Not unless another Jimmy Chitwood is born.

[99PIRATEFAN]

I don’t ever see it happening again

[K40]

I don’t think any of you making the statement that it will likely happen soon because of money know anyone even remotely close to a KHSAA decision-maker.

It won’t happen. And it shouldn’t.

[Lamont Sanford]

Absolutely Yes, no reason a small school couldn't put together a squad that could win it....

[99PIRATEFAN]

Absolutely Yes, no reason a small school couldn't put together a squad that could win it....

It probably will happen again in 30 years or so lol

[99PIRATEFAN]

It’s way past time to go to a class system Kentucky is the only State that still does the Sweet 16

[jetpilot]

^agree 100%. People will argue but it's really a no-brainer.

[KYHoopFan]

Let me rephrase, it would take another Jimmy Chitwood and then he would have to stay loyal to his school and community at the smaller school.

[UKisN1]

It’s way past time to go to a class system Kentucky is the only State that still does the Sweet 16

Will never happen

[99PIRATEFAN]

Will never happen

Oh it will happen that’s what all the other states said before they went to a class system we are now the only state that does this when the khsaa figures out they can bring in more people they will jump at it make no mistake it’s all about the money they will change there’s been to much talk over the last few years they do a All A tournament now next they will do one for the 2A schools and then they will do the class system I myself can’t wait

[Woodsman]

Everybody gets a trophy.

[Bandit29]

Kentucky needs to go to classes. Works everywhere else in the nation.

[Welcome]

Kentucky needs to go to classes. Works everywhere else in the nation.

No. Leave it the way it is.

[WILDCAT NATION]

If a small schools wins one it will have kids that have moved in from elsewhere. It just ain't like it once was.

Split non classed sports into 2 divisions - small and large right down the middle. works very well in many middle schools conferences. Play out regional tournament for a winner in each. Have a sectional for each like All A baseball. Final 8 of each advance to the Sweet 16. 4 small school games day 1. 4 large school games day 2. 2 semi final games each day 3. 2 finals day 4. Is that so hard or so different in reality? in many regions schools would still play basically the same teams unless you realigned the regions.

[Mamba]

If a small schools wins one it will have kids that have moved in from elsewhere. It just ain't like it once was.

Split non classed sports into 2 divisions - small and large right down the middle. works very well in many middle schools conferences. Play out regional tournament for a winner in each. Have a sectional for each like All A baseball. Final 8 of each advance to the Sweet 16. 4 small school games day 1. 4 large school games day 2. 2 semi final games each day 3. 2 finals day 4. Is that so hard or so different in reality? in many regions schools would still play basically the same teams unless you realigned the regions.

It will happen and you don't need kids to move to a small school to do it. Shelby valley had home grown kids for their state title in 2010. The sweet sixteen is tradition...if you switch to a class system them people will complain on who the true best is...this is the only way to find the true state champion...

[Jh4040]

Their has only been a couple win it all since Earlington in 1967. Paintsville was the last I believe.

[ArJay]

Shelby Valley won it a few years ago when they were in the All A tournament as well. I don't know how big a school they were or are.

[Bossdaddy 4115]

As greedy as khsaa is, why wouldn’t they want to class every sport and do it like football. Then they only have to rent a facility for one day to host all championship games. Now in baseball they have to rent Whittaker for three weekends, in basketball rent Rupp for several days. I think it would be more profitable for them, and not necessarily give everyone a participation trophy but open it up more. Don’t shoot the messenger I think it would be a win-win situation for everyone and in no way take away from the accomplishment.

[HCS]

Not sure why people can't understand that what makes Kentucky special is the fact there is only one champion.
The All A Classic gives the small schools a chance to win a state title, but they also have a chance to compete for the Sweet Sixteen - best of both worlds.

[JustThinking]

Yes they will never say, never. I think several small schools have and will have another shot at it. My opinion a small private school, let's say like Oneida Baptist. They have nice dorms and a real nice Campus. If they had right Coach they could put together a program like Oak Hill and some of the better Private Schools across the Nation. JMO

[Patriot train]

they have the All A championship and this year they will add the 2A championship, then the sweet 16 championship. That is already 3 state champions, how many more do we need???? :1::1::1:

[JerryGarcia]

Yes another small school will win it. The talent level is not real good in the state as it is so I don’t see why it can’t happen. Every 10-20 yrs a small school wins it to bring back the excitement and it will continue

[MikeHonchoLives]

[attachment=o3815]
The rootinest tootinest cowboy in the 10th! He’s ready to round up the district and ride his horses to Lexington. Boys, he’s had two years to implement the Hinson Way ™ and the rest of the state needs to look out!
There is only one answer to this question.

The showdown at OK Corral starts tonight and it ends at Rupp!

[Rooster Scratch]

No