2004 quarterfinals; Mason County vs. Trinity. Mason down 6 late; hits a 3 (might have been Casey Pfeffer). Down 3 with seconds to go; everybody in Rupp Arena knew that Lofton was going to take and make a 3 unless he was fouled. That he did. Mason eventually won in triple overtime 66-59.

 

To this day no one can tell me why Lofton wasn't fouled. Now I'm not complaining, just wondering.

 

Great game. Lofton is my favorite player that I've watched in the Sweet 16. Simply legendary HS player in this state.

 

Holmes/Central 2009 Championship game.

 

 

Christian County/Rowan County 2011 championship game.

Both were great. Watched the 2nd one at home on the TV. Christian just held the ball in the OTs. Would have loved for Rowan to have pulled that one out, but I do think CC was the better team.

 

Holmes and Central was awesome too.

Best half of basketball I ever saw was when Holmes put up close to 50 points vs. LexCath in first 16 mins of second-round game in '09.

 

I remember that game. Holmes played about as well in that stretch as I've ever witnessed a HS team play. Catholic was good, but Holmes in that half made them look like Middle Schoolers.

I still have a radio broadcast of that game (Earlington vs. Covington Catholic--1967 final) on CD. Not real well done (I found out later that it was edited by a non-sports fan,) but a ton of memories.

That's the year that Breathitt County led Earlington for nearly the entire game in the semifinals until they got in foul trouble late in the 4th quarter. Breathitt coach Fairce Woods was noted for only playing 5 or 6 players, and I talked to the point guard on that team a couple of years ago and he said they got tired. They were were in excellent condition but they had to play the late game on Thursday and it made a difference. They lost the game in the last minutes. He said he felt if they had got past Earlington that morning that he believed they would have won the title that night. I think Breathitt was something like 30-2 that year.

Did David Henley play for Henry Clay or Carlisle County? I'm asking because I don't know.

 

Memory fails me at times, but IIRC without looking it up, Carlisle County.

Did David Henley play for Henry Clay or Carlisle County? I'm asking because I don't know.

 

Played for Carlisle County

My most excited game would have to be the triple overtime win for Henry Clay over Carlisle County in the 1983 championship game. That game had everyone on their feet for long periods of time. I think the final score was 36-33.

I remember that half that Holmes did against LexCath. It was amazing.

1988 Championship Game - Ballard v. Clay County, Richie Farmer v. Allan Houston, Urban v. Rural. Richie's 51 not enough to beat the more balanced Ballard, but Richie solidified his place in Kentucky high school basketball lore with the best individual performance I have ever seen.

My most excited game would have to be the triple overtime win for Henry Clay over Carlisle County in the 1983 championship game. That game had everyone on their feet for long periods of time. I think the final score was 36-33.

 

35-33. Game was won on last second put back

Gosh, I know we have a lot of NKY folks, but one of the more memorable "what if" games for me was St. Henry vs. Mason County in the opener in 2003. Me and all my buddies were Seniors that year and went down to watch State all week. If the big Scmidt(?) kid from St. Henry didn't go down with the knee injury early? Would we be talking about Chris Lofton? Who knows?

 

For the record, I really think that the Cru could have won the 'ship that year. Played a pickup game or two with Czarnick while at UK and that kid should have definitely been on someone's collegiate team at the right level (though completely understandable if he wanted to quit ball and do the UK thing).

Gosh, I know we have a lot of NKY folks, but one of the more memorable "what if" games for me was St. Henry vs. Mason County in the opener in 2003. Me and all my buddies were Seniors that year and went down to watch State all week. If the big Scmidt(?) kid from St. Henry didn't go down with the knee injury early? Would we be talking about Chris Lofton? Who knows?

 

For the record, I really think that the Cru could have won the 'ship that year. Played a pickup game or two with Czarnick while at UK and that kid should have definitely been on someone's collegiate team at the right level (though completely understandable if he wanted to quit ball and do the UK thing).

 

As soon as that game was over, a friend of mine said, "That was the state championship game right there."

A buzzer beater (not) that hasn't been mentioned was Hoptown scoring at the buzzer over Daviess County I believe. Picture the next day showed the ball still in the player's hand and the light behind the board bright red.

 

There have been so many great games trying to remember them all is difficult. But I will say as I read everyone's posts it did bring back some good memories.

I spoke with a guy once who was there and he said "it was quiet, almost still, for like a second, then the roof just blew off the arena."

 

Is that a fair representation? I would love to have seen it (unfortunately I was only six months old when it happened)!

 

I was only eight at the time but that's how I remember it. The whole building standing up as the shot went up, silence, then explosion.

Recently, I've got to go with the 2011 State Championship between Christian Co and Rowan Co. Would have gone last year but didn't get to see Madison Central shock Ballard!

PRP-South Laurel in double OT in the semis the year SL won it all. Incredible game.

All of them....It had to be the two championship games between Clay County and Ballard....