Not a backer or grad of an "A" school, but here's my thought. I think that class "A" should bump up the enrollment classification so that Highlands would be classified as an "A" school and could play in the All "A" State Tournament. This would put this to rest as it appears that the Bluebird faithful have the biggest problem with the tournament.

So how would you do it? How would YOU determine what small schools play in? You make it sound like only the schools from NKY win it every year, look at its history and you will see that they haven't won as much as you think they have. NCC boys team has won it 3 years in a row which is rare but and a girls team hasn't won it in a long time.

 

Some many of you knock but I bet if your kids went to a small school you would love this tournament.

 

I'm not saying only the NKY schools win it. I did the research awhile back. In just about every region, the regions have always been won by 1-2 teams over a long period of time. Some stretched to 3, but about 85 percent of the time, each region is won by one of the same two teams. I'm not talking about just NKY.

 

As far as if my kids went to a small school I'd love it...probably right. But they don't. They go to a medium sized school. Why don't they get a chance to experience that environment? No, not jealousy, so don't go there. Just using an example. My daughter is on her 4th varsity year and has never gone to state of won a region and has played on some really good teams. And she may not this year or next. I don't care. You have to earn that prestige. That's why it's so special when you do. But guess who they will have to go through this year to win it...Holy Cross...you know...the team that just won the A state championship that is set up to provide a chance for teams that don't otherwise have a chance to compete. Again, make it for the true small community teams and I feel like it's a beautiful thing! But when the same teams win their region every year and the same teams show up at the state, it's not doing what it's intended to do and people promote with false reasons. Saying this tournament is for smalls schools that wouldn't have a chance to experience an event like this is not really that true. Yes, maybe the occasional exception, but not the norm. There are 1000's of kids (regardless of school size) that will never make it to a state championship tournament. Heck, I think there are close to 300 schools in KY and only about 30 different schools have ever won the state. That's a lot of kids that didn't get their chance to ever experience it. If that's the reason for the tournament, then make it for the schools that don't have a chance. If it's not, then let's go to classes in basketball...and even if you did that...there would still be 1000's of kids that don't get to experience it. It should be an honor to make it. So if Etown wins the state, who is the state champion? Etown won't care a bit. But why only one other class should be able to claim it.

 

If you want to know what I'd do...well I would start by lowering the student attendance number down to true A schools. That starts to eliminate some of the larger 2A schools that happen to have a lot of success in this A tournament. Then, I would truly make it an invitational where you are invited by a committee that oversees the teams. If you are expected to have a year like HC, they you don't get invited. You could even send out invites in December after some games are played. That way you would be able to tell is a borderline team is for real or not. I know you'll say, well what about scheduling. Well it's really not that hard. If you have a team like HC, you know you're not going to get invited when the time comes. If you have a team like Bellevue, you know you are going to be invited. There will be some borderline teams, but not as many as you think. Those teams are the ones that would have to get creative with their scheduling. You have a little unknown. But you do today as well. You have no idea if you're going to advance in the tournament. And there are always other games cancelled around this time of the year. So if you are unsure if you will be picked or not, you could still schedule games in the late part of the week and cancel if you needed to.

 

Again, I do think this is a great event. I really do! And I have truly been educated on here by many and do see it in a different light now. But I do wish it could be worked out to really be for the small teams that don't get opportunity. I'm sure it's a blast for the couple of teams that consistently make a run in this tournament. But it would be even better if teams like Ludlow, Bellevue, Dayton, Augusta, Calvery, Villa were making these runs every year. That would be awesome!

Just a quick thought: if Bracken and Augusta advanced every year, would it be that special? Ask NCC boys if its special anymore just to advance. You need a few powerhouses to 1) bring a special brand of basketball that is fun to watch 2) create the dramatic upset. It might be the blunt truth, but no one wants to watch a champinoship game between Fulton County and Silver Grove. But it's pretty cool when an Augusta comes in and knocks off the top dog in their region to advance.

What does that mean -"A" in quotes? Equal footing with KHSAA State Champ? I get it. It's a fun, creative way to say you are "State Champs" even though you really aren't.

 

No one has ever claimed that the "A" State Tournament, nor the "A" State Champs are on "equal footing" with the KHSAA Sweet 16 State Champs.

 

It is merely a separate category, stating that they are the statewide champions among "A" schools, or what are determined to be "A" Schools.

 

How is it different than 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, or 5-A Football "State Champs." Are they on "equal footing" with the 6-A State Champ??? Do they deserve to be called "state champs?"

 

The "A" in All "A" differentiates the two. If the truth be known the "A" Tournament and "A" State Championship probably has saved the Commonwealth from being dragged into a classified basketball state.

Not a backer or grad of an "A" school, but here's my thought. I think that class "A" should bump up the enrollment classification so that Highlands would be classified as an "A" school and could play in the All "A" State Tournament. This would put this to rest as it appears that the Bluebird faithful have the biggest problem with the tournament.

 

It has nothing to do with whether HHS can play or not. Even if they were invited and won it, it would be fun and I'd be happy for them, but it wouldn't change my view of this tournament and the real reason for it. NOT ONE BIT!

I think it would be an incredible tournament if it really went back to the roots of the true small schools competing. The ones the really don't have a chance to get exposure any other way. But that's not the case.

 

Those should be the schools competing for this every year, not exceptions.

 

So you are proposing a "best of the worst" tournament???

No one has ever claimed that the "A" State Tournament, nor the "A" State Champs are on "equal footing" with the KHSAA Sweet 16 State Champs.

 

It is merely a separate category, stating that they are the statewide champions among "A" schools, or what are determined to be "A" Schools.

 

How is it different than 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, 4-A, or 5-A Football "State Champs." Are they on "equal footing" with the 6-A State Champ??? Do they deserve to be called "state champs?"

 

The "A" in All "A" differentiates the two. If the truth be known the "A" Tournament and "A" State Championship probably has saved the Commonwealth from being dragged into a classified basketball state.

 

How is it different??? Really? There is no 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A in bball. That's how it's different. Why a 1A?? You can't use football as an argument. It's the only sport that has classification. And it's because KHSAA wants it that way.

So you are proposing a "best of the worst" tournament???

 

Yes...the opportunity for the teams that do not otherwise have a shot. That's why they have an All A right...to provide teams with an opportunity that would not have a shot otherwise??

 

Heck, start with really making it what the name says...A schools.

Just a quick thought: if Bracken and Augusta advanced every year, would it be that special? Ask NCC boys if its special anymore just to advance. You need a few powerhouses to 1) bring a special brand of basketball that is fun to watch 2) create the dramatic upset. It might be the blunt truth, but no one wants to watch a champinoship game between Fulton County and Silver Grove. But it's pretty cool when an Augusta comes in and knocks off the top dog in their region to advance.

 

If you removed the perennial powerhouses, other powerhouses would be developed for this tournament. But they would be powerhouses that cannot compete with the rest of their region or state. You have to look at it differently. Teams like NCC's boys will have plenty of opportunity in their region and state. Why do they need the All A? Why can't Bracken or Augusta or Gallatin be considered the powerhouses. You say there would be no interest without the big teams...maybe there would be more is there were more chances for other smaller communities to actually have a chance to advance. If you want to use the boys...If you just removed NCC out of the 9th region A regional this year, is there a chance it may have been more attended and popular this year. The regional was over before it started and pretty much the state was too. If you are outside of the NCC, you may have attended or been more excited about the A if they weren't in it. So I say it may be more exciting of a tournament for many more people if the dominate schools weren't in it. Not doubting that it's not exciting for the followers of NCC.

It has nothing to do with whether HHS can play or not. Even if they were invited and won it, it would be fun and I'd be happy for them, but it wouldn't change my view of this tournament and the real reason for it. NOT ONE BIT!

 

Not sure why this State Tournament matters SO deeply to you and Dallaslaredo. HHS is not an "A" school, so move on and pay the tournament no mind. Let the "A" schools that have a problem with the tournament speak up. Not sure I've heard anything negative from any "A" school backers.

And as far the same 2-3 schools coming out of the same regions every year. Just curious how many "A" schools are in these regions to begin with.

. It's the only sport that has classification.

 

Not true

In just about every region, the regions have always been won by 1-2 teams over a long period of time. Some stretched to 3, but about 85 percent of the time, each region is won by one of the same two teams. I'm not talking about just NKY.

 

 

Region 1

 

Boys Side:

5 times Murray, St. Mary, Heath, Mayfield

2 Hickman County and Carlisle County

1 Ballard Memorial and Fulton County

 

Girls side

12 Murray

3 Ballard Memorial

2 Mayfield, St. Mary, Fulton Co.

1 Heath and Hickman County

 

ON the boys a lot of times have went, Murray has dominated the girls but several others have won as well.

I'm going to give you several models, and RCC, I'm counting on you to let me know which alternative shows some promise:

 

1) A pure small school tournament, 200 enrollment under.

2) 1A football classification schools only

3) Take the current enrollment restrictions, don't go by the 16 regions, but go instead by a Western public region, a Louisville public region, NKY -Lexington public region, and Eastern public region, and the corresponding regions for private. Take the two finalists from each and seed and draw like we do regional tournaments.

4) Two tournaments for the smallest 100 and next smallest 100 schools respectively

5) Keep it as is except make regional champs sit out the next year.

 

My favorite is #3

Its just not a state championship period, governed by KHSAA, who by the way certify all those A, AA, AAA coaches, and refs. Until KHSAA deems it otherwise, it's a fine "tournament", and that's all it is. Football and Track are the only 2 sports that separate. Not opposed to doing so in basketball and other sports. Until coaches, AD, school administration, and KHSAA have talks over it, it will never be and there will never be an all "A" state patch given, recognized by KHSAA, just medals provided by the tournament.

Not true

 

Okay, track. Maybe some other one.