The Second Region All-A Classic is down to three teams after Crittenden County, Livingston Central, and Lyon County decided to sit this year out because they feel they can’t compete with private schools that provide scholarships to student-athletes.

 

University Heights is the only private KHSAA school in the region and have won 20 of the 26 region titles.

 

When the All-A was first created statewide in 1990, West Hopkins, South Hopkins, Providence, and Trigg County were among the teams that competed with UHA, Lyon, Crittenden, Livingston Central, and Dawson Springs.

 

Over the years, Caldwell County, Fort Campbell, and Webster County have rotated in and out.

 

Providence, West Hopkins, and South Hopkins were lost to consolidation.

 

West Hopkins sat out a year or two in the early 1990s over the same protest of how UHA acquires their players.

 

Trigg County and Webster County are now too big for the event.

 

The boycott means UHA will play Caldwell County in the semifinals with tourney host Dawson Springs getting a bye to the championship game.

 

The boycott does not affect the girls' tourney as Crittenden, Livingston, and Lyon are scheduled to play per normal.

 

So does UHA have a "private school" advantage?

 

Let's take a look at a 2014 financial aid survey conducted by the KHSAA of all of their member schools.

 

The number of students receiving need-based financial aid from UHA is 47.7%. In relation to other selected private schools, that compares to:

 

Owensboro Catholic - 35.1%

Trinity - 33.6%

St. Xavier - 25.6%

Lexington Catholic - 18%

Newport Central Catholic - 25.8%

 

Of those students receiving need-based financial aid at UHA, 85.7% are athletes. In relation to other selected private schools, that compares to:

 

Owensboro Catholic - 52.7%

Trinity - 33.6%

St. Xavier - 49.5%

Lexington Catholic - 53.6%

Newport Central Catholic - 60.2%

 

Of the six private schools in the comparison, UHA ($97), Lexington Catholic ($219), St. Xavier ($35), and Owensboro Catholic ($60) offers more need-based financial aid per student to athletes than the average. Trinity ($70) and NCC ($93) offer less per student to athletes.

 

Do the numbers above back the argument of Lyon, Livingston, and Crittenden Counties or is their sitting out just a case of sour grapes?

Why would they opt out of the Boys' All A but play in the Girls' event?

I would imagine a victory over UHA by any of those three teams would be very sweet. Their kids will not taste such though, as someone has taken their ball and gone home.

The Second Region All-A Classic is down to three teams after Crittenden County, Livingston Central, and Lyon County decided to sit this year out because they feel they can’t compete with private schools that provide scholarships to student-athletes.

 

University Heights is the only private KHSAA school in the region and have won 20 of the 26 region titles.

 

When the All-A was first created statewide in 1990, West Hopkins, South Hopkins, Providence, and Trigg County were among the teams that competed with UHA, Lyon, Crittenden, Livingston Central, and Dawson Springs.

 

Over the years, Caldwell County, Fort Campbell, and Webster County have rotated in and out.

 

Providence, West Hopkins, and South Hopkins were lost to consolidation.

 

West Hopkins sat out a year or two in the early 1990s over the same protest of how UHA acquires their players.

 

Trigg County and Webster County are now too big for the event.

 

The boycott means UHA will play Caldwell County in the semifinals with tourney host Dawson Springs getting a bye to the championship game.

 

The boycott does not affect the girls' tourney as Crittenden, Livingston, and Lyon are scheduled to play per normal.

 

So does UHA have a "private school" advantage?

 

Let's take a look at a 2014 financial aid survey conducted by the KHSAA of all of their member schools.

 

The number of students receiving need-based financial aid from UHA is 47.7%. In relation to other selected private schools, that compares to:

 

Owensboro Catholic - 35.1%

Trinity - 33.6%

St. Xavier - 25.6%

Lexington Catholic - 18%

Newport Central Catholic - 25.8%

 

Of those students receiving need-based financial aid at UHA, 85.7% are athletes. In relation to other selected private schools, that compares to:

 

Owensboro Catholic - 52.7%

Trinity - 33.6%

St. Xavier - 49.5%

Lexington Catholic - 53.6%

Newport Central Catholic - 60.2%

Of the six private schools in the comparison, UHA ($97), Lexington Catholic ($219), St. Xavier ($35), and Owensboro Catholic ($60) offers more need-based financial aid per student to athletes than the average. Trinity ($70) and NCC ($93) offer less per student to athletes.

 

Do the numbers above back the argument of Lyon, Livingston, and Crittenden Counties or is their sitting out just a case of sour grapes?

 

Sour grapes...if the schools were committed to their belief that financial aid was a contributing factor, why wouldn't they pull both boys and girls teams to make a true statement ?

 

Doesn't pass the "I hate the All A and all it stands for" sniff test...

I totally disagree with this stance.

 

It sends the wrong message to the players. It takes away the opportunity to win the All A for the players.

 

If the KHSAA says UHA is following the rules then these schools are wrong. Period.

Why would they opt out of the Boys' All A but play in the Girls' event?

 

I get their argument, but it doesn't hold much water unless you opt out of every sport, not just boys basketball. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised the All A allowed them to participate in girls basketball (among other sports) after they dropped from boys. And this wasn't a recent decision - there was a KHSAA thread on this months ago.

There was someone on BGP a while back arguing that it wasn't because of UHA, but rather those schools (Livingston, Lyon, Crittenden; who share a district) didn't want their district opponents to play each other too many times. Laughable!

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by gchs_uk9

Why would they opt out of the Boys' All A but play in the Girls' event?

 

It would be interesting to see, of that percentage, how much is spent on boy athletes versus girl athletes.

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by Jumper_Dad
R5

Sour grapes.

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There was someone on BGP a while back arguing that isn't wasn't because of UHA, but rather those schools (Livingston, Lyon, Crittenden; who share a district) didn't want their district opponents to play each other too many times. Laughable!

 

It was me and I said I had heard that from someone close to one of the programs. Laugh all you want but the comment was made.

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by mcpapa
R2

It was me and I said I had heard that from someone close to one of the programs. Laugh all you want but the comment was made.

 

 

If it was you who said it, that's fine. I still attest that it was a silly argument. Most district teams play twice a year and probably scout each other 10 other times. I can't imagine sitting out a tournament FOR THAT REASON only. The 2nd Region schools have fussed about UHA for years (and many times with merit), but to deprive the boys an opportunity to play in this event while the girls and every other sport do get to participate is ridiculous.

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by Jumper_Dad
R14

It was me and I said I had heard that from someone close to one of the programs. Laugh all you want but the comment was made.

 

One other thing: What is the Tri-River Tournament at Lyon County on January 19? The KHSAA website shows Crittenden County and Livingston Central playing each other at Lyon that night, incidentally, the same week as the All A. Rains on that "don't want to play each other too much" argument.

That's what makes beating Bishop Brossart in the finals every year so great.

I honestly think those schools are creating the Tri-River Tournament as an alternative to the All-A Region. And with as much dislike as the other region schools have toward UHA, don't be surprised if in 3-4 years more teams are playing in that than the All-A Region. It could be that UHA will gain an automatic state berth by default and make the All-A people have some decisions to make.