Today marks the final installment of our list of the 50 greatest high school basketball programs in Kentucky history. Once again, this is based on a formula that awards teams a certain amount of points for district titles, region titles, state tournament game wins, and state championships. District and region championships date to 1927, state championship records to 1918.

 

In case of ties, the team with the most state championships gets the better ranking. If that number is the same, I added the total number of district, region, and state championships together and the highest number gets the better ranking.

 

Thank you for all your comments on the threads so far. It's been fun!

 

Part I: http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-boys-basketball/50-greatest-programs-325258.html

Part II: http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-boys-basketball/50-greatest-programs-325286.html

Part III: http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-boys-basketball/50-greatest-programs-325342.html

10. Clark County Cardinals (174 points)

District Championships: 45

Region Championships: 20

State Tournament Game Wins: 28

State Championships: 1 (1951)

 

9. Ballard Bruins (179 points)

District Championships: 37

Region Championships: 16

State Tournament Game Wins: 33

State Championships: 3 (1977, 1988, 1999)

 

8. Holmes Bulldogs (182 points)

District Championships: 51

Region Championships: 18

State Tournament Game Wins: 30

State Championships: 1 (2009)

 

7. St. Xavier Tigers (190 points)

District Championships: 21

Region Championships: 16

State Tournament Game Wins: 39

State Championships: 4 (1926, 1935, 1958, 1962)

 

6. Hazard Bulldogs (192 points)

District Championships: 44

Region Championships: 27

State Tournament Game Wins: 28

State Championships: 2 (1932, 1955)

 

5. Clay County Tigers (194 points)

District Championships: 68

Region Championships: 29

State Tournament Game Wins: 21

State Championships: 1 (1987)

 

4. Male Bulldogs (214 points)

District Championships: 39

Region Championships: 20

State Tournament Game Wins: 40

State Championships: 3 (1945, 1970, 1971)

 

3. Henry Clay Blue Devils (217 points)

District Championships: 28

Region Championships: 18

State Tournament Game Wins: 41

State Championships: 6 (1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1983)

 

2. Ashland Tomcats (275 points)

District Championships: 57

Region Championships: 27

State Tournament Game Wins: 48

State Championships: 4 (1928, 1933, 1934, 1961)

 

1. Owensboro Red Devils (284 points)

District Championships: 51

Region Championships: 36

State Tournament Game Wins: 47

State Championships: 4 (1949, 1972, 1980, 2015)

You da man gchs_uk9

Thanks for putting that together!

Very nice job. Thank you. Glad to see Holmes made the top ten.

I think you need a raise. This is some great stuff.

I enjoyed the list. I wish Ashland was a little more relevant recently. It's been a while since they've been really competitive at the State level. My dad used to tell me about the great Ashland teams of the 50's and 60's.

This is great. It gives a great perspective of how good teams have been in history, and how far many teams have come the past few years.

 

Thank you very much for the time you put into this.

I'll copy this to here since it's the last installment of the list...

 

You need to gather some information about great games during various eras and put together a book. Danny Weddle did one for the hoops in the Mason County area (title: How we play the game). It had info from the various Mason County schools. You could just make yours Statewide. Lots of hoops junkies out there. You could sign me up for a copy if you make it!

Those 68 district titles at Clay Co. are really eye-popping. I thought there was a Manchester HS at one point?

 

Was Clay Co. kind of like Wayne Co. in that it consolidated really early, well before the late '60s/early '70s era, when most consolidation in Ky occurred?

Those 68 district titles at Clay Co. are really eye-popping. I thought there was a Manchester HS at one point?

 

Was Clay Co. kind of like Wayne Co. in that it consolidated really early, well before the late '60s/early '70s era, when most consolidation in Ky occurred?

 

Yes. I have Manchester/Clay County as the same thing, just like Brooksville/Bracken County, and a few others. But outside of Oneida Baptist, there were no other schools in Clay County after 1937, I believe.

I knew Hazard would be in the top 10. They've dominated the 14th region for decades. And twice won the state championship.

@gchs_uk9 where did some of the 1st region teams besides Paducah Tilghman rank?

Yes. I have Manchester/Clay County as the same thing, just like Brooksville/Bracken County, and a few others. But outside of Oneida Baptist, there were no other schools in Clay County after 1937, I believe.

 

Red Bird.

@gchs_uk9 where did some of the 1st region teams besides Paducah Tilghman rank?

 

I'll check when I get home and get back to you.