With the exception of being the clear favorite, Ballard 06/07 fits everything else. 3 losses, only two in state, both of those to Scott County (the first game of the year and the state title tilt). Those two teams were miles and miles ahead of every team in the state that season.

 

Didn't a 30-5 Warren Central team give them two dogfights? I refuse to concede Ballard as "miles and miles ahead" of the Dragons. 4 point decision in the KOB, 6 point decision in the state semis - with the final two points of that an uncontested layup. The Dragons had two possessions with a chance to tie or lead in the last 45 seconds, one of which was a shot for the lead.

 

But otherwise, I agree that Ballard fit everything else you mentioned. But without the clear favorite status - which Scott County enjoyed 100% of the year, they're not a GSW situation.

All the teams listed are very recent. Isn't there some examples from "back in the day"? How about the year Edmonson Co won it, "76 I think? Wasn't there a clear cut favorite that year that obviously didn't win it?

All the teams listed are very recent. Isn't there some examples from "back in the day"? How about the year Edmonson Co won it, "76 I think? Wasn't there a clear cut favorite that year that obviously didn't win it?

 

There aren't too many examples of teams winning state and returning as the favorite the next year. The closest examples I could find back in the old days are Maysville in 1948 and Ashland in 1962. But, I can't really say that they were true favorites to repeat as champions.

 

Maysville won state in '47 and made it back to the finals the next year, going 31-4 along the way. However, they lost the championship to Brewers High School, who went 36-0.

 

Ashland's '61 team is regarded as one of the greatest teams in state history, but they graduated four starters. The lone returning starter was Ashland great Larry Conley, who went on to be one of "Rupp's Runts". Conley largely carried the '62 Tomcats on his back all the way back to the championship game before losing a close one to St. X, who finished 34-1. Ashland went 32-6 that year, but considering what they lost from the previous year, I'm not sure they were favored to win it all again.

Fairdale won it in 1990 in Freedom Hall…Jermaine Brown and Maurice Morris were juniors and Carlos Turner was a sophomore. Starters Tony Wheat, Terry Jenkins and sixth man Tyran Scroggins were the only seniors. The next year they one the State Champions again. Fairdale is the only school to win it Back-to-Back in Lexington and Louisville. Also, only one school has won the King of the Bluegrass, LIT and Sweet Sixteen in the same school year. Do you know who that is?

All the teams listed are very recent. Isn't there some examples from "back in the day"? How about the year Edmonson Co won it, "76 I think? Wasn't there a clear cut favorite that year that obviously didn't win it?

 

Male was the huge favorite that year having gone runner-up in 74 and champion in 75 and bringing back possibly the two best players in the state. They lost in the region though, so wouldn't fit this question.

I think Clay Co 1988 fits. Won it the year before. Only lost 1 game during the regular season. Had the player of the year. Lost in the finals to a team who they had beaten the year before in the finals (who was led by one of the best players in history).