What better way to get feedback on a much debated topic throughout our state the BGP. I am torn on this topic because it can mess/adjust regions that are loaded with history, but at some point we have to do what is the best interest for kids, and schools. I know I cover the 8th region a lot and have no idea of why some teams are in the 8th and why some are not in the 8th. Our region in my opinion should have Western Hills, Frankfort and Franklin County, and Simon Kenton, Walton, Williamstown, Grant out. I know what that would do the 9th region, it would be huge with 5 team districts for sure, so it has its arguments. I could see KCD coming to the 8th and Spencer County to the 5th. Just wanted to hear everyone's thoughts with some concerns.

Region 9 or 10 makes better sense for SK IMO.

The state is full of district and regional folklore from years gone by. Epic district battles in front of standing room only crowds deep in the mountains and Cinderella buzzer beaters...but those days are almost gone. It is time to seriously sit down and look at a new basketball alignment for the entire state. As much as many would like to to be "like the old days" it simply is not nor will ever return to those days.

 

I am much more familiar with the eastern half of the state but you may get all of Franklin County back. Something has to give. Fayette is set to open the 9th overall high school in the county this fall. Rumors continue for a 2nd high school in Scott County. There are 4 in Madison Co. The population of the state is shifting to the golden triangle between Lexington, Louisville, and NKY more and more each day from the eastern part of the state. Shelby Valley's enrollment in the late 90's was near 1,200 students. It now sits at just less than half that. Ashland Blazer and Boyd County were 4A schools in the old football alignment in the late 80's and 90's. They are now mid size 4A with 6 classes. Those are just a few examples. There are many more schools of legend that arent even around now. Wayland with King Kelly Coleman. Virgie with Todd May. M.C. Napier. Warfield. Elkhorn City playing their way out of 2 feet of snow in March 1993 to play in the Sweet 16 just a couple of days later.

 

The only constant in the world is change. It is time to look at the options.

I've always said that Fleming County should be in the 16th. But maybe the rivalries with Rowan and Lewis have developed to the point that they're better served in the 16th.

Here comes the Campbell, Scott and Brossart shouldn't be in the 10th comments. So I'll just say what I say every time, you have to draw the lines somewhere.

Going to have to start shifting teams west and east.

 

Consolidation is done in the 15/16th after Floyd Central for the next 10 years I would assume.

I've always said that Fleming County should be in the 16th. But maybe the rivalries with Rowan and Lewis have developed to the point that they're better served in the 16th.

 

I think you mean shouldn't be in the 16th and yes I agree. They are a 10th region team.

An example in western Ky, is region 1, they don't have hardly any teams, and a team can get to the region without having to win a game in a district. The 6-12 regions have to be adjusted some how, and yes a line has to be drawn, but any time a kid is on a bus for more than a 1 hour and 30 minutes is just to much to ask from kids in my opinion

An example in western Ky, is region 1, they don't have hardly any teams, and a team can get to the region without having to win a game in a district.

 

That's not entirely true. Any three-team district is required to seed. Therefore, the top seed in the district does automatically make the region but they earned that place by winning their regular season district games.

gchs_uk9 has done some extensive looks at this in the past, but yes, a massive realignment is necessary, traditional regions be damned. The western three regions have not one, not two, not three, but four districts with only three teams in them. (Christian Fellowship is ostensibly in the 4th District, but not really. They don't usually play those teams in the regular season, and haven't participated in the postseason in over a decade.) And as far as I know, there is no solution to that on the horizon as I certainly haven't heard of any school openings in those regions. If anything, consolidation has been the current pattern in those parts. The sixth district has been a three team district now for almost two decades - other than a scant two year span where Providence played in the district. The west needs some teams.

An example in western Ky, is region 1, they don't have hardly any teams, and a team can get to the region without having to win a game in a district. The 6-12 regions have to be adjusted some how, and yes a line has to be drawn, but any time a kid is on a bus for more than a 1 hour and 30 minutes is just to much to ask from kids in my opinion

 

Time on bus has no place in the discussion.

 

Almost 100 miles from Phelps to Lawrence County. If EKY can do it so can WKY.

 

75 miles if you go through ANOTHER STATE.

gchs_uk9 has done some extensive looks at this in the past, but yes, a massive realignment is necessary, traditional regions be damned. The western three regions have not one, not two, not three, but four districts with only three teams in them. (Christian Fellowship is ostensibly in the 4th District, but not really. They don't usually play those teams in the regular season, and haven't participated in the postseason in over a decade.) And as far as I know, there is no solution to that on the horizon as I certainly haven't heard of any school openings in those regions. If anything, consolidation has been the current pattern in those parts. The sixth district has been a three team district now for almost two decades - other than a scant two year span where Providence played in the district. The west needs some teams.

 

In order to make it work, I think the regional arrangement out west would have to revert back to what it was like prior to the major adjustment in 1966-67.

 

-Region 1 probably needs to add Livingston Central and Lyon County (and/or maybe Trigg County)

 

-Region 2 and 3 may need to be oriented east/west instead of north/south. This would allow some of the teams in the 4th Region (Todd, Logan, Russellville) to shift into a region that roughly follows US 68. The other region would follow the Western Kentucky Parkway and points north.

 

-Region 4 can afford to lose a couple of teams and keep their districts at four teams. Doing so, however, would mean the Warren County schools go into different districts. It might also make sense to move Adair County and/or the two Hart County schools into Region 4 (the long discussed opening of a Catholic high school in Bowling Green wouldn't hurt either).

 

-Region 5 has actually grown, but dropping the Bullitts down would make sense.

 

-Region 12 needs Russell County to move back.

 

-Region 14 could stand to lose Jenkins and maybe Letcher County Central, although with consolidation likely at so many small mountain schools, I'm hesitant to suggest much movement in the mountains.

I think distance does require the discussion, Spencer County to Simon Kenton for example is 2 hours, over 100 miles and that is using intestate. Regional tourney is at Simon Kenton next year in girls basketball. Budgets at schools, some teams pay for their diesel out of their accounts. Maybe not distance so much as money if you want the whole reason probably.

I think that its weird that Kenton County could have 3 teams in the state tournament: Simon Kenton from the 8th Region- Cov Cath or whom ever from the 9th Region and Scott from the 10th

I think that its weird that Kenton County could have 3 teams in the state tournament: Simon Kenton from the 8th Region- Cov Cath or whom ever from the 9th Region and Scott from the 10th

 

yep, Louisville gets 2 almost every year.