Who did Paintsville play after Ashland in '96?

 

Aren’t you thinking about basketball. I don’t think they’ve ever been in the same class in football.

Aren’t you thinking about basketball. I don’t think they’ve ever been in the same class in football.

 

I sure was hah. I actually thought I was in the basketball forum. Carry on folks...

Why’d they close?

 

Harrodsburg kept getting smaller and the tax base was limited. However, the year they closed they had a handful of good athletes and Mercer County had a good football team returning. It was always speculated that the merger was expedited to make sure they combined in time to merge those two teams. It worked - they won a state title.

Harrodsburg kept getting smaller and the tax base was limited. However, the year they closed they had a handful of good athletes and Mercer County had a good football team returning. It was always speculated that the merger was expedited to make sure they combined in time to merge those two teams. It worked - they won a state title.

 

Wasn't that the year that Mercer County was a 6A school playing against 2A competition? I may not be remembering right, but I think I am. I always thought that was why they expedited the merger so quickly, to beat the reclassification. I may be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.

Wasn't that the year that Mercer County was a 6A school playing against 2A competition? I may not be remembering right, but I think I am. I always thought that was why they expedited the merger so quickly, to beat the reclassification. I may be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

There were only four classes then (that was the last year). The consolidated school played in Mercer County’s AA district but they likely would have been AAA. When they went to six classes the next season Mercer was placed in Class 5A.

There were only four classes then (that was the last year). The consolidated school played in Mercer County’s AA district but they likely would have been AAA. When they went to six classes the next season Mercer was placed in Class 5A.

 

I have a terrible memory, but I did remember they had a huge advantage, with 950 or so students, against the other 2A competition. Was that loophole ever closed by the KHSAA?

I have a terrible memory, but I did remember they had a huge advantage, with 950 or so students, against the other 2A competition. Was that loophole ever closed by the KHSAA?

 

I’m not sure it’s really a loophole. Consolidation doesn’t happen much. Besides the above, I can only remember Allen Central/South Floyd combining in the last 20-ish years. And with the KHSAA’s 10% adjustment every two years it’s almost impossible for something like this to happen.

It definitely should be impossible for this to happen again. Was just talking about this recently. I bet there are plenty of Russell fans with long memories on this topic.