2020 Participants’ All “A” Classic History

 

Team by team records - http://www.allaclassic.org/Boys%20Composite%20Records/Boys%20Composite%20Results.pdf

 

Five schools defended their 2019 All “A” Regional titles this year: Owensboro Catholic, Bishop Brossart, Louisville Holy Cross, University Heights and Campbellsville.

 

2020 teams with the most tournament appearances:

University Heights - 24

Somerset - 16

Bishop Brossart - 14

Lou. Holy Cross - 13

Hazard -12

 

Five past champions are represented this year:

University Heights - 9: 1990, ’91, ’96, ’98, ’99, 2002, ’05, ’08, ’19 and finalist in 1994

Harlan - 1994, ‘95

Bishop Brossart - 2007 and finalist in 2004

Hazard - 2004 and finalist in 2008

St. Henry - 2003 and finalist in 1998

 

These teams also made past All “A” Classic finals appearances:

Somerset - 3: 2001, ’02, ’05

Owensboro Catholic - 2006

Murray - 2016

Paintsville - 1997

Gallatin Co - 1999

 

Looking at that link I noticed something very familiar for Somerset. Somerset has been in more All "A" Finals, without winning it, than any other school.

Looking at that link I noticed something very familiar for Somerset. Somerset has been in more All "A" Finals, without winning it, than any other school.

 

This has been a special year, with the Jumpers getting over the hump in football last season.

Lets see if they can make a run this winter in the All "A".

I think Murray and Brossart will advance to the semifinals in the top half and the winner of that game will take home the title.

I was curious as to which players to watch for. I'm unfamiliar with some of the players from smaller schools in regions I don't follow. Since I haven't given the "eyeball test" to many, I sometimes fall back on stats.

 

All “A” Individual Statistical Leaders

(Within the Top 50 of today’s KHSAA Stat Report)

219-2 Boys Basketball Stat Leaders | Kentucky High School Athletic Association

 

Points per Game

24.4 Jordan Akal, Harlan

21.8 Colby Fugate, Paintsville

20.8 Ethan Eilerman, Bishop Brossart

20.8 Chez Moore, Lou. Collegiate

 

Rebounds per Game

11.7 Chez Moore, Lou. Collegiate

11.2 Nick Keeton, Paintsville

11.1 Darius Duffy, Murray

_9.3 Jaedyn Gist, Harlan

_8.9 John Eldridge, Harlan

 

Field Goal (2pt & 3pt) %

70.7 Darius Duffy, Murray

68.5 Reece Fletcher, Hazard

66.0 Joey Leachman, Lou. Collegiate

 

3 pt Goal % (Min. 2.6 pg!)

52.6 Gabe Taylor, Murray

43.3 Arren Hash, Campbellsville

33.3 Jordan Akal, Harlan

 

Free Throw %

84.4 Colby Fugate, Paintsville

81.2 Wyatt Vieth, St. Henry

80.9 Stephen Verst, Bishop Brossart

 

Note: University Heights has not filed stats recently to qualify for the KHSAA's report.

 

Thes only tell a fraction of the story though. Who should we watch for this week at the All "A" that doesn't fill the stat sheet? Which tournament players have a great handle? Great passers? Who shows excellence in creating their own shots? Who is the worst nightmare on defense - face-guarding or protecting the rim?

Edited January 22, 20206 yr by Runcible Owl
Team correction.

@Runcible Owl Lyon County is not in it. UHA won their region.

@Runcible Owl Lyon County is not in it. UHA won their region.

Swing and a miss. Updated. Thanks!

 

It loooks like UHA'a KJ Crump would make the list above.

Edited January 22, 20206 yr by Runcible Owl
Update.

Somerset - high powered offense. St. Henry - Stingy D. Are there any surprises on this list?

 

All “A” Team Statistical Leaders

(Within the Top 50 of today’s KHSAA Stat Report)

219-2 Boys Basketball Stat Leaders | Kentucky High School Athletic Association

 

Points Scored Avg.

71.9 Somerset

68.2 Bishop Brossart

 

Points Allowed Avg.

48.5 St. Henry

50.4 Hazard

51.2 Murray

51.9 Lou. Collegiate

52.1 Somerset

52.2 Lou. Holy Cross

 

Scoring Margin

19.9 Somerset

15.0 St. Henry

14.7 Murray

12.1 Bishop Brossart

11.3 Hazard

_8.8 Lou. Holy Cross

 

Team Field Goal (2 pt & 3 pt) %

52.6 Murray

50.3 Hazard

49.8 Bishop Brossart

 

3 pt Goal %

43.7 Murray

42.0 Bishop Brossart

37.9 St. Henry

37.9 Hazard

 

Team Free Throw %

76.9 St. Henry

72.7 Paintsville

72.6 Brossart

 

Team Rebounds per Game

33.4 Somerset

31.9 Lou. Holy Cross

31.8 Paintsville

30.8 Murray

30.8 Hazard

 

Note: University Heights has not filed stats to qualify for the KHSAA’s daily report.

I'm not real familiar with these teams and this tourney, but I understand Collegiate has a good team this year. Do they have any kind of chance to win this thing?

I'm not real familiar with these teams and this tourney, but I understand Collegiate has a good team this year. Do they have any kind of chance to win this thing?

 

That would be a yes, they have a good shot to win it.

​Tim Riley - Owensboro Catholic: 7^th season. The Aces won the 2016 3^rd Region title. While at Warren Central, Coach Riley won seven 4th Region titles and the 2004 Sweet 16.

 

Jeremy Webb - West Carter: 14^th season. Led the Comets to the 2017 16^th Region Finals. 214 career wins.

 

Mike Code - Bishop Brossart: 16^th season. The Mustangs have won 293 games and three 37^th District titles under Coach Code.

 

Chris O’Bryan - Frankfort: 2^nd season. Coached the Panthers to the 41^st District title and an 11^th Region semifinal appearance last year.

 

Jody Thornsberry - Lou. Holy Cross: 1st season. Has led the Cougars to a 6^th Region All “A” championship in his first year as head coach.

 

Brandon Brockman - Metcalfe Co. 3^rd season. The Hornets 12 wins midway through the season has already surpassed last year’s total.

 

Dior Curtis - Murray: 3^rd season. Led the Tigers to the 4^th District title and a 1^st Region semifinal appearance last year. A victory over UHA today would match last year’s 16 wins.

 

Grant Shouse - University Heights: 8^th season. The Blazers won 30 games last season and appeared in the 2^nd Region finals. Coach Shouse’s team won the regional title in 2018.

 

Allan Holland - Hazard: 13^th season. The Bulldogs made their fourth Regional finals under Coach Holland, who led them to two titles in 2008 and 2009. His 632 wins over 29 seasons is currently 15^th on the KHSAA career coaching wins list.

 

George Hornstein - Lou. Collegiate: 2^nd season. The Titans are ranked #9 in a very deep 7^th Region and off to a good start this year. A win against Hazard would up their season total to 13, matching Coach Hornstein’s total for last year.

 

Landon Slone - Paintsville: 3rd season. Coach Slone’s Tigers have made the 15^th Region semifinals the past two seasons.

 

Derrick Akal - Harlan: 4^th season. The Green Dragons are looking for their second straight 20 win season and advancing beyond the first round of the 13^th Region tournament this year.

 

Jeron Dunbar - Somerset: 4th season. The Briar Jumpers are off to a fast start and are a dark horse in the 12^th Region. Coach Dunbar’s best season at Somerset was 25-9 and a regional semifinal appearance in 2018.

 

Jon Jones - Gallatin Co.: 26^th season and 444 wins while at Gallatin. From 2017-2019, Coach Jones has guided the Wildcats to three consecutive 31^st District titles and three straight 8^th Region semifinals.

 

Anthony Epps - Campbellsville: 1^st season. The Eagles are looking to match last year’s 18 win season and advance to the 5^th Region tournament after a one year absence.

 

Dave Faust - St. Henry: 27^th season. Coach Faust won his 400^th game as Head Coach of the Crusaders over the holidays. His 2003 team won the 9^th Region and he has guided St. Henry to their seventh All “A Classic appearance this year.

Which game would you call the game of the night tonight?

Which game would you call the game of the night tonight?

 

Great question. Quick take - I'm thinking Hazard and Collegiate at 5:00 pm. Country vs. City and coaching legend vs. the new kid on the block. Player matchups? I'll have to ponder on that a bit.

 

What about you LL?

Edited January 23, 20206 yr by Runcible Owl

I think that 5:00 pm game would definitely be the crowd favorite but Im gonna go with Somerset vs. Gallatin. This Gallatin County team has arguably the best coach in the state, good amount of talent, and coming out of a very tough 8th region. The 11-7 record of Gallatin doesn't look near as pretty as the 16-2 record that Somerset is bringing in but Gallatin has competed against some very highly ranked teams. This Gallatin team looks hot and I would argue that Jarin Rassman could be the best player in the tournament.

Jarin Rassman is a special player. He is extremely quick with the ball and will do a couple things tonight where you will say "wow". Somerset's size and length will create some problems for Gallatin but I believe that this will be a competitive game.

It looks like the All "A" Classic's founding father will be honored throughout the tournament.

 

From the Northern Kentucky Tribune -

"Organizers of the All “A” Classic plan to honor the statewide athletic program’s founder, Stan Steidel, during the boys and girls state basketball tournaments this week at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond."

 

Stan Steidel will be honored during All “A” Classic state tournaments that he created for small schools | NKyTribune

 

We're on this board today, talking about small school hoops at its finest, because of Stan's vision. Pure class. He'll be sorely missed.