7 minutes ago, Runcible Owl said:

Was chatting with another member a few days ago. Ashland's AIT, back in the day, was "the" statewide tournament before the KOB was born. Cov Cath used to get invited during the Mote Hils era, but the two teams never met. Love to see Ashland reestablish it as a premier event. 

Dad took me along while he covered a game ~68/69? Great atmosphere, great fans.

14 minutes ago, The Professor said:

Correct. Beat the Tomcats 9 at Covington Catholic. 

Got it changed. Haha, I was even pulling those most recent scores right off the KHSAA scoreboard. ?‍♂️

9 minutes ago, Runcible Owl said:

Was chatting with another member a few days ago. Ashland's AIT, back in the day, was "the" statewide tournament before the KOB was born. Cov Cath used to get invited during the Mote Hils era, but the two teams never met. Love to see Ashland reestablish it as a premier event. 

Dad took me along while he covered a game ~68/69? Great atmosphere, great fans.

I think one of the biggest reasons the KOB was able to step in and establish itself as the bigger statewide tournament is because of the trend for long-distance travel for basketball holiday tournaments. Teams were really starting to embrace tournaments that realistically required air travel instead of just a long drive in the bus. That gave the KOB a significant advantage with the Muhammad Ali Airport only 10 miles up the road, plus significantly more hotel options in town. If you wanted to fly into town for the AIT, the nearest airport is the Chuck Yeager Airport 70 miles away in Charleston, WV.

Louisville is an easier destination for out of state teams, logistically. And the addition of stronger and more diverse out-of-state competition to a statewide tournament makes for more appeal to the in-state teams...and then the better the Kentucky teams are in the tournament, the more appealing the tournament is to quality out-of-state teams.

3 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I think one of the biggest reasons the KOB was able to step in and establish itself as the bigger statewide tournament is because of the trend for long-distance travel for basketball holiday tournaments. Teams were really starting to embrace tournaments that realistically required air travel instead of just a long drive in the bus. That gave the KOB a significant advantage with the Muhammad Ali Airport only 10 miles up the road, plus significantly more hotel options in town. If you wanted to fly into town for the AIT, the nearest airport is the Chuck Yeager Airport 70 miles away in Charleston, WV.

Louisville is an easier destination for out of state teams, logistically. And the addition of stronger and more diverse out-of-state competition to a statewide tournament makes for more appeal to the in-state teams...and then the better the Kentucky teams are in the tournament, the more appealing the tournament is to quality out-of-state teams.

All true. I'll put my sepia toned memories back in the cigar box now, thank you. ? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

j/k

Actually you can fly into Huntington’s tri-state airport same airport that the Marshall plane crashed into the hill side on an extremely foggy night along the big sandy river.  Ashland just doesn’t have the hotel space teams would have to stay across the River in Ohio or back towards I-64 the other would be the need to expand the number of teams and the middle school gym doesn’t quite seat nearly the same numbers  and coupled with the Alumni gym it’s possible to have 3 game sites in town but I don’t see the powers to be ever considering expanding it. 

Tipoff coming up in a little under 10 minutes.

1 minute ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Tipoff coming up in a little under 10 minutes.

? All you Colonels rally 'round, fill the valley with a mighty sound ...

NFHS Network Livestream: Covington Catholic vs. Ashland 2022 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16®

KHSAA Live Stats: Covington Catholic vs. Ashland 2022 UK HealthCare Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16®

ASHLAND BLAZER
Starting Lineup (26-5)
g    #11    PORTER, COLIN    
g    #12    SELLARS, ETHAN    
g    #20    VILLERS, COLE    
g    #22    CARTER, ZANDER    
f    #10    ATKINS, RYAN

COVINGTON CATHOLIC
Starting Lineup (28-4)
g    #2    IPSARO, EVAN    
g    #4    MCGILLIS, KASCYL    
g    #14    HUSSEY, BRADY    
f    #42    STARKS, CHANDLER    
c    #5    RYLEE, MITCHELL

Let's go!!!!   

Villers scores the first basket of the game. 1-2 from the foul line.

1-0 Ashland at the 5:52 mark.

Hussey for 2.

2-1 Cov Cath

Rylee with a dunk.

4-1 Cov Cath

Sellers steals it and lays it in.

4-3 Cov Cath

Porter buries a long 3.

6-4 Ashland

Starks for 2.

Tied 6-6