If you are like me you take great pride in Ky teams doing well nationally. Scott Co. has finished in the USA Today Super 25 twice (1998 #21 and 1999 #16). Lex Cath twice (1998 #17, 2002 #10). Also Ballard and Male have once both in 2001 (Ballard #16 and Male #14).

 

As an aside I don't know how Scott Co. didn't make the Super 25 last year with only two losses, a state crown, and a win over Mayo, Patterson and Company agaisnt Huntington, WV.

Paducah Tilghman

Ok, I got my hands on more information.

Since 95 here is the following breakdown among the six teams mentioned above:

 

Scott Co 7 trips to Rupp

WC 6

Ballard, Mason, Lex Cath, Paintsville 4

 

So I am going to give 1/2 point for a 1st or 2nd round loss.

Warren Central 1.5 points

Mason Co 1 point

Scott Co 1 point

Paintsville 0.5 points

Ballard 0.5 points

Lex Cath 0 points

 

I also am going to give Ballard and Lex Cath 1.5 points because they have been in brutal regions since 95. No offense to the 4th, 10th, 8th, and 15th but I think everyone agrees that it is harder to make it in the 7th and 11th regions. Because Scott Co has only been in the 11th three years I am not going to give them any bonus points.

 

Finally, I am going to give .5 points for a Mr. Basketball. Scott Co had 2 (Jones, Hundley), Mason Co. had 1 (Lofton) and Painsville had 1 (Vanhoose).

Here are the results so far:

 

Scott Co. 12

Ballard 9

Lex Cath 8.5

Warren Central 7.5

Paintsville 7

Mason Co. 6.5

 

 

If I think of anything else I will add it.

 

Suggestions?

I do not think you can put Paintsville in a class with the likes of Warren Certral, Ballard, and Scott Co. Paintsville had that one real good team in a year when the best team in the state did not make it to the Sweet 16 (UHA). This is not a knock towards Paintsville they did have a solid team that season. I think you guys will remember that UHA team (Barnes, Victor, Swanagen). They won the Class A state title that season, a tourney that Paintsville was in also.

I do not think you can put Paintsville in a class with the likes of Warren Certral, Ballard, and Scott Co. Paintsville had that one real good team in a year when the best team in the state did not make it to the Sweet 16 (UHA). The Sweet 16 talent was down that season.

 

Paintsville had good runs when they had John Pelfrey and then another good run when they had JR Vanhoose and Todd Tackett.

When I think Ky powerhouses in the past I guess twenty years or so I think Scott Co., Lexington Catholic, Ballard, PRP, UHA, Warren Central.

 

Paintsville was there throughout parts of the first ten years, Mason Co. has really been a force since Lofton began as a young player, Male had its big years, and even Bryan Station has had seasons throughout this stretch where they really impressed.

 

However, Scott Co. has been impressive it seems like every year for the past 15 at least. Lexington Catholic competes in one of two top regions in the state year in and out and is always in the talk of top five teams. Ballard and PRP really haven't been as up in the most recent years but in the '90s i knew of few other teams. UHA is the top small school in my mind and Warren Central is tough however the stat of 6 straight region titles isn't as impressive to me because I don't find their region as competitive as some. I do think the three semifinals appearances and two title game appearances are pretty big achievements however.

I would say there is a general trend that certain schools are going to be good every year......Scott County, Mason County, Lexington Catholic, Ballard, PRP, Warren Central come to mind for me.

 

The next tier of programs would include GRC, Madison Central, South Laurel....at least for the central KY area. Many of the these and other 11th region teams would win 12 or 13 of the other regions nearly every season.

I do not think you can put Paintsville in a class with the likes of Warren Certral, Ballard, and Scott Co. Paintsville had that one real good team in a year when the best team in the state did not make it to the Sweet 16 (UHA). This is not a knock towards Paintsville they did have a solid team that season. I think you guys will remember that UHA team (Barnes, Victor, Swanagen). They won the Class A state title that season, a tourney that Paintsville was in also.

 

The same can be said for Mason County. In the last fifteen years they had one good run (the Chris Lofton era). Paintsville also had one good run (the Tackett, Vanhoose era). The bottom line is since 95 Mason only made the tournament one time outside of the Lofton era. That was in 06 when the made they made the quarters.

My vote for the top program in the state based on two factors:

 

1. I have been following KY high school basketball since 95 so the team I pick will obviously have to have done well from 95-present.

 

2. I also want to give some credit to past hisory so I will also look at performace before 95 even though I am heavily weighing performance after 95.

 

Okay that being said in my opinion I am going to go with the Ballard Bruins. They have made four sweet 16's since 95 including one title and two 2nd place finishes. Also they won titles in 77 and 88 and finished 2nd in 87. They produced a solid NBA player in Allan Houston. Also they have made 12 trips to the state tournament while playing in the brutal 7th region.

 

So that is my pick, Ballard.

Warren Central is tough however the stat of 6 straight region titles isn't as impressive to me because I don't find their region as competitive as some. I do think the three semifinals appearances and two title game appearances are pretty big achievements however.

A little regional snobbery, perhaps?

 

Your second sentence says it all ... the Dragons deserve a place in the discussion.

My vote for the top program in the state based on two factors:

 

1. I have been following KY high school basketball since 95 so the team I pick will obviously have to have done well from 95-present.

 

2. I also want to give some credit to past hisory so I will also look at performace before 95 even though I am heavily weighing performance after 95.

 

Okay that being said in my opinion I am going to go with the Ballard Bruins. They have made four sweet 16's since 95 including one title and two 2nd place finishes. Also they won titles in 77 and 88 and finished 2nd in 87. They produced a solid NBA player in Allan Houston. Also they have made 12 trips to the state tournament while playing in the brutal 7th region.

 

So that is my pick, Ballard.

If we're going back to 1995, it's hard not to go with Scott County ... two state titles and a runner-up finish, even with their share of controversy.

Scott County and Mason County

If we're going back to 1995, it's hard not to go with Scott County ... two state titles and a runner-up finish, even with their share of controversy.

 

I agree, from 95 on I would have to pick Scott Co. Even though that foul agaisnt Tilghman in the semis was a little controversial, but that's for a different thread all together.

A little regional snobbery, perhaps?

 

Your second sentence says it all ... the Dragons deserve a place in the discussion.

 

Read my original post, I believe unless it was an oversight that I included them in there. I don't think their region is nearly as good as say the 11th, just as I don't personally think Mason Co's region 10th is as good as the 11th, or 7th. However, that doesn't mean that I think their team isn't good. I just wasn't as impressed with the regional title streak.

Almost all of the programs you mention have numbers to choose from based on population or private schools that have move ins. Thats the first thing needed , numbers to select from. Then you need a feeder system with coaches from top to bottom. A good program has all of those things, then come the wins that develope tradition that bring fans and young players to be. Ever once and a while you get small schools in the mix that come and go because they don't have the numbers, but do have a good program.

Scott Co. has the #1 basketball program in the State but many of those wins came when they were in the weaker 8th Region. Mason Co. is a close second.