High school state titles may increase in 2009

 

 

By JEFF LOCKRIDGE • Staff Writer • July 1, 2008

 

"Any time you can get more parity in size of schools, it's a good idea," Clarksville boys basketball Coach Ted Young said.

"But the thing that hits me right in the gut is please do not dilute the state tournament experience of being one of the eight teams to get there and how special that is."

Board of Control member and McGavock principal Mike Tribue pitched the idea last month, contending that athletes in the other sports deserve equal opportunities to pursue state titles.

 

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Kentucky will not be going now or in the near future to classification. It would ruin a very good thing. Like it or not, the KHSAA is a business, and the Sweet 16 generates too much revenue for the KHSAA to mess with changing it.

Edited July 3, 200818 yr by Tiger1

Whether or not the Sweet 16 is fair competition-wise is irrelevant. The Sweet 16 has history and tradition on its side, and people are pretty solidly behind one class, one champion.

People who come to the Sweet 16 that go to other state titles say nothing even comes close to it. Its an amazing experiences and the only one of its kind that actually does the event that good.

Kentucky will never go to a class system in basketball, and that's just fine with me. I love it just the way it is, and I'm a fan of one of the smallest schools in the state...240 enrollment (and the only high school in the county). Our chance of ever winning the state title is slim to none. However, we were runner-up in the state All A Classic in 1990. That was a great experience. I think the All A is enough to satisfy the small schools. But the true champion is the winner at Rupp in March. The small schools have a chance to do a double, though. Hazard's girls pulled the trick in the late '90s.

 

The Sweet 16 is unique and a great experience. I wouldn't want to change to a watered down state championship system. I mean, if Tennessee has six state champions, who really is the true state champion?

No...

There is nothing like the romance and sentimental value of a small rural or mountain team earning a trip to the Sweet 16 and possibly even earning a spot on Saturday.

 

I heard stories about Cuba from the west end of the state back in 1952 and Carr Creek from the southeastern mountains in 1956, Richie Farmer and Clay County in 1987 stand out in my mind, and though they didn't make it to Saturday, 8th grader O.J. Mayo and tiny Rose Hill Christian in 2003 were plenty entertaining.

 

Elliott County could be the next Cinderella story at Rupp.

 

I'll bet if you ask the kids who are actually competing, not one of them would want to be playing in a multiclass system. :thumb:

There is nothing like the romance and sentimental value of a small rural or mountain team earning a trip to the Sweet 16 and possibly even earning a spot on Saturday.

 

I heard stories about Cuba from the west end of the state back in 1952 and Carr Creek from the southeastern mountains in 1956, Richie Farmer and Clay County in 1987 stand out in my mind, and though they didn't make it to Saturday, 8th grader O.J. Mayo and tiny Rose Hill Christian in 2003 were plenty entertaining.

 

Elliott County could be the next Cinderella story at Rupp.

 

I'll bet if you ask the kids who are actually competing, not one of them would want to be playing in a multiclass system. :thumb:

 

Ask Fort Campbell. They play in the same district as Hopkinsville, UHA, and Christian County. They've made it out of their district Twice in 25 years. They've advanced to the finals of the All-A region tourney three of four years. Can't get past UHA.

 

Dawson Springs plays in the same district with Madisonville, Hopkins Central and Caldwell County. Region appearances are very rare for them.

 

Murray plays in the same district as Marshall County and Calloway County.

 

Whitesville Trinity, Hancock County, and McLean County make it to Richmond from time to time from the Third Region and don't sniff the second round of the region playoffs because of the larger Owensboro schools.

 

Christian Academy of Louisville has countless All-A region titles and haven't sniffed the Sweet 16.

 

I'm sure I could list many other smaller schools who wouldn't mind a class system.

 

The majority of the people against a class system for basketball are fans of, attended, or are associated with the large schools.

Whether or not the Sweet 16 is fair competition-wise is irrelevant. The Sweet 16 has history and tradition on its side, and people are pretty solidly behind one class, one champion.

Maybe, but I know of several "old-timers" who are swinging to the other side because there isn't as much interest in seeing the same large schools or large cities advance to the title game every year. Several have shocked me as a matter of fact.

Ask Fort Campbell. They play in the same district as Hopkinsville, UHA, and Christian County. They've made it out of their district Twice in 25 years. They've advanced to the finals of the All-A region tourney three of four years. Can't get past UHA.

 

Dawson Springs plays in the same district with Madisonville, Hopkins Central and Caldwell County. Region appearances are very rare for them.

 

Murray plays in the same district as Marshall County and Calloway County.

 

Whitesville Trinity, Hancock County, and McLean County make it to Richmond from time to time from the Third Region and don't sniff the second round of the region playoffs because of the larger Owensboro schools.

 

Christian Academy of Louisville has countless All-A region titles and haven't sniffed the Sweet 16.

 

I'm sure I could list many other smaller schools who wouldn't mind a class system.

 

The majority of the people against a class system for basketball are fans of, attended, or are associated with the large schools.

 

Not true in my neck of the woods.

 

My region, the 14th, is mostly small schools, and I would be almost certain that any vote of the membership to go to a class system wouldn't get more than one vote, maybe two, and very possibly none. I would venture to say that the results would be the same in the 14th's neighboring regions, the 13th and the 15th, both of which have numerous small schools themselves.

Not true in my neck of the woods.

 

My region, the 14th, is mostly small schools, and I would be almost certain that any vote of the membership to go to a class system wouldn't get more than one vote, maybe two, and very possibly none. I would venture to say that the results would be the same in the 14th's neighboring regions, the 13th and the 15th, both of which have numerous small schools themselves.

Well of course you don't want classes. You pretty much have your own Class 1A-2A setup. If you were having to go through the likes of Warren East, Warren Central, Bowling Green, and Barren County (4th Region) or Christian County, Henderson County, Hopkinsville, and Madisonville (2nd Region) every year just to get out of the district, I'll bet there would be more than one coach vote for a class system in the 14th.

Curious, do teams that win the all A classic, tell people that they are single A state champs or do they treat it about like winning a holiday tourny.

Curious, do teams that win the all A classic, tell people that they are single A state champs or do they treat it about like winning a holiday tourny.

 

We have road signs at Harlan and Cumberland honoring teams as Class A state champs.

Curious, do teams that win the all A classic, tell people that they are single A state champs or do they treat it about like winning a holiday tourny.

 

State Champs...Ask any team or fan of that team & they will say state champs.

We have road signs at Harlan and Cumberland honoring teams as Class A state champs.

Kinda defeats the idea of the one state champ thing for those that try to say KY. is unique and dont class state champs.