This tournament goes way back to 1980 with Stan Steidel and Mike Swauger being strong proponents to getting this started locally. They invited teams from all over the state starting in 1982 and now it is a showcase tournament with each Region sending their best teams to play for the state crown.

 

I remember some great games especially the 1982 finals with Craynor Slone's Carlisle Co team coming up to play in the finals agains Bellevue over at Ludlow. Bellevue had a very good squad that year with Jimmy Maher, Steve Crittendon, Doug Miller, Doug shulte, Jeff Shoultheis, Tom Bosse to name a few. Carlisle Co I believe had Dave Henley(current Holmes coach). The final in this barn burner was 48 to 47. Tough to watch being a Tiger fan but I just remember how packed that gym was that night.

 

Bob Eades led the WV Bearcats to the next season's victory and then his teams would appear in the finals 3 of the next 4 yeas only to lose. One of those teams he led was Paris where he moved and took his son who was a fine player.

 

B-Ball Fan shared this link in another thread and its pretty cool showing winners/runners up and coaches/scores. Check it out and share some of your memories.

 

http://allaclassic.org/Media/2008/PDF%20Files/History-2007%20Page%2056.pdf

One of my fondest memories from the 9th Region was in 2001 when Ronny Dawn went for 54 in an opening round game. It was in Dayton's gym against Beechwood or Calvary and it was amazing to watch. He was hitting shots from everywhere. One of the best individual high school games I have ever seen in terms of scoring.

One of my fondest memories from the 9th Region was in 2001 when Ronny Dawn went for 54 in an opening round game. It was in Dayton's gym against Beechwood or Calvary and it was amazing to watch. He was hitting shots from everywhere. One of the best individual high school games I have ever seen in terms of scoring.

 

I remember watching this also. We eventually lost in the finals that year to NCC. But my greatest memory would have to be watching the 2003 St Henry team win the All A state championship over OJ Mayo and Rose Hill.

I remember watching this also. We eventually lost in the finals that year to NCC. But my greatest memory would have to be watching the 2003 St Henry team win the All A state championship over OJ Mayo and Rose Hill.

 

Very impressive. Wasnt OJ an 8th grader that year?

Very impressive. Wasnt OJ an 8th grader that year?

 

Yes. I saw that game too. I remember how the St Henry team really played well together and had good chemistry. Their student section was awesome.

Coolest thing that I ever saw, and I believe it was b/c I was so young, was at Regents Hall. HC was playing NewCath. Goetz from HC inbounded from just by the half court line, made a pass, McClendon got a back pick and curled around for the lob pass to throw down an awesome alley-oop. That was the first one that I ever saw live. We went down state to watch NewCath that year and a guy from University Heights jumped over John Petroze for a dunk. That was a cool week for a younger kid.

I am kind of partial to the 2007 State Championship squad from Brossart. One of their starters was hurt (wrist) just before the tournament and they went down and won it anyway. Along the way they defeated a UHA team which included two D1 players (Hopson, Tenn. and Edmondson, St. Johns) by twenty points before exacting revenge from the prior year on Bardstown in the Championship game.

The two games that stands out for me are the Trigg Co. and Metcalfe Co. game on a Thurs. afternoon with a packed house and St. Henry and Rose Hill championship game. You will have to figure out why these two are special to me.:banana:

The best moment for me was watching Dilce Combs won the title in 1993! The whole crowd was behind them.

My favorite is the 1990 tournament held at Memorial Colusium in Lexington. Our school (Owsley County) made it to the championship game. We lost that game to University Heights Academy. But our 6'5 center, Jeff "Moose" Moore, was named tournament MVP by the media. I'm not sure that has happened many times since. And Moose still holds several All A state tournament records, such as the most points scored in the tournament. He scored 115 points for a 28.7 average.

There were very large crowds for that tournament. I believe most of Owsley County's 4,800 population was there for the finals. Anyway, it sure seemed that way. One entire side in maroon and white.

I believe there were a number of D1 players that were playing in that year.

I know everyone is talking about the state class A, but I remember in 1999 Elliott and Raceland were in the finals for the 16th region. Raceland was the clear favorite and were beating Elliott by 10 with 1:32 left in the game. Elliott rallied back and won that game by 1. It was Elliotts first 16th region class A championship and the papers said it was a mini miracle that Elliott won. They went on to play Gallatin County (dont think I spelled that right) who were 17-0 at the time. Gallatin beat Elliott by 8 in that first round game of the All A.

Gallatin, but that's alright.

Gallatin went to the championship that year and lost to UHA.

Thanks, I edited it. Dont want to get the reputation of not being able to spell.

Gallatin, but that's alright.

 

:ylsuper: