King of the Bluegrass

Fairdale's 90 and 91 teams with Brown, Morris and Turner were nationally ranked in USA Today.

If you have a four or eight team tournament in a small community outside Louisville and Lexington the fan support is much better and the gyms are usually larger. All but a couple of gyms in Louisville only seat about 2000. We, the King of the Bluegrass gym only seats 2000 when it's packed. We have 28 games in 5 days…we guarantee every team three games. Once a team loses and goes in the Consolation Bracket school support goes way down. Your expenses don't go down. Last year, December 2013 we had 10 of the Top 12 teams in the pre-season polls and 4 very good out-of-state teams and as I said we didn't break even. The finals, #1 Ballard played #2 Trinity and we were packed. The KOB is largely an adult crowd…many basketball junkies attend year-after-year. I doubt there are very few if any that do for thier teams what we do. I never get in a bidding war. We have a great package and Kentucky schools accept our offer about 98% of the time…no questions ask. So far I have given all out-of-state teams the same package and I probably turn down 15 - 20 teams…we take the best we can find. I don't thinh anybody, even the state tournament has 16 teams as good as we can because we can get several teams from the same region…especially the 6th and 7th region teams. I am NOT condemming the state tournament, it is the greatest show on earth but the competition in the KOB can't be matched by anyone in KY.

It would be great if, when you post a kids name you would also give the school. I am constantly looking for good teams / players for future KOB tournaments

Most fans and coaches have no idea how much it cost to put on a "first class" tournament. Last year without sponsors the King of the Buegrass would have lost $5000. Most years it is a near break even tournament. To have a successful tournament I compare our gate receipts to our expenses. Last year, on our biggest day, we had severe thunderstorms and tornado warning. That day alone we lost over $6000 at the gate. Four GOOD out-of-state teams don't come cheap + we guarantee every team money. People look in the stands and say "boy…they are rolling in the money". They don't realize that (say it's the 2nd game of a 4 game session) there are two teams in the stands waiting to play, and two teams that just finshed playing…that's somewhere around 125 people that didn't pay to get in. Then it's the same way four the next game. I have been the tournament director for 33 years…now 34 and I have records of every gate. The NFHS requires a sanction if you have teams from outside Kentucky and thier rules say "what you do for one you must do for all". You can adjust for "distance traveled': ex: You can give a team from California more than a team from Tennesse. After the tournament you must complete a financial report. Also, different states have different rules. IMO I think there are way to many tournaments in Kentucky. Coaches are constantly looking for teams therefore it is hard to get a solid field.

Congratulations to Memphis Mitchell…a 2013 King of the Bluegrass participant.

Ballard is playing at Valley because the gym floor at Ballard has rain damage from a leak in the roof a couple of weeks ago. Half the floor is unusable.

Has anybody said Tom Boerwinkle….MMI (KY) Tennessee / Chicago Bulls

1991 - Jermaine Brown and Maurice Morris - Fairdale - Back to Back State Champions

1ST Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Showcase 1ST Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Showcase February 1, 2014 Fairdale High School Plenty of room in the gym NOW…gates open at 12:30. Christ Presbyterian has alread sold 125 tickets. Franklin (OH) 70 Saturday - February 1, 2014 1:30 Iroquois vs Allatoona (GA) 3:00 Fairdale vs Jeffersonville (IN) Fairdale's Cory Thomas #2 in state in scoring. 4:30 Fairdale Girls vs Christ Presbyterian Girls (TN) 4:30 #6 P. R. P. vs #13 Knott County Central LaMontray Harris & Co. vs Cameron Justice & Co. 6:00 Taylor Co. vs Franklin City (OH) Quentin Gooden vs Luke Kennard 7:30 #1 Ballard vs #1 Christ Presbyterian (TN) Snyder, Martin & Dow vs Brandon Braxton & Co. Luke Kennard, Franklin City is averaging 39.7 pts, 10.3 rebs, 4.2 asts & 2.2 steals per game. Has scored 30+ in 11 of 12 games this season. He is a junior…norrowed list to seven-Louisville, Kentucky, North carolina, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida

Forcht Bank was also the sponsor of the King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic in December 2013.

1ST Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Showcase January 31 – February 1, 2014 Fairdale High School Friday - January 31, 2014 4:30 #16 Doss vs Thomas Nelson Montrelle Little vs Youngman & Ndahiro 6:00 Moore vs Augusta Augusta's Bret Bach #1 in state in scoring 7:30 Fairdale vs Allatoona (GA) Fairdale's Corey Thomas #2 in the state in scoring 9:00 #6 Pleasure Ridge Park vs John Hardin Saturday - February 1, 2014 1:30 Iroquois vs Allatoona (GA) 3:00 Fairdale vs Jeffersonville (IN) Fairdale's Cory Thomas #2 in state in scoring. 4:30 Fairdale Girls vs Christ Presbyterian Girls (TN) 4:30 #6 P. R. P. vs #13 Knott County Central LaMontray Harris & Co. vs Cameron Justice & Co. 6:00 Taylor Co. vs Franklin City (OH) Quentin Gooden vs Luke Kennard 7:30 #1 Ballard vs #1 Christ Presbyterian (TN) Snyder, Martin & Dow vs Brandon Braxton & Co. Luke Kennard, Franklin City is averaging 39.7 pts, 10.3 rebs, 4.2 asts & 2.2 steals per game. Has scored 30+ in 11 of 12 games this season. He is a junior…norrowed list to seven-Louisville, Kentucky, North carolina, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida

UL coach Keats will be there to see Kennard and Gooden. Scotty davenport will be watching Brach….again. He is a player.

I learned today that UL's assistant coach Kevin Keats will be at the Franklin vs Taylor Co. game to see Luke Kennard and Quentin Gooden. Kennard is planning on going to the UL game at 9:00. Scotty Davenport will be there Friday night to see Bret Bach.

I wanted Louisville to get a chance to see the states leading scorer Brent Bach. Scotty Davenport likes him….he can play. Augusta deserves some recognition…not just the "Big Boys". They beat Mason Co. in the District Tournament last year. By the way, you can also see the states #2 scorer, Cory Thomas of Fairdale. It's time we support the little guys that don't get all the recognition.

So far no one is broadcasting the game. Tickets are $8 Friday and $10 Saturday.

1ST Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Showcase January 31 – February 1, 2014 Fairdale High School Friday - January 31, 2014 4:30 #16 Doss vs Thomas Nelson Montrelle Little vs Youngman & Ndahiro 6:00 Moore vs Augusta Augusta's Bret Bach #1 in state in scoring 7:30 Fairdale vs Allatoona (GA) Fairdale's Corey Thomas #2 in the state in scoring 9:00 #6 Pleasure Ridge Park vs John Hardin Saturday - February 1, 2014 1:30 Iroquois vs Allatoona (GA) 3:00 Fairdale vs Jeffersonville (IN) Fairdale's Cory Thomas #2 in state in scoring. 4:30 Fairdale Girls vs Christ Presbyterian Girls (TN) 4:30 #6 P. R. P. vs #13 Knott County Central LaMontray Harris & Co. vs Cameron Justice & Co. 6:00 Taylor Co. vs Franklin City (OH) Quentin Gooden vs Luke Kennard 7:30 #1 Ballard vs #1 Christ Presbyterian (TN) Snyder, Martin & Dow vs Brandon Braxton & Co. Luke Kennard, Franklin City is averaging 39.7 pts, 10.3 rebs, 4.2 asts & 2.2 steals per game. Has scored 30+ in 11 of 12 games this season. He is a junior…norrowed list to seven-Louisville, Kentucky, North carolina, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida

This was not a rhetorical question. It was a test, just for fun, of your Kentucky High School basketball knowledge. I actually ask the question on another post before the LIT final. Balllard had a chance to do it but now we will have to wait another year and see what happens. One thing it does do is it shows you just how hard it is to win the trifecta.Congratulations to city cat for giving the correct answer.

Only 2 teams have won the King of the Bluegrass, LIT and State Tournament in the 32 year history of the KOB. Can Ballard do it this year? Can you name the two teams and what school year (example 2013-14) Ballard KOB 2013, Ballard LIT (2014 N0) State Tournamnet (2014 ?) COMMING IN TWO WEEKS 1ST Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Showcase January 31 – February 1, 2014 Fairdale High School Friday - January 31, 2014 4:30 Doss vs Thomas Nelson 6:00 Moore vs Augusta 7:30 Fairdale vs Allatoona (GA) 9:00 Pleasure Ridge Park vs John Hardin Saturday - February 1, 2014 1:30 Iroquois vs Allatoona (GA) 3:00 Fairdale vs Jeffersonville (IN) 4:30 Fairdale Girls vs Christ Presbyterian Girls (TN) 4:30 P. R. P. vs Knott County Central 6:00 Taylor Co. vs Franklin City (OH) 7:30 Ballard vs Christ Presbyterian (TN) Luke Kennard, Franklin City is averaging 39.7 pts, 10.3 rebs, 4.2 asts & 2.2 steals per game. Has scored 30+ in 11 of 12 games this season. He is a junior…norrowed list to seven-Louisville, Kentucky, North carolina, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State and Florida

Only one Brown, Morris, Turner Fairdale team did it….89-90 team. The 90-91 team lost to Tates Creek by 2 in the finals of the KOB but won the LIT and State. Trinity did not do it. Still one team left.

Only 2 teams have won the King of the Bluegrass, LIT and State Tournament in the 32 year history of the KOB. Can Ballard do it this year? Can you name the two teams and what school year (example 2013-14) Ballard KOB 2013, Ballard LIT (2014 ?) State Tournamnet (2014 ?)

1ST Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass Showcase January 31 – February 1, 2014 Fairdale High School Friday - January 31, 2014 4:30 Doss vs Thomas Nelson 6:00 Moore vs Augusta 7:30 Fairdale vs Allatoona (GA) 9:00 Pleasure Ridge Park vs John Hardin Saturday - February 1, 2014 1:00 Iroquois vs Allatoona (GA) 3:00 Fairdale vs Jeffersonville (IN) 4:30 Fairdale Girls vs Christ Presbyterian Girls (TN) 4:30 P. R. P. vs Knott County Central 6:00 Taylor Co. vs Franklin City (OH) 7:30 Ballard vs Christ Presbyterian (TN) FRANKLIN CITY JUNIOR, LUKE KENNARD CUTS LIST TO SEVEN COLLEGES. LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY NORTH CAROLINA DUKE OHIO STATE FLORIDA MICHIGAN Franklin City will play Taylor Co.(Quentin Goodin) at 6:00 pm on February 1, 2014.

Looking forward to seeing them play in the FORCHT BANK KING OF THE BLUEGRASS SHOWCASE on February 1st against Luke Kennard (UK Recruit) and Frankling City, Ohio

NCC we loved having your team…class players, a class coach and a very good team. You will only get better and better as you learn coach Dawn's system. Your student body was awesome on Sunday night against Ballard with great support from the adults (fans) throughout the tournament. Thanks for coming and go get 'em.

Exit 8 off the Gene Snyder…25-30 minutes max from I 71…turn left 1/4 mile turn right…you are there. You need to come early…. Look for the search light. Additional parking behind the football field…it's not a long walk but we will run a shuttle bus if needed. NO LIVE STREAMING OF THE GAME ALLOWED. THE KING OF THE BLUEGRASS HOLDS THOSE RIGHTS. Check our website for all game times. kingofthebluegrass

For schedules and everything you wanted to know about the King of the Bluegrass go to our websit King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic | Fairdale, KY