Sweet Sixteen (KHSAA State Basketball Championship)

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The Kentucky High School Athletic Association boys' and girls' state basketball championships are single elimination tournaments held each March featuring 16 high schools. Colloquially known as the Sweet Sixteen (the KHSAA holds a trademark on the phrase), the tournament takes place over 4 days at Lexington's Rupp Arena for the boys until 2014 and Bowling Green's E. A. Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky University for the girls until 2011. The state tournaments begin with District tournaments at sites across the state, district winners and runners-up advance to sixteen regional tournaments with the winners advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. Seeding for the Sweet Sixteen is determined by a blind draw, broadcast on statewide television.

Since its 1918 inception the Sweet Sixteen has built a legacy that includes dynasty teams and dramatic underdog stories. The tournament is particularly noteworthy in that it is only one of three state tournaments (Hawaii and Delaware are the others) without a class system dividing small schools and larger schools into separate championships. The possibility of a small rural Kentucky school defeating a large consolidated school or schools from Lexington or Louisville for the state championship are a large part of the statewide appeal for the tournament. Such Hoosiers-like stories are not uncommon for the tournament such as in 1995 and 1996 when Breckinridge County and Paintsville defeated much larger schools to win the boys' state championship. Also in 1994 M.C. Napier High School (located near Hazard), in its final year of existence (it would be consolidated into Perry County Central High School), claimed the girls title. The 2007 boys' tournament featured a first-round game in which western Kentucky power Warren Central (enrollment 1070) played and defeated June Buchanan with an enrollment of 74 students.

Another emotional story came in the 1981 boys' tournament, when Simon Kenton High School of Independence, whose students were forced into involuntary exile after a series of natural gas explosions in October 1980 destroyed much of the school, won the state title. However, the greatest finish in Boys Sweet Sixteen history came in the 1982 State Championship game between Laurel County and North Hardin led by high school All-American Robbie Valentine. With the game tied and one second remaining, Laurel County's Paul Andrews hit a desperation 50-foot shot to win the game 53-51.

The unique nature of the tournament and NBA-style pre-game and post-game ceremonies and celebrations at the finals draw fans throughout the state to both tournaments. Crowds for the boys tournament are usually over 250,000 fans during the week and the finals typically draw over 20,000 spectators.

Contents

[edit] Notable athletes who have competed in the Sweet Sixteen

[edit] Boys

[edit] Girls

[edit] Current Division 1 Basketball Players Who Competed in the Sweet Sixteen

Boys

  • Jeremy Anderson (Warren Central, Liberty)
  • Jared Carter (Scott County, Kentucky)
  • Vincent Crutcher (Pleasure Ridge Park, Morehead State)
  • Terrance Farley (Pleasure Ridge Park, Louisville)
  • William Graham (Lexington Catholic, Wright State)
  • Demetrius Green (Lexington Catholic, Middle Tennessee)
  • Preston Knowles (George Rogers Clark, Louisville)
  • Chris Lofton (Mason County, Tennessee)
  • O.J. Mayo (Rose Hill Christian, USC)
  • Ross Neltner (Highlands, LSU/Vanderbilt)
  • Steffphon Pettigrew (Elizabethtown, Western Kentucky)
  • Ty Proffitt (South Laurel, Notre Dame)
  • A.J Slaughter (Shelby County, Western Kentucky)
  • Brennan Votel (Covington Catholic, Pennsylvania)
  • Brian Smith (Lexington Catholic, Mississippi)
  • Bill Walker (Rose Hill Christian, Kansas State)
  • Matt Walls (Scott County, Marshall)

Girls

  • Patricka Barlow (Barren County, Louisville)
  • Arnika Brown (Christian County, Western Kentucky)
  • Hope Brown (North Hardin, Western Kentucky)
  • Chelsea Chowning (Lexington Catholic, Xavier/Kentucky)
  • Colette Cole (Breathitt County, Eastern Kentucky)
  • Nikki Davis (Lexington Catholic, Virginia Tech)
  • Brittany Edelen (Washington County, Kentucky)
  • Sarah Elliott (Jackson County, Kentucky)
  • Briana Green (Lexington Catholic, UTEP)
  • Crystal Kelly (Sacred Heart, Western Kentucky)
  • Charlotte Marshall (Shelby County, Western Kentucky)
  • Natalie Novosel (Lexington Catholic, Notre Dame)
  • Shannon Novosel (Lexington Catholic, Evansville)
  • Carly Ormerod (Sacred Heart, Kentucky)
  • Anaris Sickles (Lexington Catholic, Evansville)
  • Keyla Snowden (Lexington Catholic, Akron)

[edit] 2008 Houchens Industries KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen

March 11-14, 2008 Bowling Green, Kentucky; Ed Diddle Arena

  First round Quarterfinals State Semifinals State Championship
                                     
7  Louisville Manual 68  
13  South Laurel 34  
     Louisville Manual 52  
 
     Breathitt County 31  
16  Rowan County 49
14  Breathitt County 60  
     Louisville Manual 46  
     Louisville Butler 58  
1  Marshall County 38  
6  Louisville Butler 65  
     Louisville Butler 84
 
     Ohio County 65  
12  Rockcastle County 56
3  Ohio County 60  
     Louisville Butler 58
     Franklin-Simpson 57
9  Conner 47  
2  Henderson County 60  
     Henderson County 33
 
     Elizabethtown 57  
15  Johnson Central 31
5  Elizabethtown 51  
     Elizabethtown 56
     Franklin-Simpson 62  
8  Simon Kenton 40  
4  Franklin-Simpson 54  
     Franklin-Simpson 55
 
     Montgomery County 49  
11  Lexington Henry Clay 61
10  Montgomery County 65  

[edit] 2008 National City Bank KHSAA Boys Sweet Sixteen

March 18-21, 2008 Lexington, Kentucky; Rupp Arena

* = Overtime (one per overtime)

  First round Quarterfinals State Semifinals State Championship
                                     
2  University Heights 54  
11   Lexington Catholic 69  
     Lexington Catholic 54  
 
     Owensboro 47  
6  Louisville Central 48
3  Owensboro 63  
     Lexington Catholic 50  
     Covington Holmes 57  
7  Jeffersontown 87  
15  Paintsville 93  
     Paintsville 53
 
     Covington Holmes 61  
9  Covington Holmes 64
5  Bardstown 44  
     Covington Holmes 48
     Mason County 57
13  South Laurel 47  
14  Hazard 50  
     Hazard 50
 
     Shelby County 53  
8  Shelby County 70
12  Lincoln County 58  
     Shelby County 50
     Mason County 60  
1  Paducah Tilghman 77  
4  Greenwood 53  
     Paducah Tilghman 46
 
     Mason County 73  
10  Mason County 66
16  Elliot County 62  

[edit] KHSAA Boys Sweet Sixteen State Champions

Year Champion Score Runner-Up Venue Most Valuable Player


1920 Lexington[7] 56-13 Ashland[2] U.K Gymnasium, Lexington
1921 Louisville Manual 32-17 Union Academy[8] U.K Gymnasium, Lexington
1922 Lexington[7] 52-27 Frankfort U.K Gymnasium, Lexington
1923 Louisville Manual 41-17 Clark County[9] UK Gymnasium, Lexington
1924 Lexington[7] 15-10 Fort Thomas[10] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1925 Louisville Manual 40-11 Winchester[11] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1926 Louisville St. Xavier 26-13 Danville Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1927 Millersburg Military Institute[12] 34-25 London[13] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1928 Ashland[2] 13-11 Carr Creek[14] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1929 Heath[15] 21-16 Corinth[16] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1930 Corinth[16] 22-20 Kavanaugh[17] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1931 Louisville Manual 34-23 Tolu[18] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1932 Hazard 15-13 Louisville Male Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1933 Ashland[2] 33-25 Horse Cave[19] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1934 Ashland[2] 26-13 Danville Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1935 Louisville St. Xavier 32-18 Newport Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1936 Corbin 24-18 Nebo[20] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1937 Midway[21] 30-22 Inez[22] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1938 Sharpe[23] 36-27 Maysville[24] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1939 Brooksville[25] 42-39 Hindman[26] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1940 Hazel Green[27] 35-29 Ashland[2] Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1941 Inez[22] 35-27 Louisville St. Xavier Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1942 Lexington Lafayette 44-32 Harlan Armory, Louisville
1943 Hindman[26] 29-26 Louisville St. Xavier Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1944 Harlan 40-28 Dayton Alumni Gymnasium, Lexington
1945 Louisville Male 54-42 Central City[28] Armory, Louisville
1946 Breckenridge Training[29] 68-36 Dawson Springs Armory, Louisville
1947 Maysville[24] 54-50 Brewers[30] Armory, Louisville
1948 Brewers[30] 65-48 Maysville[24] Armory, Louisville
1949 Owensboro 65-47 Lexington Lafayette Armory, Louisville
1950 Lexington Lafayette 55-51 Clark County[9] Armory, Louisville
1951 Clark County[9] 69-44 Cuba[31] Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1952 Cuba[31] 58-52 Louisville Manual Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1953 Lexington Lafayette 84-53 Paducah Tilghman Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1954 Inez[22] 63-55 Newport Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1955 Hazard 74-66 Adair County Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1956 Carr Creek[14] 72-68 Henderson[32] Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1957 Lexington Lafayette 55-52 Louisville Eastern Freedom Hall, Louisville
1958 Louisville St. Xavier 60-49 Daviess County Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1959 North Marshall[33] 64-63 Louisville Manual Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1960 Louisville Flaget[34] 65-56 Monticello Freedom Hall, Louisville
1961 Ashland[2] 69-50 Lexington Dunbar[35] Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1962 Louisville St. Xavier 62-58 Ashland[2] Freedom Hall, Louisville
1963 Louisville Seneca 72-66 Lexington Dunbar[35] Freedom Hall, Louisville
1964 Louisville Seneca 66-56 Breckinridge County Memorial Coliseum, Lexington
1965 Breckinridge County 95-73 Covington Holy Cross Freedom Hall, Louisville
1966 Shelby County 62-57 Louisville Male Freedom Hall, Louisville
1967 Earlington[36] 54-53 Covington Catholic Freedom Hall, Louisville
1968 Glasgow 77-68 Louisville Seneca Freedom Hall, Louisville
1969 Louisville Central 101-72 Ohio County Freedom Hall, Louisville
1970 Louisville Male 74-59 Richmond Madison[37] Freedom Hall, Louisville
1971 Louisville Male 83-66 Anderson County Freedom Hall, Louisville
1972 Owensboro 71-63 Elizabethtown Freedom Hall, Louisville
1973 Louisville Shawnee 81-68 Louisville Male Freedom Hall, Louisville
1974 Louisville Central 59-54 Louisville Male Freedom Hall, Louisville
1975 Louisville Male 74-59 Lexington Henry Clay Freedom Hall, Louisville
1976 Edmonson County 74-52 Christian County Freedom Hall, Louisville
1977 Louisville Ballard 68-59 Louisville Valley Freedom Hall, Louisville
1978 Shelby County 68-66 Covington Holmes Freedom Hall, Louisville
1979 Lexington Lafayette 62-52 Christian County Rupp Arena, Lexington
1980 Owensboro 57-56 Louisville Doss Louisville, Freedom Hall
1981 Simon Kenton 70-63 Mason County Rupp Arena, Lexington Troy McKinley (Simon Kenton)
1982 Laurel County[38] 53-51 North Hardin Rupp Arena, Lexington Todd May (Virgie)
1983 Lexington Henry Clay 35-33 Carlisle County Rupp Arena, Lexington Steve Miller (Henry Clay)
1984 Logan County 83-70 Bourbon County Rupp Arena, Lexington Fred Tisdale (Logan County)
1985 Hopkinsville 65-64 Clay County Rupp Arena, Lexington Wendall Quarles (Hopkinsville)
1986 Pulaski County[39] 47-45 Pleasure Ridge Park Rupp Arena, Lexington Reggie Hanson (Pulaski County)
1987 Clay County 76-73 Louisville Ballard Rupp Arena, Lexington Richie Farmer (Clay County)
1988 Louisville Ballard 88-79 Clay County Rupp Arena, Lexington Richie Farmer (Clay County)
1989 Pleasure Ridge Park 75-73 Wayne County Freedom Hall, Louisville Andy Penick (Pleasure Ridge Park)
1990 Louisville Fairdale 77-73 Covington Holmes Freedom Hall, Louisville Jermaine Brown (Fairdale)
1991 Louisville Fairdale 67-63 Lexington Tates Creek Rupp Arena, Lexington Jermaine Brown (Fairdale)
1992 University Heights 59-57 Lexington Catholic Freedom Hall, Louisville Darren Allaway (University Heights)
1993 Marion County 85-77 Paul Laurence Dunbar Rupp Arena, Lexington Anthony Epps (Marion County)
1994 Louisville Fairdale 59-56 Paul Laurence Dunbar Freedom Hall, Louisville Rashawn Morris (Fairdale)
1995 Breckinridge County 70-63 Pleasure Ridge Park Rupp Arena, Lexington Patrick Critchlow (Breckinridge County)
1996 Paintsville 71-53 Ashland Blazer Rupp Arena, Lexington J.R VanHoose (Paintsville)
1997 Louisville Eastern 71-59 Fort Thomas Highlands Rupp Arena, Lexington Trent Coward (Eastern)
1998 Scott County 89-78 Paintsville Rupp Arena, Lexington Rick Jones (Scott County)
1999 Louisville Ballard 71-47 Scott County Rupp Arena, Lexington Will Partin (Ballard)
2000 Elizabethtown 79-69 Lexington Catholic Rupp Arena, Lexington Antwain Barbour (Elizabethtown)
2001 Lexington Lafayette 54-49 Louisville Male Rupp Arena, Lexington Richard Madison (Lafayette)
2002 Lexington Catholic 83-53 Paducah Tilghman Rupp Arena, Lexington DeMetrius Green (Lexington Catholic)
2003 Mason County 86-65 Louisville Ballard Rupp Arena, Lexington Chris Lofton (Mason County)
2004 Warren Central 66-56 Mason County Rupp Arena, Lexington Brock Whitney (Warren Central)
2005 South Laurel 70-59 Warren Central Rupp Arena, Lexington Walt Allen (South Laurel)
2006 Jeffersontown 61-48 Owensboro Apollo Rupp Arena, Lexington Ceedrick Ware (Jeffersontown)
2007 Scott County 56-50 Louisville Ballard Rupp Arena, Lexington Bud Mackey (Scott County)
2008 Mason County 57-48 Covington Holmes Rupp Arena, Lexington Darius Miller (Mason County)

[edit] KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen State Champions

Year Champion Score Runner-Up Venue
1975 Louisville Butler 60-43 Barren County McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1976 Louisville Sacred Heart 68-55 Louisville Butler McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1977 Laurel County[38] 48-46 Paris McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1978 Laurel County[38] 63-48 Breathitt County McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1979 Laurel County[38] 43-36 Lexington Lafayette McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1980 Louisville Butler 65-49 Franklin County[40] McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1981 Pulaski County 50-42 Marshall County McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1982 Marshall County 48-44 Louisville Mercy McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1983 Warren Central 57-49 Whitesburg [41] McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1984 Marshall County 55-53 Belfry McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1985 Whitley County 38-37 Louisville Atherton Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
1986 Oldham County[42] 49-48 Franklin-Simpson Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
1987 Laurel County[38] 50-48 Louisville Doss Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
1988 Louisville Southern 57-34 Oldham County[42] Civic Center, Frankfort
1989 Clay County 48-44 George Rogers Clark Civic Center, Frankfort
1990 Lexington Henry Clay 62-50 Louisville Southern Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
1991 Laurel County[38] 33-31 George Rogers Clark Civic Center, Frankfort
1992 Louisville Mercy 44-38 Clay County McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1993 Nicholas County 48-46 Warren East Civic Center, Frankfort
1994 M.C. Napier[43] 88-56 Fort Thomas Highlands Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
1995 Scott County 68-45 Pulaski County[44] Civic Center, Frankfort
1996 Union County 44-37 Central Hardin Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
1997 Hazard 54-38 Elizabethtown Civic Center, Frankfort
1998 Elizabethtown 45-37 Montgomery County McBrayer Arena, Richmond
1999 Lexington Catholic 57-42 Louisville Assumption Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2000 West Carter 58-50 Shelby County McBrayer Arena, Richmond
2001 Lexington Catholic 36-34 Louisville Manual Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2002 Louisville Sacred Heart 57-46 Jackson County Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2003 Louisville Sacred Heart 42-40 Lexington Catholic Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2004 Louisville Sacred Heart 43-34 Lexington Catholic Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2005 Lexington Catholic 59-54 Clinton County Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2006 Lexington Catholic 69-52 Rose Hill Christian Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2007 Lexington Christian 71-62 Louisville Iroquois Diddle Arena, Bowling Green
2008 Louisville Butler 58-57 Franklin-Simpson Diddle Arena, Bowling Green

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Later consolidated into today's Allen Central High School.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h The predecessor to today's Paul G. Blazer High School.
  3. ^ This school, an all-boys' institution, was later consolidated with the all-girls' Our Lady of Providence High School to form today's Newport Central Catholic High School.
  4. ^ More properly Madisonville North Hopkins High School.
  5. ^ This school was later consolidated with Scottsville High School to form today's Allen County-Scottsville High School.
  6. ^ As her name suggests, she is indeed the daughter of Clem Haskins.
  7. ^ a b c Now Henry Clay High School.
  8. ^ Defunct.
  9. ^ a b c This is not the school that is today incorrectly referred to as "Clark County", properly known as George Rogers Clark High School. This was one of the two schools that merged to form "GRC".
  10. ^ The predecessor to today's Highlands High School, also in Fort Thomas.
  11. ^ This is the other school that merged to form today's George Rogers Clark High School.
  12. ^ Closed in 2003.
  13. ^ Later merged into Laurel County High School, which would win a boys' state title in 1982 and several girls' titles. Laurel County split in 1992 into today's North Laurel and South Laurel High Schools.
  14. ^ a b Consolidated into today's Knott County Central High School.
  15. ^ This is the "Heath" of the 1997 Heath High School shooting.
  16. ^ a b Consolidated into today's Grant County High School.
  17. ^ Consolidated into today's Anderson County High School.
  18. ^ Consolidated into today's Crittenden County High School.
  19. ^ Consolidated into today's Caverna High School.
  20. ^ Consolidated into West Hopkins High School, which was in turn consolidated into today's Hopkins County Central High School.
  21. ^ Consolidated into today's Woodford County High School.
  22. ^ a b c Consolidated into today's Sheldon Clark High School.
  23. ^ Consolidated into North Marshall High School, which would win a state title of its own in 1959. Still later, North Marshall was consolidated into today's Marshall County High School.
  24. ^ a b c Absorbed by Mason County High School.
  25. ^ Consolidated into today's Bracken County High School.
  26. ^ a b Consolidated into today's Knott County Central High School.
  27. ^ Defunct.
  28. ^ Consolidated into today's Muhlenberg North High School.
  29. ^ Defunct.
  30. ^ a b Consolidated into South Marshall High School, which would itself consolidate later to form today's Marshall County High School.
  31. ^ a b Later absorbed by Sedalia High School, which would in turn be consolidated into today's Graves County High School.
  32. ^ Consolidated into today's Henderson County High School.
  33. ^ Consolidated into today's Marshall County High School.
  34. ^ Defunct.
  35. ^ a b This is not the modern Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, but rather Lexington's former black high school, from which today's "PLD" indirectly took its name.
  36. ^ Consolidated into South Hopkins High School, another of the high schools which would eventually consolidate into today's Hopkins County Central.
  37. ^ Absorbed by Madison Central High School.
  38. ^ a b c d e f Split in 1992 into today's North Laurel and South Laurel High Schools. The old Laurel County High building houses South Laurel.
  39. ^ This school still exists, but with a smaller attendance zone, as it spawned Southwestern High School in 1993.
  40. ^ This school still exists, but with a considerably smaller attendance zone, having spawned Western Hills High School in 1981.
  41. ^ Later consolidated into Letcher County Central High School.
  42. ^ a b This school still exists, but has a considerably smaller attendance zone, having spawned first South Oldham High School and later North Oldham High School.
  43. ^ As noted in the main text, this was Napier's last year of existence, as it would be consolidated into Perry County Central High School that fall (autumn).
  44. ^ This was after Pulaski County High had spawned Southwestern.