HS consolidation and KY state tourney

[SloopJohnBee]

I was born and raised in Paducah, and attended one of the small high schools that eventually became McCracken County HS. We were in the 2nd District, 1st Region. I can remember only six schools that played in our district tournament (my memory may be faulty, admittedly) with champion and runner up advancing to the regional.

Consolidation, at least in that area, has reduced the total number of teams that compete at the district and regional levels by a good many. I am curious, since I haven't lived there in 40+ years, has the structure of the state tourney at this level been altered by consolidation of high schools? It's hard to imagine only 3 or 4 schools playing off to send 2 to the regional.

BTW, I didn't follow HS sports much after graduating, probably because Reidland never made too much noise inside or outside the county. We didn't even have a football team until I was a senior, and seniors weren't eligible to try out. I know we had a girls' softball team win a championship at the state level, only because there was a sign posted that I saw whenever I visited the parents. I hope McCracken has better success in the future, but I'm not optimistic unless the demographics have changed.

 

[BleedBlue32]

I go every year and I feel like consolidation has hurt the Sweet 16 but not as much as the recruiting has. It's basically like NBA free agency anymore. You see the same teams every year with different players brought in from either out of the state or poached from one of the region's smaller schools. You hardly ever see the small schools there anymore. It's pretty disappointing to say the least and it has made the overall product go down.

If the rumors hold up that the state tourney format will be changed in the next five years or so (only the Final Four will be played in Rupp is what I've been told due to decreasing attendance), then Julian Tackett will go down without a doubt as the worst commissioner in state history, if he is not there already.

 

[CUT-NETS]

McCracken was at state last year and they were pretty good. Cov Cath was the most entertaining team i can remember in years. As far as small schools having a chance or winning, Selby-Valley took it home a few years ago but the above poster is correct in that it seems to be the same teams year after year (Scott Co, Hoptown, Trinity, etc)

 

[Cats_2010]

I graduated from mayfield high school in 1986 and we only had four schools in our district then. Marshall, Murray, and Calloway. Graves county had just consolidated that year and I believe McCracken county's recent consolidation is the first since then. I believe the makeup of the first region has mostly been four team districts as long as I can recall. Living in louisville now, I don't keep up with it much anymore but doesn't appear that the landscape has changed all that much.

 

[Catapult_rivals218351]

At one point there were a couple of districts that only had 3 teams. Not sure now. Only Tilghman, St. Mary's and now McCracken left in what was the old 2nd district, and I think St. Mary's had been moved to another district to fill it out before the McCracken consolidation. There is a private christian school in Paducah and I think they were in 2nd but not sure. Haven't lived there in over 30 yrs.
PTHS Class of 68.

 

[thinredline]

I graduated from Marshall Co. in 1980 and there were only 3 teams in the district at that time: MCHS, Murray & Callowy. I always thought it would suck to be the only team not moving on to regionals.

 

[maysvilleky]

Consolidation has not changed the format for who/how you can reach the State Tournament (Sweet 16). There are 64 districts in KY Basketball. There are some districts that only have 3 teams. In the district tournaments, the winner and runner up go to the Regional Tournament. There are 16 Regions. Only the winner of each Region goes to the State Tournament.

There still are a fairly large number of smaller schools that advance to the Regional level. And a few go on to the State. But generally the larger schools (or private schools) in each Region get to the State Tournament. It's probably just on sheer number of kids in the program. But you get the occasional Elliott Counties that make it through when they get the right mix of kids.

I hope Kentucky never goes to a class system in Basketball. I like seeing all the teams battling to get to be the one and only Regional Champion and representing that Region in the State Tourney.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Originally posted by maysvilleky:
Consolidation has not changed the format for who/how you can reach the State Tournament (Sweet 16). There are 64 districts in KY Basketball. There are some districts that only have 3 teams. In the district tournaments, the winner and runner up go to the Regional Tournament. There are 16 Regions. Only the winner of each Region goes to the State Tournament.

There still are a fairly large number of smaller schools that advance to the Regional level. And a few go on to the State. But generally the larger schools (or private schools) in each Region get to the State Tournament. It's probably just on sheer number of kids in the program. But you get the occasional Elliott Counties that make it through when they get the right mix of kids.

I hope Kentucky never goes to a class system in Basketball. I like seeing all the teams battling to get to be the one and only Regional Champion and representing that Region in the State Tourney.

Agreed totally. It makes Ky high school basketball so unique and special. Consolidation has really changed the 14th, 15th, and 16th regions in the hills where I grew up but it is still really special. No more Wheelwrights, Virgie, Maytown, Garret, Martin, Wayland, McDowell, Meade Memorial, Inez...etc...but basketball is still king in the hills.

 

[Graves51]

probably will never be another Cuba Cubs, the small Graves County team that won fans over as runners=up in 1951 and STATE CHAMPIONS in 1952. And will probably not be another undefeated state champion since McCoy Tarrys' Brewers team of the late 40s.

 

[maysvilleky]

Originally posted by Graves51:
probably will never be another Cuba Cubs, the small Graves County team that won fans over as runners=up in 1951 and STATE CHAMPIONS in 1952. And will probably not be another undefeated state champion since McCoy Tarrys' Brewers team of the late 40s.

Wouldn't be too sure about that undefeated team. I could see Scott County getting lucky and having a few really good ball players transfer in at some point.

 

[Dirt Court King]

Agreed totally. It makes Ky high school basketball so unique and special. Consolidation has really changed the 14th, 15th, and 16th regions in the hills where I grew up but it is still really special. No more Wheelwrights, Virgie, Maytown, Garret, Martin, Wayland, McDowell, Meade Memorial, Inez...etc...but basketball is still king in the hills.


Thanks for mentioning these schools, and when you played at some of these schools you were sure to have a great game...Most of the time you came out with a loss....Those small gyms and hostile crowds made playing basketball in eastern Kentucky special!!

Love the Sweet 16 format hope it never changes...