Sweet Sixteen (KHSAA State Basketball Championship)
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 (usually with four, but sometimes with three or five teams) at sites across the state, district winners and runners-up advance to sixteen regional tournaments (usually eight teams each) with the Regional Champions 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, 1996, and 2010 when Breckinridge County, Paintsville and Shelby Valley High School defeated much larger schools to win the boys' state championship. Also in 1994 M.C. Napier High School (located near Hazard), (it would be consolidated into Perry County Central High School), claimed the girls title. They would play one more season in 1995 before consolidation. In the boys 2010 Championship game, Shelby Valley with an enrollment of under 600 students defeated Louisville Ballard the twelfth largest high school in Kentucky.
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 usually total around 120,000 fans during the week and the finals typically draw 15-20,000 spectators.
Notable athletes who have competed in the Sweet Sixteen
Boys (high school team/college team(s))
- Derek Anderson (Louisville Doss, Ohio State/Kentucky)
- Butch Beard (Breckinridge County, Louisville)
- Ralph Beard (Louisville Male, Kentucky)
- Keaton Belcher (Pendleton County High School, Belmont)
- Greg Buckner (University Heights, Clemson)
- Jared Carter (Scott County, Kentucky)
- J.R. Vanhoose (Paintsville, Marshall)
- Michael Bush (Louisville Male, Louisville-football)
- Mike Casey (Shelby County, Kentucky)
- Rex Chapman (Owensboro Apollo, Kentucky)
- "King" Kelly Coleman (Wayland,[1] Kentucky Wesleyan)
- Tim Couch (Leslie County, Kentucky-football)
- Dave Cowens (Newport Catholic,[2] Florida State)
- Johnny Cox (Hazard High School, University of Kentucky)
- Kenny Davis (Wayne County/Georgetown College). Captain of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Basketball team.
- Richie Farmer (Clay County, Kentucky)
- Travis Ford (Madisonville,[3] Missouri/Kentucky)
- Jack Givens (Lexington Bryan Station, Kentucky)
- Darrell Griffith (Louisville Male, Louisville)
- Cliff Hagan (Owensboro, Kentucky)
- Clem Haskins (Taylor County, Western Kentucky)
- Allan Houston (Louisville Ballard, Tennessee)
- Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones (Harlan,[4] Kentucky)
- Roy Kidd (Corbin, Eastern Kentucky-football)
- Chris Lofton (Mason County, Tennessee)
- O. J. Mayo (Rose Hill Christian, Southern California)
- Jim McDaniels (Allen County,[5] Western Kentucky)
- Dirk Minniefield (Lexington Lafayette, Kentucky)
- John Pelphrey (Paintsville, Kentucky)
- Frank Selvy (Corbin, Furman)
- Matt Simons (Shelby County, Louisville)
- A.J Slaughter (Shelby County, Western Kentucky)
- Landon Slone (Paintsville, Kentucky/Pikeville)
- Patrick Sparks ([Muhleberg North High School], [Western KY University], [University of Kentucky])
- Wes Unseld (Louisville Seneca, Louisville)
- Robbie Valentine (North Hardin, Louisville)
- Bill Walker (Rose Hill Christian, Kansas State)
- André Woodson (North Hardin, Kentucky-football)
- Joey Couch (Paintsville, Kentucky-Football)
- Todd Tackett (Paintsville, Kentucky)
Girls
- Kristie Combs (M.C. Napier, Kentucky)
- Brittany Edelen (Washington County, Kentucky)
- Kyra Elzy (Oldham County, Tennessee)
- Ukari Figgs (Scott County, Purdue)
- Lisa Harrison (Louisville Southern, Tennessee)
- Clemette Haskins[6] (Warren Central, Western Kentucky)
- Kathy Spinks Grizzell (Belfry, Tennessee)
- Crystal Kelly (Sacred Heart, Western Kentucky)
- Charlotte Marshall (Shelby County, Western Kentucky)
- Shannon Novosel (Lexington Catholic, Evansville)
- Toni Slaughter (Shelby County, Louisville)
- Jamie Walz (Fort Thomas Highlands, Western Kentucky)[7]
Current Division 1 Basketball Players Who Competed in the Sweet Sixteen
Boys
- Jeremy Anderson (Warren Central, Liberty)
- Vincent Crutcher (Pleasure Ridge Park, Morehead State)
- William Graham (Lexington Catholic, Wright State)
- Demetrius Green (Lexington Catholic, Middle Tennessee)
- Scotty Hopson (University Heights, Tennessee)
- Preston Knowles (George Rogers Clark, Louisville)
- Darius Miller (Mason County, Kentucky)
- Steffphon Pettigrew (Elizabethtown, Western Kentucky)
- Ty Proffitt (South Laurel, Morehead State)
- Jordan Smart (Lexington Catholic, Vanderbilt)
- Taylor Stewart (Lexington Catholic, Air Force)
- Brennan Votel (Covington Catholic, Pennsylvania)
- Areez Henderson (Covington Holmes, Louisiana Tech)
- Tyshawn Edmonson (University Heights, St. John's)
- Jarrod Polson (West Jessamine, Kentucky)
- Elisha Justice (Shelby Valley, Louisville)
Girls
- Patricka Barlow (Barren County, Louisville)
- Sarah Beth Barnette (Lexington Christian, Kentucky)
- Jacy Bradley (Boone County, Saint Louis)
- Arnika Brown (Christian County, Western Kentucky)
- Hope Brown (North Hardin, Western Kentucky)
- Colette Cole (Breathitt County, Eastern Kentucky)
- Nikki Davis (Lexington Catholic, Virginia Tech)
- Tia Gibbs (Butler, Vanderbilt)
- Raechele Gray (Shelby County, Marshall/Eastern Kentucky)
- Rebecca Gray (Scott County, North Carolina/Kentucky/Union College)
- Briana Green (Lexington Catholic, UTEP)
- Merideth Marsh (Christian Academy, Vanderbilt)
- Adia Mathies (Iroquois, Kentucky)
- Natalie Novosel (Lexington Catholic, Notre Dame)
- Carly Ormerod (Sacred Heart, Kentucky)
- Anaris Sickles (Lexington Catholic, Evansville)
- Antonita Slaughter (Christian Academy of Louisville/Shelby County, Louisville)
- Keyla Snowden (Lexington Catholic, Kentucky)
- Lydia Watkins (Christian County, Kentucky)
2011 Houchens Industries KHSAA Girls Sweet Sixteen
March 9–12, 2011 Bowling Green, Kentucky; Ed Diddle Arena
- = Overtime (one per overtime)
| First round | Quarterfinals | State Semifinals | State Championship | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Walton-Verona (25-8) | 32 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Bowling Green (24-1) | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville Manual | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Dupont Manual (30-4) | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Crittenden County (21-8) | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
| Louisville Manual | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marion County | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Louisville Butler (27-4) | 42 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Perry County Central (27-3) | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
| Louisville Butler | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marion County | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Montgomery County (15-15) | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Marion County (25-6) | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| Louisville Manual | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rockcastle County | 62* | ||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Sheldon Clark (24-8) | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Boyd County (21-10) | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
| Sheldon Clark | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Calloway County | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Calloway County (30-1) | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Newport Central Catholic (25-4) | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| Calloway County | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rockcastle County | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Madison Central (23-9) | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Rockcastle County (32-1) | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| Rockcastle County | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Clay County | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Clay County (26-6) | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Owensboro Catholic (27-7) | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
2011 PNC Bank KHSAA Boys Sweet Sixteen
March 16–19, 2011 Lexington, Kentucky; Rupp Arena
* = Overtime (one per overtime)
| First round | Quarterfinals | State Semifinals | State Championship | ||||||||||||||||
| 10 | George Rogers Clark (29-5) | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Oldham County (25-7) | 39 | |||||||||||||||||
| George Rogers Clark | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville Eastern | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Warren Central (26-7) | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Louisville Eastern (31-2) | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
| Louisville Eastern | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Christian County | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Christian County (21-9) | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Shelby Valley (13-17) | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
| Christian County | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lexington Catholic | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Lexington Catholic (26-7) | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Dixie Heights (29-3) | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| Christian County | 65** | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rowan County | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Rowan County (27-5) | 45 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Daviess County (26-4) | 32 | |||||||||||||||||
| Rowan County | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wayne County | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Wayne County (30-4) | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Perry County Central (25-5) | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
| Rowan County | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bullitt East | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Bullitt East (28-5) | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Bardstown (24-4) | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
| Bullitt East | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marshall County | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Marshall County (27-6) | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Bell County (22-7) | 33 | |||||||||||||||||
KHSAA Boys Sweet Sixteen State Champions
| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-Up | Venue | Most Valuable Player |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | Lexington[8] | 16-15 | Somerset | Centre College, Danville | |
| 1919 | Lexington | 21-17 | Somerset | UK Gymnasium, Lexington | |
| 1920 | Lexington | 56-13 | Ashland[9] | UK Gymnasium, Lexington | |
| 1921 | Louisville Manual | 32-17 | Union Academy[10] | UK Gymnasium, Lexington | |
| 1922 | Lexington[8] | 52-27 | Frankfort | UK Gymnasium, Lexington | |
| 1923 | Louisville Manual | 41-17 | Clark County[11] | UK Gymnasium, Lexington | |
| 1924 | Lexington[8] | 15-10 | Fort Thomas[12] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1925 | Louisville Manual | 40-11 | Winchester[13] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1926 | Louisville St. Xavier | 26-13 | Danville | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1927 | Millersburg Military Institute[14] | 34-25 | London[15] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1928 | Ashland[9] | 13-11 | Carr Creek[16] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1929 | Heath[17] | 21-16 | Corinth[18] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1930 | Corinth[18] | 22-20 | Kavanaugh[19] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1931 | Louisville Manual | 34-23 | Tolu[20] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1932 | Hazard | 15-13 | Louisville Male | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1933 | Ashland[9] | 33-25 | Horse Cave[21] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1934 | Ashland[9] | 26-13 | Danville | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1935 | Louisville St. Xavier | 32-18 | Newport | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1936 | Corbin | 24-18 | Nebo[22] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1937 | Midway[23] | 30-22 | Inez[24] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1938 | Sharpe[25] | 36-27 | Maysville[26] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1939 | Brooksville[27] | 42-39 | Hindman[28] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1940 | Hazel Green[10] | 35-29 | Ashland[9] | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1941 | Inez[24] | 35-27 | Louisville St. Xavier | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1942 | Lexington Lafayette | 44-32 | Harlan[4] | Armory, Louisville | |
| 1943 | Hindman[28] | 29-26 | Louisville St. Xavier | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1944 | Harlan[4] | 40-28 | Dayton | Alumni Gym, Lexington | |
| 1945 | Louisville Male | 54-42 | Central City[29] | Armory, Louisville | |
| 1946 | Breckenridge Training[10] | 68-36 | Dawson Springs | Armory, Louisville | |
| 1947 | Maysville[26] | 54-50 | Brewers[30] | Armory, Louisville | |
| 1948 | Brewers[30] | 65-48 | Maysville[26] | Armory, Louisville | |
| 1949 | Owensboro | 65-47 | Lexington Lafayette | Armory, Louisville | |
| 1950 | Lexington Lafayette | 55-51 | Clark County[11] | Armory, Louisville | |
| 1951 | Clark County[11] | 69-44 | Cuba[31] | Memorial Coliseum, Lexington | |
| 1952 | Cuba[31] | 58-52 | Louisville Manual | Memorial Coliseum, Lexington | |
| 1953 | Lexington Lafayette | 84-53 | Paducah Tilghman[32] | Memorial Coliseum, Lexington | |
| 1954 | Inez[24] | 63-55 | Newport | Memorial Coliseum, Lexington | |
| 1955 | Hazard | 74-66 | Adair County | Memorial Coliseum, Lexington | |
| 1956 | Carr Creek[16] | 72-68 | Henderson[33] | 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[34] | 64-63 | Louisville Manual | Memorial Coliseum, Lexington | |
| 1960 | Louisville Flaget[35] | 65-56 | Monticello | Freedom Hall, Louisville | |
| 1961 | Ashland[9] | 69-50 | Lexington Dunbar[36] | Memorial Coliseum, Lexington | |
| 1962 | Louisville St. Xavier | 62-58 | Ashland[9] | Freedom Hall, Louisville | |
| 1963 | Louisville Seneca | 72-66 | Lexington Dunbar[36] | 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[37] | 62-57 | Louisville Male | Freedom Hall, Louisville | |
| 1967 | Earlington[38] | 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[39] | 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 | Freedom Hall, Louisville | |
| 1981 | Simon Kenton | 70-63 | Mason County | Rupp Arena, Lexington | Troy McKinley (Simon Kenton) |
| 1982 | Laurel County[40] | 53-51 | North Hardin | Rupp Arena, Lexington | Todd May (Virgie)[41] |
| 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[42] | 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 | Freedom Hall, Louisville | 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 Critchelow (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) |
| 2009 | Covington Holmes | 67-63 | Louisville Central | Rupp Arena, Lexington | Ricardo Johnson (Holmes) |
| 2010 | Shelby Valley | 73-61 | Louisville Ballard | Rupp Arena, Lexington | Elisha Justice (Shelby Valley) |
| 2011 | Christian County | 65-63 | Rowan County | Rupp Arena, Lexington | Anthony Hickey (Christian County) |
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[40] | 48-46 | Paris | McBrayer Arena, Richmond |
| 1978 | Laurel County[40] | 63-48 | Breathitt County | McBrayer Arena, Richmond |
| 1979 | Laurel County[40] | 43-36 | Lexington Lafayette | McBrayer Arena, Richmond |
| 1980 | Louisville Butler | 65-49 | Franklin County[43] | McBrayer Arena, Richmond |
| 1981 | Pulaski County[42] | 50-42 | Marshall County | McBrayer Arena, Richmond |
| 1982 | Marshall County | 48-44 | Louisville Mercy | McBrayer Arena, Richmond |
| 1983 | Warren Central | 57-49 | Whitesburg [44] | 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[45] | 49-48 | Franklin-Simpson | Diddle Arena, Bowling Green |
| 1987 | Laurel County[40] | 50-48 | Louisville Doss | Diddle Arena, Bowling Green |
| 1988 | Louisville Southern | 57-34 | Oldham County[45] | 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[40] | 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[46] | 88-56 | Fort Thomas Highlands | Diddle Arena, Bowling Green |
| 1995 | Scott County | 68-45 | Pulaski County[47] | 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[37] | 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 |
| 2009 | Louisville Iroquois | 55-47 | Elizabethtown | Diddle Arena, Bowling Green |
| 2010 | Louisville Mercy | 71-61 | Scott County | Diddle Arena, Bowling Green |
| 2011 | Rockcastle County | 62-60 | Louisville Manual | Diddle Arena, Bowling Green |
Schools With at Least Three Boys State Championships
| Rank | School | Titles | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington Lafayette | 6 | 1942, 1950, 1953, 1957, 1979, 2001 |
| 1 | Lexington Henry Clay | 6 | 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1983 |
| 2 | Ashland | 4 | 1928, 1933, 1934, 1961 |
| 2 | Louisville Male | 4 | 1945, 1970, 1971, 1975 |
| 2 | Louisville Manual | 4 | 1921, 1923, 1925, 1931 |
| 2 | Louisville Saint Xavier | 4 | 1926, 1935, 1958, 1962 |
| 7 | Louisville Ballard | 3 | 1977, 1988, 1999 |
| 7 | Louisville Fairdale | 3 | 1990, 1991, 1994 |
| 7 | Owensboro | 3 | 1949, 1972, 1980 |
Schools With at Least Two Girls State Championships
| Rank | School | Titles | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laurel County | 5 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1991 |
| 2 | Lexington Catholic | 4 | 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006 |
| 2 | Louisville Sacred Heart | 4 | 1976, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| 4 | Louisville Butler | 3 | 1975, 1980, 2008 |
| 5 | Louisville Mercy | 2 | 1992, 2010 |
| 5 | Marshall County | 2 | 1982, 1984 |
Notes and references
- ^ Later consolidated into today's Allen Central High School.
- ^ 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.
- ^ More properly Madisonville-North Hopkins High School.
- ^ a b c Unlike other schools in Harlan County, Harlan High did not participate in the 2008 consolidation that created Harlan County High School. Harlan High is operated by the Harlan city school district, a separate district from that of the county.
- ^ This school was later consolidated with Scottsville High School to form today's Allen County-Scottsville High School.
- ^ As her name suggests, she is indeed the daughter of Clem Haskins.
- ^ Sister of current Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz.
- ^ a b c Now Henry Clay High School.
- ^ a b c d e f g The predecessor to today's Paul G. Blazer High School.
- ^ a b c Defunct.
- ^ 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".
- ^ The predecessor to today's Highlands High School, also in Fort Thomas.
- ^ This is the other school that merged to form today's George Rogers Clark High School.
- ^ Closed in 2003.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Consolidated into today's Knott County Central High School.
- ^ This is the "Heath" of the 1997 Heath High School shooting. The district that operates Heath, the McCracken County Public Schools, has received state approval for plans to consolidate its three current high schools into a single school, currently scheduled to open in 2012.
- ^ a b Consolidated into today's Grant County High School.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Anderson County High School.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Crittenden County High School.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Caverna High School.
- ^ Consolidated into West Hopkins High School, which was in turn consolidated into today's Hopkins County Central High School.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Woodford County High School.
- ^ a b c Consolidated into today's Sheldon Clark High School.
- ^ 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 in 1974.
- ^ a b c Absorbed by Mason County High School.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Bracken County High School.
- ^ a b Consolidated into today's Knott County Central High School.
- ^ Consolidated into Muhlenberg North High School in 1990, which in turn consolidated with Muhlenberg South High School in 2009 to form today's Muhlenberg County High School.
- ^ a b Consolidated into South Marshall High School, which would itself consolidate in 1974 to form today's Marshall County High School.
- ^ a b Later absorbed by Sedalia High School, which would in turn be consolidated into today's Graves County High School.
- ^ Tilghman will not participate in the 2012 McCracken County consolidation, as it is operated by a separate school district.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Henderson County High School.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Marshall County High School in 1974.
- ^ Closed in 1974.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b In August 2010, the Shelby County High attendance zone will be cut roughly in half with the opening of the new Martha Layne Collins High School.
- ^ Consolidated into South Hopkins High School, another of the high schools which would eventually consolidate into today's Hopkins County Central.
- ^ Closed in 1989, with its attendance zone moved into that of Madison Central High School.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Consolidated into today's Shelby Valley High School.
- ^ a b This school still exists, but with a smaller attendance zone, as it spawned Southwestern High School in 1993.
- ^ This school still exists, but with a considerably smaller attendance zone, having spawned Western Hills High School in 1981.
- ^ Later consolidated into Letcher County Central High School.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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).
- ^ This was after Pulaski County High had spawned Southwestern.