Amid the blustery month of March Madness, King Basketball here in the Commonwealth has a new KHSAA Girls State Champion.
Congratulations to George Rogers Clark and coach Robbie Graham in winning the 2026 Sweet 16 and becoming the 65th champion in KHSAA history. Last Saturday the Cardinals defeated #3 Louisville Assumption 48-43 and finished with a fine 33-2 record.
Part II of Kentucky‘s Sweet 16 March Madness gets underway today with the 108th KHSAA Boys tournament in Rupp Arena with Northern Kentucky’s Covington Catholic 31- 2 vs St. Xavier 26-7 this morning at 11 a.m.
The tourney’s rich history reflects various locations such as UK’s Gym, Alumni Gym, Memorial Coliseum, Freedom Hall and of course Rupp Arena since 2019.
Most High School fans know that Kentucky is one of just a few states that holds a tournament without a class system that divides large and small schools into separate tourneys.
Looking back, the boys 2025 crown was won by Great Crossing (Georgetown) defeating Bowling Green 71-61. Northern Kentucky’s Cooper High defeated Henderson County 50-35 and lost in the 2nd round to tourney champion – Great Crossing (Georgetown) 49-36.
Of course, thousands always flock to Lexington and make their way to West Vine downtown to historic Rupp Arena.
Many are families of the players, others are just fans of the game to watch the Sweet 16 and the glory of it all.
Rupp Arena seems to have a magnetic personality that the fans love and is punctuated by the rich history of Kentucky Basketball once you step in from West Vine.
If you are lucky enough to be at Rupp when the Wildcats are playing a huge rival such as Duke or Louisville with 24,000 screaming fans leading the cheers – you can feel it and whatever you paid for a seat, you feel it was worth every penny. Thus, you can now readily understand why the annual KHSAA Sweet 16 rolls in the great crowds among the hallowed concourses and seats of Big Blue Country.
As many know, throughout my broadcasting career of calling games basketball on local radio, cable TV and ESPN+, my travels took me as far west as Nebraska, far north to Michigan, far south as Florida and far east as Pennsylvania.
Each location had its large rabid crowds, but just being at Rupp to call a game gives you an anticipation feeling each time you were parking your car and walking into the arena.
Dateline – March 1994, when my partner Brad Taylor and I were proudly the Voice of the Boyd County Lions under Coach Roger Zornes, we experienced the Sweet 16 “magic” with vivid memories that are still strong today.
The 1994 Lions were tremendous that season as they defeated cross-county rival Ashland to advance to the Sweet 16.
Tomorrow, 32 years later Thursday March 19, the 16th Region Boyd County Lions (29-6) return to the Sweet 16 and will meet 1st Region Champion Marshall County (24-8) at 1:30 p.m.
However, those Sweet 16 memories of 1994 would come from Louisville’s Freedom Hall. As I arrived at courtside to prepare for the game, sitting next to me was former Kentucky Wildcat WINSTON BENNETT and with a huge smile asked: “Sir, I have a question, is that Lee kid as good as everyone says he is? I have heard so much about him, I can’t wait to watch him play!”
I told Winston that he was incredible as he possessed so much talent and skills. He has all the tools and without any hesitation – uses them every game.
Boyd County’s opening round was versus Wayne County of the 12th region – behind Frank Lee’s 37 the Lions roared to a 72-52 opening win.
Many Sweet 16 memories were made that afternoon in Louisville. However, in the quarterfinals Boyd County lost to the 11th region’s Paul Laurence Dunbar 64-59 with Frank Lee hitting 17.
Over the years you could also find me sitting in for a game or so at Rupp calling games on the Schoolboy Radio Network.
As I had mentioned last week, my vivid Sweet 16 memories continued in 2014 when I joined the KHSAA Radio Network at Rupp. This time for me, I would call the game as the “Courtside Reporter.”
Usually, you would find me calling the play-by-play, but producer Tom Stevens assigned me to roam the sidelines, seats, huddles and secure the information pertinent to the game along with some interviews. I really enjoyed that opportunity. However, I would be calling all the games with very little break time in between. Indeed, that assignment gave me a new perspective of broadcasting a game that I had never experienced.
I quickly realized that I still had to obtain pertinent research and many facts that were predicated on each particular game. Included was spur of the minute “in the stands” interviews with key Sweet16 fans who had a rich history of the game either having played or coached.
Simply put, it was it was just as demanding as preparing for play-by-play.
So, on this Wednesday, the stage is set. Today, Kentucky High School Basketball Warriors are ready to pursue the Championship of the Commonwealth.
Over the decades the Sweet 16 hardwood has been host to some of the very best players of all time. Part of the magic that creates the tradition of small schools versus larger schools is the home-grown Kentucky kids that lived out their dream at Rupp or Memorial Coliseum.
The list of those Basketball Legends of Yesteryear would cover a football field end zone to end zone. But, indeed you know who they are.
If you’re traveling to Lexington, get there early, get parked and then – be ready for THE SHOW. After all, smile – Spring 2026 begins at 10:46 a.m. Friday and without any doubt – SWEET 16 – KENTUCKY STYLE is at Rupp!