Shelby Valley weathered all kinds of adversity, including an ice storm, to win the Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic boys' basketball championship last year.
Wildcats Coach Jason Booher hopes his team can repeat as small-school champion this week under more forgiving circumstances.
Even if the snow holds off, however, Shelby Valley, rated sixth in the state and boasting Mr. Basketball candidate Elisha Justice, will have to ward off some tough competition in Richmond.
"I don't look at us as the only favorite," Booher said. "There are several strong All 'A' teams, maybe five or six, that could win it this year."
The contenders would include No. 18 Lexington Christian Academy, No. 24 Glasgow, Campbellsville, Newport and, of course, eight-time titlist University Heights Academy.
Booher pointed to LCA's "eye-opening wins" over Scott County and Franklin County as proof of its credentials.
LCA Coach Tommy Huston said the Eagles have been "snake-bit" in the All "A." They've lost to tough opponents in the first round four years in a row. "But I think this is probably the most experienced team we've taken down there. I've got a lot of confidence.
"The key is you've got to shoot the ball well. If we do that, we're pretty good."
LCA will face UHA in Thursday's first round.
Glasgow is led by junior standout Cameron Hall, son of Scotties Coach Jeff Hall. Glasgow faces Campbellsville in the tournament opener. When the teams met earlier this season, Glasgow beat the Eagles 74-73 on a shot by Hall.
Campbellsville hasn't lost since then. It has an 11-game winning streak and is rated No. 1 in the 5th Region.
Eagles Coach Tim Davis, who guided Marion County to the 1993 Sweet Sixteen title, likes his team's size and athleticism.
Campbellsville's roster includes 6-8 Aaron Schwoebel, 6-6 Jordan Percell, 6-5 Chris Smith, 6-4 Ben Janes and 6-2, 230-pound Thomas Downs.
Bryton Taylor, a 6-2 senior, leads the team in scoring, averaging almost 20 points.
"This is one of the best teams in school history," Davis said. The Eagles haven't been to the Sweet Sixteen since 1973.
Newport boasts a 17-3 record, with two of its losses coming against Sweet Sixteen champ and 9th Region rival Holmes.
Shelby Valley's Justice, the tournament's MVP last year, will draw a lot of attention this week. The 5-foot-11 point guard, who has committed to walk on at Louisville, is averaging 21.5 points, 7.3 assists, 4.2 steals and 4.1 rebounds.
Justice isn't a one-man band. Ashley Hatfield, a 6-6 senior, is averaging 15 points, and 6-2 senior Taylor Newsome is averaging 12.4 points.
This is a different Shelby Valley team than last year. It graduated 6-10 Devon Adams and 6-7 Curby Tackett, who were a defensive presence inside.
Booher said the Wildcats' best asset may be their big-game experience. Justice, Hatfield and Newsome played in the Sweet Sixteen in Rupp Arena as freshmen and juniors, and last year they won the All "A" despite having to knock off No. 1 Elliott County in the semifinals only a few hours before taking down Bardstown in the finals.
