All ‘A’ Classic set to settle who’s tops among Ky. high school basketball’s small schools
The week’s weather forecast looks promising for this year’s edition of high school basketball’s All “A” Classic, a welcome departure from the 2021 event that was derailed by one of the season’s biggest snowstorms.
Scheduled to be held in their entirety at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond, both the girls’ event beginning Wednesday and the boys’ event beginning Thursday have some of the best teams and players in the state.
Every participant has already won their own small-school region title. Now it’s time to find out who can claim the All “A” Classic state championship.
Boys’ bracket has star power
No. 23 Pikeville comes in as the boys’ Classic’s top-rated team, according to the latest Dave Cantrall ratings.
Pikeville (15-1) and Murray (15-2), the Classic’s two top-rated teams, also appear to be front-runners to earn their regions’ respective bids to the big tournament at Rupp Arena in March, but they’ll have to go through each other for an All “A” championship. If both advance, they would meet in Friday’s quarterfinals through the luck of the draw.
The Panthers have four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by senior forward Nick Robinson (17.7 points). The Tigers have three such scorers, led by junior guard Grant Whitaker (17.6 points).
Meanwhile, the other side of the bracket boasts four of the most prolific scorers in the state.
Covington Holy Cross junior guard Jacob Meyer tops the statewide list, averaging 40.2 points per game. Lyon County sophomore guard Travis Perry ranks seventh at 28.1, Bracken County sophomore guard Blake Reed is eighth at 27.4, and Harlan senior guard Jordan Akal ranks 12th at 26.6. They all play in separate games during Thursday’s evening session and are pointed to square off against each other in the quarterfinals if they advance.
Other notes from the boys’ Classic:
▪ Sayre, the 11th Region champ, makes its first appearance since 1998, its only other visit. The Spartans topped Lexington Christian 70-63 in the region finals on Jan. 15 as Davis Miller and Dant Bowling scored 22 and 21 points, respectively. Zander Collett leads the team with 19.9 points per game.
▪ Evangel Christian’s Cyr Malonga, a 6-11 junior center, rates as a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports.com, and has a reported six college offers including Georgetown, Georgia and Texas. He’s averaging 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
▪ In addition to Danville Christian, Breathitt County is also making its first Classic appearance.
▪ Harlan and Covington Holy Cross are the only past champions in this year’s field. The Green Dragons have two titles. The Indians have one.
Girls’ field loaded to top teams, history
The girls’ Classic has two programs who were part of last year’s full-field Girls’ Sweet 16 — Pikeville and Knott County Central.
Pikeville (17-1), ranked No. 13 in the latest Cantrall ratings, has to be considered the Classic’s favorite as the highest-rated team in the field (80.5). But the Panthers will have to face Knott County Central (13-6) in Friday’s quarterfinals if both advance.
Pikeville is led by standout sophomore point guard Trinity Rowe (16.6 points) and it recently added Belfry transfer Kyera Thornsbury, another sophomore, who scored 12 points in her debut against Shelby County last week. Thornsbury led the Pirates with 18.9 points per game as a freshman and just gained eligibility for the Panthers. The Panthers open with Classic first-timer Danville Christian (59.8) in Wednesday’s late game.
The next toughest girls’ teams, according to Cantrall — Owen County (76.2) and Covington Holy Cross (76.1) — play on the other side of the bracket.
Owen County tips off the first game of the tournament at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday against Carlisle County (49.0). Covington Holy Cross will take on Paris (56.8) at 11:30 a.m.
Other notes on the girls’ Classic:
▪ Paris, the 10th Region champ, is making its first appearance since 2009.
▪ Danville Christian is in its third year playing in the KHSAA as a program in both boys’ and girls’ basketball and both have made this year’s field.
▪ Carlisle County and Cumberland County are also making their first trips to the Classic.
▪ 11th Region champion Berea is making its fourth straight appearance.
▪ The field includes past champions Owensboro Catholic (three titles) Jackson County (two), Louisville Holy Cross (two) and Covington Holy Cross (one).
All ‘A’ Classic
When: Wednesday through Sunday
Where: Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond
Tickets: $10
Video stream: Pay per view ($10) at Go.PrepSpin.com.
All ‘A’ Classic schedule
Games listed in time/bracket order (Record/Cantrall rating in parentheses)
BOYS’ TOURNAMENT
Thursday’s games
8:30 a.m.: Danville Christian (14-5/59.8) vs. Murray (15-2/75.3)
10 a.m.: Pikeville (15-1/76.0) vs. Owensboro Catholic (10-9/58.5)
11:30 a.m.: West Carter (8-7/50.6) vs. Todd Co. Central (15-3/51.4)
1 p.m.: Kentucky Country Day (10-8/52.8) vs. Evangel Christian (8-7/63.4)
5 p.m.: Walton-Verona (11-8/65.1) vs. Bracken Co. (14-4/64.1)
6:30 p.m.: Campbellsville (12-7/51.8) vs. Harlan (13-6/48.9)
8 p.m.: Breathitt Co. (14-4/43.4) vs. Lyon Co. (12-4/71.8)
9:30 p.m.: Covington Holy Cross (14-6/69.6) vs. Sayre (9-9/59.2)
Friday’s quarterfinals
Tip-offs at 5, 6:30, 8 and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday’s semifinals
Tip-offs at 3 and 4:30 p.m.
Sunday’s finals
2 p.m.: Championship
GIRLS’ TOURNAMENT
Wednesday’s games
8:30 a.m.: Owen Co. (14-6/76.2) vs. Carlisle Co. (12-4/49.0)
10 a.m.: Jackson Co. (14-4/54.9) vs. Cumberland Co. (12-6/47.8)
11:30 a.m.: Paris (12-5/56.8) vs. Covington Holy Cross (13-8/76.1)
1 p.m.: Campbellsville (11-9/59.1) vs. Lyon Co. (10-8/52.7)
5 p.m.: Berea (16-2/69.7) vs. Owensboro Catholic (15-6/58.5)
6:30 p.m.: Whitefield Academy (16-5/21.4) vs. Louisville Holy Cross (10-7/46.5)
8 p.m.: Knott Co. Central (13-6/61.5) vs. West Carter (14-4/66.6)
9:30 p.m.: Pikeville (17-1/80.5) vs. Danville Christian (15-3/59.8)
Friday’s quarterfinals
Tip-offs at 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday’s semifinals
Tip-offs at noon, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday’s finals
Noon: Championship
This story was originally published January 24, 2022 at 10:48 AM.
