Kentucky small-school basketball glory on the line again in All ‘A’ Classic
How about 30 games over five days featuring some of the state’s best small-school basketball teams?
You’re in luck.
The boys’ and girls’ All “A” Classic tips off this week at Eastern Kentucky University’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond with the girls’ bracket getting started Wednesday and the boys taking their turn Thursday.
The girls’ tournament features the star power of four teams who made it to that other state championship Sweet Sixteen last year, including 5th Region champion Bethlehem, the No. 9 ranked team in the state, according to the latest Cantrall Ratings.
The 5 p.m. girls’ game on Wednesday could bring the best matchup of the whole week with defending All “A” Classic and 3rd Region champ Owensboro Catholic taking on the 10th Region’s Bishop Brossart. The one-loss Lady ’Stangs have served noticed they’re intent on a trip to Rupp Arena, having already upset perennial contender Clark County this season. Owensboro Catholic features Murray State commit Hannah McKay, one of the contenders for Miss Basketball.
On the boys’ side, University Heights will look to defend its Classic title with returning starters DJ Quarles and William Bryan getting a boost from 21.6 points per game scorer KJ Krump.
With no teams ranked in the boy’s Cantrall top 25, the field looks to be wide open.
However, opposite UHA in the bracket lies St. Henry, the highest-rated team in the tournament, according to Cantrall. St. Henry has already racked up an upset this year against Lexington Catholic and is led by Wyatt Vieth and Jude Bessler.
This will be the first All “A” Classic held without its chairman and co-founder Stan Steidel, who died last year in a car accident. The Classic will honor Steidel’s contributions to small-school athletics with a brief tribute ahead of each of the first-round games and a small ceremony with his family at halftime of each of the finals on Sunday.
All ‘A’ Classic
At EKU’s McBrayer Arena in Richmond
Wednesday
Girls’ first round: Eight games, with first tipping off at 8:30 a.m.
Thursday
Boys’ first round: Eight games, with first tipping off at 8:30 a.m.
Friday
Quarterfinals: Girls start at 8:30 a.m., boys at 5 p.m.
Saturday
Semifinals: Girls start at noon, boys at 6 p.m.
Sunday
Championship games: Girls at noon, boys at 2 p.m.
