Back-to-back winners rare in 11th
Posted by Mike Fields on February 28, 2008
Everybody knows that winning the 11th Region boys’ basketball title is a difficult chore, so it should be no surprise to learn that repeating as 11th Region champ is tougher than in any other region. At least that’s what recent hoops history tells us.
Paul Dunbar was the last boys’ team to go back-to-back in the 11th. The Bulldogs did it in 1993-94. Eleven of the other 15 regions have had repeat winners since 2000, led by Warren Central’s six-peat from 2002-07. The other four regions have had a repeat champ in the last 10 years.
Nobody has won three consecutive 11th Region crowns since the old Dunbar did it in 1963-64-65. Fourteen of the other 15 regions have had a three-peater in the last 20 years. Only the 12th Region has gone longer than the 11th without a three-peat. Monticello did it in the 12th in 1958-59-60.
If defending state champ Scott County is going to win the 11th again (that’s Matt Walls and Jordan Lee shown above celebrating the Cards’ region title last March), it will have to earn it. The Cardinals are rated No. 3 in the state, but they play No. 2 Bryan Station in the district finals on Friday night, and their competition in the region will also include No. 1 Lexington Catholic, No. 10 Dunbar and No. 17 Madison Central. And don’t think tonight’s district finals isn’t important. The Scott County-Bryan Station loser might have to play the first round of the region on Lexington Catholic’s or Madison Central’s home floor.
Here’s a rundown on each region’s most recent back-to-back winners and three-peaters:
- 1st: Graves County (1997-98); Marshall County (1987-88-89)
- 2nd: University Heights (2004-05); Madisonville (1987-88-89)
- 3rd: Muhlenberg North (1998-99-2000)
- 4th: Warren Central (2002-03-04-05-06-07)
- 5th: North Hardin (2001-02-03)
- 6th: Pleasure Ridge Park (2004-05-06)
- 7th: Male (2001-02-03)
- 8th: Oldham County (2000-01-02)
- 9th: Highlands (1997-98-99)
- 10th: Mason County (2002-03-04)
- 11th: Paul Dunbar (1993-94); Dunbar (1963-64-65)
- 12th: Boyle County (1998-99); Monticello (1958-59-60)
- 13th: South Laurel (2006-07); Clay County (1984-85-86-87-88-89-90)
- 14th: Perry Central (2004-05); Knott Central (1991-92-93)
- 15th: Paintsville (1995-96-97-98)
- 16th: Ashland (2001-02); Boyd County (1998-99-2000)
