The Kentucky High School Athletic Assn. owns the copyright to the term 'Sweet 16', which the NCAA uses with permission. 

The 98th edition of the Sweet 16 is the Kentucky High School basketball tournament which begins today in Rupp Arena.  

Kentucky is one of only 2 states that doesn't divide their schools in classes. All schools, regardless of size, compete together for the title. Every year, there are a couple of small schools that qualify for the tournament. If they can win a game or two, they capture the crowds at Rupp Arena. 

This year, there are 2 such schools.  Williamsburg, a mountain school with only 230 students,  has qualified for the first time in 70 years and will face Louisville Doss (904 students) .  Elliott County is the other small school competing this year.  As recently as  2010, a small school (Shelby Valley ) won the title. 

 Covington Catholic is trying to become the first repeat winner since Louisville Fairdale in '90 and '91. Before that it was Louisvlle Male in '70 and '71.  Cov. Catholic opens with  Campbell County, just 10 miles away. Cov. Catholic defeated the Camels in December. Collins, only 5 years in existence,  has qualified for the first time in school history. Owensboro is playing for the 43rd time


State rankings of the schools:

3.    Lou. Ballard
4.    Knott Co. Central
5.   Covington Catholic
7.      Taylor County
9.     Lexington Catholic
12.   Hopkinsville
17.   Owensboro
25.   Bowling Green
27.   Louisville Doss
31. . Boyle County
41  . Calloway County
43   Collins
47.   Campbell County
57.   Johnson Central
65.   Williamsburg
110. Elliott County

The teams aren't seeded for the state tournament; it's a blind draw. 

Collins vs. Owensboro
Taylor County vs. Hopkinsville
Cov. Catholic vs. Campbell County
Williamsburg vs. Louisville Doss

Lexington Catholic vs. Boyle Co.
Johnson Central vs. Louisville Ballard
Knott County vs. Calloway Co
Bowling Green vs. Elliott County

Wow, I live in Cincinnati and totally forgot about Covington Catholic's run from last year.

Rupp Arena was rocking for little Williamsburg yesterday, after they took a 13-0 lead over big-city Louisville Doss.  But Doss rallied to win 56-50.  Other winners were #17 Owensboro,  #12 Hopkinsville, and #5 Covington Catholic.   Cov. Catholic's win over Campbell County dropped the Camels to 0-5 all-time in the state tournament. That ties them with Franklin-Simpson and McCreary Central for the most appearances without a win

Two upsets in the lower bracket.  Boyle County rallied from 12 down in the final 5 minutes to knock off #9 Lexington Catholic 60-59.  

 #4 Knott County Central, the best hope for the mountain schools, fell in 2OT to Calloway County (home of Murray St. Univ).   Calloway County H.S. opened in 1960. This is their 2nd trip to the Sweet 16 and 1st victory.    However, one of the six schools, New Concord, that formed Calloway County in 1960, won a game in 1942.

The small schools are eliminated  after Bowling Green defeated Elliott County.

Covington Catholic is the lone private school remaining.  Catholic schools have won 2 of the last 3 titles (Cov. Catholic last year; Louisville Trinity in 2012). Trinity was ranked #1 this year but fell to #3 Ballard in the regional tournament. 

Lou. Trinity was an overwhelming favorite entering the district tournaments. During the regular season, they handily defeated 5 of the 8 remaining teams.... Owensboro (57-40); Hopkinsville (71-42); Doss (71-55); Boyle County (76-44); and Cov. Catholic (60-49). Trinity has 3 players signed with D1 schools (Louisville, Marshall and Texas St.),  and one each at D2 and D3

Quarterfinals today:
#17 Owensboro vs. #12 Hopkinsville
#5 Covington Catholic vs. #27 Louisville Doss
#31 Boyle Co. vs. #3 Louisville Ballard
#25 Bowling Green vs. #41 Calloway County

After #31 Boyle County stunned tournament favorite Louiville Ballard 85-70, the semis are set.

#17 Owensboro meets #5 Covington Catholic
 
 Owensboro, in their 43rd Sweet Sixteen, is playing in their 13th Final Four. They won the title in 1949, 1972, and 1980
   Defending champion Cov. Catholic is making their 4th Final Four. They were runner-up in 1976 to tiny Edmonson County.  Most experts credit Edmonson's win with saving Kentucky's one-class tournament.  Large Louisville schools had won 6 of the previous 7 tournaments and there was rumblings of dividing the state into 3 classifications. 

#31 Boyle County vs. #25 Bowling Green

#31 Boyle County, in their 4th Sweet 16, had never won a state tournament game before this week  None of the 4 schools that consolidated into Boyle Co. in 1963 had ever made the Sweet 16.
#25 Bowling Green, in their 15th Sweet 16, is back in the Final Four for the 2nd consecutive year. They fell to Cov. Catholic last season. 

Owensboro (30-5) eliminated defending champion Covington Catholic 69-65 (OT).
Bowling Green (31-5) defeated Cinderella Boyle County 68-58.

For only the 2nd time in the tournament's 98-year history, two western Kentucky teams meet in the final. The previous time was 1976, when Edmonson Co. defeated Christian County. This is the 3rd meeting this season between  Owensboro and Bowling Green. Owensboro won the previous two, 79-71 and 69-66

Owensboro defeats Bowling Green for the 3rd time this season, 74-58, to win the State. 

This is the 4th title for the Red Devils, but the first since 1980. They also won in 1949 and 1972. It's the first championship appearance for the Bowling Green Purples.