And then there were two

Bulldogs and Bearettes.

After a five day run in Rupp Arena last week, Kentucky crowned it’s second high school basketball champions.

The Paul Laurence Dunbar Bulldogs, champions of the 11th Region, stepped up its game on Saturday and Sunday to lay claim to the most coveted title in high school basketball in the nation (yes it is), the KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 State Championship.

The Dunbar Bulldogs will hang the 2016 Sweet 16 banner after picking up wins last week over Mercer County (58-55), our own 4th Region Champions Bowling Green (57-51), Newport Catholic (55-47) and eventually a somewhat surprising win over the Doss Dragons (61-52).

The Bulldogs join the Butler High School Bearettes as the two teams to be introduced as State Champions for the next 51 weeks.

As for the Boys’ Sweet 16, it was a good tournament overall. Certainly not the best I’ve ever attended, but better than mediocre.

The overall quality of the competition was down considerably from previous years, and the attendance at most every game during the week showed that. I’m sure attendance figures that will be released later by the KHSAA will show decent figures, but those figures will likely be “tickets sold” rather than turnstile figures. There were a lot of empty seats all week long.

Again, the change in format a few years ago where the two teams reaching the championship game no longer play twice on Saturday but rather a Sunday afternoon game, just takes away part of the charm.

Personally, despite the 20 minute light and fireworks show that goes on prior to the championship game, I haven’t attended a final game since that change was made – although I had tickets.

Time for a change . . . back.

Now, for us hard core high school roundball fans, it’s time for a little break. Time to enjoy some spring sports and then some summer outdoor activities.

I’ll see you in the gym – in November

Spring sports – here we go

Readers will find included this week our annual Spring Sports preview that gives a look at the athletes who will take the fields and courts for the outdoor spring lineup – baseball, softball, tennis and archery.

These youngsters wear the blue and white just as proudly as any of our Clinton County athletes – get out and enjoy some spring weather, and some great action from our Bulldogs.