The Clinton County High School Bulldogs boys’ varsity basketball team was one of eight boys’ varsity teams from across Kentucky chosen to participate in the first annual Kentucky High School Hall of Fame Tip Off Classic this past weekend. The Classic also featured four games involving eight girls’ varsity teams.

Held just down the road from the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the Bulldogs earned a 10 point victory, 54-44, over of one of the host city teams of the Classic, the North Hardin High School Trojans.

The victory pushed Clinton County’s record in this young season to the 2-1 mark. A detailed account of the Saturday afternoon game can be found on page 4.

In addition to the victory, the Bulldogs also earned the opportunity to learn more about the history of high school basketball in Kentucky than likely they had ever been given before.

After arriving for a provided meal at a Hardin County middle school, the Bulldogs were shown a brief, 30 minute long documentary chronicling the history of basketball in Kentucky titled “32”.

During that presentation, beginning, of course, with the invention of the game itself by Dr. James Naismith, the lesson quickly moved from the 1891 start of the game, into the state of Kentucky and the history of high school basketball in this roundball crazed state.

Hearing names like King Kelly Coleman, Billy Ray Lickert, Jock Sutherland, Jerry Dunn, Darrel Griffith, Geri Grisby and Bobby Keith, likely for the first time ever, the team members watched intently as the film moved from the early 1900s when basketball was introduced on the high school level in Kentucky, to present day with the importance of the state’s Sweet 16 Tournament, dubbed “The Greatest Show in Hoops.”

Following the film, the team and staff boarded their bus again for another short trip through Elizabethtown to the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, for a private tour through the facility, getting a chance to look at a building full of old photos, interactive and educational areas, and even stand alongside an actual KHSAA Boys ‘Sweet 16 Championship Trophy.

High School basketball celebrated its 100th year in the state of Kentucky in 2018, and the Hall of Fame introduced a class of inductees in its ceremony last year that included the 100th member of the HOF.

Established in 2012, the Hall of Fame facility of is located at 212 West Dixie Avenue in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and is open Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. eastern time.

Additional information may be found at: khsbhf.com

Watching the documentary “32”, players and staff from the Clinton County Bulldogs were joined by teams from other high schools that were also participating in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic.

The boys’ varsity team members viewed a collection of photos that line the entrance hall going into the High School Basketball Hall of Fame that include scenes from the modern era, as well as a look at how the game appeared decades ago.

Much of the Wall of Fame is dedicated to record holders in Kentucky through the 100 year history of basketball in Kentucky, including this area listing two former Lady Bulldogs who hold second place spots behind Wall of Fame player Jaime Waltz. Paige Guffey, dropped in 445 baskets from three point range while her twin sister, Amber Guffey, finished with 1,272 career assists for Clinton County.

Players and coaches stopped for this photo opportunity behind some giant concrete basketballs that mark the entrance to the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon after touring the facility as a part of the facilities Tip-Off Classic in Elizabethtown.

From left to right are: Steele Burchett, Thomas Oesterreicher, Braden Stockton, Cohen Davis, Elijah Tucker, Blake Melton, Bryson Cross, Cole Nuetzman, Eli Dearborn, Nick Brown, Caleb Guffey, Chase Stines, Parker Tallent, Evan Dearborn, Adam Hay, Nick Delk, Todd Messer, Leighman Messer, Mike Beard, Storm Burchett and Nick Irwin.

Clinton County Head Basketball Coach Todd Messer snapped a photo of the display in the “locker room” area of the Hall of Fame that included the tribute to his own high school basketball coach, the late Bobby Keith. The legendary Clay County Tigers coach took his teams to the KHSAA Sweet 16 Tournament 18 times, winning the championship in 1987.