It’s hard to blame some fans for calling the boys’ 2nd Region All A Classic the University Heights Invitational.
University Heights Academy in Hopkinsville has won the regional crown 24 times going back 30 years.
Doing the math, that means someone besides the Blazers has only won six times over that same period.
UHA has more All A state championships than that, winning the big trophy in the small-school tournament nine times — including last season.
University Heights has won the last seven 2nd Region All A titles.
The last school to win the crown besides UHA, Webster County in 2012, isn’t even eligible for the All A Classic anymore.
Even worse for the rest of the teams in this year’s field — UHA appears to be playing its best basketball of the season entering the All A regional, which gets underway on Tuesday.
The Blazers (7-8) have gone 7-4 since opening the season with four straight losses. That includes wins over crosstown rivals Christian County (77-50) and Hopkinsville (71-66 in overtime) in UHA’s last two outings.
Junior guard KJ Crump leads four Blazers scoring in double figures at 20.9 points a game.
At this point, anyone besides UHA winning the All A regional would have to be considered an upset.
However, there are several teams that could give the Blazers a run for their money.
Crittenden County (7-8), which UHA will visit in the opening round, has shown potential this season and could be tough on its home floor.
At 6-foot-4, junior Preston Turley gives the Rockets an inside presence with 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds a game.
Junior guard Gabe Mott scores 16.5 points a game while senior Eric O’Leary adds 15.3.
The Rockets and Blazers have already met once this season, with UHA winning in Hopkinsville 81-58 on Dec. 14.
Crittenden won its only All A Classic regional crown in 2000.
But most observers give Lyon County the best chance to end UHA’s regional run.
The Lyons open against Dawson Springs (5-9) on Tuesday.
Those teams have not met this season.
The Panthers are led by senior guard Skyler Clark and his 18.7 points a game.
Lyon and UHA would potentially meet in Friday’s semifinals, which will be held at Livingston Central.
The Lyons (9-6) defeated the Blazers in a preseason scrimmage.
Lyon appears to be able to match up with UHA behind eighth grade guard Travis Perry, who scores 23.4 points a game, and sophomore forward Jackson Shoulders, who averages 13.6 points and 9.4 rebounds.
Lyon has won three All A regionals, but the last was in 2009.
Meanwhile, keep an eye on Caldwell County, which appears to have gotten a favorable draw in the bottom portion of the bracket.
The Tigers are 6-8, but have gone 6-3 since starting the season with five straight setbacks.
Caldwell opens the regional with a trip to winless Livingston Central (0-16) on Tuesday.
With a win there, the Tigers would face an improved Fort Campbell (6-9) squad in the semifinal round. The Falcons, who are 1-8 in their last nine games after starting the season 5-1, have a first-round bye.
Junior guard Tripp Branch leads Caldwell at 13 points a game while senior guard Adarius Riley scores 12 points a contest.
Caldwell has never won the 2nd Region All A Classic title.
The 2nd Region champ advances to the All A Classic state tournament in Richmond Jan. 23-26.
The 2nd Region has drawn the 1st Region in the opening round at state in a game to be played Thursday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. Eastern time at McBrayer Arena at Eastern Kentucky University.
Boys 2nd Region All A Classic Schedule
Tuesday, Jan. 14
Dawson Springs at Lyon County, 7 p.m.
University Heights at Crittenden County, 7 p.m.
Caldwell County at Livingston Central, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan.17 at Livingston Central
Dawson-Lyon vs. UHA-Crittenden, 6 p.m.
Caldwell-Livingston vs. Fort Campbell, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 18 at Livingston Central
Championship-semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
