Fans in the 2nd Region have seen some pretty good boys basketball over the past 10 years. Since we have a little extra time on our hands right now, we decided to rank the last 10 region champs. There were some tough decisions on this list, and you may not agree with all of them, but that is one of the great fun things about sports, is the “discussion” over the lists like these.
1 – 2011 Christian County (25-9) – It was really, really close between #1, #2, and #3, but a state championship has to lend some weight to the decision. This team had its struggles against a brutal schedule early, but then won 15 of its last 16 games, including one of the great state championship games of all time.
2 – 2013 Hopkinsville (33-5) – When this team got rolling, they were dangerous. They won 25 in a row before losing a 4 point heartbreaker to Madison Central in the semifinals of the Boys Sweet 16. The only real test in that 25 game winning streak came in the regional semifinals, when they eeked out a one point win over Madisonville.
3 – 2014 Hopkinsville (31-3) – This team did not lose to a Kentucky team in the regular season, and most of their games against in-state opponents that season were not even close. Won 20 in a row before being knocked off by Trinity in the quarterfinal round of the Boys Sweet 16.
4 – 2020 Madisonville (31-3) – The Maroons might have moved up a slot on this list, had they had the opportunity to play in the Boys Sweet 16, which was canceled due to COVID-19. When they cut down the nets at the end of the 2nd Region tournament, they had won 20 in a row, none to an opponent from the 2nd Region, and two of their losses were to teams that had to hit a last second shot to force overtime.
5 – 2016 Christian County (29-3) – The Colonels only regular season losses were back to back at the Centralia holiday event to out of state teams. From January 1 on in the regular season, Hopkinsville was the only team to really test the Colonels. Lost a tough one to South Laurel in the opening round of the Boys Sweet 16.
6 – 2012 Hopkinsville (32-3) – Another one of the really good Hoptown teams of the decade. Missed an unbeaten regular season by just five points, with close losses to Muhlenberg County and Bowling Green. Upset in the 1st round of the Boys Sweet 16 by Southwestern.
7 – 2019 Madisonville (30-6) – Most thought the Maroons were still a year away, and that UHA would be the repeat champs in 2019. However, Madisonville won 23 in a row and took down the Blazers on the Maroons’ home court in the regional title game. Knocked out by Warren Central in the quarterfinals of the Sweet 16.
8 – 2015 Hopkinsville (27-6) – Tigers got hot coming down the stretch of the season, winning 13 of their last 14 games headed into the state tournament. Won their opener against Taylor County, before getting knocked out by Owensboro in the quarterfinals. Only lost one game to a 2nd Region opponent all season.
9 – 2018 UHA (23-8) – The Blazers had some tough losses early in the season. Lost twice to Christian County during the regular season, but got the Colonels twice when it mattered the most, in the 8th District title game, and in the 2nd Region championship game. Fell to Campbell County in their Sweet 16 opener.
10 – 2017 Hopkinsville (28-7) – The Tigers were 7-4 eleven games into the season. Then Hoptown got hot over the 2nd half of the year, winning 16 of their last 18 regular season games. Took down Christian County in the 8th District final and the 2nd Region final. Ran into a Fern Creek buzz saw in the opening round of the Sweet 16.
