ALL ACCESS PASS: One Of The Best Boys' Basketball Teams To Never Win State

Echoes of an Almost-Victory

Kentucky’s Sweet 16 tournament is full of legendary moments, but not every great story ends with a championship win. Some teams leave their mark through sheer determination, teamwork, and the unforgettable journey they take. One of those teams was Ohio County High School’s 1968-69 squad. Though they fell just short of the ultimate prize, their incredible season remains a cherished part of Kentucky basketball history. Today, we take a closer look at their story.

The 1968-1969 season for Ohio County High School was a testament to hard work overcoming physical limitations. As Everett Taylor recalls in his conversation with Gary Fogle "Our front line, Gary, was 6', 6' 1", and 5' 10"."

So how did a team considered undersized manage not only to compete but to excel? Everett Taylor shared, "We pressed from the time we got off the bus until the end of the game... We just wanted a team to shoot because we had great shooters and we knew...percentage wise, if we took 70 shots and they took 70, we were going to beat them." Their approach was strategic—maximize possession, and trust in their shooting ability. This, coupled with their dedication and excitement for the sport, painted the picture of a team prepared to face the tournament ahead.

Despite their valiant campaign, achieving a 32-3 record, Ohio County faced a formidable opponent in Louisville Central, widely regarded as possibly the best team to have graced the Sweet 16. Don Hazelrigg recounts, "Once we got to Louisville Central... we was no match for them. I mean, speed wise and height wise, they just swallowed us up. But we got to there anyway. "

Louisville Central in 1969, led by Ron King, was not just a spectacle, but a benchmark against which future generations would be measured. Don Hazelrigg comments, "I've been to a lot of state tournaments games since then, too, you know, but I don't know if we've seen a team as good as Louisville Central."

Echoing throughout the interviews is a nostalgia for a former era—a time when local courts and neighborhoods buzzed with the sound of bouncing basketballs. Reflecting on their formative years, Don Hazelrigg reminisces, "About the fifth grade on, you could drive through any subdivision that you wanted to, and the basketball courts would be full."

Now, the once-vibrant community courts are quieter. Gary Fogle adds, "Times are different now... kids now have computers, they have video games, they have other things that keep them occupied." But for players like Taylor and Hazelrigg, it was those community courts that shaped their journey.

Ohio County's 1969 basketball journey remains a vivid chapter within Kentucky sports history. They didn't clinch the championship, but their story remains alive. While teams like Louisville Central demonstrated unmatched skill, it was the heart embodied by Ohio County that illustrated why we love sports—to witness stories of passion, excitement, and hope. Perhaps, in today's world where outdoor courts lay quieter, it's these stories that can ignite a new generation's passion for the game.

Supplementary Source:

• EKU Encompass - The Kentucky High School Athlete, April 1969