Sweet 16 champs resides in the Mountains

Shelby Valley stunned the Louisville Ballard Bruins to win their first KHSAA "Sweet Sixteen" title. Shelby Valley’s Elisha Justice, who is headed for the University of Louisville as a walk-on told Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leaders they were confident that they would win the 93rd high school classic. Shelby Valley defeated the Bruins, 73-61.

Justice was a hugh reason the Wildcats became the first team from Pike County to win the state championship. In Saturday’s final two games, he was 7 of 11 from 3-point range, hit 11-of-11 from the free throw line and scored 48 points.

It has been a four-year project for former Corbin assistant Jason Booher. Most of the Wildcats, such as Justice, Ashley Hatfield and Taylor Newsome have started since they were freshmen. Hatfield finished with finished with 36 points in the semifinals and championship game.

It was a very deserving championship for the small 2A football school that enjoyed a successful season before falling to the Redhounds in the playoffs.

I picked Ballard to the win the title this year, but it’s always good to see a mountain school to get some recognition.