Maysville's longstanding connection with basketball

In a state full of basketball fans who have spent decades following the rivalry between NCAA blue bloods the University of Kentucky Wildcats and University of Louisville Cardinals, citizens of Maysville and the surrounding communities have built a strong, longstanding culture around the game.

From the devout fan base of the Saint Patrick Saints and former Maysville Bulldogs, to the committed supporters of the Mason County Royals and their 39th District rivals one county over, the Bracken County Polar Bears and Augusta Panthers, the Maysville area is a hot-spot for basketball fans and athletes alike.

Maysville's first state championship win came from the Maysville Lady Bulldogs, who picked up the victory in the 1926 Kentucky girls' state basketball tournament.

In 1947, the Maysville Bulldogs picked up their first and only state championship victory. Throughout the 1940s, Maysville won a total of nine district championships, five regional championships and picked up nine wins in the state tournament.

The Bulldogs were coached by Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame member Earle Jones from 1931-1955. Maysville High School closed in 1991, following a merger between the Maysville Independent School District and the Mason County School District.

Dating back further, the Fee High School Kittens picked up a pair of consecutive girls' state basketball championship wins in the early 1930s. From local historian Ron Bailey:

"The Fee High School Kittens did something that is often overlooked in the Maysville-Mason County storied basketball history. Winning a State Championship is not only an incredibly special feat; it is also very hard to do. So, when you win a State Title twice, and in two consecutive seasons it is even harder. The girls' team from Fee High School won back-to-back Kentucky High School Athletic State Championships in 1933 and 34."

The Mason County Royals have been a consistently strong team amongst their opponents in the 10th Region, with two state championship wins in 2003 and 2008, 15 10th Region championship titles and several district championship wins, recently winning their 10th consecutive 39th District championship this past season.

In total, Maysville area teams have picked up four state championship victories, and numerous state tournament appearances.

Two standout athletes from the 2003 and 2008 state championship winning Royals teams, Chris Lofton and Darius Miller, went on to have storied collegiate and professional careers following their time at Mason County.

Lofton, a member of the 2003 state championship winning and 2004 state championship appearing Mason County Royals teams, was an integral part of the Mason County offense throughout his high school career.

In 2003, the Royals defeated Ballard 86-65 to take home the state championship. Mason County lost 66-56 to Warren Central in the 2004 state championship game.

Lofton was then named the 2004 Mr. Kentucky Basketball, and was recruited by the University of Tennessee.

Lofton then went on to become the 2006-07 AP SEC Player of the Year, a three-time All American and is still the SEC's all-time leader in 3-Pointers with 431. Auburn's Bryce Brown is second place, with 382. He has since become one of five Vols to have their jersey retired.

Miller was a member of the 2008 state championship winning team, was named Mr. Kentucky Basketball, and ranked as the No. 42 player in the nation that year. He is also the only player from Kentucky to have been named Mr. Kentucky Basketball, win a KHSAA State Championship and an NCAA championship with the Wildcats.

Professionally, Miller was selected as the 46th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets (renamed to the Pelicans in 2013), before signing with Brose Bamberg in 2015. He later returned to the Pelicans in 2017 before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020.

For the past 13 years, Lofton and Miller have reunited each summer to host an annual skills camp for kids in the Maysville area.

To celebrate Maysville's strong relationship with the game, each summer in the Lady Royal's gym (formerly the Maysville Gym), a tournament is held featuring top talent from Maysville and the surrounding area, the Maysville Classic. The event, originally titled the Dirt Bowl, founded by Pat Moore, began in 1988 as a three-on-three tournament at Jack Condon's basket on Walnut Street and has since grown into a five-on-five tournament in the downtown Maysville gym.

The city of Maysville, and Mason County as a whole has a long and storied history in regards to the game of basketball. From the early high school victories of the 30s and 40s, to recent district dominance Maysville's relationship to the game is deep-rooted and well documented.