ECHS 1976 State Championship Team Now On Special Display At Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame

A KHSBHF display featuring team member Mark Hennion (32) cutting down the '76 Championship net.

Darren Doyle, story: photos by Rick Walters:
The Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, or the KHSBHF, has a new exhibit currently on display at their Elizabethtown facility that highlights one of the Commonwealth's most unlikely stories; the 1976 Edmonson County State Champion Wildcats.

KSHBHF Board Member Rick Walters said the display features the team trophy, currently on loan from Edmonson County High, a team photo, and other items from the historic achievement from the tiny school in Brownsville.

"If you pay attention to high school basketball in Kentucky, you remember the 1976 team," Walters said. "We're looking for great feedback on this display when we reopen on March 19th, and we want to keep it here as long as Edmonson County will let us use the trophy. Hopefully that will be until basketball season opens up next year. We also hope that the folks in Edmonson County will be proud of the display."

Edmonson County 1976 State Championship team is currently featured at the KY High School Basketball HOF in Etown.

According to the KHSBHF website, The Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame was born from an idea from the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches. Under the direction of North Hardin High School’s Men’s Head Basketball Coach Ron Bevars, the project began in October 2009 with the stated purpose of recognizing and protecting the heritage of Kentucky High School Basketball.

One exhibit features a photo of Wildcats team member Mark Hennion cutting down the net, which happened 45 years ago this month. 

Edmonson County defeated Betsy Lane 77-72 in round one of the Sweet Sixteen, then Harrison County 61-57. They narrowly topped Shelby County 53-52 in the final four and then dominated Christian County 74-52 in the championship game.

"We will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00AM to 4:00PM," Walters added. "We will increase the days as we progress with COVID restrictions.  We can also schedule a visit on other days, they just need to call us and set something up."

The KHSBHF is located at Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, 212 W. Dixie Avenue, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. You can reach them by clicking here.