KNOTT COUNTY, Ky — Tuesday marked nearly four months since catastrophic flooding came through eastern Kentucky, affecting many counties within the area. After months of reconstruction, hundreds of community members gathered inside Knott County Central High School’s brand new gymnasium for the school’s first home game of the year.

What You Need To Know

  • Tuesday night’s game between Knott County Central High School and Letcher County marked the first in a brand-new gym

  • The gym floor was destroyed during the July 2022 flooding that came eastern Kentucky

  • This is the first time community members have been back inside the facility 

Getting back on their home court is something Knott County Central High School varsity player Hunter Haddix said hits different this year. 

“It’s special to all of us. All the history in this gym and to play with our teammates, it means everything,” Haddix said.

Tuesday night’s game against Letcher County was the first of many on Knott County’s new basketball court.

Athletic Director Justin Amburgey says when the flooding came through, the gym floors were completely destroyed.

“So thankful to see it all come together, see fans back from the community back here in the gym and see our teams back here on the floor and people just getting to enjoy the basketball game,” Amburgey said. 

And after months of rebuilding within Knott County, players, coaches and staff are excited to welcome back their community. 

It was a night to remember for Haddix and his teammates, as they start their own history on these new gym floors.

In between games, the companies who partnered with the school to help with the re-design and construction of the new gym presented a donation of three thousand dollars to the school. 

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