LEXINGTON, Ky. — While the Kentucky Wildcats are in North Carolina gearing up for the first round of the NCAA tournament, Rupp Arena is playing host to dozens of the best high school teams from across the Commonwealth.

The KHSAA Sweet 16 Championship is common for a lot of schools, like Jeffersontown, who competed in last year’s opening game. However, for others, it has been decades since they have played under the lights at Rupp.

The Woodford County Yellow Jackets are taking on the tournament for the first time in almost 40 years. Head coach Jerron Brown says it’s now a feeling his team will remember forever after a tightly played match versus the Jeffersontown Chargers.

Fans across the state and many from Versailles pack Rupp Arena for the KHSAA 2023 Sweet 16. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

Brown says not only is winning a game often a player’s dream, but playing on the same court as college athletes frequently is also exciting. 

“It still feels good to have these kids here and being able to play, which is like some of their lifelong goals, is just to play in Rupp Arena,” Brown said. 

The Yellow Jackets and the chargers kept fans on edge for a close, sending the game into overtime with the Jackets pulling out the win 70–67. 

Brown says the experience is surreal for seniors like his son, starting No. 4 Ayden Brown, knowing this might be their last basketball game as Yellow Jackets and as high schoolers. 

“They don’t want it to be their last game, it gives them a little extra effort,” Brown said. “They gave their last plus with the crowd from Woodford County today that showed up and it made them go that much harder.”

Left to right: Ellis Indacot, Kaden Crouse, Tolston Gammper, Emily Gammper and and Avynlea Gammper support the Woodford County Yellowjackets at the boys Sweet 16 championship. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

The Yellow Jacket cheerleaders also competed for a state title. Cheer parent Emily Gampper said the girls also had intense preparation for the championship. 

“The cheerleaders kind of have their competition between the other cheerleaders for their own Sweet 16, so they had a lot of practices leading up to it and they were coming in ready to do their best to lead the crowd and just get everybody pumped up,” Gampper explained. 

With high hopes that his team will continue putting their all on the court, Brown says the Yellow Jackets’ goal is to focus on the moment. “We are just taking it one game at a time and hopefully we can keep advancing.”

With classes paused for students attending the games, the yellowjackets received a sea of support from both peers and families.