For three area teams, the Kentucky 2A championships begin this week – the kickoff of the inaugural tournament conceived less than a year ago as a chance for schools too large for the All ‘A’ Classic but with fewer than 1,000 students to compete for a state title.

The inaugural field will feature 43 schools, both boys and girls teams, divided into four sections – each comprised of four regions.

Warren Central will host Franklin-Simpson in an opening-round match in Section I on Thursday, while Warren East hosts Trigg County on Saturday.

The Warren Central-Franklin-Simpson winner will play at Allen County-Scottsville next month, with the Warren East-Trigg County winner facing Glasgow next month as well. Section I also includes Calloway County, Union County, Caldwell County, Webster County, Paducah Tilghman and Hopkins County Central – which will serve as the host of the sectional semifinals and finals scheduled to take place Jan. 12-13.

“It’s been needed for a long time,” Franklin-Simpson girls’ coach Lex Lindsey said. “Class A has got theirs. Now the majority of the schools have their 2A. I think it is a good deal. Any time you can put a little something on the line and make it a little important (it is a good thing). I’m looking forward to it.”

Warren East girls’ coach Orlando Hayden agrees this tournament is one that has been needed for a while, and will help his young team prepare for what it will be like in the postseason.

“I think it is really good for the schools that are going,” Hayden said. “I know when I was at Glasgow we did it (with the All ‘A’). It gave kids something to look forward to. It gives them a tournament atmosphere. We need it, for the district we are in, so that gives us a little tournament feel. I’m excited about it and I hope they are too.”

Warren Central coach William Unseld is also excited to see his team tested for what he thinks will be a competitive field statewide.

“There are some good teams,” Unseld said. “It’s going to be some really good competition. It gives you some tournament-type games to play during the season to get you ready for the postseason. I think it will help us in the long run.”

The Warren Central boys look to be one of the favorites to make a deep run in the tournament, coming off a run to the KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen semifinals last year and picked as one of the top teams in Region 4 this season. Unseld said he doesn’t think his team is quite there yet, but this could go a long way in preparing the Dragons for what lies ahead.

“I don’t know if they should be looking at us as one of the teams right now,” Unseld said. “We have a long way to go, but we have good kids that are working hard. This thing comes real early so we won’t have a whole lot of chance to get better, but it will help us in the long run.”

The champion and runner-up from each section will advance to the state quarterfinals in Owensboro on Jan. 18. The semifinals will be Jan. 19 in Owensboro with the championship Jan. 20 in Owensboro.{&end}