Under a cloud of confetti, Mason County guard Chris Lofton showed the Rupp Arena crowd who was number one after the Royals beat Ballard in the finals of the Boys’ Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament on March 22, 2003, in Lexington. Lofton, who was named most valuable player, led Mason County to its first state basketball title with a record-tying nine three-pointers in the 86-65 championship game victory. The next year, Lofton added Mr. Basketball honors to his resume. He then went the the University of Tennessee, where he broke the SEC record for career three-pointers: 431. Currently, he has built a professional career playing basketball overseas. Photo by Marck Cornelison | Staff