The Kentucky Sweet 16 tournament brings the brightest talent in high school sports to Rupp Arena. The seats are filled with college scouts, player’s school friends, parents and mostly stepdads. Assertive stepparents have a reputation for making themselves known around the court.

“His mom and me aren’t actually married yet but I’m here to show my commitment to this family and to the game I love,” says Danville stepdad Luther Kimble. “I know my boundaries as a stepdad. I can’t put him in time out. Only his coach can do that.”

“Come on Brecken!” Kimble shouts from the stands. He’s holding up a sign that says “I’m Here for You!” with a blown up image of Brecken from the team photo.

“He’ll be going off to college soon and even though I’ve come in late to the game, I just . . .” – Luther got choked up at this point and wiped away a few tears. “He doesn’t have to call me dad for me to love him, he’s just gotta hit some more free throws.”

William Acosta remembers playing in the same tournament his stepson is now.

“We don’t have a ton in common, Chad and I,” says Acosta. “But we do share a love for sports. If he loses this game it doesn’t mean I won’t still love him like my own. But I won’t say that going 4-4 from 3 point land won’t make me love him more.”

Most were focused on the game, as well as strengthening their new family bonds, but some seemed to have different priorities.

“Oh yeah. I rushed down to the bleachers as soon as I heard about that divorce,” said Todd Mullins, who just started dating Owensboro point guard Darren Sizeback’s mother Sharon. “I’d had my eye on her since we were in Mr. Ringle’s chemistry class together.”

We’d found Todd outside the arena having a smoke during the last 2 minutes of Darren’s game. “Their mascots the Eagles, but his mom’s a Kentucky Wildcat if you know what I mean.”