FRANKFORT — A bill to study the format of the “Sweet 16” high school basketball tournaments seemed headed for defeat Thursday. Then Senate President David Williams gave a pep talk — of sorts.

        At issue is whether the state championship game of the boys' and girls' tournaments should be played on the same day as the two semifinal games. Rep. Rocky Adkins thinks that's too much for young athletes.

        It takes at least 16 votes to pass a bill in the Senate. A roll call was stuck at 13-13, with a dozen senators declining to vote at all, until Mr. Williams reminded his colleagues that Mr. Adkins was chairman of the House subcommittee that writes the budget for transportation.

        “You might want a road ... on some occasion,” Mr. Williams told his colleagues.

        That got the total to 17-14, whereupon Mr. Williams gaveled the bill to passage.

        Sen. Marshall Long, D-Shelbyville, was among some who thought it a mistake for the General Assembly to meddle in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association tournaments. “If the legislature gets involved in it, it'll probably be played in July,” he said.

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