Author Archive
Butler bounces Bowling Green
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 10, 2016)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Four-time state champion Butler, which seems to always look comfortable on the big stage, turned in another winning performance in the first round of the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Thursday afternoon.
The Bearettes, getting a big boost from their bench, notched their 11th victory in a row by beating Bowling Green 64-52 in BB&T Arena.
Butler, whose state titles came in 2014, 2008, 1980 and 1975, advanced to Friday night’s quarterfinals and will face the Elizabethtown-Henderson County winner.
Jaelynn Penn led the way against Bowling Green. The 5-foot-9 junior had 20 points and 9 rebounds.
Janna Lewis and Molly Lockhart helped Butler’s bench outscore Bowling Green’s bench 30-8. Lewis had 16 points and 6 rebounds. Lockhart had 10 points and 6 rebounds.
“Our bench gave us a major spark, a big lift, in the first quarter,” Coach Larry Just said.
Bowling Green was led by Keely Morrow’s 18 points and Oneisha Turner’s 16. Ta Mia Matthews had 10 […]
Murray beats Manual for 28th win in a row
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 10, 2016)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Murray, trying to duplicate Covington Holy Cross’s grand achievement as a small school last year, beat Manual 58-41 in the first round of the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Thursday afternoon in BB&T Arena.
It was Murray’s 28th consecutive victory, a streak that includes the All “A” Classic title. Covington Holy Cross swept the All “A” and the Sweet Sixteen last year, and Murray has its eyes on the big prize, too.
Maddie Waldrop led the Tigers against Manual. The 6-foot-2 junior had 22 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 3 steals.
Alexis Burpo and Lex Mayes had 9 points each. Brittany Lawson chipped in with 8 points.
Murray point guard Macey Turley contributed 7 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds before injuring her ankle in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. Coach Rechelle Turner expects Turley to be available for Friday’s quarterfinals. “It’s a quick turnaround, but […]
Thursday’s Sweet Sixteen matchups
The first round of the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen continues Thursday at BB&T Arena:
- Murray (33-1) vs. Manual (21-7), noon
- Butler (27-5) vs. Bowling Green (29-4), 1:30 p.m.
- Elizabethtown (29-4) vs. Henderson County (18-9), 6:30 p.m.
- Owensboro Catholic (30-5) vs. Harlan (27-4), 8 p.m.
The Murray-Manual winner will face the Owensboro Catholic-Harlan winner in Friday night’s quarterfinals. The Butler-Bowling Green winner will play the E-town-Henderson County winner.
Holmes ‘D’ does in the Red Devils
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 9, 2016)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Holmes relied on unrelenting defense to get to the state tournament for the first time in 14 years, so it was no surprise that its defense was the difference in a 49-35 victory over Russell in the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Wednesday night in BB&T Arena.
The Bulldogs earned their 10th win in a row and a date with Mercer County in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Jynea Harris, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, led Holmes with 18 points. Maurissa Brown had 10 points. Tyrah Englemon contributed 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Russell was led by Maggie Jachimczuk’s 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Madison Darnell added 10 points for the Red Devils, who shot 33%.
Holmes had a 21-10 halftime lead on Russell, which had a difficult time against the Bulldogs’ swarming pressure.
The Red Devils, 16th Region champs for the first time since 1994, had a […]
Campbell County gets its first ‘Sweet’ win
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — It was Wednesday — hump day — and the Campbell County Camels got over the proverbial hump and won their first-ever Sweet Sixteen game.
Campbell County beat Trimble County 48-33 in the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen at BB&T Arena Wednesday night.
The Camels, who lost in the opening round in three previous state tournament appearances, were led by Taylor Jolly (17 points, 3 steals) and MacKenzie Schwarber (13 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals).
Kylie Kramer and Taylor Clos combined for 12 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Trimble County, which upset Simon Kenton to win the 9th Region, gave the Camels a tough way to go. Campbell County Coach Beau Menefee said his team had a difficult time defending Trimble County’s Shelbe Black. The 6-foot junior led the Raiders with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
Mila Consley had 8 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks for Trimble County. Kaylee Clifford added 5 points, 6 asssits, 3 rebounds and […]
Cook leads Franklin County by Shelby Valley
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Franklin County has four 1,000-point career scorers in its lineup, so it’s rare when the Flyers go starving for offense.
So it didn’t matter that Princess Stewart, Franklin County’s top scorer this season, went 0-for-9 from the field and had only 2 points (on 2 free throws in the final minutes) in the first round of the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Wednesday afternoon.
Rebecca Cook stepped up to lead the Flyers with 19 points and Dasia Kilbroune added 10 in a 47-39 victory over Shelby Valley in BB&T Arena.
It was Franklin County’s first victory in the Sweet Sixteen since 1980.
“When you haven’t won a state tournament game in 36 years, I guess it’s supposed to be hard,” Coach Joey Thacker said. “We just never could turn them over and get points, so we had to grind it out in the halfcourt.”
Stewart, Cook, Kilbourne and Malaka Frank are all 1,000-point […]
Chris Souder’s ‘best year’ of his coaching life
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 9, 2016)
Mercer County Coach Chris Souder is having a ball during March Madness, and it keeps getting better.
Tuesday night, Souder watched Mercer County’s boys beat Casey County to win the 12th Region title. His son Conner, a senior, plays for the Titans.
Wednesday afternoon, Souder guided Mercer County’s girls to a 68-39 victory over Leslie County in the opening game of the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen in BB&T Arena. It was the Titans’ 30th win — a school record — and put them in the state quarterfinals for the first time.
“This has been the best of year of my coaching career,” Souder said. “The fact that we won the region, and that I got to watch my son also win the region and knowing he’s going to step on the Rupp Arena floor next week.
“I played at Harrodsburg (class of 1984) and it was always a dream […]
Mercer County rolls by Leslie County
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Mercer County began the St. Elizabeth HealthCare/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet Sixteen by erasing all memory of last year’s lopsided loss in the state tournament.
The Titans, who were buried by Elizabethtown 79-38 in the first round in Bowling Green last year, leveled Leslie County 68-39 in Wednesday afternoon’s opener at BB&T Arena.
“What a difference a year makes,” Mercer County Coach Chris Souder said. “These kids worked extremely hard, and they came out really strong and played intense.”
Souder conceded that there was a big difference in the draw, too, noting E-town was the top-rated team in last year’s tournament, and Leslie County was the bottom-rated team this year.
“Nothing against Leslie County,” Souder said. “I was in his (Coach Mark Collett’s) boat last year.”
Mercer County started the game with an 11-0 run and added a 16-0 surge later in the quarter. Leslie County, making its first state tournament appearance in 30 years, couldn’t recover from a 42-12 halftime deficit.
Junior […]
Mason County ends Augusta’s run in 10th
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 8, 2016)
MOUNT STERLING – Everything that is good and clean and competitive and entertaining and heartening about Kentucky high school basketball played out in a rousing 10th Region championship game at Montgomery County Tuesday night.
In a classic big school vs. small school matchup, traditional power Mason County outlasted tiny Augusta 48-41 in front of a packed house of 4,200 fans to earn a trip to Rupp Arena for the 99th Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen next week.
Mason County (enrollment 800) now owns 15 region titles, and the Royals’ heritage also includes two state championships (2003, 2008).
Mason County will play 5th Region champ Taylor County in the first round of the state tournament.
Augusta (enrollment 85) was denied its first region title in 90 years.
It was easy to cast Mason County as Goliath and Augusta as David, but both coaches felt that was a misrepresentation of their team.
[…]Boys’ Sweet Sixteen field taking shape
The Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen is taking shape. Five region champions have been crowned, and 11 more will be determined tonight to complete the field.
Christian County (2nd Region), Doss (6th), Newport Central Catholic (9th), Paul Laurence Dunbar (11th) and South Laurel (13th) have locked up spots in the 99th state tournament, which will be played March 16-20 in Rupp Arena.
Here’s a region-by-region rundown:
- 1st Region: McCracken County (24-9) vs. Murray (28-5)
- 2nd Region: Christian County (29-2)
- 3rd Region: Owensboro Catholic (21-9) vs. Meade County (22-10)
- 4th Region: Barren County (28-5) vs. Bowling Green (29-2)
- 5th Region: Bardstown (26-7) vs. Taylor County (23-8)
- 6th Region: Doss (27-5)
- 7th Region: St. Xavier (23-9) vs. Trinity (28-6)
- 8th Region: Anderson County (18-13) vs. South Oldham (27-5)
- 9th Region: Newport Central Catholic (28-4)
- 10th Region: Augusta (24-6) vs. Mason County (22-10)
- 11th Region: Paul Laurence Dunbar (29-6)
- 12th Region: Casey County (16-17) […]
Remembering kicking guru George Barber
lCondolences to the family of George Barber, who passed away March 7, 2016, after becoming ill on a trip to Florida. Barber was involved in Lexington high school football for more than four decades and was best known for coaching kickers, including his son Collin at Lexington Catholic. Here’s a story I wrote about him for the Lexington Herald-Leader in November, 2010.
BY MIKE FIELDS
George Barber gets his kicks coaching kids how to kick a football.
Here’s the kicker: He’s been doing it for 40 years.
Barber has taught dozens of Lexington high school players the finer points of place-kicking and punting.
Despite dealing with serious heart issues the last year, Barber is tutoring Lafayette’s Matt Green, Lexington Catholic’s Jake Pumphrey and Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Matt Puracchio. The trio has made 13 of 19 field goals and 65 of 72 extra points this season.
“I hope they get something out of what I’m trying […]
Creech’s 48 points lift Jenkins to region finals
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 4, 2016)
STANTON – Whitney Creech, whose prodigious scoring has raised the roofs of gyms throughout the mountains this basketball season, has lifted Jenkins’ girls into the 14th Region finals for the first time since 1997 and given them a shot at their first region title in 40 years.
Creech, a 5-foot-9 senior, poured in 48 points Friday night to lead Jenkins past host Powell County 67-58 in the region semifinals. The Cavaliers will play Leslie County Saturday night with a trip to the Houchens Industries/Sweet Sixteen on the line.
Leslie County beat Breathitt County 64-56 in the first semifinal Friday night.
Creech, who came into the game averaging 50.3 points, had 23 in the fourth quarter against Powell County, including 14 of 18 free throws.
“This is something every competitor dreams of,” Creech said. “Survive and advance, and get a chance in the finals. If we can (win Saturday), it’ll […]
Recalling Tim Couch’s basketball glory days
BY MIKE FIELDS (March 4, 2016)
Tim Couch, arguably the most accomplished quarterback in the history of Kentucky high school football, grew up thinking of himself as a basketball player first.
“I honestly didn’t like football at all until, I think, my sophomore year (at Leslie County),” he said. “I just played it because my older brother (Greg) did. My first love was basketball. I always considered myself a basketball player. That’s what I wanted to play when I was young.”
And he played it very well. Before he got to high school, he was picked to be on a national all-star team that toured Australia. He was MVP at summer camps. When he was in the eighth grade, he got a recruiting letter from Minnesota coach Clem Haskins.
As a kid, Couch loved going to the state tournament with his dad Elbert and soaking up the atmosphere in Freedom Hall and Rupp Arena.
“That was […]
Justice latest Kentuckian to play hoops at Vandy
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 29, 2016)
Vanderbilt freshman Camron Justice was in the middle of the celebratory swarm on the Memorial Gym court after the Commodores beat Kentucky 74-62 in Nashville Saturday.
“I never was a huge fan of UK, but I was a Kentucky kid and I grew up watching their basketball team, so beating them was a big deal,” Justice said. “A bunch of people back home called and texted me congratulations.
“It was a huge momentum-builder for our team. It helped bring us together.”
Since the first month of the season, Justice, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Knott County Central, hasn’t gotten a lot of playing time. He averaged 16 minutes and 5.8 points in Vandy’s first six games, but a subsequent groin injury slowed him down. He missed five games, and coming off that injury, his play has been spotty.
He did have a career-high 12 points (on 4-for-7 three-point shooting) against Tennessee on Jan. 20, but he’s had only […]
Faulkner twins leaving quite a legacy at Caverna
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 25, 2016)
Madison and Mason Faulkner, the highest scoring twins in the history of Kentucky high school basketball, aren’t ready for their careers at Caverna to end just yet.
Madison, a 5-foot-8 senior, poured in 42 points to lead Caverna’s girls to a 68-52 victory over LaRue County in the 18th District semifinals Tuesday night. They will play host Green County for the district title Friday night before heading on to the 5th Region tournament at Hart County next week.
Mason, a 6-2 senior, had 31 points to spark Caverna’s boys past LaRue County 54-43 in the 18th District semifinals Tuesday night. They will play host Green County for the district title Friday night before heading on to the 5th Region tournament at Nelson County next week.
“It’s been a long journey, from no one knowing about either one of us to a lot of people knowing about both of us,” Mason […]
LexCath will miss region for only second time in 30 years
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 24, 2016)
A history of post-season success and a current top 25 ranking won’t get a basketball coach a cup of coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts, much less guarantee his team victory at tournament time.
Just ask Lexington Catholic Coach Brandon Salsman.
His Knights, rated No. 13 in Dave Cantrall’s Rating the State, lost to No. 18 Lafayette 55-48 in the boys’ 43rd District semifinals Tuesday night. That means Lexington Catholic will miss the 11th Region for only the second time in 30 years, a testament to its staying power among the state’s elite.
Salsman has guided the Knights to seven district titles in 11 years, and he’s been involved in nine of the program’s 12 region championships (one as a player, four as an assistant, four as head coach).
But all of that glorious history didn’t take the sting out of Tuesday’s defeat.
“It was devastating,” he said. “When you walk in that locker room and […]
State wrestling championship matchups
Here are the matchups for tonight’s title matches at the KHSAA State Wrestling Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena. Opening ceremonies for the finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
- 106: Cagen Wallace (Wayne Co.) vs. Chase Yost (Woodford Co.)
- 113: Tanner Yenter (Campbell Co.) vs. Konner Kraeszig (St. Xavier)
- 120: Saul Ervin (Union Co.) vs. Dallas Ochsenbein (North Oldham)
- 126: Connor Cambron (Fern Creek) vs. Bryce Sheffer (Union Co.)
- 132: Zane Brown (Male) vs. Keegan Duncan (Trinity)
- 138: Angel Vasquez (Lafayette) vs. A.J. Binder (Fern Creek)
- 145: Cody Huston (Cooper) vs. Jackson Oxford (Union Co.)
- 152: Benjamin Barton (Trinity) vs. Brady Emerson (Oldham Co.)
- 160: Max Andreoni (Woodford Co.) vs. Hudson Heidorf (Trinity)
- 170: Chris Morrow (Madison Central vs. Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton)
- 182: Elijah Allgeier (St. Xavier) vs Max Emerson (Oldham Co.)
- 195: Ray Karl Irving (Henry Clay) vs. Grant Krueger (Ashland Blazer)
- 220: Chance Orr (Paducah Tilghman) vs. Garrett Chandler (Male)
- 285: Landon Young (Lafayette) vs. Landin Jones (North Oldham)
Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists
The Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches have released the lists of finalists for Mr. and Miss Basketball — 18 boys and 17 girls, who earned Player of the Year honors in their respective regions.
Voting by coaches and media will be conducted until Feb. 26. Mr. and Miss Basketball be announced March 15 in Lexington, the night before the Boys’ Sweet Sixteen begins.
The favorites for Mr. Basketball are Quentin Goodin of Taylor County and Carson Williams of Owen County.
Goodin would be the first 5th Region player to win the award since Steffphon Pettigrew of Elizabethtown in 2007. Williams would be the first 8th Region player to win it since Rick Jones and Scott Hundley of Scott County were back-to-back winners in 1999 and 2000, respectively.
The favorites for Miss Basketball are Erin Boley of Elizabethtown and Whitney Creech of Jenkins.
Boley would be the second 5th Region player to win Miss Basketball in three […]
Daymeon Fishback’s perfect night 20 years ago
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 19, 2016)
When I saw Daymeon Fishback working as a college basketball analyst on the SEC Network the other night, I remembered him not from his playing days at Auburn, but as Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 1996. Fishback’s career totals at Greenwood High School: 2,214 points, 916 rebounds, 470 assists, 168 blocked shots and 163 steals.
While looking up those numbers, I came across an interesting nugget. On this date 20 years ago (Feb. 19, 1996), Fishback had 40 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks in a 74-65 win over Monroe County. The eye-catching stat from that game, though, was Fishback’s 16-for-16 shooting from the field, including 6-for-6 three-pointers.
Football coaching giant Owen Hauck dies
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 17, 2016)
Owen Hauck, whose Boone County football Rebels were the scourge of Lexington teams from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, died this morning. He was 88.
Hauck coached Highlands to the state championship in 1964, and the Bluebirds were state runners-up under him in 1963 and 1966. He guided Boone County to state runner-up finishes in 1986, 1987, 1992 and 1994. The Rebels knocked off Lexington competition on their way to those last four title games.
During one dominant stretch, Boone County went 31-2 against Lexington teams, and it did it in smash-mouth style with a strong, physical offensive line and hard-running tailbacks. The Rebels’ star ball carriers included John Alford, John Ransdell, Tony Law, Brandon Black and, most notably, Shaun Alexander.
Alexander went on to star at Alabama and in the NFL, where he won MVP honors while playing for the Seattle Seahawks.
Alexander noted Hauck’s passing […]
Anderson Co.’s Glen Drury true to his Bearcats
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 17, 2016)
Glen Drury is an Anderson County institution. Like those famous Lawrenceburg distilleries, Four Roses and Wild Turkey, Drury has been turning out a successful, Kentucky-specialty product for decades.
The proof: Drury, in his 31st season as a head basketball coach in his home county, earned his 500th victory when Anderson County beat Simon Kenton last week.
Drury, as expected, shrugged off praise for the accomplishment. “It just means I’ve just been fortunate to be in this business long enough to get that many wins,” he said. “And it means I’ve been blessed to have had a lot of great players over the years.”
Maybe so, but it also means that Drury has been true to himself, true to his work ethic and true to his hometown.
He’s spent more two-thirds of his 57 years involved in Anderson County basketball.
He played for the Bearcats (class of 1977) before heading […]
Basketball a passion play for E-town’s Erin Boley
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 16, 2016)
Life is good for Erin Boley.
The Elizabethtown basketball star is the first 3,000-point scorer in school history, already a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky, a Notre Dame signee, a McDonald’s All-American, one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy that goes to the top girls’ player in the nation, a straight-A student, and newly crowned homecoming queen.
Life can get better for Erin Boley, though. At least she’s determined to make it so.
“She’s always been a type-A personality, being a perfectionist in school and everything she does,” said Scott Boley, her dad. “She always wants to get better at everything. She has that passion.”
E-town Coach Tim Mudd will vouch for Erin’s dedication to basketball.
“Her practice doesn’t really start until we’re done with our team practice,” he said. “That’s when she goes to work most days. By herself, with her dad, with me or with whoever she can get to rebound for […]
Jock Sutherland: Lafayette was ‘utopia’
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 11, 2016)
Jock Sutherland made a brief appearance at the event named his honor — the Jock Sutherland Classic — at Lafayette this past Saturday. He found time to shake hands, chat up a few fans and reminisce about his good ol’ days in basketball.
Sutherland, who will turn 88 next month, was one of the most colorful coaches in the history of Kentucky high school hoops.
He was also one of the most successful. He led three schools to a total of six Sweet Sixteen appearances: Gallatin County (1959), Harrison County (1961, 1962, 1966) and Lafayette (1971, 1979). He retired after leading Lafayette, his alma mater, to the state championship in 1979.
Sutherland guided Gallatin County to the school’s first state tournament in his fourth season there, in 1959. He still stays in touch with those Wildcat players, and had lunch with them recently. “They’re going to be my pallbearers,” Sutherland […]
Carson Williams: Owen County Rebel with a cause
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 9, 2016)
Carson Williams always puts his team first, so he’s not distracted by speculation about his Mr. Basketball candidacy. The Owen County senior’s single-minded purpose is to lead the Rebels to their first-ever Sweet Sixteen.
“Mr. Basketball is a nice idea, but my ultimate goal is taking my team to Rupp Arena,” Williams said matter-of-factly.
Williams was speaking moments after he led Owen County past North Laurel 75-71 in overtime in the Jock Sutherland Classic at Lafayette on Saturday. The Rebels’ 6-foot-6 ½ post man delivered 43 points (including 16 of 18 field-goal shooting), 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Williams’ biggest play came in the final seconds of regulation. With the score tied 66-66, North Laurel had the ball and junior star Peyton Broughton went looking for the game-winning shot. He dribbled across the lane and tried to put up a short jumper. But Williams was there to smother the attempt, and […]
No. 1 Mercer Co. risks spotless record at Lafayette
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 5, 2016)
No. 1 Mercer County will put its perfect record (24-0) on the line against host Lafayette in the Jock Sutherland Classic Saturday night. The Titans are the only unbeaten team in the state.
No. 3 Paul Laurence Dunbar plays Louisville Central in the event. And Owen County, led by senior star Carson Williams, faces North Laurel, led by junior standout Peyton Broughton.
Saturday’s schedule at Lafayette:
- Owen County vs. North Laurel, 4:30 p.m.
- Dunbar vs. Lou. Central, 6:15 p.m.
- Lafayette vs. Mercer County, 8 p.m.
Wes Strader Schoolboy Classic
Bowling Green hosts the Wes Strader Classic on Saturday. The No. 5 Purples will take on Ballard in the nightcap of the quadruple-header.
Saturday’s schedule (EST) at Bowling Green:
- Bardstown vs. Owensboro Catholic, 3:45 p.m.
- Doss vs. Warren East, 5:30 p.m.
- Murray vs. Taylor County , 7:15 p.m.
- Ballard vs. Bowling Green, 9 p.m.
Creech has been scoring machine for years
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 3, 2016)
Whitney Creech became Kentucky high school basketball’s all-time leading scorer when she poured in 71 points to lead Jenkins past Paintsville 90-87 in overtime Tuesday night. Her career-high performance gave her 4,957 points, eclipsing Jaime Walz’s 19-year-old record of 4,948.
Creech is averaging 50.3 points this season, but she’s been a scoring machine for years. She has averaged 35.0 points over her last 128 games going back to when she was an eighth-grader.
Creech is the latest prodigious point producer from the mountains. Seven of the top eight all-time leading scorers are from the 13th, 14th or 15th region. Walz, who starred at Highlands, is the only exception.
Signing day a year away for Lafayette star
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 3, 2016)
National signing day has arrived for high school football players across America. One of the highest rated recruits in Kentucky, however, will have to wait until next year to put his signature on a college letter of intent.
Jedrick Wills, a 6-foot-5 1/2, 300-pound five-star offensive lineman at Lafayette, is just a junior. Rated the third best OL prospect in the nation in the class of 2017, he already has offers from most of the major powers, including national champion Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee.
Kentucky is in the mix, too, of course.
The soft-spoken, even-keel Wills said he’s trying to enjoy the hype-fueled recruiting process.
Jed Wills, his dad (who is an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Lafayette), isn’t surprised Jedrick is handling all the attention with aplomb. “He doesn’t get too excited. He takes things as they come,” Jed said.
Jedrick’s […]
Edmonson County’s 40th anniversary of Cinderella title
BY MIKE FIELDS (Feb. 2, 2016)
BROWNSVILLE – They’re on the shady side of middle age now. Most of them have gray hair, or gray-flecked goatees or mustaches. Their knees don’t always treat them kindly. Some are retired. One has three grandsons.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since the Edmonson County Wildcats, coached by the feisty Bo Davenport, manufactured March magic, won the boys’ state basketball title and, in the process, saved the Sweet Sixteen.
Edmonson County welcomed back its hoops heroes last Friday night to honor them again for that improbable and inspiring 1976 championship.
Nine players from the title team returned for the reunion: starters Phil Rich, Chester Bethel, Aaron Goad, Mark Hennion and Kevin Clemmons, sixth man Jeff Doyle, reserves Tim Ashley, Jimmy Cole and Ricky Houchin, along with manager Larry Starnes.
They gathered in the school cafeteria to reminisce as they looked at yellowed newspapers, game programs and black-and-white photos from that glorious […]
Mercer Co. focuses on winning games, not winning streak
BY MIKE FIELDS (Jan. 28, 2016)
NICHOLASVILLE — Mercer County isn’t trying to go undefeated in boys’ basketball this season, but the Titans are trying to win every game.
There is a difference.
No. 1 Mercer County ran its record to 22-0 with an 83-79 victory over host West Jessamine Thursday night. The Titans trailed 74-71 with 1:20 left, but led by Trevon Faulkner, they rallied to remain the only unbeaten team in Kentucky.
Faulkner, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, had 32 points, including seven in the last 1:16.
Malik Dow, a 6-5 senior, had 17 points. Will Hager, a 6-4 senior point guard, had 16.
Mercer County made 40 of 50 free throws on the night. Faulkner hit 18 of 19 from the line.
West Jessamine’s upset bid was led by Siah Holifield’s 27 points and Isaiah Okesson’s 24.
Mercer County Coach Josh Cook says his players “don’t have time to think about the streak” because they are so focused on the task […]
Ervin Stepp appreciates Whitney Creech’s scoring prowess
BY MIKE FIELDS (Jan. 25, 2016)
Ervin Stepp is ready to welcome Whitney Creech into his exclusive club.
Stepp is the only player in the history of Kentucky high school basketball to average more than 50 points a game for an entire season. Thirty-six years ago as a senior at Phelps, Stepp averaged 53.7 points. (And that was before the three-point shot was introduced.)
He topped 60 points six times that season, including 75 against Feds Creek. “I had 50 in the second half of that game,” Stepp said. “Man, if I’d only done that the first half too, I would’ve had 100!”
Now along comes Creech, a senior at Jenkins, who is sporting a 50.6 average, highlighted by a career-high 65 against Jackson County.
Stepp didn’t know about Creech until last month when his brother Gary, athletics director at Alice Lloyd College, told him about her scoring prowess.
“I thought somebody might have a shot […]
It’s good to be back
BY MIKE FIELDS (Jan. 24, 2016)
So, did I miss anything?
It’s been eight months since I retired from the Herald-Leader after covering high school sports for 41 years.
After giving up the gig cold turkey, I filled my time with travel (the British Open at St. Andrews was a bucket-list highlight), grandkids (Candy Land, anyone?), a long honey-do list (I racked up big numbers on my Fitbit while painting the basement), and an autumn wedding (I have three daughters; this was my third misty-eyed walk down the aisle).
I haven’t missed the deadlines or daily grind of the newspaper business, but I have missed reporting and writing and connecting with people.
I was looking for a way to get back in the game in a limited way, and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association was gracious enough to give me an opportunity with this blog. I will also revive my dormant twitter account (@MikeFieldsKHSAA).
I’m not exactly […]
About Mike
After working as a sports writer for 41 years, I needed a break from the daily demands and deadlines of the newspaper business. So in June 2015, I retired from the Lexington Herald-Leader after covering approximately 4,000 high school sports events in my career. In January 2016, I took on the role of freelance writer for the KHSAA. To reintroduce myself: I was born in Pikeville, grew up in Bardstown, graduated from the University of Kentucky, worked at newspapers in Eustis, Fla., Lake City, Fla., Henderson, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., before coming to Lexington in 1980. Email me at mfields@khsaa.org
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