Basketball a passion play for E-town’s Erin Boley

FieldsColumn

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 […]

More

Jock Sutherland: Lafayette was ‘utopia’

FieldsColumn

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 […]

More

Carson Williams: Owen County Rebel with a cause

FieldsColumn

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 […]

More

No. 1 Mercer Co. risks spotless record at Lafayette

FieldsColumn

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.

More

Creech has been scoring machine for years

FieldsColumn

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

FieldsColumn

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 […]

More

Edmonson County’s 40th anniversary of Cinderella title

FieldsColumn

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 […]

More

Mercer Co. focuses on winning games, not winning streak

FieldsColumn

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 […]

More

It’s good to be back

FieldsColumn

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 […]

More

About Mike

FieldsColumn

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

More