There is a relatively new group called the Sports History Foundation that is seeking to re-live some of Kentucky high school sports' biggest stories. They have already produced full length videos of the 1982 unbeaten Madison Central baseball team and the 1991 Nicholas County gals basketball team...both state champs.

 

Their next project is Jock's 1979 state champs at Lexington Lafayette. Word from group leader David Mills is that the coach is "not doing well" and they would like to get production done as quickly as possible.

 

Sports History Foundation

 

Jock is doing pretty good. Had a bought with the flu over Christmas and spent a couple days in the hospital. Back on his feet now and plans on being at the Jock Sutherland Classic this weekend at Lafayette. If he is feeling up to it. They have a reception for all Lafayette state tourney champions at 7 pm Saturday evening, at Lafayette. I think Lafayette plays at 8:15 pm.

jim, we were looking forward to seeing Grant County at the Sweet 16 that year. The hoopla had been building all year and got to 34-1 after winning the region, but then we saw the draw...and realized they would have to play Lafayette, which was 32-1...and the tourney was at Rupp Arena for the first time.

 

It was a fabulous tournament...with the average winning margin less than 3 IF you don't count the games involving Lafayette and Christian County. Lafayette's average winning margin was 18.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Junior Johnson transferred in from Scott County for his Senior year, and that made the Generals just awesome.

 

The only team to beat them that year was Tates Creek in the district final. Lexington had 3 teams in the Top 15 that season (according to the Lit-Ratings.)

Very colorful Coach. Had great talent but was a master at getting them to play together for wins. I remember him being asked about what he called his Press Defense and he said it was the "junkyard junk" defense, I just tell them to get the ball........

 

He was the master of holding personalities together. Did it his whole career. 3 D1 basketball players (Dirk, Jr Johnson, Tony Wilson)and 2 D1 baseball players on that team. Jeff Parrett (UK and 11 yrs in big leagues) and Brandt Ely (UK)

jim, we were looking forward to seeing Grant County at the Sweet 16 that year. The hoopla had been building all year and got to 34-1 after winning the region, but then we saw the draw...and realized they would have to play Lafayette, which was 32-1...and the tourney was at Rupp Arena for the first time.

 

It was a fabulous tournament...with the average winning margin less than 3 IF you don't count the games involving Lafayette and Christian County. Lafayette's average winning margin was 18.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Junior Johnson transferred in from Scott County for his Senior year, and that made the Generals just awesome.

 

The only team to beat them that year was Tates Creek in the district final. Lexington had 3 teams in the Top 15 that season (according to the Lit-Ratings.)

 

It seems they also had a player named Rose. is that correct? He was a good player himself. They might have played with some small colleges that year. They were that strong.

It seems they also had a player named Rose. is that correct? He was a good player himself. They might have played with some small colleges that year. They were that strong.

 

Kurt Rose

I remember that magical year Grant co. had going for it in1979 -80. Went into the sweet 16 like 32 and 1. But as luck would have it drew the Generals right out of the box. They played neck and neck with them for a quarter and then they came down on a fast break and Dirk threw a sky high lob to wilson that he rattled the backboard with. The braves mouths just kinda flew open and it was like CHECK PLEASE !!!. Game over.I honestly believe We could have beaten any of the other 14 teams and we actually might have played them as close as anyone else did. They were awesome.

 

I wish I could have seen that game between GCHS and the Generals, but I was already out of the country in the military. My brother kept me up on the 78-79 season with hand-written letters, still have them! I saw Tony Wilson and Dirk Minnifield in '77 and thought they were awesome then, so I wasn't shocked to hear Lafayette won the state.

 

I thought Henry Clay was going to win the state in '76, but things didn't work out. We beat Holmes and Lou. Ballard with Jeff Lamp, but Christian County knocked us off at the buzzer in the semis. Edmonson County of all teams then beat Christian County. Never forget watching that game in the stands thinking Henry Clay would have beaten Edmonson by 40 points if we could have stopped Christian County in final seconds!

Three or four years after that 1976 final...when Edmonson County (with Phil Rich and Chester Bethel) beat Christian County (with Curtis Parker and Michael Reese) by a score of 74-52...I asked Christian County's athletic director how the Colonels could beat Louisville Shawnee (Durand Macklin) and Henry Clay...then lose that badly to a team that was such a decided underdog.

 

He told me it was all about the match-ups...and that he thought Edmonson would have won eight out of ten from his team. It was the first time I had heard the term "match-ups," but I surely would liked to have seen a re-match of that final.

 

The good thing (from my perspective) was that it put to rest any serious classification talk.

Three or four years after that 1976 final...when Edmonson County (with Phil Rich and Chester Bethel) beat Christian County (with Curtis Parker and Michael Reese) by a score of 74-52...I asked Christian County's athletic director how the Colonels could beat Louisville Shawnee (Durand Macklin) and Henry Clay...then lose that badly to a team that was such a decided underdog.

 

He told me it was all about the match-ups...and that he thought Edmonson would have won eight out of ten from his team. It was the first time I had heard the term "match-ups," but I surely would liked to have seen a re-match of that final.

 

The good thing (from my perspective) was that it put to rest any serious classification talk.

 

I remember that Shawnee team with Macklin, he went to LSU and was great! If not for the busing in Louisville that took place in the mid 1970s, I think Shawnee and Central would have continued to dominate the Sweet 16. Ron Abernathy was the coach at Shawnee and he went with Macklin to LSU as an assistant coach. Shawnee had a roster of guys who could beat a lot of college teams.

I wish I could have seen that game between GCHS and the Generals, but I was already out of the country in the military. My brother kept me up on the 78-79 season with hand-written letters, still have them! I saw Tony Wilson and Dirk Minnifield in '77 and thought they were awesome then, so I wasn't shocked to hear Lafayette won the state.

 

I thought Henry Clay was going to win the state in '76, but things didn't work out. We beat Holmes and Lou. Ballard with Jeff Lamp, but Christian County knocked us off at the buzzer in the semis. Edmonson County of all teams then beat Christian County. Never forget watching that game in the stands thinking Henry Clay would have beaten Edmonson by 40 points if we could have stopped Christian County in final seconds!

 

I had went to basketball camp with those guys from Christian County a couple years before that ,so I knew they were really good. Edmonson co. really shocked me by winning it all.Who all did Henry Clay have in !976.

I had went to basketball camp with those guys from Christian County a couple years before that ,so I knew they were really good. Edmonson co. really shocked me by winning it all.Who all did Henry Clay have in !976.

 

Henry Clay had all-state center Michael Scearce, about 6 feet 7 and a beast inside. Scearce was arguably the best player in Ky. that year and ended up at Purdue. Blue Devils also had two really quick guards in V. Williams and Ike Burton. They beat a good Holmes team with Moore, Schloemer, Tilley, and another kid who was a quick guard but name escapes me. We next beat Lou. Ballard with Jeff Lamp, Raker and company by three points in a game most thought was for the state title, but still had two to go. Christian County had some really great players and took advantage of their quickness and an unreal last-second flurry (if anyone has the final seconds on video, please post!) to defeat Henry Clay by a point.

 

I am biased, but I thought Henry Clay was the best team in the state that year. Ballard was awesome as well. Holmes was much better than people might remember and gave the Blue Devils fits in the Sweet 16 first round. Great memories!

Three or four years after that 1976 final...when Edmonson County (with Phil Rich and Chester Bethel) beat Christian County (with Curtis Parker and Michael Reese) by a score of 74-52...I asked Christian County's athletic director how the Colonels could beat Louisville Shawnee (Durand Macklin) and Henry Clay...then lose that badly to a team that was such a decided underdog.

 

He told me it was all about the match-ups...and that he thought Edmonson would have won eight out of ten from his team. It was the first time I had heard the term "match-ups," but I surely would liked to have seen a re-match of that final.

 

The good thing (from my perspective) was that it put to rest any serious classification talk.

 

I recall the first game Edmonson County won in the Sweet 16 against Betsy Layne, who almost ended Edmonson County's season right there. I think ECHS ended up winning by 4 or 5 points, but BLHS was ahead in there late going. They beat a very thin Harrison County team in the next round. ECHS had a great draw to get into the semis and took full advantage, which good teams do! I was shocked they won it all, but that is why it is the greatest show on Earth!

Shelby County was pretty good. Didn't Christian County beat them by 1 point in the semis?

Lafayette lost to Bryan Station. Melvin Turpin was responsible for that loss. Grant was never close. Lost by 26. Jock also took gallatin county and Harrison county to state. Excellent coach.

Lafayette lost to Bryan Station. Melvin Turpin was responsible for that loss. Grant was never close. Lost by 26. Jock also took gallatin county and Harrison county to state. Excellent coach.

 

Gallatin's only trip in 1959.

I recall the first game Edmonson County won in the Sweet 16 against Betsy Layne, who almost ended Edmonson County's season right there. I think ECHS ended up winning by 4 or 5 points, but BLHS was ahead in there late going. They beat a very thin Harrison County team in the next round. ECHS had a great draw to get into the semis and took full advantage, which good teams do! I was shocked they won it all, but that is why it is the greatest show on Earth!

 

My little brother just corrected me about 1976 - Billy Thomas, Donnie Moore and John Shelby were there with Michael Scearce and Charles Sweat among others for Henry Clay. I was ahead of myself by a year! Scearce was 6th man as a soph and a great one even then! Moore was a great shooter and penetrator, Thomas and Sweat both huge, muscular guys.