BasketballJones

Paintsville in 1995, 1996 (Sweet 16 State Champs), 1997 (All "A" Finalist and Sweet 16 Semi-Finalist), 1998 (All "A" Semi-Finalist and Sweet 16 Finalist)

He is teaching and coaching at Paintsville. He is getting ready to start his second season in the International Basketball League (IBL). From what I saw in the Paintsville newspaper this summer he averaged something like 27 ppg and 15 rpg for the team in West Virginia he played for. Here is a link to the league website if you want to know more: http://www.iblhoopsonline.com/

Paintsville won a state championship in 1996 with a 26-10 record. They played the following nationally ranked teams or players that year: In the Las Vegas Prep Classic: Woodbridge, CA (loss 74-65). Woodbridge had the best player in the Junior class 6'10" Chris Burgess. Burgess had 20 pts., J. R. VanHoose had 18 points and 10 rebounds (Sophomore), C. Ratliff had 16 points, and Todd Tackeet had 15 points. - Paintsville Herald 12/20/1995 According to the Internet Chris Burgess was the Sporting News National Player of the Year in 1997. He attended Duke and Utah and is currently playing in S. Korea! In the Belk Beach Ball Classic: Shawnee, NJ (loss 63-43). Shawnee was ranked in the Top 5 Nationally at the time and was the defending High School National Champion according to Eddie Oliver's High School Basketball Report. Shawnee had 6'9" Malik Allen (currenlty with the Chicago Bulls) who had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Paintsville was led by Craig Ratliff with 12 points and 5 rebounds and J. R. VanHoose who had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Shadow Mountain, AZ (loss 104-81). Shadow Mountain was ranked in the Top 20 Nationally at the time and was led by point guard Mike Bibby (currently with the Sacramento Kings) who had 45 points and 5 assists. Paintsville was trailling just 68-66 after 3 quarters, they must have gotten tired!!!! They were led by J. R. VanHoose who had 24 points and 22 rebounds, Josh McKenzie with 20 points, Todd Tackett 12 points, and Craig Ratliff with 11 points. VanHoose set a new Beach Ball Record in that tournament with 55 rebounds in 3 games and he made the All-Tournament team with Bibby, Allen, Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, and others. The above was from the Paintsville Herald 1/3/1996 and the internet. Paintsville finished the season as Kentucky State Champions and was ranked as #9 in the South and in the Top 50 teams in the nation according to USA Today!!!!

Thanks, just took a while to do it. A lot of reading of the "old" newspapers on microfilm, it takes a while to look through an entire basketball season!!!!

The 1996-97 season they lost to Lex. Catholic twice, Prestonsburg (one of the three - VanHoose, Tackett, or McKenzie was out that game injured, I can't remember), and to Ft. Thomas Highlands in the "Sweet 16" Final Four. They finished the year 33-4. In the 1997-98 season they lost to Pearl-Cohn (Nashville, TN), St. Patrick's, NJ, Palotti, MD, Dominguez, CA, Pikeville, UHA (All "A" Final Four), Scott Co. ("Sweet 16" Championship game). They finished that year 30-7. It is amazing that all of this can be found in the local newspapers at the end of a season. I am glad I wrote this stuff down today!!!! The other season, like 1995-96 I will have to check on!!!

Just some food for thought about the Paintsville teams of the 90s. I did some research at the Paintsville library this morning and thought I would share: Paintsville defeated Lexington Catholic on February 21, 1997, 82-78. Lex. Cath was the #1 team in KY (with a record of 27-0) at the time and was ranked in the Top 20 Nationally. Paintsville began the 1997 season with a national ranking of #19 and VanHoose was ranked as the nation's 5th best player by recruiting guru Bob Gibbons. All info. from the Paintsville Herald. According to the Paintsville Weekly Progrss of December 17, 1997 Paintsville defeated the nation's #2 ranked high school team Governor Dummer Academy of Massachusetts in a game in St. Louis 70-64 in OT. That team had current NBA center Dan Gadzuric (Milwaukee Bucks) who was considered the best high school center in the country at the time. Gadzuric had 26 points and 14 rebounds. J. R. VanHoose of Paintsville had 32 points and 14 rebounds in the game. Paintsville then played the nation's #4 ranked team St. Patrick, NJ with Al Harrington (currently Indiana Pacers) in the Slam Dunk To the Beach Tournament in Lewes, Delaware on Dec. 28, 1997. Paintsville lost 70-59. Harrington had 26 points and 13 rebounds, VanHoose had 22 points and 12 rebounds. In the same tournament Paintsville played the nation's #3 ranked team Dominguez (Compton, CA) and lost 73-70. For Dominguez Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons) had 22 points and 21 rebounds, Tyson Chandler (Chicago Bulls) had 15 points and VanHoose had 29 points and 8 rebounds. All of the above players, including VanHoose made the All-Tournament Team. - Both of the above games were covered in the Paintsville Herald - January 1, 1998. Just thought I would share and allow everyone to debate using this information. Paintsville could play with HHS and I think it would be a great game. Paintsville played the same competition as HHS and against some great players and held their own and won some games as well. I threw in the VanHoose stats because he has been "matched-up" against Patterson in this thread. Against the competiton he played I think he would have had at least a double-double against Patterson, he played against the same type of competiton before!! Hope this helps, it sure wore me out looking for this stuff!!!!!!!!

I think it's funny when I read post from folks that didn't want to split the private school from the public schools, but believe we should seperate into classes. Wouldn't those seperations be basically the same thing? Single A from AAAA, Private from Public? The game Saturday night was boring and we had two large schools. What if we had a small school, say Hazard or Paintsville playing J-Town, the place would have been rocking. I realize it doesn't happen often that a small school plays fot the title, but when it does, it worth the wait.

Congradulations J-Town, but I have to admit, it was a little boring.

I have friends coaching in Indiana, and they tell me it just isn't the same. Talk to the players, ask them if they would rather play in classes or keep it the same. If it wasn't for the Sweet Sixteen would we even care where Cuba or Carr Creek are?

There is nothing like being in a parade coming back into town with a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP trophy in your bus. Looking out the back window and seeing 200 cars painted with your school colors, horns blowing and lights flashing. Driving through your small single A town and watching the neighbors run to the sidewalks and wave as you pass. Reading all the signs in the store windows. Pulling into your school parking lot full of cars and screaming fans. Walking into your single A gym carrying the trophy of all trophies and hearing the band strike up your school songs. Seeing television stations and radio station on hand to broadcast your homecoming. I been there, done that........Don't change it. 4 trips to the sweet sixteen, 5 trips to the calls A.........No comparsion. Winning a State Class A would be a thrill to any small school........being at the Sweet Sixteen with a chance to win is even a greater thrill. I know what your numbers show, but your numbers don't show dreams. There are kids all over the state shooting hoops right now, and dreaming about making that one shots that wins a state championship, I doubt if any of them are making the shop to win a Class A. Don't take that dream away.

I have tickets for all the session, but won't be there until Saturday night.

What about the Paintsville teams in the 80s and 90s?

J. D. VanHoose went over 1,000 points for his career last night also!!! Way to go J. D.!!

Both years? I know they beat Magoffin in the District and Region Finals in 1995 and 1996!

It is Senior Night and they are honoring the 1996 Paintsville State Championship Team (10th Anniversary), so I hope Paintsville wins!!!