Ashland Tomcat 1959

The talent level of the Freshmen Class and up.

Those that have donned the ultimate maroon and white and have played basketball for the Tomcats will understand what I am saying. I agree with most of what you have said but most teams get the benefit of the doubt while playing at home, maybe the deep rooted hatred for the winningest sports program in the state obscures the ability to adjust the focus of the vision of the stripes.

Coach Bob Trimble was an outstanding athlete and player while he was at Raceland. Good players make pretty good coaches. He has done a splendid job with his team.

Great win for my Tomcats! I think Bonner got a little excited with the crowd but couldn't really see because of young people standing up in front of me.

It should not be that big of a gap. Let's face it, without players coming in from other schools the last 4 years then that gap would be even bigger.

Let's take a hypothetical situation. School "A" over the course of 30 years has let major politics control the system from top to bottom, including but not limited to the feeder program at School "A". School "A" has spiraled downward in the area of basketball and now has become a major football school such as across the river. Is it safe to say that because of manipulation and politics that School "A" now has to resort to dressing and playing under age and under classmen just to be able to compete. Even though I reside out side the Ashland city limits in nearby school district "A", I have not been able to figure out why school "A" has dropped the ball after their legendary coach retired. Just a little puzzle and food for thought.

Make fun of him all you want but it will be a different story the next time Fairview plays the Royals. Rex has really developed into a fine coach over the years and besides that he has a basketball guru in Jeff Hall helping him. By the way, your comment did generate a chuckle from me and my grandson.

It's late and this old timer must go to bed now. The Officials evened the calls towards the end of the 3rd quarter but before that Boyd recieved most of the calls and breaks by the officials. They also missed about 12 walking violations by the Boyd Guards, 12 is a low guess. That's my story, so long and good night.

If you were at the game then you would have to concur with what I stated.

Interesting game to watch. Danny Coleman and Ryan Bonner played overall good games. I thought Boyd would be better than what they showed tonight but Coach Zornes will have them ready by season's end. I thought the officiating was consistent. Consistenly poor. Ashland is the only team that gets hammered at HOME. I am glad that our boys prevailed and Coach Biggs did a good job of making crucial adjustments. We got the shots we wanted and if that five point swing wouldn't have happened it would have been a 15 point victory. We play again tomorrow night against Ironton, which should be a big blow out for the Tomcats!

Past decade? You are correct. The best ever to play in the region? I guess we will never know, seeing how he used Rose Hill as a stepping stone to further his fame, fortune and popularity. Does he ever mention Rose Hill? He never cared about Rose Hill only himself as do some that are currently playing. At least at Ashland our players hold the Tomcat tradition in high esteem and love to come back and support the best sports school in the state of Kentucky. No other school compares to us, just walk through the front lobby! I have to go and get ready for the game. It will be a dandy.

That was a little high but I am finding out that many on BGP's take things out of context.

I agree 100% with what you posted!

In the late 50"s and through the 60's and 70's players ran offensive sets but were allowed freedom in the process. I have watched Boys Basketball in this area for more than 50 years! During the last half of the 80's this area began to change in coaching styles and the game was slowed down to a coaches game. 35-40 years ago it was not unusal to see high scoring games in 90's and 100's. What has changed? Coaching has changed. When good players are not allowed to create in a set that becomes a jail cell. It would be like telling Harold Sargent (Ashland Tomcat Legend) not to shoot the ball because he is supposed to make this pass here that pass there. That is my point. These teams today have great players but not wise enough coaching to let their players play. Coach Jeff Hall was wise enough not to over coach when he was at Rose Hill with O.J. Mayo. You could make the statement that he had all the talent, well so did the Ashland 1961 team. For what it is worth, I am Ashalnd all the way and cant stand Rose Hill Athletics but I do think Jeff Hall was a great coach and O.J. a very good over rated player.

Contrary to public opinion outside of the boundary confines of the city limits, Ashland coaches have a short tenure on Blazer Blvd. Ashland Tomcat Basketball is under the same scrunity as the University of Kentucky when dealing with Basketball and the head coaches. No true Ashlander is ever satisfied with just a 25 win season. True Ashlanders expect to compete and win the region year in and year out, anything else is not acceptable! Many coaches in the area in boys and girls have many wins in a season but cant win the big dance in Morehead. Examples would be Russell Girls in regional play and the Rose Hill Boys cant even get out of their District. That mind set may be fine at those schools but not here at Ashland. Buddy Biggs will do a great job if given the time he needs but like I said the tenures at Ashland are short in comparison to other schools because we expect our kids to uphold the tradition of the Tomcats which is like no other in the state.

Does Russell not use the Marv Meredith League as a feeder system? A Developmental League?

What has happened to Russell's program?

In order to be a great coach you must know when to discipline, when to control, when to get on the refs, when to let your players play, know what makes your players respond, and know how to be political whether you like it or not. Flynn should have won more with what he had. To much controlling of his players. Good players need freedom not a jail cell of x's and o's. I personally talked with him and enjoyed our conversations over the years that he was here. Good luck to him.

I love my Tomcats! Buddy will have to prove himself as a coach. Ashland has had great coaches in the past, most notable is Bob Wright and Patterson. The other coaches in recent memory is Jeff Hall and Wayne Breeden. We are behind you Buddy and supporting you.

I'm not really a Girls Basketball follower, But I must say that Coach Bradley does a great job coaching our seasoned young veterans. I remember watching him play at Holy Family in the early 70's and also the various stop overs as an assistant and head coach during the tenure of his career. Keep up the great job and let the mighty Kittens make a run at going to State.

The Tomcats will come out on top in a hard fought game. Great to see Coach Zornes back at the Helm for the Lions.