TCR

Game time: Friday, August 30 at 8:30 PM (Per KHSAA Website) Location: Haywood Stadium, Belfry High School Belfry opens up with a 56-26 win against Breathitt County, who hung around against Belfry for a while in the first half before Belfry would pull away. George Rogers Clark opens up the season with a strong 38-6 win against Central Hardin, who last season reached the regional finals in 6A. Belfry looks to continue their momentum at home and I'm sure will be fired up against a solid 6A competitor. GRC won 53-27 last season. What are your thoughts on the matchup?

Game time: Friday, August 30 at 8:00 PM (Per KHSAA Website) Location: Ram Stadium, Raceland High School Raceland drops their first one against Ashland 28-7 but this young group of Rams showed signs of improvement as the game went on and have a few things they can build on. Letcher County Central opens up with a big win at home against Shelby Valley. This will be a big road test for Letcher County Central in a playoff type atmosphere. What are your thoughts on the upcoming game?

Game time: Friday, August 30, 7:30 PM Location: West Jessamine High School Ashland comes into the game 1-0 after defeating local rival Raceland 28-7 at Raceland while West Jessamine drops their first of three home games in a row to Wayne County 35-14. Some neat ties involved in this game. West Jessamine head coach Scott Marsh is the son of Vic Marsh, who was the head coach of Ashland's 1990 state championship team. Scott was a player on that team. At this point, I don't think West Jessamine has ever beat Ashland but they have only played a handful of times going back to the 1990's. Since renewing the series in 2021 Ashland has won all three, averaging 61 points per game against West Jessamine in that stretch. Last season West Jessamine had a young team and there was a lot of optimism around those upcoming classes. What are your thoughts about this upcoming game?

Belfry and Breathitt have had an interesting series that goes back a number of years. One of the great matchups I think of came in 2008 in the state semifinals when the two would meet. Belfry came in as a favorite and was expected to make the state finals for the second consecutive year. However, Breathitt would capitalize on several Belfry turnovers to pull out an upset to win 14-12 and advance to the state finals before losing to Louisville Central. Last season Belfry would go 8-4, starting 2-3 before ripping out six wins a row to reach the second round of the playoffs. They would lose 24-22 in a tight one to eventual state finalist Bell County. Breathitt County started the season 2-5 before winning four in a row and reaching the second round of the playoffs before losing to Beachwood, who would lose 31-28 in the state semifinals to eventual state champion Mayfield. Belfry has been known for their ability to run the football and have won many state championships doing so but with Varney back at QB we may see Belfry throw the ball more than they have in the past. Varney completed three touchdown passes last season against Breathitt. However, there seems to be even more optimism this year around Breathitt County and a great way to start the season would be to have a successful showing against Belfry. Belfry won 48-14 last year and didn’t have a lot of trouble putting Breathitt County away. Of course, this is a new season and that can always change.

Congratulations!!! That is not an easy thing to do. Keep up the excellent work!!!!

Friday, August 23, 2024, 7:30 PM Ram Stadium – Raceland High School First off, before jumping into the thread I would like to remind you – WE ARE ONE WEEK AWAY FROM FOOTBALL! Ahhhh the excitement! And the first week will feature one of the great rivalries in Eastern Kentucky as the Ashland Tomcats travel to play the Rams of Raceland. This, in my opinion, will be the first, true, game that these two storied programs will have played at Raceland. The series was played only at Ashland for a number of years and although the two schools did play at Raceland in 2020, it was during the COVID era with a highly limited crowd due to the impact of the pandemic. In 2022 Raceland was in the process of having extensive maintenance work done on their field so the game was played on a Saturday night at Wheelersburg High School in Ohio where Raceland picked up their largest win in the series, 34-7. Ashland went 10-2 last season, returning the bulk of their athletes from a team that reached the regional semifinals in a loaded 4A class, losing 35-28 to eventual state finalist Covington Catholic. Ashland returns players such as 3 star runningback Braxton Jennings along with QB LaBryant Strader, who likely by the end of this season will be one of the all time leading passers in the program. If they can replace some of their key departures such as lineman Cole Christian or Raceland finished 11-4 with a tough schedule, making it all the way to the state finals for the second consecutive season before losing 21-0 to Pikeville. Raceland loses some key players such as QB Logan Lundy and Parker Fannin and are experimenting a bit finding a younger class to step up and replace what is considered by many the greatest senior class departing from Raceland. This rivalry has a lot of great history to it as Raceland would pick up their first win in the series in 1991, 14-13 after a big goal line stand late in the game and even winning three in a row against the larger Ashland at one point from 2006 – 2008. Former Ashland Coach, 2020 state champion Tony Love would pick up his first win as a head coach against Raceland in a 35-34 overtime win that Ashland did not lead at any point in the game until the game winning two point conversion in overtime. I could go on and on with great moments. Point being, there has been a lot of excitement in the series and I expect this game to be no different. Ashland won the most recent meeting at Putnam Stadium last season, 28-21 last season. What are your thoughts on the game this year?

It's been a while since I have updated. It has been a crazy month. I'm starting to gain again unfortunately. When I felt like I hit the right medicine with to help my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I had multiple times that I would have a tough day eating but then get right back on the next. Which was something that never happened before. Then a big blow came at work, when a coworker passed due to liver cancer. Although there were some health issues, the cancer was in its early stages and it was unexpected. I found out coming to the office on a Thursday that I took off to print off my stat sheets for a basketball event that I was going to call over the weekend. This coworker was somebody I had worked with from the beginning of my accounting career. If you were to picture a sports team, think of him as the heart of the organization, that gritty veteran that provides leadership. Normally when I call games on these trips I stop at a restaurant I like on the way up. This year I was determined not to do that and didn't feel there would be anything that would stop me - until I got to the office and got the text of him passing right as I got out of my car. Immediately I went to eat out, then to make matters worse I went by a gas station and picked up a milkshake. The basketball event, which spanned two separate weekends, I was hoping to do a great job at but instead I struggled in terms of eating. Fortunately I was super busy and got a lot of walking in. My hope originally was that my eating would hold through and that all the walking (The first day I had 5,000 steps by the time the event even started!) would help me drop a couple extra pounds. Instead I got consumed with food, went to Burger King when the event ended each day and have not been the same since coming back from that event but I also know that I'm not where I originally started at 363. I'm pushing 340 though and I know that if I can get the strength to rebound I'll be right back where I was at 330 and can continue to push back. My discipline has been shot as well. Like I haven't stuck to my ab routine which is very simple, haven't drank water like I have been and overall I'm feeling worse. I don't say that for any kind of sympathy, but you would think I wouldn't want to feel bad and it seems like this whole thing just has me in a funk right now. 3,000 steps doesn't seem like a lot (Just look at the steps thread in this same forum) daily and I haven't even committed to that so right now it's just finding the ability to get back to what I was doing in terms of the weight loss. Some of it could be with the trip, even without the tragedy happening as it threw my schedule off in general.

Jacob Spurlock is having a heck of a summer. At the moment he has offers from High Point (27-9 last season) and Youngstown State (22-10 last season) and I may be missing one or two more. Several other NCAA Division I schools have been in touch with him, I do know that much. Hopefully that high interest for his services will keep coming in!

I missed this when initially reading the post you made but that seems to be the key to Belfry and the difference with their year end success. I think back to the 2020 team that made the state semifinals, they had a couple of superstars, one of them being Isaac Dixon but lacked that consistent fullback that could get 3-5 yards up the middle when needed. That's so important for the type of offense Belfry runs. Sure they could still make a deep run, but I think having that (like you mentioned) will be what could take them to the next level. That was a huge part of their 2019 state championship run.

Tito Santana wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980's and is especially known for being a key part of the professional wrestling boom that occurred at that time. Prior to that Tito played college football with two future wrestling legends, Ted DiBiase and Tully Blanchard. Later he would try to join the Kansas City Chiefs and was an injury away from making that a reality. Unfamiliar to the wrestling world, Tito would spend a couple years on the road learning how to wrestle before being groomed to be the Intercontinental Champion. The legendary career would last until 1993 although Tito would occasionally wrestle for various promotions afterward. Stories are told about wrestlers such as Andre the Giant and Tito also discusses in detail a massive upset his character pulled in 1991 over The Undertaker when Taker was in the midst of a red hot run. A second career, teaching Spanish, would emerge for Tito, whose real name is Merced Solis. It was an amazing opportunity getting to connect with him. Near the end he talks about some of the tough events he had to endure during his childhood. It was an honor to meet him and he is a true treasure to his community. Today Tito continues to make appearances around the country.

When you think of longevity in basketball players that likely come to mind would be LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or John Stockton. But one underrated player who exemplified this theme throughout his career is Jumpin' Johnny Green. Due to his height being under 6 foot, he did not play high school basketball and worked various part time jobs after graduation prior to joining the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean war. He would grow to 6'5 at that time and stand out for his play on the base team. Word of his play got to Michigan State and he would go on to have a great career playing under Forddy Anderson. Due to his military service, Green did not get to start his NBA career until he was 26 in 1959 where he consistently achieved double-double statistics in most seasons with the New York Knicks. However, by 1969, at the age of 36, Green experienced a decline in his play level like many players. I find his story so fascinating in the sense that while it seemed as though his basketball career might come to an end, Green signed with the Cincinnati Royals and had some of his best seasons. The comeback resulted in him not only maintaining an average of nearly a double-double but he also led the league in field goal percentage for two consecutive years. Additionally, Green earned a spot in the 1971 All-Star Game. He retired in 1973 still playing nearly 20 minutes per game at the age of 39, cementing his legacy as a player who defied expectations and demonstrated outstanding longevity in the sport of basketball. Photo from the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame Website.

I wanted to share an informative interview with Trevon Pendleton, the head football coach of the Ironton Fighting Tigers in Ohio. Many teams in Eastern Kentucky, such as Ashland, Beechwood, Belfry, Boyd County, Johnson Central, and Raceland, have faced off against Ironton at various points over the past several decades. Coach Pendleton, who played at Michigan State from 2012-2015, provides valuable advice relevant to student-athletes of any sport. He covers topics including: Navigating social media use Involving parents in the recruiting process Tips for initially connecting with college coaches Insights from his own college recruiting experience While Coach Pendleton specializes in football, this interview is tailored for athletes of any sport. Whether you're an athlete, parent, or coach coming across this you will likely find some helpful advice! I encourage you to check out the full interview.

Zander Carter has been an impact player throughout Kentucky and is committed to play at the collegiate level at Liberty University. Even though this highlight does not come directly from a game, this dunk showcases his athleticism nicely. His strength, quickness, and confidence have made significant strides over the course of his career. Zander's first big breakout performance came at Rupp Arena in the state quarterfinal in 2021 against Boyle County when he scored 18 points. Last season he averaged nearly 23 points per game in leading Ashland to their sixth consecutive state tournament appearance. Renowned for his ability to lead both on and off the court, Zander is a strong, outspoken Christian young man whose impact extends far beyond the basketball court. Footage credit to Steve Carter and Melinda Deerfield!

Wishing Coach Fite the best at Mason County! He did an excellent job winning multiple district titles at Lewis County and is a great representative of the EKY area. I'm sure he will do a fantastic job at Mason County.

Since we're now in the off season I wanted to share some thoughts on NBA history from time to time. It's a lot of fun to talk about the history of the game and I wanted to post about a player that I feel often goes overlooked. Neil Johnston played in the NBA from 1951 until he had a knee injury in 1959 that would force an early retirement. Prior to that he attended college at Ohio state, playing basketball and baseball when it was more common to see two-sport collegiate athletes. Despite struggling in his attempt at a professional baseball career before joining the NBA, this undrafted center emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Spending eight seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors, now the Golden State Warriors, Johnston claimed a championship title in 1956 and garnered four 1st-team all-NBA honors. His exceptional scoring ability, leading the league three times, along with his impressive field goal percentage (for the time) and minutes played in which he also led the league, solidified his legacy. One season he also led the league in rebounding. Neil Johnston showcased remarkable finesse and I wonder how much of an influence he had on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later on. One of his signature moves was a sweeping hook shot that he would often use to punish defenses. Although it's the main move people talk about with Kareem, it's not mentioned so much when it comes to Neil Johnston. One reason I feel like he is often overlooked is because his prime years came between the dominant era of George Mikan and the era of players like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Photo comes from Basketball Reference.

Thank you for the list! Ashland has switched to turf this year and it is currently being installed.

Right on brother! That's really the key to it, is the consistency part. I'll say, I had a major slip up over the past couple of weeks. I had two weekends of calling games and knowing that if I stayed under control, I could probably drop a few more there just given all the walking and sweating. Unfortunately, at the accounting firm I work for we had a tragedy losing one of our leaders, the tax leader who has been one of my mentors. I let it slow me down some. But after a good conversation with my life coach Wednesday got right back on it on the 4th. My lowest since starting was at 329.6 and right now I'm at 333.4. But I'm right back on it and hoping to continue hacking away. 50 is in sight. My start was 363. Keep up the excellent work!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would agree, and certainly hope the administration would be behind the efforts. That's a fair point, and coaches like Buchanan or Smith would likely have a better handle on navigating the administrative buy-in piece. I was just speculating a bit there based on my understanding of the challenges involved in getting a whole community to buy into a turnaround effort. Sometimes when you get a highly ambitious coach like Buchanan or Smith (especially if it's a program not used to winning) the administration may not be as willing to be on board when they want to make an effort to advance the program. Then on the other end it may take a few years to get the program to a high level. I think of Evan Ferguson at Boyd County in this situation as he struggled in his first three seasons before taking Boyd to their best season in two decades in 2022. Boyd County remained committed to him even after the early struggles and it is paying off for them now as they are competitive with almost anybody on their schedule. However, I feel like some administrations would grow impatient after a 1-9 season to start followed by two seasons (20 and 21) where they jumped to a 3-1 start before struggling the rest of the way as Evan Ferguson had when he first started.

Getting the community to buy in to turning a program around. Both Coach Buchanan (Currently in the process at Anderson County) and Coach Smith have had success with that. It takes so much to get the players to believe and then the parents, administration, and fans to buy in to the commitment the program is taking to achieve new heights and I'm curious how the coaches go about doing that.

It would be neat if somebody had some footage of that game. I searched it out of curiosity. There are a couple of Highlands videos from the 1950's and 1960's era that are on YouTube.

Agreed on all counts. In particular, their dominance is what stands out. It's extremely rare that you see an NBA team win their games by an average of double digits. They won their regular season games by an average of 11.4 points per game. The only teams that I know of that have won by at least that margin are the 71 Bucks, 72 Lakers, and 96 Bulls. Combined with only three playoff loses and handling a Dallas team in the finals that seemed to be clicking on all cylinders, they will definitely draw comparisons to some of the great teams.

Here are some of the rivalries I keep close watch of. In NKY, Highlands and Cov Cath. One or both are always in state championship contention. If you watch professional wrestling the wrestler Sting (Who retired this year) always said that "The only thing that's sure about Sting is that nothing's for sure." The only thing that's for sure when Highlands and Cov Cath play is that nothing's for sure. I would apply that saying to the rivalry between these two powerhouses. Both programs are fundamentally disciplined and it's always fun when they battle. St. X vs. Trinity is fun to keep up with. Two of the best the state has to offer and I'm always beaming with pride with how they represent Kentucky when they venture against competition out of state. I have never been to see these two schools play. But if I had to guess, I would venture to say that it probably attracts quite a few college coaches given the high level of talent that takes the field for both schools. On the EKY side I have more familiarity in terms of the schools. Here's one that comes to mind. Belfry and Johnson Central. One reason, if you're a fan of smash mouth football and three back sets this one is for you. Neither throws the ball much. Their passing games are usually threats, but they just don't throw very often. While it looks obvious what the next play is going to be with the running game, it's much easier said than done when having to defend against those offenses and how their blocking schemes are set up. On top of that, both have state championships in the past decade and are usually a contender in their class. Being an Ashland graduate, I'm excited to see Ashland vs. Boyd County once again become a big football rivalry. Although Ashland had a long drought between state titles from 1990 to 2020, it's not an unusual sight to see them in the top ten or even the top five in their class. Boyd County, on the other hand, has not defeated Ashland since 2003 and the game became a lopsided win in favor of Ashland for many years. I was on the 2003 Ashland team, a sophomore when Boyd defeated Ashland. It was at Boyd County and afterward the Boyd County fans stormed the field, climbing up and then tearing the field goal posts down in an unexpected blow out win. Ashland would avenge the loss in the playoffs after Boyd pulled an upset at Bell County, marking the only time the schools have ever met in the playoffs. Since then Ashland has still been Ashland and Chad Tackett has done a fantastic job entering his third year as coach, and Boyd is once again a threat with Evan Ferguson, who was hired in 2019. He has done a wonderful job and under his watch Boyd once again has become a threat to just about anybody on their schedule.

Kim Groves replaces Pete Fraley after 28 seasons at the helm at Boyd County. In this interview she discusses her vision for Boyd County as well as her background. With several departures including Audrey Biggs (Signed to Pitt) and Jasmine Jordan (Signed to Rio Grande), Boyd County loses just over 70% of its total point production last season but there are still a lot of reasons to be optimistic. Coach Groves talks about the team and how they have bonded over the summer, including players that have stepped it up. This is Groves' first head coaching job, but she has a lot of experience in other areas that could translate nicely to Boyd County. She played under Hager Easterling at East Carter, winning a regional title in 2004. She has two separate assistant coaching runs with 300+ game winner Mandy Layne who has been at Russell since 2009, having won 20+ games every season (including the COVID year) since 2016, winning four regional titles in that stretch. What stands out to me about Groves' experience at Russell is that she was there in the beginning to help what was a struggling program. Mandy Layne only had one 20+ win season between 2009 and 2015 and Groves was instrumental in particular with helping with the youth basketball programs along with the development of some of the younger players.

Congratulations and best wishes for success and the continued growth of sports throughout the state!