Scott County’s Phares looming large

 

Scott County spent much of the season looking for a reliable, night-in, night-out scorer. The search is over. Richie Phares has emerged as something of an offensive monster for the Cardinals. That’s chilling news to 11th Region rivals, most of whom lack a big man who can match up with the 6-foot-7 junior. Phares (shown at right in photo by Matt Barton) is averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds. He has sure hands, is a terrific finisher inside, and is making 76% of his free throws.

*****

In a close scoring race, Madison Central senior star Aaron Morris has 434 points this season, and Muhlenberg North senior star Aaron Morris has 420.

*****

Paintsville star Landon Slone, who was pretty much ignored by recruiters earlier this season, is getting some attention now. Tigers Coach Bill Mike Runyon said the University of Evansville is showing interest, and Slone will make an official visit to East Tennessee State. Even UK has contacted Runyon to say it might want to take a look at the 6-foot-3 senior guard who’s averaging 26 points and shooting 44% from three-point range.

*****

What do Adair County, Anderson County, Holmes, Lexington Catholic, Mason County and Paintsville have in common? They are the only boys’ basketball teams in the state that are unbeaten within their regions. That’s a nice nugget to know when you’re trying to make your Sweet Sixteen picks. Adair County is 12-0 in the 5th Region; Anderson County is 12-0 in the 8th; Holmes is 9-0 in the 9th; LexCath is 8-0 in the 11th; Mason County is 7-0 in the 10th, and Paintsville is 11-0 in the 15th.

*****

The best team in the state that has twice as many losses as victories? I’ll go with Christian County (8-16), which has played a brutal schedule. It has lost to top 20 teams Bryan Station, Elliott County, Pleasure Ridge Park (twice), Henderson County, Paducah Tilghman and University Heights. Colonels Coach Kerry Stovall (shown at left) isn’t one to surrender, so expect his young Colonels to be a darkhorse contender to win the 2nd Region for the third year in a row.

*****

After that 41-point loss at Vanderbilt, UK’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament don’t look good. If the Cats aren’t in the 64-team field, the boys’ state tournament could see a bump in attendance in Rupp Arena. The last time UK didn’t play in the NCAA Tournament — 1991 — the Sweet Sixteen had a record total attendance of 138,674, a number that hasn’t been threatened since. If UK instead plays in the NIT and gets to host a first-round game, that would be the week of the Sweet Sixteen. That might mean the Cats would play their NIT opener in Memorial Coliseum.

*****

Don’t overlook Gallatin County in the 8th Region. Jon Jones’ Wildcats, one of several All “A” Classic teams that have a shot to make it to Rupp Arena. They beat Shelby County, rated No. 1 in the region, on the Rockets’ home floor.

*****

The best first-round district tournament game in the state? It’ll be hard to top the girls’ showdown between defending state champ Lexington Christian Academy and 2005 and 2006 champ Lexington Catholic in the 43rd District semifinals at Henry Clay the last week of February.

 

Still time for super showdowns

We’re in the last 10 days of high school basketball’s regular season, but there are still plenty terrific games to be played. Here are seven boys’ showdowns involving high-rated teams:

** No. 15 Madison Central (led by Aaron Morris, shown at right) at No. 1 Lexington Catholic (Feb. 13)

** No. 11 Ballard at No. 9 Male (Feb. 15)

** No. 1 Lexington Catholic at No. 2 Scott County (Feb. 16)

** No. 6 Elliott County at No. 3 Mason County (Feb. 16)

** No. 4 Bryan Station at No. 3 Mason County (Feb. 22)

** No. 9 Eastern at No. 9 Male (Feb. 22)

** No. 2 Scott County at No. 15 Madison Central (Feb. 22)

On the girls’ side, here are six interesting matchups still to be played. In photo at left, No. 10 Montgomery County’s Brooke Colliver battles with No. 1 Lexington Catholic’s Lauren Conrad.

** No. 3 Elizabethtown at No. 9 Sacred Heart (Feb. 14)

** No. 7 Lexington Christian at No. 10 Montgomery County (Feb. 18)

** No. 10 Iroquois at No. 6 Manual (Feb. 19)

** No. 16 Assumption at No. 4 Lexington Catholic (Feb. 19)

** No. 16 Assumption at No. 3 Butler (Feb. 22)

** No. 9 Sacred Heart at No. 14 Notre Dame (Feb. 23)

This week in Kentucky high school sports history

1964

Tranyslvania basketball coach C.M. Newton says he’s giving up officiating high school games after he referees the 41st District Tournament. “This old stripe shirt is worn out, and I don’t want to buy another one,” he says . . . Fairview’s Brice Thornbury has 58 points in a 100-95 win over Flat Gap, which gets 42 points from Jess McCarty . . . George Wilson has 27 points and second-ranked Dunbar beats Louisville Central, which handed the Bearcats their only two losses of the season . . . Sixth-ranked Hazard is picked to win the 14th Region behind freshman sensation Jim Rose, sophomore Chester Rose and senior Ken Tate, who is described as the Bulldogs’ “go-getter, the guy who ignites the fuse” . . . Bobby Daugherty has 18 points as Georgetown beats Paris 61-58, avenging a 16-point loss to the Buffaloes earlier in the season . . . For the first time in a long time, fewer than 400 high schools — 390 — will be playing in the upcoming district basketball tournaments . . . Lafayette’s Bruce Pieratt and Charlie Trimble sign to play football at Oklahoma State, and teammate Mike Buxton signs with Rice.

1978

Tates Creek’s boys and Henry Clay’s girls win state gymnastics titles. Henry Clay’s Kathy Maloney and Glen Castle take all-around individual honors . . . UK football coach Fran Curci’s recruiting class includes high school All-Americans — tight end Jim Campbell of Trinity and running back Chris Jones of Danville . . . Sharon Garland’s 22 points and Lisa Collins’ 20 lead Laurel County’s girls to victory over Lafayette, ending the Lady Generals’ 11-game win streak. Tanya Fogle has 25 points for Lafayette . . . Henry Clay Coach Al Prewitt gets three quick technical fouls and is ejected from the Devils’ game against Tates Creek. Assistant Bob Tripure takes over and Henry Clay rallies to win 64-61 as brothers Frank and Guy Minnifield score 12 points apiece . . . M.C. Napier star Glen Napier has scored 40 or more points six times and is averaging 29 a game . . . Four Bryan Station players have double-doubles in a win over Tates Creek — Elton Bailey (20 points, 17 rebounds), Keith Martin (21 points, 11 rebounds), Melvin Turpin (15 points, 11 rebounds), and Eddie Oakley (13 points, 10 assists).

1985

UK football coach Jerry Claiborne, who has taken the Cats to back-to-back bowl games, likes his recruiting class headed by three Trinity stars — lineman Mike Pfeifer, fullback Andy Murray and linebacker Carwell Gardner . . . Tates Creek basketball star Derrick “T.T.” Wilson, the school’s all-time top scorer, has more tham 1,400 points and more than 800 rebounds. “He’s like gold in the bank,” Coach Nolan Barger says . . . Paris standout Terence Brooks has 30 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists in a win over Frankfort . . . Troy Hamilton hits a 25-foot at the buzzer to give Bourbon County a 53-51 win over Mason County, giving the Royals only their second loss of the season. Jeff Graves has 16 points for Bourbon County . . . Lafayette, led by Paul Kasperbauer’s 14 points and 9 rebounds, runs its record to 18-2 after beating Lexington Catholic. Frank Kornet has 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Knights . . . Tracye Davis has 23 points to lead Henry Clay’s girls past Lincoln County . . . Mutt Varney’s Scott County boys beat Clark County to improve their record to 25-2. Billy Wise has 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Frank Persley has 16 points and 7 rebounds for Scott County.

Who’s better: Edmondson or Hopson?

Call me crazy, but after watching University Heights Academy play four games in the All “A” Classic, I like the college potential of Blazers’ 6-foot-4 senior guard Tyshwan Edmondson more than that of 6-6 senior swingman Scotty Hopson. Edmondson, shown at right cutting down the net (photo by Tim Webb), is quick, athletic and aggressive, has long arms, a nice shooting touch, plays defense and can jump. Hopson is terrific around the basket and finishing a fast break, but his perimeter game is lacking. He doesn’t have much range on his jump shot, and his ball-handling is suspect. If rumors are true that Tennessee might take them both, Edmondson might be a steal in the deal.

*****

Who’s No. 1 after Scott County’s 86-65 rout of top-ranked, home-standing Bryan Station on Tuesday night? We’ll have a better idea after Lexington Catholic’s visit to Scott County on Feb. 16, and Bryan Station’s visit to Mason County on Feb. 22. Those are the four best teams in the state. Unfortunately, Bryan Station, Scott County and Lexington Catholic are all in the killer 11th Region.

*****

Give me a team of five guards — Shelvin Mack of Bryan Station, Landon Slone of Paintsville, Michael Sparks of Tates Creek, Lee Hubbard of Barren County (shown at left) and Arrez Henderson of Holmes — and I’d like my chances of winning the state title. The team might be under-sized, but it couldn’t be matched in passion, smarts and toughness.

*****

O.J. Mayo, in a story in ESPN The Magazine, talked about how he doesn’t let fans get to him. He said his experience playing for Rose Hill Christian prepared him for the antics of college crowds. “I played basketball in the woods of eastern Kentucky. It gets no worse than that,” Mayo said. O.J. should thank his lucky sneakers that he had the opportunity to play school high school hoops in Kentucky as a seventh-grader at Rose Hill. He could’ve stayed home in Huntington, W.Va., and played middle school basketball where I’m sure the fans would’ve been much more cordial.

*****

In the next week or so, June Buchanan senior Clark Stepp (shown at right) will become the first boys’ player in state history to have 3,000 points and 1,000 assists. One girl has done it. Back in the 1990s, Highlands’ Jaime Walz put up these incredible numbers: 4,948 points and 1,354 assists, 1,762 rebounds and 1,004 steals.

*****

It’s getting close to time to pick the Sweet Sixteen. I don’t see any sure-fire regional winners. Dave Cantrall’s ratings have Elliott County and Muhlenberg North as the strongest favorites in their regions. But Elliott County lost to Rose Hill in the All “A” 16th region semifinals, and Muhlenberg North absorbed a 15-point loss to 3rd Region rival Apollo this week. This time last year I figured maybe four regions had a chance to produce the boys’ state champ. This year I can make a case for eight or nine regions having at least one team capable of carting the big trophy out of Rupp Arena.

*****

The KHSAA held the draw for its boys’ and girls’ state tournaments last week. The strongest girls’ regions are balanced throughout the bracket. Not so for the boys. Most of the strongest regions are lumped together in the upper half of the bracket. Should the KHSAA think about seeding the Sweet Sixteen so that the supposed powers don’t knock off each other off in the early rounds? I don’t think so. Part of the charm of the tournament is that the Goliath vs. Goliath matchups aren’t reserved for the semifinals, and we occasionally get a David vs. Goliath title game. Bottom line: when it’s all said and done, the best of the 16 teams usually proves itself regardless of the draw.

UK gets big catch in Henry Clay’s Boyd

Henry Clay football star Aaron Boyd, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who’s rated a four-star prospect, will follow in his brother Shane’s footsteps and play college football at Kentucky. Shane was a quarterback for the Cats four years ago.

Boyd (right) made his announcement Wednesday morning at a press conference at Henry Clay with his brother Shane among those in attendance. Aaron narrowed his choices to UK, Oregon, Arkansas and Missouri before going with the Cats. Boyd played coy until the last second. When announcing his decision, he picked up an Oregon cap, but hidden inside it was a UK cap that he put on.

Two other Lexington players will also stay home to play for UK.

Lafayette place-kicker Jake Stephens (left) decided this week that he will walk on at UK. He had a scholarship offer from Tennessee Tech. Stephens kicked 22 of 37 field goals in his career, the longest from 51 yards. He converted 79 of 88 extra points. He was also a standout goalkeeper in soccer for the Generals.

Lexington Catholic’s Winston Guy, a receiver/defensive back, commited to the Cats last fall and will sign Wednesday afternoon. Guy (below left) started on the Knights’ two state championship football teams (2005 and 2007). As a receiver, running back and kick returner, he had 1,136 yards his senior season. He also set a school record with 19.5 sacks.

Boyd is considered a big catch for the Cats because of his size and athletic ability. He had 150 catches for 2,355 yards and 22 touchdowns in his high school career. He was the Blue Devils’ featured receiver last fall and had 58 catches for 1,128 yards and 14 TDs.

Henry Clay Coach Sam Simpson said Boyd had become “the hottest wide receiver in the nation” the last couple months. Boyd, 17, is rated a four-star (out of five) prospect by rivals.com. Boyd said he and his family stayed up until 3 a.m. Wednesday morning as he tried to make his final decision. Boyd said having his family here to support him was a big reason he chose the Cats. He also said he has a chance to contribute to UK football as a freshman. “Kentucky said I could catch 70 to 80 balls next year if I come in and work, and that’s what I plan to do. I don’t plan to sit on the bench.”

Boyd said that he is “good to go” academically, with a 19 on the ACT. “There’s still some stuff I have to go through first, but I’ve got the ACT score. All I’ve got to do is stay strong through this whole thing and I’m sure I’ll be on the UK campus next year.”

Three other Henry Clay players annoucned their college choices at Wednesday’s press conference. Lineman Mike Hamm is going to Georgetown College; receiver/defensive back Brendan Kelly is headed to Dayton, and running back Dontey Gay is bound for Tennessee Tech.

“Class of Commonwealth” college choices

Sam Robey (left), who started on the offensive line for three state championship teams at Trinity, signed with Florida on Wednesday. Brandon Newman (right), a defensive lineman at Pleasure Ridge Park, made good on his commitment to Notre Dame last summer and signed with the Fighting Irish on Wednesday. Robey and Newman were part of the Herald-Leader’s 2007 Class of the Commonwealth — 22 of the top senior football players in the state. Here’s a rundown on where other class members are going to college:

Leland Banks, Lou. Central (QB) — Kentucky State
Aaron Boyd, Henry Clay (WR) — Kentucky
Shumari Bridgewater, Campbellsville (RB/LB) — Eastern Kentucky
Clint Cashen, Corbin (QB) — Undecided
John Cole, Somerset (WR) — Vanderbilt
Cory Farris, Boone County (RB) — Kentucky (baseball)
E.J. Fields, Frankfort (WR/DB) — Kentucky
Shawn Grim, Johnson Central (RB) — Undecided
Winston Guy, Lexington Catholic (WR/DB) — Kentucky
Dexter Heyman, Male (DL) — Louisville
Shane Israel, Lexington Catholic (RB) — Undecided
Alex Matthews, Shelby County (QB) — Undecided
Josh McWherter, Fort Campbell (LB) — Murray State
D.L. Moore, Bowling Green (WR/DB) — South Carolina
Brandon Newman, PRP (DL) — Notre Dame
Sam Robey, Trinity (OL.DL) — Florida
Corey Robinson, Lone Oak (QB) — Troy
Matt Smith, St. Xavier (DL) — Kentucky
Will Stein, Trinity (QB) — Louisville (walk on)
Dave Ulinski, Manual (DL) — UK
Ryan Wallace, Bowling Green (TE/DE) — Colorado
Alan Williams, Marshall County (RB) — Undecided

UK wants Dunbar’s Jerrell Greene

The day before college football programs get high school prospects to sign on the dotted line of national letters of intent, the University Kentucky already has its eye on a local star it hopes to sign next February. Paul Dunbar Coach David Hensley said that UK has offered Bulldogs’ junior standout Jerrell Greene a scholarship.

“I expect him to get several offers,” Hensley said. “He is a great athlete with all the numbers. Definitely a Mr. football candidate next year.”

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Greene played tailback, receiver and defensive back for Dunbar last fall. He rushed 113 times for 693 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. He caught 22 passes for 469 yards (21.3 yards per receptions) and 4 TDs. On defense, Greene had 3 interceptions and 22 solo tackles.

Hensley said in talking with UK assistant Chuck Smith, the Cats like Greene as an athlete capable of playing several positions, “but they’re probably thinking of him mostly as a running back.”

Injuries hampered Greene his sophomore season, but he still rushed for 474 yards and 3 TDs in seven games, and caught 8 passes for 57 yards. As a freshmen he saw limited action and ran for 160 yards and 2 TDs.

This week in Kentucky high school sports history

1955

Powell County’s “basket-ripping guard” Nelson White is approaching the state career scoring record of 3,004 points held by Leonard Carpenter of Salyersville. White averaged 31 points as a junior and is averaging 34.2 as a senior . . . Edd Selvy’s 23 points and Calvin Bird’s 20 lead Corbin to a 73-70 overtime win against Lafayette in UK’s Memorial Coliseum . . . The new Scott County High School, which will open for the 1962-63 school year after the consolidation of Great Crossing, Oxford and Sadieville, names Bobby Barlow as its basketball coach. Barlow is coach of the Great Crossing Apes . . . Henry Clay extends its Central Kentucky Conference winning streak to 42 victories in a row by beating Shelbyville behind Bobby Swindler and Herbie Kays . . . Harrodsburg Coach Aggie Sale, a former UK All-American, announces he’ll call it quits at the end of the season.

1962

Sam Smith’s 20 points and Mickey Gibson’s 17 help Hazard end Wheelwright’s 43-game homecourt winning streak . . . Morgan County’s 6-foot-7 Doug Evans has 37 points against Ezel . . . Sandy Hook team captain Lynn Skaggs wins a $50 savings bond in a Future Farmers of America contest . . . Former UK assistant Ed Rutledge is named the new football coach at Paducah Tilghman . . . For the first time ever, UPI’s coaches’ poll has a unanimous No. 1 team: Joe Reibel’s St. Xavier’s Tigers . . . Mike Uhls’ driving layup with four seconds left lifts Lexington Catholic over Franklin County 58-57 . . . Tommy Hatfield of Lafayette, averaging 20 points, has all but wrapped up the city scoring title . . . Ken Perry’s 15 points spark Scott County to a 52-42 upset of Henry Clay, only the second loss of the season for the Devils. Pres Judy has 15 points for Henry Clay.

1987

Kentucky’s two most highly touted high school football stars sign with out-of-state colleges — Frank Jacobs of Newport Catholic with Notre Dame, and Jeff Ellis of Male with Ohio State. UK signs 14 in-state players, including Jerry Bell of DeSales, Joey Couch of Paintsville, Freddie Maggard of Cumberland and Derrick Thomas of Bryan Station . . . Washington County basketball star Kevin Ellery is being recruited by Notre Dame . . . Christian Academy of Louisville’s girls has so many players foul out that it finishes its game against Highview Baptist with two players on the court. CAL still holds on to win 36-32 . . . Louisville Southern’s girls, led by star Lisa Harrison, is rated No. 8 in the nation in USA Today’s Super 25 . . . Sean Sutton pours in 39 points to lead Henry Clay past Ashland . . . Jerome Coles has 33 points and 13 rebounds as Tates Creek beats Bryan Station 72-66. Mike Allen has 32 points for the Defenders.

UHA boys, LCA girls win All “A” titles

University Heights Academy won its eighth boys’ championship, and Lexington Christian Academy’s girls won their second consecutive small-school title at EKU’s McBrayer Arena on Sunday:

BOYS

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS 53 HAZARD 46: UHA broke out of a 29-29 tie late in the third quarter with a 12-3 run to take control and claim its eighth All “A” title in its 16th appearance. With UK Coach Billy Gillispie watching from the sidelines, UHA’s Scotty Hopson had 14 of his 20 points in the second half to power the Blazers to victory. Hopson (shown at right with the championship trophy) also had 9 rebounds. Tyshwan Edmondson added 16 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. If not for a poor shooting performance, Hazard might have won another title to go with the one it won in 2004. The Bullgos shot 34% from the field, and missed 9 of 18 free throws. Josh Whitaker and Robert Warren had 13 points each for Hazard. Warren also had 9 rebounds.

All-tournament team: Tyshwan Edmondson (MVP), Scotty Hopson and DaQuan Brown of UHA; Justin Jones, Michael Campbell and Josh Whitaker of Hazard; Trent Maddox of Gallatin County; Dakotah Euton and Chad Jackson of Rose Hill; Jordan Hickman and Corey Hall of Bardstown; Shane Grimm and Landon Slone of Paintsville.

GIRLS

LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN 61, PARIS 52: An overwhelming favorite to win its second consecutive All “A” title, LCA had its closest game in two years in the small-school tournament as it beat Paris in Sunday’s finals. LCA (19-4) was led by Anna Martin’s 20 points, Courtney Clifton’s 18 points and 5 assists, and Sarah Beth Barnette’s 16 points and 7 rebounds. The Lady Eagles swept to the 2007 All “A” title with ease, winning each of their four games by at least 20 points. Their first three wins in the tournament this year came by at least 14 points. In Sunday’s finals Paris (14-7) was led by Nakita Jones’ 15 points and 7 rebounds, Gabrielle Brooks’ 13 points, and Emily Hinkson’s 9 points and 19 rebounds.

All-tournament team: Courtney Clifton (MVP), Anna Martin, Sarah Beth Barnette and Clara Mitchell of LCA; Nakita Jones and Janette Pacas, Emily Hinkson of Paris; Kristen Rowe and Laura Fletcher of Cumberland Cuonty; Shanissa Douglas and Daziah Kimberland of Bardstown; Samantha Coleman of Middlesboro; Courtney Sandfoss of Newport Central Catholic.

PHOTOS BY TIM WEBB

Hazard, UHA make boys’ All “A” finals

Updates from Saturday afternoon’s Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic semifinals at EKU’s McBrayer Arena.

HAZARD 63, ROSE HILL 54 (OT): Hazard needed a fabulous finish to win its semifinal. The Bulldogs trailed by 15 points in the third quarter, and by 9 with five minutes left in regulation, but wound up forcing overtime. Hazard then dominated the four-minute extra period to earn a shot at another title. (It won the 2004 All “A”.) Hazard thought it won the game in regulation. With three-tenths of a second on the clock, the Bulldogs lobbed an in-bounds pass to Justin Jones, who tossed in a 5-footer. Hazard’s players and coaches started celebrating, but the referees ruled the basket didn’t count because Jones caught the ball, and didn’t just tap it in. Randy Lewis (shown at right driving to the basket in photo by Tim Webb) had 19 points to pace the Bulldogs. Josh Whitaker had 18 points. Dakotah Euton had 23 points, including 5-for-11 on three-pointers, and 9 rebounds for Rose Hill.

UHA 74, PAINTSVILLE 68: Tyshwan Edmondson and Scotty Hopson were too much down the stretch as the Blazers, down 61-59 with three minutes left, scored 12 consecutive points to take control and earn a shot at their eighth All “A” title. Edmondson’s three-pointer gave UHA the lead for good at 62-61. After a Paintsville turnover, Hopson hit a driving layup. When Paintsville misfired, Edmondson and Hopson combined for 5 more points as the Blazers pulled away. Hopson finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Edmondson had 23 points and 8 rebounds. Shane Grimm led Paintsville with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Landon Slone had 21 points and 11 rebounds.