This week in Kentucky high school sports history

1970

Woodford County’s Larry Weathers, an all-state football player and state heavyweight champ in wrestling, wins the regional shot put title . . . Lafayette wins the region track title in Class 2A. hurdler Ricky Jones, sprinter Gary Taylor and long jumper Nolan Freeman lead the way . . . Mike Webb sweeps the hurdle events to spark Lexington Catholic to the region title in 1A . . . Doug Logan of Shelby County wins the boys’ region golf title at Juniper Hills with a 67. Clark County, led by Wesley Martin’s 73, takes the team title . . . Robin Brooks has 10 strikeouts in pitching Lafayette to a 5-4 win over Henry Clay for the district baseball title. Sonny Denniston, Kent Wade and Steve Hammond have 7 of the Generals’ 9 hits.

1980

Buddy Bryant of Paducah Tilghman shoots 69-71–140 at Fort Knox to win the state golf title by 10 shots over Dave Peege of Trinity. Tates Creek wins the boys’ team title behind the play of Peter Freeman, Jay Wainscott, Doug Feldman and Jim Simpson . . . Bonnie Overmann wins the girls’ state title and leads Notre Dame to the team title . . . Defending state track champ Bryan Station wins the region title behind Anthony Jackson’s wins in the hurdles and triple jump . . . Henry Clay outslugs Tates Creek 11-7 to win the district baseball title. Mark Cole hits a grand slam for the winners. Todd Kessler hits a grand slam for the Commodores . . . Madison Central outfielder Keith Kidd makes a running catch for the last out as the Indians hold on to beat Henry Clay 3-2 in the regional tournament.

1990

Former Bryan Station basketball star Mike Allen, who helped Connors State (Okla.) win the JUCO national championship, says he will take more time to decide what Division I school he’ll attend . . . Lafayette standout James Crutcher, who averaged 22 points and 9 rebounds, signs with Western Kentucky . . . A few days after he is named Clark County principal, Guy Strong, 59, announces his basketball coaching career is over. Strong led Clark County to the semifinals of the Sweet Sixteen a couple months earlier. He coached 14 years on the high school level, and 15 on the college level, highlighted by an NCAA Division II title at Kentucky Wesleyan. “I’m sure I’ll miss basketball, but I’ve put in a lot of years,” he said . . . The final regular-season baseball rankings: No. 1 Boyd County, No. 2 Male, No. 3 Henry Clay, No. 4 Trinity and No. 5 Lafayette . . . Two-time defending state champ Lafayette beats Lexington Catholic in its district opener for its 19th consecutive post-season win over the last three years under Coach Steve Chandler.

Clark Stepp to Austin Peay

June Buchanan all-stater Clark Stepp, the only boys’ basketball player in state history to total 3,000 points and 1,000 assists, will sign with Austin Peay on Friday. Stepp said that he was torn between going to Hargrave Military Academy (Va.) for a year, or signing with Austin Peay. He decided on Wednesday that he’ll go with the Governors.

“At Hargrave, I could improve my quickness and strength, and maybe get a scholarship to a big-time SEC-caliber school,” he said. “But nothing would be guaranteed. I decided I’ve already got what I wanted — a Division I scholarship to Austin Peay. I really like Coach (Dave) Loos. He’s pretty straight-forward, pretty honest, and I like that about him.”

Stepp said it’s also nice that Austin Peay, in Clarksville, Tn., is close to his grandparents, who live in Hopkinsville.

Stepp said Vanderbilt had shown interest in him in recent weeks, and probably would have offered a scholarship if it had one available. But Brad Tinsley, the fifth leading scorer in Oregon high school history, took the last spot last weekend.

Stepp averaged 25 points and 7 assists for June Buchanan this season. He led the Crusaders to the Sweet Sixteen in his junior year.

Harrison County’s Graham joins LCA football staff

Ray Graham, who has won almost 200 games in 28 years as a head football coach, is leaving Harrison County to become an assistant at Lexington Christian Academy.

In letter to Harrison County fans, Graham said he made his decision “after much introspection, prayer and many sleepless nights.” He will be assistant head coach and defensive coordinator to LCA Coach Paul Rains, and will be Senior Bible instructor at the school.

Graham coached Harrison County to the Class 4A semifinals last fall before the Thorobreds lost to eventual state champion Lexington Catholic. He had an overall record of 196-122, including a stint as coach at Rowan County.

“It’s difficult to leave young men and coaches I love,” Graham said in his letter. But I have always believed that decisions should be based upon one’s perceived will of God, and what is best for one’s family.” Graham’s mother, sister and daughter live in Lexington.

Rains called Graham “one of the most respected coaches in the state of Kentucky.” Beyond Graham’s football expertise, Rains said “Graham is even more respected for the Christian example that he has set for coaches all all levels.”

Decisions, decisions for basketball stars

A few weeks into college basketball’s signing period, most of Kentucky’s high-profile high school stars have made their decisions. The only senior on the Herald-Leader’s first-team All-State team still making up his mind is Clark Stepp (shown at right) of June Buchanan. Gary Stepp, his uncle and former coach, said Clark is weighing his options, including going to a prep school. Oklahoma has talked to him about walking on. Vanderbilt has been in touch recently. Austin Peay is still in the picture. “Clark hopes to make a decision by the end of this month,” Gary said.

Here’s where the rest of the first-team senior all-staters are going:

• Darius Miller of Mason County: UK
• Shelvin Mack of Bryan Station: Butler
• Scotty Hopson of University Heights: Tennessee
• Landon Slone of Paintsville: UK (walk-on)
• Aaron Morris of Madison Central: IUPUI
• Arrez Henderson of Holmes: Louisiana Tech
• Tyshwan Edmondson of University Heights: St. John’s
• Taylor Stewart of Lexington Catholic: Air Force Academy

Second-team all-stater Adam Delph of Pleasure Ridge Park is going to walk on at UK. Tyler Brown of Apollo is headed to Morehead, and Michael Sparks of Tates Creek is going to the VMI. Still undecided are Nathan Novosel of Lexington Catholic, Victor Moses of Henry Clay and Nick Gagel of Jeffersontown.