Looking Back

All year long, I have had my reservations about just how good the South Laurel High School basketball team is. I have stated that their is something missing. I am still of that opinion, however, what is not missing is the character of this very fine group of young men.
Walt Allen, Ty Profitt and Jordan Hammonds, the team’s best players are also the finest ambassadors for their program. Their parents must and should be very proud of them.
The Corbin Redhounds as well, have young student athletes who represented their team and school in the highest esteem.
It was a hard fought, physical, tough battle when the two teams met last Thursday, Although the Cardinals of South Laurel led by 31 at the end of the three quarters, the Redhounds never quit, and played extremely well in the fourth quarter.
It will be a very difficult road to travel to garner a fourth opportunity to play South Laurel.
The Redhounds as you know, drew Clay County on the Tigers home floor, a tough task indeed.
Over the past few weeks I have had an opportunity to talk a bit with assistant coach Jackie Jewell about our football hopes for next year and beyond. Coach Jewell said the numbers were looking good and many of the kids were working in the weight room. That was very encouraging to here as the numbers the last few years have been down a bit. Head coach Steve Jewell also advised me of his intent to put the Danville Admirals on the Redhound schedule within the next two years. All great news to me. I hope the entire student body will get behind coaching staffs of football, basketball and baseball and put our Redhound programs where they should be at the top.
It is very difficult for a small school like Corbin HIgh School to maintain success in all three programs. It requires the good athletes to play multiple sports. It not only helps the schools athletic programs but the young athlete himself.
Roy Kidd played basketball, football and baseball while at Corbin High School and played them all very well, before becoming an All-American quarterback at Eastern Kentucky University. Jerry Bird played football and basketball at CHS before electing to accept a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Kentucky over the offer of a football grant in aid by Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant at UK. Jerry went on to play in the NBA.
Frank Selvy also played basketball and football before becoming an Al-American at Furman University and playing eight years in the NBA.
Bobby Terrell was an outstanding athlete who played football, basketball and baseball and excelled in each sport.
Robert Barton, Bobby Cathers, Harold Queary, Calvin Bird, Roger Bird, Billy Bird, E.R. Hopper, Bill Hammons, the late Dewayne Leight all were just a few of many, many more multi sport stars. I would believe that you could add to that list many more younger men that look back and wish they had taken advantage of the opportunity.
You only go through high school one time and you need to explore all opportunities available to you.
I received a very nice and informative letter from an old Barbourville Tiger, Leamond Davidson. Leamond was responding to my column a few weeks ago and gave me several names of old Tigers players around my era.
I knew them all and they were not only a pretty good bunch of basketball players, but a good bunch of guys as well. You need to keep those Knox Central players out of there. However, guys like Ron Phipps and Raymond Troutman. Just kidding, those were two great basketball players.
Thanks for the letter.