LOOKING BACK

This past Friday evening the Corbin Redhounds were host to a very talented Whitley County Colonel basketball team. There was an excellent crowd on hand. The Redhounds played very well as they were more under control offensively and played well as always defensively.

Coach Tony Pietrowski and his staff mixed their defenses and kept Whitley County off balance offensively. One point of emphasis for Coach P is the black out on the defensive boards for rebounds.

Matthew Taylor is a poster boy in that respect and all the other Redhounds follow suit. Taylor and Travis Smith led the way with 21 and 17 points respectively and Brody Freeman, Taylor Jones and Hunter Sizemore had strong floor games and a very good defensive effort. The Redhounds received effective work off the bench from Zack Farley, Robbie Igo and Kyle West. The end result was a 56-48 Redhound win.

Back to the 50’s 

As you may know, I occasionally enjoy drifting back in my time capsule. This week I can still hear Perry Como singing “Take a wheel and it goes Round, Round, Round” from 1957.

The movie “Giant” starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean was showing at the Hippodrome Theatre. The buffet at the old YMCA on Depot Street was the best meal you could imagine for only 35 cents. (If you could round up 35 cents).

The Lunch Queen was the place to hang out if there was a parking meter available to lean on. You could go to the Dixie and read their magazines and eat those delicious hot dogs.

Perry Como was still singing round, round, round as Jack Wyatt turned his pearl white ’54 Ford onto Highway 119 at Pineville heading to Bell County High School for the 13^th Region 1957 championship game.

What a game it would be as the Redhounds were playing Clay County for an opportunity to go to the state tournament. It was a great game with a heart breaking finish. Calvin Bird, Winton Boone and Bobby “Puppet” Morris were key players for the Redhounds who lost by one point as Winton Boone’s last second shot hung on the rim for what seemed like an eternity before falling off.

Corbin has always been my garden spot of the world. Even the best of gardens has a few weeds, but in the decade of the 50’s I seldom ever noticed any.

Cal’s CATS

The Kentucky Wildcats seem to be coming around as Coach Calipari continues to play mind games with his troops. Coach Cal motivates in mysterious ways, but the results are remarkable.

I was surprised by the stern stance taken by ESPN analyst Dick Vitale with regard to the Bruce Pearl situation at Tennessee. Normally Vitale would side with a coach and take the position of leaning toward lienency for the offender.

Dicky V, however, said that in this situation most coaches would be fired. My personal feeling in anything the NCAA is for, I am against.

Redhound of the past

My Redhound from the past this week played on the great Redhound teams in the late seventies. He was an outstanding player and since leaving school he has devoted his life to helping coach and inspire young Redhounds. Burley Foley, truly always a Redhound.

Great Success

I saw where former Redhound Coach Rodney Woods is having a great season leading Wayne County to a 15-1 record. I would have to think they are the favorite to come out of the 12^th region. Coach Woods does a great job.

Melvin Jones

Melvin Jones, who played basketball and football at Lynn Camp in the late 40’s, passed away on Jan. 9^th. Melvin was married to my Aunt Maureen. The former Maureen Brafford was the youngest of Sam and Laura Brafford’s five beautiful daughters. Melvin and Maureen’s picture hung in the Dixie Restaurant as part of Lynn Camp’s Homecoming basketball game of 1948. Melvin was captain, Maureen was the homecoming queen.