Looking Back

And now it is sudden death as District Tournament play has arrived. The Corbin Redhounds come into the tournament with the number two seed and playing pretty well. They must pin their hopes on freshman Josh Crawford continuing his outstanding play.
Crawford seems to have increased his vertical jump, as he stays head and shoulders above everyone on the boards.
Kyle French is providing scoring inside and out, and Ryan Tate is entering the final few possible weeks of what has been a very good career of high school athletics. Ryan may well continue his football game at the next level.
Ryan Swim is playing very hard and if effort will get it done, Ryan gives the effort. The fourth senior is Ryan Logan and he got his first start against Harlan on Friday evening and responded very well as he played excellent defense. Josh Hamlin is perhaps our best free throw shooter, which became evident in last year’s regional tournament win over Rockcastle County. Deke Barley has really come on as an instant offense performer. Deke has a great shooting touch and I look for him to make a difference in at least one game of March Madness. I am also high on Josh Smith and Devin Rogers and what they have to contribute. Of course, Clint Cashen is a player I would want on my team no matter what I was playing, he is a winner if I have ever seen one. This kid is tough and smart, and it is great to to know he has at least two years left of football, basketball and baseball.
Spring football practice is a few weeks away and times look good for the Redound program as the number of young men coming out for the teams. It seems to be pretty high and they are working hard in the weight room. Coach Steve Jewell should be very excited over the prospect of the next fe years on the gridiron for the ‘Hounds.
The Kentucky Wildcats have their backs against the wall as far as reaching the CAA. I have stated a few times in this column that I am a Tubby Smith fan and how I revere him as one of the best coaches in basketball. I have in this season wavered, however as I watched his choice of playing for the winning basket against South Carolina, and the Wildcats won on Radian Rondos last second three pointer, which even though it worked was an unbelievably poor choice, if indeed that was Tubby’s call.
Saturday’s choice of a last play against LSU was even worse as he did choose to go to Sheray Thomas, who only had a slightly better chance of hitting that shot than I did, and I was at home on my couch.
Another poor choice made was to start the lineup he has recerted to over the last three games. If Randolph Morris starts he would have put much more pressure on “Big Baby” Davis and perhaps have drawn yet another early foul. Orbzut seems ot be a fine young man, but his is no basketball player capable of playing in the SEC.
We have all seen the infamous Tubby Stare when things go poorly on the court. Coach Smith opens eyes wide open toward the offending player, perhaps he should open his eyes just as wide open when he goes on the recruiting trail, perhaps having done that in the past he would have seen Chris Lofton.
Congratulations to the eighth grade team on their fine showing in the eighth grade state tournament. The young Redhounds won three games before losing to Sebastian of Breathitt County. Do not forget the names of Issac Wilson, Madison Johnson, Aaron Manns, Luke Stewart, Caleb Watkins and Ben House, because if they stay together and play together, and play hard and play smart they can go very far over the next next few years.
This is a special group of kids and if you team with them with this year’s freshmen group mad up of Josh Crawford, Josh Smith, Mke Campbell and Kevin French, look out!