Who were the Best

The chill of the winter days will push through the weeks onward toward March and the 50th District Tournament. I have watched the games somewhat closely and yet it is very difficult to determine what might happen in this year’s tournament.
The luck of the draw may be what decides the outcome. The Barbourville Tigers look very impressive and would be a very difficult draw for any of the other teams involved. Corbin certainly, I believe has outstanding talent and is very capable of regaining the championship form that it enjoyed in the decade of the nineties.
Knox Central after a terrible start is playing much better now, and is also capable of a 50th district championship. Lynn Camp has played a very soft schedule, but does have impressive wins over Whitley County and Williamsburg. It is difficult to gauge just how good the Wildcats are. Whitley County had the potential to be a contender for the district, but they must have Jeremy Taylor and Travis Raper in the lineup.
Williamsburg under coach Donnie Haynes is very young and probably is not to be considered a legimate contender this season. Coach Haynes is a very good coach an experienced coach, however, and could possibly lead his young squad to an upset or two.
Over the many years of tournament play, the 50th district has produced many outstanding players, I would like to recognize some, and if you think of others please feel free to bring them to my attention.
The Corbin Redhounds and Knox Central Panthers have dominated the tournament over the years, and each have had tremendous players represent them.
For the Redhounds, the list is long and lustrous and includes such names as Marion and Stan Cluggish, Frank Selvy, Jerry Bird, Jerry Smith, Roy Kidd, Robert Barton, Bobby Terrell, Jerry “Zeke” Perkins, Curt Selvy, Max Mobely, Dusty Yates, Marvin Selvy, Charles “Curly” Selvy, Edd Selvy, Calvin Bird, Billy Bird, Don Turner, Bobby “Country” Cathers, Tony Pietrowski, Isiah Mills, Johnny B. Hammons and this list only touches the surface and is in no particular order.
The Knox Central list too is long with Don Bingham, Terry Mills, Bill Swafford, Brandon Elam, Tony Merida, Allen Sharpe, Pat Hauser, Tony Patterson, Noble Potter, Doug Logan, Vencil Phipps and Rondall Phipps.
These lists could continue forever, but if we narrow down to an all-time 50th District team with a 15-man roster it would include the following ( in my opinion). Guards: Jerry Smith, Corbin, Don Bingham, Knox Central, Edd Selvy, Corbin, Calvin Bird, Corbin, Ralph Centers, Woodbine, Tony Pietrowski, Corbin.
Forwards: Frank Selvy, Corbin, Jack Garrett, Lynn Camp, Curt Selvy, Corbin, Marvin Selvy, Corbin, Robert Barton, Corbin and Bobby Terrell, Corbin.
Centers: Jerry Bird, Corbin, Marvin Cluggish, Corbin and Max Mobely, Corbin.
This list is certainly heavy laden with former Corbin players, and there are many other players from Corbin and the other schools that most assuredly belong on the roster above, but this was a quickly put together squad. Please take your time and make your own all-around all district squad of 15 and send it to me for comparison. I can think of at least three other rosters that would be just as deserving.
I am keeping a careful eye on this year’s version of the Kentucky Wildcats. Coach Tubby Smith seems to have everything on track as he roars through the SEC regular season, recording win after win.
Although very young and green, this team may have more talent than any team coach Smith has had. I expect them to go far if not all the way in the NCAA.