Author: Mark Maynard

Managing editor of Kentucky Today, the digital newspaper of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, since July 2017. Worked 42 years for The Daily Independent in Ashland, Kentucky, the last 12 as managing editor and editor and the previous 30 in the sports department, including 17 years as sports editor. President of Amy For Africa, a faith-based Christian ministry serving Uganda. I'm a husband to Beth and father to Stephen and Sally, grandfather to Brooks and Addy.

Starry night: Ashland greats from 50s battle in Tomcat Shootout

ASHLAND, Ky. – The 1950s Ashland Tomcats not only rocked around the clock, they rocked around the court in the inaugural Tomcat Shootout.

Shootout described it well as the 1950-54 Tomcats All-Stars defeated the 1955-59 Tomcats, 116-109, on Monday night in sold-out Alumni Gymnasium with Earl Adkins, Bob Emrick and Jerry Henderson combining for 72 points in the first game of the best-of-3 series.

It was shown on My Town TV in Ashland after the game was declared a sellout and color analyst Chris Pullem lost his voice from excitedly screaming into the microphone three minutes into the second half and had to be replaced.

He wasn’t the only one feeling the effects of an All-Star event that had everybody on their feet.

“I’m exhausted from chasing Henderson up and down the floor,” said David Patton of the 55-59 Tomcats. “I was proud of our guys even though we came up a little short. That’s a lot of talent over there.”

Adkins scored 26, Emrick 24 and Henderson 22 in a game that featured offensive fireworks.

The 50-54 Tomcats came out firing, building a 31-15 lead by bombing in shots from everywhere. That early surge put the 55-59 Tomcats on the defensive and in a big hole.

“We fell behind there but bounced back pretty quickly,” said 55-59 coach Bob Lavoy. “I wondered for a few minutes there if they were going to blow us out. Our guys were on their heels. They were playing against their heroes, so I think that had something to do with it. Once they settled down, they played right with them.”

A large crowd showed up early at Ashland High School to watch the All-Star showdown of Tomcat greats from the 1950s. It was an electric atmosphere, with cheerleaders from both sides lining both end zones and not a folding chair remaining in the stage area, which it was a bit rowdy.

Up and down the floor they went with these talented Tomcats able to score almost at will.

“I love this brand of basketball,” said 50-54 coach George Conley. “These guys were there to play basketball. I knew it was going down to the wire and it did. I ran the legs off these guys getting ready for this series because I knew what it was going to be like.”

Conley’s brutal practices were made even tougher for his All-Stars, who complained privately of having “dead legs” following back-to-back sessions of four hours that was mostly running.

“No comment,” Adkins said when asked about the pregame preparation.

The second quarter belonged to the 55-59 Tomcats, who gradually gained some confidence outscored their opponent, 39-25, to trail only 56-54 at halftime.

Larry Castle scored 14 of his 25 points before intermission to ignite the effort to draw within a basket. George Carroll led the 50-54 Tomcats with 27 and Howard Humphreys collected 18 points and 15 rebounds.

“Those three guys gave us a lot of trouble,” Conley said. “We’re going to have to do something about them before the next game. What was Humphreys doing shooting 3-pointers? I don’t remember him having that kind of range.”

The 3-point shot is also in play for the Tomcat Shootout but only the 55-59 Tomcats took advantage of it, making 12 of 29 shots from long range. All of Patton’s 12 points came from the 3-point shot while Carroll also hit 3-of-6. Humphreys fell in love with the stripe, making 2-of-8 attempts.

“We embraced it,” Carroll said. “I think it can be a weapon for us. I just don’t want ‘Brother’ to start loving it for them. It’s like taking candy from a baby for him.”

Adkins and Emrick were each 1-for-2 from downtown and nobody else attempted a 3-pointer.

“I’m still not sure if that shot is a good one for us or not,” Conley said. “I know we have some shooters but we put up 116 points with only two of those dang 3-pointers. Hard to argue with that.”

It looked like the 50-54 Tomcats were going to coast to an easy victory, leading 98-83 when Squirt Jennings find an opening and drove in for a layup with 10:20 remaining in the game.

But the 55-59 All-Stars kept pecking away, trailing 99-90 at the 7:40 mark. However, seven consecutive points made it 99-97 and anybody’s game. Bill Kazee missed a 3-pointer that could have given them the lead when the shot, which looked dead on, spun out.

“Great comeback to get back in the game,” Lavoy said. “These guys showed that pride and heart of a Tomcat. The problem was, we were playing other guys with that same kind of spirit.”

Trailing 101-97, Castle scored six consecutive points to put the 55-59 Tomcats in front for the first time since the first quarter. He left Emrick flat-footed with a behind-the-back dribble and 15-footer leaner that he banked in.

The crowd erupted after the big move that put the underdog 55-59 Tomcats in front 103-101.

“No way he makes that move on me again,” Emrick said. “That was really something, wasn’t it? I didn’t know Larry had that in him.”

“That’s my teammate,” Humphreys said. “Larry is such a good ballplayer. He kept us in the game.”

The 50-54 Tomcats quickly recovered with a 15-footer from Emrick putting them ahead to stay at 107-105. John Eggleston, who had nine points and 12 rebounds, and Henderson wrapped it up with three consecutive free throws.

“I laid down on the floor in the dressing room after this game was over out of exhaustion,” Eggleston said. “I didn’t know how tough it was going to be and we have to beat them again. Those guys can play.”

In the other locker room, the 55-59 Tomcats were pondering what if and looked ahead to the next game in the series.

“I tell you what, I didn’t know if we could match up with them when they released the rosters,” Humphreys said. “I know better now. We can beat them.”

Game 2 will be played Tuesday night.

1950-54 ASHLAND (116) – Emrick 11-8 1-1 24, Adkins 10-24 5-6 26, Henderson 11-15 0-0 22, Gray 6-8 3-5 15,  Eggleston 4-9 1-2 9, Kouns 3-5 4-4 10, Lowe 0-0 1-2 1, Jennings 2-4 2-2 6, Rice 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 1-3 1-2 3. FG: 48-87. FT: 18-24. 3FG: 2-4 (Emrick 0-2, Adkins 0-2). Rebounds: 40 (Emrick 2, Adkins 2, Henderson 8, Gray 9, Eggleston 12, Kouns 3, Jennings 2). Assists: 26 (Emrick 7, Adkins 7, Henderson 2, Gray 3, Eggleston 2, Kouns 3, Rice 1). PF: 15. Turnovers: 9.

1955-1959 ASHLAND (109) – Carroll 11-24 2-3 27, Kazee 3-5 0-0 7,  Castle 10-26 3-3 25, Humphreys 6-16 4-4 18, Griffith 4-5 0-0 8, Patton 4-7 0-0 12, Meeks 2-2 0-0 4, Wright 2-3 9-9 4, Campbell 0-3 0-0 0, Church 2-5 0-0 4. FG: 44-96. FT: 9-10. 3FG: 12-29 (Carroll 3-6, Kazee 1-2, Castle 2-6, Humphreys 2-8, Patton 4-6, Wright 0-1). Rebounds: 45 (Carroll 3, Kazee 1, Castle 6, Humphreys 15, Griffith 9, Patton 4, Meeks 2, Wright 3, Campbell 2). Assists: 21 (Carroll 6, Kazee 2, Castle 6, Humphreys 1, Griffith 2, Patton 2, Campbell 2). PF: 17. Turnovers: 14.

1950-54 ASHLAND    31       25       38            22       –           116

1955-59 ASHLAND    15       39       27            28       –           109

 

Old school basketball between 1968 and 1979 Tomcats

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland’s 1968 Tomcats welcomed the 1979 Tomcats to a little old school basketball at the gym on Lexington Avenue.

They didn’t have to do much introduction about style of play to the 79 Cats, who played a methodical pound-it-inside game under defensive guru coach Paul Patterson. The 68 Tomcats, led by guards Bobby Lynch and Joe Conley, were more of the get-it-and-go style under coach Harold Cole.

The conflicting styles were going to make for a delicious simulation matchup between two great Tomcat teams.

Coach Paul Patterson took the Tomcats to four regional titles.

Coach Paul Patterson took the Tomcats to four regional titles.“We’ve heard about these guys,” Patterson said. “They have some offensive firepower with Lynch and Conley. Our defense will have to play one of its best games to win this game and that’s what we plan to do.”

The 68 Tomcats used Cole’s 1-3-1 trapping defense as a force itself. But they loved to run with the basketball most of all.

“This team played it as well as any of my Tomcat teams,” Cole said of the trapping defense. “We’re looking forward to how we matchup with these guys. They have some size advantage on us, but I like our chances. We can score points with anybody.”

The height advantage belonged to the 79 Cats, who had a pair of 6-7 players inside in Dirk Anders and Jeff Tipton. Doug Smith and Greg McCauley also had size on a team that looked like they belonged in college.

However, the rebounding edge went to the 68 Tomcats, 38-34, with Johnny Mullins pulling down 11 boards. It turned out to be pivotal.

“Rebounding is effort,” Patterson said. “That should tell you something.”

After a stalemated first quarter ended at 19-19, the 79 Tomcats put together a nice streak. McCauley was practically unstoppable with 10 points during a 13-4 run that resulted in a 30-23 lead. The advantage was 38-28 at the half when Smith drove to the basket, collided with Roger Baldridge, and scored anyway.

The old Ashland High School gym was packed for the game and the crowd got silent after the strong move from Smith. The teams headed for the locker room thinking about that late move.

Cole could be heard loud and clear even though the locker room door was closed at intermission. His rant lasted about five good minutes.

“I’m not going to say exactly what he said but, I will tell you that the message was received,” Lynch said. “We knew the second quarter wasn’t us. We got intimidated by their size and quit playing our game. That changed in the second half.”

Trailing 41-36, it was Lynch who started a resurgence. He banked in a 12-footer and was fouled by McCauley. Lynch completed the three-point play and the 68 Tomcats had trimmed the deficit to 41-39. Baldridge tied the game by pump-faking and going up and under Anders to score. It was 45-45.

Mike Griffith put the 68 Tomcats ahead for the first time in the second half at 52-50 when he bombed in an 18-footer at the third quarter buzzer. The gym was extremely loud between quarters as the 68 fans started to like what they were seeing on the court. Their team had returned.

“That wasn’t us in that second quarter,” Conley said. “I don’t know where our heads were.”

Cole’s message was definitely received. The 68 Tomcats outscored the befuddled 79 Tomcats, 24-12, in the third quarter.

“We let the pace of the game get away from us,” Patterson said. “Then the defense let down and it was all but over.”

The 79 Tomcats tied the game again at 52 on a pair of free throws from John Anderson. However, Lynch’s long jumper completed an 8-0 run that put the 68 Tomcats in control for keeps. It was the last of his 22 points though because he came down awkwardly and rolled his ankle. Lynch went out and never returned.

The 79 Tomcats took advantage, pulling within 66-61 when Tipton got loose and slammed a two-handed dunk down. The crowd began buzzing again.

“Man, that was some power move,” Baldridge said. “The big guy can play. He was tough in there.”

Ray Kleykamp sank three free throws down the stretch to secure the 71-63 victory over the 79 Tomcats. It was a dominating second half for the 68 Tomcats, who held a 43-25 advantage in the second half.

“They outplayed us in every phase of the game in the second half,” Patterson said. “We’ve called an early morning practice for tomorrow. This was embarrassing to them and me. I want to apologize to the Tomcat fans out there for how we played. It won’t happen again.”

Cole was beaming about the 68 Tomcats’ play in the second half. “That’s as good as we can do it,” he said. Conley scored 12 and Mike Griffith 11 in a balanced attack.

“Our guys could have packed it in at halftime,” Cole said. “We had a little heart to heart that might have helped us.”

Lynch, raising his eyebrows after hearing Cole’s comments, said, “You think?”

Real life

Ashland’s 1979 team followed the same Patterson style with great defense and captured a fourth consecutive regional title. The Tomcats were 19-14 and lost in the quarterfinal round of the Sweet 16.

Ashland’s 1968 team dropped an 80-75 decision to talented Russell in the regional championship. It was a heartbreaking defeat. The Tomcats beat Russell 77-73 in the regular season. Ashland finished 22-10.

1979 ASHLAND (63) – Cobb 3-8 1-3 7, Anders 2-5 3-4 7, McCauley 8-13 3-7 19, Smith 4-14 3-7 11, Tipton 4-9 3-4 11, Withrow 0-2 0-0 0, Henderson 0-3 0-1 0, Brown 1-4 0-1 2, Anderson 0-5 2-2 2, Bush 1-3 2-2 4. FG: 23-67. FT: 17-31. Rebounds: 34 (Cobb 1, Anders 2, McCauley 5, Tipton 7, Smith 7, Withrow 2, Brown 6, Anderson 1, Bush 2. Assists: Tipton 1, Withrow 1, Henderson 2). PF: 23. Turnovers: 10.

1968 ASHLAND (71) – Lynch 9-16 4-5 22, Kleykamp 3-10 3-5 9, M.Griffith 4-10 3-3 11, Mullins 2-5 1-2 5, R.Griffith 0-5 0-0 0, Conley 4-7 4-6 12, Baldridge 3-4 2-3 8, Owens 0-2 2-2 2, Leibee 1-1 0-0 2, Salyers 0-2 0-0 0. FG: 26-62. FT: 19-26. Rebounds: 38 (Lynch 5, Kleykamp 1, M.Griffith 3, Mullins 11, Conley 6, G.Griffith 2, Conley 2, Owens 1, Baldridge 2). Assists: 13 (Lynch 4, Kleykamp 3, M.Griffith 2, Mullins 1, R.Griffith 1, Owens 1, Leibee 1. PF: 21. Turnovers: 19.

1979 ASHLAND   19         19         12         13         –              63

1968 ASHLAND   19         9            24         19         –              71

 

 

 

 

2019 Tomcats get their shot against strong 78 Tomcats

ASHLAND, Ky. – Lest we so quickly forget, it was the 2019 Ashland Tomcats who sparked the current basketball revival.

Those Tomcats, under the reins of veteran coach Jason Mays in his first high school coaching experience, caught fire late in the season and stunned everyone by winning the 16th Region Tournament and then even a game in the Sweet Sixteen before bowing out.

It had been 17 years, the longest drought in the proud history of Ashland basketball, since the Tomcats had last won the regional title. They finished with a pedestrian 19-16 record but it may have flipped the switch to bringing Tomcat basketball back to the forefront.

Devaunte Robinson led the 2019 Tomcats with 22 points.

“I’ll always love what this team gave the Tomcat program,” Mays said. “Nobody expected us to be holding that regional championship trophy and going to Rupp Arena. These guys helped me better understand how to coach players this age, after all of those years where I coached college players, and I’ll always appreciate them for that.”

That being said, they deserved the opportunity to play it again and this time it was against one of coach Paul Patterson’s four regional champions – the 1978 Tomcats. Like all of his teams, the 78 Tomcats were built on tough, man-to-man defense. It was the kind of defense that made you wake up in the middle of a night in a cold sweat.

“They make me break out in hives and I’m just coaching against them,” Mays said.

The 2019 Tomcats, once they found their way and got everybody healthy, became a free-wheeling offense that loved to aim and fire. They played in a style much like the undefeated 2020 team and, no wonder, since many of the same players from that team were the main players in 2019.

So it was going to be a battle of defense vs. offense.

The 3-point play was going to be part of the game since the 2019 Tomcats were the host on the scoreboard. But don’t expect the offensive-conservative 78 Tomcats to take many shots from outside 12 feet.

“Coach Patterson likes the high percentage shot, let’s just say that,” said point guard Greg Swift. “Anything outside of 5 feet wasn’t high percentage. It wasn’t that we were conservative, it was more about running the offense until that high percentage shot was available. But everything we did was predicated on playing good defense.”

Players who didn’t play good defense didn’t play long with Patterson.

“You win games with defense,” he said. “Any other questions?”

The 78 Tomcats followed one of the most successful teams in Ashland history. The 77 Tomcats won 30 games and reached the state semifinals. Most figured this was the season to knock Ashland off its perch. Of course, that didn’t happen. Another defensive giant emerged and the Tomcats won a third (of what would be five) consecutive regional titles.

But this challenge would be different, especially with the 3-point play as part of the strategy.

The 2019 Tomcats led 16-10 with freshman Cole Villers scoring five points late in the first quarter before the 78 Tomcats found their footing. They scored the last five points of the quarter and trailed only 16-15.

“It’d have been nice to build on that six-point lead but we had three straight bad possessions right there,” Mays said. “We got in a hurry on offense. It was so tough to get any open shots against them. We forced a couple.”

The 19 Tomcats were able to maintain a four-point at 33-29 through halftime, mostly thanks to Devaunte Robinson’s 14 points.

The game was tied at 33, 35 and 37 when a three-point play from Justin Bradley put the 2019 Tomcats in front 40-37.

“Scoring baskets for either one of us was like pulling teeth,” Mays said.

The rest of the third quarter belonged to the 78 Tomcats, who went on a 12-2 run to lead 47-42 entering the last eight minutes. The 19 Tomcats were held to nine points in the quarter.

“The defense ramped up and Donnie Allen made some big plays,” Patterson said.

Allen scored off a nice assist from Greg McCauley and then took a charge. He scored again on the next possession to put the 78 Tomcats in front for the first time in the second half at 43-42.

When Dirk Anders scored on a putback to begin the fourth quarter and make it 49-42, the road became that much tougher for the 2019 Tomcats.

However, four consecutive points from Robinson, who had been mostly quiet in the second half, pulled the 2019 Tomcats within 61-58 with 1:28 remaining.

Ethan Hudson, who finished with 15 points, drilled a 15-footer to make it 64-60 with 45 seconds remaining but the 78 Tomcats held them scoreless the rest of the way and recorded a 68-60 victory.

“This was a good one,” Patterson said. “Our defense set the tone. That charge that Donnie took stands out in my mind as the play of the game.”

Tom Welch played big all night for the 78 Tomcats as he finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Swift scored 15 with five assists.

“The big guy hurt us,” Mays said of Welch. “He was really banging in there. We didn’t have a good answer for him.”

Robinson scored 22 and led an 8-for-16 performance from behind the 3-point line. He was 4-for-6 on triples.

“We just didn’t shoot enough of them,” Mays said. “Give Coach Patterson credit. He was ready in stepping up a good defense to limit our looks from there.”

But the 2019 Tomcats shooting 50 percent from behind the arc didn’t excite Patterson, who said, “You don’t win games giving up percentages like that. Disappointing. We’ll have to work on that.”

Real life

The 2019 Tomcats came into the regional tournament as the district runners-up but promptly surprised Lewis County by surviving a last-second shot and then stunned favorite Elliott County in the semifinals. A win over rival Boyd County in the final completed the sweep and then they won their Sweet 16 opener against Owensboro before losing to eventual champion Louisville Trinity.

The 1978 Tomcats won a third consecutive regional title by edging Boyd County in the championship game. Covington Holmes overwhelmed the Tomcats in the Sweet 16 opener.

1978 ASHLAND (68) – McCauley 2-7 0-0 4, Swift 7-13 1-3 15, Cobb 5-10 1-3 11, Allen 5-9 2-2 12, Welch 7-11, 4-6 18, Henderson 0-1 0-0 0, Anders 1-4 2-2 4, Withrow 2-2 0-0 4. FG: 29-57. FT: 10-16. 3FG: 0-0. Rebounds: 26 (McCauley 5, Swift 1, Cobb 2, Allen 7, Welch 8, Anders 3). Assists: 14 (McCauley 3, Swift 3, Cobb 1, Allen 2, Welch 1, Henderson 2, Anders 1). PF: 14. Turnovers: 11.

2019 ASHLAND (60) – Sellars 1-5 0-0 2, Hudson 6-11 0-0 15, Bradley 2-8 1-1 5, Robinson 8-16 2-2 22, Mays 2-5 5-6 9, Villers 2-7 1-1 5, Atkins 1-4 0-0 2, Phillips 0-2 0-0 0. FG: 22-58. FT: 9-10. 3FG: 7-16 (Hudson 3-4, Bradley 0-1, Sellars 0-3, Villers 0-2, Robinson 4-6).

1978 ASHLAND     15         14         18         21           –            68

2019 ASHLAND      16         17         9           18           –          60

 

 

2001 Tomcats overcome 1970 Tomcats despite spirited motivation

ASHLAND, Ky. – Mark Surgalski and Arliss Beach are among the best tandems in Ashland basketball history. The Tomcat won consecutive 16th Region championships with those two as the centerpiece.

The 2001 Tomcats, which was the first of those championship seasons, turned the clock back 31 years to meet the 1970 Tomcats for a simulation battle that looked like a dandy on paper.

But after a tightly played first quarter, the 2001 Tomcats began making it look like the rout was on. Consecutive baskets from Zack Davis, Beach and Surgalski grew a 43-34 advantage to 49-34 at intermission.

“We did this in our last simulation game and couldn’t hold on,” remembered 2001 (and 2002) coach Mike Flynn of the 2002 Tomcats lost to the 1980 Tomcats. “I reminded the ones that played in the 2002 season of that game. Some of them looked at me kind of funny.”

1970 classmates Donna Childers and Johnny Mullins.

The atmosphere in Anderson gymnasium was a little different, too. The guys had hair down to their shoulders and the girls were wearing mini-skirts. The band warmed up to “The H-O-R-S-E” and everybody was talking about how good the Cincinnati Reds would be and wondered if they would bring up Don Gullett to pitch?

They overheard some of the 1970 players talking about cruising the ‘Grass and finally figured out they meant the Bluegrass Grill. (Sure they did).

“I love the Twinburger and onion rings,” Surgalski said.

“Ham sandwich and strawberry pie for me,” Beach said.

Uh, let’s get back to basketball. The 1970 Tomcats were the second of three consecutive regional championships under Harold Cole. His teams were good, fundamentally some of the best in the state every year. They also played a brand of basketball that the fans enjoyed.

Cole knew his basketball and he came along at a time when Ashland was a gold mine of talent.

There was a lot to like about this team, including Johnny Mullins, who is generally regarded as one of the best athletes in Tomcat history. He was a star in basketball and baseball and would have been in football as well if he played.

“We were well aware of how good Johnny Mullins was,” Flynn said. “But that doesn’t mean we could stop him.”

Mullins was on his game for the 70 Tomcats, but he was going to need a few more teammates to get involved if they were going to mount a comeback against the 2001 Tomcats.

He had some help in that department but it wasn’t from any of the coaches or players. It came from a current and future super fan. Donna Childers was a senior in 1970 and she was starting a lifelong love affair with the Ashland Tomcats.

The 1970 Tomcats were her favorites, but she wasn’t going to cut them any slack when it came to how they were playing on this night.

“You better get your heads out of your you-know-where before they embarrass you!” she yelled at them as they came back out of the locker room after halftime. “Surgalski and Beach are making every one of you look bad. I’ll cheer for these boys later but not tonight. COME ON!! START PLAYING LIKE YOU CAN!!! What am I going to tell my 70’s class girls at our future reunions lunches if you fool around and lose this game? GET WITH IT!”

Even Cole was taken aback by her spirited halftime speech. “Best I’ve heard,” he said. “Most of those guys were more afraid of her than me. And she scared me to death.”

With that “encouragement” to build on, the 70 Tomcats came out firing and started scratching away at the 15-point deficit. They had it down to seven, then four, then one after Dale Bowling was fouled on a 3-pointer and swished all three free throws to make it 57-56 late in the third quarter.

“We fought back,” Cole said. “It took a lot out of us to get there, but we made it.”

Back-to-back baskets from Surgalski and Adam Howard put the 2001 Tomcats in front 63-58 entering the fourth quarter. That’s when the game began to get extremely physical, with bodies being knocked to the floor on almost every trip.

Fans were getting rowdy in the stands, too, with dueling cheers from one side of the gym to the other. Guess who was leading them for the 1970 Tomcats?

“Well, I was going to do what I needed to do to get them going,” Donna Childers said. “Come on Johnny! Get on the floor after those loose balls!”

Surgalski, who led all scorers with 27 points, picked up his fourth foul and was relegated to the bench at the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter. When Beach, who scored 22, rolled his ankle a minute later, it looked like another collapse was coming.

“It’s next man up for us but, I’ve gotta admit, that was a scary time,” Flynn said.

With the 2001 Tomcat tandem sidelined, the game tightened up even more. Jeremy Howell, who had picked up his game with Surgalski and Beach out, scored to make it 67-64 with four minutes to play. However, the 1970 Tomcats scored five in a row with Mullins muscling one in for a 69-67 lead. It was the first time they had been ahead since the first quarter.

“We climbed the mountain,” said Mullins, who scored 24.

With only 35 seconds remaining in regulation, Beach came back into the game with a heavily taped ankle. Surgalski had returned at about the three-minute mark. Flynn set up last-second strategy. A simple give-and-go sprung Beach, who drove to the basket and scored at the buzzer to tie it at 69 and force overtime.

It was like the roof was coming off Anderson gym when Beach scored. The momentum had clearly swung to the 2001 Tomcats.

The drama quickly disappeared from the game when the extra period started. The 1970 Tomcats were exhausted and the 2001 Tomcats outscored them 11-0 with Beach and Howell combining for all the points to finish off the 80-69 overtime victory.

Howell had 13 points and six assists to complement Surgalski and Beach, who had combined for 49.

“Give Doc (A.J.) Stadhlmeyer credit for this one,” Flynn said. “He got Arliss in good enough shape to get back in the game. We don’t win this one with Arliss, and Doc. This was a great win over a very good team. We’re proud to take this one.”

“We were out of gas,” Cole said of the overtime. “We made a great comeback but the shots wouldn’t fall in the extra period. Hey, what happened to that young lady? You think she’s going to be OK? We hated letting her down.”

Donna Childers and her brother Doug were the last 1970 fans to leave the gym. They walked out with Dicky Martin and Dirk Payne, broadcasters for the 2001 Tomcats. Everybody was laughing and smiling. Even Donna, who said she still loves her 70 Tomcats but she loves the others, too.

“Once a Tomcat, always a Tomcat,” she said. “It’s good to have the four D’s together again.”

And with that, as they walked arm in arm out of Anderson gym, another special simulation moment had happened.

Real life

Ashland’s 1970 team finished 21-8 and captured the 16th Region championship with a win over Olive Hill. Allen County eliminated the Tomcats 46-43 in the Sweet 16.

Ashland’s 2001 team snapped a five-year Sweet 16 skid by defeating Rowan County in the 16th Region final. The Tomcats reached the Sweet 16 quarterfinals where they fell to North Hardin 50-45.

 2001 ASHLAND (80) – Davis 3-4 0-0 6, Howell 4-9 5019 13, Johnson 1-1 0-0 2, Surgalski 11-18 5-6 27, Beach 9-15 4-5 22, Hendrickson 1-3 0-0 2, Cook 2-2 0-1 4, Howard 1-2 0-0 2, Salyer 0-0 2-2 2. FG: 32-54. FT: 16-24. 3FG: 0-6 (Beach 0-3, Howell 0-3). Rebounds: 28 (Davis 2, Howell 4, Johnson 3, Surgalski 10, Beach 5, Cook 2, Howard 3). Assists: 19 (Davis 3, Howell 6, Surgalski 3, Beach 5, Hendrickson 1, Cook 1). PF: 15. Turnovers: 12.

1970 ASHLAND (69) – Cooksey 4-5 4-7 12, Lynch 4-10 0-0 8, Mullins 11-16 2-3 24, Bowling 3-6 3-4 9, Addington 3-8 1-2 7, Clark 0-3 0-0 0, Whitlow 1-3 0-1 2, Hixson 3-4 1-1 7. FG: 29-55. FT: 11-17. 3FG: 2-5 (Hixson 1-2, Mullins 1-2, Clark 0-1). Rebounds 23 (Cooksey 4, Mullins 4, Bowling 5, Addington 4, Clark 2, Whitlow 1, Lynch 3). Assists: 14 (Cooksey 4, Lynch 3, Bowling 2, Addington 1, Clark 3, Whitlow 1). PF: 20. Turnovers: 14.

2001 ASHLAND      23      26         14         6        11       –        80

1970 ASHLAND      21       13         24         11       0        –        69