WESTWOOD, Ky. – It seemed fitting that Fairview’s 1974 and 1982 basketball teams would have another opportunity to play.

Both of their seasons ended valiantly but on a downbeat with hard-fought losses in the 16^th Region Tournament – the 74 team to East Carter in the semifinals and the 82 team to Rowan County in the first round. The hope for both teams was for much more.

So for old time’s sake, why not lace them up one more time?

Coach George Cooke was all about it, having retired after Jeff Hall’s sophomore season. Now Hall was a senior sharpshooter and an All-State player who was feared throughout the region.

“I’m not sure stopping him from scoring is in the defensive playbook,” Cooke said. “But we had some tough boys back in 1974 and none of them were tougher than Joe Barker.”

The biggest difference in this game was being able to utilize the 3-point shot and both teams were excited about it. But maybe they shouldn’t have been.

The 74 team made 7 of 28 – only 25 percent – and the 82 team hit only 4 of 17 for less than 25 percent. It was a bit surprising given the penchant for shooting that both teams possessed.

Don Rigsby, a high-scoring junior forward in 74, fell in love with shots behind the arc. Maybe because it was good at it, hitting 6 of 14 and scoring 29 points in a typical performance.

Hall more than matched him although it surprisingly didn’t come from 3-point range. He was a modest 3-of-5 from there but connected on all 10 free throws and was 10 of 16 from the floor to score 33 points, a game high.

“Not that surprising that Rigsby and Jeff would do what they do,” said 82 coach Jim Day. “I think we all kind of saw that coming. We were happy with Don shooting the 3s, at least until he started making every one of them.”

The game didn’t hinge on Rigsby and Hall though. It was the complementary players that made the difference.

Barker had 13 points and nine assists and Bobby Lambert and Jeff Mullins scored 11 and 10 respectively.

Rick Clark muscled for 13 points and 10 rebounds and Ben Spradlin scored 14 points with seven rebounds and six assists. Tom Craft collected eight points and five rebounds.

“This was a well-played basketball game although defense seemed to be a problem for both of us,” Cooke said. “And I think Baldy Stout could have done a better job on the boards. That’s where they hurt us the most.”

Fairview’s 82 team jumped ahead 11-2 with Hall scoring a quick six points. The 74 team was in catchup mode the rest of the game and they never caught them.

The 82 Eagles led 30-20 after the first quarter and never trailed in the game. Their biggest lead was 13 points after another flurry from Hall. The advantage grew from 20-13 to 26-13 on three consecutive baskets from Hall, who scored an incredible 27 in the first half.

However, Fairview’s 82 team led only 43-37 at halftime.

“I didn’t feel good at the half, quite honestly,” Day said. “Jeff had scored 27 and we only led by six. But everybody else picked it up in the second half.”

Fairview’s 74 team came roaring back in the second half and tied the game at 55 inside the first minute of the fourth quarter.

The game remained tight until Clark broke it open with some solid inside play. After Hall scored his last points on a jumper for a 63-59 lead, Richards scored six points during an 11-5 surge that brought the advantage to double figures at 74-64 with six minutes to play.

“That was the death blow for us,” Cooke said.

Clark said he’d gained a little boost after stopping at a Pump N Go, which had a 2-for-1 deal on candy bars and energy drinks. “I was ready to go!” he said.

Barker, who was maybe the most competitive player on the team, was upset after the loss when he saw a 21-9 advantage on free throws made for the 82 Eagles.

“I’m sorry, I don’t like to complain, but they were calling fouls on us if we even breathed on Jeff,” he said. “I know the whole COVID thing is going around but come on. This is basketball. Let us play. We could have won the game.”

Hall made all 10 of his foul shots, including twice making all three after being fouled on 3-point attempts.

“I didn’t touch him either time,” Barker lamented. “COVID calls.”

Fairview’s 82 team also held a 44-34 rebounding advantage.

Real life

 Fairview’s 1974 team finished 20-9, won the NEKC tournament, the 63^rd District and defeated both Boyd County and Ashland. Henry Clay walloped them 117-64 in the AIT and East Carter eliminated the Eagles by 20 in the regional semifinals.

Fairview’s 1982 team was a solid bunch and senior-laden. Hall, Spradlin and Clark were the mainstays of a team that went 21-9 and was formidable against anybody. The Eagles lost to North Hardin in the AIT and one of the cheerleaders for North Hardin later became Jeff Hall’s wife.

1974 FAIRVIEW (74) – Rigsby 8-18 3-4 29, Barker 4-10 4-6 13, Nickles 5-9 1-2 11, Lambert 5-8 0-0 10, Thompson 0-6 0-0 0, Mullins 4-7 1-3 9, Renfroe 0-3 0-0 0, Harris 1-2 0-0 2. FG: 29-63. FT: 9-15. 3FG: 7-28 (Rigsby 6-14, Barker 1-3, Nickles 0-4, Thompson 0-6). Rebounds: 34 (Rigsby 9, Barker 4, Nickles 3, Lambert 8, Thompson 3, Mullins 1, Harris 4). Assists: 14 (Rigsby 2, Barker 9, Nickles 2, Mullins 1). PF: 22. Turnovers: 15.

1982 FAIRVIEW (81) – Craft 2-4 4-5 8, Spradlin 6-19 2-3 14, Hall 10-16 10-10 33, Whitlock 2-8 0-0 4, Rick Clark 6-9 1-2 13, Mills 1-2 4-5 7, Queen 1-5 0-0 2, Rodney Clark 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 28-63. FT: 21-25. 3FG: 4-17 (Craft 0-1, Spradlin 0-7, Hall 3-5, Whitlock 0-1, Mills 1-2, Queen 0-1). Rebounds: 44 (Craft 5, Spradlin 7, Hall 7, Whitlock 10, Clark 10, Mills 4, Queen 3). Assists: 15 (Craft 5, Spradlin 6, Hall 1, Whitlock 2, Queen 1). PF: 19. Turnovers: 17.

1974 FAIRVIEW               20        17        17          20        –      74

1982 FAIRVIEW               30        13        12          26        –      81

WESTWOOD, Ky. – They checked the defense at the door.

The high-octane battle between the 1977 and 1979 Fairview High School basketball teams was one Wild West(wood) shootout, fueled by the addition of adding the 3-point shot to the arsenals of these high-scoring teams.

Everybody expected a lot of points but what transpired in the Fairview gym will be talked about for years. It may be the wildest game in the simulation series of 16^th Region games.

Besides the familiarity of being only two years apart, their records were astonishingly close – 77 was 26-4 and 79 was 26-5. George Cooke was the coach for both teams so that was going to be a little tricky in this showdown.

“It’s not a problem,” Cooke said. “These guys can coach themselves. I’ll sit on one bench for a half and the other bench the second half.

“Has anybody seen my plaid jacket?”

Bob Morrison was assigned to stay with the 77 team and Rex Cooksey to the 79 team to make the calls when necessary.

“Don’t worry,” Cooke said, “it won’t be necessary.”

The big crowd was filing in early for the game. It was such a large crowd that George Stout ran out of game programs, which never happened. The cheerleaders had sold 1,500 programs for him and there was still a line to get into the game.

“Hey Baldy,” Cooke yelled to Stout. “Where are you going to put all these people?”

Stout had $1 bills coming out of every pocket from the program sells.

“Don’t worry about it old man,” he yelled back. “You just coach the teams and leave the rest to me.”

It was going to be that kind of night. The scoreboard lights better work well if the pregame warmups meant anything. Nobody was missing and that included some long bombs.

“I like this 3-point shot,” said Jack Preston, a guard on the 79 team. “We’re used to taking them from here.”

It was a bombs away! kind of night for both teams.

In the first quarter, the teams went up and down the floor in rapid fashion with the 79 Eagles putting up 31 points. They tried out some 3-point shooting and it was much to their liking with Preston, Wesley Meeks and Tim Holbrook getting comfortable behind the arc.

Cooke, who started out on the bench for the 79 team, was barking at them for not playing defense.

“This is not a YMCA league game,” he said. “Play some (expletive) defense!”

He couldn’t argue with the offense though. Thirty-one points was a lot for an eight-minute quarter. And then they topped it in the second quarter, outscoring the 77 Eagles 32-30 to lead 63-52 at the half.

Nobody was going anywhere at the half, not even to get a soft drink and popcorn, for fear of losing their seat.

This wild shootout had everybody’s attention.

Coach Cooke could be heard peeling paint in both locker rooms under the home stands because of a lack of defense. He would sit on the bench for the 77 team in the second half. The game was so fast paced that nobody had much time to make adjustments. It was some of the most amazing shooting anybody had witnessed.

The 77 Eagles had some serious firepower in David Rowe, a senior who was dominating inside. He had 25 points at the half and even took a plastering from Bronnie McKenzie on an inside move.

Rowe picked himself up, with help from McKenzie, and played on.

“We couldn’t even slow him down,” said Rick Lambert, who tried to match up with Rowe. “He’s so good. I just knew if we were going to win, we’d have to outscore them. I think they felt the same way.”

True enough. In the third quarter the 77 Eagles held a small edge, 30-28, but trailed 91-82 and there was still eight minutes remaining.

“I felt confident at that point that we were going to get them,” Preston said. “I even saw George Stout putting on his coat to go home. That was a good sign for us.”

The 79 Eagles had led from the very start and by as much as 15 points at 53-38 when Meaux Mullins sank one of two free throws. That was late in the first half but the 77 Eagles were able to knock the lead under double figures.

“That was huge for us,” said Keith Menshouse. “We were on the verge of being in big trouble.”

Early in the fourth quarter, facing a 95-84 deficit, the 77 Eagles came to life. Over the next four minutes, the game changed. Rowe was big during that surge. Bobby Clark’s two free throws made it 101-98 with 4:19 remaining.

“I gotta tell you, I was getting tired,” said Tim Holbrook. “We had that big lead and blew it. Those last four minutes were some of the wildest I’ve ever played.”

The 79 Eagles maintained the lead, barely, at 108-105 when Rowe scored on a putback. After a turnover, the 77 Eagles went to him again. He caught the ball on the high post, faked one way and drove the other to score and put his team ahead 109-108. It was their first lead and came with 2:08 remaining. But plenty of time remained.

“I’ve never ever seen anything like this game,” Cooke said. “I didn’t do much coaching. I got caught up in the excitement.”

Chuck Queen buried a corner 3 and the 77 Eagles, who trailed the entire way, were leading 112-108. Lambert and Preston scored on consecutive possessions to tie it again at 112.

Lambert was able to work around Rowe, using his left hand to score, and Preston drilled a mid-range jumper from about 15 feet.

The crowd was in a frenzy, louder than anybody could ever remember. It was so loud that it set off alarms and the police and fire department had to come. The game was delayed for a few minutes but it was a welcome break.

They had played 30 minutes of basketball and scored 224 points between them.

“The greatest game I’ve ever seen,” Cooke said.

Wesley Meeks scored on a driving layup to put 79 ahead again at 114-112 but Menshouse lined up a 3-pointer from deep in the corner. He let it go and it swished as the net spun up over the rim. Now the 77 Eagles were leading 115-114 with only 32 seconds to play.

Preston was controlling the ball and he zipped a behind-the-back pass to Lambert, who pump faked Rowe and then drove around him for a layup and a 116-115 lead. The crowd rose to its feet on the 79 side of the gym.

Only 10 seconds remained and Menshouse quickly inbounded to Clark. He drove past a pair of defenders and lobbed it inside to Rowe, who corralled the ball and then shot a hook over Lambert’s outstretched hand. The buzzer sounded with the basketball at its highest point and then came straight down and through the basket. The 77 Eagles had won 117-116 in dramatic last-second fashion.

Whew!

Players from both teams were sprawled out all over the floor but the fans rushed out anyway. It was like a scene out of “Hoosiers” as players congratulated each other. Even George Cooke was seen smiling and George Stout hadn’t left after all.

“This is the greatest simulation game in history,” shouted Stout.

Some of the final numbers included 40 points and 10 rebounds from Rowe, who was named the MVP. He made 14 of 20 floor attempts and 12 of 13 free throws. Five others were in double figures: 18 from Bobby Clark, 17 from Chuck Queen and 13 for Keith Menshouse. Doug Stevens and Jeff Rigsby scored 10 apiece.

Six players scored double figures for the 79 Eagles led by Holbrook with 23 points and Preston with 20, 12 assists and five steals. Meeks and Lambert had 19 apiece and Meaux Mullins collected 17 points and six assists.

Jeff Hall, only a freshman, scored 14 off the bench. Lambert also had 12 rebounds.

Real life

Fairview 1977 team finished 26-4 and were 16^th Region runners-up to Ashland.

Fairview 1979 team finished 26-5 and fell in the 16^th Region semifinals to Holy Family.

1977 FAIRVIEW (117) – Clark 6-10 5-8 18, Stevens 3-6 2-2 10, Menshouse 5-10 0-0 13, Rowe 14-20 12-13 40, Queen 7-13 2-2 17, Rigsby 2-8 0-0 6, Burchett 3-8 1-2 10, R.Menshouse 2-3 2-4 6. FG: 41-76. FT: 23-28. 3FG: 12-29 (Stevens 2-4, K.Menshouse 3-5, Clark 1-4, Queen 1-1, Rigsby 2-7, Burchett 3-8). Rebounds: 46 (Clark 5, Stevens 4, Menshouse 5, Rowe 10, Burchett 5, Queen 8, Rigsby 3, R.Menshouse 4). Assists: Clark 8, Stevens 1, Menshouse 1, Rowe 1, Queen 2, Rigsby 3, Burchett 2). PF: 26. Turnovers: 26.

1979 FAIRVIEW (116) – Preston 7-12 2-4 20, Meeks 6-11 3-3 19, Holbrook 8-22 4-6 23, Lambert 8-15 3-4 19, Hall 7-12 0-0 14, Mullins 6-11 5-9 17, McKenzie 1-3 2-4 4. FG: 43-86. FT: 19-30. 3FG: 11-21 (Preston 4-5, Meeks 4-6, Holbrook 3-10). Rebounds: 34 (Preston 2, Meeks 3, Holbrook 2, Lambert 12, Hall 3, Mullins 6, McKenzie 6). Assists: 26 (Preston 12, Meeks 5, Holbrook 2, Lambert 3, Hall 2, Mullins 2). PF: 23. Turnovers: 16.

1977 FAIRVIEW             22       30       30         35       –         117

1979 FAIRVIEW             31       32       28         25       –         116

WESTWOOD – Could it get much better in Westwood?

Two of the most memorable teams in Fairview basketball history, stocked with All-Area players and a pair of legendary coaches.

It was a good to be in the ‘Wood.

Hours before tipoff they started to get in line for tickets. The gymnasium wasn’t going to hold all that wanted to get in to watch the 1975 Eagles play the 1990 Eagles in a simulation battle like Westwood had never seen. It was Dog Rigsby and Co. vs. Mike Helton and Co. It was a pair of freewheeling offenses that liked to shoot more than they liked to breathe.

George Cooke and Rex Cooksey would be matching coaching wits on the benches. Cooke was wearing his plaid sports coat and Cooksey a short sleeve polo with a Fairview logo on the pocket. They were kidding each other at midcourt as the teams started warming up.

“You know those jackets were out of style even when you were wearing them in 1975,” Cooksey said.

“What the hell do you know?” Cooke shot back. “You look like you’re getting ready to cut the grass. Don’t forget I taught you everything you know. You were nothing but a little pup who couldn’t wipe his own butt.”

They both laughed, slapped each other on the back and turned their attention to the game.

“How good is the Helton boy, Rex?” Cooke asked.

“When he gets hot, I’ve never seen anything like him. He can put a team on his back. I’m not sure we’re ready for your bunch though,” Cooksey said. “I’m afraid we’ll have our hands full with Rigsby and Rowe.”

“You’re full of crap as usual,” Cooke said.

The noise in the Fairview gym was deafening. Both sides had bands playing and the noise was bouncing off the metal walls and reverberating with nowhere to go. Everybody’s ears were ringing. It was hard to tell the piercing shrill sound from the referee’s whistles.”

The little concession stand had never been busier and ran out of popcorn before the game even started. That was OK because nobody was about to leave their seat for fear they’d never get it back. It was that crowded.

Cooksey started out in a triangle-and-two with Rigsby and Renfroe being the targets. He was going to collapse around David Rowe if necessary. He was concerned about all three players.

The strategy seemed to backfire early, with Rowe getting loose inside. The 75 Eagles shot out to an 18-14 lead and it grew to 38-28 at the half. Rowe already had a double-double with 12 points with 10 rebounds. Don Rigsby and Rick Renfroe had been controlled a little, combining for 16 points at intermission.

On the other side, Cooke had spun around several times after Mike Helton worked his way for baskets. He had 14 points at the half, making acrobatic shots that seemed unlikely. Cooke turned to sidekick Bob Morrison and grimaced with every basket.

“We couldn’t do anything with him and it was making me mad,” Cooke said after the game. “I didn’t know how we were going to win if we didn’t figure out a way.”

So the script was playing out like everybody else thought it might and it was headed for an exciting finish.

Both teams abandoned gimmicks and went straight man-to-man in the second half. The 90 Eagles came back strong, outscoring the 75 Eagles, 22-13, in the third quarter to pull within 51-50. They took their first lead at 48-47 when Chris Whitlock muscled in a rebound. Two free throws from Chuck Queen put the 75 Eagles back in front at 49-48 before Helton answered with a driving layup and 50-49 lead.

Queen had the answer again, scoring from 15 feet, to put the 75 Eagles ahead 51-50 after three quarters.

But the momentum had clearly swung to the 90 Eagles. Steve Schultz sank a pair of free throws and they had mounted their biggest lead at 63-55.

However, the 75 Eagles picked its collective bodies off the mat and began 10-1 run that put them back ahead 65-64. Rowe and Renfroe combined for eight of those points.

“I knew we couldn’t keep those guys down the whole game,” Cooksey said. “We did a pretty job on them.”

Bobby Clark put the 90 Eagles back ahead 66-65 with a short jumper but when Renfroe answered by scoring on the end of a fastbreak the 75 Eagles never trailed again. The 90 Eagles were within a bucket at 70-68 and 72-70 but consecutive buckets from Rigsby settled it.

“I’ll tell you the honest truth, I wasn’t sure we were going to win this game,” Cooke said. “Rex did a good job with those boys and that Helton kid, he’s something else.”

Helton scored a game-high 28 points and Schultz had 15 points, 10 steals and six assists. Whitlock had seven points and nine rebounds.

Rigsby scored 23 with eight rebounds and Rowe collected 18 points and 14 rebounds. Renfroe scored 13 with four assists.

“I knew it was going to be tough to beat the ‘Wizard’ on his own floor,” Cooksey said of Cooke. “Our guys gave a great effort. Just a little bit short.”

Real life

Fairview’s 1990 team got hot at the right time and made a run at the 16th Region title before losing to Boyd County in the finals. Mike Helton scored a record 118 points in three regional tournament games, including 43 in the championship game. The Eagles finished 17-11.

Fairview’s 1975 team went 21-12 and is the only 16th Region champion in school history. Don Rigsby scored 27 per game and the Eagles made history but bowed out in their only Sweet 16 appearance.

1975 FAIRVIEW (76) – Renfroe 5-7 3-7 13, Clark 3-8 0-0 6, Rigsby 8-13 7-10 23, Rowe 5-12 8-9 18, Canfield 1-1 0-3 2, Stevens 0-1 3-4 3, Kouns 0-0 0-0 0, Queen 2-6 7-8 11. FG: 24-48. FT: 28-41. 3FG: 0-0. Rebounds: 37 (Renfroe 1, Clark 5, Rigsby 8, Canfield 2, Rowe 14, Stevens 1, Kouns 4, Queen 2). Assists: 12 (Renfroe 4, Clark 3, Rigsby 1, Rowe 1, Stevens 3). PF: 27. Turnovers: 22.

1990 FAIRVIEW (70) – Schultz 4-13 7-11 15, Cannoy 0-2 0-1 0, Helton 10-21 7-10 28, Whitlock 2-5 3-4 7, Clark 3-6 3-4 9, Hammonds 3-6 0-0 6, Howard 2-5 1-4 5. FG: 24-59. FT: 21-30. 3FG: 1-8 (Schultz 0-1, Cannoy 0-1, Helton 1-6). Rebounds: 26 (Schultz 3, Cannoy 1, Helton 4, Whitlock 9, Clark 4, Hammonds 4, Howard 1). Assists: 13 (Schultz 6, Cannoy 3, Helton 2, Whitlock 1, Clark 1). PF: 30. Turnovers: 16.

1975 FAIRVIEW          18         20         13         27      –            76

1990 FAIRVIEW          14         14         22         20      –            70

 

ASHLAND, Ky. – Before 1952 Holy Family and 1958 Booker T. Washington laced it up for a simulation basketball game in the tiny Irish gym, they were introduced to the 3-point line.

“You mean if I shoot behind that circle you’re going to give me three points?” asked Holy Family scoring star Fred Simpson. “My man, you might as well start counting by three! This is where I shoot from all the time.”

Simpson picked up a basketball, made sure he was behind the stripe, and swish!

BTW players liked the look of the 3-point stripe, too. Marshall Banks and Wilbert Barrow immediately started trying to find the range from there.

“Oh man!” said Marshall Banks. “I love this 3-point shot!”

“Me too,” Barrow said. “Just make sure you save some shots for me, Marshall. Now don’t forget. Pass the ball!”

He proceeded to connect on three consecutive from behind the arc

Coaches Father Edward Haney and Wilmer West were briefed about the 3-point rule so they didn’t have time to draw up any new strategy. But it wouldn’t matter much for these two freewheeling offensive teams. This game promised to have some scoring.

Simpson and Tom Fitzsimmons were two of the best scorers in Holy Family history and BTW’s 58 team won 23 games that season with a high-scoring offense led by Marshall Banks, Barrow, Jack Smith, James Keeton and James Banks.

True to form, the game started out with a lot of offense and not much defense. The Irish, behind Simpson and Fitzsimmons, jumped ahead 24-16. Simpson made four triples and he was just getting warmed up.

BTW rallied a little but trailed 40-34 at the half. If the Irish had taken better care of the basketball, they would have easily led by double figures. The Hornets used a halfcourt trap and forced 15 turnovers and managed to keep it close.

“Defense was the key to keeping us in the game,” West said. “We got too darn comfortable shooting that new-fangled shot. I told the guys before we started that we needed to play our game and not worry about that 3-point gimmick. That shot will never make it.”

BTW turned up the defensive intensity a little more in the third quarter but still tailed 59-56 entering the last eight minutes. Marshall Banks was finding the range from behind the arc against his coach’s wishes, making all four of his attempts.

The Hornets led only once at 9-7 through three quarters but they were getting closer and closer.

Meanwhile, Simpson and Fitzsimmons were doing what they do best – shoot and score. They would finished with a combined 56 points and Simpson bombed in 8-for-17 from 3-point range which was much to his liking.

“I love this 3-point shot!” Simpson said after the game. “If we’d have had that when I played, my average would have been twice as good.”

“Nobody ever had to convince you to shoot,” Fitzsimmons said. “I’m surprised I got any touches.”

Actually, Fitzsimmons took 25 attempts to Simpson’s 23.

BTW pulled within 59-58 when James Banks scored on a breakaway but Jack Gossett and Simpson had back-to-back buckets to make it 62-58 and then Gossett drilled a 3-pointer to make it 65-58.

“I thought we were in great shape right there and maybe ready to go on a run and end this game,” Haney said.

However, Tyrone Fitzpatrick and Barrow ignited a 10-2 run that tied the game at 67 and then gave BTW the lead at 68-67 when Thomas sank two free throws. Marshall Banks then got a steal at midcourt and after working the ball around got open behind the arc and let fly with his fourth 3-pointer and it was nothing but net. That brought the lead to 71-67.

“We put together a nice little spurt there,” West said. “I had to apologize to Lawrence. When he took that 3-pointer I was saying ‘No! No! No!’ and when it swished I said ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’’’

But it wasn’t over as Fitzsimmons scored on back-to-back trips to retie the game at 71. It went back and forth over the last two minutes until it was tied at 76 and the Hornets had possession. West called for a timeout and set up his strategy – it was going to be a 3-pointer from the deep corner with Marshall Banks if the plan worked.

They broke the huddle and the Irish were leaning on Banks, who raced to the corner to get away. He saw Barrow breaking hard down the middle and managed to whip a perfect bounce pass into his hands for a wide-open layup at the buzzer. BTW had pulled it off, 78-76, in a game with offensive fireworks from both sides.

Simpson scored 31 and Fitzsimmons 25 with 11 rebounds. Simpson had nine rebounds. Gossett had eight points and 10 assists. The Irish certainly fell in love with the 3-point shot, making 10 of 26 attempts.

Marshall Banks was 7-for-9 shooting and made all four of his 3-point attempts and both free throws for 20 points. Jack Smith had 13 points and seven rebounds and Barrow had 16 points and five rebounds. Keeton collected eight points and seven rebounds.

BTW was an efficient 6-of-12 on 3-point attempts.

“I guess I could learn to like it,” West said of the 3-pointer. “We sure couldn’t stop Freddie. He was on fire out there. Those two guys (Simpson and Fitzsimmons) are a handful.”

Real life

Holy Family’s 1952 team was 23-11 and eliminated in the first round of the district by Russell. It was the junior year for Fred Simpson and Tom Fitzsimmons, who went on to have high-scoring senior seasons as well.

Booker T. Washington’s 1958 team was 23-9 and stunned Ashland in the district tournament. They lost the next night to Russell and didn’t make it to the regional tournament. But the win over the Tomcats was a sweet one. They would integrate with Ashland four years later.

1958 BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (78) – Thomas 1-4 0-0 2, M.Banks 7-9 2-2 20, Smith 6-13 1-2 13, J.Banks 3-9 0-2 6, Botts 1-3 0-3 2, Barrow 6-18 2-4 16, Keeton 2-2 4-4 8, R.Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Fitzpatrick 3-4 0-0 6, Dan Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Don Brown 1-2 1-2 3. FG: 31-58. FT: 10-19. 3FG: 6-12 (L.Banks 4-4, Barrow 2-7, R.Brown 0-1). Rebounds: 38 (Keeton 3, L.Banks 5, Smith 7, J.Banks 3, Botts 3, Barrow 5, Thomas 7, R.Brown 2, Fitzpatrick 1, Don Brown 2). Assists: 19 (Keeton 5, L.Banks 4, J.Banks 2, Botts 1, Barrow 1, Thomas 1, R.Brown 3, Fitzpatrick 2). PF: 16. Turnovers: 19.

1952 HOLY FAMILY (76) – Gossett 3-9 0-0 8, Simpson 10-23 3-3 31, Fitzsimmons 11-25 3-5 25, Roll 2-7 0-0 4, Clark 3-8 0-0 6, Wheatley 1-1 0-0 2. FG: 30-73. FT: 6-8. 3FG: 10-26 (Gossett 2-5, Simpson 8-17, Fitzsimmons 0-1, Roll 0-2). Rebounds: 40 (Gossett 4, Simpson 9, Fitzsimmons 14, Roll 8, Clark 4, Wheatley 1). Assists: 12 (Gossett 10, Clark 1, Wheatley 1). PF: 25. Turnovers: 22.

1958 BTW                         16         18         22         22     –         78

1952 HOLY FAMILY      24         16         19         17      –        76