ASHLAND, Ky. – The parade of 1920s automobiles carrying the 1928 Tomcat basketball team to James A. Anderson Gymnasium was moving through town with lots of gawkers.

The players waved at cheering people who gathered on their porches or in their front yards to catch a glimpse of the undefeated national champions. It was easy enough to see them since the cars weren’t going very fast.

When the line of cars turned off Floyd Street and onto the road leading to the Paul G. Blazer High School campus, this new reality began settling in. Was this a futuristic city? “That’s where we’re going to play?” asked Darrell Darby, one of the 1928 Tomcat stars.

As they came closer, they were told to park the cars under the gymnasium where the words “James A. Anderson Gymnasium” hangs from the wall. It was their coach’s name.

“Coach!” said Ellis Johnson, pointing toward the wall. “Look!”

They gathered up the gear, most of it bawled up in pillow covers. They had their Converses tied around their necks. Most of the players were wearing shirts and ties because Coach Anderson told them to look sharp.

“Winners always look like winners,” said the John Wooden of Tomcat basketball.

It had been a week since the 1928 Tomcats met the only other team in Tomcat history that had accomplished what they did – win every game in a season. The 2020 Tomcats had gone 33-0- and the 1928 Tomcats understood how that happened after battling with them at home, in the old gym on Lexington Avenue. The 1928 Cats won again, 31-30, on a last-second shot from Johnson. But that one was played with rules from 1928. The rematch would be on the 2020 team’s home floor and with their rules, including the 3-point shot, which was their weapon of choice.

Coach Jason Mays had unleashed a team of pure basketball players on the 16^th Region in 2020 and they did everything he asked and more. As their streak carried on into the twenties and then the thirties, the link to the past started becoming more obvious. The 1928 Tomcats had gone 37-0, maybe the greatest season in Kentucky history, and won the state and national high school tournaments.

It was still hours before the game was going to be played because Coach Anderson wanted to give his players a chance to calm down after seeing what they were going to be seeing. He saw how affected the 2020 Tomcats were when they stepped back in time last week. Anderson noticed those 2020 Cats were big-eyed throughout much of the first half. He couldn’t afford that to happen to the 1928 Cats, who were about to play a style of game they had never imagined. They practiced their 3-point shooting – it was tougher with the two-handed set shot – and learned to play at a much faster pace. They tried to mimic what they saw last week with the jump shot – the first time they had seen anybody have both feet leave the floor while taking a shot aside from a layup. It was still awkward for them.

They came into the Anderson lobby, looked at the trophy cases and even found their own trophy and the deflated ball from that masterful championship game with Carr Creek. That was surreal. So was the plaque on the wall that tells of the national championship season. The 28 Tomcats were emotional looking at the memorabilia.

The 2020 Tomcats greeted them in the lobby. A special friendship was developing between them. After all, they were kindred spirits in a very unique club that may well have only two members ever. The 2020 Tomcats talked about being denied the chance to play in the Sweet 16 because of a mysterious virus. The 1928 Tomcats could relate. They were 6- to 8-year-old boys in Ashland when the Spanish Flu was active in 1918. School was cancelled, including the entire football season, they told them. It was awful, they said. History often repeats itself.

A meal was set up for the teams so they could eat together. Box lunches were put out from Chick-fil-A and a dozen 18-inch Givovanni’s pizzas of all combinations were made available.  Guess what? The 1928 Tomcats loved it all!

“I’ve never tasted anything like this,” said Bill Hemlepp, jamming in his fourth slice of sausage and mushroom. “And you guys get to eat this stuff all the time? I’m jealous.”

“It ain’t as good as my grandma’s fried chicken,” chimed in Johnson, “but it ain’t bad. I’d wait in a line for this chicken.”

“Well,” Ethan Hudson said, “we do.”

While the players were getting to know each other better, Mays and Anderson met in the coach’s office for a skull session. Afterward, Mays said he was trying to be a sponge, soaking up every word Anderson had to say. “I was enthralled,” he said. “I sat there and listened, not saying a word. It was the best coaching clinic I’ve had in my life.”

Before the 1928 Tomcats headed to the dressing room, they were able to sneak a look inside Anderson gym. Their attention went to the large 1928 national championship banner on the far side of the gym. “Well will you take a look at that,” said Eck Allen, pointing to the banner.

Fans weren’t here yet, so the seats were empty. The gym was sparkling and it was soon going to be full with this being the hottest ticket in this gym since President Nixon visited in 1972 or was that O.J. Mayo in 2001?

“Wow!” said Gene Strother. “This is even better than Alumni Gym in Lexington (where the 1928 state tournament was played). Look at how big that foul lane is? I could get lost in there!”

Each of the players also saw a 3-point line for the first time except for one that Coach Anderson taped on the floor at their gym for practice.

“Look! There it is,” Johnson said. “It makes an arc.”

The next time they saw the floor, the stands were as full as anybody could ever remember, the Tomcat pep band was playing and the atmosphere was electric. It was dripping with anticipation of what was about to transpire.

Could this game measure up to last week’s first game in the series? You bet it could.

The 1928 Tomcats were shellshocked early, falling behind 30-17 – a typical night’s work on most nights – as the 2020 Tomcats started out in fullcourt pressure. Cole Villers scored nine points, a sign of what was to come from the sophomore, and it looked like a blowout was coming

But a funny thing happened in the second quarter. The 2020 Tomcats went cold from behind the arc, misfiring time and time again. Meanwhile, the 1928 Tomcats not only got used to the pressure, they began liking it. They looked more like the Los Angeles Lakers than a high school team, beating the Tomcats to spots and firing up hoops from everywhere. They were finding the bottom of the net, too. The 1928 Tomcats put up a whopping 36 points and still trailed 55-53 at the half.

It became obvious though that these guys could play any style of basketball.

“They were stunned in the early going but we were the ones stunned going into halftime,” Mays said. “I took the press off after they burned us about five straight times, but they continued to move the ball quicker than I thought was possible. I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t sure how we were going to stop them.”

It didn’t help that guard Colin Porter was in foul trouble and played only sparingly in the first half. Villers and Ethan Sellars kept the offense going.

Jack Phipps, one of the few seniors on the 1928 team, said the that green sweet drink in the big orange containers seemed to be giving them energy.

“I don’t know what was in that jug, but I’d like to have more of it,” he said of the Gatorade that the 2020 Tomcats provided. “Our tongues were dragging early and wagging later. We started telling those boys to pick it up a little.”

Villers had scored 20 by halftime and the Tomcats fired up 20 triples and made six. The 1928 Tomcats, still unfamiliar with the arc, went 2-for-8 in the opening half on treys. When it was over, the 2020 Tomcats had made 10 of 31 and the 1928 Tomcats 5 of 19. So the 3-pointer was less of a factor than first thought.

“Our guys had a hard time shooting that new-fangled shot,” Anderson said of the 3-pointer. “They kept looking down to see where their feet were. By the time they looked back up, those boys were on them. But we did like race it up the floor.”

The 1928 Tomcats were 14-for-18 from the field in the second quarter alone in a blistering performance. “Our defense was bad,” Mays said. “I don’t know what happened.”

In the second half, both teams kept up a torrid pace to the delight of everybody in the stands but not the coaches. It was a game that nobody expected between teams that took great pride in defense. But they were having a blast scoring the ball. The 28 Tomcats outscored the 20 Tomcats, 27-21, in the third quarter and Kermit Riffe’s driving basket had them ahead 80-76 entering the last eight minutes.

“I could tell we were wearing down even though we were ahead,” Anderson said. “The most we scored in a game all season was 54 and that was against a team not nearly as good as this Tomcat team.”

Meanwhile, Mays said his Tomcats were brimming with confidence even though they trailed. “I don’t remember them one time all season panicking. They just knew how to win.”

Villers, who finished with 38 points, scored on a fastbreak to put the 2020 Tomcats into the lead at 84-82. Johnson tied it with a surprising hook shot and then Hudson drilled a long 3-pointer for an 87-84 advantage. The teams punched back and forth and the game was tied at 92 when Villers swished a pair of free throws to make it 94-92. The fans were delirious with both teams approaching the century mark.

Like a pair of heavyweight boxers, they kept taking punches. Strother tied it again at 94 and the 28 Tomcats got a steal and went ahead 96-94 when Darby hit from short range. There was a hush over Anderson gym when Mays called timeout with 35 seconds  to play and his team down 96-94.

“I knew we had to score,” Mays said. They did, with Justin Bradley drilling one from the corner to tie it again at 96. The teams exchanged baskets for one last tie at 98 with only 10 seconds remaining. The 28 Tomcats had the ball under their own basket when Sellars, seemingly coming out of nowhere, made a diving steal. He tipped the ball back in play while crashing out of bounds and Nolan Phillips, who had been guarding the inbounds pass, scooped it up and laid it in for the 100^th point and a 100-98 victory that set off a celebration like this gym had never seen in its 58-year history.

It must have been akin to what the 1928 Tomcats experienced the night they won the state title, when the fans from Ashland and Carr Creek stormed the floor lifting their heroes on their shoulders and parading them around the court after the epic four-overtime game. Fans from both sides were all over Anderson gym, too. The sweat-soaked coaches embraced and so did the players when they could find each other.

Nothing was really lost, just a lot of respect won.

1928 ASHLAND (98) – Strothers 8-16 0-0 19, Fullerton 2-4 3-4 8, Darby 6-17 8-8 21, Johnson 5-10 4-5 14, Phipps 4-5 2-2 10, Riffe 4-15 2-8 10, Barney 2-8 3-3 7, Hemlepp 4-4 1-2 9, Allen 0-1 0-0 0. FG: 35-80. FT: 23-32. 3FG: 5-19 (Strother 3-8, Fullerton 1-4, Darby 1-4, Barney 0-3, Allen 0-1). Rebounds: 48 (Strother 3, Fullerton 5, Darby 8, Johnson 6, Phipps 8, Riffe 5, Barney 4, Hemlepp 7, Allen 2). Assists: 16 (Strother 5, Fullerton 3, Darby 2, Phipps 1, Barney 3, Hemlepp 1, Allen 1). PF: 25. Turnovers: 21.

2020 ASHLAND (100) – Porter 2-4 2-4 6, Gillum 2-6 2-2 6, Sellars 7-12 0-0 18, Villers 13-23 12-12 38, Bradley 2-2 2-4 7, Hudson 4-12 0-0 10, Adkins 1-7 2-5 5, Atkins 1-4 2-6 2, Phillips 2-8 0-0 6, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Conway 0-5 0-0 0. FG: 34-80. FT: 22-33. 3FG: 10-31 (Gillum 0-3, Sellars 4-9, Bradley 1-1, Hudson 2-5, Hudson 1-4, Phillips 2-7, Conway 0-2). Rebounds: 42 (Porter 4, Gillum 2, Sellars 3, Villars 10, Bradley 5, Hudson 3, Adkins 1, Atkins 3, Phillips 5, Davis 1, Conway 5). Assists: 16 (Porter 3, Gillum 1, Sellars 2, Villers 1, Bradley 1, Hudson 4, Adkins 2, Atkins 1, Davis 1). PF: 26. Turnovers: 20.

1928 ASHLAND       17       36       27       18            –           98

2020 ASHLAND       30       25       21       24            –           100

 

 

 

 

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland’s 2020 basketball team unloaded the bus, grabbed their bags from the luggage area and stepped into a time capsule.

They looked around the parking lot and saw Ford Model-Ts, men wearing shirts and ties, and there was even a place to tie up the horse for those who used that mode of transportation.

It was culture shock as 2020 met 1928.

Most of the men who were lined up outside in the parking lot waiting to get into the gym had worked all day at Armco or Ashland Oil, probably had a meal at good home and put on their good clothes, some even wore fedoras, for the game. Most had cigarettes and others had cigars hanging off their lips, the smoke circling up in perfect waves and into the crisp night. And they were all talking about the Tomcats, both their own and this future team that was to play in the battle of the unbeatens.

They knew this much: Their Tomcats knew how to win. They’d won 37 in a row, beaten teams in the Tri-State, then in the Kentucky state tournament and even in a national tournament.

“Nobody beats our Cats!” one fan yelled at the 2020 Tomcats as they filed into the building. “You guys sure as heck ain’t beating us!”

As Ashland’s 2020 players went through the doors leading inside, they were looking at each other, raising their eyebrows, and then taking in more of the unusual surroundings. They didn’t have to pay, but admission to the game was only 5 cents. Young boys in the “lobby” area were pulling at their warmups to try and get their attention, or maybe just feel that soft material. That smell, too, was different. It was hot-buttered popcorn – 1 penny for a bag – and cigar smoke. It almost made for a sweet aroma.

“It was intoxicating,” said 2020 Tomcats coach Jason Mays. “Our guys were stunned when we got here. I kept waiting for Rod Serling to come out and say, ‘This is the Twilight Zone.’”

As fans came into the gym, they had a checker who looked over what the patron was wearing and directed them to the stands on the side or to the stage if the attire wasn’t proper enough. The men in the fedoras were given some good seating. It was a wild bunch on the stage for the game and at the top of each side of the gym, the windows were propped open, even though it was chilly outside. It was getting stuffy in here.

Their first look at the gym floor they noticed a couple of things. There was no halfcourt line and the foul lane was about four feet wide with a circle that went around the foul stripe. It looked like the shape of a key. They all seemed to get it at once.

Fans were already inside the gym, many more than the fire marshal said should be there. But this game was bigger than big, so the fire marshal saved himself from a riot by letting the fans keep coming. It was the battle of the unbeatens, the only teams in more than 100 years of Tomcat basketball that finished without a blemish.

This two-game series was set up to maybe determine the true Tomcat champion and because fans wanted it. One game would be played on the other’s floor with the other’s rules. On this night, there were no 3-point shots, jump balls after every basket and no 10-second count. Anybody could roam anywhere on either side of the floor. If the teams reached 30, it would be a miracle.

Both teams began warming up and the 2020 Tomcats noticed their opponents weren’t practicing jump shots. Of course, those didn’t come along until the 1930s.

“Just take care of yourself,” Mays instructed them. “Get ready to play.”

Mays took the 2020 Tomcats to the dressing room under the stands and you could feel the noise. There was stomping and cheering and dang near rioting out there. It was intimidating to say the least.

It was different for Mays too, who learned he was to stay on his bench – a wooden plank – and not get up from it except when play was stopped at timeouts or between quarters. The referees were quite emphatic and made sure he understood. Mays shook his head yes, blew a kiss to his wife Lori Beth and kids in the stands on the opposite side, and plopped down for the first jump ball of many on this night. There were 35 by my count.

Ashland’s 1928 team was a chiseled bunch. They didn’t look like high school players. Far from it. Ellis Johnson was one of the dynamic players. He looked like Mr. America with muscular legs and arms bulging through his tight uniform. Darrell Darby was another one, so was Gene Strother. They were sizing up these 2020 Tomcats, who looked sleek and much younger, too.

“But you know,” said Strother afterward. “Those were the most polite boys we’d ever played. Oh, they played hard basketball, but those are some good kids. We loved playing against them.”

The game started fast, by 1928 standards anyway, with Strother and Darby each drilling two-handed set shots during a 9-2 run. The gym sounded like it was coming apart. The 1928 team didn’t have to dribble much because they passed so effectively. The ball, which seemed much bigger than the one the 2020 Tomcats were used to playing with, had laces on it like a football. But the 28 Tomcats knew what to do with it when they got close to the basket.

They got the first jump ball, and then the second with Johnson out-tipping Cole Villers each time. Ashland’s 2020 team was going to have to get used to that part of the game too. They tried different players and Nolan Phillips seemed to have the best control of where the tip was going so they stuck with him.

It took some time for the 2020 Tomcats to settle down. They trailed 9-2 but Colin Porter and Justin Bradley made short jump shots at the close of the quarter to pull them within 9-6. The crowd laughed when they shot – they had never seen anybody shooter a jumper – and then looked at each other wide-eyed when it swished. The teams were settling in and what ensued was some beautiful basketball. The 28 Cats held a 20-15 halftime lead in a game that was going down to the wire.

“We should have had the game won at halftime,” said 28 Coach Jimmy Anderson. “We let up and kind of started watching instead of playing. They got our style down faster than I thought they could. I don’t know how he did it, but Coach Mays had to have us well scouted. He took away some things.”

True enough. The 2020 Tomcats came roaring back in the second half and Ethan Sellars, playing on the floor where his grandfather did more than 50 years ago for Coles Jr. High, hit a long jump shot that would have been worth three points any other night to put the 2020 Tomcats ahead 22-20 three minutes into the second half.

Porter got the hang of what to do with the ball, too. He had the 28 Tomcats chasing him all over the floor, whittling off minutes as he went behind-the-back and between-the-legs with defenders in pursuit. He learned from watching Johnson, who did the same to the 2020 Tomcats in the first half.

“I could have watched that boy all day long,” Anderson said. “If he were on this team, we’d have won every game 2-0 if we could have scored first. I’d make sure he had the ball and there wouldn’t have been any time left.”

By the end of the third quarter, the 28 Tomcats had recovered and pulled ahead 28-22 and it looked like the 2020 Tomcats were done.

But just like the start to the second half, they caught fire – making three consecutive baskets – to tie the game at 28. Phillips scored on a putback and it was all even with only 90 seconds remaining. The clock wasn’t digital, so it was hard to understand the time for the 2020 Tomcats – just one more obstacle in a world of them on this bizarre night.

“I’m not sure we ever figured out how to read that clock and we’re pretty smart guys,” Ethan Hudson said.

The 28 Tomcats got the tip on the jump ball and Johnson began his stall. He dribbled around and through the 2020 Tomcats until colliding with Villers on the baseline. Mays jumped up and hollered “Charge!” – it was heard all over the gym – and luckily he was given a warning instead of a technical foul. Luke Maze did his best to calm him down. It should be noted that Ellis Johnson, who won the sportsmanship award at the state tournament and committed only two fouls all season – helped Villers up after the collision. The foul was called on Villers and Johnson made one of two free throws for a 29-28 lead with only 15 seconds remaining.

“I don’t like to complain about calls … so I won’t,” Mays said afterward. “Let’s just say it was a good thing Luke was with me. He gave us a chance to win by keeping me in check.”

On the ensuing jump ball, Phillips was able to get a clean tip out to Porter, who zipped a long pass down the court to a flying Hudson who laid it in for a 30-29 lead as the 28 Tomcat crowd grew silent. They hadn’t been in this kind of game since the four-overtime state championship win over Carr Creek.

But they didn’t panic. Passes went from Darby to Johnson to Phipps to Strother to Johnson. It was a dizzying display that freed up one last shot, but it was like slow motion when Johnson, from 15 feet away, let fly with a two-handed set shot. The ball seemed to take several minutes to find the basket but it splashed through and the buzzer couldn’t drown out the celebration. The 1928 Tomcats had survived this incredible game, 31-30.

“There will be a rematch!” Sellars said as the 2020 Tomcats were leaving the gym.

Game 2 will be at – Where else? – James A. Anderson Gymnasium.

Real life

Ashland’s 1928 team was 37-0 and won the state and national championship. The Tomcats four-overtime win over Carr Creek remains one of the most amazing games in Sweet 16 history. Ellis Johnson went on to play at UK and was Adolph Rupp’s first All-American.

Ashland’s 2020 team finished 33-0 but was denied playing in the Sweet 16 because of the coronavirus. Coach Jason Mays’ team relied on the 3-point shot, shooting more behind the arc than in front of it.

 

2020 ASHLAND (30) – Porter 4-5 0-0 8, Bradley 1-1 0-0 2, Sellars 2-4 1-2 5, Villers 3-6 2-2 8, Hudson 1-3 1-2 3, Gillum 0-1 0-0 0, Phillips 1-2 0-0 2, Adkins 1-2 0-0 2, Atkins 0-1 0-0 0. FG: 11-25. FT: 4-6. Rebounds: 12 (Porter 2, Bradley 1, Gillum 2, Sellars 2, Villers 2, Phillips 2, Adkins 1). Assists: 5 (Porter 1, Bradley 1, Gillum 1, Phillips 1, Hudson 1). PF: 11. Turnovers: 7.

1928 ASHLAND (31) – Phipps 1-3 2-2 4, Fullerton 1-3 0-0 2, Strother 2-6 2-4 6, Darby 2-5 1-4 5, Johnson 3-6 2-4 8, Wolfe 0-2 0-0 0, Hemlepp 1-2 1-1 3, Riffe 1-2 1-1 3. FG: 12-27. FT: 7-11. Rebounds: 18 (Phipps 3, Fullerton 1, Strother 3, Darby 2, Johnson 6, Wolfe 1, Hemlepp 2). Assists: 7 (Phipps 2, Fullerton 1, Strother 1, Darby 1, Wolfe 2). PF: 7. Turnovers: 6.

2020 ASHLAND       6          9          7          8            –           30

1928 ASHLAND       9          11       8          3            –           31

 

ASHLAND, Ky. – An agreement has been reached on a two-game series between Ashland’s only undefeated basketball teams.

The 1928 Tomcats, who were state and national champions during a 37-0 season, and the 2020 Tomcats, who went 33-0 before the season was cancelled, will play on the other’s court with home era rules.

In other words, when the game is played at the old Ashland High School – home of the 28 champions – it will be jump ball after every score, no over-and-back rules and coaches may stay seated on a wooden plank bench. When the game moves to James A. Anderson gym, which is named after the 28 head coach, the 3-point shot and basketball rules of today will be in effect.

Large crowds are reported to be coming to both games (These simulation games may be subject to a computer virus but not the coronavirus). It will be one of the hottest ticket in Ashland history. Proceeds from the game will benefit Amy For Africa (of course, right?).

“If I have to sit on a wooden plank for the entire game, somebody better get some rope and tie me down,” said 2020 Tomcats coach Jason Mays.

Ellis Johnson and Cole Villers met and shook hands at midcourt in the old gym to seal the deal.

“His grip about broke my hand,” Villers said. “This is going to be interesting.”

 

 

ASHLAND, Ky. – The 1977 and 1980 Ashland teams – both loaded with size and talent – met Sunday night in a giant-sized battle of the titans at Anderson gym.

Lanky Jim Harkins swooped to the basket with only three seconds remaining, where he met 6-9 Jeff Tipton and 6-3 Greg McCauley near the rim, but somehow managed to power in the game-winning basket in a 69-68 victory for the 1977 Tomcats that was tight from buzzer to buzzer.

Harkins’ last basket was part of a 22-point performance and was the last of a 17 lead changes. The game was also tied on 10 occasions as the teams, both big and physical, battled hard for 32 minutes.

The 1980 team, which featured a front line of 6-9, 6-7 and 6-4, built a 27-19 lead five minutes before halftime. But the 77 Tomcats fought back and actually led 34-32 at the half after going on a 15=5 run to n the first half. Playmaker Greg Swift, who had eight points and five assists, triggered the run that kept them in the game.

The 77 Cats kept the lead until McCauley sank a jumper from the corner to make it 49-48 and the teams exchange leads nine more times, the last one coming on Harkins’ basket. But before that one, Doug Smith drilled a shot from just inside the 3-point line to put the 80 Tomcats in front 68-67.

“I tell you what, both of these teams would look good going through the airport,” said 1980 Tomcat coach Ernie Simpson. “It was a great game and an incredible fourth quarter. Every point was contested all the way to the end. I don’t know how Harkins was able to get through Jeff and Greg. That was an incredible play.”

Neither team took advantage of the 3-point shot with only five total attempts being taken.

“Who needs the 3-point shot?” asked 77 coach Paul Patterson. “We drill our guys on taking the high-percentage shot. They know it and they did it well tonight. Greg Swift may have been our MVP. He found a way to get it into the hands of the right guys.”

Mark Swift had 11 points, five assists and four rebounds while Dale Dummit scored 10 points with four rebounds.

As for the last-second play, Harkins said it was reaction only. “I saw the opening for a split second and went to the basket,” he said. “Tip and Greg were waiting on me and I was able to somehow get between them. It wasn’t anything I really planned out, I just reacted to the situation as best I could. I’m lucky they didn’t knock it back down my throat.”

“Harkins and Kovach are two of the best players I’ve ever coached against,” Simpson said. “Those guys are skilled, strong and athletic. They obviously were a big difference in this game.”

Smith scored 19 and Tipton collected 13 points and five rebounds. Dirk Anders, the 6-7 forward, had six points and a game-high 10 rebounds. John Anderson collected 11 points and six assists.

Real life                                                                               –

1980 Ashland finished 22-11 and won the 16^th Region title – giving the Tomcats their fifth in a row – and then reached the quarterfinals where they lost an epic double-overtime game against Covington Holmes, 97-92, with Jeff Tipton scoring 41 points. Holmes, led by Dicky Beal, had beaten Ashland 100-78 in the regular season.

1977 Ashland had a 30-2 record and reached the final four of the Sweet 16 where the Tomcats fell to Louisville Valley. It is considered one of Ashland’s greatest teams and was one of four regional championships for coach Paul Patterson, who never lost a game against a regional opponent in four seasons.

1980 ASHLAND (68) – Anderson 5-9 1-2 11, McCauley 5-8 2-3 12, Anders 3-9 0-0 6, Tipton 4-12 5-7 13, Smith 9-16 1-2 19, McWhorter 1-2 1-2 4, Haller 1-3 0-0 2, Crank 0-0 2-2 2. FG: 28-62. FT: 12-18. 3FG: 0-4 (McCauley 0-3, Anderson 0-1). Rebounds: 26 (Anderson 2, McCauley 2, Anders 10, Tipton 5, Smith 4, McWhorter 2, Crank 1). Assists: 12 (Anderson 6, McCauley 2, Tipton 3, Crank 1). PF: 17. Turnovers: 15.

1977 ASHLAND (69) – G.Swift 3-8 2-3 8, M.Swift 5-9 1-2 11, Dummit 4-7 2-2 10, Kovach 7-16 2-2 16, Harkins 8-12 6-9 22, Allen 0-1 0-0 0, Welch 0-1 0-0 0, Henderson 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 1-3 0-0 2. FG: 28-57. FT: 13-18. 3FG: 0-1 (M.Swift 0-1). Rebounds: 33 (G.Swift 2, M.Swift 4, Dummit 4, Kovach 11, Harkins 6, Welch 3, Henderson 1). Assists: 15 (G.Swift 5, M.Swift 5, Kovach 1, Allen 3, Henderson 1). PF: 22. Turnovers: 21.

1980 ASHLAND        14        18        19        17            –           68

1977 ASHLAND        16        18        16        19            –           69