(This is a computer simulation matching  great Ashland Tomcat teams of the past against each other. All game results are computer-generated but the quotes and enhanced play-by-play are on me.)

ASHLAND, Ky. –  A scoring duel went the way of the 2020 Ashland Tomcats, who followed a 31-point scoring performance from Ethan Hudson to defeat the 1959 Tomcats, 90-79, in a Sunday afternoon special.

Some dead-eye shooting from Hudson, who made 6 of 8 from 3-point range, helped the 2020 Tomcats withstand Larry Castle’s big game of 30 points and nine rebounds.

Each team had only one player apiece make a 3-pointer – Hudson from 2020 and Castle, who hit 2 of 6, for 1959. But the scoring was fast and furious anyway. The 2020 Tomcats, known for their freewheeling offense, scored 49 in the first half against what was a strong defensive team from the 1959 Cats.

“We couldn’t do much with those boys,” said 1959 Tomcat coach Fred Anson. “It seemed like everything they put up went in, especially that one boy (Hudson). That’s a good ballclub. They sure like to get it and go.”

Ethan Sellars also scored 20, including making 10 of 10 free throws, for the 2020 Tomcats. Cole Villers also collected 14 points and five rebounds. They played much of the game with playmaker Colin Porter on the bench in foul trouble. Hunter Gillum and Justin Bradley took care of the ballhandling and playmaking, combining for 11 points and seven assists.

“This team has so much versatility, which makes them very easy to coach,” said 2020 Tomcats coach Jason Mays. “They didn’t panic when Colin picked up his third foul in the first four minutes. Two of those were charge calls and they were good calls. He was out of control.”

The 2020 Cats were cool and collected and led nearly from start to finish. Castle’s driving layup put the 59 Cats ahead briefly at 12-11. The lead only lasted about a minute before the 20 Cats stormed back in front. Their biggest lead was 79-64 in the fourth quarter when Sellars fired a 30-foot bounce pass that Tristin Davis laid in on the other end without having to take a dribble.

“Man, that pass was awesome,” said Porter, the author of many jaw-dropping assists. “I’ll have to get Ethan to show me how he did that.”

Assists were plentiful by both teams. All eight of the 59 Cats were credited with an assist, led by Dean Church with six dimes. The 20 Cats also had eight players with assists with Bradley’s four the most.

“We can pass the ball and score the ball,” Mays said. “You saw out there what we see every day in practice. Although, Selly’s halfcourt bounce pass was a first. I’ve not seen that before.”

Castle was the star for the 59 Tomcats along with Monte Campbell, who muscled his way inside for 20 points.

“We did what we could against those rabbits,” Castle said. “Those guys move the ball as well as any team we saw in 59. They have to be one of Ashland’s best passing teams. That 3-point shot was a bugaboo for us, too. I don’t think our guys ever did get the feel for that. This game was unlike any, except maybe two or three, we played.”

Huntington High defeated the 59 Cats 94-72 prior to the district tournament. Olive Hill downed the 59 Cats 92-85 in a shootout, too.

“I still love my guys though,” Castle said.

Villers was impressed with Castle’s scoring ability and agility. “That guy could really move,” he said. “We had a hard time keeping up with him and he could score from anywhere.”

Real life

Ashland 1959 finished 21-9 and fell to Clark County, 49-47, in the semifinals of the regional tournament. Castle averaged 23 per game and went on to play at Western Kentucky.

Ashland 2020 was 33-0 and won the regional title but were denied the chance to play in the Sweet 16 because of the coronavirus. Hudson signed to play with Transylvania after the season.

1959 ASHLAND (79) – Fillmore 3-7 0-0 6, Church 4-6 0-1 8, Sparks 3-6 0-0 6, Castle 12-26 4-5 30, Campbell 9-13 2-2 20, Caines 2-4 0-1 4, Conley 1-2 1-2 3, Moore 0-2 2-3 2. FG: 34-66. FT: 9-14. 3FG: 2-14 (Fillmore 0-4, Sparks 0-2, Castle 2-6, Conley 0-1, Moore 0-1). Rebounds: 25 (Church 4, Sparks 5, Castle 9, Campbell 3, Caines 1, Conley 2, Moore 1). Assists: 21 (Fillmore 3, Church 6, Sparks 2, Castle 4, Campbell 4, Caines 2, Conley 1, Moore 1). PF: 20. Turnovers: 20.

2020 ASH:AND (90) – Porter 1-5 2-2 4, Bradley 2-4 1-2 5, Villers 6-11 2-3 14, Sellars 5-12 10-10 20, Hudson 12-20 1-1 31, Gillum 1-2 4-4 6, Phillips 0-2 0-0 0, Adkins 1-3 0-0 2, Atkins 1-1 1-2 2, Conway 2-2 0-0 4, Davis 1-1 0-2 2. FG: 32-63. FT: 20-24. 3FG: 6-18 (Porter 0-4, Bradley 0-1, Villers 0-3, Hudson 6-8, Phillips 0-2). Rebounds: 34 (Porter 4, Bradley 3, Villers 5, Sellars 6, Hudson 7, Phillips 1, Adkins 2, Atkins 2, Conway 2, Davis 2). Assists: 20 (Porter 1, Bradley 4, Sellars 3, Hudson 1, Gillum 3, Phillips 3, Adkins 2, Conway 1). PF: 21. Turnovers: 19.

1959 ASHLAND           16       18       24            21       –           79

2020 ASHLAND          25       24       20            21       –           90

 

 

 

(This is a computer simulation matching  great Ashland Tomcat teams of the past against each other. All game results are computer-generated but the quotes and enhanced play-by-play are on me.)

ASHLAND, Ky. – It was father-son day at the ol’ Ashland High School gym on Lexington Avenue as the 1965 Tomcats tangled with the 1996 Tomcats.

And it turned out to be a barnburner with 65 Tomcat Benny Spears’ buzzer-beating 15-footer from the corner ending the high-scoring battle, 81-80, in front of a jam-packed crowd. They had to prop open the big windows near the top of the gym to let in some cool air.

There was nothing cold about the shooting of either team.

Before the game, the fathers and sons were honorary captains – Jerry (65) and Kyle Umberger (96) and Bill (65) and Chris Lynch (96). The four of them played well for their respective teams.

Chris Lynch led all scorers with 30 points and 11 rebounds while his father had six points, five rebounds and four assists. Kyle Umberger scored 14 with six rebounds and four assists and his father had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Four of the 65 team’s five starters were in double figures led by Tim Jackson with 18 points, Spears with 16, Randy Williams with 15 points and five assists and Umberger’s 12. Center Clint Wheeler, the tallest player in the game, claimed 10 rebounds but was only 1-for-6 shooting.

Tate Tolbert’s 12 points and 10 assists was a nice complement to Lynch and Umberger’s scoring outputs. Many of Tolbert’s passes found their hands and the fathers and sons were banging each other hard inside.

One collision between the Umbergers ended up with both players going down hard on the floor. They both laughed as they got up (Kyle a little faster than Jerry).

“That was fun,” said Jerry Umberger of his battle with Kyle while rubbing his hip. “I used to be able to push him around a lot more than I could tonight.”

Kyle Umberger, noted for his good footwork, spun around his father for a basket that put the 96 Tomcats in front 79-76 with 2:26 remaining. Williams made a driving layup and was fouled. He swished the free throw to make it 79-79. Chris Lynch made one of two free throws to put the 96 Tomcats ahead 80-79 with 53 seconds to play.

The teams traded turnovers, including a steal from the quick-handed Williams. The 65 Tomcats patiently worked the ball around until calling a timeout with 10 seconds remaining so coach Bob Wright could set up the last-second strategy. It involved setting a double-screen for Spears, who took a pass from a driving Williams and confidently swished the game-winning shot.

Once everybody left the gym the fathers and sons met underneath one basket for a private game of 2-on-2. Results were not made known to the public.

“Well, you know how I hate to lose,” said 96 coach Wayne Breeden. “But how can you say this wasn’t a fun game? The competitor in me wants to play them again but, let me tell you, that’s one heck of a ballclub.”

Wright said the same about the 96 Tomcats, calling them a “well-coached bunch of ballplayers who play the game well.”

“Lynch’s son almost beat us single-handedly,” he said. “He’s got a nice variety of shots and he made his dad look bad a couple of times.”

The game featured 11 lead changes and 10 ties. The 65 Tomcats held an eight-point lead and the 96 Tomcats once held a nine-point advantage.

Real life

1965 Ashland Tomcats finished 28-3 and were ranked fourth in the state. Mt. Sterling stunned the Tomcats 56-53 in the region semifinals, ending Bob Wright’s reign as head coach.

1996 Ashland Tomcats were 27-9 and state runners-up after losing to Paintsville in the championship game. It was the first all-mountain championship in Sweet 16 history.

1965 ASHLAND (81) – Williams 7-13 1-2 15, Spears 7-18 2-2 16, Umberger 6-13 0-0 12, Jackson 6-14 6-10 18, Wheeler 1-6 2-2 4, Lynch 2-4 2-2 6, Greene 1-2 0-0 2, Hilton 3-5 0-0 6, Carr 1-1 0-0 2, Lett 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 34-76. FT: 12-17. 3-point FG: 0-6 (Spears 0-6). Rebounds: 37 (Williams 2, Spears 1, Umberger 8, Jackson 6, Wheeler 10, Lynch 5, Greene 1, Hilton 4). Assists: 21 (Williams 5, Spears 4, Umberger 1, Jackson 3, Wheeler 1, Lynch 4, Greene 2, Carr 1). PF: 18. Turnovers: 12.

1996 ASHLAND (80) – Tolbert 5-11 0-0 12, Umberger 6-10 2-6 14, Barrow 2-6 1-2 5, Curtis 4-8 0-2 9, Lynch 12-21 6-7 30, Strader 1-2 3-4 5, Estep 0-0 3-3 3, Daniels 1-2 0-0 2. FG: 31-60. FT: 15-24. 3-point FG: 3-8 (Tolbert 2-4, Curtis 1-4). Rebounds: 31 (Tolbert 1, Umberger 6, Barrow 6, Curtis 4, Lynch 11, Strader 2, Estep 1). Assists: 20 (Tolbert 10, Umberger 4, Barrow 1, Lynch 3, Estep 2). PF: 15. Turnovers: 20.

1965 ASHLAND           15     26     13          27     –        81    

1996 ASHLAND           20     17     22            21     –      80

 

(This is a computer simulation matching  great Ashland Tomcat teams of the past against each other. All game results are computer-generated but the quotes and enhanced play-by-play are on me.)

ASHLAND, Ky. – It turns out, size does matter.

Ashland’s 1996 state runners-up used their overwhelming size to defeat the 2020 Tomcats, 72-63, on Friday night.

The 96 Tomcats’ length also bothered the 2020 team’s 3-point shooting, limiting them to a dismal 5-for-25 performance. Meanwhile, 6-6 Chris Lynch, 6-7 Kyle Umberger and 6-4 Tony Barrow dominated the paint.

Lynch had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Umberger had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Coach Wayne Breeden, a master strategist, knew every move the 2020 Tomcats were making.

“I watched video on every game they played since grade school,” said the bleary-eyed coach, who had to wear corrective sunglasses during the game because of watching so much film. “It paid off. Our guys read the scouting reports and followed the game plan to a T.”

Much like they did in upsetting No. 1 Paducah Tilghman in the 1996 Sweet 16, the Tomcats were ready for anything – even this freewheeling 2020 Tomcat team that won by an average of 18 points per game.

“We were ready for them,” Lynch said. “I got tired of hearing about them. It was time for somebody to knock them down a notch.”

The game was tight through three quarters, but each team had a chance to blow it open. The 96 Tomcats trailed 27-16 early in the second quarter but they fought back to draw even at 37 by halftime.

“We had our chances there, had them on the ropes,” said 2020 Tomcat coach Jason Mays. “But we didn’t finish the job and when you let a team like this back into it, look out. They were big and it started wearing us down in the fourth quarter. We played just as hard bur at the end of the day, their big guys had us by five or six inches at every position.”

And the great equalizer – the 3-point shot – was not friendly to the 2020 Tomcats this time.

Tate Tolbert played outstanding out front for the 96 Tomcats with 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. He may have been the team’s MVP for the night.

Reserve Chris Estep had a hot hand too with 13 points.

Estep was matched against his nephew, Ethan Sellars, when he was in the game. And the two hustlers went at each other hard. Sellars had 10 points and nine rebounds.

“I thought I was watching the Bobbsey twins,” Breeden said. “Those guys played exactly alike. If I ever got in a street fight, I’d want those guys with me.”

The 96 Tomcats also held a 36-31 rebounding advantage.

The 2020 Tomcats battled hard but managed to get only within four points in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a game we can learn from,” Mays said. “Those guys came close to being state champions and we think that was our destiny too. It didn’t happen, not because of anything these kids did or didn’t do, but circumstances in life.

“I loved matching coaching wits with Coach Breeden. He got me this time but I’ll be ready for the rematch.”

Villers scored 15, Hunter Gillum 11 and Colin Porter collected 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Real life

1996 Ashland Tomcats went 27-9 but caught fire late in the season and made it to the state championship game for the school’s first appearance in 34 years. Tomcats lost to Paintsville in the finals.

2020 Ashland Tomcats were 33-0 and didn’t get to play in the Sweet Sixteen because of the coronavirus. They will be remembered as one of the Tomcats’ greatest teams with the perfect record.

1996 ASHLAND (72) – Tolbert 6-9 203 14, Curtis 2-12 3-4 8, Barrow 2-3 0-0 4 5, Umberger 4-7 1-2 9, Lynch 6-11 7-10 19, Strader 1-3 0-0 2, Estep 4-5 5-7 13, Daniels 1-1 0-0 2. FG: 26-51. FT: 18-26. 3-point FG: 2-9 (Tolbert 0-1, Curtis 1-5, Barrow 1-2, Strader 0-1). Rebounds: 36 (Tolbert 7, Barrow 4, Umberger 10, Lynch 10, Strader 2, Daniels 3). Assists: 12 (Tolbert 6, Curtis 1, Lynch 4, Estep 1). PF: 21. Turnovers: 19.

2020 ASHLAND (63) – Porter 4-14 202 10, Bradley 2-4 0-0 6, Villers 5-13 3-3 15, Hudson 1-5 4-6 6, Sellars 5-11 0-0 0-1 10, Phillips 0-3 2-2 2, Gillum 3-8 5-6 11, Adkins 1-2 0-0 3, Conway 0-2 0-0 0. FG: 21-62. FT: 16-19. 3-point FG: 5-25 (Porter 0-7, Bradley 2-3, Villers 2-10, Hudson 0-1, Sellars 0-1, Phillips 0-1, Gillum 1-2). Rebounds: 31 (Porter 5, Villers 4, Hudson 1, Sellars 9, Phillips 5, Gillum 1, Adkins 3, Atkins 3). Assists: 13 (Porter 7, Villers 1, Hudson 1, Gillum 2, Atkins 2). PF: 22. Turnovers: 18.

1996 ASHLAND         14       23       19            16       –           72

2020 ASHLAND          25       12       10            16       –           63

(This is a computer simulation matching  great Ashland Tomcat teams of the past against each other. All game results are computer-generated but the quotes and enhanced play-by-play are on me.)

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland’s 1957 team isn’t remembered in Tomcat history like they could have been.

The 57 Tomcats won 21 games and were the first “official” winners of the Ashland Invitational Tournament by defeating Flat Gap and the remarkable Charlie Osborne, 67-64, in the finals at the Ashland Armory. The tournament started the previous year as the Greenbo Invitational Tournament but became the AIT in 1957.

However, Ashland’s promising season was derailed when two players, Bob Wright and Don Church, were dismissed from school with six games remaining in the regular season. They enrolled at Russell but were ineligible to play. The Tomcats were not the same and lost by six points to Russell – a team they hammered 78-50 earlier in the season with Wright and Church in the lineup – in the first round of the district tournament. Just like that, the season was over.

The 57 Tomcats were smack dab in the middle of two of the greatest teams in Ashland history – four years after 1953 and four years before 1961 – so it was tough to gain respect in that era.

Howard Humphreys, a senior on the team and leading scorer, often wondered what might have happened with a full roster. He asked for a virtual matchup of the 57 Tomcats – with Church and Wright – against the famed 61 Tomcats.

Will it be a day of redemption or one of be careful what you wish for because it might come true?

In a high-scoring affair the 61 Tomcats outlasted the 57 Tomcats, 88-80, in an entertaining game that was physical from start to finish. The teams combined for 84 free throws and 58 fouls, with both officials having to replace the pea in their whistles.

Both teams had players take elbows to the mouth with blood spilling on the Ashland Armory floor.

The 57 Tomcats proved more than capable of playing against the team that most consider Ashland’s best ever, taking them down to the final minutes before falling in a game that had fans on both sides screaming.

Larry Conley scored 20 and Harold Sergent 19 as the 61 Tomcats used a 35-point second quarter to take control and then hold on down the stretch after a furious comeback.

The 61 Tomcats built their biggest lead at 49-35 when Steve Cram drilled a 15-footer to start the second half. But the 57 Tomcats, led by Humphreys, rallied by going on a 24-10 rampage in the third quarter. Humphreys scored 11 of his 18 points during the stretch.

However, the 57 Tomcats could never take the lead despite staying within striking distance. It was 77-73 with three minutes remaining when the 61 Tomcats scored six consecutive points to make it 83-73 and essentially put it away.

The teams spent a lot of time at the foul line with the 61 Tomcats making 29 of 44 free throws and the 57 Tomcats hitting 28 of 40.

The difference came from the 3-point line where the 61 Tomcats adapted quickly to the new rule, making 7 of 17 with Sergent nailing 4 of 8. The 57 Tomcats attempted only one from behind the arc.

“We instructed our players to take it inside,” said 57 coach Bob Lavoy. “When you have players like Humphreys and (Dale) Griffith, you take it inside. I’m old school. I don’t know about this 3-point thing.”

But the 21-0 difference from the 3-point line was a determining factor.

“We didn’t shoot the 3 and we sure didn’t defend it well either,” Humphreys said. “I’m proud of these guys. It was good to be out there playing with them again, especially Don and Bob.”

Meeks scored 18 and Griffith collected 11 points and seven rebounds while Wright and Church were solid with nine points and eight points, respectively, for the 57 Tomcats.

“I tell you what, these 57 Tomcats were good,” said 61 coach Bob Wright. “Humphreys and Griffith are a handful and those guys never back down. I’d liked to have coached those players. Wright and Church made a difference for them too. Wright is a real banger and so athletic. Our guys were saying he was like a brick wall.

“We found the range from that 3-point line, which I’m starting to like,” Wright said. “I don’t think we win this one without it.”

Cram scored 12 points and Gene Smith 11. Sergent had eight assists and Bob Hilton led with seven rebounds.

Real life

 1957 Ashland was 21-6, AIT champions and ranked as high as 16^th in the Litkenhaus rankings, but bowed out in the opening round of the district tournament to Russell.

1961 Ashland finished as state champions with a sparkling 36-1. These Tomcats are regarded as one of the best in Sweet 16 history.

Reunited

Humphreys and Griffith joined back up with Wright and Church the following year at Louisiana Lafayette. Humphreys’ roommate, Tim Thompson, played on a Lexington Lafayette team that was in the Sweet 16 in 1957.

Sophomores step up

Larry Castle, David Patton and Herb Conley were sophomores in 1957 and stepped up to help the varsity when Wright and Church were dismissed from Ashland High School. Lavoy was replaced by Fred Anson after the season was over.

1961 ASHLAND (88) – Sergent 6-12 3-4 19, Cram 3-8 5-6 12, Conley 6-19 7-9 20, Hilton 3-7 0-1 6,  Smith 3-8 5-6 11, Fairchild 4-7 0-3 8, Sexton 0-1 5-8 5, Daniel 0-2 3-4 3, Johnson 1-2 0-0 3, Gray 0-0 1-3 1. FG: 26-66. FT: 29-44. 3-point FG: 7-17 (Sergent 4-8, Cram 1-2, Conley 1-6, Johnson 1-1). Rebounds: 35 (Sergent 4, Cram 5, Conley 6, Hilton 7, Smith 3, Fairchild 5, Sexton 4, Johnson 1). PF: 27. Turnovers: 11.

 1957 ASHLAND (80) – Wellman 2-7 0-0 4, Church 3-9 3-4 9, Humphreys 6-12 6-8 18, Griffith 4-10 3-6 11, Meek 5-5 8-13 18, Sexton 1-2 1-1 3, Wright 4-5 0-0 8, Hart 1-1 7-8 9, Everman 1-1 0-0 2, Castle 0-0 0-0 0, Conley 0-1 0-0 0, Fillmore 0-1 0-0 0. FGs: 26-53. FT: 28-40. 3-point FGs: 0-1 (Church 0-1). FT: 28-40. Rebounds: 32 (Wellman 3, Church 4, Humphreys 9, Griffith 7, Meek 1, Conley 1, Hart 3, Wright 2, Sexton 1, Everman 1). Assists: 10 (Wellman 2, Church 2, Humphreys 1, Griffith 1, Meeks 2, Fillmore 1, Wright 1). PF: 31. Turnovers: 16.

1961 ASHLAND  14      35      10      29           –         88

1957 ASHLAND  23      12      24      21           –         80