2020 Tomcats defeat 1977 Cats in bruising battle

(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. – The 2020 Ashland Tomcats are known more for finesse than physicalness.

But a rugged 58-55 victory over the 1977 Tomcats showed they could play that style too.

Ethan Hudson scored 18 points, including the last six from the foul line in the last 90 seconds, for the hard-fought win against a team that prides itself on defense and showed why from buzzer to buzzer.

Ethan Hudson scored 18 against the 77 Tomcats. (Kimberly Phillips photo)

Baskets were hard to come by for both teams and the 3-point shot – new to the 1977 team – was nobody’s friend.

The 20 Tomcats were 7 of 23 and the 77 Tomcats 4 of 18 from behind the arc.

Coach Paul Patterson said the 2020 Tomcats gave his team fits despite being undersized. “A well-coached team that passes the ball as well as any we saw,” he said. “They’re a tough bunch too. I like that about them.”

The 20 Tomcats were knocked to the floor while battling for rebounds on several occasions. Point guard Colin Porter for the 20 Tomcats and Greg Swift for the 77 Tomcats was the best battle of the night.

Porter had 12 points and five assists and Swift collected eight points and eight assists. His older brother Mark Swift scored 11 with six rebounds.

Cole Villers went up against the 6-7 Jeff Kovach and scored a dozen. Kovach led the 77 Tomcats with 15 points and seven rebounds.

“I couldn’t do much with him, he is so strong,” Villers said.

The 77 Tomcats jumped ahead 15-8 before the 20 Tomcats rallied and eventually took the lead for good at 25-23 when Hudson scored inside for his 12th point of the first half.

“Huddy came through for us in a big way,” said Ashland coach Jason Mays. “I’ve coached in a lot of basketball games in college and high school and that game was as physical as any of them. No wonder those guys made it to the semifinals. What a tremendous team.”

Darryl Smith scored on a putback to bring the 77 Tomcats within 56-55 at the 18-second mark, but Hudson made a pair of free throws with 5.3 seconds to play to set the final margin. A halfcourt shot from Mark Swift that would have tied the game glanced off the front of the rim.

Real life

1977 Ashland went 30-2 and reached the state semifinals before losing to Louisville Valley. Patterson never lost to a 16th Region opponent in his four years as head coach.

2020 Ashland finished 33-0 but didn’t get to play in the Sweet 16 because of the coronavirus. The Tomcats had three seniors in the history-making season.

 

1977 ASHLAND (55) – G.Swift 3-10 0-0 8, M.Swift 4-7 2-4 11, Dummit 0-5 0-0 0, Kovach 7-8 0-0 14, Harkins 2-5 6-8 10, Smith 2-5 0-0 4, Allen 2-5 0-0 4, Henderson 1-4 1-2 3, Welch 0-0 1-2 1. FG: 21-49. FT: 9-14. 3-point FGs: 4-18 (M.Swift 2-5, G.Swift 1-2, Dummit 0-5, Harkins 0-1, Smith 0-1, Henderson 1-4). Rebounds: 29 (G.Swift 1, M.Swift 6, Kovach 7, Dummit 3, Harkins 4, Smith 1, Allen 3, Welch 4). Assists: 16 (G.Swift 8, M.Swift 4, Smith 1, Henderson 3). PF: 23. Turnovers: 13.

2020 ASHLAND (58) – Porter 3-12 3-7 12, Bradley 2-6 2-2 6, Villers 4-7 2-3 12, Hudson 5-11 7-9 18, Sellars 3-6 3-4 9, Gillum 0-4 0-0 0, Phillips 1-2 0-0 1, Adkins 0-1 0-0 0. FGs: 17-47. FT: 17-26. 3-point FGs: 7-23 (Porter 3-8, Gillum 0-3, Villers 3-6, Hudson 1-4, Sellars 0-2). Rebounds: 28 (Porter 1, Gillum 2, Villers 4, Hudson 7, Bradley 3, Sellars 6, Phillips 4, Adkins 1). Assists: 9 (Porter 5, Villers 1, Hudson 2, Phillips 1). PF: 14. Turnovers: 9.

1977 ASHLAND       17       8          18       12            –           55

2020 ASHLAND       11       9          23       15            –           58

1961 Tomcats shut down 3s, defeat 2020 Tomcats

(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 took a champion to take down a champion.

In a battle of two of the most beloved teams in Ashland basketball history, the 1961 state champion Tomcats outlasted the undefeated 2020 Tomcats, 77-74, Tuesday night.

The game is one in a series of matchups between great Tomcat teams of the past that will be played out in the coming days. It was the easy choice as the game most wanted to see, and it didn’t disappoint.

The 61-Tomcats used their length to keep the 20-Tomcats uncomfortable from behind the perimeter. The 20-Cats were only 6 of 25 on 3-pointers. Several rimmed out but 61-Ashland’s long-armed defenders played a role in disrupting the bombing 20- Tomcats, too.

Larry Conley collected 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Larry Conley collected 22 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while Harold Sergent added 13 points and eight assists in command performances for 61. Gene Smith, the 6-foot-6 center, was another tough matchup inside, muscling his way to 12 points and five rebounds. Bob Hilton had nine points and five rebounds.

Cole Villers had a near perfect shooting performance with 25 points. He was 10 of 12 from the field and made all five free throws. But the 3-point shooting that the 20 Tomcats dominated opponents with all season was off the mark.

“That’s a great defensive team,” said 20-Ashland coach Jason Mays. “They were long and they were physical, too. It’s a tough matchup for us, or anybody else for that matter. We had our chances at the end though, but couldn’t get the 3-ball to fall for us. Ethan (Sellars) had a great look from the corner with under five seconds to go. That shot was down, man, and then it spun out. I’ll take getting that shot every time.”

Back-to-back triples from Ethan Hudson and Sellars gave the 20- Tomcats their last lead at 68-67 with 4:34 remaining. Villers hit from outside with 2:01 to play to tie the game at 74 but 20 Ashland failed to score the rest of the way.

Steve Cram drove inside for the go-ahead basket and his only field goal, spinning his way between Villers and Nolan Phillips to make it 76-74. The 20-Tomcats misfired from 3-point range on its last three attempts of the game, with the last attempt – a corner three from Sellars – circling the rim three times before kicking out with Conley rebounding. He was immediately fouled and sank one of two free throws to set the final margin.

“Let me tell you, those 20-Tomcats simply won’t give up,” said 61- coach Bob Wright. “I love the spirit of that team. When we went up 11 on them early in the second quarter, I thought that was it. But give them credit for fighting back. We had the better athletes but, boy, they sure had heart.”

The 20-Tomcats trailed 24-13 after a putback from Conley two minutes into the second quarter. But the 20-Tomcats came roaring back and the teams were tied 37-37 at halftime.

“We couldn’t keep Conley off the boards,” Mays said. “It’s something we knew was going to be a problem but how do you contain a guy like that? He’s the best all-around player I’ve ever coached against. We tried everybody on him.”

Sergent was a magician with the basketball, zipping passes to teammates from a variety of angles. He made several dazzling passes at the end of fastbreaks after the 61-Tomcats back-tipped rebounds to him.

“Man, can he ever pass the ball,” said 20-Tomcat point guard Colin Porter of Sergent. “It was an honor to play against him. I can see how this team won 36 games. They were great … but I’d love to play them again.”

Porter held his own with nine points and three assists. Hudson scored 12 while Phillips and Justin Bradley had nine apiece.

“That Porter kid is only a freshman?” Sergent asked. “Holy geez, look out for him in the next few years.”

REAL LIFE

Ashland’s 1961 team finished 36-1 and is regarded as one of the greatest teams in Sweet 16 history. All five starters received Division I scholarships: Steve Cram (LSU), Gene Smith (Cincinnati), Harold Sergent (Morehead), Bob Hilton (West Point) and Larry Conley (Kentucky). Coach: Bob Wright. Finish: State champions.

Ashland’s 2020 team went 33-0 and didn’t get to play in the Sweet 16 because of the coronavirus. The five starters were tremendous passers and deadly 3-point shooters who refused to lose. They were embraced by the community while journeying through the first unbeaten season since 1928. They had only three seniors on the roster. Coach: Jason Mays. Finish: Sweet 16 cancelled.

1961 ASHLAND (77) – Cram 1-3 4-4 6, Hilton 4-6 0-0 9, Sergent 5-11 3-4 13, Conley 8-18 6-12 22, Smith 4-7 4-5 12, Sexton 1-3 2-3 4, Daniels 3-4 1-1 7, Fairchild 0-2 0-0 0, Gray 1-2 0-0 2, Johnson 1-2 0-0 2. FG: 28-58. FT: 20-29. 3-point FG: 1-3 (Hilton 1-2, Sexton 0-1). Rebounds: 37 (Cram 3, Hilton 5, Conley 11, Smith 5, Sexton 6, Daniel 3, Sergent 2, Fairchild 1).  Assists: 16 (Cram 1, Hilton 1, Sergent 8, Conley 4, Smith 1, Gray 1, Johnson 1). PF: 19. Turnovers: 11.

2020 ASHLAND (74) – Porter 3-4 2-4 9, Hudson 2-11 4-4 10, Villers 10-12 5-5 25, Bradley 3-6 3-4 9, Sellars 2-10 0-0 6, Atkins 1-3 0-0 2, Gillum 1-5 0-1 2, Adkins 1-4 0-0 2, Phillips 3-5 2-3 9, Conway 0-3 0-0 0, Davis 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 26-63. FT: 16-21. 3-point FG: 6-25 (Porter 1-1, Hudson 2-8, Gillum 0-2, Sellars 2-10, Phillips 1-1, Conway 0-2). Rebounds: 30 (Porter 2, Hudson 5, Villers 6, Adkins 1, Gillum 1, Sellars 2, Phillips 8, Bradley 4, Conway 1). Assists: 16 (Porter 3, Hudson 3, Villers 2, Adkins 2, Gillum 2, Sellers 1, Phillips 1, Bradley 1, Davis 1). PF: 25. Turnovers: 9.

1961 ASHLAND   24         13         17         23             –            77

2020 ASHLAND   15         22         21         16             –            74

Perfect finish: Tomcats defeat Cov. Catholic to make it 37-0

(This is a computer simulation of the 2020 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Boys Sweet Sixteen that is not officially cancelled but not likely to happen. All game results are from the computer but the quotes are on me.)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Move over 1928 Ashland Tomcats, you’ve got some company.

Ashland completed an improbable perfect season by defeating Covington Catholic 78-70 Tuesday in Rupp Area for the Sweet Sixteen championship in front of 17,644 fans.

The Tomcats became the first team in 72 years to finish as undefeated state champion. Brewers last accomplished the feat in 1948.

Coach Jason Mays cuts down the net.

Not only that but Ashland matched its own school record of 37-0 from 92 years ago when Ellis Johnson led the Tomcats not only to the state championship but the national high school championship in 1928.

This one is the end of the road for these history-making Tomcats, but what a journey it has been for them and their fans who rushed the Rupp Arena floor after the victory.

Freshman point guard Colin Porter scored 27, including the last eight points of the game, and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. This was Porter’s first year in the Ashland system after playing at Elliott County.

“I’m so proud to be a Tomcat, proud of my brothers and our coaches,” Porter said. “I’ll never forget these last four days as long as I live.”

His playmaking skills helped bring together one of the best passing teams in Ashland history. The Tomcats also had shooters from all five positions, using the 3-point shot to great advantage throughout the perfect season.

Ashland’s starting five: Ethan Sellars, Ethan Hudson, Justin Bradley, Colin Porter, Cole Villers.

“This is a storybook team, a real storybook team,” said Tomcats coach Jason Mays. “Nobody could have written this script, but they did. I’m so proud of them. Proud of the players they made themselves into and the people they’ve become. They have great parents and that made a difference, a big difference, in everything we did. I’ll never forget them and Ashland will never forget them either.”

Neither will the rest of the state.

The Tomcats came into the Sweet Sixteen undefeated but not many were giving them a realistic chance of running the table.

Well, not everybody thought that way.

“I’ll be honest with you, I’m not that surprised,” Mays said. “The way these guys played in the last three weeks was remarkable. What a joy to coach too. I wasn’t going to tell you guys this before the tournament, but I’d have been a little surprised if we hadn’t won it.”

Covington Catholic and Ashland waged a terrific battle in the championship game.

The Tomcats led for much of the game and built a lead of as much as nine points. But the Colonels rallied and tied the game at 62 and again at 64 with 4:05 remaining. Porter and Ethan Sellars drilled consecutive 3-pointers for a 70-64 lead and the Tomcats kept them at arm’s length.

Porter scored on a pair of drives and drilled four free throws in the last 90 seconds to clinch the victory.

Senior Ethan Hudson closed his career with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists and Cole Villers finished with 12 points. Justin Bradley added eight points and Sellars, who was limited by foul trouble, may have hit the biggest 3 of the season late in the fourth quarter. Senior Nolan Phillips contributed five points and two rebounds.

“It’s so fitting that every one of those guys contributed to this victory,” Mays said. “That’s the way it has been all year, so why not tonight?”

Dicky Martin, the longtime Voice of the Tomcats, said he could now die happy. “I told you we were going to do it! I told you! I love this team. They have so much heart. Nobody will ever match this dream season. No way, no how.”

State champions

Villers and Hudson joined Porter on the All-State Tournament team and Ashland’s cheerleaders won the award for best sideline cheer to complete the sweep.

“Undefeated!” yelled Hudson between hugs of teammates, family members and friends on the Rupp Arena floor’s sea of maroon. “The work that went into 37-0 cannot be described but it was worth it.”

Justin Bradley, a senior sharpshooter and top defender, was often called the “glue” of the Tomcats.

“You know, everybody did their part,” he said. “We all had roles, but our No. 1 objective was always to win. Somehow, we were going to figure out how to win. I don’t think there was a single game where we went into it hoping we could win. It was always knowing we would win. Even this week, when we played some great teams every night, there was never a doubt. In started in the summer camps. It was the same attitude. Losing never entered our thought process.”

Party time

Donna Suttle promised the celebration of all celebrations for the state champions once they get back to Ashland.

“We’re going to put on the shindig of all shindigs,” she said. “Nothing can top this team and nothing will top this party. They are heroes in Ashland.”

Another streak?

Ashland has a chance to break its own record for consecutive wins. The 1927-28 Tomcats went 37-0 and the 1928-29 Tomcats won its first seven games to make it 44 in a row before losing.

So the Tomcats already have something to achieve next season.

“Oh come on guys,” Mays said to reporters. “Let me enjoy this one.”

 

ASHLAND (78) – Porter 7-15 10-10 27, Hudson 5-8 0-0 13, Sellars 1-5 0-0 3, Villers 4-7 1-1 12, Bradley 4-5 0-0 8, Gillum 2-3 0-0 4, Phillips 1-3 3-3 5, Atkins 0-0 0-0 0, Adkins 0-0 2-2 2, Conway 1-2 0-1 3, Davis 0-1 1-2 1, Ashby 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 25-49. FT: 17-19. 3-pointers: 11-25 (Porter 3-8, Hudson 3-6, Sellars 1-5, Villers 3-5, Conway 1-1). Assists: 13 (Porter 4, Hudson 3, Villers 2, Bradley 1, Adkins 2, Conway 1). PF: 20. Turnovers: 17.

COVINGTON CATHOLIC (70) – Disken 4-17 5-6 15, Green 5-10 2-2 13, Stocks 4-12 5-6 15, Starks 5-8 0-0 11, Hupmann 1-1 0-0 2, Moser 2-4 0-0 4, McHale 3-3 0-0 6, Sommerkamp 0-2 0-0 0, Jackson 1-3 1-2 4, Horn 0-1 0-0 0, Hrycak 0-0 0-0 0, Skinner 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 25-61. FT: 13-16. 3-pointers: 7-24 (Disken 2-8, Green 1-4, Stocks 2-7, Starks 1-2, Sommerkamp 0-2, Jackson 1-1). Assists: 16 (Disken 7, Green 3, Starks 4, Skinner 2). PF: 16. Turnovers: 17.

ASHLAND                  22       18       16       22            –           78

COV. CATHOLIC      17       17       19       17            –           70

Tomcats bury Cardinals, one game from perfection

(This is a computer simulation of the 2020 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Boys Sweet Sixteen that is not officially cancelled but not likely to happen. All game results are from the computer but the quotes are on me.)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ashland moved one step closer to finishing the perfect script.

The undefeated Tomcats mowed down Scott County, 78-52, in the Sweet Sixteen semifinals on Monday for their 36th consecutive victory.

Ashland plays Covington Catholic on Tuesday and will try to win its fifth state championship and first since 1961.

Covington Catholic defeated Owensboro Catholic 75-70 in the other semifinal.

“This is where we wanted to be,” said Ashland coach Jason Mays. “One more game, one more win. These guys have taken it one day and one game at a time since we played here last year. Now there’s only one more to get.”

The Tomcats had a little two-man game going against Scott County as freshman Colin Porter and sophomore Cole Villers combined for 53 points. Porter was turned loose on the Cardinals, driving for baskets, pulling up for short jumpers and drilling 3-pointers on the way to a season-high 31 points.

Villers added to his outstanding tournament with 22 points, 14 in the second half, on 6-for-10 shooting.

Those two combined to make 7 of 14 from behind the arc while the rest of the Tomcats were a collective 1-for-8.

Colin Porter carried the Tomcats in the Sweet 16 semifinals.

“It was one of those nights, I can’t explain it,” said Porter, who took a season-high 19 shots. “They were overplaying me and it gave me some lanes to drive. When they started picking me up, I was able to kick some out to Cole. He was money tonight.”

“Not without your dimes, I wasn’t,” Villers said, referring to Porter’s five assists, all that went to him.

Most of the difference came in the second half when Ashland outscored Scott County, 41-19. The Tomcats went ahead for good at 23-20 on Justin Bradley’s corner three, but the Cardinals trailed only 37-33 at halftime.

Porter and Viller’s combined scoring total was more than Scott County had as a team.

“We knew Porter was capable of these kind of (scoring) games,” Mays said. “He does what the team needs to win and tonight that was scoring the ball.”

Ashland led 54-44 going into the fourth quarter but Scott County was out of gas. The Tomcats poured it on, outscoring the Cardinals 24-8 in the last eight minutes to win by a lopsided margin.

“It was a much closer game than the final score showed,” Mays said. “With have so much respect for Scott County’s program and what they’ve accomplished year after year.”

Covington Catholic, the Ninth Region champion, pulled away in the fourth quarter from Owensboro Catholic in the other semifinal.

Ticket information

It could be a record-setting night in Rupp Arena if Monday’s semifinals were any indication.

Ashland fans were lined up outside the arena three hours before the opening tip and were about 8,000 strong inside Rupp. The Tomcats are in the championship game for the first time since 1996 when Paintsville beat Ashland for the title.

Covington Catholic’s student section was in full throat and the fans easily filled their end zone. The Colonels won state titles in 2014 and 2018.

Announced attendance was 19,561.

Can Tomcats match 1928 record?

Ashland will be in the championship game for the ninth time and will be trying to match the Tomcats’ 37-0 record of 1928.

The state’s last undefeated state champion was Brewers in 1948.

That voice sounds familiar

Tomcat public address specialist Chuck Rist came to the game with wife Lynn as fans but when the regular Rupp Arena PA man Patrick Whitmer had to leave for an emergency 10 minutes before tipoff of the Ashland-Scott County game, he became a wanted man.

Rist was able to admirably fill in for both semifinal games.

The Tomcats felt right at home with Rist’s voicing booming through Rupp Arena.

Picture perfect

Kimberly Phillips, who has followed the Tomcats’ season with her trusty camera, has made a big impression.

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio likes her work and has offered her a job as a photographer for KSR. Phillips said she was flattered but turned him down on the offer.

“The Tomcats are the only team for me,” she said.

‘You’re both outta here!’

Two loyal Tomcat fans, Dave Kouns and Scott Walter, were ejected even before the Tomcats took the floor in Rupp Arena for the semifinal game.

They were at the concession stand when Kouns got into an argument with the concession’s counter worker about a lack of butter on his popcorn. When the altercation began to escalate, Walter stepped in and dropped the delicious Rupp Arena ice cream he’d waited 25 minutes in line to purchase. That sent him into a rage.

Security was called and both the Ashland fans were shown the door. They were told it would be OK to come back the next day if the Tomcats advanced. However, they were both banned from any more trips to the concession stand, which will obviously hurt sales drastically.

Kouns hadn’t missed a game all season.

SEMIFNALS

Ashland 78, Scott County 52

Covington Catholic 75, Owensboro Catholic 70

 

ASHLAND (78) – Porter 12-19 3-3 31, Bradley 2-7 0-0 5, Hudson 1-6 2-2 4, Villers 6-10 7-8 22, Sellars 3-4 0-0 6, Adkins 1-2 0-0 2, Conway 0-3 0-0 0, Gillum 3-5 0-0 6, Phillips 1-1 0-0 2, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, Atkins 0-2 0-0 0. Ashby 0-0 0-0 0, Freize 0-0 0-0 0, Ingram 0-0 0-0 0. Zach 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 29-59. FT: 12-13. 3-pointers: 8-22 (Porter 4-7, Bradley 1-3, Hudson 0-2, Villers 3-7, Conway 0-3). Rebounds: 27 (Porter 3 Bradley 4, Hudson 2, Phillips 2, Adkins 1, Villers 9, Sellars 9, Conway 2, Gillum 1, Atkins 1). Assists: 16 (Porter 5, Bradley 1, Hudson 1, Phillips 3, Adkins 1, Sellars 2, Davis 3). PF: 14. Turnovers: 7.

SCOTT COUNTY (52) – Grigsby 0-3 0-0 0, Coffey 1-4 0-0 3, Hamilton 3-10 4-4 12, Leake 4-15 3-4 11, Richardson 5-7 0-0 12, Bredwood 3-5 2-4 8, J.Hamilton 1-2 0-0 2, Glenn 0-1 2-2 2, Haynes 0-0 0-0 0, Emongo 0-2 0-0 0, Middleton 0-1 1-2 1, Mosby 0-1 1-2 1, Mudekereza 0-1 0-0 0. FG: 17-52. FT: 13-18. 3-pointers: 5-20 (). Assists: 10 (). PF: 14. Turnovers: 18.

ASHLAND                  16       21       17       24            –           78

SCOTT COUNTY      18       15       11       8            –           52