Jack Squat
Thirty years ago the Breathitt County LadyCats made history by getting back to the girls’ state tournament for the second time in as many years. 1977 and 1978 saw the LadyCats’ basketball program emerging as a state power. In the latter half of those back-to-back trips, Breathitt made it all the way to the finals only to be turned away by Laurel County. 
A few players lingered on the floor after the game. Pictures were being taken as proud parents posed with their victorious young men under barren rims. Still others tried to gather their senses, reliving the last few frantic minutes of the contest, trying to figure out what went wrong.
Breathitt County had hung on to win a heart-stopping district championship. They’d built a large lead midway through the third quarter, only to see the Jackson Tigers come roaring back. Nonetheless, Breathitt held on with the game on the line for its seventh district championship over the past eight years. Jackson had been denied by Breathitt once again, as it has sporadically over the years dating back to 1964.
By the time you read this column next week, if in fact you will, half the teams in the 55th District will have been eliminated, thus the reason for this perspective at this time.
With such a tumultuous regular season nearly in the books on the boys’ side, Coach Peggy Moore has her LadyCats looking pretty good and continues to be the region’s big story. In fact, the 2008 LadyCat team could be the first to repeat as regional champions at Breathitt since Coach Carolyn Mayes and KHSAA Hall-of-Famer Irene Moore led Breathitt to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 1977 and 1978.
Sometimes it takes a word from an old friend to remind you as to why you continue doing what you’re doing. There’s seldom a ‘thank you’ in this business; on the other hand, criticism seems to be readily available. In the wake of denigration, kind words go a long way.
I was standing near the baseline of Woods Coliseum prior to the start of the LadyCats’ game with Clay County when an old pal stopped by. A big-time match-up between two regional favorites, especially with one of the teams ranked in the top 10, will attract genuine fans of the game.
Hope gleamed brighter than the morning sun reflecting off the silvery domed roof of Woods Coliseum. SMS had just won the state’s middle school basketball championship; the year was 2004.
Falling by the wayside in the dust of Breathitt’s basketball future were the likes of some pretty awesome talent. Start with 14th Region reigning champion, June Buchanan, which boasted practically the same players in 2004 who comprise today’s regionally top-ranked team.
If you haven’t already noticed, the best sports’ story of the year can be found under the dome of Woods Coliseum with Coach Peggy Moore’s LadyCats. The defending 14th Regional Champions, with a 12-3 record, are solid favorites to repeat and make back-to-back trips to Bowling Green come March.
The only constant on which we can rely is change. Invariably, uncertainty is the one thing that is forever fixed. Just ask anyone close to the Bobcat basketball program.
This time last season, with a new coach and a fresh start, Coach Steve Banks’s team was the talk of the region, by heading the program in the right direction with high hopes for the future. Breathitt boasted arguably its best freshman class ever. For the first time in its long and storied history, the Bobcats’ backcourt consisted of two super freshmen, Channing Fugate and Nick Noble—two of the most promising guards that I can ever remember to play in this region. That’s a pretty big statement, but I’ve seen a lot of basketball, nearly 50 years of it, and I stand by it.
“Come watch the ballgame, if you can.” That was the invitation extended expectantly by Mom on the eve of UK’s match-up with Louisville. “I’ll be there,” I replied…knowing that’s a good thing.
If the Wildcats are playing at a reasonable hour, and if they’re televised, you can usually find me at Canoe watching the action with Mom and Dad. Cozily sitting by the warm wood-burning Buck Stove in front of the wide-screen high definition picture with my parents is such a treat…not to mention eating the apple or cherry pie which invariably comes out of the oven about halftime. The mouth-watering aroma of baked chicken, barbecue ribs or fresh baked cinnamon rolls can be detected as soon as I pull into the driveway. However, as of late, I’ve had to condition my visits by requesting that food be held to a minimum—for the sake of my waistline.
Mike Fields, Lexington Herald sports reporter, has an occasional blog in his daily paper regarding past sporting events. Recently, he spoke of Breathitt County, ranked No. 2 in the state, defeating Louisville Central by four points. The year was 1962; Earl Stevens led Coach Fairce Woods’s team with 27 points.
One year ends another begins. The same is true in the world of local sports, as one season ends, another begins. It’s a never ending cycle, only the faces and personalities change—that’s what keeps me excited about the prospects of each new year…each new season.
