[pirate4287]

If I am not mistaken, our path that year was Elkhorn City, Mullins, and SW. SW had owned us that year as you said, but we beat them, I believe, 32-26, over at Phelps. SW could not buy a bucket in the second half. They had a dandy team with Bruce Johnson, Mern Gilliam and Marty Williams. Did Todd "Tick" Cline play for them also?

Yes the TIC was the center

[pirate4287]

Yes the TIC was the center

Varney wasnt supposed to beat Elkhorn they were loaded, Mitch Isenhoff was a great player and Darren Stapleton was 6"7

[pirate4287]

Let's all find the retired coaches in our areas and ask them who won and who were some of the top players and take this back as far as we can.
I also think it would be a good idea to compile the facts and get pictures and print a small program with this information for the 2011 tournament. I am sure that coaches as far back as the 60's.70's, and beyond may have their old scorebooks.

Great idea

[bucslover68]

I know that Virgie has dominated this county almost every decade, but Im going to say that the Varney Jets had to take the 80s. I know they won in 81 aganist Dorton at Belfry(undefeated), 82 aganist South Williamson at Phelps, lost in 83 to Virgie at Virgie in ot, 86 they beat Robinson Creek at Virgie (undefeated), 87 they beat Blackberry at Pikeville ( undefeated).The coaches were Howard Hatfield in 81 and 82, Coach Hatfield also won the county for Varney in 77 in a huge upset aganist South Willamson and the great Mark Cline. The 86 and 87 teams were coached by my dad and uncle, Johnny and Estil Hylton. Estil also won another county title for Varney in the mid 90s.

I will never forget walking into the Belfry gym one night and Varney and SW were playing for the title. I guess this was in about 77 or 78 and the PA man said that "dunking" would be allowed. Well the only player who could half-way dunk was Mark Cline from SW. I think SW won that night, but Varney did get them one year when he played. BTW, there were no dunks that nite.

[bucslover68]

Varney wasnt supposed to beat Elkhorn they were loaded, Mitch Isenhoff was a great player and Darren Stapleton was 6"7

That Varney run in '82 was pretty magical. We weren't favored at all to win it, but ole Coach Hatfield was one of the best grade school coaches ever in this county IMO. I was kind of glad that i wasn't very good and didn't have to worry about playing because I got to watch every minute from the bench.
Nothing quite like a big pizza party at the Varney cafeteria/gym after the win catered by Little Venice.

[pirate4287]

Year Champion Runner-up
88-89 Dorton 47 Varney 46
89-90 Pikeville 68 Dorton 31
90-91 Virgie Mullins
91-92 Turkey Creek Pikeville
92-93 Virgie(I think) ???
93-94 Virgie 57 Dorton 37

1989 Was Dorton's first ever County Championship. They never led in that game with time on the clock, Jeremy Johnson was fouled as time expired and hit the first free throw to win the game.
1991 Virgie team finished the season undefeated. This team was IMO the best ever team to play in Pike County.
1992 Turkey Creek team finished the season undefeated. Really knew how to run the floor and pressed for 24 minutes, they were really good also.

I have the scorebooks for Dorton from these seasons if anyone wants addittional stats.

I would put the 81, 86 and 87 Varney teams aganist any of them.

[bucslover68]

What year was it that Varney threw in a shot at the buzzer, I believe up at Dorton, to win the county title. All I really remember was D.R. Harmon playing for the JETS and I got to broadcast the game on the radio.

[pirate4287]

What year was it that Varney threw in a shot at the buzzer, I believe up at Dorton, to win the county title. All I really remember was D.R. Harmon playing for the JETS and I got to broadcast the game on the radio.

I think 94-95

[throw deep]

If I am not mistaken, our path that year was Elkhorn City, Mullins, and SW. SW had owned us that year as you said, but we beat them, I believe, 32-26, over at Phelps. SW could not buy a bucket in the second half. They had a dandy team with Bruce Johnson, Mern Gilliam and Marty Williams. Did Todd "Tick" Cline play for them also?

pirate4287/bucslover68 you boys are showing your age here, all those SWmson guys you named brought back some great memories from grade school battles(football & basketball), all of those guys went on to be some of our best friends during our high school days, college, and present, who would have thought that those Varney Jets in '82(who wasn't blessed with GREAT players, but some good hard-nosed players) would have beaten the 3 talented teams that they did to capture the county title that year, those '82 Jets later in life have went on to be bank managers, teachers/coaches, great fathers/family men, and one member is deceased from a vehicle accident.

[Viking_Mommy]

I might be forgetting or missing something here but. Feds Creek was a high school in 1974. At that time wasnt there 2 feeder school that had basketball teams?

You are correct, Jackson Rowe Elem and Grapevine Elem were feeder schools to FCHS, However Grapevine Elem had their own grade school team using FCHS gym as their home court, while Feds Creek Jr high team was called just that Feds Creek Jr High....After 6th grade the kids from Jackson Rowe moved to the high school to complete 7th and 8th grade...God that was a FUN time!!:biggrin:

[pirate4287]

pirate4287/bucslover68 you boys are showing your age here, all those SWmson guys you named brought back some great memories from grade school battles(football & basketball), all of those guys went on to be some of our best friends during our high school days, college, and present, who would have thought that those Varney Jets in '82(who wasn't blessed with GREAT players, but some good hard-nosed players) would have beaten the 3 talented teams that they did to capture the county title that year, those '82 Jets later in life have went on to be bank managers, teachers/coaches, great fathers/family men, and one member is deceased from a vehicle accident.

I guess I am showing my age but that 82 Varney Jets team was special,and it is my favorite team that I have ever played on. We had a bunch of role players and the best coach in Pike County in Howard Hatfield (RIP) Man those were the days.

[DortonWildcat5]

Updated with what we know -

88-89 Champion--Dorton 47 Varney 46
89-90 Champion--Pikeville 68 Dorton 31
90-91 Champion--Virgie Mullins
91-92 Champion--Turkey Creek Pikeville
92-93 Champion--Virgie(I think) ???
93-94 Champion--Virgie 57 Dorton 37
94-95 Champion--Varney.
95-96 Champion--Elkhorn City
96-97 Champion--Dorton. Ronnie Johnson (Davis asst coach)
97-98 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
99-00 Champion--Turkey Creek Runner Up--Johns Creek
00-01 Champion--Pikeville? Runner Up--Virgie?
01-02 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Turkey Creek?
02-03 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
03-04 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
04-05 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
05-06 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Pikeville
06-07 Champion--Pikeville Runner Up--Belfry
07-08 Champion--Pikeville Runner Up--Dorton
08-09 Champion--Belfry Runner Up--Virgie

This is a good idea, we should all ask around and get as much info on this as possible.

I thought with the county tournament coming up, I'd update this thread. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

09-10 Champion--Feds Creek Runner Up--Virgie
10-11 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Elkhorn City
11-12 Champion--Dorton Runner Up--Pikeville
12-13 Champion--Belfry Runner Up--Millard

[jmhsrv1970]

Pikeville 13-14

[DortonWildcat5]

88-89 Champion--Dorton 47 Varney 46
89-90 Champion--Pikeville 68 Dorton 31
90-91 Champion--Virgie Mullins
91-92 Champion--Turkey Creek Pikeville
92-93 Champion--Virgie(I think) ???
93-94 Champion--Virgie 57 Dorton 37
94-95 Champion--Varney.
95-96 Champion--Elkhorn City
96-97 Champion--Dorton. Ronnie Johnson (Davis asst coach)
97-98 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
98-99 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
99-00 Champion--Turkey Creek Runner Up--Johns Creek
00-01 Champion--Pikeville? Runner Up--Virgie?
01-02 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Turkey Creek?
02-03 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
03-04 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
04-05 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Dorton
05-06 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Pikeville
06-07 Champion--Pikeville Runner Up--Belfry
07-08 Champion--Pikeville Runner Up--Dorton
08-09 Champion--Belfry Runner Up--Virgie
09-10 Champion--Feds Creek Runner Up--Virgie
10-11 Champion--Virgie Runner Up--Elkhorn City
11-12 Champion--Dorton Runner Up--Pikeville
12-13 Champion--Belfry Runner Up--Millard
13-14 Champion--Pikeville Runner Up--Belfry
14-15 Champion--Dorton Runner Up--Belfry
15-16 Champion--Pikeville Runner Up--Elkhorn City

[DortonWildcat5]

Updated (If any information is incorrect, or if you can add any, let me know).

73-74 Champion--Johns Creek--Runner Up--Feds Creek
74-75?
75-76 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--South Williamson
76-77 Champion?--One person listed Pikeville, another listed Varney
77-78?
78-79?
79-80?
80-81 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Dorton
81-82 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--South Williamson
82-83 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Varney
83-84?
84-85?
85-86 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Robinson Creek
86-87 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Blackberry
87-88 Champion--Varney--Runner UP--?
88-89 Champion--Dorton 47--Runner Up-- Varney 46
89-90 Champion--Pikeville 68--Runner Up-- Dorton 31
90-91 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up-- Mullins
91-92 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up-- Pikeville
92-93 Champion--Virgie(I think) ???
93-94 Champion--Virgie 57--Runner Up-- Dorton 37
94-95 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--?
95-96 Champion--Elkhorn City--Runner Up--?
96-97 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Virgie
97-98 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
98-99 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
99-00 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up--Johns Creek
00-01 Champion--Pikeville?--Runner Up--Virgie?
01-02 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Turkey Creek?
02-03 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
03-04 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
04-05 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
05-06 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Pikeville
06-07 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
07-08 Champion--Pikeville 55--Runner Up--Dorton 25
08-09 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Virgie
09-10 Champion--Feds Creek--Runner Up--Virgie
10-11 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Elkhorn City
11-12 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Pikeville
12-13 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Millard
13-14 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
14-15 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Belfry
15-16 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Elkhorn City

Not counting 76-77 when 2 different teams were listed as champions, here are the total championships so far: (there is sometimes confusion because boys seasons cover parts of 2 years such as this season being referred to as 15-16).

Virgie--13
Varney, Pikeville--6
Dorton--4
Belfry, Turkey Creek--2
Johns Creek, Elkhorn City, Feds Creek--1

[#1 Blackcat Fan]

I really enjoyed reading this thread.

[NEXT]

South Williamson has 2 that I know of, I'll have to check years though.

[DortonWildcat5]

Updated after Phelps won last night's championship game (If any information is incorrect, or if you can add any, feel free to post it).

73-74 Champion--Johns Creek--Runner Up--Feds Creek
74-75?
75-76 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--South Williamson
76-77 Champion?--One person listed Pikeville, another listed Varney
77-78?
78-79?
79-80?
80-81 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Dorton
81-82 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--South Williamson
82-83 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Varney
83-84?
84-85?
85-86 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Robinson Creek
86-87 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Blackberry
87-88 Champion--Varney--Runner UP--?
88-89 Champion--Dorton 47--Runner Up-- Varney 46
89-90 Champion--Pikeville 68--Runner Up-- Dorton 31
90-91 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up-- Mullins
91-92 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up-- Pikeville
92-93 Champion--Virgie(I think) ???
93-94 Champion--Virgie 57--Runner Up-- Dorton 37
94-95 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--?
95-96 Champion--Elkhorn City--Runner Up--?
96-97 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Virgie
97-98 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
98-99 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
99-00 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up--Johns Creek
00-01 Champion--Pikeville?--Runner Up--Virgie?
01-02 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Turkey Creek?
02-03 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
03-04 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
04-05 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
05-06 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Pikeville
06-07 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
07-08 Champion--Pikeville 55--Runner Up--Dorton 25
08-09 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Virgie
09-10 Champion--Feds Creek--Runner Up--Virgie
10-11 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Elkhorn City
11-12 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Pikeville
12-13 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Millard
13-14 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
14-15 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Belfry
15-16 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Elkhorn City
16-17 Champion--Phelps--Runner Up--Mullins

Not counting 76-77 when 2 different teams were listed as champions, here are the total championships so far: (there is sometimes confusion because boys seasons cover parts of 2 years such as this season being referred to as 15-16).

Virgie--13
Varney, Pikeville--6
Dorton--4
Belfry, Turkey Creek--2
Johns Creek, Elkhorn City, Feds Creek, Phelps--1

[DortonWildcat5]

Updated after Millard won last night's championship game (If any information is incorrect, or if you can add any, feel free to post it).

73-74 Champion--Johns Creek--Runner Up--Feds Creek
74-75?
75-76 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--South Williamson
76-77 Champion?--One person listed Pikeville, another listed Varney
77-78?
78-79?
79-80?
80-81 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Dorton
81-82 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--South Williamson
82-83 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Varney
83-84?
84-85?
85-86 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Robinson Creek
86-87 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Blackberry
87-88 Champion--Varney--Runner UP--?
88-89 Champion--Dorton 47--Runner Up-- Varney 46
89-90 Champion--Pikeville 68--Runner Up-- Dorton 31
90-91 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up-- Mullins
91-92 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up-- Pikeville
92-93 Champion--Virgie(I think) ???
93-94 Champion--Virgie 57--Runner Up-- Dorton 37
94-95 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--?
95-96 Champion--Elkhorn City--Runner Up--?
96-97 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Virgie
97-98 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
98-99 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
99-00 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up--Johns Creek
00-01 Champion--Pikeville?--Runner Up--Virgie?
01-02 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Turkey Creek?
02-03 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
03-04 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
04-05 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
05-06 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Pikeville
06-07 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
07-08 Champion--Pikeville 55--Runner Up--Dorton 25
08-09 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Virgie
09-10 Champion--Feds Creek--Runner Up--Virgie
10-11 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Elkhorn City
11-12 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Pikeville
12-13 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Millard
13-14 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
14-15 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Belfry
15-16 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Elkhorn City
16-17 Champion--Phelps 63--Runner Up--Mullins 46
17-18 Champion—Millard 41–Runner-Up Pikeville 37

Not counting 76-77 when 2 different teams were listed as champions, here are the total championships so far: (there is sometimes confusion because boys seasons cover parts of 2 years such as this season being referred to as 15-16).

Virgie--13
Varney, Pikeville--6
Dorton--4
Belfry, Turkey Creek--2
Johns Creek, Elkhorn City, Feds Creek, Phelps, Millard--1

[DortonWildcat5]

Updated thanks to a public Facebook post by Bobby Varney. I'll add to this as more people post information.

73-74 Champion--Johns Creek--Runner Up--Feds Creek
74-75 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Virgie
75-76 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--South Williamson
76-77 Champion?--One person listed Pikeville, another listed Varney
77-78?
78-79 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Millard
79-80?
80-81 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Dorton
81-82 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--South Williamson
82-83 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Varney
83-84?
84-85?
85-86 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Robinson Creek
86-87 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--Blackberry
87-88 Champion--Varney--Runner UP--?
88-89 Champion--Dorton 47--Runner Up-- Varney 46
89-90 Champion--Pikeville 68--Runner Up-- Dorton 31
90-91 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up-- Mullins
91-92 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up-- Pikeville
92-93 Champion--Virgie 54?--Runner Up--Varney 40?
93-94 Champion--Virgie 57--Runner Up-- Dorton 37
94-95 Champion--Varney--Runner Up--?
95-96 Champion--Elkhorn City--Runner Up--?
96-97 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Virgie
97-98 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
98-99 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
99-00 Champion--Turkey Creek--Runner Up--Johns Creek
00-01 Champion--Pikeville?--Runner Up--Virgie?
01-02 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Turkey Creek
02-03 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
03-04 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
04-05 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Dorton
05-06 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Pikeville
06-07 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
07-08 Champion--Pikeville 55--Runner Up--Dorton 25
08-09 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Virgie
09-10 Champion--Feds Creek--Runner Up--Virgie
10-11 Champion--Virgie--Runner Up--Elkhorn City
11-12 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Pikeville
12-13 Champion--Belfry--Runner Up--Millard
13-14 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Belfry
14-15 Champion--Dorton--Runner Up--Belfry
15-16 Champion--Pikeville--Runner Up--Elkhorn City
16-17 Champion--Phelps 63--Runner Up--Mullins 46
17-18 Champion—Millard 41–Runner-Up Pikeville 37

Not counting 76-77 when 2 different teams were listed as champions, here are the total championships so far: (there is sometimes confusion because boys seasons cover parts of 2 years such as this season being referred to as 15-16).

Virgie--13
Pikeville--8
Varney--6
Dorton--4
Belfry, Turkey Creek--2
Johns Creek, Elkhorn City, Feds Creek, Phelps, Millard--1

[Real Badman]

I'm reading this old thread and I need someone to correct me.

Was Varney the school that South Williamson turned into? How did they play each other? I'm not familiar with that part of the county.