[Cover3]

Add another dandy with a lot of W's in David Rowe (Pike Central) with 263 wins. Obviously this is a work in progress list.

558 - Bill Mike Runyon (Paintsville)
538 - Johnny Martin (Sheldon Clark, Allen Central, Pike Central)
528 - Denzil "Hoss" Halbert (Martin)
508 - Russ Williamson (Inez)
496 - Junior Newsome (Pikeville, Betsy Layne)
397 - John Bill Trivette (Pikeville)
382 - Howard Wallen Sr. (Meade Memorial, Johnson Central)
344 - Danny Adams (Pikeville, Magoffin County)
340 - Randy McCoy (Elkhorn City, UHA, East Ridge)
333 - Raymond Justice (Belfry, Letcher Central, East Ridge)
263- David Rowe (Johns' Creek, Pike Central)
260 - Bobby Osborne (Virgie)
248 - James H. Wheeler (Paintsville)
219 - Ralph Good (Feds Creek)
200 - Johnny Ray Turner (McDowell, Johnson Central)
183 - Paul Gambill (Blaine)
158- Bart Williams (Pikeville)
143- Randy Casey (Belfry)
139 - Tommy McKenzie (Johnson Central)
115 - Richard Maynard (Millard)

[jammin' jamey]

I know for a fact that Junior Newsome is over 500 wins. They did a ceremony for him either last year or the year before. I would say he has 520. Maybe Jammin Jamey could shed some light. I know Junior started coaching at Pikeville, but not sure how long he stayed.

We thought two years ago that Junior had eclipsed 500 wins. The number was based off of a plague that hangs inside BLHS on their Hall of Fame wall. That number from the plague, plus the years when he returned to the sidelines this last time, added up to well over 500 wins by the time last year came to a close.

Apparently the number on the plague was incorrect.

JR's updated wins total for Junior is correct…Junior finished with 496 wins officially. The new Kentucky High School Basketball Encyclopedia says Junior's official record (plus last year) is 496-296 .597% in 25 years. In 24 years at BLHS over 5 different stints between 1975-2014, Junior only had 1 losing season - (9-16) in 1996-97. His only season at Pikeville, his first as a head coach, Junior was (9-20) in 1974-75.

[jammin' jamey]

Add another dandy with a lot of W's in David Rowe (Pike Central) with 263 wins. Obviously this is a work in progress list.

558 - Bill Mike Runyon (Paintsville)
538 - Johnny Martin (Sheldon Clark, Allen Central, Pike Central)
528 - Denzil "Hoss" Halbert (Martin)
508 - Russ Williamson (Inez)
496 - Junior Newsome (Pikeville, Betsy Layne)
397 - John Bill Trivette (Pikeville)
382 - Howard Wallen Sr. (Meade Memorial, Johnson Central)
344 - Danny Adams (Pikeville, Magoffin County)
340 - Randy McCoy (Elkhorn City, UHA, East Ridge)
333 - Raymond Justice (Belfry, Letcher Central, East Ridge)
263- David Rowe (Johns' Creek, Pike Central)
260 - Bobby Osborne (Virgie)
248 - James H. Wheeler (Paintsville)
219 - Ralph Good (Feds Creek)
200 - Johnny Ray Turner (McDowell, Johnson Central)
183 - Paul Gambill (Blaine)
158- Bart Williams (Pikeville)
143- Randy Casey (Belfry)
139 - Tommy McKenzie (Johnson Central)
115 - Richard Maynard (Millard)

558 - Bill Mike Runyon (Paintsville)
538 - Johnny Martin (Sheldon Clark, Allen Central, Pike Central)
528 - Denzil "Hoss" Halbert (Martin)
508 - Russ Williamson (Inez)
496 - Junior Newsome (Pikeville, Betsy Layne)
397 - John Bill Trivette (Pikeville)
382 - Howard Wallen Sr. (Meade Memorial, Johnson Central)
368 - Pete Grigsby Jr. (M.C. Napier, McDowell)
344 - Danny Adams (Pikeville, Magoffin County)
340 - Randy McCoy (Elkhorn City, UHA, East Ridge)
327 - John E. Campbell Jr. (Garrett)
333 - Raymond Justice (Belfry, Letcher Central, East Ridge)
275 - Jason Booher (Belfry, Shelby Valley, Holmes) 171 with BHS/SVHS
263- David Rowe (Johns' Creek, Pike Central)
260 - Bobby Osborne (Virgie)
257 - Eugene Frasure (Maytown, Allen Central)
248 - James H. Wheeler (Paintsville)
221 - Johnny Ray Turner (Salyersville, McDowell, Johnson Central)
219 - Ralph Good (Feds Creek)
196 - James "Frankie" Francis (Wayland, Wheelwright)
192 - Howard Wallen (Allen Central, Pikeville)
183 - Paul Gambill (Blaine)
174 - Don Wallen (Wheelwright)
158- Bart Williams (Pikeville)
143- Randy Casey (Belfry)
139 - Tommy McKenzie (Johnson Central)
116 - Henry Webb (South Floyd)
115 - Richard Maynard (Millard)

Pete Grigsby Jr. coached 3 seasons at M.C. Napier after playing at UK and KY Wesleyan going 40-45. He would return to Floyd County and win 328 games at McDowell and 3 region titles.

If you've ever been inside Allen Central's gym, (J.E. Campbell Arena) it's named after the longtime coach from Garrett High School, John E. Campbell Jr., who guided the Black Devils from 1949 until the doors closed in 1972.

Eugene Frasure was the last coach of Maytown and first at Allen Central.

The new KYHS Basketball Encyclopedia says Johnny Ray Turner coached 2 seasons for Salyersville 1973-75, before he went to McDowell as girls coach. This added 21 wins to his previously posted total and placed his career coaching (boys) record at 221-220.

James "Frankie" Francis and his predecessor Don Wallen each won region titles at Wheelwright. Wallen was able to amass 174 wins in only 9 seasons at his alma mater, before leaving to coach basketball in Florida. He finished his coaching career with 760 wins total, 3 Florida state titles and was inducted into the FHSAA Hall of Fame in 1994.

Jason Booher at Shelby Valley and his lone season at Belfry totaled 171 victories…Still seems to not receive the credit he deserves for what he accomplished.

Henry Webb turned South Floyd into a region title contender and champion with 116 wins in just 6 seasons.


We've got loads of history and basketball heritage to be proud of in the 15th Region. Let's keep adding to this list…Anyone else remember a name, school? I'll look it up.

[BBN4LIFE]

Wonder how many Coach Thomas had at Pikeville before Williams?