[J. R. VanHoose]

Do you think that that pride runs any deeper than that of say, Virgie/Shelby Valley or perhaps Allen Central/Maytown/Wayland/Garrett/ Martin or Meade Memorial/Oil Springs/Flat Gap/Johnson Central or Inez/Sheldon Clark. I would say definately not. This group has nowhere near the talent of the former Paintsville teams and for the life of me I cant figure out why everybody wants to keep comparing them to the former teams. Shelby Valley and Virgie may have the most reveared tradition in the mountains, not Paintsville. Pike ville won 7 regional championships themselves under Trivette, and one under Thomas, so they perhaps have a richer tradtion themselves. Virgie and Johnson Central pretty well ruled the 70's. Paintsville had about a 15 year run with some staggering talent. That particular amount of talent is what made them successful. Paintsville was a nothing in basketball before the mid to late 80's and since 1998 they have just been very mortal, with a couple of losing seasons in that time span. Folks that has been 10 years ago. Keep in mind that this current group of players only got the chance to play at an early age because there was simply no one else to put on the floor. Paintsville was dry of talent. There were simply no upperclassmen on the roster, period. Paintsville certainly does not own a patent on what pride means or stands for.

I think it goes deeper than just 15th Region titles. I think it is what teams do after getting out of the mountains and to the state tournament that gives them a tradition to build on. Also, having one coach (Coach Runyon) that is there during those runs into the KHSAA Final Four and State Championship games helps to maintain that tradition. Is it great to win a 15th Region titles, you bet, and it is a great acomplishment, but getting to the Final Four, or playing in a State Championship game, helps build tradition and maintain it for years. I would think that basketball tradition also includes what accomplishments your players get in high school and after. Paintsville, I believe has had 13 players sign D1 scholarships (probably another one with Landon) and numerous others have gone on to play at the D2, D3, and NAIA level. Paintsville has also had well over 30 players named to an All-State team since 1944. Not to mention that Paintsville is one of only a few schools in state history that can claim to have 2 Kentucky Mr. Basketball's. I am not trying to put down any other schools, but I just feel that based on everything involved with a "tradition," that Paintsville has the most in Eastern Kentucky.

Hopefully, those boys will be able to build on it this year and add to the legacy of Coach Runyons brilliant coaching career and that of Paintsville High School basketball!!!