[J. R. VanHoose]

Just a quick update. We will be interviewing former Paintsville player, coach, principal, and superintendent Paul Williams this week for the book!

[Panther Thunder]

Just a quick update. We will be interviewing former Paintsville player, coach, principal, and superintendent Paul Williams this week for the book!

One of the nicest men I have ever met! I truly enjoy every opportunity I have to speak with him. Great man with which to have a discussion about basketball.

[honestjchsfan]

I think a turning point in PHS basketball Histroy was the win in the Regional final vs JCHS in 1985. JC was the defending Regional Champion and the much stronger basketball program at that point in time. The 1984 JCHS team was led by ALL-Stater Harry Meek. The 85' JCHS team was led by the Hall twins who were both D1 athletes playing baseball at UL. If I remember right JC had beat PHS in the District finals the week before. I think you could write atleast one Chapter in the book about the rivalry with JC.

[OffTheHook]

^I would say that there will be plenty of stories of the rivalry. Actually the 57th as a whole is a rivalry.

[J. R. VanHoose]

I think a turning point in PHS basketball Histroy was the win in the Regional final vs JCHS in 1985. JC was the defending Regional Champion and the much stronger basketball program at that point in time. The 1984 JCHS team was led by ALL-Stater Harry Meek. The 85' JCHS team was led by the Hall twins who were both D1 athletes playing baseball at UL. If I remember right JC had beat PHS in the District finals the week before. I think you could write atleast one Chapter in the book about the rivalry with JC.

We have discussed that and are looking at writing a chapter on the Paintsville/Central rivalry. To answer your other question, Paintsville beat Central in the 1985 District and Region finals. Those were Coach Runyon's first wins over the Eagles!

[J. R. VanHoose]

Great interview today with Paul Williams. Talked about "King" Kelly Coleman, Charlie Osborne, Oil Springs, Johnson Central, and of course his time at Paintsville. Great 2 hour interview today!!

[honestjchsfan]

After UK won the National title this past Spring, I have read a few Articles debating who would win a Match up between the 2012 UK team and the 1996UK team. I think it would be interesting to debate who would win a match up between the 87 PHS team and the 96 PHS team. Two great teams with a whole lot of talent. IMO the 87 team shot the ball from outside better but the 96 team had great SIZE. Keith Adkins is still this best shooter I have ever saw. When he came across half court you had better have somebody on him. If I remember right Keith's SR year was the first year of the 3-point line. I think 1987-88. I am not 100% sure. I think the PHS team that year under- achieved they lost in the district to JC, ever though they had 2 players that would play D1 basketball, those being Jerry Pelphery and Adkins. sometimes teams just don't jell for different reasons. I remember the 1989-90 PHS team that had lost 2 times forsure maybe 3 too JC in the regular season, that JC team featured Rick Conely and Averly Fairchild, PHS that year would knock JC out in the first Round of the district and beat a very good Magoffin CO team to steal the 57th district title. IMO that year was one of Bill Mike's best coaching jobs. That was the year when many JC fans came to relize how great of a Coach Bill Mike's really was. Keep in mind the JC went 6'9", 6' 6" and 6'5 across the front line that year.

[J. R. VanHoose]

I think Coach Runyon proved over his career that he was a very good coach! It's nice to hear that compliment for him as well. As for the 87 vs. 96 team, it's so hard to compare players from different eras, even 10 years apart. So much would go into a comparison like that besides just stats! That's why I hate to even see people compare individual players from different eras with each other. So difficult to do that!!

[honestjchsfan]

It was always odd to me how Bill Mike always got snubbed when it came to winning Coach of the year in the 15th region. I am not sure if he ever did win that award. Probably took a State title for him to win it. I am not sure who voted on such things but it was really a joke.

[J. R. VanHoose]

Just to give everyone interested in an update, we are making great progress on the book at this time. Close to having the first two chapters complete, but still have a lot more to get too!! Great find this past weekend with newspaper quotes from Dr. John Turner and Walter "Cobb" Clay, both members of the 1933 Paintsville state tournament team. In the paper they talk about basketball in the early 30s and Louisville Male in the state tournament! Some great stuff!

[OhHereWeGo]

You could probably write a decent sized book on the Paintsville/Central rivalry in addition to the book you are writing!

[J. R. VanHoose]

You could probably write a decent sized book on the Paintsville/Central rivalry in addition to the book you are writing!

The rivalry will be discussed in the book. Not sure on the depth it will be discussed, but we feel like it has to be mentioned!

[J. R. VanHoose]

Just to update everyone: I had a great interview today with Jack VanHoose, Paintsville class of 1942. Great discussion of Paintsville basketball from the 1930s and 40s. Very interesting and very impressed with the players from that time!!

[J. R. VanHoose]

Another quick update for those interested. After much in-depth research this week I've found out about three former Paintsville players who played what we would consider today Division I basketball. These players played in the 1930s and 40s.

[#1 Blackcat Fan]

Thanks for the info. Keep it coming J.R.

[PineapplePete]

Anxious for the book!!!! Gonna be good!

[J. R. VanHoose]

Another update:

As the book will not cover certain things in depth I have decided to write a series of guest articles for the Ashland Daily that will cover some of these things in more detail.

The first one was published today and can be found in the online section of the Ashland Daily at:

http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/x688414953/How-Paintsville-was-awarded-1926-15tth-District-Tournament

[crazytaxidriver]

I would like to know when the book is completed, I believe my mom would love to have a copy..

[OffTheHook]

Great article! Thanks J!

[J. R. VanHoose]

Just wanted to update everyone that another guest article has been published in the Ashland Daily online edition. This article discusses former Paintsville two-sport star Gordon Stewart "Corky" Kirtley who later played two sports at Morehead State. Hope everyone enjoys this article!!

[J. R. VanHoose]

I apologize for not adding the link yesterday. Here it is:

http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...ky-Kirtley

[J. R. VanHoose]

Just got another article published in the Ashland Daily. This one is about professional basketball in Eastern Kentucky in the 1930s - with a Paintsville connection!! Check out the link:

http://m.dailyindependent.com/Independen...d=SMZRDR6T

[J. R. VanHoose]

Let me know what you think!!

[FIRST]

Great Story

[J. R. VanHoose]

Great Story

Thanks, I appreciate that. I'm working on a few more stories right now. One discusses how "Bevo" Francis is connected to the Paintsville High School gym!

[OffTheHook]

Keepem coming J!

[doubledown]

Very interesting article with alot of history. Enjoyed the reading & looking forward to the next one

[J. R. VanHoose]

Check out the Ashland Daily today for the new article that I have written. The article discusses who has scored the most points in a game at Paintsville's Memorial Gym. Surprisingly, it is not a high school player. I think you'll be interested to find out who it is!

http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...morial-Gym

[#1 Blackcat Fan]

Thanks for the stories JR.

[doubledown]

Remember watching Mayo play in the late 60's early 70's at Memorial and they had some good ball clubs. Can't recall the exact year but one team thay had was very good, most of the starters were from Maytown and they could "lite it up".