The Commodore Classic

Tates Creek High School
Lexington, Kentucky
December 1-2, 2006

© 2006 Ron Harrison 


Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington has put together an excellent lineup for this year's Classic.  The schedule is as follows:

Schedule

Friday December 1, 2006

 7:00 PM

Lexington Christian Academy vs. Tates Creek

 8:30 PM

Bryan Station vs. Paintsville

Saturday December 2, 2006

 5:30 PM

Henry Clay vs. Paintsville

 7:00 PM

Franklin County vs. Holmes

 8:30 PM

Elizabethtown vs. Tates Creek

Friday, December 1, 2006

Lexington Christian Academy (0-1)  vs.  Tates Creek (1-0)

Lexington Christian Academy coach Tommy Huston started the following lineup: 6-3 Sr. A. J. Schmitke, 6-1 Sr. Jeremy Hobbs, 6-3 Jr. Patrick Nevitt, 5-10 Jr. Trace Helton, and 5-10 Jr. Cameron Marshall.  Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington countered with 6-2 Sr. John Watkins, 6-2 Sr. D. J. Dowlen, 6-5 Sr. James Johnson, 6-3 Jr. Michael Sparks, and 5-11 Jr. Michael Spalding.

Tates Creek utilized good shooting and defensive pressure to defeat LCA 78-55.  The Commodores led 34-24 at halftime and scored 25 points off turnovers in the second half to take control fo the game.   Michael Sparks led the victors with 17 points.  Chris Floyd came off the bench to add 12 points on four three-point baskets.   Michael Spalding also reached double digits with 11 points.  Jeremy Hobbs led LCA with 17 points including three three-point baskets.  Patrick Nevitt added 10 points.  Tates Creek’s Michael Sparks was named game MVP.

Lexington Christian Academy

11

13

15

16

-

55

Tates Creek

17

17

21

23

-

78


Lexington Christian Academy

(55)

 - 

Schmitke 4, Hobbs 17, Nevitt 10, Helton 5, Marshall 6, Rogers 6, Brenner 1, Townsend 6.

Tates Creek

(78)

 - 

Watkins 6, Dowlen 9, Johnson 3, Sparks 17, Spalding 11, Floyd 12, Parris 6, Gills 8, Stone 4, McCann 2.  


Bryan Station (0-0) vs.  Paintsville (0-0)

Bryan Station coach Champ Ligon started the following lineup: 6-5 Sr. Jaron Jones, 6-3 Sr. Stefan Lewis, 6-1 Sr. Courtney Embry, 5-7 Sr. Dorian Cloyd, and 6-2 Jr. Shelvin Mack.  Paintsville coach Bill Mike Runyon countered with 6-3 Jr. Landon Slone, 6-3 Sr. Van Ferguson, 6-2 Jr. Shane Grimm, 6-2 Jr. J. D. VanHoose, and 6-0 Jr. Blake Bundy.

Paintsville led 60-59 after three quarters but Bryan Station rallied in the final quarter to earn a 92-85 victory.  Bryan Station shot 53% from the field, connected on 17 of 30 free throws, and pulled down 38 rebounds. Bryan Station scored 31 points off 21 Paintsville turnovers.  Paintsville shot 50% from the field, connected on 17 of 23 free throws, and pulled down 36 rebounds. 

Jaron Jones was named game MVP and led Bryan Station with 21 points, seven rebounds, and four blocked shots.  Shelvin Mack also scored 21 points and recorded five steals.  Stefan Lewis, Courtney Embry, and 6-3 Jr. Terrell Combs also reached double figures with 18, 16, and 13 points respectively. 

Shane Grimm led Paintsville with 25 points.  Grimm was 10 of 13 from the field including three of four from beyond the arc and two of three from the free throw line.  Landon Slone added 20 points and seven rebounds. J. D. VanHoose and Blake Bundy also reached double digits with 18 and 11 points respectively.

Bryan Station

23

18

18

33

-

92

Paintsville

18

20

22

25

-

85


Bryan Station

(92)

 - 

Jones 21, Lewis 18, Embry 16, Cloyd 0, Mack 21, Johnson 3, Combs 13.  

Paintsville

(85)

 - 

Slone 20, Ferguson 9, Grimm 25, VanHoose 18, Bundy 11, Pack 2.  

 

Saturday, December 2, 2006

Paintsville (0-1)   vs.  Henry Clay (0-0)

Paintsville coach Bill Mike Runyon started the following lineup: 6-3 Jr. Landon Slone, 6-3 Sr. Van Ferguson, 6-2 Jr. Shane Grimm, 6-2 Jr. J. D. VanHoose, and 6-0 Jr. Blake Bundy.   Henry Clay coach Daniel Brown countered with 6-0 Sr. Travis Bowman, 6-5 Jr. Aaron Boyd, 6-6 Jr. Victor Moses, 5-8 Jr. Brian Nichols, and 5-11 Fr. Ge-Lawn Guyn.

Henry Clay outscored Paintsville 27-19 in the third quarter to gain the advantage in an 88-78 victory over the Tigers.  Henry Clay enjoyed a size advantage up front and they took advantage in the decisive third quarter as Aaron Boyd (10 points) and Victor Moses (8 points) combined for 18 points.  Moses followed up with 12 points in the final period.  Landon Slone kept Paintsville in the game with a 34 point performance.

Henry Clay shot 57.4% from the field including eight of 18 from beyond the arc. The Blue Devils connected on 18 of 28 free throws, pulled down 33 rebounds, and scored 29 points off 25 Paintsville turnovers.  Paintsville shot 49% from the field including seven of 18 from the three point line. The Tigers connected on 23 of 26 free throws, pulled down 22 rebounds, and scored 19 points off 26 Henry Clay turnovers. 

Victor Moses led the victors with 26 points and nine rebounds.  Travis Bowman added 18 points, five assists, and three steals.  Aaron Boyd recorded 12 points and six rebounds.  Victor Moses was named game MVP. 

Landon Slone led Paintsville with 34 points and five rebounds.  Slone was 11 of 19 from the field including three of five from beyond the arc and nine of nine from the free throw line.  Van Ferguson added 12 points.

Paintsville

13

21

19

25

-

78

Henry Clay

20

17

27

24

-

88


Paintsville

(78)

 - 

Slone 34, Ferguson 12, Grimm 2, VanHoose 9, Bundy 6, Meade 9, Keaton 6.  

Henry Clay

(88)

 - 

Bowman 18, Boyd 12, Moses 26, Nichols 8, Guyn 8, Oakley 2, Cooper 6, Stewart 6, Gardner 2.

Holmes (1-0)   vs.  Franklin County (0-1)

Holmes coach David Henley started the following lineup: 6-4 Sr. Greg Rice, 6-2 Sr. Austin Hill, 6-4 Jr. Josh Nelson, 5-9 Jr. Braeon Avery, and 5-11 Jr. Arrez Henderson.   Franklin County coach Scott Chalk countered with 6-2 Sr. Demetrius Hicks, 6-2 Sr. Andrew Fields, 6-5 Sr. Cy Hines, 5-11 Sr. Kaelin Ammons, and 6-2 Sr. Michael Scott.

Franklin County held a 39-37 advantage at halftime but Holmes roared back to earn a 79-56 victory.  The third quarter was decisive as Holmes outscored Franklin County 21-4.

Austin Hill was named game MVP and scored 20 points for the game.  Greg Rice added 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and six steals.  Arrez Henderson added 16 points. 

Demetrius Hicks led Franklin County with 15 points.  Michael Scott and Andrew Fields added seven and six points respectively.  5-8 Sr. Ryan Todd and 6-0 Sr. Eric May recorded five points each.

Holmes

16

21

21

21

-

79

Franklin County

16

23

4

13

-

56


Holmes

(79)

 - 

Rice 20, Hill 20, Nelson 10, Avery 4, Henderson 16, Arnold 1, Johnson 2, Hall 2, T. Humphrey 2.  

Franklin County

(56)

 - 

Hicks 15, Fields 6, Hines 9, Ammons 5, Scott 7, May 5, Meyer 2, Todd 5, Hogan 2.

Elizabethtown (2-0)   vs.  Tates Creek (2-0)

Elizabethtown coach James Haire started the following lineup: 6-1 Sr. Keaton Martin, 6-0 Sr. Sean Bouthilette, 6-5 Sr. Steffphon Pettigrew, 6-0 Jr. Aaron Pedigo, and 6-1 Jr. Reid Walters.  Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington countered with 6-2 Sr. John Watkins, 6-2 Sr. D. J. Dowlen, 6-5 Sr. James Johnson, 6-3 Jr. Michael Sparks, and 5-11 Jr. Michael Spalding.

Tates Creek scored 23 points off 20 Elizabethtown turnovers in a 72-51 victory.  Tates Creek shot 45.9% from the field, connected on 11 of 18 free throws, and pulled down 39 rebounds. Tates Creek held a 26-7 advantage in bench scoring.  Elizabethtown shot 45.5% from the field, connected on eight of 18 free throws, and grabbed 29 rebounds.

James Johnson led Tates Creek with 16 points.  John Watkins added 13 points and seven rebounds.   Michael Sparks recorded 10 points and nine rebounds.  Steffphon Pettigrew was named game MVP and led Elizabethtown with 37 points and 14 rebounds.  Reid Walters and 6-1 So. Chris Gohman added five points each. 

Elizabethtown

8

13

15

15

-

51

Tates Creek

22

22

13

15

-

72


Elizabethtown

(51)

 - 

Martin 0, Bouthilette 2, Pettigrew 37, Pedigo 0, Walters 5, Gohman 5, French 2.

Tates Creek

(72)

 - 

Watkins 13, Dowlen 5, Johnson 16, Sparks 10, Spalding 2, Parris 6, Gills 9, Floyd 6, Wehrle 5.


 

Conclusion

Congratulations to Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington and Tates Creek High School for hosting this quality event.  Although it is early in the year, several of the teams appeared to be clicking on all cylinders.  Tates Creek had two impressive outings and Holmes, Bryan Station, and Henry Clay played well.  Don’t underestimate Paintsville—they were 0-2 this weekend against Bryan Station and Henry Clay but the Tigers have a lot of firepower and a never-give-up attitude.  LCA, Franklin County, and Elizabethtown suffered heavy graduation losses but will improve throughout the season.

Steffphon Pettigrew (Elizabethtown) is the real deal—talented and a hard worker.  Austin Hill, Greg Rice, and Arrez Henderson provide athleticism and scoring punch for Holmes.  Jaron Jones, Shelvin Mack, and Stefan Lewis played well for Bryan Station.  Victor Moses, Travis Combs, and Aaron Boyd were impressive for Henry Clay.  Landon Slone (Paintsville) is a scoring machine and anyone in their starting lineup is capable of putting up 15-20 points on a given night.  Tates Creek has some good talent on their squad but it is easy to overlook John Watkins.  This is a mistake as Watkins is a proverbial “jack-of-all-trades” who can influence all phases of the game, both offensively and defensively.

 

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington and Kevin Hagan for the hospitality extended me during this event.  Also, a special thanks to WL Stats, the Elizabethtown stats crews, and all the statisticians who provided me with info this weekend. 

 

Please feel free to send your comments and questions concerning the event, teams, or players to me at prephoops@yahoo.com .  

Ron Harrison’s reports on this and other basketball events appear on http://www.kyprephoops.com.