The Commodore Classic

 

Tates Creek High School,

Lexington, Kentucky

December 5-6, 2003

 

© 2003 Ron Harrison

 

 

Game No. 1  Middlesboro (1-0)  vs.  Williamstown (1-0)  December 5

 

Middlesboro coach Ed Jones started the following lineup: 6-1 Jr. Brett Hutchins, 5-10 Sr. Matt Bussell, 6-0 Sr. Nelson Bingham, 6-4 Sr. Dustin Cowan, and 6-0 So. Stewart Miller.  Williamstown coach Tim Mefford countered with 6-0 Jr. Josh Livingood, 6-0 So. Patrick Steele, 6-4 Jr. Rob Van Til, 6-0 Sr. Quinn Mortenson, and 6-5 Jr. Zack Mefford.

 

6-3 Sr. Brian Patterson scored a three point play the old fashioned way (field goal and free throw) with 24 seconds remaining on the clock to give Middlesboro an 82-81 lead.  They held on down the stretch to claim an 85-83 victory over Williamstown. Williamstown, led by Patrick Steele’s 13 first half points, led 40-33 at the half.  Middlesboro pulled within one point, 67-66 at the end of three quarters.  Middlesboro completed their comeback in the final period as they earned a hard-fought victory. 

 

Middlesboro was led tonight by Brett Hutchins, Matt Bussell, and Stewart Miller with 20, 18, and 16 points respectively.  Dustin Cowan and Brian Patterson added 11 points each.  Zack Mefford led Williamstown with 29 points including 21 points in the second half.  Patrick Steele, Josh Livingood, and Quinn Mortenson added 20, 16, and 10 points respectively.   

 

Middlesboro

19

14

33

19

-

85

Williamstown 

20

20

27

16

-

83

 

Middlesboro

(85)

 - 

Brett Hutchins 20, Bussell 18, Bingham 0, Cowan 11, Miller 16, Howard 2, Hale 3, Patterson 11, Hoskins 3.  

Williamstown 

(83)

 - 

Livingood 16, Steele 20, Van Til 4, Mortenson 10, Mefford 29, Jones 2, Cheesman 2.  

 

 

 

 

 

Game No. 2  Pikeville (0-0)  vs.  Tates Creek (0-0)  December 5

 

Pikeville coach Dave Thomas started the following lineup: 6-2 Jr. Jesse Parrish, 6-1 Sr. Jordan Mullins, 6-1 Jr. Robert Shurtleff, 5-10 Jr. Chad Walls, and 5-10 So. Brad Ratliff.  Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington countered with 6-2 Sr. Cameron Cross, 6-3 Sr. Tyson Dixon, 6-5 Sr. Dwight Harris, 5-10 Sr. Jeremy Brown, and 6-3 Sr. Justin Taylor.

 

Tates Creek raced out to a 19-1 lead on their way to a 71-63 victory over Pikeville.  Tates Creek was led today by Justin Taylor with 19 points including some spectacular dunks.  Taylor also reached a milestone by scoring his 1000th varsity point during this game.  Cameron Cross added 11 points including three three-point baskets.  Pikeville was led by Jesse Parrish and Jordan Mullins with 13 and 10 points respectively.   

 

Pikeville

0

10

10

13

-

43

Tates Creek

15

21

18

17

-

71

 

Pikeville

(43)

 - 

Parrish 13, Mullins 10, Shurtleff 3, Walls 4, Ratliff 0, Shockey 6, Gibson 4, Champlin 3.  

Tates Creek

(71)

 - 

Cross 11, Dixon 3, Harris 0, Brown 0, Taylor 19, Baldwin 3, Workman 7, Thomas 5, Nochta 2, Watkins 8, Covington 2, Shelby 2, Sparks 4, Boyd 4, Williams 1.  

 

Game No. 3  Pikeville (4-1)   vs.  Paul Dunbar (4-0)  December 6

 

Pikeville coach Dave Thomas started the following lineup: 6-2 Jr. Jesse Parrish, 6-1 Sr. Jordan Mullins, 6-6 Sr. Tyler Shockey, 5-10 Jr. Chad Walls, and 5-10 So. Brad Ratliff.   Paul Dunbar coach Eddie Oakley countered with 6-2 Sr. Sekoe White, 6-1 Jr. Dustin Fox, 6-4 So. Deontay Wright, 5-8 Jr. Jessie Moton, and 5-10 Jr. Leonard Epps.

 

Dunbar used their speed and athleticism to defeat Pikeville by a score of 95-44.  Dunbar utilized balanced scoring with five players reaching double figures.  The Bulldogs were led by Sekoe White, Dustin Fox, Jessie Moton, Deontay Wright, and 6-1 Jr. Andre Tunstill with 14, 14, 13, 12, and 10 points respectively.  5-8 So. Bryan Hatton came off the bench to have an impressive game with nine points.  Pikeville was led by Jordan Mullins, 6-1 Jr. Robert Shurtleff, and Jesse Parrish with 11, 11, and nine points respectively.  .

 

Pikeville 

13

15

7

9

-

44

Paul Dunbar 

20

29

20

26

-

95

 

Pikeville 

(44)

 - 

Parrish 9, Mullins 11, Shockey 0, Walls 3, Ratliff 1, Shurtleff 11, Gibson 5, Sword 4.  

Paul Dunbar 

(95)

 - 

White 14, Fox 14, D. Wright 12, Moton 13, Epps 2, Tunstill 10, Sandberg 8, Jones 6, Hatton 9, Sok 3, J. White 4.  

 

Game No. 4  Middlesboro (2-0)   vs.  Tates Creek (1-0)  December 6

 

Middlesboro coach Ed Jones started the following lineup: 6-1 Jr. Brett Hutchins, 5-10 Sr. Matt Bussell, 6-0 Sr. Nelson Bingham, 6-4 Sr. Dustin Cowan, and 6-0 So. Stewart Miller.  Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington countered with 6-2 Sr. Cameron Cross, 6-3 Sr. Tyson Dixon, 6-5 Sr. Dwight Harris, 5-10 Sr. Jeremy Brown, and 6-3 Sr. Justin Taylor.

 

Tates Creek scored 39 points off Middlesboro turnovers on their way to an 80-46 victory over Middlesboro.  Tates Creek was led by Cameron Cross, who scored all of his game-high 22 points in the first half.  Justin Taylor added 15 points.  Matt Bussell led Middlesboro with 10 points.  6-3 Sr. Brian Patterson came off the bench to add nine points and pull down nine rebounds. 

 

Middlesboro 

12

5

15

14

-

46

Tates Creek 

24

19

19

18

-

80

 

Middlesboro 

(46)

 - 

B. Hutchins 3, Bussell 10, Bingham 5, Cowan 6, Miller 7, Patterson 9, Howard 1, Hale 3, Hoskins 2.  

Tates Creek 

(80)

 - 

Cross 22, Dixon 8, Harris 8, Brown 4, Taylor 15, Baldwin 3, Workman 2, Covington 4, Boyd 2, Watkins 4, Shelby 6, Hogan 2.  

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

Tates Creek was very impressive during this event.  Their quickness and athleticism makes them a difficult opponent.  Coach Covington is doing an excellent job developing a deep rotation which bodes well for tourney time.  Tates Creek has the talent to challenge for 11th Region supremacy.  6-5 Jr. guard Zack Mefford of Williamstown had an excellent game (29 points) on opening night despite recovering from an injury.  Dunbar came into this event with an 0-2 record but it is obvious that they have talent and will win their share of games.  Middlesboro has some deadly outside shooters and Brian Patterson is very active in the paint.  Pikeville had a rough start but they are currently battling the injury bug and waiting for the returning football players to get their basketball “legs”.

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

A special thanks to Tates Creek coach Joe Pat Covington for the hospitality extended me during my visit.