Bardstown Basketball

Brewer named Head Basketball Coach at Bardstown High School

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                   MONDAY, MAY 17, 2010

For more information, contact:              Cara Blackmon, BHS principal, or David Clark, athletic director, 331-8802

Bardstown High School principal Cara Blackmon and athletic director David Clark announced Monday the selection of James “Boo” Brewer as the next coach for the men’s basketball program.  Brewer will take over the position vacated by Coach Gary Goode who resigned the coaching position after a very successful   8-year term coaching the Tigers.  Goode will continue his teaching career at Bardstown High School.

Brewer, 41 years old and a 1988 graduate of Bardstown High School, followed up his outstanding high school athletic career by playing basketball for the University of Louisville under coach Denny Crum.  After college, he played professional basketball in the United States and Europe. 

Most recently, Brewer has taught and coached at Larue County High School for the past five years.  He holds a bachelor of science degree in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville and a masters in Special Education from Campbellsville University.  He will be a special education teacher at Bardstown. 

Brewer has two sons, Jordan and Anthony, both high school sophomores, and two daughters, Alexis, who is currently in 7^th grade, and Shayla, 21.

According to Clark, Brewer was chosen from an extensive pool of excellent candidates.  “We were so impressed with the quality of the individuals who were attracted to this position,” said Clark.  “At the end of the process, however, Coach Brewer was selected because he meets and even exceeds all the qualities we were looking for as a coach, teacher, and mentor for not only our student athletes, but all our students.”

“One of the things Coach Brewer brings to Bardstown is a history and an ingrained understanding and appreciation for our school and our community,” said Blackmon.  “His accomplishments after high school in both academics and athletics make him an excellent role model for students.  In addition, his teaching experience at Larue County makes him a great fit for Bardstown High School.  He will be a great addition to our outstanding team of teachers.”

“I am really excited about this opportunity to come back home for my first head coaching job,” said Brewer.  “I have always stayed in contact with the program and have had relatives in the program through the years.  I know my hard work and work ethic, combined with the kids’ hard work both on and off the court, will keep Bardstown on the map in basketball and we will stay competitive in the 5^th region.”

Some Background History.

While at Bardstown, “Boo” starred in football, basketball, track and baseball.  In basketball, he lettered 5 years and made numerous all-tournament, all-district and all-region teams.  In addition, he was named to the All-State team 3 times and was runner-up to Mr. Kentucky Basketball his senior year.  In 1988, he was named to the McDonald’s All-American team.  He graduated from Bardstown with 2496 career points.  Also in 1988, he played in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star games and was the leading scorer. 

In football, he lettered 4 years and was a 2-time member of the All-State teams. He was chosen to be a member of the Kentucky All-Star team that played the Tennessee All-Stars.  He scored 27 touchdowns in a single season and was runner-up to Mr. Kentucky Football and a Gatorade All-American.  For his career, he had over 4600 total yards and scored 46 touchdowns.  In track, he won numerous medals and was a state champion 3 times.  He made All-State in track 4 times and in 1988 he was an All-American track and field athlete.

He went on to star in basketball at the University of Louisville from 1988-1993.  There he held the record for the most 3-point shots made in a game for 11 years and the most steals in a game for 3 years.  He won Metro Tournament awards for the best free-throw shooter and best 3 point shooter for 2 consecutive years.  He went on to play professional basketball in Europe for 14 years.

He has been inducted into the Dawahare’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame.

He is the proud father of 4 children, Sheyla, Jordan, Anthony and Alexis.

He enjoys giving back to his children what his parents, teachers, and coaches gave him.

 BARDSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME - INDUCTED OCTOBER 22, 2004

BREAKING NEWS: Goode resigns from B’town boys’ hoops post

 Photo by Peter W. Zubaty

Bardstown coach Gary Goode shouts out instructions during the boys’ 19th District tournament last month. The Tiger coach is stepping aside after eight years at the post.

By Peter W. Zubaty

Bardstown boys’ basketball head coach Gary Goode announced his resignation from that post Monday after eight seasons at the helm.

He will remain on board as an English teacher at Bardstown High School, but said the long hours involved with coaching had led to his decision to step down.

“It’s a year-round time commitment,” Goode said. “I’m at the position in my life with my family where I want to use that time differently.”

Bardstown athletic director David Clark said the school is in the process of posting the position and gathering applicants. No timetable has been set for finding a replacement. “We want to make sure we get someone who is the best representation of Bardstown High School,” he said. “If it happens quickly, great. If we need to take more time, we will.”

Goode’s teams went 144-111 in his eight seasons as Tiger coach. His Bardstown squads won three 19th District titles and advanced to the All A Classic state championship game three times, winning the 2006 crown. Goode also led the Tigers to the 2008 5th Region title, the first Bardstown team to advance to the Sweet 16 since 1971.

Goode thanked the Bardstown administration and his assistant coaches and support staff for their contributions to and backing of the Tiger basketball program.

“The whole community has been so supportive of what we tried to do,” he said.

Goode said it was a toss-up as to whether the All A Classic crown or the 5th Region title was his biggest thrill as a coach, but his greatest reward came from shaping the lives of young men.

“My greatest highlights are those people and the players I’ve been around,” he said. “That’s been the toughest part” of stepping down.

Clark said Goode’s accomplishments at Bardstown are “immeasurable,” not only in reviving a sagging program and turning the Tigers into a regular contender in the 5th Region, but also in the overall development on and off the court of the kids who played for him.

“He did so much more than just wins and losses for the program,” Clark said. “The kids lost a great mentor. We really support his decision of putting his family first.”

Goode, 43, said he has been involved with organized basketball as a player or coach since he was 6 years old. Goode served six years as head coach and five more as an assistant at Meade County before coming to Bardstown, and he also was an assistant for a season at East Noble High School in his native Indiana.

He and his wife, Missy, have three children: Derek, 11; Mark, 8; and Lydia, 5. Goode thanked his wife for her patience and support during his coaching career.

“She’s really done a great job,” he said. “Coach’s wife is sometimes a tough role to play.”

Goode’s 2009-10 Tiger squad went 8-17 on the season, making it to the 5th Region tournament despite starting the season by dropping nine of its first 10 games. The Tigers fell in the first round to eventual region champ North Hardin, 72-61.

“I’m as proud of this last season as any of mine in coaching” because of the improvement shown by a group of returning players mostly devoid of varsity experience, he said. Whoever takes over the position will inherit a team that loses just two seniors from the 2009-10 club. Five returning players saw starting time at one point or another during the season.

“I’m not a big fan of coaches leaving when the cupboard’s bare,” Goode said. “I think that’s more of a reflection of what I did or didn’t do. I wanted to leave on a good year.”

Tigers can’t close gap against Trojans

Bardstown falls 72-61 in region

Photo by Peter W. Zubaty

Bardstown’s Nathan Hall gets to the bucket for two in the Tigers’ 72-61 loss Thursday to North Hardin. The junior led his squad with 17 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter as he tried to rally his team to the upset.

By Peter W. Zubaty

Bardstown made region favorite North Hardin earn its berth in today’s 5th Region semifinals, scratching and clawing with the bigger Trojans for four quarters Thursday before succumbing, 72-61.

“I thought we competed hard tonight,” Bardstown coach Gary Goode said. “We competed hard, made some plays. Made some big shots.”

The Tigers (8-17) blistered the nets at a 52 percent clip (25-of-48) and caught the Trojans on a cold night where they hit only 27-of-70 attempts (39 percent). But the Trojans battered the Tigers on the glass, 45-30, and forced 21 turnovers.

“It was a fight out there, but they got the best of us,” Tiger senior Keaton Hall said. “We gave them all we got, no regrets.”

North Hardin (25-4) opened the game hot, hitting five three-pointers while building a 25-12 first-quarter lead. The Trojans stretched that lead out to 33-18 before the Tigers steadied themselves, riding hot shooting by Keaton Hall — who hit four threes in the first half — to finish out the second quarter on a 15-5 spurt and find themselves down just five, 38-33.

But the Trojans were able to build a lead back up to double digits, and managed to hold the Tigers at arm’s length throughout the second half. A lot of it had to do with the way North Hardin defended Hall, holding the senior scoreless after the break following his 14-point first half.

“He had a great first half, really shot it well, but to their credit they stepped up and really defended him well in that second half and limited his looks,” Goode said.

Still, the Tigers kept the pressure on the Trojans, and got as close as eight on several occasions in the fourth quarter thanks to 11 points in the frame by Nathan Hall — who led the Tigers with 17. However, Bardstown couldn’t come up with the big shot late.

“There were several times when we just needed a play to go our way — where we had to have it at that time — and it seemed like those were the times they got that second shot” to go in, Goode said. “Just one of those games where we played plenty well to be there with a very good team, we just couldn’t get over the hump.”

“It happened just like that last time we played them,” Keaton Hall said. “We were one play from getting them. It’s tough for it to happen twice against the same team.”

North Hardin’s James Berry led his team with 21 points — 16 in the second half — and 12 rebounds, while Nigel Phelps added 19 points and seven boards. Nick McCarty had 10 points for Bardstown, and Chance Grundy had nine points and eight rebounds.

It was a season that saw the Tigers drop nine of their first 10 games during December but recover by going 6-2 against 19th District opponents and make a seventh-consecutive trip to the 5th Region tournament.

“I’ve got to give our seniors a ton of credit,” Goode said. “At the beginning of the season, we were inexperienced, not comfortable playing together. We just weren’t a very good varsity basketball team at the beginning of the season, and our record showed it.

“Because our seniors did such a great job of working, sticking with it and keeping us together, we got better.”

Keaton Hall said there were a number of times the team could have folded its tent in December, but didn’t.

“That shows the character of our team,” he said.

5th Region tournament

at Nelson Co.

North Hardin 72, Bardstown 61 — Cosby 2, Grundy 9, N. Hall 17, McCarty 10, Coulter 7, K. Hall 14, Hubbard 2.

• B 12 21 10 15—61
• NH 25 13 15 19—72
• B (61)
• NH (72) — Coney 7, Phelps 19, Brangers 9, Rol. Emerson 3, Ruttley 3, Roo. Emerson 7, Hendrix 3, Berry 21.

BREAKING NEWS: Trojans knock Tigers out of region tournament

Bardstown falls 72-61

By Peter W. Zubaty

North Hardin’s bulk on the boards was too much for a spirited Bardstown club to overcome Thursday as the Trojans battered the Tigers on the glass, 45-30, and pulled away late to advance to the 5th Region semifinals with a 72-61 win.

North Hardin (25-4) hit five three-pointers in the first quarter in building a 25-12 lead. That lead stretched out to 33-18 early in the second quarter, but the Tigers closed out the half on a hot streak and went into the locker room with a five-point margin.

The Trojans were able to build their lead back up to double digits in the third quarter, and held off several late charges by the Tigers, who could never get closer than eight in the fourth quarter.

James Berry’s 25 points and 12 rebounds led North Hardin, and Nigel Phelps added 19 points and seven boards.

For Bardstown, Nathan Hall led the way with 17 (13 after halftime), while Keaton Hall had 14, all in the first half. Nick McCarty pitched in 10. The Tigers’ season finishes at 8-17.

Long time coming

By Peter W. Zubaty

Artie Braden has enjoyed a number of big firsts in his coaching career, and his first 19th District crown as head coach at Nelson County is one of the most special.

“It’s very good, especially with the way the guys have come together this year. Maybe we’re starting to peak at the right time,” he said.

Nelson County rolled to a 66-41 win over Bardstown in Saturday’s boys’ 19th District championship, the Cardinals’ first district title since 2004.

“I feel great,” Cardinal senior Demarcus Collins said. “I feel like we worked as a team, and we just executed and got down to business from the get-go.”

Collins scored six of his team-high 13 points while the Cardinals gradually seized control of the game during the first quarter and never trailed after the 5:43 mark of that frame, increasing its lead at each juncture while improving to 18-8 overall.

“We’ve just got to be consistent with what we do, and if we can do that, we’ve got a shot in this region,” Collins said.

Nelson County High School plays host to this week’s boys’ 5th Region tournament, which opens tonight at 6 p.m. with Campbellsville (24-4) facing Green County (13-14) at 6 p.m., and the Cardinals facing a tall Elizabethtown (11-16) club in the nightcap at 8 p.m.

The Cardinals and Panthers have not met each other this year, and their size is a concern for Braden.

“They really, really have a lot of size — they probably, overall, are the biggest team in the region based on what they put out on the floor,” he said.

And how does Nelson County, which is limited in the height category, counteract that?

“We pray a lot,” Braden chuckled. “I don’t know — we’ll just have to look at some tapes on them and figure out something.”

Despite the district loss, Bardstown (8-16) lives to fight another day. That next day is Thursday, when the Tigers face North Hardin (24-4) at 6 p.m. LaRue County (17-9) and Taylor County (17-13) meet at 8 p.m.

The Trojans are one of the region favorites, but they got a scare at home from the Tigers on the last weekend of the regular season before prevailing 65-63.

“Our kids always seem to play really well against North Hardin; I can’t really explain it,” Tiger coach Gary Goode said. “At this point, we weren’t going to get anyone in the region that wasn’t a tough opponent.”

Goode said the Trojans are most potent when they’re shooting well from the outside, which opens things up for them inside. In the previous meeting with the Tigers, all-region guard James Berry knocked down four from three-point land, but no other Trojans could connect.

“I hope we don’t catch them on a good shooting night,” Goode said.

Nelson County enters the region tourney on a hot streak, having won 10 of its last 11 games, and the Cardinals’ crisp offensive execution led to a good shooting night in the district championship.

“They’re a strong region contender if they shoot it like that,” Goode said.

Braden gave a lot of credit to his two-headed point guard attack of Josh Kays and Daniel Mudd for directing traffic on offense.

“I thought our point guards did an excellent job of getting us in our sets, even when the pressure was in their face, and from there it just seemed to flow,” he said.

While Bardstown struggled to find good looks against a sticky Nelson defense, the Cardinals were crisp and patient in their offense.

“Everybody’s making the extra pass and we’re executing our offense a whole lot better than the beginning of the year,” Mudd said. “We’re playing better defense, too. We’re taking other teams out of their comfort zone.”

Bryce Greer and Quentin Brooks added 12 apiece for Nelson County, while Nathan Hall’s 16 led Bardstown.

19th District championship at Bethlehem

Nelson Co. 66, Bardstown 41 — Cosby 3, C. Grundy 2, D. Grundy 2, N. Hall 16, McCarty 3, Coulter 1, K. Hall 3, Brooks 7, Hubbard 4.

• B 11 7 12 11—41
• NC 19 10 15 22—66
• B (41)
• NC (66) — Brooks 12, Kays 5, Collins 13, Adams 5, Martinez 7, Mudd 4, Greer 12, Railey 7, White 1

BREAKING NEWS: Boys’ 5th Region draw announced

By Peter W. Zubaty

Here’s the draw for the boys’ 5th Region tournament, hosted by Nelson County. District winners are listed first.

Wednesday

• Campbellsville (24-4) v. Green Co. (13-14) — 6 p.m.
• Nelson Co. (18-8) v. Elizabethtown (11-16) — 8 p.m.

Thursday

• North Hardin (24-4) v. Bardstown (8-16) — 6 p.m.
• LaRue Co. (17-9) v. Taylor Co. (17-13) — 8 p.m.

Sunday

Semifinals 2:45 and 5:30 p.m. (Gym will be cleared between games)

Tuesday

Championship 7:30 p.m.

BREAKING NEWS: Nelson boys win district title, 66-41

Peter W. Zubaty

Nelson County rolled to a 66-41 win over Bardstown in Saturday’s boys’ 19th District championship, the Cardinals’ first district title since 2004.

The Cardinals improved to 18-8 on the year, and now await Sunday’s draw to determine their opponent in the 5th Region tournament, which Nelson County will host starting Wednesday. Nelson County enters the region tourney on a hot streak, having won 10 of its last 11 games.

Bardstown struggled to find good looks against a sticky Nelson defense, whereas the Cardinals were crisp and patient in their offensive execution. Demarcus Collins led the winners with 13 points, while Bryce Greer and Quentin Brooks added 12 apiece.

Nathan Hall’s 16 points led Bardstown, which fell to 8-16 and also advances to the 5th Region tournament. Check www.kystandard.com Sunday afternoon for region pairings and game times.

Boys’ 19th District: Bardstown tops Bethlehem in another thriller

Bardstown to face Nelson Co. Saturday

Photo by Peter W. Zubaty

Bardstown’s Chance Grundy has a big congratulation for teammate Keaton Hall (20) following the third of Hall’s clutch three-pointers late in the game to help lift the Tigers to a 71-69 win Thursday over Bethlehem.

By Peter W. Zubaty

Corey Hall made a name for himself with his clutch play while leading the Tigers to a 5th Region crown in 2008. Now, it’s his little brother’s turn.

“He’s carved out his own niche for us this year and done a great job leading the team,” Bardstown coach Gary Goode said of Keaton Hall, who hit clutch three-pointers on three straight possessions during a span of 1:20 late in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s boys’ 19th District semifinals, lifting Bardstown to a 71-69 win over host Bethlehem and putting the Tigers into the 5th Region tournament, which opens Wednesday at Nelson County High School.

The Tigers (8-15) won all three meetings with the Eagles this season by a grand total of eight points.

“We came back hard twice — we were 12 down at the half and came back and tied it, and then Hall made those threes, and there wasn’t enough time to come back again,” Bethlehem coach Larry Miller said. “We made a good run at it. We had an opportunity at the end, (but) couldn’t get a steal or a basket.”

Bardstown’s win put the team in Saturday’s 19th District championship against Nelson County, which took place after press time. Check www.kystandard.com for a wrap-up of that game, as well as for pairings for the 5th Region tournament, which draws today.

The Tigers will make their seventh consecutive trip to the 5th Region tournament, but after a 1-9 start to the season it looked like Bardstown might be staying home this year.

Keaton Hall said there were definitely some doubts in December, but the Tigers kept to task in practice and tried to put the rocky beginning of the season behind them.

“Every day, I feel we worked just as hard — if not harder — as any of the other teams in the region,” he said. “Our young guys are stepping up and filling their roles.”

The game started out much like the prior meetings between the Eagles and Tigers, with both teams trading leads early and Bardstown staking out a 21-20 lead after one quarter.

“I wish I knew” why the Eagles and Tigers seem to bring out the best in each other, Hall said. “Both teams played to the best of their abilities, and you expect that in the district tournament.”

A big second quarter for Bardstown saw the Tigers open a lead as large as 14 in the first half. But the Eagles got big buckets from Brandon Ray and Jalen Phillips during a 7-0 spurt early in the fourth quarter — part of an extended 21-9 run over a span of 10:19 — eventually drawing even at 54-54 when Phillips got a steal and went coast-to-coast.

Things went back-and-forth for the next two minutes until Hall hit the first of his trio of three-pointers at the 3:20 mark, stretching the Tiger lead to 61-57.

“My adrenaline was rushing,” Keaton Hall said. “The (Bethlehem) crowd had been talking to me the whole game, and it just kind of pumped me up some more to try and shut them up. Fortunately I did.”

By the time Hall hit the third in the stretch (and fifth for the game), Bardstown held a 67-61 lead with under two minutes to play. From there, the Tigers did just enough down the stretch to keep the plucky Eagles at bay.

“What can you say? We needed them in the worst way,” Goode said. “And he stepped up and delivered. It’s really satisfying to see a senior come through for you like that in the clutch. That’s what you want to happen at district time.”

It wasn’t the first time Hall had hit big shots, of course. In the first installment of the Bardstown-Bethlehem saga, Hall drained a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining to propel his team to a 67-65 win.

“I just want to do whatever I can to help my team win,” he said. “My job is to hit big shots, being a senior.”

And he wasn’t the only Hall to deliver in the clutch, either. Junior Nathan Hall’s two free throws with 15.9 left put the Tigers up 71-67 and all but sealed the win. While not related to Keaton and Corey, Nathan Hall looked ready to join the extended family with his game-high 22 points, including 7-of-8 on free throws.

“Nathan stepped up really big,” Goode said. “He’s been working hard, staying late after practice shooting, and it’s paying off.”

Bethlehem’s first season under Miller wrapped up at 9-14.

Photo by Peter W. Zubaty

Bethlehem’s Brandon Ray (left) and Dalton Reed (rear) trap Bardstown’s Marcus Cosby during the Tigers’ 71-69 win Thursday.

“We did play well,” Miller said. “(But) I’d have liked to have had Jordan Cooper in there at the end of the game.”

Cooper, the Eagles’ talented freshman, spent much of the night on the bench in foul trouble, and picked up his fifth in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. He had tallied nine points and two steals in just 16 minutes on the floor.

“It was played at a high level by both teams, and we were fortunate to come out on top,” Goode said.

Bethlehem’s Brandon Ray put up a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards

“Maybe his best game of the year,” Miller said.

Jalen Phillips added 16 to go with five assists for the Eagles despite being in foul trouble much of the game.

19th District tournament

at Bethlehem

• Bardstown 71, Bethlehem 69 — Reed 9, Cooper 9, Phillips 16, Rogers 9, Ray 18, Mudd 8.
• BE 21 24 9 17—69
• BA 20 13 14 22—71
• BE (69)
• BA (71) — Cosby 10, Grundy 8, N. Hall 22, McCarty 10, Coulter 2, K. Hall 15, Brooks 4.

BREAKING NEWS: Tigers hold off Eagle comeback

Bardstown to face Nelson Co. Saturday

By Peter W. Zubaty

The third installment of the Bethlehem v. Bardstown saga proved every bit the thriller the first two games were, with the Tigers advancing to Saturday’s 19th District championship game on the strength of a 71-69 win over the Eagles Thursday.

Bardstown had staked out a lead as large as 14 in the first half, and was up 12 at the break, but Bethlehem battled back to draw even at 54-54 early in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers were clinging to a slim 58-57 lead and held off two Eagle attempts at the lead in the paint, and that’s when Keaton Hall came up with a trio of clutch three-pointers within a 1:20 span that gave Bardstown a 67-61 edge with just under 2:00 to play.

Bethlehem rallied in the closing minutes to get as close as 69-67, but Nathan Hall hit a pair of free throws with 15.9 seconds to play to ice the game.

Keaton Hall finished with 15 points, all on three-pointers, while Nathan Hall had 22 to lead all scorers.

Bethlehem’s Brandon Ray put up a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards, and Jalen Phillips added 16 despite being in foul trouble much of the game.

Bardstown faces Nelson County at 7 p.m. Saturday; the teams split the regular-season series.

District tournament info released

By Peter W. Zubaty

The boys’ part of the tournament gets started Wednesday, Feb. 24, with top seed Nelson County (13-7, 5-1 dist.) and No. 4 seed Washington County (4-16, 1-5) tipping off at 7 p.m. The Cardinals won both prior meetings, 74-40 and 60-43.

No. 2 seed Bardstown (7-12, 5-1 dist.) and No. 3 seed Bethlehem (8-12, 2-4 dist.) take over the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25. The Tigers and Eagles have delivered a pair of memorable performances in their previous meetings this season, with the Tigers coming up with the plays late to score narrow 67-65 and 67-63 decisions during the past few weeks.

The girls’ 19th District championship is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, and the boys’ championship is 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27.

The girls’ 19th District championship is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, and the boys’ championship is 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27.