Central Off To Quick Start
Last season, the boys' basketball team at Muhlenberg Central High School learned how much fun winning can be. It posted a 25-9 record, only its second winning season in the previous 10.
This year, the fun has continued. Muhlenberg Central won its first eight games, exciting its fans while creating pressure it's not used to feeling.
"Everybody's really getting caught up in it here," Muhlenberg Central coach Dale Todd said. "Our crowds have more than doubled from two years ago. We pack our gym every game now (capacity 2,500). But they're not coming to see us lose. They're expecting great things from us."
Muhlenberg Central's charmed life ended last Friday, in its ninth game of the year. It lost to a Second Region contender, Hopkinsville. "That was our first really big test," Todd said. "They're a good, experienced club. It gave us a chance to see how good we were."
Regardless, Todd said that, for now, his team is quite good enough. And, he expected it to be, since the team had four starters returning. "Somehow, we've never been able to have a really experienced club," Todd said. "That really helps in basketball. Experience has helped us get off the start we've had.
The one starting spot Todd had to fill caused him much concern -- center. Todd's worry turned to delight, however, when his center designate, Joey Wells, plugged the gap with more-than adequate potency.
Wells, a 6-foot-6 junior, averaged 13.5 points a game through Muhlen berg Central's first seven contests. He boosted that average during that stretch by scoring 20 points in his team's 70-58 win over Central City and in a 73-44 rout of Greenville.
"Joey has really been surprising the way he's scored and helped us," Todd said. "We knew he had the size to play the position, but we didn't know how quickly he'd come around in game situations. But he hasn't seemed to have any real problem."
Wells' play also allayed Todd's greatest fear -- that the cohesiveness of the team might suffer until Wells came around.
"Joey worked hard enough on weights and at camps over the summer that we felt sure he could play," Todd said. "But I wondered how well he'd fit in with the other players. You always have to wonder about your
they've been out there."
Heading the talented group of returnees is guard Gary Lile . The 5-11, 165-pound Lile averaged 22 points a game through the first seven games, and hit 56 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line. Lile scored 26 points in Muhlenberg Central's 74-68 win over Drakesboro.
Todd likened Lile to another Kent-uckian, 5-11 Vanderbilt senior Phil Cox from Harlan County. "They're both pure shooters," Todd said. "Gary can move well to the ball, but he probably needs to become stronger in his ability to handle the ball. He's never played
team's chemistry. But we've been pleased. He seems to have fit into our offense with no problem. That can only make us a better team."
Wells' production has helped Muhlenberg Central absorb the loss of last year's center. Alan Vincent, to graduation. Vincent was the team's top rebounder, averaging 10 a game, and was second in scoring with a 16.5 average.
The four returning starters for Muhlenberg Central have, to date, performed according to form when they've been healthy. "It seems they've all been sick for short periods," Todd said, "but I can't complain   with   their   effort when
point (guard) for us."
That duty belongs to 6-1 senior Gary-Vincent, who has led the team in assists the past two seasons. "He's our best all-around player," Todd said of Vincent. "He's our best defensive player, too. And he's just the right size. He doesn't shoot much from outside, but he's big enough to take the smaller guards inside. He penetrates very well.''
Manning the wings, or forward positions, are a pair of paternal twins, Duane and Darren Harvey. Both stand 6-1. But. Todd said, that's the only area in which they're identical.
"Duane's   the   more aggressive
player. Darren is the better defensive player," Todd said. "But they both make the team a lot stronger."
Duane Harvey contributed strong offense on a night when both Lile and brother Darren were sidelined with the flu. Duane hit 13 of 16 shots from the field and scored 29 points to lead Muhlenberg Central to a 72-68 decision over Dawson Springs. That score was a bit deceiving; Muhlenberg Central held an 18-point fourth-quarter lead.
The bench has helped Muhlenberg Central to its fast start, too. Bobby Tarrants, a 6-6 forward, has given the team strong rebounding. John Smith, a 5-10 guard, has contributed quickness and sound defensive skills.
"John's stronger than he looks," Todd said. "He weighs 190, and he's very valuable to us as an inside guard. He can jump well and he doesn't mind mixing it up."
Still, the question might persist for a while: How good is Muhlenberg Central? Todd said the answer may come during the Christmas holidays. That's when his team will participate in the annual Owensboro Invitational Tournament, scheduled for Dec. 26-29 at the Owensboro Sportscenter.
Included in the field for the tournament are the two teams generally regarded as the favorites in the Third Region -- Owensboro and Apollo.
"Either of those two are hard to beat at the Sportscenter," Todd said. "It's like their home floor. But we'll play our best and see what happens. We hope we get to play them."
Should Muhlenberg Central play, and defeat, either Owensboro or Apollo, fans in Muhlenberg County will have even more reason to be excited. _
Cam Jacobs
Well, this is it. Go
ON PLAYING YOUR LAST GAME AS A WILDCAT
out a winner. Get offl
WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT UK? How good they were for the most part, except for a lot of the students who would rather go home to mommy rather than stay in Lexington and support the team.
WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS AT UK AND HAVE YOU ACHIEVED THEM? My goals were to contribute to the success of a major University and be the best football player possible. Yes, I am satisfied with my day at Kentucky, but all good things must come to an end.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AFTER UK? To go out into the world and make a lot of money and be happyl
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR COACH STROCK? I told you I could play linebacker.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR COACH CLAIBORNE? Thanks for the memories. I appreciate everything you taught me about football and life (pretty profound).
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