To a small boy growing up in Wallins, I could only dream about playing basketball at the University of Kentucky. At that time I never dreamed that basketball was played at any other school in Kentucky. I found out much later that there were other schools in the state, which had teams of their own. But to me, there was only one team, the Wildcats. At the time I first started listening in the early 50's, the Wildcats were already legend.
I can remember listening to the games on the radio. By this time they had already won three national championships. I was especially proud of the players that came from our region of Eastern Kentucky. Players that come to mind were Wah Wah Jones, Johnny Cox, and Dicky Parsons. Wah Wah's career was over by the time I started listening, but I knew all about him. I took a lot of personal pride that he was from Harlan. I read all the books that I could get my hands on. These recounted the exploits of the "Fabulous Five", the 1948 Olympic team which was comprised of the "Fabulous Five" team, and the Championship teams in 48, 49, and 51.
I can recall nights spent listening to the radio as Cawood Ledford, also from Harlan, called the games. Radio reception was a little spotty at that time. The signal would waver in and out. I listened to many of these games while in bed. Sometimes I would have to place my ear against the radio to try to hear the weak signal. My special treat was to listen to Cawood interview "The Baron" after the game. All Kentucky fans know that "The Baron" was Adolph Rupp. I loved to hear his comments. He seldom held anything back. My fantasy was to be able to go to one of the team practices. I had read so much about how the practices were conducted. He was legend in his methods of precision practices. I didn't think too much about going to a game. To me this was completely out of reach.
I think that this inspired me, as it did most young boys growing up in the mountains of Kentucky. I remember playing basketball from daylight to dark. These games were played rain or shine, cold or hot weather. Most of these games were played at Jesse Herrell's house on Back Street. We had a lot of games that were two on two or three on three. It was hard to get ten people together at one time for a regulation game. We also played games of Horse, Pig, and Around the World.
These games were played sometimes complete with sound effects. These were the ones every boy knows, "Time is running down and the score is tied." "The ball goes to Phillips." "He fakes, he shoots, he scores." "Kentucky wins!"
I can remember that in the winter my hands would be red and cracked from playing in the cold weather. I can also remember that my hands would be caked with mud from playing when the ground was wet and muddy. We would play until the game broke up because someone's mom would call them home. If it were only to eat, the game would resume later. If it were for something else, like work, then the game would be temporarily postponed. You can be assured that the game would go on again as soon as we could slip away from home.
These games were intense. We gave no quarter. I'm sure that there were more than a few skirmishes as a result of this intensity. The players were Jesse Herrell and Jimmy Decker for sure. I think also that Bruce and Bobby Wayne Howard also played. I can't remember the other players for sure. I learned, as did my playmates, the fundamentals of shooting and dribbling. Some of them went on to be fine players. Jesse Herrell turned out to be one of Wallins' finest players ever. He went on to play at a small college. Unfortunately, God didn't endow me with the natural ability to fulfill my dream of playing basketball in high school. I made the team, but saw only limited action in my career.
It was also a real treat to go to the games at the Wallins Gym. Even for a little school, we had the second best gym in the Harlan County school system. The best gym was at Cumberland High. I remember on game night, the atmosphere was electric. Most of the games were intense rivalries. They were usually close, which increased the drama. The popcorn would be popping before and during the game with its tantalizing smell. It was almost impossible to resist. The pep band would be there providing the fight song and other rousing tunes, which kept spirits at a fevered pitch. It was a community event. Standing room only. The "B" Team was the prelude to the big game. We had good "B" Teams so the audience would usually come early to see this game too. After the game if we won, we would go downtown to receive the approval of the adoring masses and to recount all the exploits of the game. If it was a loss, then we went downtown to commiserate with each other. This was always a much shorter night.
Wendell Adkins coached the "B" Team, and "Big Jim" Howard coached the "A" Team. One year when I didn't make the team, Wendell allowed me to help him with the team. This amounted to charting the shots during the game and other bench activities. I got to listen to all the coaching instructions in the huddles. I really got to see another side of the game that I hadn't seen prior to this time. I found out that Wendell was a very good coach. This was proven on the court, as his "B" Teams were consistently at the top in the league.
I didn't get a chance to observe "Big Jim" like I did Wendell, but it was generally accepted that he was a good coach also. I know that over the years we enjoyed a lot of success for a small school. When you stop to think about it, it really is pretty incredible. Our whole school, first through twelfth grade consisted of approximately 400 students. Some senior classes in the bigger schools are that big. Again, I think this shows both the heritage and hard work that made the difference. I think we made the 13th region tournament, but we were never able to win this to allow us to go to the state tournament. That would have been a dream come true.
I was very sad to see the high school consolidated in 1966. There was so much tradition lost. Sad to say, future Wallins students would not get to experience the excitement and pride in your high school team, in your own home town. I will always have these memories to keep me warm when I sit in front of the "Big Screen T.V." in my basement and watch the Wildcats play. It won't be as exciting as placing your ear close to the radio to catch Cawood's play by play, but it will have to do.
