Former basketball players invited to reunion

Charlie Hunter, a former standout basketball player from the old Ralph Bunche High School in Barren County, stopped by the office last week to leave some information that might intrigue a few of you former roundball players in the area.

Although I missed his visit, he left plenty of information for me to report his latest endeavor – a reunion of former basketball players from south central Kentucky high school teams and any player, coach, cheerleader or manager from 1950 through 2000 are invited to attend.

Hunter was a standout player for Ralph Bunche High School on their 5th Region Championship team in 1961 and he later went on to play for Oklahoma City University where he earned the nickname of “Big Game” after scoring 50 points once in a college game.

Hunter is hoping that a crowd of players, coaches, cheerleaders and managers from the above mentioned era will be interested in attending the planned banquet that is set to be held at Barren County High School on Friday, September 19, getting underway at 5:30 with a social time and the dinner beginning at 7:00 p.m. Cost of the banquet will e $30 for adults, $5 for children under 12.

He noted that special invitations are going out to several well known basketball figures from the area, including Jim McDaniels, Clem and Paul Haskins, Clarence Glover and Jim Richards, as well as the members of the 1968 Glasgow State Champions team. No word yet on how many of those receiving special invitations will attend.

Former WKU player (as well as the old Park City High School) Woody Gardner is also helping with the Banquet effort.

A second day of activities is also planned as is being billed as a “Fun Day” on Saturday, September 20, at Beaver Trail Park with food vendors, live music, games and other entertainment.

Hunter can be contacted at 270-404-1948 or by email at: charleshunter44@yahoo.com

Just as a fun look-back, I checked to see how Clinton County fared against Hunter and his Ralph Bunche squad during his – and the Bulldogs’ – heyday of that era, when both Clinton County and Bunche were in the 5th Region.

In the 1959 – 1960 season, the year that Coach Lindle Castle led the Dawgs to the Sweet 16, Clinton County split with Hunter and Bunche in what was two down to the wire games in our 22-7 season that year. The Bulldogs picked up the win in the first meeting 56-54, but fell later in the year, 45-44.

Of course the 1960 season ended in Louisville with the 64-62 loss to the Hopkinsville Attucks in the State Tournament.

The following season, the 1960-61 season that saw Hunter and Bunche claim the 5th Region title and advance to the Sweet 16, Clinton County fell twice to Bunche, losing in the first meeting 62-58 and again later 67-61. Clinton County ended the season that year with a 60-58 loss in the opening round of the 5th Region Tournament , to Cumberland County.

Ralph Bunche lost in the first round of the Sweet 16 that year to Beaver Dam, 79-61.

Overall, Clinton County and Ralph Bunche High School played six times, finishing with a 3-3 result. Ralph Bunche High School was eventually one of the schools consolidated to form Barren County High School.