Time for high school hoops (and to reminisce a little)

Posted November 30, 2016 at 3:59 pm

Bulldogs 1953-54.psd

With calendar pages now showing December, thoughts are turning to a host of subjects – Christmas, New Year’s, family gatherings, winter and shedding those extra pounds we’ve picked up during the holiday season.

In Kentucky, the subject of basketball, especially high school baskeball for many, is at the forefront of hundreds of thousands of fans and players.

While most of those thoughts are looking ahead to the season that is just now starting, many fans also find themselves thinking back to the experiences they enjoyed on the court or in the stands watching players and teams from seasons’ past.

Recently, one of the most decorated players from the Clinton County High School basketball past, provided the Clinton Conty News with a brief collection of his thoughts and memories from his playing days in the early and mid 1950s, and as we enter this new roundball season, we thought it only fitting to share it with our basketball fan readers.

Louis Brummett graduated from then Albany High School in 1955 and when he graduated, he was the school’s all time leading scorer in basketball.

Even 60 years later, Brummet remains one of the top offensive record holders as he is currently in third place overall, behind all-time leader Keifer Dalton (Class of 2015) and Kenneth Conner (Class of 1962).

Brummett was inducted onto the Wall of Fame at C.C.H.S. in its second-ever class in 1999, and his unofficial points total is 1,688 points, although it is known that many of the game records were not recoverable when research into the records were completed in the late 1990s.

The following is a collection of Brummett’s memories of the years when he wore the blue and white uniform while playing for three different coaches on the varsity level, Richard Murphy, Don Bales and W.A. (Bill) Kidd.

Clinton County Basketball and

the Old Gym

by Louis Brummett

I guess my first memory of the “Old Gym” must have been during my first and second grade years. As I recall, we had to use the restroom in the gym and when we escaped from class to go to the bathroom you could pause for a moment or two and peek through the door and watch basketball practice. This was a most wondrous occurrence and I am sure created a motivation to become part of what was going on in the gym.

The Dinner Team

I have no idea when I knew that there was something called “The Dinner Team.” This was a creation of Mr. Raymond Reneau and, of course, was the beginning of a journey, which hopefully ended on the varsity “First Team” or at least that was the dream of all those boys.

The choices of lunch included something brought from home, eating in the lunchroom, or if you lived close enough you could go home or eat in town. Those who wanted to play on “The Dinner Team” would rush through whatever lunch choice and get to the gym as soon as possible. I remember that players of the varsity would sometimes referee these games and give tips on being a better ball player.

During one of these games I had used some sort of fake and got my defensive man off his feet and in the air, but instead of driving for a lay up, I shot from about 8-9 feet from the basket. Bill DeForest came to me and explained that after a good fake I should drive for an easy “crip” shot. I never forgot that lesson and was always grateful for the recognition and help from a varsity star.

Grade Tournaments

I don’t recall what arrangements were made or which grades were combined to compete in the Grade Tournaments but I do know this was a big deal to someone dreaming of playing basketball for the Bulldogs. There was one incident, probably when I was in the sixth grade, when we were playing the seventh grade and at the end of the game I hit some free throws which eventually won the game. This was one of the first times I really felt the thrill of playing in front of a crowd and playing well. (Prof. Robinson let classes watch these games.) I know from that time on I was hooked on sports.

Seventh Grade 1949-50

I got to play on the B-team during the 1949-50 season. I don’t recall much about this experience. It was just a thrill to be practicing and playing on an organized team in the gym. I didn’t start, but I did get to play in a few games with the B-team and, of course, I got to see all the varsity games and I knew what I eventually wanted to do. This was my first experience at dressing out in a uniform (and accessories) and going away to play in other gyms.

Many of the gyms were not as good as the Albany gym. Often these gyms were more like barns with bleachers. I remember a player being injured by hitting a cedar support post, which had not been properly stripped.

After playing in any of the B-team games you weren’t allowed to play in the Grade Tournament therefore my Grade Tournament career was over.

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The following was written by Dale Thrasher and is only a small section of a much larger writing. Jr. Thrasher’s reflection is in response to a request of Chip Haddix.

During the season, Coach “Bull” Shearer of Wayne County High School invited Coach Murphy to send his 8th graders up to play his Wayne County 8th graders. Well, Coach Murphy was busy with other things, so he sent the 8th graders up under the direction of a couple of his senior ball players. Wayne County must have had twenty or thirty kids dressed out to play. Albany had 10 or 12 players, but had more quality than Coach Shearer had anticipated. It soon became apparent that Wayne County 8th graders had never seen the likes of one Louis Edward Brummett. Brummett was blistering hot and scorched the Cardinals for about 30 points, an almost unimaginable scoring feat for an 8th grader. Coach “Bull” Shearer finally came over and said, “I don’t appreciate you people slipping in a ringer on me.” He said, “There is no way that kid could be an 8th grader!” No, he isn’t, we told Coach Shearer. “He is actually a 7th grader.” Coach “Bull” almost became unglued. That was his first preview of Louis Edward Brummett.

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Eighth Grade 1950-51

By the time eighth grade rolled around I had grown to five feet eleven inches and the indications were that I would probably grow some more, therefore I probably received more consideration than some of the other players. During the season I believe that I started most all B-team games as forward. I believe that we won more games than we lost. On that team we had Jimmy Dyer at one forward, *Bobby Tuggle at center and I was the other forward. I’m not sure who our guards were. I go to play in 6 varsity games as a sub and scored 6 points.

* Footnote: Bobby Tuggle contracted Polio (the most dreaded children’s disease at that time) during the summer of 1952 and was never able to play again. Bobby was a very talented young man and he was probably going to be the best player of anyone on the team.

Freshman Year 1951-52

Starting line up:

Guards: Denny Denton, Louis Groce

Center: Bobby Tuggle

Forwards: Jimmy Dyer, Louis Brummett

I was fortunate enough to be a starting forward as a freshman. The season started with a loss to Monticello by one point. By the time we played Burkesville we had a respectable record of 4-2. This first game with Burkesville gave me one of my best memories as we defeated them by a score of 42-32 and I had a very good game and contributed 20+ points and we were playing really well.

The Christmas Tournament at Marrowbone included a very memorable game for me against an Alvaton team in which I scored 36 points. This was quite a feat for a freshman and ironically was to be the most points I scored in one game during the four years I started on the varsity.

The remainder of the season was a roller-coaster ride with ups and downs and we finished the year with 13 wins and 14 losses. For my freshman year, I scored 342 points and led the team.

Sophomore Year 1952-53

Record 15-12

Starting line up:

Guards: Gayle Smith, Tommy Bertram

Center: Jimmy Dyer

Forwards: Tony Sloan / Billy Dicken, Louis Brummett

This team had a record of 8-8 and then ran off 6 wins in a row to get to 14-8 and then ended the season with one win and 4 losses to finish 15-12. This record was the second best of my four years on the varsity.

The best wins of the year were probably the two times we defeated Wayne County and we defeated Russell Springs on their home floor, the only game they lost at home all season.

One of our better games was a loss in the last regular season game to Glasgow 58-56. I believe that was one of the years Glasgow made it to the State Tournament. I scored 478 points during my sophomore year.

Junior Year 1953-54

Record 12-12

Starting line up:

Guards: Weldon Haddix / Jeff Conner

Center: Tony Sloan

Forwards: Sidney Scott, Donald Conner / Billy Dicken

This team broke even in wins and losses at 12-12. I really don’t remember much about this season. We did have a five game winning streak during December.

During an away game, probably at Edmonton, it started snowing. When the team got to “Bear Creek Hill” cars were having a hard time getting up the hill. Coach Kidd let the players get out and help push cars to the top. When we got back to the gym, Coach made us take another shower before he let us go home.

Probably the best win of the season was a 71-68 victory over Gamaliel. We eventually lost 59-50 to Gamaliel in the District Tournament. I scored 425 points for the year.

Senior Years 1954-55

Record 15-11

Starting line up:

Guards: Walton “Chip” Haddix, Louis Brummett

Center: Tony Sloan

Forwards: Sidney Scott, James Ed Craig.

My senior year was the best one of the four years I played. We had the best record at 15-11 and I was fortunate enough to score 503 points for the year, which was my single season highest total. We defeated Tompkinsville in the District Tournament winning our way to the Regional Tournament, which we eventually lost to Glasgow 74-68. Glasgow went a long way in the State Tournament.

One of the best wins of the year had to be a come from behind win over Monticello in the Old Gym. We took the lead late in the game on a steal from Tony Sloan who hit me with a good pass as I broke for a lay-up. I don’t ever remember hearing such loud crowd nose. We held the lead and went on to beat them for the only time in my four years.

I also remember with pride the last game I ever played in the Old Gym. On March 23, 1955 we defeated Edmonton 70-61 and I scored 30 points. I was very proud to have played one of my best games as my finale in the Old Gym. That building played a very important part of my life and I will always be grateful for the opportunities it afforded me.

During my four years I started and played in 104 games as a varsity player. We had a record of 55-49. In my varsity career, I scored 1,739 points and was the All-Time Leading Scorer upon graduation. Kenneth Conner later broke my record and was the All-Time Leading Scorer in Clinton County High School history until Keifer Dalton came along and pushed us both down the line. Kenneth is now second, and I am third. The many wonderful hours spent at the Old Gym included basketball practice, assembly programs, school plays and graduation ceremonies and will always be remembered with loving appreciation by so many. I remember Mr. Robinson’s eloquent speeches and his challenge to define “Why are we here?” He offered a prize for the student who could answer that question. I remember the senior play and the fun we had during the rehearsals and the fright of presentation. We had an assembly after we won the district baseball championship in 1955. It was a thrill for me when Coach Kidd asked me to talk about the 14-inning championship game we won.

It is difficult to express the feelings I had (have) for the “Old Gym.” It is probably similar to the feelings I have for the home in which I grew up and the Albany Methodist Church in which I came to better understand “Why we are here?” The “Old Gym” was like another home and church for me and I will always be grateful.

The 1953-54 Bulldogs in author Louis Brummett’s junior year with the varsity squad.

Standing, left to right: Prof. Robinson, Coach Don Bales, Donald Conner, Tony Sloan, Sidney Scott, Darrell Speck, Warinner Anderson, and a team manager: Seated left to right: Billy Dicken, Louis Brummett, Jeff Conner, Weldon Haddix, Jerome Grider.

This team finished the year with a 12-12 record. Three members of this team, Louis Brummett, Sidney Scott and Tony Sloan have been inducted into the C.C.H.S. Basketball Wall of Fame.