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Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

Elliott County thrills legions of fans

SANDY HOOK — If basketball is a religion in Kentucky, then Elliott County's runnin', gunnin', lovable Lions have some of the most devout worshipers in the state.

How devout?

"After watching Elliott County the last couple years, UK basketball doesn't interest me much," said Ronald Wheeler, a lifelong resident of Sandy Hook and a hoops fan most of his 73 years.

In an economically depressed area where there's not much positive news, the high school basketball team has generated pride and excitement for good reason.

The Lions have won 100 games in the past four years, including a pair of 16th Region titles, using an up-tempo style that has led the state in scoring the last two seasons.

After recent victories over defending state champion Mason County and perennial power Ballard, they have reclaimed the No. 1 spot in Dave Cantrall's Rating the State.

"A lot of people not athletic-minded won't like what I say, but in my lifetime there hasn't been anything bigger happen in this community that this right here," Coach Rick Mays said.

Rocky Adkins, a star point guard for Elliott County more than 30 years ago and now House Democratic floor leader in Frankfort, agreed with his former coach.

"I know of nothing more excit ing that's ever happened in Elliott County that folks have been more proud of than this basketball team," he said.

Evan Faulkner, a senior guard who shares the backcourt with his identical twin Ethan, says the Lions "give everybody around here something to believe in."

But the Lions' fan base extends far beyond the borders of the county in northeastern Kentucky.

This is a basketball team that creates a buzz not just at the local Penny Mart (where the sign advertises the triple attraction of Deli/Propane/Lotto), but wherever it plays.

This is a basketball team easy to root for.

Elliott County is a small school (320 students) with a home-grown coach, home-grown assistants and home-grown players who employ a breakneck style that leaves fans as well as opponents breathless.

Two years ago the Lions became the first team in the county's history to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Last year they made a return trip to Rupp Arena and nearly upset Mason County in the first round.

This season Elliott County is better than ever, sporting a 24-2 record as tournament time approaches. With six seniors among its top eight players, the goal is to become the smallest school to win the state title since Paintsville's 1996 champs.

The Lions don't consider themselves David trying to slay the Goliaths, though.

"We lost that underdog mentality a long time ago," Evan Faulkner said. "Every time we step on the floor, we step on it to win, regardless of who we're playing."

Mays, 59, a low-key coach, said he "never cussed a kid, never said anything out of the way trying to get them to give their best effort."

Mays played for Sandy Hook in the 1960s. He took over the program in the mid-1970s after the school changed its name to Elliott County. He got out of coaching for seven years in the 1980s, but returned to the sidelines in 1990.

"Every year I put a whistle around my neck I expected us to win the region," Mays said. "That maybe wasn't realistic, but I always had hope."

His optimism took on a new shine when he saw the Faulkners and Jonathan Ferguson in grade school.

"I won't sit here and say I knew we'd go to the state tournament," Mays said. "I wasn't a prophet, but I knew it was going to be a special group."

A lot of teams espouse the "we are family" theme, but Elliott County has the bloodlines to back it up.

It has two sets of brothers in the starting lineup — the Faulkner twins and the Knipp brothers, Chris, a senior, and Timmy, a 6-foot-7 sophomore — and a legacy of Lions.

The Faulkners' dad, Kyle, played for Elliott County, as did Dale Ferguson, Jonathan's father, and Randy Flannery, father of senior reserve Jared.

Mays' assistant coaches (Greg Adkins, Joe Markwell, Roy Whitt and Matthew Spencer) all played for him.