Boyle celebrates 2nd Heritage Night
Published 9:48 am Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Boyle County starters wear uniforms commemorating the Junction City Red Devils during pregame introductions Saturday before the team’s Heritage Night game. Photo by Mike Marsee
Junction City High School alumni and others browse memorabilia from their school Saturday at Boyle County’s Heritage Night game in which the former school was saluted. Photo by Mike Marsee
Boyle County players, cheerleaders and coaches pose for a photo with alumni and family members of alumni from Junction City High School who attended Saturday’s Heritage Night game. Photo by Mike Marsee
Boyle County players and coaches wear uniforms and T-shirts commemorating the Junction City Red Devils as they huddle Saturday during the team’s Heritage Night game. Photo by Mike Marsee
Boyle County cheerleaders wear shirts commemorating the Junction City Red Devils Saturday during the team’s Heritage Night game. Photo by Mike Marsee
By Mike Marsee
Contributing Writer
It was a good night for looking back and looking ahead at Boyle County.
The setting was nostalgic as the Boyle boys celebrated the former Junction City High School on their second annual Heritage Night.
On the court, the Rebels turned their focus forward with a victory that indicated they have taken a turn for the better.
Boyle defeated South Laurel 54-27 Saturday for its second significant win in as many nights after a humbling defeat.
It capped a celebratory night at Boyle in which the Rebels paid tribute to one of the four high schools that consolidated when Boyle opened in 1963.
Players and cheerleaders wore red and white uniforms to commemorate the Junction City Red Devils, and more than 20 Junction City alumni and some family members of alumni were recognized during the game.
There was also a display of memorabilia from the school, from programs and yearbooks to trophies and pennants, that drew crowds in the lobby before the game.
It was the second in what is expected to be a series of four Heritage Night games that began last season with a tribute to Forkland. Boyle will salute Parksville next season and Perryville the following year.
Boyle coach Dennie Webb said the second Heritage Night game was every bit as successful as the first
“I think it went well,” Webb said. “As far as people coming in, bringing memorabilia, that was really good. I thought Forkland probably set the curve too high for everybody else, but Junction City people, they stepped up and they really brought in some neat stuff.”
Inside the gym, Boyle scored its second straight double-digit win over a quality opponent.
The Rebels defeated a South Laurel team that was ranked No. 2 in the 13th Region in the first statewide media poll of the season, holding the Cardinals to the lowest point total allowed by Boyle in three years.
That came 24 hours after their 67-51 victory over Wayne County, the No. 1-ranked team in the 12th Region.
Boyle (5-9) had lost nine of its first 12 games and lost 96-37 to No. 3 Lexington Catholic last Tuesday.
“The worst part is we felt like we just didn’t compete (at LexCath),” Webb said. “We make some tweaks on things, trying to simplify some things and trying to get them to think less and just play. And I think defensively we’re doing a pretty good job … and we’re making shots.
“I wasn’t too worried about the shooting, but the defense is what we’ve been really bad at in some of these games. … I think defensively the kids are starting to see what we’ve been trying to get them to do and I think they like what’s going on, so hopefully we’ll keep this rolling.”
