GEORGETOWN, Ky. — The Kentucky high school basketball continues to mourn the loss of a coaching legend. Billy Hicks, high school basketball’s all-time wins leader, died Sunday, Dec. 3, days before a tournament named in his honor tipped off in Scott County.
The Billy Hicks Classic got underway Wednesday, Dec. 6.
“I felt an aura, coach’s aura is always here,” said Scott County assistant coach, Mario McIntyre.
The Scott County Cardinals took on the Lafayette Generals in the 6 p.m. matchup at Scott County High School. McIntyre played for coach Billy Hicks and says he always expected 100% from his players.
“When I coach, I coach for 32 minutes. If we’re up 40 or down 40, I’m going to give 100% on the sideline because that’s what I want my players to do, and that’s what coach did,” McIntyre said.
For 38 years, Hicks devoted his life to coaching the next generation of basketball players. 25 of those seasons he spent in Scott County, winning two state titles. Hicks retired in 2019, passing the whiteboard to his longtime assistant, Tim Glenn.
“He is a person that was called to do what he was doing. You have teachers and preachers and doctors; if anybody was called to be a basketball coach, especially high school, Billy Hicks was that guy,” Glenn said.
Glenn says preparing for the tournament was rough after learning of Hicks’ passing. But said his former coach would want the game to go on.
“I know if Billy was here, and he was telling me what to do, he’d tell me get them boys in there and work them,” Glenn said.
And work, Glenn’s Cardinals did; playing a back-and-forth game until running away with the lead in the fourth quarter; defeating the Generals 59-50.
“That was his trademark, red heat and at the end I think we showed a little red heat,” Glenn said.
“The second half, that toughness he instilled in us, came out in our players tonight (Wednesday),” McIntyre said.
How will Billy Hicks be remembered?
“State of Kentucky, nationwide, greatest coach ever,” said Scott County assistant coach, Toby Harris.
“Legends they pass, but they never die, so he’s always going to be in this gym,” McIntyre said.
Billy Hicks was 71.
The Billy Hicks Classic continues Thursday night with girls’ action and through the weekend with boys and girls matchups.