Bouncing into Battle: 43rd District Tournament Night 1, Lafayette Generals vs Tates Creek Commodores

February 26th, 2024

The Lafayette Generals and Tates Creek Commodores tipped off the 43rd District Tournament on Monday night at Lexington Christian Academy on the South Side of Lexington. Both teams have fallen short of expectations this season, but tonight was a brand new slate as every one has the same opportunity to play their way into Rupp Arena for the KHSAA Sweet 16. It’s the best time of the year, it’s the post season.

These two squads have certainly seen better basketball in their history. You have the days of Mr. Basketball Dom Fucci roaring down the court on Centre Parkway at Tates Creek. Then there is the KHSAA Blue Blood Lafayette Generals, boasting 6 State Championships on Reed Lane. This is as blue blood of a matchup as you can get if it were 20 plus years ago. I long for the days when these teams return to contention in their rightful place atop the 11th Region.

Lafayette controlled the tip and the battle had begun. These are two teams that looked to push the pace early as it felt more like a track meet instead of a basketball game. Lafayette guards #2 Ishmael Thomas and #3 Noah Shofner were having success penetrating the Commodore defense off of the dribble but errant passes led to turnovers in which Tates Creek was able to convert for points in quick transition. Lafayette Guard Shofter showed veteran leadership as he settled the Generals offense into a more patient pace of play, however the Commodores had other plans. After a short stretch of trading baskets midway through the 1st Quarter Lafayette held a narrow 13-12 lead with 1:52 remaining. Lafayette’s Shofter banked one home to beat the buzzer as the Generals needed the bucket to hold a 16-14 lead.

The second quarter was much of the same story. Commodore big man #5 Peyton Prichard, an athletic player with good lateral quickness, tried to halt the Generals momentum by gobbling up rebounds on both ends of the court. The two teams caught fire and traded buckets before Lafayette’s Senior Guard Shofter forced an air ball on the Tates Creek end and took possession to give the Generals the last shot. Vince Sanford, the head coach of the Lafayette Generals, took a timeout with 12.7 to play before half to put the ball in the hot hand of his guards before Tates Creek forced a turnover and hit a 3 (which was after the buzzer in my opinion) to send Lafayette Coach Vince Sanford into a frenzy towards the stripes, yelling “THE BALL WAS IN HIS HAND AS THE BUZZER WENT OFF!” Probably correct. The Generals owned a 29-28 lead at half as they looked to shake off the stroke of bad luck and end their current 7 game losing skid.

Coming out of half, Lafayette Player (#32, not rostered on KHSAA site) took some rough contact down low from Tates Creek’s #11 Dawson Garth temporarily pausing the game as the Tates Creek band oddly vacated the stands. Their team took a 30-29 lead shortly after with 7:11 left to play in the 3rd. Weird.

Lafayette’s (#32) quickly tickled the twine from the right wing and getting a quick rebound and scoring a bucket down low for a 5 point swing with just over 6 minutes left. Generals held the lead 34-30. Lafayette’s shifty playmaker Shofter looked poised as he drew contact with 4:21 remaining going 2 for 2 from the line to widen the Generals lead to 7. The momentum felt like it was firmly in the possession of the kids from Lafayette.

The Tates Creek band finally found their way back to the stand with 2:07 remaining to find their Commodores down 49-42. I am still unsure as to where they went, but they certainly better have those cheering shoes on ready for the 4th because Thomas of Lafayette has decided that he wasn’t ready to head home for the summer yet.

Lafayette played stall ball with 1:33 remaining before Coach Sanford finally sent them in motion with 47 seconds left before drawing a charge call. Kentucky High School Basketball needs a shot clock. The Commodores turned the ball over and fouled Shofter who had ice in his veins going 2 for 2 to give the Generals a 51-44 lead before immediately forcing a turnover in transition and feeding one of his teammates for a buzzer beater of their own. Ball don’t lie.

Lafayette looked to keep playing stall ball as the deciding quarter got underway. Coach Vince Sanford had the strategy of playing keep away and playing patient basketball hoping to catch these Commodore Defenders sleeping. It didn’t work as tthe Commodores began to trap their ball handlers but Lafayette remained composed taking a 10 point lead at 65-55 with 1:23 left in the game. The Generals faithful started to feel it as the band erupted in the fight song and the famous “L-A-F-A-Y-E-T-T-E Lafayette!” Chant rang out. The Generals end their 7 game skid and survive to fight another battle. Lafayette wins 69-61. That was fun.