More on Chris Lofton

[Shinkle, Randy]

In 4 games in the Kentucky Sweet 16, Chris Lofton:
    -- shot 29 of 47 from inside the arc (61.7%)
    -- shot 10 of 31 from behind the arc (32.3%)
    -- shot 24 of 26 (!) from the foul line (92.3%)
    -- pulled down 41 rebounds
    -- handed out 8 assists
    -- committed 13 turnovers

Here are links to some game stories (which include pictures of Lofton and future UC quarterback Dustin Grutza), each followed by some excerpts:


    http://www.courier-journal.com/cjsports/news2004/03/18/E1-mason0318-7752.html

Rodney Woods, the former University of Tennessee guard who coaches Wayne County, also praised Lofton.  "He's as good a shooter as I've ever seen play," he said.  "I knew he would shoot the lights out."
...
"It's real simple," Lofton said about his three-point shooting.  "If I'm open I'll shoot it, or I'll take it to the hole.  If I can't, I'll pass it to my teammates."


    http://www.courier-journal.com/cjsports/news2004/03/20/E1-trin0320-12264.html

His 22-foot three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left in regulation completed a six-point rally in the final 42 seconds, and he scored six points in the third overtime before a crowd of 16,310.
...
Lofton sealed it with a dunk at the buzzer.  "That's why they're state champions, and that's why he's the best player in the state," Szabo said.  "I've seen him do it time and time again."
...
"I was 2 of 10 on three-pointers, so that's not too good," the senior guard said.  "But when it came to crunch time, I wanted to shoot it."


    http://www.courier-journal.com/cjsports/news2004/03/21/C10-semi10321-6553.html

But Mason County withstood the Cardinals' tournament-high 77 shots and took away an 84-78 overtime victory at Rupp Arena.
...
Mr. Basketball front-runner Chris Lofton, who forced overtime with a three-pointer against Trinity, had the ball on the final possession [in regulation].  But he was tightly defended and gave it to Litzinger, who missed a three-point attempt as time expired.


    http://www.courier-journal.com/cjsports/news2004/03/21/C11-sweetside0321-6122.html

Lofton, a 6-foot-3 senior guard who made nine three-pointers and scored 39 points in the Royals' 86-65 championship-game win over Ballard last year, scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half.  Lofton didn't blame the loss on fatigue, even though Mason County (33-3) needed three overtimes to beat Trinity on Friday and another extra period to eliminate Scott County in yesterday afternoon's semifinals.  "You can make all the excuses you want, but the bottom line is they deserved to win," said Lofton, whose 112 points in four games led all players in the Sweet 16.  "In the second half, I was more aggressive, but they (Warren Central) were tall and athletic."  Brock Whitney started out guarding Lofton, then Lonnell DeWalt and Troy McFarland took turns guarding the overwhelming favorite for Mr. Basketball.  "We wanted to keep someone fresh on him," Warren Central coach Tim Riley said.
...
Lofton won a sportsmanship award given by the Marines, but on this night Whitney replaced him as the premier shooter, making six three-pointers and scoring 24 points.  He won the MVP award given annually by the Lexington Herald-Leader.  Lofton won it last year.


Randy '78

P.S. -- I also found this article that will interest those of you who fondly remember the Ed Badger era:

    http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/high_school/8233851.htm