Pike County-native coaches his way to a state basketball title

Posted by sheldoncompton on April 2, 2025, 10:38 am in Featured, Pike Central HS, UPike, basketball, Championship, PIKE CENTRAL, Sweet 16, UPIKE

by BRITTANY DeSha’ ROWE, SPORTS DIRECTOR

He’s known as the “Miracle on the Mountain” to many Pike County Natives after making one of the greatest comebacks in our area basketball history by nailing 10 3 pointers in the 60th District Championship after being down 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Pike County Central High graduate Athletic Hall of Famer Hobo McCoy was a stand-out basketball phenom across Eastern Kentucky. Upon graduation from the University of Pikeville, McCoy went on to be an assistant coach at Pike Central High School.

The latest notch in McCoy’s belt came this past Saturday when the Great Crossing WarHawks won the Boys KHSAA Sweet 16 State Championship at Rupp Arena.

When Hobo stepped away from the basketball program at Pike Central he looked to greener pastures and he and his family made their way to Great Crossings in Georgetown, Kentucky. McCoy sent an email with his resume from his cell phone to the head coach of the Warhawks Steve Page.
Page reached back out to McCoy without knowing who he was and what this former phenom had to offer. Originally Hobo was supposed to start as the fourth assistant coach but with his basketball expertise quickly worked his way up to the number one assistant as well as the head coach for the Junior Varsity team. That team has had two 20-win seasons since playing under McCoy.

The Warhawks are led by Head Coach Steve Page, Assistant Coach Hobo McCoy, and future Kentucky Wildcat and 2025 Mr. Kentucky Basketball Malachi Moreno.

McCoy stated, “Malachi is Malachi and is a unicorn in the basketball world.”

When we asked McCoy about the experience for the team and him this season as they battled in the boy’s Sweet 16 he stated, “This year’s experience was a business trip for the team, they had been the runner-up in 2023, made it to the Final Four in 2024, and this year wanted to make sure they brought the biggest trophy in high school basketball back home.”

We asked Hobo what it meant to see the love and support from the 606 after winning a state championship and now coaching in the 859.

“I’ve always loved Pike County and it will always be home,” McCoy said. “I am so appreciative of the support I’ve received from the 606 and the people who have supported and encouraged me since I was eight-years-old. The same people who congratulated me my senior year when Pike Central defeated Belfry in the 60th District championship are the same people who congratulated me when we won the state championship. That is truly special.”

McCoy plans on staying at Great Crossings and continuing his work with coach Page until they tell him to stop showing up, he says.
All of us here at Mountain Top Sports applaud him on his achievements and future success with the WarHawks.

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Pike County Central defeats Magoffin County in a pitcher’s duel

Posted by sheldoncompton on March 31, 2025, 12:05 pm in Pike Central HS, Baseball

by JACOB CHANEY

Jonah Hicks pitched a complete game Thursday night to give the Hawks a 3-1 victory over the Magoffin County Hornets. Hicks was in a groove on the mound, throwing 102 pitches in seven innings with 73 called strikes. He allowed only one run on six hits with 11 strikeouts and did not allow a walk.

Magoffin batters looked uncomfortable in the box all game and had trouble keeping up with Hicks’ velocity. He ended the game striking out four of his last seven batters faced. He also went 1-3 at the plate with a run scored.

Magoffin got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning after a groundout by Evan Reed, scoring one run.

Caleb Compton for the Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice bunt, allowing Trevor Holbrook to score after leading off the inning with a double.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Pike Central added on two more runs after a couple of wild pitches with Grey Crum and Hicks scoring.

The Hawks improved to 4-2 on the season. They will face district rival the Phelps Hornets Friday, March 28.

Key Players

Pike Central- First baseman Tyler Holbrooks had a great game at the plate. He went 2-2 with two doubles and an RBI. He also walked once and scored a run.

Magoffin County – CF/RP Michael Trusty looked to be the Hornets best player, he went 2-3 at the plate and pitched 1.2 innings with four strikeouts.

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