By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
When Walton-Verona junior guard Zach Clinkenbeard received the most valuable player award after the 8th Region All “A” Classic boys’ basketball championship game, it was a touching moment for his teammates.
“I told our guys through the year that we would face adversity,” said head coach Grant Brannen. “Well, no one has faced more adversity than Zach the last couple of years. To see what this young man has gone through and the success he’s now having is an inspiration to all.”
Clinkenbeard is the leading rebounder and second leading scorer on the Walton-Verona team that will be playing in the Kentucky All “A” Classic state basketball tournament this week at Frankfort Convention Center.
The unfortunate circumstances the teen-ager had to deal with began two years ago when one of his grandfathers died during his freshman season. Last year, his older brother, Matt, suffered a knee injury in December that ended his senior season and their other grandfather passed away in January.
A few weeks before this season began, the player’s father, Mark Clinkenbeard, was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and spent several days in the intensive care unit at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
After going through all of that, winning last week’s 8th Region championship was an uplifting experience that Clinkenbeard and everyone around him needed.
“It has been rough, but the community here is awesome,” he said. “They’re just so supportive, I love this community. It’s just one of the best places to play and win. We’re like a big old family.”
Clinkenbeard’s father had to step down as head coach of the Walton-Verona girls’ basketball team this season because of his heart condition. But his recovery has been going well and he was able to watch his son play in the three regional tournament games that the boys’ team won by wide margins.
The 6-foot-5 junior guard nearly posted a double-double in the last two regional games. He had 12 points and nine rebounds in a semifinal win over Eminence and followed that with 11 points and eight rebounds in the championship game against Gallatin County.
“Before the season started, I named Zach one of our captains,” coach Brannen said. “I asked him to be a leader and to trust his teammates in the process. Zach has a great understanding of the game. I’m sure being a coach’s son doesn’t hurt. He understands when to get teammates involved and when he needs to take over.”
Last year, Clinkenbeard was moved into Walton-Verona’s starting lineup after his older brother’s knee injury. A few weeks later, their grandfather passed away from heart problems. At that time, coach Brannen encouraged his young player to use basketball as a reprieve from the hard times he and his family were facing.
“He said basketball should be like your Cloud Nine, you’re getaway place from it all,” Clinkenbeard recalled. He took the coach’s words to heart and averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds per game during the last month of the season for the Bearcats, who finished with an 18-11 record.
Six seniors on last year’s team graduated. Walton-Verona is much younger this season with two seniors, three juniors and seven sophomores on the varsity roster. The Bearcats got off to a 2-3 start with mostly first-year starters in the lineup, but they won 13 of their next 14 games and will enter the small-school state tournament with a 15-4 record that’s one of the best in the 16-team field.
Walton-Verona’s first-round game will be against 12th Region champion Danville (7-12) at 8 p.m. Thursday.
“In our first game (of the season) against Beechwood, we didn’t look very good at all,” Clinkenbeard said. “But the chemistry has just grown more and more, and now we’re playing some of the best basketball that Walton has played in coach Brannen’s era. And it’s just going to continue to get better.”
Clinkenbeard is averaging 10.5 points and six rebounds per game. The Bearcats also have a good post player in 6-foot-8 sophomore Dieonte Miles, who is averaging 13.6 points and five rebounds. Five other players are contributing between five and seven points per game and that balance makes their team even harder to handle.
“No one wants to be the star,” Clinkenbeard said. “We all want the person next to us to do better so we all can be successful.”
That’s the mindset that carried the Bearcats to their first appearance in the All “A” Classic small-school state tournament since 2010 and they’re hoping to make a run at the championship this week in Frankfort.
“Coach Brannen emphasizes all the time if we play with energy and play our type of basketball we can win, and it shows,” Clinkenbeard said.
All “A” Classic Girls State Tournament
WEDNESDAY — Upper bracket
Murray vs. Danville, 8:30 a.m.
HOLY CROSS vs. Monroe County, 10 a.m.
Louisville Presentation vs. Trimble County, 11:30 a.m.
West Carter vs. Owensboro Catholic, 1 p.m.
WEDNESDAY — Lower bracket
Paintsville vs. Harlan, 5 p.m.
Crittenden County vs. Lexington Sayre, 6:30 p.m.
Kentucky Country Day vs. Leslie County, 8 p.m.
Nicholas County vs. Green County, 9:30 p.m.
FRIDAY — Quarterfinals
Upper bracket games, 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Lower bracket games, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
SATURDAY –Semifinals
Upper bracket, noon
Lower bracket, 1:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Championship game, noon
All “A” Classic Boys State Tournament
THURSDAY — Upper bracket
Kentucky Country Day vs. Mayfield, 8:30 a.m.
East Ridge vs. Russellville, 10 a.m.
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC vs. Cordia, 11:30 a.m.
Fort Knox vs. University Heights, 1 p.m.
THURSDAY — Lower bracket
Pineville vs. Owensboro Catholic, 5 p.m.
Paris vs. Elliott County, 6:30 p.m.
WALTON-VERONA vs. Danville, 8 p.m.
Louisville Holy Cross vs. Lexington Christian, 9:30 p.m.
FRIDAY — Quarterfinals
Upper bracket games, 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Lower bracket games, 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
SATURDAY — Semifinals
Upper bracket, 6 p.m.
Lower bracket, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Championship game, 2 p.m.