Playing Basketball at Lancaster High School

Many of you probably know Phillip Stump of Lancaster. His parents ran a grocery store in Lancaster for many years, and later, Phillip also ran a successful grocery store. If you have ever eaten “Stump’s Pimiento Cheese,” it was made by Phillip.

I worked for Phillip for about 6 months back in 1978. We became very good friends, and that friendship continues to this day. While I worked with him, we shared many laughs, jokes, and stories of our life. I cherish these memories greatly. Today, I want to share one of Phillip’s memories with you. I think you will like it.

Phillip was always a big man. He was tall and built very stoutly. It seemed as if he had the biggest feet, and he described himself as always being quite clumsy. He grew to his adult size very early in his life, and this opened doors for him as far as sports was concerned. He told me he always got to play on the basketball team, not because of his ability, but because he was just tall.

One evening, as Phillip tells it, the Lancaster High School Green Devils were playing a basketball game on their home court. Lancaster High School had a very nice gymnasium, and it was a great place to watch a basketball game. The gym was packed this evening, as most basketball gyms used to be years ago.

Coy Dyehouse, who had been a tremendous football player at Lancaster, had returned to his alma mater to teach school. He served in many different capacities while in Lancaster and was revered by all. He, too, was a big and strong man. He was a great football coach at Lancaster, and the high school football field at (now) Garrard County High School is named in his honor. Mr. Dyehouse was also coaching the high school basketball team when Phillip played.

Phillip told me on this particular evening while playing basketball, Coach Dyehouse had grown increasingly aggravated with his team’s performance. He had called several time outs, trying to encourage his players to give a better effort. As stated before, Coach Dyehouse was big and strong, and when he spoke, everyone gave him their utmost attention and respect.

After the halftime berating, the Green Devils continued their uninspired performance in the second half. About halfway through the 3rd quarter, Coach Dyehouse, frustrated as he could possibly be, grabbed the back of Phillip’s jersey as Phillip, jogging back down the floor, passed in front of the home team’s bench. The game continued as Coach Dyehouse lit into Phillip, excoriating him for his lack of hustle and genuinely bad play.

While the game is still being played with now only nine active players, Phillip listened attentively to every word his coach told him, nodding in agreement with every word spoken. He knew Coach Dyehouse was right, and he determined to do better. The large crowd all witnessed the scene playing out in front of them.

After Coach Dyehouse was finished, he gave Phillip a push, shoving him back out onto the court and into the arena. After receiving the push, Phillip, young, gangly, and tall, began to lose his balance, and after staggering for a bit, fell down flat, spread eagle on the large green “L” at center court. He laid there for just a moment, reflecting on what had just transpired, as the crowd roared. He told me later it was the largest ovation he had ever received for playing basketball.

PS Lancaster High did not play any better, and still lost the game overwhelmingly.