LONDON — Paul Andrews, a name that will forever be etched in the history of Laurel County. He will always be remembered for his iconic “shot heard ’round the Commonwealth,” a halfcourt heave that secured a 53-51 victory for Laurel County High School in the KHSAA Boys’ Basketball State Championship game at Rupp Arena.
But Andrews’ basketball journey didn’t end there. He went on to play for the University of Kentucky, coming close to joining an exclusive group of players who had won both a state championship and a national championship. During his freshman season as a Wildcat, the 1984 team, they were just two wins away from achieving this feat.
This Saturday, the 1984 Wildcats will be honored during Kentucky’s game against Georgia.
That season, they boasted an impressive 29-5 record, clinching the SEC Tournament title with Kenny Walker’s last-second shot against Auburn. They also triumphed in two fiercely contested games at Rupp Arena, defeating Louisville and Illinois in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, respectively.
However, it was the Final Four matchup against John Thompson’s Georgetown Hoyas that left an indelible mark on Andrews and countless others. On March 31, 1984, the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats faced off against Patrick Ewing and the No. 2 Georgetown team.
With a halftime lead of 29-22, the Wildcats seemed destined for a National Championship showdown with Houston, a team they had previously defeated at Rupp Arena.
Yet, the second half took an unexpected turn. Kentucky’s seven-point lead quickly evaporated, and the Wildcats found themselves trailing by five points after going scoreless for the first 9 minutes and 56 seconds.
The shots that had been falling in the first half suddenly refused to cooperate, with Kentucky converting only 3 of their 33 attempts.
“It was like shots that we normally made all year just weren’t falling for us,” Andrews recalled. “I agree with what coach Joe B. Hall said, it seemed like the rim had a lid on it.”
The Wildcats had held a commanding 12-point lead (27-15) with just over three minutes remaining in the first half, only to be outscored 38-13 the remainder of the game.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Andrews believed that the team had all the necessary ingredients to win the national title.
“This was a special team. As a freshman, it was an honor to play alongside Sam Bowie, Melvin Turpin, and Kenny Walker, and to have the opportunity to compete for a national championship,” Andrews expressed. “We had a great run, and we truly believed we were going to win it. Even at halftime, we were confident. But as the second half went on, I believe we were in shock. The missed shots started taking a toll on us. Shots that Sam made in practice just weren’t going in. Even Jim Masters, one of the greatest shooters at Kentucky, couldn’t hit a shot. It was a disappointing loss, but as someone from little ole London, I will always be grateful for the experience of playing in the Kingdome in Seattle. This entire group of players were exceptional.”
