The former Panther who is to be inducted into the Russellville Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame tonight during the Clash of the Cats was part of several significant milestones in RHS sports history.
Nelson Cundiff, who graduated in 1987, is currently in his first year as head boys basketball coach at South Warren High School. He was a highly successful three-sport athlete at RHS and went on to be one of Lindsey Wilson’s best basketball players and most popular students while that school was becoming a senior college.
It’s appropriate that he is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame between RHS games against visiting Logan County. Cundiff was a leader of Panther teams that ended Logan County’s streaks of dominating district basketball and baseball championships. After LCHS was created in the fall of 1982, the Cougars won all the district boys and girls district titles, as was the case in baseball. Cundiff wasn’t eligible to do anything about girls basketball, but he did play big roles on the first Russellville boys basketball and girls basketball championship teams following the emergence of the Cougars and Lady Cougars in the 13th District.
The following is a list of Nelson Cundiff’s accomplishments by Russellville sports historian Greg Owens:
“Basketball 84-87. Only RHS player to be named 4th Region Player of the Year. All District in 1986 and 1987 for distict champs. Scored 29 points in 1987 district win over Logan County. First team All-Southcentral in 1987. Totaled 1,010 career points, 470 rebounds, 221 assists, and 115 steals. Signed with Lindsey Wilson College. Scored over 900 points in two years at Lindsey Wilson and is school’s all-time leading rebounder.
“In 1984-85 was member of RHS track team. going to sub-state in 800, 1 mile, 2 mile, and mile relay team. In 1986-87 for Coach Lou Kendall played solid shortstop and hit .280 for 25-11 team that won district. Had three hits in win over Monroe County on regional semifinalist team. Coached at Auburn Middle, Todd County. Nelson County, Mercer County, and Franklin Simpson and is currently head coach at South Warren.”
Jeff Edwards, who was Cundiff’s primary head basketball coach as a Panther, and teammate Monte Bell will be at Jim Young Gymnasium to present him his Hall of Fame plaque. A reception will be held in his honor in the school cafeteria during the early part of the girls’ Clash.
Both games and the Hall of Fame ceremony will be carried on 610 WRUS AM and online at www.network1sports.com/station/wrus