Nomination Year: 2022

Nominated By: Thomas Watson

Nomination Category: Heritage

Sport: Basketball

Years Participated: 1959-1961

Career Summary: 

Ranford Watson was a 1961 graduate of Celina High School, where he was a three-year member of the basketball team, and a two-year letterman, while also being an accomplished hitter and outfielder in baseball.  On the hardwood, he served as the leading scorer and rebounder on the 1961 District 15 Champion Bulldog team—which captured conference gold for the first time in 10 years.  

Watson had an extraordinary senior season.  He averaged a double-double (points and rebounds), played in numerous contests where he recorded over 20 rebounds, and produced a 29-point, 27-rebound night against Pickett County.  Watson was named both All-District and All-Upper Cumberland for his dominant play.

While the individual accolades were tremendous, team achievements shouldn’t be forgotten.  The Bulldogs survived a five-game losing streak to begin the season, before heading into Christmas break with a 3-6 record.  After losing the first game of January to a strong Clinton County, KY team, the Dawgs went on a rampage with a nine-game win-streak—which helped improve their record to 14-9 by season’s end.  

Celina entered the District 15 Tournament as the 4th seed and proceeded to eliminate Red Boiling Springs, before taking on York—who had ended the season as the #2-ranked team in the state.  Down one starter, Watson helped beat the Dragons and then win the district title over Rickman.  The 1961 season ended with a 17-10 record after region play against Sparta, when Celina was eliminated on a last second tip-in.  Watson had 17 points and 10 rebounds in his final game.  

Nominator Comment:

“Ranford was the leader of the best team of the 1960’s.  It was commonly thought that he was the best long-range shooter of his era.  Several of Ranford’s teammates are already in the Clay County Sports Hall of Fame, including myself (Thomas Watson), Danny Watson, Kenneth Cherry, Mel Brown, and our coach Carmon C. Brown.  It would be fitting if Ranford were there with us.”