Lady Devils fall to 0-7

Congratulations to Coach Letcher and the Lady Jackets on another win!

Just an FYI.

 

The Lady Devils, for all their lack of practice ( the entire week before the Pendleton game they had 1 hour of practice the day before and as a rule 2-(rarely)3 practices a week up until then) and their youth, they are doing great. They have managed to not have the running clock during their games. My thought is they need more practice time. Up to this year practice was every weekday there was not a game and on a weekend occasionally. In my opinion this is hurting them drastically. These girls just need time on the court as a team. They need more than 2-3 plays, and they need the shooting practice. The skill is there, it just needs honed. Most of the games they start off strong and then fade out. I hope that they keep their spirits up! These girls love the game and I just wish the program was working for them instead of against them. I hear so many negatives in the stands at the games and I just don't think people understand how well they do for the amount of interest is shown in the program now.

Go Lady Devils!!! Keep at it!

 

Bourbon County 38 - 75 (37)

Villa Madonna 38 - 52 (14)

Augusta 36 - 45 (9)

St. Patrick 38 - 55 (17)

Paris 44 - 57 (13)

Pendleton County 48 - 77 (29)

Nicholas County 50 - 77 (27)

 

 

The KHSAA Board of Control has approved a running clock provision for basketball. The rule will require a running clock to be used in all levels of high school basketball if a point differential of 35 points or more is reached after halftime. The clock will be stopped only for a charged time-out, for injury/blood or disqualification, and immediately following the reporting of a foul if free throws are to be administered.

The specifics on how officials are to administer this new rule will be addressed in the near future.

Direct from Coach Mitchell: There are a total of 14 offenses and 7 out of bounds plays. Time in the gym is limited for several reasons. There is only one gym for all high school and middle school (boys basketball, girls basketball, cheerleading, middle school basketball) sports going on at this time. If one or more players are sick or have Dr. appointments then you are limited on what you can do in practice. Wear and tear on the athletes with fewer players is a concern. There is also a concern that burn out might be a problem that led to the quitting of players in previous years. It is not a lack of interest but concern for the program behind many of the decisions. Negatives will always be in the stands. That is the most unfortunate thing that the girls and the program have to endure the uninformed who are always more ready to open their mouths than their hearts.

I do understand about the concerns of injury and burn out, I really do. I also understand the scheduling of players, coaches and the gym. I mean no disrespect towards the coaches at all. Coach Mitchell has been great with the girls for years. He genuinely cares for them and it shows. The players respect him and it shows as well. As for the plays I won't argue that there are that many, but in watching the games, they don't run them. They have a tendency to run the same few, as in the Nicholas game. Once Nicholas players saw them repeating again and again they knew where to be and stole the ball several times from them, as well as intercepted passes. Before you point out the obvious I am aware that that happens in a game. But if you see it, and it's obvious then change it up. If the play worked, by all means throw it in again but not back to back repeatedly.

 

I suppose it is my heart that gets me into trouble, I feel for the girls. They hear the comments, see the sparse showing in the stands and wish it was different. They knew it was going to be a rough season, as did the coaches. But they are still happy to be playing. I am also grateful to have the program and all those that support it and work to make it happen.

 

There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.

Malcolm X