When I first saw the length of the tommyb post, I thought - oh my - where is this headed. Wrong assumption.

 

I will add to the comments of others, nicely done tommyb.

 

The players, coaches, and parents are all passionate about the game of basketball. They have been giving their all. The team does not currently have the level of refined skill to consistently beat the better teams on the schedule. Factor in a couple of injuries and the W/L record will suffer.

 

This year in N Ky 9th region most of the rankings have segmented the teams into groups -- 4 regional contenders (NCC, Holmes, CovCath, Cooper) , and the rest. How many football players are significant contributors to any of these four teams? Maybe 1 or 2 at Cooper. Is that it? Add Brossart to the discussion and you have another very good team with the same bball only make-up. In this era it is a very important determinent of success.

 

With regard to Ben W. attending HMS last year and then enrolling at NCC - it was the best decision for him. His class at HHS will continue the dependence on dual sport athletes. He would have been the only player from his grade working on his game during the summer and fall. He would have been waiting for the football season to end for some meaningful practice reps. He has grown 5 inches in the last year. He enjoyed a very productive AAU summer. He has been able to compete with and against Schulte and Macdonald for months - adding to his development. Several times I have read "HHS loss is NCC's gain". I agree with that, but I also think that current set of non-football playing athletes at NCC have expedited Ben's development. With the high percentage of football players being the significant contributors in the HHS program there is nothing that Coach Flynn or anyone else at HHS can do to offset these advantages.

When I first saw the length of the tommyb post, I thought - oh my - where is this headed. Wrong assumption.

 

I will add to the comments of others, nicely done tommyb.

 

The players, coaches, and parents are all passionate about the game of basketball. They have been giving their all. The team does not currently have the level of refined skill to consistently beat the better teams on the schedule. Factor in a couple of injuries and the W/L record will suffer.

 

This year in N Ky 9th region most of the rankings have segmented the teams into groups -- 4 regional contenders (NCC, Holmes, CovCath, Cooper) , and the rest. How many football players are significant contributors to any of these four teams? Maybe 1 or 2 at Cooper. Is that it? Add Brossart to the discussion and you have another very good team with the same bball only make-up. In this era it is a very important determinent of success.

 

With regard to Ben W. attending HMS last year and then enrolling at NCC - it was the best decision for him. His class at HHS will continue the dependence on dual sport athletes. He would have been the only player from his grade working on his game during the summer and fall. He would have been waiting for the football season to end for some meaningful practice reps. He has grown 5 inches in the last year. He enjoyed a very productive AAU summer. He has been able to compete with and against Schulte and Macdonald for months - adding to his development. Several times I have read "HHS loss is NCC's gain". I agree with that, but I also think that current set of non-football playing athletes at NCC have expedited Ben's development. With the high percentage of football players being the significant contributors in the HHS program there is nothing that Coach Flynn or anyone else at HHS can do to offset these advantages.

 

Add in the 8th grade class, which many in the rotation will play significant roles on the freshman football team and not one player is basketball only and you are starting to see a trend. I think Tommyb had a very good post.

Your Regional Runners-up since 1999

 

CovCath (4) 99-02-07-08

NewCath (3) 06-11-12

Holmes. (2) 00-10

 

Not a happy stat that is for sure.

While I agree somewhat with what you are saying, you cannot let your basketball only kids escape to a district rival and you need to mold your offensive and defensive schemes to the talent that you have on an annual basis. This is exactly what Dale does with the football program.

 

 

The one that got away. Frosh Weyer playing in last night's AIT finals for NCC.

 

What is the records of the past coaches for Highlands? Is Flynn the only one that hasn't had a whole lot of success?

Messmer's the last one to have much success.

The one that got away. Frosh Weyer playing in last night's AIT finals for NCC.

 

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Almost positive that sibs went to Highlands.

The one that got away. Frosh Weyer playing in last night's AIT finals for NCC.

 

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Welcome to NCC young Mr. Weyer .

Almost positive that sibs went to Highlands.

 

Yup sho did.

Almost positive that sibs went to Highlands.

Is Weyer the first basketball only kid to depart Fort Thomas recently? I thought Sr. Colin DuPont was a surprise when he ended up on the hill?

I agree with Tommy boy. Nothing is WRONG at Highlands. Expectations for winning are always high. The school has a great sports reputation. They are not a big school by any standard yet compete with every team on most years. So they start off slow, but always give someone fits at year end.

I just looked out of my window and the sky is not falling in the city of beautiful homes. I don't think either NCC or Newport is hoping to draw them in that silly random draw district playoff.

Good luck to the birds. They just might surprise you and could easily show up at the regional event and send someone packing.

I tried to convince Canadian Div1 prospect Ray Kasonga, the 6'8 kid WHO eecently became eligible at Pikeville, that NKY was a better place to live.

Is Weyer the first basketball only kid to depart Fort Thomas recently?

 

Not sure what your definition of recently is, but Matt Roberts went to Moeller for bball and he would have been a senior with Kowolnek, Watston, Grote, Grubbs, and company. That group couldn't stay healthy; however, Roberts was a big loss.

Dupont left after 8th grade year and is a good athlete. He was not going to play football in HS so it was an easy choice for him. Go play golf, baseball and hoops at NCC.

 

He would have been a very nice PG for the Birds though this year.

He would have averaged more but not 13 more per game. Keep in mind that teams would have guarded him differently if there was a 3 point line. They would have chased him out further and not let him shoot from behind the line as easily as when the long shot is only worth 2 points.

 

As I remember it, he shot out there anyway and they did chase him out there because he was deadly. If they pushed him out, he just pulled up sooner. In the Holmes game (which he had 69 with very good defenders on him), he was shooting from the volleyball line on the wing! He was one of those players that you had to guard as soon as he got to half court. Teams tried everything...to not let him get the ball, to double teaming him on the entire court. He would have lit it up with the 3-point line. About half his shots were from out there anyway, but if Coach Shields would have been awarded 3-points for that shot when Draud played, you can bet he would have had plays set up to get him open out there. AND, if there were a 3-point line, how many times would he have stopped and pulled up at 3 instead of taking another dribble or two. There is no doubt in my mind that his numbers would have been outrageous if there was a 3-point line when he played.

Not sure what your definition of recently is, but Matt Roberts went to Moeller for bball and he would have been a senior with Kowolnek, Watston, Grote, Grubbs, and company. That group couldn't stay healthy; however, Roberts was a big loss.

 

Matt was not a Ft. Thomas kid. He came from OH. for what? two or three years. As soon as he had varsity eligibility in OH. he went back. He had immense knee issues, which really held him back at Moeller. Good kid player, nice kid.