Kevin will have the Birds rolling by end of Jan, when they can play close against most teams. This seems like the most pigskin players that are keys to success at Highlands in quite a while. Best wishes to the Birds this season.

From what I understand Highlands has players who have chosen not to play basketball. The Walton and Williamstown programs have been decimated by transfers over the past 4 years, and the fans making negative comments on this thread, program's have benefitted from some of those transfers. As I've said before (Burns, Helton, Moeves Bros., Mcneil Bros, Daugherty, McCubbins, plus current players) easily makes WV best team in 8th region, top 15 in state this year.

 

Those transfers have chosen to move on, or in Highlands case not play for various reasons, the kids who remain playing on these 3 teams have chosen to stay and play basketball and represent these programs. I've seen all 3 teams last couple of nights, these kids play extremely hard and coaches giving effort like coaching in state finals. Actually kind of refreshing watching kids play for hometown communities, instead of a bunch of transfers playing together. The way kids transfer today a lot of top teams nothing more than AAU teams representing high school districts.

Walton-Verona boys 41, Highlands 36:

The Bearcats (1-4) won the battle of rebuilding programs under the direction of first-year head coaches.

Former Newport Central Catholic Head Coach Grant Brannen took over the Walton-Verona program in the spring. The Bearcats had just missed a win Friday by a 52-49 count against Williamstown.

Highlands (0-2) lost for the second time in two days. The Bluebirds are still looking for their first win under the guidance of new Head Coach Kevin Listerman.

Two players reached double-digits to lead the Bluebirds. They were Parker Harris and Ryan Greene with 10 each.

Highlands plays host to Dixie Heights (1-2) on Tuesday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Highlands Saturday Hoops Briefs

You gotta feel for the kids at highlands. I know all of them very well and they are a super bunch. You seriously cannot even count their schedule in December when determining how good they can be. Losing so much size they will struggle rebounding, it won't be from lack of effort. The first 10 games are about building chemistry and muscle memory.

From what I understand Highlands has players who have chosen not to play basketball. The Walton and Williamstown programs have been decimated by transfers over the past 4 years, and the fans making negative comments on this thread, program's have benefitted from some of those transfers. As I've said before (Burns, Helton, Moeves Bros., Mcneil Bros, Daugherty, McCubbins, plus current players) easily makes WV best team in 8th region, top 15 in state this year.

 

Those transfers have chosen to move on, or in Highlands case not play for various reasons, the kids who remain playing on these 3 teams have chosen to stay and play basketball and represent these programs. I've seen all 3 teams last couple of nights, these kids play extremely hard and coaches giving effort like coaching in state finals. Actually kind of refreshing watching kids play for hometown communities, instead of a bunch of transfers playing together. The way kids transfer today a lot of top teams nothing more than AAU teams representing high school districts.

 

Which schools have "a bunch of transfers playing together?"

You gotta feel for the kids at highlands. I know all of them very well and they are a super bunch. You seriously cannot even count their schedule in December when determining how good they can be. Losing so much size they will struggle rebounding, it won't be from lack of effort. The first 10 games are about building chemistry and muscle memory.

 

They'll obviously get better. Almost all teams do.

 

However, if they're lacking size now and rebounding is an issue won't that also be a challenge in February?

You gotta feel for the kids at highlands. I know all of them very well and they are a super bunch. You seriously cannot even count their schedule in December when determining how good they can be. Losing so much size they will struggle rebounding, it won't be from lack of effort. The first 10 games are about building chemistry and muscle memory.

 

Thats what the summer is for

Many top teams around the state have atleast one if not multiple transfer on current teams. Many kids have started transferring as early as elementary school and have transferred multiple times.

Thats what the summer is for

 

Please explain what you are trying to say here. Do you know anything about how the program has operated since Coach Flynn left? Obviously grossly misinformed on how things have gone since Coach Flynn left based upon your response.

Saw a lot of good things from the Birds on SAT night. They are very scrappy -- and they need to be. Buten runs the point well and is a continuing nuisance to the opposing PG with his defense. Harris has progressed nicely and has good length and skills. The return of Houliston will help and the other footballers transitioning to the round ball will improve. Hergott never got into rhythm as he was saddled with foul trouble the whole game.

 

Although admittedly a very limited sample, in-game coaching seems to have improved. Very calm & steady from a demeanor standpoint and Xs & Os improved. For example, in the 1st half, Birds simply threw the ball around the top of the WV 2-3 zone. In the 2nd half, they made a concerted effort to flash players to the elbow and baseline on the same side when the ball rotated there. Ended up with 2 or 3 nice "give n go" layups feeding from both locations. Without a spot up 3 point shooter, zones are going to sag on the Birds. Without an aircraft carrier in the middle, only crisp passing forcing the defenders to move will allow inside scoring.

Thats what the summer is for

 

In an ideal world, you are correct. Q knows very well that HHS hoops does not operate in an "ideal world." When you have 80% of your roster heavily occupied with the pigskin from the 1st day of summer break until the 1st week of DEC, you get "chemistry and muscle memory" via on the job training during the 1st 1/3 of the season.

 

Coach Listerman's main job, IMO, is to increase the participating talent level across all levels (middle school to SRs). For those that want to hoop only, give them the reason to do so. For those that want to hoop and play football, make sure you make it as easy as possible to do so to the maximum. Most importantly, for those that stop playing hoops, at whatever level, find out why and try to change it for that kid, if possible, and try to prevent it from being the same reason for the next kid that comes down the line.

For those that do not know, the football players were involved with the basketball program from the time Coach Listerman took over, through the summer (even with football going on) and also during the football season up to the week leading into the game with CovCath. There are several kids that have been involved with the program that did not come back and IMO might be having second thoughts to be honest. Coach L cannot make kids come out for the team. Beau Hoge was present most of summer and decided not to come out, Todd Ramey concentrated on baseball but was in contact with Coach L in summer and decided not to tryout. Nick True decided not to try out because of a knee issue. Also understand that he tried to graduate early and was told Highlands does not do that. Jensen Feggins chose not to tryout as he is attempting to position himself for a D1 scholly in football. Those are the only four guys that could have helped the program IMO. If Coach L is at HHS 2 years earlier, Ben Weyer is hooping for the Birds and not up on the hill. Perhaps Hoge, Ramey and Feggins decide to change their minds next year and then again maybe not. IMO the administration has made a great hire in Coach Listerman and Rome was not built in a day.

IMO the administration has made a great hire in Coach Listerman and Rome was not built in a day.

 

I think most, if not all, of the posters you've questioned on here are in full agreement on this point.

For those that do not know, the football players were involved with the basketball program from the time Coach Listerman took over, through the summer (even with football going on) and also during the football season up to the week leading into the game with CovCath. There are several kids that have been involved with the program that did not come back and IMO might be having second thoughts to be honest. Coach L cannot make kids come out for the team. Beau Hoge was present most of summer and decided not to come out, Todd Ramey concentrated on baseball but was in contact with Coach L in summer and decided not to tryout. Nick True decided not to try out because of a knee issue. Also understand that he tried to graduate early and was told Highlands does not do that. Jensen Feggins chose not to tryout as he is attempting to position himself for a D1 scholly in football. Those are the only four guys that could have helped the program IMO. If Coach L is at HHS 2 years earlier, Ben Weyer is hooping for the Birds and not up on the hill. Perhaps Hoge, Ramey and Feggins decide to change their minds next year and then again maybe not. IMO the administration has made a great hire in Coach Listerman and Rome was not built in a day.

 

Rome can exist at Highlands. It has before. But if anyone thought they were going to come out in the first weeks of a new regime at HHS and burn it up, you are very naive. HHS fans are very used to slow starts. It's always been that way. But add in a new coach and some players not coming back after football and that challenge goes up a notch. It may not be this year, but they will be back. There is no doubt.

 

They also have a couple classes in the pipeline that are starting to choose bball over football. That's the combination that works at HHS. A couple dedicated bball players (AAU challenged and continues AAU thru high school) merged with a couple of the football "athletes". That's when HHS thrives. With the coach in place...it's coming folks!

Saw a lot of good things from the Birds on SAT night. They are very scrappy -- and they need to be. Buten runs the point well and is a continuing nuisance to the opposing PG with his defense. Harris has progressed nicely and has good length and skills. The return of Houliston will help and the other footballers transitioning to the round ball will improve. Hergott never got into rhythm as he was saddled with foul trouble the whole game.

 

Although admittedly a very limited sample, in-game coaching seems to have improved. Very calm & steady from a demeanor standpoint and Xs & Os improved. For example, in the 1st half, Birds simply threw the ball around the top of the WV 2-3 zone. In the 2nd half, they made a concerted effort to flash players to the elbow and baseline on the same side when the ball rotated there. Ended up with 2 or 3 nice "give n go" layups feeding from both locations. Without a spot up 3 point shooter, zones are going to sag on the Birds. Without an aircraft carrier in the middle, only crisp passing forcing the defenders to move will allow inside scoring.

 

 

Finally, someone who wants to discuss the game. Thanks JPA. Tired of reading and hearing about who isn't playing, I would rather talk about the kids that are busting their butts representing the H.

 

Game result was very disappointing. Expectations raised due to the WV loss the previous night to Williamstown.

 

Birds had the lead 35-31 in the fourth and get outscored 10-1 down the stretch. WV switched from zone to MTM and HHS did not adjust.

 

Yes Clyde rebounding will still be a challenge in February, no one is growing 6 inches over the next 2 months.

 

No Mr Crunch, the summer is not for muscle memory or chemistry, that is what happens at most programs from Oct 15th to Dec 1. Not happening with this team this year.

 

JPA, I think this team does have a few decent spot up shooters, and they will have to make 3's to compete. The problem is that without an inside presence the defense does NOT need to sag. It can extend. This makes each outside shot contested or pushes the jump shooter farther from the basket. Coach L will have to be creative to open up some holes.

 

It is very early in the season and only a 2 game sample, but I see one of the same problems already this season as we endured through all last year. Empty offensive possessions. Zero shots. Offensive possessions that end in a steal or turnover. Get shots. Give yourself a chance to score.

 

Next up: Dixie and Brossart. Yikes.