Basketball season for 2014/2015 should provide another exciting year. What should we expect from Highlands. Remember, please be constructive.

Who did they lose last year?

Drew Houliston and Brendan Buten were the biggest contributors they will need to replace.

 

Parker Harris came on strong at the end of last season, he should have a Fine SR yr.

 

Birds are in a situation where they lack size overall but have a good coach and will play with heart. The question will be is this the first yr in a very Long time that they wont have to wait unti Dec to get the Football guys?

 

Starters returning I believe are Harris, Weyer and Caín of which the latter are both footballers. . I would imagine other Football kids like Kendell, Hebel, Hergott and Daugherty will contribute from the Jr class. Im Not familiar with the sophs this year.

 

It will take a good draw in the districts for the Birds to advance. Newport and NCC look to be the favorites.

Edited September 1, 201412 yr by Qryche11

District is seeded again this year correct?

District is seeded.

 

Will come down to HHS/Newport for the 2nd spot in the 36th district.

 

Hebel will start in the post, Harris and Cain as the forwards, Weyer at one guard position and the 5th starter is up for grabs currently.

 

Ball, Dougherty, Kendall, New, all in the mix.

 

Harris plays golf, 6 of the 7 others play football. Ball is the only one not playing a fall sport but keeps himself busy as a senior leader of the football cheerleading section - the O Zone

I would not be surprised if Soph Bryce Traylor grabs a fair amount of minutes at the guard spot. He has worked hard at getting stronger in the off season. A couple of soph basketball onlys will push hard on that junior class. They will do only as well as they play together. The good thing is the group has picked up balls in the offseason and played.

Highlands will have 3 seniors this year, 2 of which have seen a lot of minutes at the Varsity level already in Weyer and Harris. Harris is about 6'4" but has the skills necessary to be able to play out on the floor facing the basket. Weyer can play either guard spot and can certainly hurt you offensively. Cain is a little streaky, but always plays hard and likes to take the ball to the rack. Hebel will man the post and boy was he extremely effective this summer. Wide body, with great hands and feet who just has a knack for being able to score the ball. In much better shape this summer than at any time last year.

 

This should take care of 4 of the starting positions for sure, barring injury. The other starter may vary from game to game based upon the opponent and what the coach is looking for. Kenny Ball is another senior that could provide a spark off the bench or be inserted into the lineup to give the Birds another scoring option because shooting the ball is what he does extremely well. Chandler New has been groomed to be the point guard over the summer and while struggling a little with ball handling he seemed to improve as the summer season went along. IMO either of these two are going to be the 5th starter. That leaves Dougherty, Kendall, Hergott, Traylor, Murray and maybe even Finfrock to come of the bench and give minutes. Each of these guys brings a different element to the game depending on what the coach is looking for. Dougherty brings some toughness at the defensive end and IMO is the best passer in the program. Can score when needed and sometimes needs to look for his shot a little more. Kendall started the first game last year at the Varsity level and brings quickness to the backcourt. Pretty decent shot and just needs to settle down and not let the little things take away from his game. Hergott is another big body and simply needs to get tougher around the basket. He is big and strong enough to simply take over games in the low post and stay out of foul trouble. Traylor was very effective this summer as another scoring option. Depending who is on the floor with him, he may be the guy that teams pay the least attention to and he can make them pay. Might be the best shooter in the program right now. Murray is what I would call a "garbage" player. He does a lot of the dirty work like set screens, rebound and defend. All things that do not show up in the paper, but he also had a pretty good summer. Somewhat suspect offensively, but can score pretty well around the basket. Finfrock is another big that really needs to come along this year. Still growing into that body and just needs to get tougher and meaner. That will come especially with this coaching staff.

 

Birds will struggle with the upper echelon teams do to lack of size, but should be a top 10 team in NKY before the season is over.

From an outsider's view it seems the same struggle as last year : Which boys can score consistently?

 

Solve that and they compete.

From an outsider's view it seems the same struggle as last year : Which boys can score consistently?

 

Solve that and they compete.

 

The scoring will need to go through Harris/Cain and Weyer period. I see Hebel getting some solid numbers both rebounding and scoring but the Birds will need double figures from the trio mentioned.

The scoring will need to go through Harris/Cain and Weyer period. I see Hebel getting some solid numbers both rebounding and scoring but the Birds will need double figures from the trio mentioned.

 

The scoring will need to go through whomever will take and can make the open shot. Over the summer they defended pretty well and were able to create some easy looks in transition. The most impressive thing however was how well they shared the ball. One extra pass in most cases resulted in a wide open jumper or an easy shot around the basket.

The scoring will need to go through whomever will take and can make the open shot. Over the summer they defended pretty well and were able to create some easy looks in transition. The most impressive thing however was how well they shared the ball. One extra pass in most cases resulted in a wide open jumper or an easy shot around the basket.

 

 

I agree, I suffered through enough years watching them pass up shot after shot after shot.

Interesting to see a Pangallo drive by the gym and see basketball players waiting to get in for a Sunday practice. I think he was shocked! Harris, Ball, Traylor, LaFrange and Race going strong 3x weekly! A new culture is born maybe not within the top 5 teams in the region but I believe they are going to surprise folks. I've heard coach is very encouraged with the growth of some of the youngsters.

Interesting to see a Pangallo drive by the gym and see basketball players waiting to get in for a Sunday practice. I think he was shocked! Harris, Ball, Traylor, LaFrange and Race going strong 3x weekly! A new culture is born maybe not within the top 5 teams in the region but I believe they are going to surprise folks. I've heard coach is very encouraged with the growth of some of the youngsters.

 

Were there only 5 guys there for practice?

Were there only 5 guys there for practice?

 

During the week yes for the most part. However they are going against kowolnek, bb, Shepard etc. A couple of frosh have been showing as well. Sunday most of all the football players are there. A few have missed but most make the appearance.

During the week yes for the most part. However they are going against kowolnek, bb, Shepard etc. A couple of frosh have been showing as well. Sunday most of all the football players are there. A few have missed but most make the appearance.

 

Ahhh the story of Highlands BB. They are lucky to string together 5 kids for practice until Dec 4th every year.