If they only have 24 boys in the entire high school, then the attitude toward athletics should be "Let's join the KCAA."

 

Trinity can't play Highlands Latin or Holy Angels or Immaculata due to the KHSAA vs. KCAA status.

 

The Berea tourney was an event for small schools and I'd say Whitefield applies. While Red Bird is tiny, Whitefield is far from huge. Would be a 1-A football team, if it had a football team.

 

However, I'd also argue:

- Christian Fellowship (Benton/Marshall County/WKY)

- Louisville Whitefield

- Red Bird Christian

- Whitesville Trinity

- Paducah Community Christian

 

need to join the KCAA. They don't because KHSAA offers more sports and there are closer teams to play.

 

They should because they'd be far more competitive.

 

North Hardin Christian briefly joined the KHSAA and found itself getting pounded by the Fort Knoxes and the Cavernas of the world.

 

Why some of those schools don't join the KCAA and/or KCSAA I don't know. They have girls volleyball, soccer, track, golf, baseball, boys and girls basketball. Heck North Hardin even had a football team, don't know if they still do, but they found teams to compete against.

 

I think they would be much better off and would be able usually to compete on a much more level playing field athletically speaking. Unless there is some sort of benefit I'm not aware of for them to belong to the KHSAA...only one I could think of would be helping to draw/keep kids there for athletic purposes. And if that's the case, it doesn't seem to be working anyway.

Though terribly out-manned almost every time on the court, they were ably coached for almost 30 years by John D. Wilson. There have been rumors almost every year for the last few that the school would have to close...or perhaps give up their basketball program. With a new coach each of the last two years, they might be considering that yet again.

Trivia question: how many Red Bird players can you name?

(Wish I had my paperwork with me to be positive, but....) I'll start with Woody Asher...who transferred to Clay County. If I'm not mistaken, he was the 6'6 center on the 1985 state runner-up.

There have been rumors almost every year for the last few that the school would have to close...or perhaps give up their basketball program. With a new coach each of the last two years, they might be considering that yet again.

 

There was a front-page article in the Herald-Leader last week about the improved financial situation at Red Bird. Their enrollment used to be quite a bit higher but has decreased in recent years. Hopefully they'll be able to educate greater numbers of kids in the future. Seems like a very interesting place.

 

Donations bring Red Bird school back from the brink; other mission schools adapt to survive | Education | Kentucky.com

Though terribly out-manned almost every time on the court, they were ably coached for almost 30 years by John D. Wilson. There have been rumors almost every year for the last few that the school would have to close...or perhaps give up their basketball program. With a new coach each of the last two years, they might be considering that yet again.

Trivia question: how many Red Bird players can you name?

(Wish I had my paperwork with me to be positive, but....) I'll start with Woody Asher...who transferred to Clay County. If I'm not mistaken, he was the 6'6 center on the 1985 state runner-up.

 

Oh I have no doubt some of these small schools have or have had some very capable coaches. Having a lack of talent on almost a yearly basis is no reflection on them, it's just how it is. As I tell my kids, I don't care if you lose 100-0...yes it would suck, but as long as you are giving 100% effort and doing the best you possibly can, that's all any coach can ask of his players.

 

One of the best performances by any of my teams over the years was by a very undermanned team in a 40 point loss a few years back. Other team should have beat us by 70...they were that much better than us, but my kids wringed every bit of ability they had in them and played the hardest they could, and what could have been a 70 point laugher turned into a not as bad as it sounds 40 point loss. It's all in the perspective.

There was a front-page article in the Herald-Leader last week about the improved financial situation at Red Bird. Their enrollment used to be quite a bit higher but has decreased in recent years. Hopefully they'll be able to educate greater numbers of kids in the future. Seems like a very interesting place.

 

Donations bring Red Bird school back from the brink; other mission schools adapt to survive | Education | Kentucky.com

 

Great article.

Red Bird garnered a lengthy segment in ESPN's "The Season" documentary on Kentucky high school basketball back in 2001.

 

I tried to find a link to their segment online, but to no avail. If I remember correctly, their entire rotation was from the same family. The documentary showed them riding to games in the back of a pick-up truck before frequently dropping 100 points on the opposition. Fascinating stuff.

 

I hate to hear their enrollment numbers have dipped. It's tough to form a competitive basketball team when you're choosing from a pool of 24 males.

Why some of those schools don't join the KCAA and/or KCSAA I don't know. They have girls volleyball, soccer, track, golf, baseball, boys and girls basketball. Heck North Hardin even had a football team, don't know if they still do, but they found teams to compete against.

 

I think they would be much better off and would be able usually to compete on a much more level playing field athletically speaking. Unless there is some sort of benefit I'm not aware of for them to belong to the KHSAA...only one I could think of would be helping to draw/keep kids there for athletic purposes. And if that's the case, it doesn't seem to be working anyway.

 

North Hardin Christian (NHC) dropped football a few years ago. Football experiment lasted two years.

 

NHC has cross country, golf, basketball, soccer (coed), baseball/softball, volleyball, cheerleading. Since lacrosse is still a club sport, they could add lacrosse and compete against other local schools if they wanted. Same for boys' volleyball and ice hockey (since the KHSAA hasn't taken over those sports, yet).

 

KCAA doesn't offer tennis, wrestling, bowling, archery, swimming at least, so that might keep some small religious schools in the KHSAA. Plus, a lot more closer schools.

 

Although, if several KHSAA schools dropped to KCAA AND the KCSAA/KCAA merged, you could have a very solid Kentucky Independent Athletic Association (KIAA or Kentucky Independent Athletic Conference aka KIAC).

North Hardin Christian (NHC) dropped football a few years ago. Football experiment lasted two years.

 

NHC has cross country, golf, basketball, soccer (coed), baseball/softball, volleyball, cheerleading. Since lacrosse is still a club sport, they could add lacrosse and compete against other local schools if they wanted. Same for boys' volleyball and ice hockey (since the KHSAA hasn't taken over those sports, yet).

 

KCAA doesn't offer tennis, wrestling, bowling, archery, swimming at least, so that might keep some small religious schools in the KHSAA. Plus, a lot more closer schools.

 

Although, if several KHSAA schools dropped to KCAA AND the KCSAA/KCAA merged, you could have a very solid Kentucky Independent Athletic Association (KIAA or Kentucky Independent Athletic Conference aka KIAC).

 

That would never happen (KCAA/KCSAA merger). However, schools CAN belong to both (there are certain qualifiers), and they play cross organizational games all the time. And we play all the teams we can get scheduled from both associations.

By the way CKSportsFan, sounds like you may have a familiarity with NHC. We play them there Feb. 5th.

By the way CKSportsFan, sounds like you may have a familiarity with NHC. We play them there Feb. 5th.

 

I work that night (yes, my schedule is made out wayyyyyyy in advance).

 

I'm torn by NHC.

 

I want them to have success. At the same time, when they tried joining the KHSAA, it didn't go well. And when NHC tends to do well in KCAA State, it speaks volumes of the KCAA talent level when NHC, coming off solid seasons, was getting waxed by 5th Region bottom feeders.

 

The religious school to watch in Hardin County is St. James Regional Catholic (currently K-8). Has plans for a high school and plenty of space in prime real estate.

 

Hearing if St. James goes the high school route -- Elizabethtown Catholic ran the 5th Region in the 60s and 70s -- Bethlehem could close. Elizabethtown High/Independent would take a HUGE hit, because many doctors/lawyers pay tuition to send their kids there. Bethlehem may even close as archdiocese would prefer having a catholic school in Elizabethtown and not Bardstown. Central Hardin would lose some kids to St. James.

 

Many of the area's best high school volleyball, swimming, tennis and soccer kids have come from St. James.

Also looks like someone needs an ego boost. Only one of two reasons to beat a team like that' date=' you hate the other coach or you have to beat kids down to make yourself feel better. Was 60-7 not good enough, trying to beat them by 100. Team that do this I love it when they play the PRP and Ballards and get killed.[/quote']

What? Obviously Red Bird isn't that good this year and shouldn't have been playing this team in the first place. If a team can even break into double digits in scoring I'm not going to get on the winning team!

 

My first question, were you at the game? I'm going to guess no, if that's the cafe then you can't claim that they ran up the score or that the coach needed to boost his ego.