I still harp on the fact of Highlands big man fleeing to Ncc set the program back 5 years. If you put him on Highlands, he eats up the opposing big men, and everyone else on Highlands looks that much better. Highlands has hard working kids, but it's imperative to have basketball only guys as your core.

 

Don't get me wrong he is a really really good player, but it is a little hard to think that he eats up opposing big men. His strengths are the fact that he can shoot the jumper from just about anywhere he wants. If he has to put his back up against a true big man, then he will be still shooting a lot of jumpers and not making the post moves the other big man is making.

 

Again, don't get me wrong but I feel his best is yet to come.

I thought somebody said that last year to?

 

Noted!

The program hasn't had a true PG in several years. You gotta have someone who can put pressure on the opposing guard. Birds JV recently defeated NCC and the FRosh program made the finals of the CovCath tourney so a solid offseason should pave the way for a better season next year.

 

Still very tough for the Sr's to play their final game. I know what the kids and parents are going through and its tough. Brighter days are ahead for all of those boys though.

I would love to see a rematch on that Jv game again with the entire team for jv NCC let's not forget the hurting Jv ncc put on Highlands in the summer.. Not to mention that was a one point win... Not saying Highlands is not up and coming but it has to be said so is NCC freshman and Jv...

Edited February 26, 201511 yr by hoops5
Fixed quote tags

I still harp on the fact of Highlands big man fleeing to Ncc set the program back 5 years. If you put him on Highlands, he eats up the opposing big men, and everyone else on Highlands looks that much better. Highlands has hard working kids, but it's imperative to have basketball only guys as your core.

 

Yes you keep harping about Weyer, he comes from a big Catholic family and his Grand Father went to NC, that would be like NCC talking about missing Possey we went to Holy trinty in Newport and played with all the NCC Fressman get over it, just remember Highlands is two and three times bigger than any School in there District they shoud not be down.

On paper, an 8-17 record may not look good.

The Highlands Bluebirds basketball team finished the injury-riddled campaign with that record with a 67-28 loss to the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds on Wednesday at Newport. Highlands went 9-15 last year finishing as 36th District runner-up before losing to Covington Holmes in the 9th Region quarterfinals. That’s a total of 17-32 since Head Coach Kevin Listerman took over in 2013.

But Listerman knew it would take time to turn the program around when he took over. The Bluebirds have not won a district tournament since 2008 and have not won a region game since 2009.

“You refine, learn and adjust,” Listerman said. “The biggest thing is we have to grow in the offseason. We can’t be one year older next year. We need to be one year better.”

Highlands did see some bright spots this past season. The Bluebirds won four games in a row in January.

The rebuilding process continued with the three Highlands seniors in Parker Harris, Justin Weyer and Kenny Ball. Harris averaged 14.1 points per game and Ball averaged 8.3. Ball led the team in three-pointers made.

“The seniors have planted some seeds,” Listerman said. “They’re not going to be here when those seeds grow and bear fruit. I’m proud of how they competed. They’ve shown tremendous leadership of how to do things the right way. Our younger kids have done a great job of buying in. The success will come eventually.”

Harris will continue to play golf in college for Army. Weyer also helped the Highlands football team win its 23rd state championship in December and Ball will play for the Bluebird baseball team this spring.

The Bluebirds did have some players leave the program throughout the season. But this group of seniors set a good example by not doing that.

“We stuck with the process,” Harris said. “Obviously, the record and season didn’t pan out the way we wanted it to. For the seniors, I can’t thank them enough. The guys behind us stuck with it. That alone is going to show kids in the future that you have to stick with things. They’ll get it down the road.”

The younger Highlands squads had plenty of success. The junior varsity won 5-of-6 at the end of the season and the freshmen lost in the region title game. The middle school teams also had great seasons with the sixth grade going undefeated and winning the region.

But any successful program starts and stops with the community and the players buying in to the coaching philosophies. The community backing is what attracted Listerman to the program.

“When you have quality people in place and you have the support we have in Fort Thomas, success will come,” Listerman said. “(The younger players) have to have fun playing basketball. That’s what I’m about. I think they enjoy playing for us and with their friends.”

Highlands returns a good starting point in junior starters Mitch Cain, Nick Kendall and Bo Hebel next year. The Bluebirds saw good things from players like sophomore Bryce Traylor and freshman Braden Posey at the end of the year.

 

Fort Thomas Matters Sports: Rebuilding process took positive steps for Bluebirds

The program hasn't had a true PG in several years. You gotta have someone who can put pressure on the opposing guard. Birds JV recently defeated NCC and the FRosh program made the finals of the CovCath tourney so a solid offseason should pave the way for a better season next year.

 

Still very tough for the Sr's to play their final game. I know what the kids and parents are going through and its tough. Brighter days are ahead for all of those boys though.[/QUOT

I would love to see a rematch on that Jv game again with the entire team for jv NCC let's not forget the hurting Jv ncc put on Highlands in the summer.. Not to mention that was a one point win... Not saying Highlands is not up and coming but it has to be said so is NCC freshman and Jv...

 

Yes you keep harping about Weyer, he comes from a big Catholic family and his Grand Father went to NC, that would be like NCC talking about missing Possey we went to Holy trinty in Newport and played with all the NCC Fressman get over it, just remember Highlands is two and three times bigger than any School in there District they shoud not be down.

 

 

 

Could we find one, just one NCC poster that would talk about how good their team currently is? Enough with attacking everything said about HHS. The program at HHS is not where it once was, and certainly not where we want it to be. When your down, you look and hope for better things in the future.

 

Maybe someone can post how dominate NCC's defense was. How well they attacked the basket. How well they rebounded the ball and got second chance points. How well Moeves, Anderson, Freppon, etc.... compliment the big three. (See how I did that without disparaging another teammate)

 

Quit whining and responding to the comments of the opponent, celebrate what you have now. It won't last forever.

Yes you keep harping about Weyer, he comes from a big Catholic family and his Grand Father went to NC, that would be like NCC talking about missing Possey we went to Holy trinty in Newport and played with all the NCC Fressman get over it, just remember Highlands is two and three times bigger than any School in there District they shoud not be down.

 

Oh Please!!!!!! NCC can draw from anywhere they want. I do not care where Jim Weyer went to school. Joe and Kim Weyer went to Highlands. Jake, Maria and Melanie Weyer went to Highlands. Ben Weyer went to Fort Thomas public schools until going into his frosh year. Clear indication that he went to NCC because he was the only basketball only kid in his grade. In the long haul, a good decision by him and I would venture to guess that if Kevin Listerman would have been the HHS coach when Ben was in the 8th grade he would still be at Highlands and they would have enjoyed a little more success.

 

The act is tiring. The Weyer's made a decision that they felt was best for Ben in the long run and I am sure he will see the benefits next year when he gets offers to continue playing in college.

Yes you keep harping about Weyer, he comes from a big Catholic family and his Grand Father went to NC, that would be like NCC talking about missing Possey we went to Holy trinty in Newport and played with all the NCC Fressman get over it, just remember Highlands is two and three times bigger than any School in there District they shoud not be down.

 

 

As for Posey, was he not at Highlands middle school before he went to Holy Trinity? I will wait for your answer on that one.

 

My kids grandparents were a big Catholic family as well that all attended Bellevue, so what exactly does that have to do with anything?

Hold on there Iam not the one whining, I just responded to Bosshog whining. read his post thanks.

Nobody wants to hear HHS fans talking about where their players grew up or came from...just stop. There is a 10 page list of names that can be used against the Birds. Lets send congrats to the Breds for being a great team amd best of luck in the region. Hopefully they can win a big one take region and get the monkey off their back. To much talent year in and out on the Hill to have not won region since 99-00 season.

Nobody wants to hear HHS fans talking about where their players grew up or came from...just stop. There is a 10 page list of names that can be used against the Birds. Lets send congrats to the Breds for being a great team amd best of luck in the region. Hopefully they can win a big one take region and get the monkey off their back. To much talent year in and out on the Hill to have not won region since 99-00 season.

 

A 10 page list of names to use against the Birds for what? You trying to imply something with your comments?

Nobody wants to hear HHS fans talking about where their players grew up or came from...just stop. There is a 10 page list of names that can be used against the Birds. Lets send congrats to the Breds for being a great team amd best of luck in the region. Hopefully they can win a big one take region and get the monkey off their back. To much talent year in and out on the Hill to have not won region since 99-00 season.

 

Ten page list against might be half the size of a list used for them. However, I agree with you that who left should not be a topic of conversation. It is what it is and the Birds have a ways to go to try to keep Ft Thomas kids in the nest. Hopefully the team goes the way of the baseball team and works its way back.

 

Congrats to NCC, hope they take region and find success at state. I will cheer for any NKY team that goes down state but would be particularly pumped if it's the Breds.

As for Posey, was he not at Highlands middle school before he went to Holy Trinity? I will wait for your answer on that one.

 

My kids grandparents were a big Catholic family as well that all attended Bellevue, so what exactly does that have to do with anything?

 

I think that means you should have sent your kids to Bellevue!!!!! :clap:

A 10 page list of names to use against the Birds for what? You trying to imply something with your comments?

 

I dod not imply anything, it was stated clear and directly.

I dod not imply anything, it was stated clear and directly.

 

What was stated "clear and directly"? Obviously I did not pick up on it, so you better explain to those of us that cannot follow what you are trying to say. I would really like to hear more about this "list". Is it kind of like the one that James Spader has?