Did Walton lose on Senior night because this kid started? Did the kid play a lot/contribute? Not uncommon at all to start a senior who doesnt play much, or at all on Senior Night, simply because the contributing/productive seniors will get the bulk of the playing time.

Funny - There is another senior that doesn’t start or rotate in that has the same opportunities (rotating captain and got to start first game for senior night). It’s not just a “donors” son. Maybe you need to give the whole picture. And that “donors” son as you like to call him has been with this group all along, not AAU but middle school and puts in just as much hard work if not more than others on the team.

 

I don't really care who it is but sidelining your Mr. Basketball Candidate, on his Sr. Night, for anyone seems a bit Crazy!

Did Walton lose on Senior night because this kid started? Did the kid play a lot/contribute? Not uncommon at all to start a senior who doesnt play much, or at all on Senior Night, simply because the contributing/productive seniors will get the bulk of the playing time.

 

No, they won handledly over Carroll Co. and the kid did contribute defensively as well as scored the first point for the night with 3 other “regular” starters on the floor. They weren’t even losing when the 2 non-starter seniors came out.

The son of Someone who donates to the program.

 

Like donates money? Like writes a check to the program?

I don't really care who it is but sidelining your Mr. Basketball Candidate, on his Sr. Night, for anyone seems a bit Crazy!

 

I do kind of understand this. May be in poor judgement to bench that guy (Mr. Kentucky Basketball Candidate). Maybe let the non-starters play with that guy. That would be fun for them. Unless this kid volunteered to give up his spot.

Walton will make a good run this year. They will drop to the bottom for the next 3-4 years until currcent 7-8th graders are juniors and seniors. They have a good group of players and a good coach. I would be shocked if WV coach stays.

I do kind of understand this. May be in poor judgement to bench that guy (Mr. Kentucky Basketball Candidate). Maybe let the non-starters play with that guy. That would be fun for them. Unless this kid volunteered to give up his spot.

 

He did not volunteer! I am not trying to be the antagonist here, someone posted about how the Coach should finally get some credit for their game plan last night. Well that is the game plan they should have had all year, you got the biggest team in the region and Miles and Pardee were both around the perimeter for half the season. Contributing 44 points between them last night, that is a hard combo to defend, when in Position.

I do kind of understand this. May be in poor judgement to bench that guy (Mr. Kentucky Basketball Candidate). Maybe let the non-starters play with that guy. That would be fun for them. Unless this kid volunteered to give up his spot.

 

Good point. We don't know what was said in practice that week. What if Miles thought

 

"I'm going to Xavier. Starting this game against Carroll County is not going to matter a whole lot," and then told coach he would sit.

 

I've only had one brief conversation with him and based on what I've seen demeanor-wise on the court, he seems like a pretty good kid.

As far as having more than 5 seniors on senior night most coaches and their staffs will draw numbers or something random where everyone has an equal chance to be in the starting 5.

Walton never changes they had a great game and all you want to talk about is bad coaching and senior night. As a four year varsity starter in high school I choose to sit on senior night so someone who never gets the chance can start. That’s part of being a good teammate you want everyone to succeed. Selfishness is what this sounds like.

This is the facts of the senior night, plain and simple. Every senior had started a game this year besides #24 and #5, who from what I have been told work their tail end off in practice every day and deserve some recognition. Coach decided on the other 3 to start with those 2 by choosing the 3 seniors who have been with the program since Kindergarten. Hats off to coach Brannen for allowing every senior to start a game this year and throwing a bone to the 3 guys who have been in the program since Kindergarten.

Great game plan by WV coaching staff, well executed by the players. Hopefully people wise up and give the WV coaching staff credit after this one. Brannen has beaten Steiner in the district tournament 3 years in a row now with a school a third of the size of SK. Congrats to the Bearcats and the staff on a hard fought, well executed game plan.

 

The "size of the school" argument is so weak.............I will agree with your statement that WV has a great staff, love Coach Brannen and what he does, but regardless of the size of the school, he still has a great team that includes a Xavier commit. While the size of the school helps, it is not the end all as WV and Beechwood have demonstrated this year especially.

Guess I am just old school, I believe you earn you spot as a starter, as a captain and as team member, we are obviously living in different times. I mean how many Mr. Basketball Candidates has WV had? I am sure very few if any at all, just seems odd. Sorry it upset some of you so much, I can not imagine why.

Guess I am just old school, I believe you earn you spot as a starter, as a captain and as team member, we are obviously living in different times. I mean how many Mr. Basketball Candidates has WV had? I am sure very few if any at all, just seems odd. Sorry it upset some of you so much, I can not imagine why.

 

And that is the great thing about Dieonte Miles, Mr. Basketball Candidate, I can assure you he didn't bat an eye when he was told those guys would start in his place. He knows the importance of being a great teammate is far more important than starting on senior night. He is one of the most humble and respectful D1 players you will find, would not surprise me one bit if he encouraged coach to start the others over him. Glad Coach Brannen is not stuck in the old days, being a "new school" coach has worked out well over his career.

This is the facts of the senior night, plain and simple. Every senior had started a game this year besides #24 and #5, who from what I have been told work their tail end off in practice every day and deserve some recognition. Coach decided on the other 3 to start with those 2 by choosing the 3 seniors who have been with the program since Kindergarten. Hats off to coach Brannen for allowing every senior to start a game this year and throwing a bone to the 3 guys who have been in the program since Kindergarten.

 

Now, this is actually pretty cool!