Russell drops Ashland from their schedule

Two things that I really dislike as an "old-schooler", but must learn to accept are:

1. Hold-back players. 15 to 20 years ago the only reason a student was "held- back" was because they were behind academically, or in the rare occasion they were just so undersized physically that it made sense for them to either start late, or repeat a grade to catch up. Nowadays you have the biggest and smartest students in the class repeating grades. Why? Simply because the parents think that that one more year of high school eligibility will be the deal breaker in making the child the superstar Dad always knew he could be.

When a team fields players that turn 19 before the season even begins, it's hardly a fair playing ground with several other teams having 17 and 18-year-old seniors.

Holdbacks have single-handedly destroyed middle school sports. And ironically I think it hurts the MS stand-out as he moves forward. Much hype surrounds him in the early grades because he is so much older, only to find out as he ages he hears much more criticism about why he never developed into the player everyone thought he would be. 

2. Transfer Students. Once again 15 to 20 years ago a player simply played for the school nearest to where he resided. Made sense, huh? Rivalries were built, along with school pride, and parents understood playing for the best team was not the only purpose of sports. Nowadays parents will lease unoccupied efficiency apartments three counties over so the child can play for a better team. Players will leave 12 years of friendship to play for a crosstown rival if it means they potentially might make it farther in the region tournament.

Although I don't like where HS sports have gotten, It is where it is. We can't punish the teams that do it better than others by refusing to compete against them.  Simply put, Blazer basketball has played the game better not only on the court, but off the court- Just play the Game!