This is certainly a tough way to go out for a great group of seniors. Those guys had a tough task of fight through major injuries while also adjusting to a new coaching staff in their senior year. They are great young men and will have success on and off the court in the future.

 

I thought they got great looks in the early going, but continued to run the same continuity offense throughout the game. Once NCC adjusted to this, Highlands really struggled to get good looks. NCC took advantage of thier quickness advantage with Pangallo and Hightchew and got better looks the last 3 qtrs.

 

Great game by Pangallo. He controls the floor as well as any point guard at the high school level and shot tremendous from the outside. Good game for the Birds by Watson, Smith-Keller and Lother.

HUUUGE Win for the Breds! If Schmidt continues to be hot, they can beat anyone in the region. Pangallo and Giesler are there game in game out. Because Schmidt is primarily a 3 point threat, he I believe is the key for the Breds. He always plays 110%, but because he is an outside threat, there are days when those shots don't fall. If however, he is hot on a given night watch out!

 

This year the 36th district reminds me of the late 70's and early 80's. NewCath, Highlands and Newport are all strong bball squads making the entire district a fun and exciting Tourn.

 

Congrats to the Senior Class at NewCath, no matter what happens from here on out, they have life long bragging rights in this back yard rivalry. My condolensces to the Bluebird seniors it is truly a shame that injuries were such a disrupting factor in their senior year.

When Lother was on the floor in the first half, the Bird's were running and attacking the Breds...and had the lead. When Zach went to the bench with his second foul, the Bird's offense stagnated and NCC was able to claw back and take the lead. Once they had the lead, the game was over as HHS could not match NCC's ball-handling, quickness as they spread the floor. Great game plan by NCC staff. Ben Watson was a beast for the Bird's...played his heart and soul out. Pangallo was the best on floor...inside, outside, dishing...flat out did it all! Thought Jake Giesler did an excellent job letting the game come to him and not pressing early (thus staying out of foul trouble!). Refs were consistent for both teams and let the kids play (my kind of game!) but in the 4Q started to call some ticky-tack fouls...but called them both ways. Refs were VERY patient with the NCC coaches...which they should be in a game of this importance...but hey, HC only should be involved...the other 5 coaches should sit. JMO. Good luck to the Breds!! Don't overlook them Wildcats at home! You don't want to lose and catch Holmes in the first round. Bird SR's...good luck in future endeavors...you gave it your all!

Just curious what you mean here by getting some consistency. This group of seniors were primarily basketball players first and they could not get the job done for whatever reason. While the program had some success at the lower levels this year, there are not a lot of kids that are going to be basketball first athletes as things stand now.

 

As for the game, I would not say that NCC outhustled HHS but rather they were much quicker on the perimeter which caused all kinds of matchup problems. I like a previous poster said do not understand how Pangallo continued to come down the floor and get wide open looks. If anything, I would say that NCC looked to want it more as the Birds looked to be simply going through the motions in the second half.

 

 

I would be interested in what Malachi is implying as well. For the kids who were on varsity the last three years Highlands won 56 games against a difficult schedule void of some of easy Ws. We expected to make a run this year and the schedule reflected that fact. I know personally all the kids on the HHS team and can tell you they are an excellent group of young men who gave extra effort at every opportunity. Coach Flynn did an excellent job, as well.

 

As for the game last night - congrats to NCC. Grant Pangallo, I hope you make All State, because that is the way you play against us every time. You are a first class young man and we wish you well. NCC's bench played well, too, which ended up being huge. Geisler was held in check for most the game, which was a plus for Highlands. The back breaker came with 2 minutes to go in the 3rd w/ Kowolonek and Watson on the bench for quick blows and the lead went back up to 10 at the end of the qt. 4th qt. was a scramble with HHS forced to foul and Breds hitting all their FTs. My hope is one of the Newport schools is the 9th region champ. Good luck.

Just curious what you mean here by getting some consistency. This group of seniors were primarily basketball players first and they could not get the job done for whatever reason. While the program had some success at the lower levels this year, there are not a lot of kids that are going to be basketball first athletes as things stand now.

 

As for the game, I would not say that NCC outhustled HHS but rather they were much quicker on the perimeter which caused all kinds of matchup problems. I like a previous poster said do not understand how Pangallo continued to come down the floor and get wide open looks. If anything, I would say that NCC looked to want it more as the Birds looked to be simply going through the motions in the second half.

 

I guess with inconsistency, I mean the levels of talent in each class. Going back to Coach Messmers last year at 27-3, great bunch of seniors, but left the cupboard bare for Coach Schlarman. Coach Schlarman inherits a team of talented sophs, no seniors at all. He puts all of his eggs in that soph class. While by their senior season they wound up having a strong team, but at the expense of any underclass playing experience. Then the next gap. Again the 07/08 class was the next wave, and again a strong class, but no underclass invovlement. Last season, not one senior AGAIN in the program, and 10 Jrs. 8 seniors come back this season, and barring injury the underclassmen would have seen minimal roles. And really only Stewart saw significant time. Bottom line is no regional championships. This cycle is what I mean by inconsisteny.

Are you serious? One of the reasons they're playing so well is their bench. Dettmer has been outstanding on defense the last several games and Lampe has been knocking down some 3's, 4 against Holmes. And not needing Giesler's 14 pts 12 rbs 3 blocks and great interior defense, come on. They are winning as a team, very good unselfish play.

 

I am very serious. Dettmer short armed 2 shots and looked scared offensively and Lampe didnt see the floor last night until 1 minute left in the game. Nobody would have gotten off that bench if Hightchew and Meyer didnt get in foul trouble.

 

They were in the Holmes game the same reason they won last night, they were knocking down 3 balls. Living and dying with them and they lived to only die in the end that night against Holmes because the Dogs know how to win big games.

 

I am cheering on the Breds because I like the way they play and shoot the ball but dont sit here and tell me they have depth.

HUUUGE Win for the Breds! If Schmidt continues to be hot, they can beat anyone in the region. Pangallo and Giesler are there game in game out. Because Schmidt is primarily a 3 point threat, he I believe is the key for the Breds. He always plays 110%, but because he is an outside threat, there are days when those shots don't fall. If however, he is hot on a given night watch out!

 

This year the 36th district reminds me of the late 70's and early 80's. NewCath, Highlands and Newport are all strong bball squads making the entire district a fun and exciting Tourn.

 

Congrats to the Senior Class at NewCath, no matter what happens from here on out, they have life long bragging rights in this back yard rivalry. My condolensces to the Bluebird seniors it is truly a shame that injuries were such a disrupting factor in their senior year.

 

IMO No back yard rivalry until they meet on the football field (another thread). NewCath played extremely well. When Schmidt is on from the outside they are very good. Pangallo was impressive the boy has MAD skills, can penetrate, dish and shoot. Wow my first time to see him in person and if he plays like this, he should get much more publicity than he is getting. How many times was he going to fire a 3 behind the a high Giesler screen. HHS needed to fight through that screen; but as the game went Pangallo would have penetrated anyway. Congrats to the BREDS they can surprise some folks come region time. A big game against Newport awaits.

 

What I saw from the Birds is they need to work from more than one offensive set, and perhaps due to injuries just lacked quickness on the perimeter. Had bad matchups with Pangallo and Giesler. Stewart still has a long way to develop and is still soft inside. Watson as posted played a great game. They just got beat on the perimeter; slow with help defense and needed to take a charge. IMO might be why they play alot of zone. A tough way to exit for a strong senior bunch. Unfortunately, the season might have not gone as planned but life is not always fair and you have friendships for life.:thumb:

I didnt realize Geisler had a double double, it was very silent one. That is impressive and as Remmac stated, he did get some big rebounds in the first half that prevented the Birds any 2nd chance opportunities. The Birds also missed some bunnies down low that would have extended their lead.

 

NCC is a team that can come back on you in a flash with their ability to shoot the 3.

 

One other observation I had was that Stephen Kowolonek just didnt look himself out there last night. Here is a kid who plays with a ton of heart and has a ton of athleticism and he just didnt look 100% out there. He toughed it out and kudos to him for leaving it out on the floor but the Highlands fans definitely walked out of the gym last night thinking what if.

 

 

Saturday night will be a very good basketball game and definitely worth the $5 admission price. Good luck to both teams. REpresent the District well in the REgional tourney because I am pulling for both to knock off some of those Kenton/Boone Co teams.

I guess with inconsistency, I mean the levels of talent in each class. Going back to Coach Messmers last year at 27-3, great bunch of seniors, but left the cupboard bare for Coach Schlarman. Coach Schlarman inherits a team of talented sophs, no seniors at all. He puts all of his eggs in that soph class. While by their senior season they wound up having a strong team, but at the expense of any underclass playing experience. Then the next gap. Again the 07/08 class was the next wave, and again a strong class, but no underclass invovlement. Last season, not one senior AGAIN in the program, and 10 Jrs. 8 seniors come back this season, and barring injury the underclassmen would have seen minimal roles. And really only Stewart saw significant time. Bottom line is no regional championships. This cycle is what I mean by inconsisteny.

 

What can the coach do to level out the talent in a given class? If the coach does not win then they here it from the few fans that do show up for the games and/or the administration. What should happen next year when you have 4 seniors (3 of which are basketball primarily) and a host of juniors and sophomores that are football players. The JV team had success with 3 juniors playing and a large group of soph's most of which are football players. The frosh also had a nice season and from what I understand 5 out of their top 6 are also football players. If the football team has any success next year then the basketball program starts off behind the eight ball right away. What does the basketball coach do to attempt to rectify this situation?

I didnt realize Geisler had a double double, it was very silent one. That is impressive and as Remmac stated, he did get some big rebounds in the first half that prevented the Birds any 2nd chance opportunities. The Birds also missed some bunnies down low that would have extended their lead.

 

NCC is a team that can come back on you in a flash with their ability to shoot the 3.

 

One other observation I had was that Stephen Kowolonek just didnt look himself out there last night. Here is a kid who plays with a ton of heart and has a ton of athleticism and he just didnt look 100% out there. He toughed it out and kudos to him for leaving it out on the floor but the Highlands fans definitely walked out of the gym last night thinking what if.

 

 

Saturday night will be a very good basketball game and definitely worth the $5 admission price. Good luck to both teams. REpresent the District well in the REgional tourney because I am pulling for both to knock off some of those Kenton/Boone Co teams.

 

Q- Nice point in reference to Stephen Kowolonek. I have had the pleasure to watch him play over the years and as good as Pangallo played, Stephen would have been up to the challenge. Case in point, he gave it all that he had and never made an excuse. He is a leader and just a pleasure to watch; he does a lot of the intangibles. Kowolnek was never about the stats; he is the type of kid that makes the team better. He does a lot of things very well; and I sure hope the knees get better and he continues to play at the next level. IMO he was far from 100% healthy last night; but would never use that as an excuse. Just a great kid....

This HHS team just never lived up to their capabilities. I know injuries played a factor which is unfortunate.

 

Puzzling team.

 

Grubbs: Out for the year ankle.

 

Grote: Out for the year back.

 

Kowolonek: Nagging Knee injury.

 

It shouldn't be very puzzling.

What can the coach do to level out the talent in a given class? If the coach does not win then they here it from the few fans that do show up for the games and/or the administration. What should happen next year when you have 4 seniors (3 of which are basketball primarily) and a host of juniors and sophomores that are football players. The JV team had success with 3 juniors playing and a large group of soph's most of which are football players. The frosh also had a nice season and from what I understand 5 out of their top 6 are also football players. If the football team has any success next year then the basketball program starts off behind the eight ball right away. What does the basketball coach do to attempt to rectify this situation?

 

Hope that the football players come out for basketball.:laugh:

 

I dont know what you can do in a school that is dominated by Football. Coach Flynn definitely has his work cut out for him but I know that the kids that do come out next year will work hard and try to win for him.

 

This year's Sr class was a very rare group of basketball only players. If you look at this year's Jr's/Sophs/Frosh and figure out who will probably show up for most of the summer/fall conditioning/open gyms it will probably only be around a handful that wont have conflicts with football.

 

Jrs- Stewart/Crowley/Egan- not football players

Dean- soccer

Sophs- Merrill- not football player.

Lewis- soccer,

Towles/New/Bruns/J.True- football players

Frosh- Witte- not football player

McCoy/Colliinsworth/Turner/Christian/N.True- all football players.

 

Unless they get someone that tranfers in or comes out of nowhere they are going to have this issue year in year out.

What can the coach do to level out the talent in a given class? If the coach does not win then they here it from the few fans that do show up for the games and/or the administration. What should happen next year when you have 4 seniors (3 of which are basketball primarily) and a host of juniors and sophomores that are football players. The JV team had success with 3 juniors playing and a large group of soph's most of which are football players. The frosh also had a nice season and from what I understand 5 out of their top 6 are also football players. If the football team has any success next year then the basketball program starts off behind the eight ball right away. What does the basketball coach do to attempt to rectify this situation?

 

JOAT no answers here but a very valid point.

 

*For one thing very disappointed in the number of fans at the basketball games period. If the boys could only draw a crowd like last night. It was nice to see the turnout.

*You are correct that the boys in sophomore and freshman class play both football and basketball and I hope they continue to do both, but it does create a problem as the football season continues to run late in the post season (a good thing) but that does impact the basketball season.

*You and I both know that the baseball program talent is going to come from the current 5-9th grade age groups. How many of those boys are going to be lost to Spring football.

Grubbs: Out for the year ankle.

 

Grote: Out for the year back.

 

Kowolonek: Nagging Knee injury.

 

It shouldn't be very puzzling.

 

You left out Lother playing with a bad wrist since the Christmas break.

Tough season for the Birds. The program has been building for this season, bitter disapponitment not to even make the regionals. Hopefully Coach Flynn can figure out a way to get some consistency at Highlands. Something that has been lacking for some time. Congrats to NCC.

If coach Flynn decides to remain the coach beyond this year! I believe he took this job because of the expectations that everyone had for this team. There was talk before he took it that he was close to retirement but wanted to give it another shot.