:thumb::thumb: That makes a huge difference. And even after Shields left you had a whole line of "Shields Guys"

 

This year could have been huge for Highlands because success brings excitement for the program and thus brings more kids out to play. I think they had the talent to really make a splash this year. They must be dissapointed.

 

Love the Avatar:thumb:

The 79 Bulldogs were a pretty darned good team. Highlands defeated them in the regional championship, in a barn burner at a raucus Holmes gymnasium. Again you can talk all you want about Holmes, but they are not the team that has knocked Highlands out of the tournament. So posting that Holmes somehow has had an impact on Highlands lack of success is sort of flawed. Look, you obviously are close to the program, and I certainly understand your feelings after last night. It is not my intent to rankle you, or anyone else. I am just dissapointed in how the program has traversed the last 8 seasons. As an ex player, I just would like to see the program at the top.

 

My son tells me stories from 30 years ago don't count....but I understand your point. What I would encourage is for you and all Bird fans to go all in with Coach Flynn. I firmly believe he is the right man for the job. It was evident he was working hard in the soph and frosh classes to keep the football players interested in basketball. So I hope we see Towles, Bruns and others on the hardwood next winter!

 

Look for good senior leadership from Stewart and Crowley next year. Dean and Egan can step up too.

Three observations, so don't kill me. 1. The basketball team is nowhere near as athletic as the football team is. That may be a direct result of the best athletes in Ft. Thomas are concentrating on football. It may also be a result that the offseason program that basketball has does not improve athletes the way that the football team does.

 

2. Having had my boys in Ft. Thomas schools for 2 years, I can tell you that the youth lbasketball leagues get nowhere near the support that the Ft. Thomas Jr. Football League does. There is a league at Moyer, and the group of parents that run it w/ the boosters do a great job. However, they are overworked, and the support for them seems very limited. There is nowhere near the parental support for this league as there is for youth football.

 

3. Ross Neltner and Derrick Smith aren't walking through that door (to quote Rick Pitino.) Highlands had an incredible run of individual talent from the late 80's through the early part of the 2000's. They just haven't had players of that caliber lately.

 

 

1. Not so with Bruns, New, Towles and True... They are playing both and are very good football and basketball players.

 

2. Being involved in FTJFL you are correct there is plenty of support for this and the league is full of talented players drinking the kool-aid. In regards to basketball I am glad that the boosters started the league; but if a player is going to play at the high school level they are not coming from this league. It is way to recreational in the upper grades. I think it is fine in grades K-3; but if you are in 4th and 5th grade and not playing AAU someplace else you might make a middle school team; but you are not going to playing any substantial minutes. Take a look at the 6th and 7th grade teams this year all the significant players come from one or two AAU teams. These boys are athletic and they do play all the sports. Obviously they are not going to play all 3.

3. Agree with Smith and Neltner they could play hoops.

On the talent front, Nic Simpson and Greg McGraw were a very talented guard duo. Simpson is playing D1 ball and some thought McGraw was even better but he had the back issues during his career.

In response to each item.

 

1. The athletes are choosing football over basketball mainly so that is the reason you see more athletes. See Austin Collinsworth, Brandon Roller, David Hogue(who ended up being the starting punter pretty much and could have been a heckuva basketball player).

 

2. The Moyer league is great but why would I as a Johnson Parent want to put in anymore of my time to help with that league when I am already coaching 6 hrs a week for Johnson kids and they developed that league for profit. It is a Booster program and they use the money for things at MOYER. Not that other schools in the district cant do the same but just a big reason that they are probably overworked. I know that it is a way for the other schools to field teams and compete so it does help in development of the overall program but as far as not getting enough volunteers that is probably my take on why they run short.

 

3. I can think of some very good athletes that have come through the doors but none with as much star power as guys like that so you are correct.

It sure would have been interesting to see Austin guarding Grant last night. I'm not to sure if Austin would have made a difference in the outcome but he would of definitly added another option of trying to slow Grant down.

Way to go Breds!!!! NCC completely out hustled Highlands. It looked as if NCC could take it to the rack whenever they wanted. (Pangallo, Highchew, Meyer.) Derek Schmitt knocking down 4 3's. Somebody mentioned Geisler as a non-factor, I don't consider a double-double a non-factor. Jake played a great game. Grant Pangallo was pumped, the couple guys I seen trying to guard him had no answer. Should be a great game come Saturday night.

 

Good luck to all the Highlands Seniors.

 

I agree Jake Played a great game 14pts and 12 rebounds. He was a man on the glass. Just went and got the ball.

My son tells me stories from 30 years ago don't count....but I understand your point. What I would encourage is for you and all Bird fans to go all in with Coach Flynn. I firmly believe he is the right man for the job. It was evident he was working hard in the soph and frosh classes to keep the football players interested in basketball. So I hope we see Towles, Bruns and others on the hardwood next winter!

 

Look for good senior leadership from Stewart and Crowley next year. Dean and Egan can step up too.

 

Could this have been an issue with this years seniors?

Could this have been an issue with this years seniors?

 

Not to my knowledge. I was making a comment that the torch has been passed to the younger generation. Thought Coach Flynn told the team last night this was his best group of seniors in 20+ years of coaching.

There is no need to make excuses for this class of seniors, they had plenty of talent, success, leadership and some tough luck in their senior year (as I stated earlier, what HS team could completely overcome the injury issues this group had) Last night was the end of the road for a great group of young men at the hands of a quality, well coached NCC squad. I don't think you'll hear these kids making excuses for themselves.....they gave it a good shot, it wasn't to be.

 

It's not really fair to criticize what "might/should" have been with this group. The referenced '79 team likely wouldn't have been so productive had maybe Muntis & Sullivan or Vories (see Grubbs, Grote, Kowolonek) not been available to play. (see..I am an old-timer!) They also may not have been as productive without Coach Shields at the helm. Let's face it Shields was one of the best HS coaches in NKY history. But let's not get too jaded.......perhaps remove the rose-colored glasses when recalling the past....coach Shields had a few losing records on his resume at HHS. Coaching at HHS has its challenges and coach Flynn has publicly acknowledged those and fully understands what those are.......let's give the man an opportunity to do his work over a period of time before we compare him to the legend that is Ken Shields!

 

Let's face it, there are a LOT of factors that go into a championship team. Good coaching, commitment (by coaches, players, school community, etc) talent, health, and sometimes a little good luck. The program has to have all these things and then perhaps it will see Regional championships return.

My son tells me stories from 30 years ago don't count....but I understand your point. What I would encourage is for you and all Bird fans to go all in with Coach Flynn. I firmly believe he is the right man for the job. It was evident he was working hard in the soph and frosh classes to keep the football players interested in basketball. So I hope we see Towles, Bruns and others on the hardwood next winter!

 

Look for good senior leadership from Stewart and Crowley next year. Dean and Egan can step up too.

 

 

I would disagree... You would be shocked if one of the seniors told you what Coach Flynn said to him when he was struggling with his shooting... I'll leave it at that. If you know who I am ask me the next time you see me.

 

If he couldn't get this group to buy into what he was trying to sell good luck with the rest. There is to much of a generation gap...

Time will tell about Coach Flynn. You can't judge on this year because of injuries. With no Grote or Grubbs and Kowolonek playing at about 50% because of his knees this team finished where you would expect.

 

It is a shame. But you can't blame Flynn for the injuries.

 

Unfortunately Highlands goes into next year without a lot of experience but lets give the coach more than one year to prove himself.

Back to last nights game....Congrats to the Breds!! They were the much better team last night and I would love for them to make a GREAT showing in the regionals!

Also good luck to Newport. I think the 36th can make some noise this year.

In response to each item.

 

1. The athletes are choosing football over basketball mainly so that is the reason you see more athletes. See Austin Collinsworth, Brandon Roller, David Hogue(who ended up being the starting punter pretty much and could have been a heckuva basketball player).

 

2. The Moyer league is great but why would I as a Johnson Parent want to put in anymore of my time to help with that league when I am already coaching 6 hrs a week for Johnson kids and they developed that league for profit. It is a Booster program and they use the money for things at MOYER. Not that other schools in the district cant do the same but just a big reason that they are probably overworked. I know that it is a way for the other schools to field teams and compete so it does help in development of the overall program but as far as not getting enough volunteers that is probably my take on why they run short.

 

3. I can think of some very good athletes that have come through the doors but none with as much star power as guys like that so you are correct.

 

The league at Moyer was developed to give the younger kids in Fort Thomas an opportunity to play organized basketball, not to generate booster profits. The Fort Thomas Jr basketball league had folded several years prior. There were very few kids playing on teams in the elementary schools. The league started as a K-3 league and expanded to 4th and 5th.

 

The league is serving a very important purpose, It is exposing young kids to the game of basketball. I agree that as the kids age they need to seek higher levels of competition to be successful in the middle school and high school programs.

There is no need to make excuses for this class of seniors, they had plenty of talent, success, leadership and some tough luck in their senior year (as I stated earlier, what HS team could completely overcome the injury issues this group had) Last night was the end of the road for a great group of young men at the hands of a quality, well coached NCC squad. I don't think you'll hear these kids making excuses for themselves.....they gave it a good shot, it wasn't to be.

 

It's not really fair to criticize what "might/should" have been with this group. The referenced '79 team likely wouldn't have been so productive had maybe Muntis & Sullivan or Vories (see Grubbs, Grote, Kowolonek) not been available to play. (see..I am an old-timer!) They also may not have been as productive without Coach Shields at the helm. Let's face it Shields was one of the best HS coaches in NKY history. But let's not get too jaded.......perhaps remove the rose-colored glasses when recalling the past....coach Shields had a few losing records on his resume at HHS. Coaching at HHS has its challenges and coach Flynn has publicly acknowledged those and fully understands what those are.......let's give the man an opportunity to do his work over a period of time before we compare him to the legend that is Ken Shields!

 

Let's face it, there are a LOT of factors that go into a championship team. Good coaching, commitment (by coaches, players, school community, etc) talent, health, and sometimes a little good luck. The program has to have all these things and then perhaps it will see Regional championships return.

Two - Shields had two losing seasons at Highlands. 79-80 he was 13-18 and 80-81 they were 13-15. Each of his other 11 seasons the Birds were 20 game winners.

Stinky you make a great point and I didn't mean to take anything away from the countless volunteer hours the folks at Moyer have given. It is a great league that was started from scratch and gives kids an opportunity they didn't have before in their own community. I didn't mean to make my post seem like all it was started for was profit. Thanks for clarifying that.