A run for the region is not going to come anytime soon if they cannot get more boys involved in the program. How can a school that has the success that it does in football only have 15 or so boys tryout for basketball that are not frosh. There are only 4 seniors and 3 juniors which does not bode well for the success of a program. Something needs to be done sooner rather than later.

 

Football is the pashion at highlands and every kid in the city is brought up knowing that. The kids that live out side of the city that make the journey into the 41075 zip code do so for football, not for hoops. The reward of the multipple state championships keeps the blood line strong at highlands. as stated earlier. It is a football school. Why take a chance on a hoops injury when they have so many D1 and D2 prospects on the grid iron?

Football is the pashion at highlands and every kid in the city is brought up knowing that. The kids that live out side of the city that make the journey into the 41075 zip code do so for football, not for hoops. The reward of the multipple state championships keeps the blood line strong at highlands. as stated earlier. It is a football school. Why take a chance on a hoops injury when they have so many D1 and D2 prospects on the grid iron?

 

Disagree with the reasoning for not playing being injury. I can think of numerous boys that were D-1 football players that played and excelled on the basketball court: Derek Smith, Jared Lorenzen, Gino Guidugli, Ben Guidugli, Tyler Grubbs just to name a few. My point is that if you are a D-1 caliber football player you do not need to give up the game of basketball. Most college football coaches are licking there chops to see guys the size of Grubbs, Pike and Towles playing basketball and doing it successfully. Maybe Coach Flynn and his staff need to make themselves more visible to the younger teams in his program as well as to the various youth leagues where Ft. Thomas teams participate if for no other reason than to give the appearance that he cares about his program. Perhaps the Moyer league could get some of the boys and girls on the basketball teams to come up during the weekends to referee some games and/or work the clock or scorebook. Main purpose would be to make them visible to the younger kids in the city. A big reason that the football team is successful is because the youth can relate to them because they see them on Saturday mornings at the games watching and interacting with the kids.

Disagree with the reasoning for not playing being injury. I can think of numerous boys that were D-1 football players that played and excelled on the basketball court: Derek Smith, Jared Lorenzen, Gino Guidugli, Ben Guidugli, Tyler Grubbs just to name a few. My point is that if you are a D-1 caliber football player you do not need to give up the game of basketball. Most college football coaches are licking there chops to see guys the size of Grubbs, Pike and Towles playing basketball and doing it successfully. Maybe Coach Flynn and his staff need to make themselves more visible to the younger teams in his program as well as to the various youth leagues where Ft. Thomas teams participate if for no other reason than to give the appearance that he cares about his program. Perhaps the Moyer league could get some of the boys and girls on the basketball teams to come up during the weekends to referee some games and/or work the clock or scorebook. Main purpose would be to make them visible to the younger kids in the city. A big reason that the football team is successful is because the youth can relate to them because they see them on Saturday mornings at the games watching and interacting with the kids.

 

I totally agree JOAT..:thumb:

We all know Highlands has been, is, and will be a football power. However, up until about 10 years ago, the basketball program also had success. I would like to think that what has been done in the past, can be done again. What has changed so dramatically that some think it cannot?

We all know Highlands has been, is, and will be a football power. However, up until about 10 years ago, the basketball program also had success. I would like to think that what has been done in the past, can be done again. What has changed so dramatically that some think it cannot?

 

Probably needs its own thread. We are jacking this one severely. LOL

 

Back to the game. Someone mentioned the lack of fans by Highlands, well considering it was a road game, I actually was somewhat impressed they had about 20 students over in a section cheering, many football players.

Disagree with the reasoning for not playing being injury. I can think of numerous boys that were D-1 football players that played and excelled on the basketball court: Derek Smith, Jared Lorenzen, Gino Guidugli, Ben Guidugli, Tyler Grubbs just to name a few. My point is that if you are a D-1 caliber football player you do not need to give up the game of basketball. Most college football coaches are licking there chops to see guys the size of Grubbs, Pike and Towles playing basketball and doing it successfully. Maybe Coach Flynn and his staff need to make themselves more visible to the younger teams in his program as well as to the various youth leagues where Ft. Thomas teams participate if for no other reason than to give the appearance that he cares about his program. Perhaps the Moyer league could get some of the boys and girls on the basketball teams to come up during the weekends to referee some games and/or work the clock or scorebook. Main purpose would be to make them visible to the younger kids in the city. A big reason that the football team is successful is because the youth can relate to them because they see them on Saturday mornings at the games watching and interacting with the kids.

 

Maybe coach Flynn only plans to coach a few years and then retire, maybe he doesn't care about the future of the program. Just saying maybe.

With a healthy Stewart and Crowley Highlands beats this team. Towles is not in basketball shape yet given he has only had about 6 practices but when he is no one in this region will be able to stop him in the post.

With a healthy Stewart and Crowley Highlands beats this team. Towles is not in basketball shape yet given he has only had about 6 practices but when he is no one in this region will be able to stop him in the post.

 

Pike couldnt stop him thats for sure. With 6'6Stew, 6'5 Towles and 6'5 True tgey definitely have depth at the post. I just cant wait to see Stewart at 100% because he puts on a show.

I may have missed it, but what is wrong with these boys?

I may have missed it, but what is wrong with these boys?

 

Stew ankle and questionable Fri and Crowley upper thigh and probable against Brossart.

Pike couldnt stop him thats for sure. With 6'6Stew, 6'5 Towles and 6'5 True tgey definitely have depth at the post. I just cant wait to see Stewart at 100% because he puts on a show.

 

I've heard a lot of good things about Stewart. I look forward to checking him out. He and Towles form an athletic front line.

With a healthy Stewart and Crowley Highlands beats this team. Towles is not in basketball shape yet given he has only had about 6 practices but when he is no one in this region will be able to stop him in the post.

 

I would have to totally disagree. If Pike would have been shut down with a healthy Highlands team, then the other Dixie players would pick up what he wouldnt be able to do. That is a big "if" there. That is the great thing about the Dixie team this year, they are able to utilize several boys to be the leader on the floor. I would love to see a rematch(with all of Highlands boys healthy), but even with that I still see a win for Dixie.

It's not going to happen. The reality is HHS is a football school..PERIOD!! The Birds basketball and baseball teams would be contenders just about every year if the kids would continue to play those sports. I can't even name all of the kids over the last few years that would of really helped and made a huge difference in both of these programs. It is really sad that those kids just concentrate on football after their frosh years.. I believe it will happen sooner in baseball than basketball. Coach Baioni has it going in the right direction..

 

Not to mention receiving a couple of stacked classes coming up. The baseball team will be back. Basketball...I have to admit, I'm shocked that the city has such little involvement in BBAll in comparison to football at the youth level. The elementary students play AAU and not for their schools.

I coach a strong group of 4th graders from Johnson the elementary feeder and we are in a couple different leagues. We work em hard and expect a bunch and also take them as a group to the Varsity games. Last week they loved watching the Birds. This is where it starts.

Come on folks - you know the footballers would come out for this game but...Highlands has/had exams scheduled Wed, Thursday and Friday. Part of the issue with basketball is the win at all cost at the youth level in AAU. Look at the parochial leagues with minimum playing times etc. They are much more successful and kids continue to play, just like the FTJFL.