Awsome thread.

 

The Catholic Grades School League in Campbell County is fabulous. Hence, NCC, BB & old St.T have had great basket ball as a result. A few years ago, I was involved in something referred to as the Ft.T recreational BB league. It was fun, but pretty weak. The school district needs to address a feeder program in the grade schools if they want to turn the situation around. There is a model to observe, if anyone has any questions.

Also with regard to the specialization concern, which I agree is generally a difference in high school sports today generally at all schools not a specific to Highlands issue, give me names of impact players roaming the halls of highlands high school now who would be impact varsity players for Highlands this year that are not playing because they are only playing football or specializing in another sport. Certaiinly some good athletes that could add to their team depth but I can't think of anybody who would take somebody's starting job and be a double figure scorer. Most of the players names I have seen mentioned on here for last year would have added to an already talented 8 man senior basketball class--kind of hard to carry any more seniors than that so they would have had to beat out pretty good players to keep playing (and basketball unlike football is not a no-cut sport). Again, Stinkyboy ( and others on here) have addressed the question well in that you lose most or some of the offseason work where basketball players make the all important individual improvement in their games but that becomes a choice each student-athlete makes about where to allocate their time to training and other activities and clearly the time some (many) choose to devote to football has postiively impacted their playing time and the programs success.

 

More to my prior message to answer the thread question I don't see that there is anything wrong with Highlands basketball. It will have its ups and downs like all programs but overall compete pretty well and successfully. Probably the main difference is many more highlands posters on the BGP site relative to other schools who care about the success of the program (and who also seem to have a lot of time on their hands in the football offseason) . Otherwise , we wouldn't have a 3 page thread on highlands basketball concerns and no handwringing threads at all on the lack of any regional basketball championships by Dixe, Conner, Boone, etc over the last 15 years.

A kid IMO should play a sport because he likes the sport. If he also has a chance to win a championship that's great.

 

Also I think kids should play multiple sports if they like multiple sports. They shouldn't feel like they have to pick one and a coach shouldn't imply or outright tell a player to pick one sport or else.

 

I'm not saying this has happened in Ft Thomas. I'm making a general statement.

 

Can't disagree with that post. And I think kids should feel free to specialize in one sport if they want to specialize in one sport. There is nothing wrong with doing so. Nothing. They shouldn't feel like they need to play multiple sports because their fathers want them to or because some high school supporters think they could help the other sports.. Likewise, just a general statement.

Also with regard to the specialization concern, which I agree is generally a difference in high school sports today generally at all schools not a specific to Highlands issue, give me names of impact players roaming the halls of highlands high school now who would be impact varsity players for Highlands this year that are not playing because they are only playing football or specializing in another sport. Certaiinly some good athletes that could add to their team depth but I can't think of anybody who would take somebody's starting job and be a double figure scorer. Most of the players names I have seen mentioned on here for last year would have added to an already talented 8 man senior basketball class--kind of hard to carry any more seniors than that so they would have had to beat out pretty good players to keep playing (and basketball unlike football is not a no-cut sport). Again, Stinkyboy ( and others on here) have addressed the question well in that you lose most or some of the offseason work where basketball players make the all important individual improvement in their games but that becomes a choice each student-athlete makes about where to allocate their time to training and other activities and clearly the time some (many) choose to devote to football has postiively impacted their playing time and the programs success.

 

More to my prior message to answer the thread question I don't see that there is anything wrong with Highlands basketball. It will have its ups and downs like all programs but overall compete pretty well and successfully. Probably the main difference is many more highlands posters on the BGP site relative to other schools who care about the success of the program (and who also seem to have a lot of time on their hands in the football offseason) . Otherwise , we wouldn't have a 3 page thread on highlands basketball concerns and no handwringing threads at all on the lack of any regional basketball championships by Dixe, Conner, Boone, etc over the last 15 years.

 

 

Excellent post. I also don't see the big problems with Highlands Basketball that a few folks on here do. Like those folks I'd also like to see basketball be more successful and win the region again soon, but if that's test of a problem, then a whole lot of schools that have had no where near the success of Highlands in football also have problems with their basketball programs. I believe that if we'd have stayed healthy last year, we'd have been a stronger contender to do so. I think Flynn is an outstanding coach and can get the job done. Give the man some blooming time. Perhaps if Highlands football wasn't so strong, Flynn's job would be easier for sure, but as they say, if Aunt Edna had certain parts, she'd be Uncle Ed.

 

I'd also like to say that Highlands overall sports program is very strong. Geez, both soccer programs advanced to the state tournament this year; we've won the state title this year in football; I think we'll have an outstanding basketball team this year if kids stay healthy and will challenge the best of 9th region teams come year end; Jeremy is doing a great job of rebuilding the baseball program; Jaime looks like she is putting together another very good girls basketball team again this year; Girls track team has won state two years in a row and boys track team has done very well also. For a school our size, I think we have a very strong athletic program.

Edited December 23, 201015 yr by leatherneck

Respectfully, I suppose my response is somewhat the opposite of JOATs which is tell me about the success of the basketball programs of the schools you mention (or other schools in the 9th Region) or maybe better stated what is the definition of a "successful basketball program in the 9th region". If it is regional championships we are only talking Holmes in recent years having won 4 of the last 6 regionals (the "Highlands" of local basketball recently if you will" being the dominant player locally and on a state level) Extend the lookback period say 15 years total then Highlands has 4 regional championships ('97-99 and '01) and Holmes still has the same 4 championships, CovCath has 2 ('04 and '06) and nobody else has more than 1. Of the other 4 schools you mentioned with "strong overall programs" they have a combined 2 regional basketball championships over that 15 years (NC in 2000 and Ryle in 2002) and none in the last 8 years) while Dixie and Holy Cross (and Boone, Conner, et al have come up empty--although Dixie may finally break that streak and get one this year as they have an excellent team but still the odds of them versus the field make that a less than 50-50 shot) So other than Holmes nobody is really trading off football championship success for regional basketball championship success.

 

If, on the other hand, success in baskeball is defined as something other than regional championships, such as say fielding strong competitve teams in the region capable of competing for a regional championship then tell me the last time highlands did not do that. I believe last year's team, if it had been able to stay healthy would have been one of the deepest and best in Highlands history. They had the same team the year before (all juniors then), the year before that had McGraw and Simpson at guards (when was the last time they had 2 stating guards that good and again Simpson's broken hand cost them a reasonable shot at the region where they still made it to Regional semis with siimpson at less than 50%) before that the Jeff Vories led teams (that I believe also lost in Regional semis). A number of district championships in that stretch as well. All in all pretty competitive Highlands basketball teams IMO. Again, other than Holmes, tell me who has had more basketball success than Highlands in the 9th region over the past 15 years.

 

I also realize the 15 years is a bit of a conveniently drawn line for highlands as that brings in its 1997-2001 run of success. But perhaps that also highlights that basketball success for highlands (and other teams) runs in cycles when you happen to have the best horses at your school. I believe even Holmes had gone 10 years (perhaps more) without a regional championship before their recent successful run starting in 2005. Prior to Highlands run that started in the late 90s it had not had a regional championship in 10 years since 1987 when it won the last of its five regional championships over a 9 year period. Before that you have to go bacxk 45 years to find another (1934) so other than those two windows of exceptional success (1997-2001 & 1979-87) that most schools would love to have in their history this is the general state of things for highlands and most successful 9th region basketball programs.

 

I also agree with most of Stinkyboys comments above as well.

 

I wish Coach Flynn and the Birds all the best this year. He has had perhaps the worst injury bad luck in his short 1+ year tenure of any high school basketball coach I have ever seen, yet to his credit, I have not heard him publicly use that as an excuse one time and has had a great positive attitude with the team and been supportive of all the school programs. Perhaps, as often happens, the luck will even out for him and the team and they will make a good run at it this year or the next few years. With good coaches like him (and Coach Schlarman before him) I think the basketball program is in good hands and has been and will be just fine.

 

Now this is definitely something to think about. Nice post, well said and very factual. Holmes in hoops analogy to Birds in football is spot on. Heck, with their athleticism this year could get them another.

Edited December 23, 201015 yr by Qryche11

Excellent post. I also don't see the big problems with Highlands Basketball that a few folks on here do. Like those folks I'd also like to see basketball be more successful and win the region again soon, but if that's test of a problem, then a whole lot of schools that have had no where near the success of Highlands in football also have problems with their basketball programs. I believe that if we'd have stayed healthy last year, we'd have been a stronger contender to do so. I think Flynn is an outstanding coach and can get the job done. Give the man some blooming time. Perhaps if Highlands football wasn't so strong, Flynn's job would be easier for sure, but as they say, if Aunt Edna had certain parts, she'd be Uncle Ed.

 

I'd also like to say that Highlands overall sports program is very strong. Geez, both soccer programs advanced to the state tournament this year; we've won the state title this year in football; I think we'll have an outstanding basketball team this year if kids stay healthy and will challenge the best of 9th region teams come year end; Jeremy is doing a great job of rebuilding the baseball program; Jaime looks like she is putting together another very good girls basketball team again this year; Girls track team has won state two years in a row and boys track team has done very well also. For a school our size, I think we have a very strong athletic program.

 

Good post as well. The entire athletic program should take a bow and the kids should all feel very fortunate for the coaches that lead them. I don't like the title of this thread at all but it definitely has stirred interest with over 3000 views and some excellent responses. I wonder if The Guru has a little elf responsible for starting this thread.

In re the bolded, to answer the question: yes he very well could win that spot because of committing himself to lifting and conditioning. The corollary is that if he isn't doing it in order to play baseball, but his competition for the starting spot is doing it, he may not, and likely will not, win the starting spot. And if he's good with that, in order to play baseball, I'm good with that. He should do what he enjoys and accept what comes as a result. It's all a matter of what's more important to him; not whether adults think playing multiple sports is some wonderful thing every kid should do. I played multiple sports as a young kid; I only played football in high school. I have no regrets about that. I don't feel I missed a thing.

 

No one is condemning the kid for his choice. As I stated earlier, my son will have the same decisions to make down the road and he will make those decisions based upon his feelings, not mine. I have a daughter that would help the basketball program and much to my chagrin has decided to focus 100% on soccer with my full support. No one is saying that playing multiple sports is wonderful and for everyone, but it would be nice to see some of these kids stick with playing more than just one sport when they have done so successfully up until their high school years. You chose to concentrate on football with no regrets and I chose to play all three with no regrets and yet we each achieved the same thing and that was a state football championship. Those were choices that we made, but I can tell you that there were influences back in my time to not play football, but rather to stick with basketball. I chose to stick with football, but Willie Schlarman decided to give it up and concentrate on basketball. He got a basketball scholarship out of it, but IMO would have been an all state football player and potential Division I player. I am just as big a Highlands guy as anybody on this site and would like to see them succeed in all sports whether it is girls or boys, but the only way that is going to happen IMO is if some of these kids stick to playing more than one sport whether it is baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, swimming, track, cross country, etc. As I said earlier the problem is not the coaching in any of the sports mentioned rather it is in most cases the lack of able bodies trying out for these teams that can help them be even more successful.

 

As to earlier posts regarding impact players not on the teams, there are none, but there are players that would definitely help the program. The successful teams of the earlier years did have basketball only players, but they were supported by members of the football team. I played on two regional championship teams where there were some basketball only players that carried a majority of the load, but the football team members that joined were the pieces that finished the puzzle. I always felt that the football players brought a mental toughness to the program because of their success and that carried over to the basketball court.

Edited December 23, 201015 yr by Jack of all Trades

No one is condemning the kid for his choice. As I stated earlier, my son will have the same decisions to make down the road and he will make those decisions based upon his feelings, not mine. I have a daughter that would help the basketball program and much to my chagrin has decided to focus 100% on soccer. No one is saying that playing multiple sports is wonderful and for everyone, but it would be nice to see some of these kids stick with playing more than just one sport when they have done so successfully up until their high school years. You chose to concentrate on football with no regrets and I chose to play all three with no regrets and yet we each achieved the same thing and that was a state football championship. I am just as big a Highlands guy as you are and would like to see them succeed in all sports whether it is girls or boys, but the only way that is going to happen is if some of these kids stick to playing more than one sport whether it is baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, swimming, track, cross country, etc.

 

Fair enough, but no one, or at least not me, said you were condemning the kid in question, or any kids for that matter, for playing just one sport. But you have certainly implied in this and other threads in the past that you think kids should play multiple sports (and did so again in the quoted post when you said it would be nice if these kids stuck with playing more than just one sport). Why would it be nice? If they want to just play one sport like your daughter, what's wrong with that? Why are you chagrined with your daughter's decision? I told both of my sons when they were young to play what they wanted or not play at all, if that was their choice. Might sound like heresy at Highlands, but I told both of them I'd be totally fine if they didn't play football at Highlands. Heck, I did every thing but beg them not to play college football. I love high school sports and believe that kids can gain a lot from participating, but I believe the kids have to want to participate in order to get something out of participation.

 

I know you are just as big of a Highlands guy as I am, and hopefully I have never implied that I'm the best Highlands supporter out there. There are many that are every bit and more the Highlands fan and supporter that I am. I too would like every Highlands sport to succeed. But if that doesn't happen because kids choose to concentrate on one sport (to the detriment of the other sports), I'll be fine with it. Those kids shouldn't be making their decisions based on my desire to see every Highlands sport be super successful.

Haven't you guys solved this problem yet? This thread just won't seem to die.

It would be nice because in my opinion the other sports would greatly benefit from these kids continuing to play more than one sport. I fully realize and understand that neither you or I or any adult for that matter should force their child to do something that they do not want to do. I am a believer in multiple sports because I think that it is good for kids to step away for awhile both mentally and physically. My son has had some knee problems and my daughter some back problems and in talking with the orthopaedics, they say that the worst thing that has happened over the years is specialization because repetitive use of the same body parts results in physical problems now and in the future. The chagrin with my daughter's decision is that she had some success in basketball and is 5'8+ at age 13 and I do not want her to look back after high school and say I wish that I would have continued playing basketball, cheerleading or been on the dance team. I, like you believe that high school is/are the best years of your life and I do not want them looking back after graduation with any regrets.

Haven't you guys solved this problem yet? This thread just won't seem to die.

 

There really is no problem in or with the program itself. Perhaps there are more good times ahead, only time will tell.

There isn't any problem with the HHS basketball program.

 

There is no doubt that every athlete at HHS wants to see every sport succeed at HHS, and that all athletes support their classmates during each sport season. The stance of any athlete not being allowed to play any other sport because of football is out in left field. The difference is, the HHS football coaching staff knows their football athletes beginning in the third grade of FTJFL. They attend games and smack high fives with kids. They get to know the kids by name during football camp. They see a 3rd grade athlete at Remke's and they know their name and talk to them (It makes an impression on a kid). They encourage the kids. They give them a speech at the end of their final 8th grade game and welcome them to HHS football. It has become a ritual to be a freshman and dress varsity for the football playoffs. Since the current HHS baseball coach took over, baseball is heading this way also. Kids love playing for Coach B. I have heard nothing but good things about Coach Flynn. I believe HHS fans will see HHS basketball go to new heights in the near future! Give him some time. The younger kids will see basketball in a different light.

It would be nice because in my opinion the other sports would greatly benefit from these kids continuing to play more than one sport. I fully realize and understand that neither you or I or any adult for that matter should force their child to do something that they do not want to do. I am a believer in multiple sports because I think that it is good for kids to step away for awhile both mentally and physically. My son has had some knee problems and my daughter some back problems and in talking with the orthopaedics, they say that the worst thing that has happened over the years is specialization because repetitive use of the same body parts results in physical problems now and in the future. The chagrin with my daughter's decision is that she had some success in basketball and is 5'8+ at age 13 and I do not want her to look back after high school and say I wish that I would have continued playing basketball, cheerleading or been on the dance team. I, like you believe that high school is/are the best years of your life and I do not want them looking back after graduation with any regrets.

 

I'm no doctor but what the orthopod said makes some sense, particularly with very young kids. I'm a firm believer that youth sports are way, and I mean way, out of control.

 

Hopefully your daughter doesn't spend any time looking back at any thing; A wise mentor once told me that if I spend time looking back to the past (which I can't change), I'm not looking forward to the future (which I can change). Kids can't do it all without sacrificing just being kids and spending time with the family. The sooner we start teaching kids that they can't and aren't expected to do it all and play all sports, the healthier they will be mentally and physically.

There isn't any problem with the HHS basketball program.

 

There is no doubt that every athlete at HHS wants to see every sport succeed at HHS, and that all athletes support their classmates during each sport season. The stance of any athlete not being allowed to play any other sport because of football is out in left field. The difference is, the HHS football coaching staff knows their football athletes beginning in the third grade of FTJFL. They attend games and smack high fives with kids. They get to know the kids by name during football camp. They see a 3rd grade athlete at Remke's and they know their name and talk to them (It makes an impression on a kid). They encourage the kids. They give them a speech at the end of their final 8th grade game and welcome them to HHS football. It has become a ritual to be a freshman and dress varsity for the football playoffs. Since the current HHS baseball coach took over, baseball is heading this way also. Kids love playing for Coach B. I have heard nothing but good things about Coach Flynn. I believe HHS fans will see HHS basketball go to new heights in the near future! Give him some time. The younger kids will see basketball in a different light.

 

Great post!

When you go to the state meetings and medical requirments from the khsaa they will tell you that playing one sport is not the best thing to do. Burn out plus your body mussel will not change as if you were playing other sports.