I agree..Carson has no business playing 8th grade basketball. It is not helping him get better one bit.

 

Great WIN for the Rebels!

 

This discussion could go on and on but, did anyone ever think that maybe Carson wanted to play with his classmates first and maybe the head coach supported his decision? There's no doubt he's going to be a contributor to the varsity squad!

Great WIN for the Rebels!

 

This discussion could go on and on but, did anyone ever think that maybe Carson wanted to play with his classmates first and maybe the head coach supported his decision? There's no doubt he's going to be a contributor to the varsity squad!

 

Very good point. I have heard that Carson said there was no way he was going leave his teammates and friends that he has been playing with since he was in 1st grade. He missed a couple varsity games because of loyalty to them, so what? I agree that he had no business playing middle school but he wanted to play with his friends and have fun with them. You have to remember, he is still a little kid. I believe his last middle school game is tonight according to Sutton,and then his focus will be 100% on the varsity, whose season is just getting started.

 

To clarify jumpball's post and answer some questions, Owen does not end their season early just so middle schoolers can play up. Most middle school teams in our area's season is from October til December. They still have 20 games and conference tournament, just like everyone else. With schools in this area with the enrollment so low, most freshman teams can't begin play until the middle schoolers (8th graders and some 7th) come over and play with them.

 

However, it is correct that a rule is in place that a middle schooler cannot come over and play strictly varsity without playing in their appropriate age group first. Agree that it is an idiot rule that did involve parents and administrators getting involved that did not have the students' best interest at heart. This was an issue several years ago with Jarrod Ball of Owen when he decided not to play middle school and only play high school. Because of this stupid rule that had just been put in place that year, he had to sit out of the high school games until the middle school season was over, even though he wasn't playing. Who is this really helping?

So the MS season starts early and ends early so studs can play up? What about the regular kids, who just want to play basketball during the basketball season and have fun?

 

The 6th graders on the middle school team have another league they will play in thru February and all of the 8th graders and a few 7th graders usually move up to the freshman team. This year the middle school team played about 20 games so there is plenty of ball for everyone. Some kids will also play AAU. This is common practice at the smaller schools.

If it was Carson's decision then i respect him even more as a person than as a player and i respect him a lot as a player. Regardless, good luck to Owen Co, Carson and Sawyer and Coach Duvall.