retropop

It seems very strange to now have large "NCAA sanctioned" events so close to the beginning of the high school season, and causes me to wonder if this is really good for high school basketball. Sure, it's great for the NCAA schools - it's a one-stop shopping opportunity - like a super Wal-Mart for recruiting. Much like the negative effect on small town small business districts, it won't be surprising to not see college coaches "shopping" in the high school gyms by watching girls' games in 2013-14, as in the past. This new "improvement" seems to elevate AAU play at the expense of the high school game. Is this really a positive thing?

Larry Just -- Butler, 6th region.

Do tell, please.

Coach Just is crafting the Lady Bears' program into the best one in JCPS. Butler will again be a top, if not the top, team in the region. Their players are able to enter the program early and develop well under his excellent guidance. There have been several key changes among top programs in Jefferson County the over past two years, but Butler has remained very steady. Look for them to be strong and go far.

5th position - the pines.

Congrats to the ladies on their split with the Hoosiers, and best of luck to them as they go on to their college careers. One question though: Might a stronger inside presence been of benefit?

Was there little to no advance publicity for this event? At a quick glance, the Louisville C-J had few details of the girls' game. Can anyone share some stats, a box score, and maybe a roster? Thanks.

Does Manual also have a high administrative post to also fill? If that is the case, the coaching spot may not be on the front burner. I don't know this for sure, but it may be the case.

I believe the Hoosiers are a pretty strong group and have some inside presence. Does this group have anything to counter? I hope so and wish them the best, but they have their work cut out for them.

I agree with you, leather. If necessity really is the mother of invention, as the old saying goes, then this could be an economic opportunity for someone willing to undertake it. Maybe a well-announced bid-process solicitation could bring about several interested parties that might be interested in producing a program for profit. That would take it off of the KHSAA's plate and reduce its loss headaches, which might create a win/win situation. It doesn't hurt to give it a look, I guess.

Thanks for your info, too. I'm with about the $75 K loss question. It's easy to sit around, gripe and moan, and take pot-shots at any organization - especially via an anonymous vehicle such as this - but that is not the purpose of my postings. It's just my most sincere belief that, although it's not the end of the world, at least a simple, solid program is warrented by the stature of these excellent athletic events - our Sweet-16 basketball tournaments, which we bill and market as the "greatest show in hoops." It 's just my opinion - but one that is shared by a good number of folks, I do believe.

Thanks for the info!

Wow! Verrrrrrryyy interessssstingg. Any other nuggets of information out there that can be unearthed? Sounds as though the KHSAA needs to have their books examined or opened up due to public records laws. Not really implying any improprieties or anything, but since they are an arm of our Kentucky state legislature, it certainly seems as though a little daylight shining in on things and some ensuing disclosure would spell any doubts, doesn't it?

Are not the Kentucky Senior and Junior All-Star tryouts at Georgetown College this weekend? What's the scoop?

Not saying that it was a greatly officiated tourney, but it seemed better than average compared to the last few. A well officiated game is one in which you don't really notice the officials or their calls. Now that it is a pretty humble way to approach the job tasks, I guess, but when referrees go relatively unnoticed, they are conducting their responsibilities in a way that facilitates a very smooth-flowing and consistant game that allows the players to play the game - not the officials calling the game. It's not good when a ref wants to "be the show," which we've all witnessed sometime, and certainly is not the reason fans pay the price of admission.

Privates: Mercy, Sacred Heart and Assumption; Publics: Butler, Bullitt East, Manual, Eastern, Ballard and Male will be in the thick of the 6th/7th mix again next year - the usual suspects.

Wah, wah, wah! You've got to be kidding - big crocadile tears ought to be shed if that's the best deal they can secure. One would surmise that supply/demand, free market economy, etc. principles should allow for submitting competitive bids to get the best deal, right? How much in advertising can they raise to defer the costs of printing? Did they get some advert money to have something on a webpage that nobody, or a scant few, brought up on their tech devices? If so, what happened to it? Who says it has to be printed on a glossy/slick paper stock that might be super-costly? We're talking about a basketball program here - nobody needs a work of art. Here's a simple design concept for you: form follows function when it comes to the design and layout of, again, a basketball program. Hmmm, let's see ... rosters with basic details and pics for 16 competiting teams; adverts with photo-ready imaging provided by the company; records that are stored electronically that can be mangaged by the creator/file editor; a tourney bracket ... yep, that sounds like a good $75K expenditure to me. C-mon, dude, get real and don't lay out that crybaby slop. Not having a program cannot be defended with such a lame testimony. Plus, they should have some kind of record of past sales to clue themselves into how many to print. If the overrun is driving the bus to unprofitability, then DUH, don't order so many. THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE - JUST PRINT A PROGRAM!

There should be a HUUUUUUGE outcry of folks being upset with the KHSAA decision-makers for not having basketball programs at the state basketball Sweet-16! BOTH girls and boys! What a classless thing it was to lessen our "Greatest Show In Hoops" in such a way. This was bad form, KHSAA, very bad form indeed. Just think. No momento for a current player this year to take home to someday show her/his kids and grandkids about how mom/dad or grandma/grandpa, played way back in '13. Really, it's shameless. If tradition and history mean so little, one must wonder how soon these decision-makers will sell out and go to multiple classes. (No, looking it up a player's number, height or class in the midst of the game on one's smart phone or i-phone just doesn't cut it. Sorry.) When you have the best - our single class, Sweet-16 format, keep it the best and enhance what you have. Don't do foolish things that diminish the greatness of it. Geez, Louise, let's get it right! It's not rocket science.

My understanding is that only KABC member coaches (and their players) are eligible for consideration. In other words, schools/coaches must pay their membership dues in order to be a considered as an award recipient - this includes both coaches and players. If someone else can verify or refute this, please do so.

Congrats to two good ones. Way to go coaches.

Really??? I wonder where I was when this went down??? Pardon my lack of awareness, but this happened after all of the hullaballoo surrounding Coach Turner's "departure" last spring??? I must say I am shocked!!! Please bring me up to speed with the ifs, buts, hows, whys and wherefors involved! Thanks.

These ladies and gentlemen came compliments of the 11th region - FYI.

Now it's easy to emote when we take a glance at the pic, for sure. But the very thought that ran through my mind as I wrote my caption was this: "I wish I could have seen how this player handled herself and what was her play after the encounter?" In acutality, the proof should be in the puddin', as the old saying goes, shouldn't it? I was not there and have no idea how it played out. Simple and commonly expressed opinions seem to place it in one of these two categories: A) if the kid was motivated to kick butt and take names afterwards, and played like a beast, then I guess it was fantastic coaching; B) if the kid she cried like a baby and sulked, then it was poor coaching. The reality of it is that coaching isn't very simple, really. Each coach basically does the best he/she can based on that individual's personal code - however, there is a vast difference amongst coaches of what those codes are.

The boys had a similar thread on their webpage, so why not try it here on the girls' side? Have at it.

"THIS EXPLAINS WHY BOONE WINS!" seems to be a fair caption to me. It's not really meant to be a "pro" or a "con" statement, but enables me to better understand why/how the BC teams consistently perform well year-in-and-year-out. This pic depicts a definite competitive fire that runs throughout the program, one which many BGP contributors have addressed - both pro and con - over the years.