retropop

South Oldham Holiday Hoop-Fest -- Dec. 18, 19, 20 and 22

Dec. 18 (round 1)

6:30, Seneca vs. Franklin Co.

8:15, Moore vs. Southern

Dec. 19 (round 1)

6:30, Jeffersontown vs. Doss

8:15, Whitefield Academy vs. South Oldham

Dec. 20 (round 2) and Dec. 22 (final round)

3:00

4:45

6:30

8:15

Congrats to East Jess. and to Coach Sallee. No one is more worthy of a big season-opening win than he is! Good luck and keep it going.

Unfortunately, with games on the horizon that will actually count, and won-loss records soon to be on the line, might there be few folks in several school communities preparing to complain or hope that their particular coach might move on? Many coaches and players are currently working hard to do well in 2008-09, but not all will achieve their dreams, and we'll begin another cycle of lose-gripe-complain or win-laugh-smile.

Just like in politics, sometimes the head honcho (coach) gets way too much credit or way too much blame when the team is winning and/or losing. It would be nice if there would be an increase in stability within the girls' head coaching ranks around the state for the next few seasons. Any thoughts out there?

With not quite a full month of practices on the books, and the scrimmages and the panoramas around the corner, everyone's speculations will soon be tested the new reality. It will be very interesting to see who has made bonafide strides toward becoming "legit" top teams and top players, and I think a lot of folks are eager and anxiously looking forward to another enjoyable season of girl's hoops in the 8th.

FYI - The new OC Lady Colonels' regime is slightly off many observers' radar screens - but probably not for long. Under the guiding hand Coach Just, look for them to now be a well-drilled, well-organized, and a well-disciplined outfit - and when the girls catch on and buy all the way in, they wiil turn a good number people's heads.

What no one has mentioned is the climate that exists in the education profession that makes it much more difficult to carry out one's duties in the classroom and in the gym. Some schools - fewer and fewer - seem to make it "do-able" for a teacher/coach to handle all of the job demands, while many other schools do not, and it is not that unusual to find that the boys' coaches and girls' coaches do not always have an equal amount of classroom job description.

Are there any additional thoughts on this perspective out there???

Another girls' hoops season is just around the corner, and the normal game of musical coaching chairs is in full swing. Year after year it seems that there are an amazingly high number of girls' head basketball coaching changes around the state. So this question begs to be asked: WHY SO MANY - especially when compared to the boys' head coaching jobs around Kentucky?

"Is it enough" ... for what??? It depends on your purposes and goals as a player (or those of the parents) as to what is enough.

No player is going to get any better if she/he will not put in the hours of sweat equity - between March and October - that is needed for improvement to take place. Period. Ironically, manyf parents and coaches seem to "want it more" than the players want it for themselves. Those kids who have the burning desire to really get better and a passion for the game will do what it takes to develop and improve. Athletes who play multiple sports will be very busy if they plan on doing justice to the sports they play. Normally, a multiple sport athlete "is a player" in one of the sports, and "she/he plays at" the other sport.

Now if the goal is to play beyond high school, then the exposure camps and/or higher profile camps come into play. Regardless of if the camp is able to deliver on the amount of exposure to college scouts promised or not, they are nonetheless a flesh-market for players to be seen. There is no real teaching of the game's fundamental skills, plus it is very possible for kids not in the top tier to get put out to pasture. I've seen kids get lost in the shuffle at an exposure camp, only and the following year sign with a D-I school and play for the all-star team. It's a wake-up call for many kids to find out how much talent is out there, and where they really fit into the mix. From the college scouts' perspectives, the real "prospects" will compete, will be motivated, and will step up; those who are "suspects" will shrink back and "not have much fun," as many kids tend to say nowdays.

If your high school coach and program are solid and have a reputation for fundamentally developing players, then that often helps in the eyes of the college coaches (non D-I, that is).

What's the word regarding new players coming into the varsity ranks -- who are the move-ins and/or young players who are likely to step up strongly from the junior varsity and middle school ranks this season?

Since the region seems to be wide open and there was significant graduation, much will depend on the contributions of these newcomers. It has been interesting to note that several teams that have gone the Sweet-16 the past few years have had numerous underclassmen on the roster. Even though it doesn't seem likely for that to happen in the 8th this year, it is not totally out of the question.

The 8th region will be minus a number of fine players due to graduation - and several of them are readying to begin their collegiate careers. This was a very strong senior class, and these young ladies played huge roles in the successes of their teams over the last four years.

With that said, what about the future in the 8th? Simon Kenton and Anderson Co., return strong casts of veterans, and Oldham Co. returns several starters and top reserves from a district champion team. After that, it appears to be up for grabs, with several A-schools having high hopes for advancing in region play. Shelby Co. and South Oldham will have to do some rebuilding but have good groups of young players who might blossom by district time. How about some more thoughts on this subject???

Are there any results of the games or commentaries of the Trimble County shoot-out?

Let's hope that things work out and peace and loyal support will prevail at WV. I have heard a saying that applies to many coaches and many jobs that goes like this: "There are more bad jobs than there are bad coaches."

This response is absolutely meant in no way as a knock on the WV program or its previous coach(es). It just goes to say that whoever the next person who coaches at WV will be given an honest chance and the maximum support required to be as successful as he or she can be. With that said, the ONLY "real expectations" that matter are the ones of the the new coach and the players have together. The coaches "vision" and the players' acceptance of it is all that matters - and not anyone else's.

Parents and fans need to patiently step aside and let good things develop. WV has the ingredients for a successful program, and "too many cooks spoil the soup." So, best of luck to the "cook," and let's hope that the new coach has the right "recipe." Here is one vote for Peace and Loyal Support.:thumb:

8th Region Outlook -

1-Simon Kenton - prohibitive favorite; numerous veterans return; a tourney-tested team

2-Anderson Co. - has top-tier returning veterans; solid inside & outside threats

3-Oldham Co. - this dist. champ loses only two; grossly underachieved the last 3 years

4 (tie)-Shelby Co. & So. Oldham - traditionally successful; will continue to be in hunt

5- (tie)- Owen Co., Gallatin Co., Spencer Co.- each team returns key veterans and will be in the hunt to go to the region tourney (although Spencer is a very tough district)

How is it that many of the 16 regions draw for their tournaments on Saturday afternoon, while a few hold their region draw on Sunday? For those regions that draw on Sunday afternoon, it leaves little preparation time. Can anyone shed some light on this subject?

According to the box score in the Courier-Journal she had 37 points. That gives her 2,013 career points, which is the school record for girls and boys. She's a very fine player, for sure.

Final score ... South Oldham 54, Conner 43.

Looking ahead to the Sweet-16, what are the opinions of folks on the pairings between region champs?

Hot: Simon Kenton and Trimble Co. seem to be building some positive momentum in the 8th region. SK has done well on the road, and Trimble has gathered themselves with wins in the "A" classic.

Will this (and/or the other game) game be broadcast on radio tonight, and if so, which station(s)? Please list the call numbers.

Big schools, small schools, in-between schools - it's just good to find out what is going on with teams and or players. I hope more folks chime in on the subject.

Mid-to-late January is the time of the season that separates the contenders from the pretenders. As the season heads into the "A" and the backstretch/final turn, who's hot and who's not?

BLASPHEMY, BLASPHEMY, BLASPHEMY!!!!!

The Bluegrass State has practically the ONLY pure and true state basketball tournament in existence! To travel the path of separate class tourneys is to follow in the footsteps of fools - like those states who border us.

Example: Indiana. Before it "evolved" into its current (and degraded and diminished) incarnation, it was arguably the best of the best state tournaments. But petty whining by small-size and middle-size schools - who lobbied and politicked the IHSAA into killing its "golden goose" - has led to the current non-gold goose-egg of a current Indiana state basketball tournament.

Please, please, please don't encourage the KHSAA to do likewise! Remember this saying: "Wise men fear to go where only fools will tread." Let's stick with the "greatest show on earth," our wonderfull SWEET-16 basketball tournament.

Any word on the Applebee's Classic being played at Boyle Co. this week?