retropop

Based on a couple of new threads I have read today, there seems to be some significant relocation of players as summer comes to a close. Sorry, but it causes me to harken back to THE "most pressing issues" of the summer of 2014. No, not war, not immigration, not unemployment, not the U,S, senatorial race, but big-time issues such as ... the LeBron decision #2, or where are Kevin Love and Carmello going, etc. But wait ... this is Kentucky high school girls' basketball!!! Hello, KHSAA, what the heck is going on???

Who's going to coach the Lady Dragons? This unanswered question has been "Dragon" on and on for way too long. How about some news??? Whoever it is, best wishes for success.

Good for her - but what's with the mystery?.

Thanks for the kind words, but I had to look up the background info, as that hasn't been committed to memory ... could it be Samsel??? Compliments come my way very infrequently.

Do tell us who this player is; don't keep us holding our breath.

I cannot say thank you enough for creating this distinction between AAU and high school sports, as they are two very different creatures. I'll keep checking up on the girls' high school side, but will gladly avoid the AAU bunk. Thank again!

Well, it's now tomorrow and there's still no news about who will lead the Lady Dragons. Apparently no decision was made late yesterday. It's really getting late, which will make it tough for anyone to leave a spot from another Kentucky public school without getting permission from their would-be former employer. This may cause the hire to be someone who is not currently under contract - either a retiree/para-professional or an out-of-state candidate. Hmmm.

Trimble has been on the verge of breaking the stronghold that South Oldham, and Oldham Co. to a lesser extent, have had on the 29th district for a couple years. But can they overcome what appears to be a strong mental block that has prevented it thus far? I saw them this summer, and even though it's only summer ball, they seemed to have a different assertiveness and toughness that could make it happen this season. Only time will tell, but with graduation at OC and the coaching void at South, this could be the Lady Raiders' year to grab the crown.

What's the perspective in MoCo regarding ex-coach Jason Holland's resurfacing to lead the Shelby County Lady Rockets?

Is WV at it again?

"No news is good news" probably doesn't apply to this story. It's definitely not an ideal situation for the players, and presents extra challenges for the new coach, whomever he/she may be. This has been one of the premier 8th region programs for over a decade, and is a sad commentary on the current state of affairs at South. Sad, sad, sad.

DC, your ol' coach got it right. He's a wise fellow. Once a guy's ego is tamed, he can then figure this out ... the question is this: Has Coach Holland truly reached this point yet in his career?

This is a curious and potentially excellent selection. Was assistant coach Kevin Radford, formerly head coach at Western Hills, not in the running? It will be interesting how long he stays coaching girls. I don't really know Coach Holland very well, but it he is obviously a knowledgeable, successful and driven coach - but with boys - in the past. Hopefully, he will be content and successful in continuing the Lady Rockets' resurgence begun by Coach Sowers. Yet for some reason I'll not be surprised if he returns to the boys' sidelines fairly soon.

He's announced it - not a rumor.

Bingo! Manual is a veteran team, Male had/has a vast group of young but talented kids, and Sacred Heart is said to have another good crop of new kids to replace Ruffin and Merriweather. After that, there is a great drop-off ... new coaches at CAL and Assumption (but still have 6'-6" Nora Kiesler), and Eastern and Ballard lost much to graduation.

Is there any word on Casey, who went down with a knee injury?

I couldn't agree with you more, Sportslady. But this is "award-winning Oldham County schools" that we're talking about here, where every kid's greatest value is that he/she is a walking, talking test score. And don't be mistaken, test scores are the only scores that count in this district.

Wow! This indeed is a sad, sad state of affairs for the Lady Dragons. This is a proud and successful and dominant program that deserves a quality coach, regardless of whether it is an experienced coach or a younger coach with great potential ahead of them. With success South has had over the past 10-12 years, the $1,000,000 question that begs asking is WHY haven't there been many applicants when it has become open in 2012 and now?

...

This is good news. Congrats to Clay and best of luck. Justice is served.

I believe it is safe to say that more fans will pack arena in Indy than were at McAllister Gym in Lex last night. The games were competitive and entertaining and the teams played hard. But how can Kentucky not even sell out a D-III gym for this, the granddaddy of summer all-star games? Yes, it is great that it was on TV, and the new Transy gym is a gem of a place, but c'mon, man! Where is the support and buy-in from the fans? Is it that folks won't we jump on board it's not somebody going to UK? I gather from last night and recent years is that high school basketball is a greater priority to Hoosiers than it is to Kentuckians. When and how did this drastic transformation occur? As somebody who has spent equal time on both sides of the river and honestly "feels it" from both states' perspectives, I've got to say that this flat-out breaks my heart. It actually appeared that there was greater attendance at the girls' game than for the boys' game!

There is no reimbursement. Heck, finding financial sponsorship for the team/games in recent years is becoming a greater and greater challenge, from what I understand. But when compared to the costs for kids who are travelling to AAU events, paying for lodging, meals, gasoline, etc., attending the tryouts really is not very much of an expense.

Thanks, Arch, this certainly gets the ball rolling. Some well thought out and meaningful discussion is surely a beneficial thing. Who else can contribute some more solid and constructive suggestions? No whining, bring nothing but your A-game!

Thanks, Arch, this certainly gets the ball rolling. Some well thought out and meaningful discussion is surely a beneficial thing. Who else can contribute some more solid and constructive suggestions? No whining, bring nothing but your A-game!

FBD, how should the process be changed in order to get the best kids from Kentucky playing for Kentucky? What do YOU think would work better? The bottom line is this: BEAT INDIANA. If victories don't matter to those involved - and it seems that to too many folks winning must not be a factor, then being a Kentucky All-Star is pretty much meaningless. Maybe there is a better way to go about it, but you nor no one else, and I mean no one on BGP, has yet to pony up anything near a comprehensive and valid replacement system for selecting the Kentucky All-Star team who's mission is to, once again, BEAT INDIANA. All too often players, parents/family, AAU coaches or whoever it might be who play a part in the decision-making process ("the entourage"), get their noses out of joint because their egos are not stroked enough to compete and EARN a spot. Yes, senior year exploits, career stats, etc. are key factors in being nominated, but all of those occur in a variety of places and ways against dissimilar levels of competition. Therefore, a face-to-face tryout seems to be a valid way of doing it, doesn't it? Unfortunately, there seems to not be enough buy-in from players and coaches to make this work. ALL coaches need to be active, vocal, AND WILLING TO SEND IN BALLOTS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. I guess this is just an old-school rant, but even the illustrious Coach Cal doesn't even want to play Indiana anymore, so ... Where's our state pride in our high school basketball? Is it dead? Please, somebody enlighten me and other readers on a way for the Kentucky girls to regularly, in this classic historical summer series, to ... BEAT INDIANA! 'Nuff said, so I'll end on that note.