realfanreturns

Average Joe, i would be careful of whom i listen to. I too have talk to Coach Mann about the postion, and about Somerset over the past seasons. He has not once said anything negative about SHS or the program. I too would be curious to know what you heard that he was supposed to have said. He has not really been involved with SHS for several years due to college and his current job.

Average Joe you have inspired me again. You know there was more to the story about Thacker than meets the eye. Yes he resigned, because based on the kind of person, man, and coach he is, it is in is nature to do the politically correct thing. I have heard plenty of people from Somerset say they wish he had stayed. But that is water under the bridge at this point, happened 4 years ago. SHS needs to focus on the future and not the past. I have heard the talk about Coach Fraley and it may be a good decision in the grand scheme of things if it happens. Everyone expects the coach to run the Summer/AAU program. It does not have to be the Coach. But at Somerset, based on my experience in starting a AAU program, you need a committed adult who is more into player development than winning with their own kids and a selected few athletes. Small school, with a good football and baseball program, IMO means you need to get more kids involved than 7 or 8. Winning in the 3rd and 4th grade means nothing in the grand scheme of things. If you research what Thacker done at SHS he won without the middle school kids that stared in the years before he arrived. He worked on player development and did not focus on transfers. I will say again the parents at Somerset are going to have to measure success in other ways besides district and region championships for the next couple of years. Right now they are behind the County programs as a program and talent. If they can ever get the entire community to buy into overall player development and not worrying about who wins at Rocky Hollow, all three public school in the area can be good. For the record I have been around the HS level AAU programs in Lexington and around the state for the past 5 years, and none of those teams are coached by their HS head coaches. The HS coachs appear to support the development of there kids because it will make them more competitive. Objective: Increase the size of the talent pool and the level of the talent within the pool. Task: Recruit positive, professional, people to run the feeder programs for the right purposes. Goal: To develop a competitive group of young men to compete at the highest possible level in high school. Results: Winning? I am just saying.

I don't necessarily think that the Buckhorn and PCC was an upset, it seems that most would though so i will call it an upset. The expectations were high for PCC due to Paige's transfer, i questioned there out of region schedule, hard to measure where they really ranked. The power rankings are not the most accurate tool to use to predict the favorits. I do think that the Bryan Station victory over Henry Clay was a big upset. Over in the 16th region tonight, East Carter upset West Carter, and Greenup upset Russell.

This is surprising, to say the least.

Much like Beckham, has had. And I agree BS did not know what they had with Champ.

Greenwell is another one of those underated players from Charlotte Court. The kids on that team get good coaching, plays good competition, and are taught character, but seem to get overlooked because not one of the high profile all star teams. Sorry I know this thread is not about this but had to throw it in there. Good Job Dave!!!!

I only want to see Jay play if he is healthy, This young man has a future to think about. If he needs time to get stronger, he needs to take the time. I have heard different views on the status of his health.

Bopper is good, but IMO and I think that you will agre G Sunrise, DJ Townsend from a little further east on 64 would get the vote if a PG won at this point in the season. DJ may be the best true all around PG in the State, and certainly underated. He too would need the help of a good State Tournament appearance.

I agree nothing needs to change. The KOB and LIT are invitational and not better Tournaments than the Sweet 16. If we used the ranking system to position the teams it would hurt the state. Take Rowan County for example in both polls they have dropped out of the top 25 because they don't run scores up and they chose to play a tough out of conference schedule. The rating system has not been friendly to them at all. I can't see how using that system would help our state. Some people just want to guarentee that Regions 6 and 7 are opposite each other like they were last year. One got beat in the 2nd round and the other in the seme finals. Leave the current system in place. If you are one of the top teams in the State you have to be willing to take what opponent you happen to draw. The State does not lose a thing by the current system.

Me Too!!

Good luck to GRC for the remainder of the Season, maybe these two will meet again in a rubber match. I am sure we will be entertained by another good game by two competitive teams!!

I agree, but really, how many coaches do you see just sit for the entire game after T? Especially if the Tech comes early. I am sure you have seen this before, let be a little realistic about sit meaning sit. I welcome the observational comments, but some the comments about getting hosed when teams play the 16th region is more than just general comments, and seems like excuses to me.

Was going to quote some of the comments but too many on the same subject. There were bad calls both ways as in every game no worse than many other games i have seen this year. Neither TF was warranted, and the coach did not move around freely. He did not move around anymore than any other coach does that gets T'd, until they tell give them a warning. I can promise that no call effected the game worse than the no call last year on television at GRC on that final shot. I saw a game in which both teams played hard and fought from start to finish. Good game between two good teams. Easy to blame things on the Refs. How many games during the year have lopsided calls in one half or the other. Well played game lets don't make excuses.

Based on the interpretation of the rules that I have been given he will be out until January, a year from when he enrolled. It is my understanding because he lived in BS district and played at LC when he departed for the prep schools, he will have to sit a year from date of enrollment since there was no change of address established before the enrollment. This is just my understanding of the rule, i am by no means an expert in the interpretation of the KSHAA bylaws.

Well, why the first article in the paper? Sounds like someone jumped the gun.

1. I was in Somerset today. I am hearing some interesting things that start with Coach Cothron being the front runner. It will be very interesting to see who his assistants are, and what changes are created county wide by the decision. 2. There was an article in the Commonwealth Journal that seemed to blame Coach Daniel for the changes that happened at Somerset in the past couple of years. I am sure as a head coach, Coach Daniel, does not have a problem taking responsibility for what he is in control of which includes the wins and losses. I think it is unfair to blame him for the athletes changing schools or not playing. It certainly is not his fault that Gover and Townsend left, he just happened to be the coach that had to deal with those loses in back to back years.

You know I thought about posting something constructive. Figured some people may not look at it that way so I will keep my thoughts to myself. I wish SHS good luck and just hope they give the next coach a time to build a program.

I agree AAU is just a brand that actually sanctions over 30 ametuer sports. Because of their size they can offer benefits that afford many teams the opportunity to participate in structured b-ball in the spring and summer. This is a benefit to alot of people involved in youth sports. Most of the tournaments for High School age kids during the month of July are not necessarily AAU sanctioned tournaments. They are NCAA certified tournaments that allow the college coaches an opportunity to watch the athletes. Having a AAU membership offers certain protections to the coaches and the facilities that host the tournament. This actually offers opportunities to alot of kids that otherwise would not have the opportunity to participate. I do think there are some bad coaches out there who does this for their own ego's and not for the good of the individual athlete. I think if there was a way to spread the sponsorship money around to the various programs it may end some of that. I will say that in the 80's there were more than one Five Star Camp being ran, but again it was expensive and alot of kids who had talent was not afforded the opportunity to get the exposure. The current system allow more young athletes a chance at exposure. Back to the fundamentals. I still think we have to start at the grassroot level to develop fundamentals and skills. Thats starts with parents understanding why little johnny is participting in what ever sport he or she chooses. Winning cannot be the primary objective at that level, although i do think we need to keep score, kids need a reason to compete. Play less games and practice more. Youth programs should offer clinics to there coaches to ensure they have an ideal of the skill they are trying to teach. I also think that fundamentals should be taught and emphasised at every level.

Hammer, i also agree with you about fundamentals they definitely need to be stressed more. I would not go as far and say that AAU is not needed, i think it has a place. I think the problem starts with parents local youth programs, and middle school programs. Those programs appear to place to much emphasis on winning and less on fundamentals. Parents want to win worse than the kids and the problem snowballs. Youth league programs teach are structured in a manner that does not allow real basketball to be taught. They try and play too many games in a short period of time. These programs should focus on teaching youth coaches how to teach fundamentals and the game to the age they are coaching. I agree completely that the 3 point shoot has had a negative effect on our youth learning how to play. I know some middle school coaches that want to teach the game and develop youth, but they get alot of grief from there parents because they are not always playing what the parents believe are the best players. I think you bring up some valid points in regards to that aspect of your post today.

What would be your team?

Well I think that most people did not see the importance of adding a quality PG to a strong supporting cast. Both Wing and Townsend flew under the radar entering this season. Not playing together last year i don't think people knew what to expect.

I think basketball fans all over the State of Kentucky was treated to a very special and memorable championship game. Not sure it could of been made any better. Based on a game like the one we just observed I don't see any potential format changes. If Eastern and Clark Co. had breezed through to the final four then cake walked in the finals, there may have been some room for argument.

Nice Update.

Good job ladies, i am so proud of you. Wish i were there to see you do it. Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to Coach Shultz and the SW Warriors, they made a good run at it after everyone had them counted out. I think they will be back in the thick of things next year in the 12th Reg. They return about 4 3yr starters as seniors, Edwards, Shultz, and Dishman. Keep your heads up.