tommyb

Not sure if anyone listed Campbell County players - but I'm a big fan of the 1985 squad. They didn't get out of the region - losing in Semi's to Dinn's Boone Co. squad on a last second CHARGE call on Chris Kerns - but that team was SOLID top to bottom. Chris Kerns was high school version of Wes Unseld. He was a bull and had a nose for the ball. We had NO answer for Chris Kerns. Gary Jolly was a great point guard and even better personality and spirit. Franzen was a great elegant player/shooter and talent and Whitford in the middle could jump out of the gym. I may be forgetting someone from that squad - but they were great. In Famous Recipe that year '85, Highlands opened with an emotion-packed upset of top ranked Scott County (i think) and the next day the Camels CRUSHED HHS. Net, put Chris Kernsy on that Campbell team.

K thats more like Drew Stubbs... Wow come now NKY! Congrats CC.

Read today this HS tourney is 88 years old? Three NKY champions? Three? Is that possible? 3 for 88? That is J. Bruce like - wow congrats to CC.

Amazing team and staff. Congrats Colonel nation. Those players are outstanding. HOOPS. It's what this Commonwealth does - so job well done. Absolutely wonderful performance....one for the history books.

Thank you!!

Amen. A fun guy to watch. Thank you BB.

Coach Dawn is great on and off the court. He is very generous & kind with youth hoopsters & families throughout Campbell County region.

Clyde - really enjoy reading your commentary and agreed turning the corner at any program or campus is ultimately measured in W's and a team playing better March 1 versus Dec. 1. But it is much more; it is really about the culture, leadership & the intangibles as it is the W's. Turning the corner is hiring a young professional teacher that is as impressive in the classroom as he is on the hardwood. Turning the corner is watching the passion and love this young coach shares with ALL his players and vice-versa. Turning the corner is the confidence and intelligence this young leader shares openly and comfortably in conversation with anyone and the buzz he creates when he engages with the entire student body. Turning the corner is hearing comments time and time again from other coaches on campus or colleagues and players time and time again: "you should see his practice drills, sets and convictions.." Turning the corner is watching a senior player bounce around Coach Listerman AND to & from the gym like he's fallen in love all over again. Turning the corner is having families in the community openly hoping Coach Listerman not only turns the corner, but settles somewhere along Fort Thomas Avenue choosing to raise his family there, much like Coach Kenny Shields decided to do when HE turned the corner as a young man from St. Thomas in 1975 and settled-in. Thanks Coach Listerman for yes helping a program turn the corner, but more importantly, lead, sponsor & share your passion & convictions these young men.

Outside of the Conner afternoon game a few weeks back, the most complete game the Birds have played on both ends of the floor. Shout-out to Beechwood assistant coach MITCH SHOVER. A few years ago Mitch coached Brendan Buten on Crons/Shining Stars team. He did a great job with all the boys/families and after the season continued working with BB in private workouts out at NKU on his shooting. He knew undersized BB would require a much quicker release AND have to move his release point from in front of him to up over his shoulder. Mission accomplished Mitch. YOU are what is RIGHT with AAU opportunities for these young athletes. You're a great teacher indeed & an even better person and mentor. Mitch thank you for sharing that time, your talents and wonderful spirit with Brendan.

t Scott's Snider played with such confidence and another night of impressive physical Scott High pressure D. Congrats to Brossart PG Jake Jennings returning from broken hand for first game. Young man shakes off rust in 1st half and drops 12 points in second half performance. Rieger drains a bomb at the buzzer....luv that Stangs senior class - congratulations. The Schabel/Trentman call at end of game - priceless. Check it out on bmustangs.com. March Madness ...here we go.

Not sure where Scott/Campbell/Brossart competitive district tourney games are this year. HHS plays Newport @NCC Wed. 2/26 at 6pm. NCC follows that game. FYI - point guard B. Buten suffered 2 bloody noses attacking basket last night in Scott game and yes Houston, we have a problem this morning...swollen and "crooked" are reports I'm getting. Senior night game tonight for HHS at home 7pm vs. Lloyd and I fully suspect BB will be in lineup for this his final game. Tough little hombre...he should be very proud of how hard he's worked his game and what a complete player he has become. Not sure who is POY in 9th Region as current BGP thread debates, but I know who gets my vote as NKY MIP (Most-Improved Player) from last year to this season. That is no contest: B Buten. (my lens is slightly biased)

That was very unique wonderful start to HS game. And the young man did play great D on the return trip. Buten wasn't sure what to do with the ball out front initially w/pressure D from Brody - but Scott allowed them to even score. Very nice moment.. Hats off to Scott Eagles man-to-man defense & Coach Carr. Each defender suffocated the ball all night, pressured & were very physical w/Buten in backcourt the entire game and made it very difficult on any HHS player driving to goal - altering many shots all night near rim. The only good open looks for HHS came in 4th quarter and shooter athletes were GASSED. Poor shooting night for some Birds doomed them - but all credit to Scott playing ferocious D rushing shots the entire game. The better defensive team won this game. I suspect Birds will play and shoot much better over next couple games and vs. Newport in District game.

Thanks so much Walter!!

will do.

My dear friend, now a President at Cintas, once told me "some things in life are better left unsaid tommy." Well I guess that's why I'm not President ....i tend to chime-in on issues I'm passionate about and OPEN MY MOUTH (like now). I enjoy this forum and great conversation from you all - it's fun and compelling. I suspect it's a LOT more fun for the Dads & blogging Grandfathers, but NOT so much for the talented kids investing all this time working hard playing and competing. I'm sure we all keep that in mind when we chime-in. There is one VERY CRITICAL point I'd like to make in regards to THIS GENERATION of high school athletics. The HERE & NOW. You see, when we reference "programs" - we usually refer to the school "titles" right? A macro data view...like a Kentucky Program or a North Carolina "program". The discussion usually starts with titles right? Well - the HERE AND NOW - is very different in high school athletics and hoops especially than when Highlands was winning all this 9th Region titles....(For you "program" folks - since the great Cov Cath /NC Ron Dawn run in mid '70's - lets say - since 1975 - For last 40 years - Highlands has won it's fair share - i think NINE 9th Region titles. NC ? Forty years? 2. Cov Cath - 40 years? 3. That's not a bad run by that HHS "program" for a small football school. But again - VERY DIFFERENT set of circumstances TODAY. THE HERE AND NOW. Today, there is a very dangerous trend in High School sports - across the nation. Not just impacting Highlands, Beechwood and Bellevue and other small to mid-sized enrollment schools - but all of them across the nation. What has changed? YEAR ROUND SPORTS and AAU/Club teams. Stay with me now...IF you are a 3A enrollment school or smaller - AND you have a successful football PROGRAM & YES a successful fall SOCCER program, well then Houston we have a problem. Football is year round now - like most sports - AND if a small to midsize enrollment school has FOOTBALL and successful SOCCER - guess what sports fans? What BODIES are left to compete on the basketball floor from August to December? Answer? NADA. Sooo - what happens? The Ben Weyer's of the world - the hoops only talented kids - look up with their parents and say - WOW - NOPE. Not gonna practice dribble drills and rebounding drills all fall long with 8th graders and BB. Nope. I'm going to a "basketball program" to get better and COMPETE against BODIES all fall long AND to win CHAMPIONSHIPS. Who can blame them. Net, across the country - if you are at a high school campus with great Football and great soccer - and your enrollment is small - you are going to be very hard pressed TODAY (here & now) to generate a very competitive basketball team. It' just a fact and the numbers speak for themselves. Lets look at the top (5) teams in virtually every region - they are going to have 5-7 AAU basketball players on their team. Period. CC, NCC, HOLMES, DIXIE, BROSSART: All AAU players 1 thru 6 AND the great majority of these great players: Basketball ONLY!! WELCOME TO THE HERE AND NOW. Again - i'm not whining - just speaking in terms of the HERE AND NOW. Basketball is not about "programs" - this sport is about "players". IF you don't have them - you go get them. Look at the last few years in the 9th Region....Newport...went and got them for their titile. Holmes - to win the state - had to go get those missing links. Newport Catholic? 2 titles in 40 years. Well - they are doing something about that with the addition of great Walton Verona talent and attracting the talents of Ben Weyer. That is NOT recruiting - that is simply PLAYERS wanting to WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP. And it is what it takes in the "here and now" - and it's being done all over the country. Again, welcome to the HERE AND NOW. It's not your father's high school basketaball. Programs win in football - got that. PLAYERS win in basketball. And yes, it will take a wonderful "program" like Cov Cath/ NC/Brossart/Holmes to attract those PLAYERS - but "programs" don't win night in and night out in hoops - PLAYERS do. When Brossart graduates their wonderful 5 senior AAU players this year - how's that program looking next year? PLAYERS. MY ONE IMPORTANT POINT - is WHAT do we do for the 3A & under enrollment school teams - that don't have 10 high school talented players to scrimmage against from August to Dec. 10th ? What can be done ? Not sure there is an answer. Coach Listermann at HHS is wonderful - and I'm sure he's even a better teacher than basketball coach - so hopefully he stays there as a teaching/coaching professional for a very long time. Here is the good news for Highlands fans. Next winter, the best middle school ballers in NKY will be in their incoming 6th grade & 7th/8th grade. The 6th grade incoming class is something else and chocked-full of talent and size and AAU players. HOWEVER, we are 5 years away from that sort of talent - AND as we all know - ALOT can happen to those young athletes in the next 5 years right ? They have to pick a sport right? The HERE AND NOW right? NOT all of them - but dare i say - the core? OK - love stirring the pot - and I love that little talented quick wonderful point guard on Highlands - and all the high school athletes out there competing. Good Luck to all of the great student athletes and your favorite teams and players - and I wish them all the happiness & success in the world. AND - If you have a solution for small schools with great Fall sports - and the ISSUES that causes for winter sports PRACTICES - just chime-in ...ove to hear from ya. Take care.

Congrats Alex Trentman! We've enjoyed your wonderful game for many many years and I suspect the best is yet to come for you brother! Great set of senior boys & families there at Brossart...what a great class & heckuva run by all of you. NOW - go get that 10th Region Championship - and win or lose - hope to see you all at Rupp!!

Both teams will have very good years. A LOT of senior athletes on the floor for both St. Henry & Brossart and skilled athletes at every position 1 thru 5. Plenty of size & talent competing last night on both squads. Brossart is sooo solid handling the basketball at every position and Trentman's length and shooting ability allows him to score ANY time he chooses. To beat either of these two good teams - you're going to have to really pressure them and make them uncomfortable handling the ball in their sets. (good luck w/that) Congrats to both teams & coaches and good luck this year.

Alex is an amazing talent and wonderful personality. He is a player as graceful shooting the 3 as slamming it down over top of a defender. Ya simply don't see that breadth of talent & tools much in one player here in NKY historically... a skill spectrum as wide as his wing span! Enjoy his final run on the NKY hoops stage - wishing the Trentmans and all the Stangs - the very best in 2013-14!

Seth Hope is an exceptional person. Our family has had the great pleasure of watching Seth and the rest of this amazingly-athletic class of boys wrestle in our basement AND attic ever since 6th grade: Hope, Houliston, Hergott, Harris, Hayes, Wrobleski, Schweitzer, True, Kruse, Shadle, Greene, Caudill, Cochran, Bardo, BB, Brockett, Allen and on and on and on. Seth is at the very top - and has been a dear friend AND very positive academic influence with our son as well. I wish Seth and all of the young student athletes a great, healthy SENIOR successful season on that beautiful stage!

Highlands has 5 senior athletes returning - all 5 having plenty of AAU hoops under their belt. 4 footballers though and Buten and Hergott returning from injury that cost them their junior season. For quick point guard Buten, it will be his 4th year dressing varsity but still looking for PT and sponsorship on that varsity stage. Couple nice long juniors as well..remains to be seen if great fun culture, pride and winning returns to that program...will require some leadership and a competitive healthy run (of consistent scoring) by these seniors for certain.

I was not at the game - am I hearing this correctly - that there were TWO technical/flagrant personal fouls committed by 2 different Cov Cath players on two different plays? Resulting in a total of 4 free throws for Holmes AND the ball awarded back to Holmes for each foul ?

Yes - basket interference/goal tending..net, 2pts should be awarded.

Good luck to Brossart and all the Mustang players - go get Districts AND that Regional Championship!!

WOW.

Love fiesty JAKE jennings - and all the former NKY NUGGET (junior) players & families - Jake Schulte, Alex Trentman, BB Buten, A. Shannon, Mac Franzen, Houliston, Meyer & Brockett. Good times. This photo proves - Jake hand-checks on both offense & defense...talented kid!