In 2001, when Augusta won the freshmen regional championship, Mason County had a stacked freshmen class, including a young man named Chris Loften who went on to have a nice career for himself.
However, the Royals freshmen team that year did not include those players who were moved up, allowing the Panthers to cut down the nets in the freshmen regional competition. While winning the 10th Region Freshmen championship that season, that class of Augusta players never played in a 10th Region tournament in the three years that followed. A 10th Region Freshmen Teams champion is just that - a champion among those teams representing their school in that particular season.
Im glad to mentioned this, because it would be my reasoning that rather than play Freshman down that are really good, those that start varsity and JV, I would rather play 7th and 8th graders up. I just dont see how much better a Freshman is getting out of playing Freshman ball if they are good enough to start varsity. Let your good Freshman continue to develop and get better at JV and Varsity level, let your other kids learn to play and develop without those players playing down. Then perhaps down the road, all players have developed, not just the really good ones (including some 7th and 8th graders that played up in level).
IMO Freshman ball should be more about development of players so that they are productive for your varsity group when they get their opportunity, playing varsity starters down, I just dont see anyone benefiting from this. I understand circumstances may be different at smaller schools, but look at how well it paid off for Mason vs how it paid off for Augusta. These are just my opinions, I most definitely congratulate Augusta, hope they continue to challenge for the 10th every year.
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Augusta Panthers freshman 10th Region Champs
in KY Boys Basketball (High School)
Posted
Im glad to mentioned this, because it would be my reasoning that rather than play Freshman down that are really good, those that start varsity and JV, I would rather play 7th and 8th graders up. I just dont see how much better a Freshman is getting out of playing Freshman ball if they are good enough to start varsity. Let your good Freshman continue to develop and get better at JV and Varsity level, let your other kids learn to play and develop without those players playing down. Then perhaps down the road, all players have developed, not just the really good ones (including some 7th and 8th graders that played up in level).
IMO Freshman ball should be more about development of players so that they are productive for your varsity group when they get their opportunity, playing varsity starters down, I just dont see anyone benefiting from this. I understand circumstances may be different at smaller schools, but look at how well it paid off for Mason vs how it paid off for Augusta. These are just my opinions, I most definitely congratulate Augusta, hope they continue to challenge for the 10th every year.