Bluebird82

C'mon people.... Defending Ohio's largest division state champs...4x the size of HHS... Lots of good things to take away tonight especially when you realize they won't face a team as good as st x the rest of the year. Defense looks greatly improved and the offense has many weapons... Look for lots of big plays from Venemann on the outside and Huber over the middle if they ever realize 6'3" over the middle is a nice target. New, Sisson and others caused trouble on d... Huber playing both ways is nice to see. Schoellman will be tough when he has a bit more time, which he will have against the upcoming completion. Breathe people.

Give us the scoop Q. What has happened that turned Highlands around?

Total team effort nightly with very little selfishness. Finfrock getting the ball often from excellent ball movement and he converts...He's a monster! Huber sets the tone with his defense and hustle....he does not back down. 4 very good outside shooters. Posey as starter and Green off bench are at their best penetrating and feeding the bigs. Great bench play. Listermann is a heck of a coach in my humble opinion. Team chemistry is terrific. This team doesn't let up.

The Birds are good and getting better. The wins are coming. Effort and hustle are there. I'd love to see screens set for Traylor for catch and shoots... He has a sweet stroke. Posey played well and cut down on the turnovers. Huber is a defensive monster.... Taking charges and causing turnovers... Opponent's best clearly annoyed by his tenacity last two games. Finfrock really tough inside... Great moves for a big man. Fun team to watch!

The defenses are absolutely horrible!! I've never seen anything like it.

As a Bluebird grad I'm thrilled for the Birds...but as a Beechwood father..... Bobby needs to go... geez! It doesn't get more talented as this team... They deserve better! Imo!

Beechwood HC could only keep that team out of State Finals...geez!

This seems personal to you.

How so? CC dominates In hoops and HHS does so in Football....

Can we even call this a rivalry anymore?

Perhaps not in basketball.....but obviously not in football....

I played back in the day. I don't remember anyone blowing us out. Especially by 60

Your day has passed....today is reality. In your day did you have a smart phone....did you have a MP3 player or a record player? C'mon. Did you whip CC in football for how many times straight?

I would say Highlands basketball and CovCath football are in the same boat in the sense that it doesn't feel like the whole school and community are supporting it like they used to, and that plays a significant role in high school sports. I look at it like Princeton football, which used to be a national power, but now is hiring and firing coaches faster than politicians change directions. It all starts with having the kids fully buy in, followed by the administration and followed by the community. So the question is, what does Highlands need to do to get the community to buy in?

They aren't buying in? I see the players on the court and their parents buying in. How would the community "buying in" make any difference? It's about the talent of the players....don't you think?

All I know is the word I got from a CovCath person in the know is they were trying to decide to beat em by 100 or rest the starters after 3 min into the 2nd half. This scenario shouldn't take place no matter if you have 2 or 3 sport kids playing.

Well they you live in a fantasy world. Teams gets blown out. I guess CC SHOULD be applauded that they chose to win by 60 vs 100. Maybe Catholic Schools shouldn't recruit...but they do. Maybe High School kids should worry more about how their losses affect their parents more than themselves. Maybe HHS should put the freshman in vs CC Football so that CC can win one once in a while? Should and reality don't mix. Listermann is coaching the kids that come out to play. That's what he gets....If you think you would do a great job at recruiting middle schoolers to play only basketball, I think you SHOULD! Maybe you SHOULD tell the name of your "in the know" source! C'mon....It's High School! Jordan was cut by his HS coach. LeBron played football. They shouldn't have lost by 60...but they did. So what...Next game. Golden State lost by 32 last night...that SHOULDN'T have happened! I guess Steve Kerr should be fired and Curry traded?

Just saying they need to develop more basketball only kids if they want to see success. A big 6'6 kid transferring in wouldn't hurt.

Of course....but I think High School is about developing the student athlete not the other way around. If a kid can play more than one sport why would you force him to make a choice unless it would negatively affect his future college career potential. It's flipping High School!

Regardless...it's poor shooting. Basketball players lift weights FYI! They played many games where they were overmatched close till the end. There are good football playing JV players who shoot really well so your muscle memory and weight lifting opinion might not hold water 100%. Do you really think that any of the football playing members of this team would be THAT much better if they gave up football? C'mon! It's high school...you play for your team and school!

Golden State just lost by 30....bad games happen.

It wouldn't have made a difference tonight....and the soph's are football players. No one playing at Highlands HS now is playing at the next level basketball whether they give up football or not. It's HIGH SCHOOL....play what you can for your school. Would CC Football not get it handed to them year after year from HHS if any of the two sport players only focused on football and gave up hoops?

Coach is not the issue. He'll make it happen. There are not enough hoop only players to field a varsity team at this point, so its unrealistic to shun the football players. This group can't shoot! Look at their shooting %'s!! They will be much, much better next year and much, much better the year after that. Kevin is building. There are really good athletes in the Soph, Frosh and 8th grade classes...some that are hoop only and others who play football too. The issue with this team is that some of the footballers aren't really good basketballers. They play their hearts out for their coach and school. You can only play the cards you have. Listermann can coach. He works his tail off! I'd actually say this group over-achieved based on the talent.

All are football players save for LaFrange.....However, a lot of talent coming from JV, Frosh and 8th graders....Better dual players with hoop talent than this group with some hoop only players. This Team can't shoot. Regardless of posters like Joat saying it's about bad shot selection....just about every player shoots under 50% from FT line....this crew cannot shoot.

You mention putting Noe in the game, is he not a football player? You called out the football kids, of which he is one also. The problem with this team is not so much they cannot shoot, but some are unwilling to take them for whatever reason and others simply take one poor shot after another.

 

The two biggest issues however are way to many turnovers and the free throw shooting has been absolutely abysmal. If/when they cut down on the silly turnovers and start making 60 to 70 percent of their free throws they are going to start winning some games.

 

Will agree with one thing you said for sure and that is they play hard from the opening tap to the final horn. They just need things to go their way a few times and that confidence builds and then you have something. I said it from the beginning that this team is not tops in the region, but they are going to give maximum effort and compete for 32 minutes which is all that you can ask of the kids in the program right now. The tide and attitude is changing in the Fort when it comes to basketball and they have the right group of guys in charge to make something happen over the next several years.

Noe isn't a football player anymore...all hoops. He IS their best shooter...I was just questioning why you wouldn't have him in shooting when the O struggles to score. I think that's fair. As for saying the team not having many kids who can shoot, the FT % is an example. As for players not shooting for whatever reason, I would assume it's lack of confidence...which equates to poor shooting. And the ones who do shoot are only taking one bad shot after another? I do agree with that to a point, but they can't all be bad shots...regardless, they still are missing a lot more than they make. The stats don't lie. It doesn't take away anything from the athletes!!! I love their effort!! I don't think there is anything wrong with football players first busting their butts for the school and team...it's just a fact that for the most part, when the vast majority of time is put into football, and secondarily, after football you pick a basketball...the skills just aren't going to be there.

Pretty much have to agree with JOAT. Refs were terrible...as in very inconsistent with missing obvious calls....in a pro-Newport way. I thought Listerman's strategy/coaching was very good AFTER they got down and getting boys back into the game coupled with the obvious effort and hustle.

However, my criticisms are as follows...this is team of football players playing basketball, save for a couple, and they shoot like it. They play with all heart and guts but lack really good/great basketball skills. It's totally understandable with football number 1. I don't understand why coaches didn't put in Noe, especially when Newport went zone...he's a heck of a shooter and can create his own shot...no question he's their best shooter by far. Highland's Point guard, really had a terrible game. He had to be 1-13 at best, and kept rushing shots and was rarely close to making them. He did have some nice assists but I don't think they outnumbered his TO's. If they don't have anyone else to handle the ball, I would hope coaching would get on him to distribute much more and shoot much less from the outside. If this team can get the ball inside to Finfrock and Hebel good things will happen. This team will improve because they play so hard, in my opinion.

I could not agree more with this post! Birds played very hard, but it can't be dismissed that HHS coaches don't play the most talented linemen both ways.....as PC did! The second half gashing runs PC's 16 had up the middle were cake walks due to PC both way linemen dominating Bird's non-both way linemen. Once they FINALLY put Hebel in that stopped. From what I heard, the fake punt was the punter's decision. I give him credit for trying to make something happen, but it was the wrong time.

The most talented PC players played both ways...it mattered!

As I stated earlier..... Sadly, Hergott has thrown 4 int's... Has not seen open receivers....

I can only attest to what I have seen in person.... No dog in the fight here. Highlands is at least competitive in this one.... With a lot of sophomores playing!

Totally drumming them! A 1-4 team! I could understand getting excited if you were beating a good team.... But you are not!

Say all you want.... Beating a 1-4.... Soon to be a 1-5 team is not a big deal.... Highlands is WAY down this year. Facts are facts.... To the eye test, SK looks nothing like Scott Co or St. X.... Not in any way to an onjective eye.... Size strength or speed.

I guess time will tell...