tib

Great question - i have no idea - no authority here...I'm purely making comments on what I've observed over the last few years...speculation...PLUS - not much PT for majority of 7th graders...could lead to quiting sport...again - not sure why now the league is doing this. Again, watching the games and practices over last few years - something had to be done...

And the community of Fort Thomas has a great history, 50+ years of outstanding little league football program for kids grades 3 thru 8. Net an established feeder program for Highlands....so there has been no need for middle school team. However, last few years, as mentioned prior - football and safety concerns..has led to sweeping changes (shall we say) and it is impacting the numbers across board - and at the 7th/8th grade level - league is dealing w/concussion safety theme woven into the fabric of sport now...and separating the 8th graders from 7th graders is proper initiative - and the NKY league is good option.

7th grade tonight semi's at Camp Ernst is Highlands vs. IHM and Conner vs. Woodland

And why (2) 8th grade teams? Why not one ? Numbers suggest one i believe... Many folks know better than I...but seems one is appropriate given last five years declining participants etc...

WOW that is great news for some eager 8th grade-to-be football players next season!! Any word on coaching for these Ft. Thos. teams? Reason I ask, this should be a very different beast now - versus recent seasons in the Fort TJFL - coaches had to prepare 2 teams (7th grade team and 8th team) on the same squad - and this translated into very little-to-no hitting during practice, for fear of 8th hitting a 7th etc. Net, with the concussion issue working it's way thru little league football etc. over last 5 or so years - and balancing 7th/8th grade personnel - there was as i said no hitting - and practices basically became walk thrus...and the league (culture) itself turned more and more recreational - and not very competitive etc... Any hoot - i'm rambling - but this would be potentially a very different place for coaching staffs and practices and competitive games/league - looking forward to how that plays out.

TAC judges everything around 1973 talents & skillsets...luv that. IF this team wins 3-4 of next 8 then, lets revisit.

I'm not saying they always draw the best from those communities - sorry - i simply meant - the ability to always draw from EVERYWHERE - (mcdonald/schulte/weyer/pangallo/moeves) will always be part of their programs. They cover Campbell communties...

One other important consideration - that Coach Hicks and Coach Listermann would probably both say is there number one hurdle - to building consistent quality program - is lack of bodies from August thru December. IF you are a 3A enrollment school or below - lets say 100 boys per class or less AND you have very popular, successful football AND soccer program playing in fall - you simply run out of athletic bodies to compete against, to practice with in they gym for hoops during the fall. Soccer didn't exist 20+ years ago. Net, lack of competitive athletes/bodies - outside of soccer and football in the fall - is a real problem for basketball coaches at smaller enrollment programs like Beechwood, Bellevue - HHS - just don't have the numbers with the emergence of quality fall soccer and a solid football program.

Highlands is missing the two most important components of an elite basketball program - at any level: Multiple zip codes on the roster AND (obvious here) talented scorers in the gym NOT playing football from August to December 7th. Look at any great roster - they come from multiple communities. That is what Highlands had during the eighties - when a great covington native (coach shields) was coaching them and his childhood buddies started sending their kids to HHS to be with Coach Shields. Fred Terry, Draud, Lankheit, Maile, Draud, Blasengame, Hergott - Beagle from Boone Co. and on and on and on. Southgate, Newport & Bellevue athletes were contributing as well - Kremer, Fisher, Schuett etc. NET - more than 1 zip code. NCC - they draw best athletes from Alexandria, Cold Spring, Southgate, Newport and 40175. Cov Cath- multiple communities - Moeller/St. X - you get the drill. THEN - YES, you have to have talented kids IN THE GYM FULL TIME from August to December. In the eighties - again, Terry, vories, sullivan, SCHLARMANN, Koehling, Draud, Fisher, Barth, Buten, Cowie - athletes that were also winning state tennis championships and regional golf championships. NET - talent in the gym all fall that could put the ball in the basket. Again, what is missing? Multiple zip codes and (non-football) talent working on their game exclusively - all fall. It's not rocket science - just is what it is. You can have great football players playing hoops - i love it - but you have to sprinkle in some basketball talent that is not running thru grind of football AND yes, in the gym. I worry about writing and trying to communicate feelings and ideas like this - because it is often misinterpreted. I'm not calling out any kids - as not talented - those highlands kids are very talented, they are just competing on a small stage and activity - like golf or tennis - takes (at times) - a talent to score consistently and with today's great athletic defenses - takes real hard work and skill to get it done..

what?

Batsche was a stud. Not sure he was undersized for '85 - had pleasure of running floor with him in '85 All Star game at NKU and he threw down a couple monster 2 handed dunks! He could get off the floor!

Yes the 7th grade school team is undefeated for a couple seasons now, but it's a school team..and Wins/Losses at this age/level - not sure we should focus squarely on that. The playing time debate there will live on forever more...& how coaches handle PT...not sure there is an absolute solution there, but yes, this class has exceptional talent (& depth), hoops handle & shooting skill & size moving forward.

This just in. IF you are an adult coach on any team, anys sport, of any level - please - have an assistant - or stats person or trainer or someone over the age of - say - i don't know - 15 maybe? Please.

k well guess that explains why that coach shared what he did - and then was asked to leave his young team with no adult on the bench

He was not thrown out when the game was close - that is why he said whatever he shared with the officials because the game was over...his players were trying to intentionally foul at end and i think the officials were just too damn tired to blow it and hoping clock would expire....the clock didn't and the coach had opportunity to share what he was thinking. The more interesting question is that this game was played at Woodland (not Woodlawn community sorry) and the home team secures officials...so i'm sure this coach had to know or be familiar with these home officials....

Well i'm from peeps "very, very short" - so true that everyone is tall thru my lens, but I just mean - at this age vs. his 7th grade peers he's able to grab rebounds and hold above head and no one can get there - which is a new facet of this school team...he did that quite a bit in yesterday's competitive game. How tall ? Not sure, i'd say he's easily over 6 feet - but everyone to me is over six feet

Great 7th grade game. Very talented teams. Woodlawn up 7 at half - tied end of 3rd quarter - and Highlands up about 8 when the technicals were called on the Woodlawn coach. The second and final T came with one min. left in game - game was over. The first was earned early second half I believe. Highlands has all the pieces including an emerging center...a long athletic 5. (Ike Sector) He hasn't played alot of hoops, but is athletic, (impressive TE on football field last season) and yes, a very, very tall coordinated 5 - which frees up Hergott, Buten & Vincent to go do what they do. They now have the all the pieces for a school team for sure...and they have a second group of athletes - talented kids...they really do need an A team and B team to be fair to those great hoopsters and families at this young age..they all deserve PT.

Highlands at Woodlawn 6th - Woodlawn 7th - Highlands 8th - Highlands

Highlands at Woodlawn

Highlands 7th grade won the St. Ignatius holiday tourney last night. They were fortunate to survive a quarterfinal game a few weeks ago in tourney vs. Guardian Angels in OT. Kudos to the PA announcer during tourney - he was very funny and a great kind host to all - especially the players.

Never know what your gonna get when you visit this site this year and read about these great teams and playas...wow - (just like ncaa this year) - should be very interesting next go round out at NKU arena for 9th region tourney...who the heck knows who shows...

wow. stud. enjoy...

Wow. Stud.

Highlands 7th grade is undefeated. Not sure about 6th or 8th although i saw 6th lose only once vs. Ockerman. The 7th grade Campbell game was very competitive. Highlands won but it was a good game with Highlands subbing with about 30 seconds to play and up about 10 but a great game. I was very impressed with how much better Campbell was vs. last year. Garrett B. is wonderful player surrounded by four very athletic, larger bodies. Kudos to those players and program...they will be a handful in years to come for sure - as will HMS.

awesome