wrn1979

Has Muhlenberg actually built a new building? I thought they were still doing as your describe.

I’m not sure about the rest of the state, but in the 9th (Owensboro), we had the number 1 team get eliminated by the number 4 team 2-3 years in a row back around 2016-2018.

I can tell you that among the three public school and two private schools within driving distance of each other in Owensboro, kids change schools like they change underwear. That occurs in athletes and non-athletes. A teacher, coach, or principal dishes out a punishment that the kid doesn’t like, and miraculously the next day the kid has moved in with the noncustodial parent who lives on the other side of town. My favorite was the kid I knew personally who used grandmother’s address for three years after the family moved out of Nana’s house. Apollo’s boys basketball team has struggled for four years. There could be some light at the end of the tunnel in a strong 8th grade class at College View middle who live in the Apollo district. I doubt half of them end up at Apollo.

Is there not a state law that prohibits tax dollars from being used to fund athletics?

Who shut down Goetz? 3rd region officials let her push, shove, and man handle anyone near her so she can get her points per game.

This is a great discussion. I feel like it crosses the boundaries of school, sports, activities, careers, workplaces, etc. For any type of venture to become consistently successful it takes someone believing in the cause, digging their heels in, saying “these are our non-negotiable,” and sticking it out for the long term.

Apollo picked up win #2 over St Mary’s.

The saddest part for me is the way it’s reflected in the play of the kids on the court. I watched 3 HS boys basketball games yesterday. Granted, the 3rd region has to be the weakest region in the state of KY, but every kid was trying to be an NBA star. McLean Co vs Ludlow (I have no idea where Ludlow is from) - In what proved to be an absolute blowout, kids were blowing layups left and right, Ludlow players were attempting to trip McLean co players who didn’t have the ball. McLean Co players talking trash to a team they were beating by 20+ points. Kids need to shut their mouths and play the game. Parent from Ludlow screaming at the McLean Co coach after the game to “get your disrespectful a$$ team off the court.” Daviess Co vs Union Co - kids attempting no-look passes who can’t make look passes. Every shot turning into some kind of gymnastics move like Simone Biles decided to take up round ball. Kids throwing elbows and trying to fight in a close game. They have zero mental toughness whatsoever. Owensboro vs Castle (IN) - OHS fans were screaming “and 1” on wide open, uncontested, runout layups. Owensboro, down late, doing what they do and turning the game into a football contest. Every possession resulted in fans screaming at officials, and they actually had 3 of the better 3rd region officials for this game. People who are basketball purists have no where to go to watch decent basketball around here. The best fundamental play I’ve seen in the last 2-3 years has been girls basketball. It’s really quite sad, and it’s driven by parents who think their 5-9 senior is “D1 talent.”

The old Racer Arena on Murray State’s campus was always my favorite place to watch a high school game. Before they built that new hideous monstrosity in the late 90’s, early 2000’s, they would cram 5,000 high school fans in Racer Arena for the last two rounds of the 1st region tournament. My last two years of school it was Marshall, Mayfield, Tilghman, and Graves. At the time, all four had great followings. Couple the size of the crowd, with the 360-degree seating, and the low ceilings and you had a noise box that could erupt at any minute. The best part with those four schools was being able to look at any corner of the gym and know where each school’s section of tickets was. The Sportscenter in Owensboro is close, but it has too much wasted space and not enough floor seating for my taste. This is especially true after the recent management group renovated. That $6 hamburger is ridiculous as well.

You forget these teenagers today are so mentally weak that common misspellings are now disrespectful.

They could hire Coach Messiah and his 12 assistants and still not get a big enough miracle to be competitive.

Absolutely. To add on, love him or hate him (as few people just tolerated him), Alan Hatcher is largely responsible for the pride in the basketball program and it’s tradition of excellence. I’m a bit old school, but I miss the things that Hatcher brought in: a youth program focused on fundamental development, middle school teams that taught his brand of basketball, players wearing shirts and ties to games instead of looking homeless, taking kids out of the game who earned technical fouls, players referring to referees as “Mr Official.” Whether the players wanted to admit it or not, those small things contributed to their success in big ways. These kids who show up in sweats boppin to their Beats headphones are missing out on important life lessons.

“Years of history” is the answer to your question. Graves County was formed from the consolidation of seven small high schools. Those schools had fairly competitive basketball teams. The most famous example are the Cuba Cubs who we’re runners up in the state tournament in 1951 and won the state title in 1952. Those basketball games were the biggest form of entertainment in those small towns and the locals took pride in their teams’ success. When the schools consolidated they brought star players from those seven teams into the basketball program. I am too young to have seen them play, but I know Kip Ellington and Woody Woodfork were players in that first year. Woodfork averaged 25 points a game and with only a single season is statistics is still among the school’s leaders in all time points scored. Conversely, Mayfield football history started well before Graves County was ever a school. None of those seven small schools in Graves Co were able to field a football team. So Mayfield had a 50 or more year head start in football.

102.7 carrying this one?

I haven’t been in that area in quite some time, but from my recollection there was a broad range of demographics. I can totally see how money could be talking and influencing who gets playing time. That’s a huge team-killer. I also remember the McCracken Co Board of Education being less than supportive of coaches/teachers who tried to make tough decisions. Cultures can change, but there was a lot of money-ball going around that area 20 years ago.

That 1993 team had some phenomenal athletes that went on to play college ball, and also crossed over and won 2 regional basketball championships in 1993 and 1994. Coach had some tough years after graduating that class, but he’s a good man who taught a lot of life lessons off the field as well.

TD apollo 31-21 Henderson 9:16 left

Henderson playing Henderson ball now. Late hits, taunting, unsportsmanlike penalties, this one is starting to get chippy.

Actually, I don’t particularly care what the score to the game was. If a team I’m coaching has a need, I’m looking to fill the need. If I don’t have a kicker, I might need a kicker someday. So, why not investigate that possibility in a game Ive got locked down? I suppose it’d be better to be down 2 with time running out, be in field goal range, and realize, “darn, I don’t know if any of these kids can kick.”

Unless everyone on that team has some kind of neuromuscular disorder that prevents them from swinging their leg pendulum style, why would you have to keep running it? Every kid for the last 5 generations has played kickball at some level. They might kick the ball from the 10 yard line into the sideline, but they might also kick it into the housing project across the street from the end zone. How will you know if you don’t give ‘Em a shot?

That’s good to hear. Best of luck to our Owensboro brethren in the playoffs.

I Glanced through the updates thread. It looks like Henderson pulling some of their trademark shenanigans. Is the OHS player ok?

I think if the rain stays away the game is certainly very different. Apollo benefits from a mixed running/passing attack that doesn’t allow their opponents to get comfortable. When forced to stay on the ground this year they have struggled. Next week’s home playoff game against Henderson will be a doozy.

Sorry, guys the rain is what’s kept me off my phone. It’s an absolute mess here.