goherd96

Ask Coach Kidwell or anyone in the administration and, despite what you might want to believe, there was a great deal of relief when they left the school because no one had to deal with their attitudes anymore. This was the same for parents and kids who had played with them since youth leagues. Everything always had to go their way or they would have a fit. Yes, we would have loved the opportunity to see our girls have that kind of success, but the price to pay would have been too great. Coach Kidwell would have had to accept Britt back on the team for a second straight year following dismissal for disciplinary reasons and the team as a whole would have suffered for it. For the record, Kala was not dismissed from the team, but the family decided if one was off, both were off in what most considered a power play to try and force the coaches and administration into allowing Britt to return. Notably, none of their teammates asked for Coach K to give them a reprieve even knowing full well what the ramifications might be when they left. Knowing what I know being a part of the athletics staff here at Russell, I am amazed how all these folks looking at the big picture from the outside (Scooter, Swimfan, et al) have it all figured out and know the thoughts and feelings of us Russellites...

Russell has been the only team in this division playing in Louisville the last two years. If not for the KHSAA's poor decision to allow a 3A school to play down, the Devils would have been back-to-back champs. Until someone else in their own class steps up, you have to consider them a favorite to be there again. While they do lose several players, they have lost many good and great players the last 3-4 seasons and have been right back at the top the following year. With the system McGlone has, his team's don't rebuild, they reload. While this year's competition will be better top to bottom than it has been in some time, I don't expect a big difference in record or performance. Russell should win their district again, and wind up playing for another regional title. Assuming Breathitt will have an easy run through their district and Belfry wins theirs again, I see another meeting for the Pirates and Red Devils at the CAM (due to yet another fine example of leadership by the KHSAA) with a trip to the Pizza Box on the line. No idea about how the west will pan out, but I don't see a major difference out there to indicate a shift in the balance of power at this level.

VERY well put...:thumb:

Not to mention opposing coaches and staff...:thumb:

Hicks has done a great job of staying in the spotlight even after being fired. I don't know what happened with the allegations of civil rights violations, but I do know Hicks was an embarassment to the GC schools from the time he started there. His sideline antics and poor sportsmanship overshadowed anything the kids did on the court and that is not the job of a head coach. As for how much he cares about kids, I know of a family who would agree that he cares...but only as long as the kid can do something for him. Once the kid's usefulness to the basketball team is done, so is Coach Hicks' interest in them...at least according to one family who has earned my trust as a reliable source. Personally, I think this is more about Hicks wanting to be in the spotlight than it is about his desire to "do the right thing."

Kidwell did just fine against RH before the influx of talent, 2-0 as a matter of fact. When your two best guards become someone else's two best guards, it makes it tough. The most recent game results have nothing to do with Russell not playing the Royals though. Now as soon as Scooter reads this, I fully expect an overblown reaction telling me how I know nothing about the situation (because it doesn't match what he believes and we all know he is never wrong) and that us Russellites are envious and jealous of the success Rose Hill enjoyed the last two years (even though we would have loved that level of success, the price to pay would have been far too steep and not one the folks here at RHS were willing to pay). Maybe I just saved him the trouble, but I'm sure he'll weigh in just so everyone will know just how clever he can be...

Okoro is involved with AAU track & field all summer and is concentrating on that since she signed with Louisville in that. Fortman is leaving for Buffalo in July and wanted to have a little bit of time off for herself and her family before going. No need to be disappointed in the girls having other priorities...:thumb:

How many kids would give anything to have the opportunity to play for a state championship and these kids are complaining because they can't add extras to their rings. I can kind of understand the design thing, but the other gripes are just selfish and materialistic.

How spoiled are those kids that they have the gall to complain about their state championship ring??? Very sad statement on those individuals...

You mean the outfield bonfire was for nothing???

Just for swimfan, I dug this up from the end of last season. Looks like Coach Euton was named COY last year along with Troy Lee at Rowan. How quickly they forget...

Hard as it may be, you can take it to the bank...still haven't, no need to as I know his spiel quite well and have grown tired of debating the issue with him. Anyone that doesn't shower RH with praise is attacked and/or dismissed as being ignorant of the facts...

While I did not waste my time reading Scooter's lengthy prose, I will say you are correct on all points...:thumb:

Your post was nothing more than a thinly...very thinly...veiled shot at Coach Kidwell. Please do not insult the intelligence of the BGP public by claiming otherwise. Most folks on here are well aware of your allegience to all things Rose Hill and your constant baiting of anyone who may not think as highly of the Royals as they do. You seem to take particular delight in agitating the Russell faithful, especially in this forum. We are all quite tired of it and individuals such as yourself are the reason there continues to be animosity towards RH. NO ONE said anything untoward regarding Rose Hill nor any of their players or coaches until you unleashed your "puzzle" and after drawing a response, you accuse others of "sour grapes." Seeing as how you initiated this debate, one might think you were the one suffering from a case of "sour grapes"...

Not saying you limit the number of assistants, a team can have as many as they want during practices, etc. Merely stating they should limit the number of coaches on the bench during a game.

Awwww...come on now LRCW. Scooter said he was merely posing a "puzzle," he wasn't really talking about any one in particular... Someone mentioned area stat leaders earlier...I'd be willing to suggest that the area leader for technical fouls received was Senior Guard B who played for a certain religion based private school...keep in mind that I am merely offering a puzzle for your consideration. Nothing more. Nothing less.

That also goes along with the idea of high school clock operators are doing good to get the thing started and stopped and keep the score right without adding something more.

Shot clock - no Refs - 2 man crew, too few good refs and this would keep down costs for schools and spread the available pool of officials out a little more C oaches - yes, should be limited, teams do not need the obscene number of staff on the bench that some schools do have...3-4 coaches, plus 1 medical staff seems plenty... Players - limit the total number of players allowed to dress for games and be on the bench during all games to no more than 15...I know of somes coaches who have dressed 17-18 players for a varsity game, add in their 5 or six coaches and there isn't enough room in the bench area for everyone let alone enough chairs...

Something along those lines...

What does Breathitt have returning? I don't know much about Somerset either, but I will stand by my assertion that Russell and Belfry are at the top...one of those two will be back at the Pizza Box next season barring significant injuries...:thumb:

3A should have Russell and Belfry at the top...don't know much after that though...

Russell and Belfry look to be the best in 7 & 8 and I expect the eastern champ to be one of those two teams.

When you get off 67 shots and committ 12 fewer turnovers than your opponent, the refs didn't cost you the game.

Russell did a good job of defending the interior and the Vikings went cold from outside. 4-9 from behind the arc at halftime, 4-23 for the game...I'll let you do the math. Okoro went for 21 points and 11 rebounds (the only Devil with a double-double), Fortman finished with 15 and Simpson added 13. IMO, the officials called a fairly consistent game with missed calls both ways. When you play physical defense, a la Rowan County, you can't expect to get by with the handchecks and grabbing while the other team gets whistled for every little bump. You can't have it both ways in a well officiated game, just accept the fouls you get whistled for and be happy with what you do get by with.

Why are they playing the boys semis Saturday afternoon?