The_Generals_Soldier

I'm sorry sportster, but if you have been burnt as many times as I have the issue is personal. I know there are kids involved and I do support those kids, who want to succeed for the good of the TEAM, but it hurts to watch the selfishness of a couple players and their parents ruin what should've been a productive season. I can really relate with these kids and for those who say it's "about the kids," how can you support an entire school system that caters to a few and not the whole?

Yes the 1983 team was loaded with good players, but just as in 1985 when they drew Hopkinville, they drew the eventually state champion in the first round. 1984 was probably the best team that included Mike Scott, but starting forward Mike Raby was taken out a cheap under cut by Boyd in the regular season and his knee was trashed.

Without a doubt, I read that quote and nearly fell out of my seat laughing. The guy who wrote it is someone I know which made it even better. But, that trip to the Sweet 16 was actually a close loss (2 points I believe) in the quarters to Highlands (led by Jared Lorenzen and Derek Smith), who lost in the finals to Lou. Eastern. It is truly a shame that politics (yes it was even present then in GC...hahaha) was the motivation to drive out the best coach in the schools history and one of the top coaches in 16th Region history.

Please let’s forget about this Wolfenbarker, Barker debate garbage and get back to the real story here, the abysmal situation at GC. Apparently the pressures are taking its toll on the Musketeers and with an apparent loss coming to the boys from Lloyd this coming Friday against Russell, the wheels are officially off. The truth is the administration has made the situation worse by not making any kind of solid decisions on the coaching situation. Needless to say there are factions on this team and the acting "coaches" have lost control of the little bit of control the head coach previously had over this combustible team. Here’s to maybe seeing the once proud Musketeer Basketball Program thrive again (I hope as this GC Alum hates to see what’s happening now). I’ll leave you with this, it took the tireless effort and love of one man for 20 years to bring GC basketball to a top tier program, look at what little time it’s taken to destroy it.:mad: :fight:

Hey guys that game was an embarrassment not only for this year's Musketeers, but anyone who ever played at GC. Name me a time that in the 20 years span of Ward, or even under Rex Cooksey that the Musketeers gave up 90 points. I know for a fact that no team ever scored over 80 points under the direction of Randy Ward probably not even 70, that often. And please don't give that garbage about him holding the ball. Check out Ward's team at Clay High in Portsmouth now, they are regular scoring in the upper sixty's and beating teams with defense, as always. What is most embarrassing is the current two "coaches" for GC "learned" under Ward as players. All I can say is that this whole situation is abysmal and could've been prevented.:fight: :fight:

What people need to realize is that the Musketeers are now hitting a tougher part of their schedule with games against Elliott County, Fairview and rival Russell for their next three games. Much will be known about the boys from Lloyd after this stretch. One has to remember the combined record of the last four opponents that GC beat is a lackluster 23-40. So maybe it wasn't the "genius" combo now on the bench who is holding things together after all.

Do you no t understand John Boy. When you make a team work in the half court on thier end of the court that's not holding the ball. On top of the fact if you are regualrly scoring in the 70's haow is that possible. I guess your philosophy is to just fire up a shot no matter what it looks like in hopes of maybe getting an offensive rebound. Just ask former Louisville Eastern and Male coach Bryce Hibbard how sticky a Randy Ward defense can be as his Musketeers held Lou. Eastern to fourty some points in a holiday tournament win in 1996. This same Eastern team won the state title a year later against a Ft. Thomas Highlands team that narrowly escaped GC in the 1997 State Tourney quarterfinals. Ultimately your philosphy is based on a gross lack of knowledge, ask any coach who has played in the big games.

The point is that the situation should have never come to this. The political nonsense has to stop at some point in the GC School System and obviously it will be at the tax payer’s expense. If the Super, in his "great and mighty" wisdom saw fit to suspend the coach then why do so with pay? If he is truly guilty of all the stated issues, then they should’ve never rehired him to begin with this past summer. Now the man is a tenured teacher and can dig in for this battle. Apparently the term "open gym" has a new meaning as well. According to the article it makes it seem as though players from other schools as well as graduates can not attend. When I was in school our open gym time was open to the public, as many former players and players from other schools would attend. Maybe something good will come of all of this as the GC Schools desperately need an overhauling to rid itself of a few political cliques that are keeping good people from obtaining positions.

This may be true, but that is their job and they did take written statements from the previously mentioned party or parties. Those do hold up in court and I wouldn't feel too comfortable about the situation if I was this person or persons. The reality is I am afraid this will go to court and and will lead to the tax payers paying a large amount of money for the whole ordeal.

The KHSAA has already ruled on the Gillium situation and found no wrong doing, but made the student/athletes. There father stated there was no recruitment of his sons under a previous KHSAA investigation and if he is singing a different tune now he could be in some major problems if this situation goes to court. I hope he realizes what contempt of court is, because that is exactly what he could be facing if he is making contradictory statements. Jassey was also ruled on; I have a hard time believing they would have left any stone unturned with his situation considering how much hyped surrounded him. I will leave you with this note; always consider the source of information when any allegations are raised as I feel some people may not be as solid as others.

Yes that was in the 1996 Tournament. GC's Point Guard Ryan Plummer held the ball to force the team out of playing zone and as soon as they came out guarded him he broke his man down off the dribble and dished it off for a layup. Needless to say I look at this as a stroke of genius, but you have to get kids to buy into this philosophy and for anyone who played for the man you would understand.

In reality IF you understand basketball, Ward's teams made the other team work for baskets, which led to some lower scoring games. With that said, his teams in the late 90's on a regular basis scored in the 70's and few times I know with the 1997 and 1998 teams they surpassed the century mark a few times. Ultimately I have to say to those who say boring to watch i.e. John Boy, Defense wins championships and just how many have the Musketeers won since he left?

Congrats Coug's on the much needed win, hopefully this can give Coach Perry's boys some momentum headed into this crucial part of the season. Here's to a few more wins.

Without a doubt, Randy Ward the top coach in Greenup County High's history. In 20 years he built a program that was not only respected in the Sixteenth Region, but across the state of Kentucky. His resume may not be as spectacular as some across the Bluegrass, but with 12 63rd District titles, four 16th Region titles and over 350 wins (I believe, it could be more) at GCHS he is one of the top teir coaches in state history. Sure their was turmoil surrounding him for a great deal of his time at GCHS, but believe me most of came from jealous factions and the politics that has devided the school since three independent school districts (Greenup, Wurtland and McKell) were forced into consolidation. Many of the same issues are present today and continue to cause problems. So with that said I say that any man who can stay and survive 20 years in this mess of a school system deserves this recognition if not a medal of honor

The point ultimately champion is that, the Super has went on his own to make many decisions based on "hearsay" and "inneundo" without hard facts. This type of info never holds up in court and essentially it's the tax payers in in the Greenup County School System who should truly be angry. Their hard earned wages that are taxed to support the academic well being of our students/children is being misappropriated and abused. Scooterbob the "politics" in GC is rampant and I agree that those who are angry and want to find out the truth, should attend the open school board meeting Monday night at GCHS, should make for an interesting evening.

Yes, I agree it takes time to build a program and I was happy to see Matthew stay a few years back when he could've left. Nothing but the best to the Coug Nation and here's to an improving season and better days ahead.

It appears the circus that is GC politics continues. There is no reasons given for his current suspension, but from a source of a close nature, I've heard that the situation has become dreadfully personal between the Super and Mr. Hicks. I believe that both sides have dug in and now it will be and all out "war" between both parties that will involve the highest levels of the legal system as well as the Federal/State government agencies. I know from my prior experiences the political machine is in full swing in the GC school system. If nothing else, I hope that when this whole episode is completed that there will be justice served for all and not just a few. Remember no matter who's side one may be on in the end the student/athletes are the one's that suffer the most.

Its great that Chad Jackson will play tonight. I wish the best to him and Coach Fraley's young Royals tonight. I know he'll have a tough time with conditioning, but he is young and recovers much easier than us old guys. I hope to get the chance to see them in Richmond at the All 'A' Classic.

Yes, Greenup always has had problems keeping the whole team together. Imagine adding such players as Darrell Arbaugh (Ashland) and Troy Shelton (Raceland), both who were All-Area players and in Arbaugh's case an All-State player, who left folowing their freshman years at GC. If just these 2 players were on the '97 GCHS team that lost a heartbreaker to Fort Thomas Highlands in the Sweet Sixteen quarters, Coach Randy Ward may have found himself playing on Saturday night. Add in Cam Thoroughman (Portsmouth Clay, current (redshirting) freshman at West Virginia University) who is surely one of the best to lace them up on either side of the Ohio in many years. He could have changed the fortunes and direction of GCHS for sure. It is a shame that potential teams can't come together, but that's why parents and other adults in general ruin all the fun for kids.

My favorite memories were the classic matchups of what most people I know refer to as the 16th Region's "Big 3" matchups between Boyd County, Ashland and Greenup County in the 90's. Some heated matchups with great coaches like Roger Zornes, Wayne Breeden and Randy Ward matching wits it was truly a funtime to be a fan of 16th Region basketball. If memory serves me correctly in the coaches preseason poll in the Lexington Herald Leader for the 1999-2000 season these three teams were ranked in the Top 25, a feat we may never see again. I guess those were some good times we may never see again in the good ol' 16th.

Coach Matthew Perry had a nice string of winning seasons going at Morgan County and this year it seems that the Cougars have fallen on hard times. I know that every school goes through their share of ups and downs, but if you have a program it should continue to succeed. I really loved watching his teams of the past few years, from the teams that included the Perry brothers to watching a young Blake McCowan develop into a top notch player in the Sixteenth Region. I wish the Coug's and my friends in West Liberty the best and I hope things can turn around. I already miss those classic battles between MC and Rowan Co.:fight: