even tho I agree, Mike Miller has it going on

I didn't mean to be harsh towards Coach Cline. My comments were meant as praise for Coach Miller's coaching style more than anything else. I think the Bears have a good coach but follow the same approach many other coaches do which is to lean harder on your older kids(seniors) and overlook younger players who may be more talented. Mike develops kids at all four grade levels so he never has a year where you look at Smithville and say, "we will get them next year when they lose these seniors". The Smithies usually have 8 or 9 returning letterwinners each year.
The fact is, we, and most other schools have not competed in the WCAL since Kelly Zuercher graduated. Smithville has owned the league. I don't think our talent level is that far off other schools so something is different. All I am saying is that Coach Miller is the difference. He has done a great job with this team and all his previous ones.

cant disagree with your assessment of Mike's coaching. I will say, give Denny Schrock another year and he'll have the Chipps up there, and once Doug Hanzie adjusts to girls hoops, same with Norwayne. lots of good coaches in wcal, boys and girls

I agree totally. I think the Bears have some really nice players coming up. It will be interesting how they do in the coming years.

well - interesting discussion on coaches. Agree Coach at Smithville is a good one. I would also say that most of the WCAL boys and girls coaches are above average. I would argue that if Jenna Pew or Tara Schafter were moved from Smithville to any other school in the league, that those teams would have competed for or won league titles. Sometimes it comes down to just plain old good fortune when you have size like the Smithies have enjoyed for the last few years.
I will stick with my Bears (and my youngest) through think and thin.
Good luck to all WCAL teams as the tournament begins.

Well - do the Smithies win it again next year? I don't see anyone who stands up to them in the WCAL except Northwestern who should be good with McKean and Markley.
Dalton loses a ton in Beatty and the big girls, Chippewa gets a full year with Schrock, Waynedale loses numbers but no real talent except Gray, Rittman keeps improving, Norwayne looks like .500, Hillsdale same thing.
Here is how I see it...
Smithville - undefeated in league again
Northwestern - 2 loses to Smithville
Hillsdale
Chippewa
Norwayne
Rittman
Waynedale
Dalton

Havin Fun;1122956 wrote:Well - do the Smithies win it again next year? I don't see anyone who stands up to them in the WCAL except Northwestern who should be good with McKean and Markley.
Dalton loses a ton in Beatty and the big girls, Chippewa gets a full year with Schrock, Waynedale loses numbers but no real talent except Gray, Rittman keeps improving, Norwayne looks like .500, Hillsdale same thing.
Here is how I see it...
Smithville - undefeated in league again
Northwestern - 2 loses to Smithville
Hillsdale
Chippewa
Norwayne
Rittman
Waynedale
Dalton

I think this is the year the Dalton Rawdogs win it all.

does anybody really care?

i care...thanks

I care too! Thanks for the support Beast. Sure enjoyed watching the boys bring home the hardware in Columbus! All the best to your son and the team again next year as they repeat as state champs.

The Lady Bears need to make some changes in style of play to be competitive. We and most WCAL schools don't have 8-10 girls who are true varsity players. Find your best 6 or 7 players, build a simple game plan around their strengths and let them play. No reason varsity girls can't play 28-32 minutes per night.

I see us finishing anywhere from 1-8 next year depending on how hard girls choose to work in the off season.