It has come back through mulitple sources throughout the year that a certain IVC coach (shh...Bardall) has said it is basically over at Hiland with the graduation of our seniors. The RW coach allegedly said that he can't wait until next year. There have even been rumors from those sources that Dave is quitting.

Let me just say that the rumors of our demise our premature, and Dave certainly plans on being there.

The IVC will be more competitive among the top teams, but there is some wishing going on out there. They could be right and I could be wrong. We play Strasburg the first game next year and after we play Garaway and RW we'll know what we have. I will probably know what we have earlier because I will be able to watch them all summer.

The juniors lost about 3 games in junior high. They won the reg season and tournament championship in 7th, but in the 8th grade they had some trouble with RW during the regular season, losing to them in 2 close games, but beating them in a close one for the tournament championship. Point being, these kids have always been winners, especially against IVC competiton. They went up to JV and varsity and had to work their way into roles with a group of great upperclassmen. McKenzie was able to play a big role, but her ability to show her full potential was limited because of the other talent on the floor. All the other underclassmen deferred to their elders on the court the past two years, as they should have. Why should they take 3 pointers when there are other players on the floor who are some of the best shooters in the state? The coaches just about had to threaten beatings to get some of the youngsters to take wide open shots.

In the past two years there has been one half of one game where we were able to see all the underclassmen/next year's team all on the floor together and that was against Malvern in the sectional. We got to see how they would play if they weren't deferring to the upper classmen and I got to tell you, we all looked at that and said, "We are going to be OK." They played really well.

The RW coach doesn't bother me too much. They need to win something, and then people can take them seriously. But Bardall... he just keeps giving us reasons to keep loving to beat him.

After watching their team play a half against Malvern, Conotton Valley thinks they're going to be OK.

Pariah

Don't forget if these kids get into the gym which usually happens in Berlin, hey they may get better...If i was the RW coach i'd keep quiet until i'd have won something...IMO

Pariah, I am also a parent of a Lady Hawk with a long history in the program. Remember these girls are 17 yrs old or younger. They don't have your vast experience in trying to control emotions and feelings. Yes there are far worse things that will more than likely happen to these girls in their lifetime. They set their goal extremely high and because of not reaching the highest goal, disappointment comes at a much higher level and it hurts. These girls will be stronger because of what they went thru. Please allow them to have feelings and emotions. Allow them to work thru this instead of criticizing them. You are a parent of a Lady Hawk and Im disappointed in you for your criticizism........ Oh, by the way. The girls are doing fine. I think they will always have a twinge of regret for not accomplishing their goal at State, but they are moving on. I am and always will be proud of our lady hawks.

Well, I understand their disappointment. Like I said, it was "massive". And no one in the stands wanted to win that game more than I. However, when it is over, it's over. I am all for the girls going into the locker room and having all the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth that they want to do. Do the sack cloth and ashes and the whole thing. But when they came out they should have had their heads held high and their eyes dry - certainly the next day because they had nothing to be ashamed of and much to be proud of. That being said, they had every right to feel and act any way they want to privately, but when they go out in public, they represent more than just themselves. They are fantastic kids, and whatever their behavior was doesn't change that. But my Lady Hawk and her parents have the right to be somewhat embarrassed by it. One of the criticisms of the program is that it places too much importance on winning. We know that is not true, but you wouldn't have known it by how some were acting - and not just players. While I am sure there are some folks who feel just like you do, that's fine. There are many others who have called me to say "thank you" for saying exactly what they were thinking.

It just depends on your perspective. Sunday morning I had to deal with a crying 25 year old woman who lost custody of her 1 year old child due to her substance abuse. She has been sober for 30 days, and she has a thousand hurdles to overcome to get her child back. Sorry. I couldn't help but compare the reasons for her tears with the reasons for the other tears I saw that day.

What a great year the Lady Hawks had. It won't be long before few will be able to remember who won the 2010 state championship, but those girls will carry the great relationships and experiences of their season with them. My only point is that someone needed to emphasize that to them and lead them toward a more mature perspective.

Junior Samples wrote: After watching their team play a half against Malvern, Conotton Valley thinks they're going to be OK.

Junior, were you at the Perry regional? I think I saw you out there in the lobby with your Punkin. I was disappointed that you weren't wearing bib overalls!

In that sectional game, it wasn't who they were playing, it was more that we got to see how they could play when they weren't deferring to others.

Pariah - more later, but I'm with HHfan on this. I think I may have an insight on this that you've not considered, believe it or not. And clearly there were some who wanted to win more than you, and when I stop to point out that there could have in fact been Hiland fans with a greater investment last Saturday.

But off to practice

I think we should let things like how much someone wanted to see the game won be left to each person since it is an unknowable thing. I really, really wanted to win that game. Maybe someone wanted to win it more, but I don't see what that really has to do with anything.

If someone thinks that the kids that were more emotional for longer is fine, I'm not arguing with you. That's a legitimate opinion that anyone is entitled to. All I can control is how I want my kid to act in those situations. It's up to parents and the coaches to work that out with each one.

And I understand exactly what you are getting at... that the seniors had so much invested in this and this was the year that Hiland needed to do it. Understood. It was the theme of the whole season. That is such a special group and if anyone deserved to win that game, it was them. But there is so much that is out of your hands when you go for a state championship. If we could play HP in a 3 or 7 game series, I'd like our chances, but in a one game scenario anything can happen - and it did. I've got a problem with a state championship or bust mentality because of the chance factor. When Punkin is a senior and if her group is in the same or similar siutation and they get the same result, I will feel the same because the principles I am talking about will be the same. In the end, we are talking about sports and a ballgame. Not saying it isn't important, just that it's not THAT important.

Jessica Stutzman will never play competitive basketball again. Yet, I found her to have a wonderful perspective Sunday. So, I think she set a great example.

There's no need for anyone to get their bloomers in a bunch about it. It's over now. I wouldn't have said a word about it but people from other places and schools have been talking about it - at the Schott, other locations in Columbus, back home, and of course on forums. Private behavior is one thing, but public behavior becomes public business. The importance of this is only the messages that are sent in how you deal with a loss and how you are perceived by others in how you act in that situation - the reputation of the program. I am concerned that the wrong message was sent and a wrong perception delivered to outsiders - and if possible, I'd not like to see it again.

Oh, something I don't think has been mentioned has been the absence of Myk Mast this year. Hiland peaked with their play in the summer with Myk playing. She could take an opponent's most athletic guard and pretty much take them out of the game as an offensive factor. We really missed her defensive ability this year after her ACL. Ifs and buts...

You got most of what I was getting at, but not all. With four of the five families of those seniors, it was the last in a succession of high school athletes. The seniors wanted redemption, yes, but I'm going to guess that most are feeling similarly as my family is - in that a chapter of our family is over. And that transition in a family like ours in which sports has been a large part was going to be a somewhat difficult one, win or lose. So whether or not the families of the seniors wanted it more was not the debate I was trying to make. But there was undeniably more at stake for them.

Its not for you to say whether its okay to react in a certain way. (Lord knows we've not always appreciated every reaction you've had )


But I will truthfully say that I for one feel a bit ticked at what I see as partly masked glee, three days after a difficult season ending, that the underclassmen are going to get to come to the forefront. I know that's not what you were going for, but I would have appreciated if you'd waited a week at least before slamming the lid on the seniors.

Pariah wrote: Junior, were you at the Perry regional? I think I saw you out there in the lobby with your Punkin. I was disappointed that you weren't wearing bib overalls!

Yes. I was showing her a picture of the old man in his prime. She wasn't impressed.

I didn't know that was you at the time. I tried to catch you at halftime but you flanked me somehow.

Over the last seven seasons, the Lady Hawks have played 53 tournament games, losing only 4, for a 49-4 record. That works out as a tournament winning record of 92.5%. All four losses were to the state champion team. What a fantastic run.

Congratulations to all of the players and coaches who put in much hard work to make this possible. As fans, all we have to do is watch outstanding basketball, enjoy the results, and sweat the close games, win or lose. We've certainly won our share of close games, but you can't win them all.

With a little over 200 schools in each division, the average school makes the final 4 less than once every 50 years. Hiland fans have been truly blessed. I'm hoping and expecting to see more tournament success in the future. It would be kind of over the top to expect every year to be as successful as the last seven, but with the quality of the program, one can hope.

Right now, my thanks go especially to the seniors who put so much into the program.

Pariah wrote:Oh, something I don't think has been mentioned has been the absence of Myk Mast this year. Hiland peaked with their play in the summer with Myk playing. She could take an opponent's most athletic guard and pretty much take them out of the game as an offensive factor. We really missed her defensive ability this year after her ACL. Ifs and buts...

That's a good point. I was reminded of it every competitive game this year. If Mykeila had been playing, it certainly would have provided an extra dimension to the defense. And she surely would have been a double digit scorer, which would have helped diversify the offense.

Having another player of that quality would also have greatly improved the team's depth. That factor alone would have put enormous pressure on some teams.

Having Arianna available for the tournament would have been really nice too. She was playing really well towards the end of the season. As you say, ifs and buts . . .

The team did a really good job of plugging the holes left by these losses, but on a small school team, you can't totally expect to totally replace losses of that type.

Just you wait until your daughter is a senior in that same position oh but wait you can only hope she is in that position as a senior...this is not tfloangel by the way this is a fan that is so disappointed in what you have said. Your daughter is a great player let her enjoy her teammates and what they have enjoyed together.

tfloangel wrote: Just you wait until your daughter is a senior in that same position oh but wait you can only hope she is in that position as a senior...this is not tiffany by the way this is a fan that is so disappointed in what you have said. Your daughter is a great player let her enjoy her teammates and what they have enjoyed together.

I'm sure he'll have the same feelings then as he does now. He has hit the nail on the head in so many ways on this situation.

First, I allowed someone to take my phone because they felt that Pariah was off base.

And yes, there's areas in which he's been spot on, and I'm sure in the context of pain and all the horror's in the world that it seems small.

Edit due to Pariah PM - he kept it off here, so I will, too.

He's obviously been very excited to move ahead and so will I. So I'm done, for a good while at least

What a ridiculous argument! I love it.

Take all the time you need Tflo........

^ that made me laugh out loud. ( Nothing personal tflo, just knowing the history here...)

^^^^^^Glad I could help!!!

wow, Hiland fans going at each other...very interesting...

Congrats to the Lady Hawks on another wonderful year! and I have to agree with Pariah on this opinion squabble.....

It appears you've succeeded in running Pariah off of the website for saying there's more to life than basketball. Congratulations.

You really think its disrespectful to talk about next years team? What is this? We are Marshall? The kids are just graduating. Calm down.

Junior has always been wise...........

Thank you tigerfan82. Nice to see you.

Its a big day in StrasVegas, opening day of softball season. Are you tailgaiting yet?

ONLY DURING FOOTBALL!!!!!!!