more bad news....

[foghorn]

I'm sort of sensitive right now, but I should have been a little more diplomatic.

It'll happen -- though when it does someone will denigrate the accomplishment and call it a fluke. In the mean time I guess it's best to appreciate all teams that make an effort and play hard.

I don't know if Hyndman won a game all year, but when we (Ridge) played them the second time they improved a 100 percent. It wasn't a district title oor a state championship -- not even a win -- but those kids all could go home and look themselves in the mirror and feel good about themselves. At least they should have. Yeah, it'll be nice to have some team state championships for D5, but till we get some I'll put up our kids' character against anyone. In the end, isn't that what's it all about?

[southpaw]

Bailey's coaching job this year has to rank as one of his best if not the best. I have seen several Tussey teams in the past with more than twice the talent not get gold.

That' brings me to another point. Not to direspect any players or teams but the quality of basketball has fallen off dramatically over the last 10 years in District 5. The kids still play hard and are atheletic but very few really understand and know how to play the game. This isn't meant to be a slight but more of a question of why has this taken place?

[Head Roadie]

Will politely disagree Southpaw from the vantage point that many SHL coaches pointed to Tussey and S.Fulton as co-favorites coming into the year. They had (Tussey)basically everyone back.

Coach of the Year is Brad Criswell, who lost a superstar and what most people thought was there best chance to win a league title last year, and came back this year and put together a team with nice balance, chemistry and depth. While most would have projected a .500 + season for the Lions, I don't think anyone expected 19 wins.

I will say that Bailey did a marvelous job IMO in the finals as he used his teams strengths to a tea in defeating Windber. Again, my opinion only, Ridge probably does not match up well w/Windber and Windber wins a higher-scoring game if Ridge makes the final...Tussey was the team that matched up better with the Ramblers.

Tussey should be the team to beat next year in the SHL and Bailey's best coaching jobs to me were the 2004 and 2005 teams which looked like they would be absolutely terrible when they were in the lower grades, but he put out .500'ish teams which was phenomenal.

All that being said....the best two teams in D5 this year were in the Single-A final without a doubt.

[stayballin]

when i make the comments i make i dont do it to bring down D5 i just do it from a realistic stand point. i am from D5 i would love to see teams from our go on and succeed at a state level......but i look at bball very differently because of guys i am friends with like drew shubik and travis eisentrout who have worked extremely hard to get to where they are. i have also been to many places outside of the area to watch basketball and play it as well and from those experiences is where i get my knowledge to critcize our areas play...i think a lot goes into it, most coaches in the area are not basketball guru's so they dont put in the effort needed, the refs call wack 70s form of the game so the kids have to play a different form of ball then the pittsburgh and harrisburg schools, and overall the kids just do not get together and play enuff like they should (to much xbox, computer, etc.).....honestly though for anyone who doesn't believe in everyword i say, before u type things go to the palumbo center on the Duquense University Campus and watch teams like Beaver Falls, Quaker Valley, Aliquippa, and Jeanette play, its a real eye opener....and there not even the elite go inner city and watch Schenley play, WOW. Another thing that wouldn't be a bad idea to go do is go watch a D3 bball game at mount aloysius, psu altoona, frostburg st. , or pitt-greensburg next year whichever is closer for u and look at the talent needed just play at that level...then go watch a D5 game next season and u will be thinking to myself is this varsity? maybe im early and this is the jv game......by that point i hope you see whats wrong with the area and if u care enough about bball maybe u will apply for that next coaching job and try to fix whats goin on by turning that school into a powerhouse (i would if i wasnt just 19).......thats my thoughts, just sumtin for ya'll to ponder about before you start dreaming of multiple state playoff victories.