Altoona / BG

[dadw/2sons]

It is very refreshing to hear from someone from within the BG community. Your insight and complete honesty is unlike the other people from the McCort side. Everybody from the outside (public schools) can complain about it and people take what we say as crying like a baby. They say try harder, but when an insider says it is unfair, then that means something. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Is the new recruit also from Blair County?

[districtsixhoops]

I to want to thank you for your candor concerning BG. I know that can’t be easy in that environment. Can you tell us what others are saying about the situation? I know winning covers many things but I can’t imagine that everyone is comfortable winning in that manner. Also, what school is this new player from? Can you tell us that without naming her? If you don’t want to put it on the board would you send me a private message?

[bballguy1999]

I've been reading posts on this site a long time and had to put my two cents in on this one. I like sfb send my kids to catholic school (none of them play any major sports- volleyball and track & field) and I also attended a catholic school all my life. I also agree with him the situation with the BG girls is unfair and needs to be changed. They shouldn't be able to get girls year after year and compete at the A level. What I don't agree with is painting with a broad brush. It seems anytime a catholic school has success its because they cheat or have an unfair advantage. that is simply not the case. pennsylvania is an open enrollment state so you can attend any public school you like, if its outside your district you pay tuition just like a private school. so when people rip on a team like bishop carroll boys bball i really don't get it. they didn't bring in a bunch of kids from all over the place, they just had a really good team or district should be proud of. also i have a really hard time with the constant rips on a quality catholic education on here. i feel my kids are receiving a great education or I wouldn't send them there. Look at the graduation rates and number of students that do great things in college. Just my opinion...

[districtsixhoops]

Bballguy, I just want to clear up that, in my case and I think in most others as well, I am not ripping the education you receive at a Catholic or private school. It is the long standing excuse given when you talk to people that have players transfer to BG for girls basketball. They obviously can’t say it’s to play basketball so it is always the quality education they will receive. It’s garbage. Also, you can blame schools like BG, Seton LaSalle, Villa Maria, Vencentian Academy and others who abuse the system year after year for the guilt by association that other private schools get. Believe me, I don’t think the same thing about BC that I do BG.

[SFB14]

I don't want to give the name of the school or the particular player only because it hasn't officially happened yet but I do know that the person who told me she was coming would have first hand knowledge of the transfer. Heck, I heard of another possible one today from a different school but I have no idea if that's just a rumor or not. As for what the opinion is from people around BG that is hard for me to say. I don't have a girl in the program and don't have anyone one currently in the building at BG so I haven't heard much yet. I do know they've lost at least one player who went through the BG system who played last year, and if this happened in the boys program and my son worked for years within the system only to be pushed aside by multiple transfers I wouldn't like it nor would any parent I suppose.

All of this is legal within the current rules in Pennsylvania but it just doesn't pass the smell test. I went to a small public school but have enrolled all three of my children at BG (2 have already graduated) and made sacrifices to make the monthly tuition payments because I thought it was best for my children (academics, discipline, religious instruction, etc..). That is not to disparage any public school (as I said I'm a product of a public school which prepared me very well to receive my eventual college degree) because I think any kid willing to work can receive a quality education whether it's a public or private school. I strongly feel that most people I know or have known at BG enrolled their kids there for similar reasons. What I can't grasp is those that do so for clearly athletic reasons or to assemble an all-star team. Where is the challenge or pleasure in that?

I agree with the earlier post that one of the by-products of this is that all the Catholic school programs get painted with the same broad brush by those who haven't taken the time to do the research. BC had a great, great season in boys basketball this year and BG boys have had back to back successful seasons and to my knowledge the players for both team all came up through their parochial systems. To my way of thinking the success of these teams would be a source of great pride to both schools. I'll never understand how anyone gets any satisfaction from assembling basically an all-star team just because the rules allow it, and then having that team bludgeon other school teams who don't have the same opportunity to add players to their rosters. I also don't understand how all teams within a private school, who do not operate this way are treated as if they do.

This post has already been to long but I'll just say I try to look at all this from both sides and I can see why so many people have a problem with what's happening in D6 girls basketball. It seems to be getting worse not better.

[Manfred]

The last few posts:

[districtsixhoops]

Is the new transfer that you have heard about from one of the schools already pillaged by BG or a new victim?

[districtsixhoops]

Interesting to read new article today on Altoona situation. I've talked to parents in the past that have told me some of these same things brought up about Coach Helsel.

[spin]

You decide.

Players were told they had to play summer ball on her teams and if they played on any other summer team they would no fit into the Altoona Varsity Season. Some girls were outright told they had to drop off of teams they had wanted to play with during the summer.

Is the Bulling, Intimidation, Tough Love or Coaches closeness towards her players?

I would say it is a violation of the PIAA rules but what the heck they look the other way so many times what difference would that make.

Who knows maybe Altoona turn things around and become the powerhouse they should be. Finding the right coach is a key but then paretns and players will have to support this coach. I think they will with the correct hire.

[D6sports101]

BG is guilty of bringing in girls basketball players but the boys program and also all other sports should not be judged on how the girls handle things. Some teams just have great players that have always been going to local catholic schools.