dmspartan

After some disastrous seasons, the 'Dogs have a new head coach in former star Jeff Adkins-once head coach at Carlisle School. At the moment, I personally think this is a good choice. I know that there are a LOT of people who've not been happy at finishing third all the time in the PD. Although since Adkins is not presently an employee of the school system, I'd like to ask what the reasoning is behind hiring him and not keeping a Hall of Fame coach who also wasn't employed as a teacher?

...that someone has taken personal offense at my OPINIONS as to what's wrong with MHS basketball. I can only surmise that the individual in question seems to have forgotten his very public outbursts at some of the mistakes I happened to make this past season - very small mistakes! - while operating the clock in the 'Doghouse. I've never claimed to be perfect but my mistakes can be corrected on the spot if I'm given time.

The schools who have gotten away with practicing out-of-season sports all year-round aren't going to change a thing they've been doing all along.

Seems to me there are schools who have been practicing year-round already and have gotten away with it - this just makes it official. And the "dead" periods can be used for "chalk-talk" sessions, looks at other teams on video, etc.

The problems that MHS has shown in basketball recently begin and end on the sidelines. One player scores a lot of points in one game-then hardly touches the floor the next. Another player does what he wants-shows up for practice when he wants; wears what he wants when the team travels;makes terrible passes in games with nothing said-yet other players who do the same are quickly pulled from the game or punished. The team "limps" into the playoffs-players who set the bench most of the season are pressed into service when key players foul out and then get criticized in front of the fans for "not performing" the way they're supposed to do so. Yet the team gets to the state quarterfinals each of the last two years and has "loads" of talent-if it isn't embarrassed into leaving the team. (I mean by that that the players are being told in front of their classmates-IN CLASS!-how TERRIBLE they are and how BAD- and I don't mean the "e-bonics" BAD either!- they play.

What are your thoughts about the new practice rule just passed by the VHSL?

Awesome outing against the Knights! From what I've read about the game online, it sounds like you guys just "ran out of steam" there in those last three minutes. Good luck next year!

RE Lee - Staunton regularly calls their game with Australian Junior Olympic team a BENEFIT GAME - who exactly does it benefit? - but they are always "eager" and "ready" to list it as a win later - which it always is as that game is the AJO's first of the season, and they(AJO) never seem to be ready to play - having to practice together for at least 45 minutes before game time to be able to show some semblance of teamwork during the game. When we played in the Arby's Classic in Bristol two years ago, the Tennessee teams had already played at least 15-16 games - which almost a full season here in Virginia. They were in mid-season form and looked it while we "sputtered" like we were still asleep in bed - which turned out to be the case as most of the Mavahi players were participating in late-night/early morning card games in their hotel rooms.

This team is the most confusing group of athletes I've ever seen. They can play like "gang-busters" one game and then look "lost" the next. They certainly have the talent to contend in the regionals - if I'm hearing the truth from everyone. BUT my question is - Do they have the HEART? Add to the mix a little "backbiting" in the coaching staff and you've got a SOAP OPERA worthy of being on TV. (Seems one assistant coach is taking credit for ALL the wins while blaming the losses on the head coach.) Going to be an interesting year down here in TITLETOWN!

In case you haven't heard, Hidden Valley has hired Troy Wells of Martinsville as their new boy's basketball coach. My best wishes go with Coach Wells and good luck in the future!

I see no one is mentioning ball-handling and DEFENSE! Are they too "lost arts"?

Don't quote me on this but I believe you have to put the paint on after you enter the arena. When we played Bassett in the semifinals before beating RE Lee for the championship, the Bassett fans went into the team's locker rooms to don their paint and totally trashed the place. I actually had a VHSL official tell me that he thought the students were TOO CHILDISH in their behavior(???) - yelling at the other team - especially after the game when the 'Dogs were holding up the trophy and congratulating each other. I think these adults have forgotten how THEY acted when they were teens!!!! And you'd better be careful what you paint on your face!

It was a great season but the way it ended left a very sour taste in my mouth and a very heavy heart.

I must say that I was very disgusted with the lack of effort on behalf of the Bulldogs. Several of the seniors seemed to - for lack of a better term(and I NEVER thought I'd say this about a Martinsville team)- QUIT except for Ashmond Hughes who quickly hit two consecutive treys and was double-teamed by the Titans when he touched the ball for a third time. Ron Pritchett, a sophomore called up from the JV after their season ended, showed some flashes of his talent but needs 1)to lose some serious weight to be truly effective and 2)develop a mid-range jumper to complement his baseline moves. And, hey, Ron, let's remember this - it's a TEAM game - not the RON PRITCHETT SHOW. On the Titans' end of the floor, they didn't miss many shots - either from the field or the free-throw line. They boxed out, played defense, passed the ball extremely well, and never lost their composure for any length of time. Ben Boggs lived up to the "hype" that he's been getting, and he and his teammates deserved to win this game - much more than Martinsville did. See ya next year!

I am not known as being much of a wrestling fan but I was there for most of the Region IV tournament both Friday and Saturday, and I must say that all the SWD teams were extremely talented - especially the Grundy wrestlers. And, although I was hoping that a few more of the Bulldogs would qualify for state, I was impressed by the talent and the desire shown by all the wrestlers there. GO REGION IV!