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Odds and ends of Wyoming high school sports.
Our silly picks, basketball-style
Posted by:
Patrick Schmiedt on
April 1, 2008 at
5:06PM EST
I'm not sure what made me think about it, but somehow I forgot to do my annual look back at the basketball preseason picks we made. Sorry. Anyway, you know how this works: I take a look back at the rankings I made way back in November, before the first tip-off, you laugh at how wrong I was, everyone's happy.
Boys
4A
1. Natrona: Right on.... up until the state tournament semifinals.
2. Green River: Not too far off. The Wolves were part of the West's three-headed monster (Green River, Rock Springs, Evanston) behind NC, and any one of those three could have easily ended up in the state championship game.
3. Gillette: A bit low. The Camels obviously had a strong finish to the season -- 10-0 in the East Conference, regional champs and state champs.
4. Evanston: A tad high. The Red Devils lost in the first round at state.
5. Cheyenne Central: Pretty close! The Indians were the 4A consolation champions.
3A
1. Buffalo: Right on... up until the state tournament semifinals.
2. Lander: Looking back, we figured Lander would be pretty good. The Tigers didn't have the greatest regular season and barely qualified for state, but made up for all that by winning the state championship.
3. Kemmerer: A tad high. Kemmerer was one of the coaches' early favorites, and I made this pick out of the respect the coaches had for the Rangers. Kemmerer went 0-2 at state.
4. Wheatland: Pretty close! Wheatland finished "fourth" at state after losing the third-place game.
5. Cody: Too high. Cody failed to make it to state; I thought their 4A experience would pay off more than it did.
2A
1. Lusk: Right on! The Tigers didn't stay atop the rankings all season, but they won three games at state and won the trophy for the first time since '82.
2. Sundance: Right on! The Bulldogs finished as state runners-up.
3. Tongue River: A tad high. The Eagles were one of the four 2A semifinalists this year but lost the third-place game to...
4. Wind River: A tad low. Wind River was 28-0 entering the state semis before losing to Lusk. However, I think the East was stronger than the West this year in 2A, something that might have caught up with the Cougars at state.
5. Rocky Mountain: Too high. The Grizzlies failed to make it to state.
1A
1. Kaycee: I had high hopes for the Buckaroos and their three-headed senior monster. And if Kaycee somehow beats Encampment in the first round, maybe this pick comes true.... Maybe.
2. Burlington: Pretty close. The West Regional champs got tripped up by Encampment in the state semis and finished third.
3. Saratoga: Pretty close. Saratoga won the East Regional and lost the third-place game at state after losing to Southeast in the semis.
4. Southeast: Turns out a tad low. Southeast entered state with a losing record but finished three points away from the 1A championship.
5. Encampment: Turns out a tad low. After winning the Southwest Conference, the Tigers turned their third-place finish at the West Regional into the fuel for their state championship run.
Girls
4A
1. Sheridan: A bit high. Sheridan slipped up in the first round at state.
2. Gillette: Right on! Gillette finished second at state.
3. Natrona: A bit high. NC won the West Regional, but lost in the first round at state.
4. Central: A bit low. Central was one of the toughest teams in the state all year and won the three games that mattered most -- the three at the end of the season.
5. East: Pretty close! After finishing fourth in the East Regional, East knocked off NC in the first round at state and finished the season by winning the third-place game.
3A
1. Jackson: Right on! Jackson went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in 3A, capping it all off with a state championship.
2. Douglas: A tad high. Douglas did win the East Regional championship but got knocked off by Worland in the first round at state.
3. Torrington: A tad low. Torrington went undefeated in East Conference play and finished as the state runners-up to Jackson.
4. Lander: Too high. The Tigers' steam ran out in league play and they failed to make it to state.
5. Lovell: Pretty close. Lovell was in the mix all season and lost the consolation championship game.
2A
1. Big Horn: Right on! The Rams won the state championship.
2. Mountain View: Pretty close. The Buffalos lost their top scorer mid-season, but almost beat Big Horn in the state semis.
3. Sundance: Too high. Sundance finished fourth in the Northeast Conference and missed out on a trip to state.
4. Wyoming Indian: Pretty close. The Lady Chiefs won the consolation championship at state after losing to Big Horn in the first round.
5. Thermopolis: Pretty close. The Bobcats swept their Northwest Conference schedule, but lost the consolation championship at state.
1A
1. Burlington: Right on... up until the state tournament semifinals.
2. Southeast: A bit low. Southeast never really got the respect it deserved until the postseason, but it proved it was the best team in 1A when it had the chance.
3. Cokeville: A tad high. Cokeville didn't lose a game in conference play, but lost in the first round at state before winning the consolation title.
4. Hulett: Too high. Hulett made it to state, but went 0-2 in Casper.
5. Arvada-Clearmont: Too low. A-C beat Burlington in the state semis before losing in the championship to Southeast.
There it is, about a month late. Sorry. Anyway, take a quick look back at the hoops season, then focus your energy back on track and soccer again. Cool.
Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com
(14) Comments
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Posted by: Kevin Williams on April 2, 2008 2:44PM EST
To try to pick before the season boggles my mind. Like trying to pick the NCAA brackets, only harder. I don't know how many people outside of western Fremont County picked the LVHS Tigers to win a state title with a new coach. That is what makes it interesting. To win the state in Wyoming you have to get hot for 3 games as opposed to 6 for the NCAA's. Sure makes for interesting conversation, though.
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Posted by: CAT FAN on April 2, 2008 3:22PM EST
What do u think about picks for next year. Southeast again? Encampment should be tuff to
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Posted by: Former JHHS Boys Bball Fan on April 3, 2008 12:11PM EST
Good job on those picks, Patrick – a lot better than my own projections. Looking at picks for next year might be a bit premature but here’s a different idea for an off-season basketball posting: coaching changes around the state.
Changes like Jackson’s getting rid of boys basketball coach Doug Broadhead – an experienced coach that did very well this season with limited material. As a matter fact, this might be worthy of a story in the Tribune. You can bet the local Jackson paper will do no more than give a cursory look at the question of why this happened. Could it be because the AD has designs on coaching the boys in the future? Or maybe there were issues with an assistant coach that is also the principal’s son. Whatever the reasons, Broadhead was offered a contract they new he would refuse.
You might ask why this would be of interest anywhere else in the state. The openness of decisions involving hiring and firing of coaches is a worthwhile topic and one that might strike a chord in all districts. Shouldn’t players and parents come into the decision process at some point (like before the decision is made)? Who should ADs have to answer to – only superintendants?
Naturally, many will doubt the veracity of this comment. Fine - make a few phone calls, talk to coaches, parents, etc. What is obvious is that losing a coach of this caliber is a mistake.
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Posted by: Jeff Parrott on April 3, 2008 2:47PM EST
Interesting that you title yourself "Former JHHS Boys Bball Fan", you are showing the same colors the Doug Broadhead showed when he chose to make his announcement on Banquet night ( This is a night set up to celebrate the successes of the players and the season). He didn't inform any of his assistants or players before he destroyed the evening for his own benefit. If its about the kids, Mr. Broadhead could have shown class and integrity by quitting after he had met with the parties and given them the respect and loyality he asked for. As for you, you're not going to be a fan of these young men because they don't have the same coach? Interesting reaction. Finally, if you feel this is such an issue with easy solutions, why don't you walk into Mr. Shockley's office and offer your constructive insight, rather than hide behind an alias and take cheap and unfounded shots from your keyboard. These kids deserve our support and more importantly adults who offer solutions, not a coach who quits and makes victims out of his players or a fan who joins in and decides to wash his hands of next year's team. If you change your mind, early December the Broncs will be back on the floor.
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Posted by: Fomer JHHS Boys Bball Fan on April 3, 2008 3:54PM EST
"cheap and unfounded shots" - that sounds like a cheap shot to me. As an observer, I'm under no obligation to explain myself, anonymously or otherwise. As part of the system, maybe you should declare your true colors.
Do you feel Broadhead was getting fair treatment from the administration? Does the JHHS AD put the same requirements and restrictions on the head coaches of all other programs? Were the players unsatisfied with the leadership shown and examples set by Broadhead? Did Broadhead not do a good coaching job in his first year with a thin line-up? Can you honestly answer "yes" to any of these questions?
As to the timing of his announcement, I certainly won't defend it but perhaps he was under more stress than you realize. I don't claim there are easy solutions. I do claim it's time to bring issues like this out into the open and that's my intention.
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Posted by: SDCoach on April 3, 2008 4:34PM EST
As an outsider looking in, I don't know the real story behind Coach Broadhead's resignation, other than what my nephew has told me. Was there undue pressure from parents or administration? Does the AD support Coach Broadhead or not? It seems as though Coach Broadhead brought discipline and a sound game strategy to a program that had not experienced this before. It would be interesting to find out how and why this decision was made. Unfortunately, today it seems that parents and board members ultimately decide who to hire. After several state titles in ND and SD, I'm glad to be retired.
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Posted by: Jeff Parrott on April 3, 2008 8:17PM EST
Dear former JHHS Boys Bball fan,
I can answer yes to those questions..is it perfect, no. I still encourage you to come in and offer your perspective and more importantly..support whoever wears the Black and Orange. My points: If Broadhead couldn't accept the conditions, whatever they may be...let the kids have their night and step aside with class. Second, unless you know all the facts it's tough to form a concrete opinion. Third, if you feel strongly about this, why not identify yourself, you obviously know who I am..let's chat. Fourth, the boys played great at the end of the year, I'm not sure if that was because of Broadhead or not, but I do know that they came through when they had to, I wouldn't judge the whole body of work on the last 8 days of the season. Athletics is complex and so is overseeing it. See you next season!
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Posted by: bballfan4ever on April 4, 2008 12:59AM EST
Since you are on the subject of coaches, what has happened with the Lovell boys coach? There were plenty of intense blogs about it. Did he resign or did he get fired? I am just curious about it since it was a very hot topic in previous blogs.
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Posted by: wyofloater on April 4, 2008 11:33AM EST
SDCoach,
I cannot fill you in on what happened other than to say there was some disagreement over the contract. As a parent, I can tell you that it's the kids who pay the price. Three different head coaches in as many years is no way to build momentum in a program.
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Posted by: bandman on April 4, 2008 11:40PM EST
In regard to the post about the Jackson coach, I don't believe a parent or a student should ever be highly involved in the hiring or firing of coaches, many of them are not qualified to make those decisions. Some people are, but in the end it should be up to a school group lead by the AD and principal. Now, that is not to say that every AD I have ever met is qualified to make those decisions, but that is a whole other matter.
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Posted by: Cory on April 5, 2008 2:09AM EST
I don't know what happened in Lovell or Jackson this past season, but bandman is dead-on correct with his recent post here.
I'll add that the school board and superintendent should have input here also.
Patrick started a great thread here but it got twisted into...something else.
Basketball won't fade yet. I had forgotten Patrick picked the NCHS Tigers to win the 2A boys title, RIGHT ON!!!! All of the top 4 are losing some stud players that will be difficult to replace. 2A's gonna be a lot different next year i believe.
2A girls-why not BH/TR again? 1A girls-Southeast/Arvada-Clearmont might be another rematch. 1A boys-pick em.
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Posted by: HS Sports Fan on April 6, 2008 4:17PM EST
I am sorry to hear that Mr. Broadhead won't be coaching next year. I only saw him on a couple of occasions this season, but it appeared that the boys respected him and were performing for him. I can't speak to the way he announced that he wouldn't be back next year, but I sure hope they don't consider the assistant that is real tall. He spent more time jawing with opposing fans than he did coaching.
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Posted by: roundballhead on April 30, 2008 5:48PM EST
Congrats go out to Pete Hoffman the new Head Boys Basketball coach for the Jackson Broncs. Coach Hoffman was Doug Broadhead's JV coach last year.
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Posted by: bob on May 1, 2008 5:42PM EST
Wat the hell you talking about wind river like that. they had one bad shooting night and you think they suck. i bet they were at LEAST one of the top 5 teams in the state this year
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