And we’re off

As I write this week’s column on Tuesday morning, with a temperature of 60 degrees, my skin says it’s still time to be playing golf and riding around in a boat, but my mind and heart says it’s time for some roundball action on the high school level.

I’m going with my mind and heart for the time being, but 60 degrees ain’t bad either.

On Tuesday we were scheduled to open up this 2016-17 roundball season with a double-header hosting of Casey County’s teams and from there, hopefully, we’re off and running for the next few months.

This weekend both the Lady Dawgs and Bulldogs will head west to nearly the far end of our wide and short region, taking on Franklin-Simpson Friday.

The Lady Bulldogs are slated to return home after Friday’s outing but the Bulldogs will leave Franklin and Simpson County and head north up I-65 as far as E-town where they will bunk down before heading north another 30 miles or so on Saturday to take on another set of Bulldogs that afternoon.

The Louisville Male Bulldogs are playing host to our Clinton County Bulldogs Saturday afternoon in a game set for a JV tip at 3:00 p.m.

Coach Todd Messer is certainly giving our Bulldogs an early test with back to back opponents that are among the best of the best in this roundball crazy state.

Franklin-Simpson is a pre-season Top-25 team in multiple Kentucky basketball polls and is built around senior Tavin Lovan, a 6-4 all around player who last year averaged just over 26 points per game to lead the fourth region while pulling down the second highest number of rebounds in the region.

While Clinton County and Louisville Male have never met before, at least since my record book shows from the 1940 season, there will be at least one familiar face on the visiting bench.

The Male Bulldogs are of course coached by former Russell County head coach Willie Feldhaus, who is currently in his second year at the helm at Male.

Last year, Feldhaus and his Bulldogs were considered one of Kentucky’s powerhouse squads, finishing with a 25-6 record and reaching the 7th Region after capturing the 26th District Tournament championship.

Male’s biggest problem, of course, is that they are paired with Trinity in the 7th Region, and sure enough, Willie’s Bulldogs had their 2015-16 season ended by Trinity in the opening game of the 7th Region Tournament. Trinity went on to the Sweet 16 and were defeated in the opening round.

Should be a fun start and an action packed weekend to what I honestly think is going to be a very rewarding basketball season – both boys and girls.

Get on board early and let’s take our two teams deep into March.

I’ll see you in the gym!