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The Sikeston Rocket has game

metro-dude

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2004
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Rocket, I read your profile on the Sikeston Bulldogs. I will agree the Bulldogs are very impressive, has a deep bench and one of the top player in Missouri in Fred Thatch. My take on Parker and Owen Long was off the charts. They really know how to play the game of basketball. I see major minutes for Owen and Parker Long for the next two years.

I was taken back to the mid-70's on the left handed Long kid. He reminded me of a player, Terry Kramer who moved into the St. Charles school district in December of his junior year. Terry 6'3" was an outstanding guard with a high level IQ from Ohio who latter played @ Nichols State.

I like Dylon Mills 6'4"----Trey Jenkins 6'7" and Fred Thatch 6'3" as inside players.
The guards Kevin Jones 5'11"---------Parker Long 6'1" and Owen Long 6'1". Fred is a great player and will play guard @ St. Louis University but his value for the Bulldogs is not @ guard. Fred is nightmare match up for any team in Missouri if he plays the 3,or 4 position. If I was making out a defensive game plan for Fred, I want him @ guard, he's to strong on the inside, Fred outweighs Michael Porter Jr. who weighs in @ 215 Lbs and 6'10".

Sikeston has been successful with high energy Dylon Mills coming off the bench. Not many 6th men in Missouri can change needed momentum the way " Mr Energy can. This will be a coaching decision on not starting Dylon Mills.

I may not be on my game but I see the Sikeston Bulldogs competing with any team in Missouri regardless of class and a class 4 state championship is possible. St. Mary's is team that will not go away with all the chips on the table. St. Mary's plays down against lower opponent but not against the big teams.
















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metro...I appreciate the sentiments. I have a passion for our team and our school district. I am an overtly biased observer, but I feel like I have a keen insight into our program.
 
metro...I appreciate the sentiments. I have a passion for our team and our school district. I am an overtly biased observer, but I feel like I have a keen insight into our program.

Rocket. I see you as an important backer of the Sikeston Bulldog program. You remind me of another important backer of the St. Charles Pirate program back in the 1950's and 60's. His name was Ernie Hedges who controlled the basketball program and the school board. Ernie started the " Blue Tie " gang. The Blue Tie gang had about 200 members who attended every St. Charles Pirate home game. They all wore a blue tie and a suit coat. They hired a top coach, ( Gene Bartow ) recruited a 6'8" center and won a large class state championship in Missouri in 1958.

With Ernie in control, the basketball coach did not answer to the high school principal. After years of control by the " Blue Tie Gang " The Principal wanted control over the basketball coach. The Basketball coach, Gene Bartow had his prep hour the second hour each day @ school. The principal had a sign in and out sheet for any teacher who left the school premises. Coach Gene never signed out when he would leave the school daily. The Teachers complained. The Principal was waiting on Gene Bartow's return one day. The Principal told the coach if he left the school campus again ( Without signing out ) he would write a letter to the " School Board " and ask for discipline and possible firing. Coach Gene Bartow told the principal to go back to his office and write his letter and bring it back to him. Gene then told the principal I have breakfast every morning with the school board. Bring me the letter and I will give it to them tomorrow @ breakfast.

Fast forward to the early 70's, I was hired in as the new asst basketball coach @ St. Charles High School and Gary Wacker was the head coach. Our first basketball game of the season, we lost our first game. After the game, a fan came out of the stands and delivered a message from Ernie Hedges who wanted to know why we did not use a zone defense the last minutes of the game. I ask the " Deliver Boy ", who the hell is Ernie Hedges? The Deliver boy said, you don't know Ernie Hedges? I said, no. The delivery boy said, I will give Ernie your message and you will know Ernie real soon.

I was a little off my game for a few minutes but recovered and had a conversation with head coach Gary Wacker about the delivery boy's comments. Coach Wacker told me Ernie means well, is a friend of the basketball program and has a powerful influence in the community. Gary Wacker then told me " Be kind and don't make Ernie angry ". The " Blue Tie Gang " was broken up 5-6 years before my arrival in St. Charles. I became good friends with Ernie Hedges and many of his friends in the St. Charles community. I enjoyed talking basketball with them and I miss them til this day.

I was the head basketball coach @ Essex-Richland before coming to St. Charles. I had never been an asst. coach before. Gary Wacker was one of the top high school basketball coaches I've ever met. I owe him so much. Gary Wacker always gave credit to his assist. coaches to the media, in front of the players, Parents, the Community and coaching clinics and still does today.

Rocket, after reading the above, could you be another ' Ernie Hedges "? Ernie always took the team out for a meal after winning big tournaments or districts and beyond !
 
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Uhhh...not hardly. I support the team, but I’m not an “Ernie Hedges.” Coach Holifield et al have forgotten more about basketball than I know. I wouldn’t disrespect our coaching staff by offering my unsolicited advice nor would I do that to any other educator in our school district.

Rocket. I see you as an important backer of the Sikeston Bulldog program. You remind me of another important backer of the St. Charles Pirate program back in the 1950's and 60's. His name was Ernie Hedges who controlled the basketball program and the school board. Ernie started the " Blue Tie " gang. The Blue Tie gang had about 200 members who attended every St. Charles Pirate home game. They all wore a blue tie and a suit coat. They hired a top coach, ( Gene Bartow ) recruited a 6'8" center and won a large class state championship in Missouri in 1958.

With Ernie in control, the basketball coach did not answer to the high school principal. After years of control by the " Blue Tie Gang " The Principal wanted control over the basketball coach. The Basketball coach, Gene Bartow had his prep hour the second hour each day @ school. The principal had a sign in and out sheet for any teacher who left the school premises. Coach Gene never signed out when he would leave the school daily. The Teachers complained. The Principal was waiting on Gene Bartow's return one day. The Principal told the coach if he left the school campus again ( Without signing out ) he would write a letter to the " School Board " and ask for discipline and possible firing. Coach Gene Bartow told the principal to go back to his office and write his letter and bring it back to him. Gene then told the principal I have breakfast every morning with the school board. Bring me the letter and I will give it to them tomorrow @ breakfast.

Fast forward to the early 70's, I was hired in as the new asst basketball coach @ St. Charles High School and Gary Wacker was the head coach. Our first basketball game of the season, we lost our first game. After the game, a fan came out of the stands and delivered a message from Ernie Hedges who wanted to know why we did not use a zone defense the last minutes of the game. I ask the " Deliver Boy ", who the hell is Ernie Hedges? The Deliver boy said, you don't know Ernie Hedges? I said, no. The delivery boy said, I will give Ernie your message and you will know Ernie real soon.

I was a little off my game for a few minutes but recovered and had a conversation with head coach Gary Wacker about the delivery boy's comments. Coach Wacker told me Ernie means well, is a friend of the basketball program and has a powerful influence in the community. Gary Wacker then told me " Be kind and don't make Ernie angry ". The " Blue Tie Gang " was broken up 5-6 years before my arrival in St. Charles. I became good friends with Ernie Hedges and many of his friends in the St. Charles community. I enjoyed talking basketball with them and I miss them til this day.

I was the head basketball coach @ Essex-Richland before coming to St. Charles. I had never been an asst. coach before. Gary Wacker was one of the top high school basketball coaches I've ever met. I owe him so much. Gary Wacker always gave credit to his assist. coaches to the media, in front of the players, Parents, the Community and coaching clinics and still does today.

Rocket, after reading the above, could you be another ' Ernie Hedges "? Ernie always took the team out for a meal after winning big tournaments or districts and beyond !
 
Uhhh...not hardly. I support the team, but I’m not an “Ernie Hedges.” Coach Holifield et al have forgotten more about basketball than I know. I wouldn’t disrespect our coaching staff by offering my unsolicited advice nor would I do that to any other educator in our school district.

Rocket, you could take the team out to dinner after a big win or a big tournament win. That would be a little like Ernie. Rocket, you could get a hundred fans to wear a red tie @ home games. That would be a little like Ernie.

Rocket, I'm just having a little fun with Sikeston's # 1 fan.

Who are some other number one fans @ other high schools who do things for their high school basketball teams?
 
I can vouch for Rocket689. He doesn’t know anything about basketball. He even bricked a layup a few years back during a halftime contest!
 
That’s a negative, Ghost Rider. That was YOU posing as me and barely hitting the glass on a layup.

I can vouch for Rocket689. He doesn’t know anything about basketball. He even bricked a layup a few years back during a halftime contest!
 
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