[monster_energy]

This is exactly correct, Coach Ronnie Smith has done so much for the youth of Martin Co. I had the opertunity to help Coach Smith with some of those powerhouse middle school teams he had at WMS. I was with him for 5 seasons and not only did he do for the kids but I also learned so very much from this man. Do to my job and obligations at home I had to leave Coach Smith after the 2002-2003 season and what a season it was. This had to be one of the best Middle School teams ever assembled in east Ky, we were loaded with talent... George Shimko, Damon Hensley, Ryan Mollett and that was Justin Porter's 7th grade year and he played at Sheldon Clark High his eighth grade season for J.R. Hammonds and with some of our talks since Justin has never came out and said but I get the feeling he would have never gave up his last year at WMS and Coach Smith if he could do it again. We traveled to Hopkinsville Ky and competed in the national midwest regional tournament for middle school teams where we did loose 2 games but were very competitive we took a final four team in that tournament to overtime in the first round and lost by 2. Coach smith was so proud of that group. I think we finished the season at 26 and 4. The way Coach Smith was done by the Martin Co. board was so so wrong, I don't know if they even gave him as much as a thank you for all he done. He made sure the kids made their grades, even made them sit in the bleaches and do homework during practice if they were struggling. All I can say is if you or your child played for Coach Ronnie Smith they not only learned the game of basketball they learned to be better human beings. Coach Smith is truely a class act.

Very good post and all of this is true besides the Porter thing who knows how he feels and thats the past now so it really dont matter. all that matters is fixing this problem so the kids in the future wont have to be treated wrong and haveing parents that have a lil bit of say so rule what goes on in the martin county athletic system. well basketball that is because coach hager is a class act and he plays who deserves to play in football. i just want to see this problem fixed before this gets really out of hand because with some of the rumors i have been hearing well lets just say when coach harless leaves everybody will be wishing him back and i know people dont like him but when he leaves somebody will be coaching this team that will do exactly what mark blackburn and larry james says. so please people that care about sheldon clark athletics dont let this happen!!