Conference basketball is nearing the end of the first tour through the league, the Super Bowl is Sunday and January is almost over. Within a matter of weeks pitchers and catchers report for spring training. Seems like it can't get here soon enough. Here's what's on my mind.
• A big congratulations goes out to three Siloam Springs athletes and one coach for being named to the East All-Stars squads for this summer's Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Week in June.
Siloam Springs head football coach Bryan Ross and senior football players Parker Baldwin and David Goodman were named to the All-Star football team in an announcement made last week.
Siloam Springs senior volleyball player Taylor Gay was named to the All-Star volleyball team.
This is a pretty cool deal all the way around for these athletes, and maybe some more will join them when the basketball, baseball, softball and soccer rosters are announced later in the spring.
For Bryan Ross, it won't be his first appearance for All-Star week. he participated as coach in the baseball game several years ago.
Ross said he'll be helping former Siloam Springs and current Conway head coach Clint Ashcraft coach on defense, probably in the secondary, during the All-Star game.
"I'll just do whatever he tells me," Ross joked.
Junction City head coach David Carpenter will be the East head coach.
• I know what some of you are thinking. Siloam Springs representing the East?
As unbelievable as that may sound, it's true.
"It doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it?" Ross said. "They put us in the East and Pine Bluff in the West."
The Arkansas Activities Association determined that teams in the 7A/6A-Central Conference would be paired with the East team and teams from the 6A-South would be paired with the West.
If it would have been reversed, players from Texarkana and El Dorado would be on the East squad, and that wouldn't have made any sense either.
I just find it amusing that Siloam Springs High School, which geographically is the western-most school building in Arkansas -- my boss Kent Marts says the Gravette, Decatur and Gentry school districts extends farthest west, but the districts' buildings are farther east -- is a part of the East team.
How about let kids from Jonesboro, Blytheville and Paragould play on the West to balance this out?
• Ross said that at this point Baldwin is supposed to play safety in the All-Star game, while Goodman will most likely play defensive end.
Both Baldwin and Goodman have dreams to play in college.
Baldwin recently visited the campus of University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he received a scholarship offer back in the fall. San Diego State also appears to be hot on his trail.
Goodman is generating interest from schools like Arkansas Tech, and has considered walking on at Arkansas.
"I'm proud of both of them and they'll do a good job at the next level," Ross said.
• While we're on football, Ross said around 96 players are participating in the offseason program and that number could go up once basketball season ends and several Panthers return to the football team.
"Hopefully we can keep most of them and go from there," Ross said.
-- Graham Thomas is the managing editor for the Herald-Leader. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Sports on 01/28/2015