KHSAA gives winter sports the green light

    In a scheduled meeting last week that had many high school athletes, coaches and parents around the state on pins and needles, the KHSAA moved ahead with its plan to start the winter sports season on Jan. 4.
    For the Pendleton County Wildcats basketball team, they’ll resume practice this week and move forward with the intent to play a 28-game regular season that will be followed by the 38th district tournament and 10th region tournament. The Sweet Sixteen is scheduled to be played March 29-April 8.
    “I’m really appreciative that KHSAA is allowing us to start winter sports. We had a team zoom meeting last Thursday and you could tell Coach Elsbernd was just as excited as us players to get the go ahead to start practice and not delay anything. I think we have a chance to be really good this year and I’m excited to get things going again,” said senior Mason Askren.
    For fellow Wildcat senior Noah Barnard, the chance to close out his playing career is something he won’t take for granted. He’s looking forward to ending things on a high note.
    “I’m very excited to get the season going especially since it’s my senior year. I worked hard over the summer to improve my game so i’m happy that KHSAA is allowing us to play. It’s going to be weird playing games and not having the gym packed with fans for us, but we understand the rules and regulations that have been put in place due to Covid.  We’re all really excited to start the year and be able to play somebody else,” he said.
    Junior Brice Redden was also happy with the decision to move forward with the start of the season, but his perspective is centered around the satisfaction he’ll get from watching his senior teammates have the opportunity to finish their playing careers on the court.
    “I’m excited that the KHSAA made the  decision to go ahead and get things rolling and I’m glad that we are getting the chance to compete, especially for my senior teammates. I know first hand how much the seniors from last year hated not getting a spring sports season, so this winter season is a blessing for them to be able to play.”
    Pendleton County begins its season at Bellevue on Jan. 5 and will host Dayton on Jan. 8. The home opener will also include the annual “Senior Night” ceremony.