Jump to content



What's going on with the Van Buren basketball program


28 replies to this topic

#1 ladyluck

    All League

  • Members
  • 24 posts

    Joined: 09-January 10
    Member No.: 5540

Posted 05 February 2012 - 11:48 PM

I recently attended a couple of Van Buren games. From what I seen there's no defense, no set plays, alot of dribbling. There just doesn't seem to be any rythm or reason to this team. I know they have a new coach this year. It's just not the Van Buren team we are used to seeing.


#2 FightingFifth

    All District

  • Members
  • 167 posts

    Joined: 16-March 07
    Member No.: 2326
  • Location:Toledo, OH

Posted 06 February 2012 - 12:35 AM

I saw them play once this year, against Leipsic. Definitely no defense, as Leipsic could have scored 120 if they wanted. They did have some decent shooters though. I don't mean to put words in your mouth but I hope your not blaming the coaching already. The main problem that I saw was they just didn't have much talent in the upper grades. The Knights have some good young talent. If they can develop, you will be happy with the way things are going.

#3 ladyluck

    All League

  • Members
  • 24 posts

    Joined: 09-January 10
    Member No.: 5540

Posted 06 February 2012 - 01:16 AM

No, I'm not blaming the coach at all. With having a new head coach I believe the coach and players are still adjusting to each other. I'm sure it's going to take another year or two for the program to get back on it's feet with a new coach.

#4 PostPlayer

    Hall of Fame

  • Members
  • 1,009 posts

    Joined: 14-November 09
    Member No.: 5317

Posted 06 February 2012 - 08:41 AM

U got to wonder what the heck the point of this post is if you are not blaming the coach....
Arlington Red Devils
2012 Girls Basketball State Champs
2012 Boys Basketball State Semi-Finalist

#5 Rocketman

    Stinkys Legend

  • [A] Administrator
  • 13,147 posts

    Joined: 28-December 05
    Member No.: 3
  • Location:down by the Riley, getting ready for the smallmouth!

Posted 06 February 2012 - 09:08 AM

Uhhhhh. ........
home to the "Flounder & Rocketman's" Girls HS rankings

#6 FightingFifth

    All District

  • Members
  • 167 posts

    Joined: 16-March 07
    Member No.: 2326
  • Location:Toledo, OH

Posted 06 February 2012 - 01:42 PM

View PostPostPlayer, on 06 February 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

U got to wonder what the heck the point of this post is if you are not blaming the coach....
Kind of what I was thinking

#7 bvcgrad

    All District

  • Members
  • 400 posts

    Joined: 12-November 07
    Member No.: 2973

Posted 06 February 2012 - 02:58 PM

Sophomore class is above average, lets give them some time then blame it on the coach.

#8 veteranlefty

    All District

  • Members
  • 214 posts

    Joined: 24-January 12
    Member No.: 9179

Posted 06 February 2012 - 03:19 PM

Like any school their size you have some down years. They are just faced with a year with not a ton of talent or numbers in Sr/Jr classes and a whole new coaching staff. I have heard soph class is decent and freshmen have a few guys who will play some varsity ball later on. 7th grade team is pretty good too so give the new coach another year or two before piling on him.

#9 Rocketman

    Stinkys Legend

  • [A] Administrator
  • 13,147 posts

    Joined: 28-December 05
    Member No.: 3
  • Location:down by the Riley, getting ready for the smallmouth!

Posted 06 February 2012 - 06:03 PM

the program started sliding into mediocrity the year after the architect of the VB defense, Dennis Martin left............they could return
to prominence in short order if some of those same VB folks would just admit how valuable he was..........RM
home to the "Flounder & Rocketman's" Girls HS rankings

#10 Common Sense

    Hall of Fame

  • Members
  • 1,299 posts

    Joined: 04-March 10
    Member No.: 5859

Posted 07 February 2012 - 12:07 AM

Recently saw Van Buren, know they have not won many games but they were pretty scrappy, played hard. Yes, not a lot of options on offense, soph class has some players. Most of their big players are pretty thin. Gotta get stronger, lot of golfers on the basketball team.

#11 caldwell

    Hall of Fame

  • Members
  • 1,279 posts

    Joined: 06-March 10
    Member No.: 5879

Posted 07 February 2012 - 08:16 AM

Possibly Mr. Frost's leaving had something to do with the tallent level coming up? Give the new coach a chance.

#12 Common Sense

    Hall of Fame

  • Members
  • 1,299 posts

    Joined: 04-March 10
    Member No.: 5859

Posted 07 February 2012 - 11:44 AM

YOu have to remember they had 8-9 seniors graduate last season, that's going to leave a big hole in your program.

#13 kennytarmac

    All League

  • Members
  • 77 posts

    Joined: 06-January 09
    Member No.: 4320

Posted 07 February 2012 - 12:31 PM

Saw VB play twice this year...once in early december & again recently. Much improved team if you ask me. They play hard, but as mentioned earlier, overall talent is thin. As of right now, I'd give them a 4/10...just slightly below avg based on the other teams I've seen play this yr. They also have the misfortune in the BVC, which is a pretty strong conference this year (did I just say that??)

#14 lefty

    All State

  • Members
  • 738 posts

    Joined: 20-April 06
    Member No.: 804

Posted 07 February 2012 - 02:14 PM

View PostRocketman, on 06 February 2012 - 06:03 PM, said:

the program started sliding into mediocrity the year after the architect of the VB defense, Dennis Martin left............they could return
to prominence in short order if some of those same VB folks would just admit how valuable he was..........RM
Sure your not talkin about Lynn Martin RM. VB is a place that a coach is always blamed boys or girls BB even when they are strong. Many schools are like that if you know what I mean.

#15 Ron Mexico

    All District

  • Members
  • 115 posts

    Joined: 22-August 07
    Member No.: 2593
  • Location:Alvada, OH

Posted 08 February 2012 - 12:20 PM

View PostRocketman, on 06 February 2012 - 06:03 PM, said:

the program started sliding into mediocrity the year after the architect of the VB defense, Dennis Martin left............they could return
to prominence in short order if some of those same VB folks would just admit how valuable he was..........RM
+1. Van Buren made a big mistake when they didn't try to keep Coach Martin on staff.

#16 Common Sense

    Hall of Fame

  • Members
  • 1,299 posts

    Joined: 04-March 10
    Member No.: 5859

Posted 08 February 2012 - 12:31 PM

View Postlefty, on 07 February 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

Sure your not talkin about Lynn Martin RM. VB is a place that a coach is always blamed boys or girls BB even when they are strong. Many schools are like that if you know what I mean.

I think the rub is that a school the size of Van Buren (D3 now) should dominate the BVC (all D4 except LB). Especially since there are no other winter sports except wrestling (which is dying at most schools). People complain that LB has such and advantage over the other BVC schools because of size, yet Van Buren is now D3 also.

#17 RWB 71

    Hall of Fame

  • Members
  • 1,569 posts

    Joined: 12-February 06
    Member No.: 414
  • Location:N. W. Ohio formerly the Big Black Swamp

Posted 08 February 2012 - 06:46 PM

Well seeing how Lynn Martin would be mid sixties or better by now.........I don't think we'll see him coaching anytime soon.
I remember him as the original Patrick Henry JV coach and I'm thinking he might have the varsity coach at Malinta-Grelton in the late 60s.

BTW...his son, Doug is the head golf coach at University of Cincinatti and was a traveling pro golfer for 9 years.

I seem to recall that Lynn earned something like 12 varsity sports letters at Bluffton College back in the early 1960's.

Edited by RWB 71, 15 February 2012 - 06:51 AM.


#18 Buckshot

    All District

  • Members
  • 318 posts

    Joined: 23-August 10
    Member No.: 6461

Posted 10 February 2012 - 09:01 AM

Lynn Martin graduated from Bluffton College.

#19 bvcrulz

    All League

  • Members
  • 38 posts

    Joined: 21-June 11
    Member No.: 8931
  • Location:Land of the Red Devils

Posted 12 February 2012 - 10:50 AM

View PostRocketman, on 06 February 2012 - 06:03 PM, said:

the program started sliding into mediocrity the year after the architect of the VB defense, Dennis Martin left............they could return
to prominence in short order if some of those same VB folks would just admit how valuable he was..........RM

RM, I have long felt the same way! Coach DENNIS Martin was the true reason for all of the success VB enjoyed going back to the mid 80s. Fortunately EJ was visionary enough to use DM in the role of video coordinator to develop the outstanding scouting reports that brought VB back from wilderness during the Frosty years. The program will continue to struggle until everyone up north realizes what a talent they have again lost.

#20 Rocketman

    Stinkys Legend

  • [A] Administrator
  • 13,147 posts

    Joined: 28-December 05
    Member No.: 3
  • Location:down by the Riley, getting ready for the smallmouth!

Posted 12 February 2012 - 12:38 PM

View Postbvcrulz, on 12 February 2012 - 10:50 AM, said:

RM, I have long felt the same way! Coach DENNIS Martin was the true reason for all of the success VB enjoyed going back to the mid 80s. Fortunately EJ was visionary enough to use DM in the role of video coordinator to develop the outstanding scouting reports that brought VB back from wilderness during the Frosty years. The program will continue to struggle until everyone up north realizes what a talent they have again lost.

BVCrulz and Ron Mexico,
if needed (and if you believe that the folks at VB would be willing to entertain the idea) I can act as the go-between.........Coach Martin is sending out feelers and for a "small finder's fee" i would be willing to negotiate his return :rolleyes:
home to the "Flounder & Rocketman's" Girls HS rankings







1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users