Posted by Arlin Stacy I have been a head girls basketball coach in Oklahoma for 12 years. It has been an awesome experience and I absolutely love my job. The OGBCA has had an active role in my career through clinics, friendships, and the All-State games. The pre-season clinic is always marked on my calender and religiously attended by my coaches and players. I have never uttered a negative word towards the organization and that is still my intention. However, I believe certain board members or (member) within the organization have some questions to answer. As with Coach Tipton, my players snub of the All-State team comes with many unanswered questions. My player in question is Kaycee Donelson. Kaycee is a very talented player. As a guard at 6'1", she is a terrific scorer, ball handler, and passer. She plays the game with intensity, confidence and yes, "attitude." A four year starter whose team never won fewer than 16 games. This year, her senior season, 22 wins-4 loses. Wins against 5A State Champion Tulsa East Central and 3A State Runner-up Adair. Losses to 3A State Champion Tahlequah-Sequoyah, 4A State Champion Weatherford, 4A State Semi-Finalist Metro Christian and 4A State Quarter-Finalist Purcell. She has a gear that goes beyond most high school players. Offensively and defensively she is an impact player. Kaycee was the second leading scorer in this year's Oklahoma's Best Tournament and named MVP of the Pryor Tournament which included two more of the state's premier players. She was voted MVP of the Tulsa 7 conference and chosen a Channel 8 Elite player for the second year in a row. Kaycee scored 1,700 points in her career and had 275 steals with over 300 assists. Question 1) How does a player with her resume' not make All-State? Question 2) How does a player who received the 2nd highest point total in her region not make All-State? On March 14 at Oologah, out of the 45 players represented, it was publicly announced that Kaycee received the 2nd highest point total. Question 3) How does a conference MVP not get selected, but yet three other members of her conference are selected above her as alternates? Question 4) How do nine players chosen behind her by the region coaches get selected above her? Question 5) How does the election process actually work? (Evidently in the final selection, the rating system by the coaches mean very little compared to a board members opinion.) Question 6) Why are the girls required to try-out? (It creates false hopes for those who really don't have a chance and is a complete waste of time and money for all involved.) Question 7) Aren't the three elected representitives (middle east) chosen to do just that? (Represent the will of your region coaches.) Question 8) Should a board member's personal bias or personal agenda be allowed to override what is just? In both the cases of Magan Roth and Kaycee Donelson I say it was allowed. Even though a majority vote may be taken, (5 to approve) the other two regions will go along with whatever is presented, (especially when it allows another coaches player to be bumped up.) Question 9) What changes should be made? Question 10) How do you define a "bad attitude" or "character issue?" I was informed that there was a discussion of "character issues" concerning Kaycee in the final selection meeting. (Similar to the "bad attitude" of Magan Roth.) When I think of character issues, things like lying, stealing, cheating, using drugs, come to mind. With the exception of one season, I have been with Kaycee at every practice and game since her seventh grade year. At no time has the issue of character been a problem. Never! She is an unselfish player who is greatly admired by her teammates and classmates. This year she was selected most-popular by her fellow seniors and voted homecoming queen by both the girls and boys basketball teams. Kaycee is also probably the most commonly used babysitter used by faculty at Collinsville High School. This young lady does not have character issues. And if attitude on the court is an issue, name one outstanding player who doesn't play with it. Some are better at controlling it, but its still there. Kaycee does have room for improvement in this area but has shown great maturity throughout her career. Question 11) Where would you begin to measure what constitutes "bad attitude" or "character issues?" You can't, it's impossible. Unless it's a major incident such as an O.S.S.A.A. suspension or off the court incident with law -enforcement involvement, how can you make such a huge decision in a young person's life based on someone's opinion. No excuse for this improper reasoning on behalf of the representitives . Question 12) How would those who were responsible for this erroneous decision feel if this was their player? Knowing what I know about Kaycee, they would be just as upset and frustrated. Actually they would be shocked just as I am. What blows me away is that they feel justified to make such a decision. What they are judging Kaycee for is exactly how many coaches act. Bad attitudes, showing frustration, being overly competitive, technical fouls (one in her career), being emotional. Sound like a few coaches you know? Who can play God and make such a decision? Not me, I couldn't and wouldn't do it. Somewhere it says don't try to take the splinter out of your brother's eye when you have a 2x4 in yours. (paraphrased) Question 13) What's the bottom line? The bottom line is she was more than good enough, not a bubble player, not an alternate, but good enough to be at or near the top. She should have never been sent to Bethel if the middle east representitives knew they were going to "blackball" her and that is exactly what they did. *Trust is an issue. I trust that Magan Roth is a qualified All-Stater because her coach says she is. I trust Rick Tipton, I believe in his program and what he stands for. He would not have submitted her if she was not. I would hope I could receive the same consideration. Question 14) What really happened? Unfortunately the real issue may be character and attitude. Only not with the players but with the adults who were responsible for the decision. Kaycee was "blackballed" or not allowed to be elgible because of what someone said about her. Some call it slander or defamation of character. I call it weak and unexcusable. And to those who agreed and went along, I am sorry you were misled. There is always two sides to an opinion (mine and yours). But you can only judge what you can see. Only One can judge the unseen and none of us are Him. A dislike of a certain player is not reason enough, for anyone in a position of authority to improperly label them and withhold something of value that is rightfully theirs. Question 15) What happens next? I know that the coaches ranking system will never be taken seriously by me again. (For me, thus the need for change.) I have always conscientiously been as professional as possible with my selections. I have brought newspaper articles, my Tip-off magazine, and stats and notes from throughout the season. I also set alone as not to be influenced. But sadly it will never be the same for me. I feel betrayed and cheated, but I am only the coach. I wonder how Kaycee feels? We have all been taught those lessons in life of how things in life are not always fair. But it is our responsibility as adults to make it fair whenever it is possible. Arlin Stacy KAYCEE DONELSON 2006-2007 Basketball:
on 3/18/2007, 11:48 pm, in reply to "All State Selection Process"
76.211.67.234
This is a response to the message posted by Rick Tipton. It is ironic how similar our situations are regarding the OGBCA All-State selections. I too, had a very deserving young lady not chosen. I also recognize that every year there will be payers, coaches, and family members who feel that an injustice has been done. Although this one for me, hits too close to home.
Kaycee is tentatively headed to NCAA Division II Arkansas Tech to play ball. (See attatched list of stats and awards).
A) I totally agree that term limits should be set for representitives. How long they serve and how often. This is NOT a knock on those who serve faithfully and exhibit character and trust. But it would only strengthen the organzation with new blood with new ideas.
B) Eliminate the try-outs and go with a coaches presentation of his "deserving" players. At the end, go ahead and rank 1-15. Region reps take the list to final selection board meeting. This meeting should also include an administrative representitive to monitor accountability. As much as possible a 5-5-5 player format should be used. The top 5 from each region should be chosen. If there is a discrepancy, discussions and voting should decide.
Head Girl's Basketball Coach, Collinsville High School
Tulsa 7 All-Conference Player of the Year
Tip-Off Magazine All Class
KTUL CHANNEL 8 "Elite 8" Nominee
Pryor Invitational Tournament MVP
Oklahoma's Best All-Tournament Second Team
Oklahoma's Best Tournament Second leading scorer
Team Record 22 wins and 4 losses
Tulsa 7 Conference undefeated champions
Pryor Tournament Champions
District Champions
Regional Champions
Area Finalist
20 game winning streak
1,700 career points, 275 steals, 303 assists
16.9 ppg, 87 assts, 72 steals, and 30 blks
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