As far as I’m concerned, at least for this year, Paxton is the best basketball town in the state.

Paxton’s girls lost to Lake Worth Trinity Christian 44-30 in the Class A state semifinals Wednesday. The Paxton boys are a win over FAMU on Saturday away from making their first appearance in the state semifinals in more than 40 years.

 That’s pretty heady stuff if you ask me.

And while Florida doesn’t have the former Indiana state tournament format that throws every school in the mix for a single title, the court of play is clearly slanted against a small rural public school such as Paxton.

The Bobcat girls were the only public school among the four Class A teams in the semifinals. If Paxton’s boys get past FAMU on Saturday, they’ll face the same obstacle in Lakeland.

Even with the school sizes being similar or equal, teams such as Paxton and Laurel Hill might as well be playing Fort Walton Beach or Niceville when it comes to the talent they see in the state tournament. Yes, the school sizes are equal, but the community sizes and pool of players favor the private school.

But that doesn’t take away from what Paxton has accomplished this year, and hopefully will continue to accomplish as the boys make their run to the state.

The Bobcats opened their new gym to some of the best basketball the school has played in recent memory. Tuesday night, even with a large segment of Paxton fans in Lakeland to be with the Paxton girls, the gym was packed.

Only in a town like Paxton can a community with a population of 300 have more than 1,000 fans pack the gym. Maybe it’s because there is no football in the fall. Or perhaps it’s that special tradition that comes with the state championship banners that hang from the rafters of the glistening new gym.

That’s what makes Paxton, at least for this year, the best little basketball town around.

Larry is one of the good guys in the business. At age 58, he’s old enough to be old school. In fact, if we had been at the same location, I could have played for him when he was getting his start as an assistant coach. From what I’ve learned about Larry, I think I would have liked that too.

The way I see it there are some guys you like, others you respect and a few you admire. I think you can respect someone without liking them, but I don’t think you can admire someone without both liking and respecting them. I admire Larry Olson, not only for what he stands for on the field, but what he stands for in life as well.

Until you get to know him, because he his old school, Larry can be a little intimidating at times. But under that tough exterior is a tender side that cares deeply not only for his players and assistants, but those fortunate enough to call him friend.

Never was that compassion more evident to me than last November when sports editor Perry Ballard suddenly passed away. The day after Perry’s passing I had to go to Navarre for a preview story about the team’s upcoming game with Gulf Breeze.

Talking football wasn’t easy that day, but I managed to get through it. After I got what I needed for my story, we sat and talked about life, death and how we all want to impact others in a positive way. Long after everyone else had left the Navarre fieldhouse, Larry was there for me offering a shoulder to cry on at I time I needed it most. I’ll always be thankful for him taking time he didn’t have to making sure I was OK.

In my book Larry Olson is one of a kind, the finest kind, and all who have known him are finer for the experience as well.

Thanks for making a difference, Larry.

All I have to do is look around the department to be reminded of how much things have changed since then. I am now the old guy on staff in more ways than one.

When sports editor Perry Ballard passed away early last month I gained the unwanted distinction as senior sports staff member both in age and time of service.

If my count is correct, and I’m sure it is, I’ve worked with 11 other sports staffers.

Those in the newspaper business tend to be nomads by nature so it isn’t uncommon to see coworkers come and go. But that doesn’t make the departures any easier, especially when two of those coworkers —  Perry and Rick Flores — died way too soon.

I miss Perry and Rick, as well as my good friend, the newlywed Cal Powell. And whether I want to admit it or not, thing just haven’t been the same since Ron Seibel left.

Ron, if you are reading this, I’ll let you figure out what I mean by that.

With the changes in staff comes an opportunity to work with new people. I’m happy to be a part of a staff that now includes Jared Macarin, Adam Pruiett ad Chris Chatelain, our page designer extrordinaire.

Although I’ve had the privilege of covering Okaloosa-Walton baseball each spring, the vast majority of my time has been spent covering high school sports.

How does one narrow seven years of memories into a few lines? There have been so many players and games to remember.

I’ve covered Niceville in the 2001 Class 5A volleyball finals, Choctawhatchee in the 2002 Class 5A boys basketball finals, Crestview in the 2002 Class 3A football championship game and on the same day in 2004, covered Laurel Hill in the Class A softball seminfinals and Niceville in the Class 5A softball semifinals.

I went to the state junior college baseball tournament with OWC in 2003. And the Daily News has allowed me to cover such classic college football games as Alabama-Auburn, Tennessee-Florida, Tennessee-Alabama and Florida State-Florida.

I’s a heck of a way to make a buck, and most days there’s no job like it in the world.

I’ve seen some great young athletes and if I try to mention them all I’ll fail miserably. But some that standout are Vernon Jones, DJ Hall, Blake Dean, Brad Reese, Ren Sutton and countless others.

Of course this business would be nothing without the stories, and every kid has a story.

 One of my favorites involves former Niceville linebacker Daryl Kelly. I was doing an Athlete of the Week story about him when I found out his nickname was “Daffy.” My curiostity sparked, I asked one of the coaches how he got the nickname.

He told me Kelly once cut practice to go to Disney World and after that they starte calling him Daffy as in Daffy Duck. It didn’t take me long to point out that Donald Duck is Disney and Daffy is a Looney Tune character.

The coach thought for a second before responding, “You know, you’re right.”

Laurel Hill coach Ronnie Smith wears many hats. He’s also one of my favorite people in the world, so I know I can tell this story.

Smith was asked to coach the Hobo baseball team two years ago. He had never coached baseball, and didn’t play high school baseball, so Laurel Hill took some lumps his that first year.

Last spring I asked Smith what the most important thing he learned his first season as a baseball coach.

Without missing a beat, he deadpanned as only Ronnie Smith can, “The rules.”

The stories and memories of seven years are too many to count. In the end, as is often said about this business, it is the people that make the difference.

So to every coach, player and fan, thanks for making the last seven years special and allowing me to be a part of your lives. I’m richer for the experience.

What do I mean by that? Very simply, it is time for the two jobs to be separated. At schools fielding football teams, both Okaloosa and Walton Counties continue to have both positions filled by the same person. Personally, I think this is unfair to both the AD/coach and other coaches at a school.

A football coach’s primary job should be to get his team ready to win football games. And yet, I recently spoke with one local coach/AD that told me 85 percent of his time is spent with his AD job.

The main argument for keeping the jobs united has to do with it being the best way to give the football coach a larger stipend, or at least something like that. I’m not here to argue if a football coach works harder or deserves more money than a volleyball or tennis coach. I’ll leave that up to the number crunchers and adminstrators.

Thirty or 40 years ago it might have made sense to have the same man hold down both jobs. In the days before Title IX there were very few, if any, sports for girls at the high school level. The AD simply had to oversee his football team, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis and track and field. And often golf and tennis were treated as necessary evils to satisfy a few parents.

Today’s AD at a large school must be the administrator for more than 20 athletic teams during the course of an academic year. That doesn’t leave much time for the Xs and Os of coaching football.

Several years ago college and univerities realized it wasn’t prudent for the same man to be both coach and AD. Santa Rosa County split the positions a few years ago.

If you ask me, it’s time for all school districts to do the same.

What do you think?

Anyone who has attended a high school basketball game in recent years knows the free throw isn’t so free these days. In fact, it has become more and more common to see numbers such as 14-of-32, 8-of-20 or 12-of-26 from the line. It makes one wonder what the kids work on these days.

If it was only the boys that were shooting so poorly I might attribute it to spending too much time working on a slam dunk. But girls are shooting just as poorly and sometimes worse. It’s enough to drive a sports writer crazy so I can only imagine what the coaches are thinking after the game.

It would be easy for me to blame the poor free throw shooting on the 3-point shot. And, I might be correct to do so. But the fact is I don’t know why free throw shooting has become a lost art.

In this day when high school teams are often equal in both talent and coaching, a little thing like free throws can determine the outcome of a game. However, it is the lack of ability to hit free throws that are turning games instead.

Any thoughts on what has caused the problem and any possible solutions? 

I’ll usually give an official, or an officiating crew, the benefit of the doubt. Their jobs are thankless as they try to maintain some order in the gyms and on the playing fields.

Sometimes I just can’t keep silent.

Niceville lost to Jacksonville Bartram Trail 35-12 Friday night in one of the worst officiated games I’ve seen in my seven years covering prep sports in this area.

Even before the game, the officials set the tone for things to come. As the teams came onto the field for the kickoff, the Bears stomped on the Niceville logo at midfield and taunted the Eagles. It was a clear case of unsportsmanlike conduct, but no flags were thrown by the officials.

As the game unfolded, the Eagles were flagged for eight major penalties, i.e. a personal foul, unsportsmanlike conduct or holding, and 11 penalties total. The Bears were hit with four penalities, only one of which was a major foul.

On two personal foul facemask penalties that went against the Eagles, I was standing in plain few of the play looking straight across at the tackle. There’s no doubt in my mind that both were bad calls.

Bartram Trail probably wins the game even without the favorable calls. But it would have been interesting to see if things might have turned out any differently a less one-sided effort from the officials.

Niceville and their fans deserved as much.

I love this time of year as we begin the holiday season, or as I like to term it HOLY DAY season.

Even in the middle of that loss so many of us in the newsroom, and in particular our sports department,  continue to feel, there is much to be thankful for.

In the immediate days following Perry’s passing I took comfort in knowing I could count our local coaches as friends when I’m hurting.

The day after Perry’s death I went to Navarre to do a preview story on the Raiders upcoming game with Gulf Breeze. Yes, I talked a little football that day, but more than anything that day Navarre coach Larry Olson gave me a shoulder to lean on. He let me know it was OK to hurt and cry. He was there when I needed a strong and compassionate friend.

Larry, if you’re reading this, you will never know how much I appreciate you being there that day.

But it wasn’t just Larry that showed his concern. Fort Walton Beach football coach Mike Owens called that Friday night after a tough game with Niceville. He was checking on some scores, but more than anything he wanted to make sure those in our sports department were holding up.

The calls and e-mails we have received, and those thoughts and prayers we’ve felt that have gone unannounced, have helped sustain me.

At times sports writers and coaches have different agendas. We try to get a story, and they try to keep some things from us. It’s part of the game.

In the course of the seven years I’ve been at the Daily News there have been relationships…friendships built with the men and women who coach high school sports in this area.

So tonight I’m thankful that we are on the same team…one that seeks to encourage and grow young men and women through sports.

As a high school athlete my coaches impacted me. And today coaches continue to impact me. I am blessed to have a job I love, and to enjoy the relationships that are a part of the job.

And now before I get into my pick for this week, Jared says Hey.

Now there is just one area football team still playing. Niceville (8-2) host to Jacksonville Bartram Trail (7-4) 7:30 tonight in the Class 5A regional semifinals.

The Eagles are coming off an impressive win over Neptune Beach Fletcher. Last week the challenge was slowing down Fletcher running back Deschion Baskerville, and the Eagles did just that holing the explosive back to under 100 yards.

This week it will be Bear quarterback Kyle Parker who will try to stretch the Niceville defense. Parker is rated one of the top quarterback prospects in the country. After watching a short video of Parker on line I can see why. The kid has all the tools and could give the Eagles fit if they don’t stay at home.

The Niceville offense could help the defense in a big way. Jason Lentz ran for 113 yards last week. If Niceville can establish the run and keep the ball out of Parker’s hands a trip to the regional finals should be next for the Eagles.

This could be a barn burner, but the game is being played in Niceville’s barn and that’s why I like the Eagles 31-27.

I assure you, we will do everything we can to stay the course he set us on during his eight years leading our department.

But now is playoff time. And as the second season begins, hope springs eternal in the late fall.

We only have three teams in the playoffs so it won’t take long to run down the games.

Game one is in the Class 4A playoffs where District 2-4A runnerup Navarre travels to Pace to take on the Patriots.

There is no coach in this area I respect more than Larry Olson at Navarre. I think he’s done a great job in getting the Raiders to the playoffs the last two years.

The problem the Raiders face is they might be playing the best Class 4A team in the state. The Patriots might only be ranked No. 5, but I won’t be surprised if they run the table and win it all.

Aaron Munoz is a great quarterback, Riley Hawkins a super receiver. Tight end Vance Smith is the real deal as is running back Airi Johnson.

On paper, the Patriots look unbeatable. But the game isn’t going to be played on paper.

Navarre quarterback Austin Grimm has thrown for about 900 yards the last three games. He has plenty of weapons to throw to as well in Chris Weaver, Jett Bryan, Kyle Irby, Keith Munday and Josh Brooks.

Running back Michael Pettus provides a spark out the backfield.

If the Raiders can spread the ball around and keep the Patriot defense on its heels they have a chance.

I’m still picking Pace in this one though. But I think it will be closer than a lot of people believe. I see the Patriots winning 31-21.

Milton at Fort Walton Beach is the other Class 4A playoff game.

The Panthers upended the Vikings 31-14 in week one, but there is a lot of water under the bridge since then.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Barnes was making his first start for the Vikings and playing on the road. Barnes is quickly maturing into one of the top quarterbacks in the area.

The Vikings also were missing some other key players on both sides of the ball in the previous meeting.

Fort Walton Beach is fairly healthy now. Defensively, the Vikings are coming off a game when they held the high-powered Niceville offense to a single touchdown.

The Vikes will need a similar effort against Milton’s Dustin Land and friends. But playing in the friendly confines of Steve Riggs Stadium should pay big dividends.

I like the Vikings in a close one here. Fort Walton Beach 17-13 in a defensive struggle.

In Class 5A Niceville will host Neptune Beach Fletcher.

Eagle quarterback Josh McDorman is putting up an MVP type year with more than 1,600 yards passing and 17 touchdowns against three picks. He’s also rushed for more than 300 yards so the Senators can’t key on the pass. As a team, the Eagles have a near perfectly balanced attack.

Unlike the Eagles, the Senators will have a simple game plan — give the ball to tailback Deschion Baskerville. Baskerville has 1,600 yards rushing this year, and is coming off a 300-yard effort last week.

If the Eagles can slow Baskerville they should win the game.

I believe they will. And after a sub-par effort on the offensive end agaisnt Fort Walton Beach, I think Niceville will get back on track.

Playing at home will definitely benefit Niceville in this one. I don’t know how Baskerville will run after riding a bus across the state.

I like the Eagles at home 35-21.

Let the playoffs begin.

In the next few weeks, if they already haven’t done so, area senior football players will walk on their home turf one last time.

About this time every season I journey back to a November night in 1975 when I left the world of being a high school football player. I feel fortunate that in some small way I can still be associated with the sport in my capacity as a sports writer with the Daily News.

Last week was my worst this year when it came to prep picks. I was an awful 3-4. On the bright side, I only missed one college game. But this site is about high school sports and this is a big week with playoff spots and bragging rights on the line.

No matter what the sport, there is no bigger game in Okaloosa County than Fort Walton Beach-Choctawhatchee. And no game is bigger than the annual Viking-Indian clash on the gridiron.  Although this half of the District 2-4A playoff picture has been decided, it is still Choctaw-Fort Walton Beach, or to Viking fans, Fort Walton Beach Choctaw.

Talk about a no-win situation, I’m going to have half my friends mad at me whichever way I go with this one.

Choctaw is coming off an open date and Fort Walton Beach is coming off an unexpected loss to Mosley. The Indians haven’t played since they were eliminated from playoff contention by Navarre two weeks ago.

Give any coach worth the salt an extra week to prepare and no telling what will happen. Bobby Moore has had that extra week to get the Tribe ready for the Vikings. Jace Blanchard should be rested and the Indians should be as healthy as they’ve been in a while.

Luke Barnes has grown up a lot this year, and he’ll need to take another big step forward in this game.

A playoff atmosphere will greet the Vikings at Etheredge Stadium even if the Indians will be home for the post season.

The Vikings need some momentum and a win tonight will give them something to build on as the close out the regular season with Niceville before heading into the playoffs.

The Indians have scored in bunches, but most of their recent opponents have too. I don’t think Choctaw can score enough points to win this one. That’s why I’m picking the Vikings 41-35.

The Vikings have wrapped up the top spot in the district, but the other District 2-4A spot is up for grabs as Crestview heads to Navarre.

Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, but you can forget about those games in a hurry. There is no doubt that Bulldog coach Matt Brunson and Raider boss Larry Olson will have their teams ready.

Earlier in the year I would have taken Navarre in an easy win. But the Bulldog offense is gaining steam in the spread with Jason Parker at quarterback.

The difference in this game should be the senior leadership of Austin Grimm at quarterback for the Raiders.

Navarre can’t repeat as district champs, but the Raiders can return to the playoffs for the second straight season and second time in the history of the football team.

The game is at Navarre, and I’m giving the home team the nod. Navarrre wins 31-24.

Washington is at Niceville tonight and the Eagles can wrap up the District 1-5A title and home field advantage throughout most of the playoffs. Speaking of the home field, it will be good for the Niceville players to be at home for the first time since beating Choctaw on Sept. 21.

The Wildcats have struggled to score points at times this season, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty of weapons.

Talking to coach John Hicks and some of the Eagle players earlier this week I sensed Niceville is ready to soar at homecoming tonight.

The Wildcats might play well early, but the Eagles should take the battle to them.

I like Niceville in this one 38-10.

Walton travels to Marianna  hoping to secure the second playoff spot from District 1-2A. The Bulldogs are always tough at home and have been for more than 30 years that I can recall.

However, after losing to Catholic in their only other district game the Braves know they must win to make it to the playoffs.

Tarrell Bramlet, Issac Jackson and friends will try to light out the scoreboard and bring home the win. 

It will be a battle, but I’m still going with the Braves. Look for Walton to win 28-13.

Baker at Bozeman, round two. The Gators look for rare same-season revenge when they travel to Panama City to take on the Bucks tonight. Bozeman won the first game 37-15, but it should be noted that Cameron Domangue was in his first game at quarterback.

Domangue has grown up this season and, although they are out of the playoff picture, so have the Gators. They should that maturity last week against Vernon.

That’s why I’m taking Baker to win 31-21.

South Walton is looking for an upset tonight when the Seahawks host Northview in a District 1-2B battle.

In beating Holmes County 16-14, a week ago the Seahawks kept their slim playoff hopes alive. If they can upset the Chiefs, the Seahawks, Baker and Northview will be tied with a 2-2 district record. In that event the teams would meet in a shootout on Monday to determine the second place team from the district.

There are a lot of “ifs” that have to happen, but the Seahawks could play spoiler and Cinderella in the same game.

I just don’t see it happening though. That’s why I’m taking the Chiefs 34-6.

The final game on tonight’s slate is Sneads at Freeport. The only thing at stake are a few bragging rights in District 1-A. 

I really don’t have a feel for this game. And my crystal ball seems to have a short in it.

I picked Sneads in the panel, so I’ll stay with my pick.

Sneads wins 14-12.

Bonus makeup games from Sept. 21.

Pace at Crestview. Patriots 31-17.

Navarre at Milton. Panthers 21-14.

That’s the way I’m seeing things this week. What do you think? 

I believe every high school athlete should have an opportunity to compete. But I also believe with that opportunity to be a part of the team there is a responsibility. In most sports such as football, basketball or baseball, that responsibility goes unquesitoned. If your team has a game scheduled, you show up.

But individual sports such as tennis and golf seem to raise a different set of questions as to where an athlete’s loyalty lies.

Recently Rocky Bayou Christian golfer Sean Einhaus won the District 1-1A individual title, but passed up on the opportunity to play at the regional tournament. It’s likely that Einhaus, one of the top junior golfers in Germany, who is currently an exchange student, would have won the region. He could have followed that with an appearance in this week’s state tournament.

Instead, rather than compete in last week’s region, Einhaus opted to play at a larger junior tournament feature some of the top players in the country.

In my one meeting with Einhaus he impressed me as a sincere and fine young man. And honestly, if I were in his shoes, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing.

I think the opportunity to be a part of a team could be a great avenue in the experience of an exchange student. Any exchange student, no matter how highly he or she might be ranked in their native country at their sport, should be allowed to play for the school they attend in the states.

However, there are other talented junior golfers and tennis players in the area that have taken a different approach. Most of these athletes chose to compete on their respective junior circuits rather than joining their high school team. They make that decision to substitute their prep career and all of the shared joys and sorrows of a team to get a jump on what they hope will be a professional future.

There is no decision to make as to whether or not they will compete representing their school or themselves. They don’t have to worry about not having an “I” in “TEAM” because they made their choice.

The biggest problem I have with Einhaus’ decision is by opting to play in the bigger tournament he spoiled it for someone else. Maybe another golfer did get to take his place in region. But by the same token, if Einhaus hadn’t played in the district tournament another kid who had worked hard, probably for his team and school, would have had the joy of winning a district championship.

Maybe it’s time to take a stand and keep the “I” out of team.

What do you think?