Condolences to the Gross family on the passing of the family Patriarch, John Gross, who was a longtime legendary Bellevue, NCC, and Campbell County basketball coach. John always went out of his way to say nice things to me about our program, and appreciated our internet broadcasts, that he professed to listen to on a regular basis.
Brad Fritz, known as “Champ” and is probably the most popular man in Northern Kentucky after being hit by a car on Turkeyfoot Road a few months back, was present to accept the “Derrick Rhoden Perseverance Award” at the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame Recognition Event, conducted Wednesday evening at the Gardens of Park Hills Event Center on the campus of Covington Catholic High School. This award, named after former Brossart Mustang, Derrick Rhoden is presented to persons who have been forced to overcome adversity throughout their lives. Brad was well enough to attend and receive the award. Derrick’s Mom, Marty, and his brother Nick, were there to present it to him.
Another person who should be familiar with Brossart basketball fans was Augusta’s Brian Flaugher, who is handicapped and requires arm braces to get around. He has been keeping both the girls and the boys scorebooks at Augusta for the past 40 years. He received the Thomas John Fricke Service Award, recognizing his achievements. Derrick Rhoden was the recipient of this award a year ago.
I should have pictures of these recipients, but discovered that my phone had gone dead prior to arriving at the event. I will try to get the official photos from the NKSHOF and share them when they become available.
Augusta High School has resumed their plans to construct a new gym, after receiving a 2.5 million dollar grant from the state to bridge the gap in their budget and finish the project which had been discussed for the past four or five years. It is slated to open in two years and will replace their present facility that was built in 1926 and is presently the oldest gym in the Commonwealth still in use for varsity basketball competition.