Steady Hand: Longtime PH South AD has been a calming influence for a young Panthers squad

The Park Hill South boys basketball team started the season with losses in two of their first three games. It was a start expected out of a young and untested team, led by a new coach, that had less than a combined 40 varsity points returning from last year. Those thinking the Panthers might be in for a long year have been proven wrong, though.

After rattling off seven straight victories, starting with a 43-31 win over Staley on Dec. 8 and including an overtime victory against Liberty 44-43 in the opening round of the Bank Midwest /William Jewell Holiday Classic last week, their streak came to an end against a previously undefeated St. Joseph Central squad in the tournament semifinals, 58-52. Park Hill South rebounded and closed out the first half of their season and the 2011 year with a 52-49 third-place game victory over Fort Osage.

The Panthers’ start is a promising sign not only considering their youth, but also because of the tough adjustments that sometimes come with a new coach’s first year. Long-time PHS athletic director John Sedler isn’t the typical first year coach, though. In fact, if there was anyone more reliable to maintain the high standard of basketball Park Hill South has set for itself over recent years it would be Sedler, someone with a strong reputation as a coach and administrator in the district.

So when Park Hill South found itself in the situation of not having a head coach weeks before school started this past August due to the sudden resignation of former coach Anthony Perry, who now faces charges that he tried to initiate sexual contact with a student, it was only natural Superintendent Dennis Fisher and Principal Dale Longenecker looked to Sedler to lead the program.

For Sedler, 56, a graduate of the Park Hill School District and Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, it was a chance for him to return to coaching. He previously coached for 10 years at Park Hill before becoming athletic director at Park Hill South in 1998 where he said he has a more direct role in shaping kids lives, the reason he started coaching in the first place.

“I got into this business because I like kids number one,” Sedler said. “These guys have a great passion for basketball which has made it an easy transition.”

It would’ve been easy to implement a whole new system tailored to Sedler’s preference, but with the help of assistants Dillon Higdon and Tracy Mangels the Panthers are building on what was already in place.

“One of the exciting parts was that Coach Higdon and Coach Mangels were returning so we were able to keep most of what they did last year, so we didn’t just get rid of everything, but wanted to build on what they already had in place,” Sedler said.

Sophomore guard Anthony Woods who averaged 15 points a game in the William Jewell Tournament last week contrasted Sedler’s style and echoed his thoughts on the team’s progress.

“He’s been great. I mean he’s a really calm guy, which is a little different (than last year),” Woods said. “We just want to play hard and with intensity. We’re not really worried about wins and losses, we’re worried about going out and playing the way we’re supposed to.”

With the completion of the first half of their season, they’ve passed the point where youth can be used as an excuse for inconsistency and look to what will be a tougher second half schedule.

“We’ve quit talking about being young, because no one cares, there’s no excuses anymore, they’re varsity players so they have to play like it,” Sedler said. “We’re definitely getting better, everyday.”

Park Hill South starts 2012 with two homes games including a rematch against Liberty Wednesday followed by Raytown Friday night before going on the road next week against Raytown South. In the meantime, neither Sedler nor his top guard believes their work is complete.

“We have a bunch of great young kids with great attitudes, they’ve been very receptive. It’s great working with them. They know they’ve got to get better,” Sedler said.

“We’re been working on trying to gel and keep everything together,” Woods added. “We need to cut down on the turnovers and keep our defense up so we don’t get lackadaisical.”

Politics will dominate 2012

With Iowa Caucus results coming in as we go to press, 2012 will be dominated politically by the Presidential race. There’s no doubt all races will be affected by it, but while the 2010 local election results mirrored those nationally with huge Republican gains, 2012 should see more balanced results nationally.

2012 will be a year of answers. We’ll learn much more than we did over the course of 2011. Elections tend to fast track those answers. Will President Barack Obama serve a second term? Can Congress accomplish… anything? Will Republicans complete their political takeover of Platte County? Or can local Democrats find candidates respected and strong enough to run despite a less than desired party backing? Will Republican county officials divide themselves into conservatives and moderates?

Commissioners will approve the County’s 2012 budget this week. Included will be a 10 percent employee health insurance cost increase, an estimated $10.7 million contract for emergency communication equipment upgrades and the funding of a $5.4 million community center expansion. Not included will be a three percent cost of living adjustment for County workers proposed by County Auditor Kevin Robinson which has not been done since 2006. The 2012 budget will be slightly smaller than Robinson’s recommendation and the finalized 2011 budget.

Filing to run for public offices begins in February. County officials expected to run for re-election include 1st District Commissioner Kathy Dusenbery and 2nd District Commissioner Jim Plunkett. Three officeholders announced their retirements in 2011 for the end of 2012. They include County Treasurer Bonnie Brown (Democrat), County Administrator Terry Edwards (Democrat) and Sheriff Richard Anderson (Republican). Republican Rob Willard, an attorney, has announced his candidacy for the Treasurer’s seat while Republican Mark Owen, a long-time captain with the department, will run for Sheriff. County Assessor David Christian, a Democrat, is expected to run for election after his appointment last spring.


Also in February (and again in March), Republicans will vote for their party’s Presidential preference. Missouri law requires a primary be held Feb. 7, but the results won’t be binding because the state legislature failed to move it to the Republican Party’s “official” date of March 17 when delegates will be decided by a caucus. In addition to your annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, which might traditionally include an alcoholic beverage, Republicans can also pick a Presidential candidate. If you’re undecided, then said beverage may aid your selection. In Parkville, you’ll be able to drive your golf cart to the polling place by this point.

April brings school board elections. Possible levy increases will be a large part of those debates. After years of lowering tax levy rates during strong economic times, local school districts may need to reverse course in 2012 to balance their budgets. Similar to some people’s resolutions to lose weight, it’s great to say you lost it, but not as fun when you can’t keep it off.

All three local state representatives appear to be running for re-election in 2012. Galen Higdon, Nick Marshall, and Ron Schieber have no announced opponents so far. Redistricting is still to be finalized, but as the lines currently stand it can be said Marshall benefited with the addition of some strongly conservative neighborhoods in the south. Marshall’s benefit comes at Schieber’s peril as his district now has advantages to a possible Democratic challenger.

During the 2012 legislative session, balancing the budget and Mayor Sly James’s proposed takeover of the Kansas City Missouri School District will take center stage. While Kansas City representatives try to negotiate and pass legislation to address this, look for representatives from more rural areas of Missouri to leverage this to their own agendas. Education aside, Republican legislative leaders have had several months to review and discuss the stalemate within their own party. This will hopefully lead to more progress in 2012.

July brings the major league All-Star game to Kansas City. Where will most of those people come through to get there? That’s right, Platte County via Kansas City International Airport. There probably aren’t any promotions scheduled when the baseball world focuses in on Kansas City, but showcasing the economic and quality of life aspects of moving your residence, business, or convention to Platte County wouldn’t hurt.

August will feature some interesting primary contests along with a number of ballot initiatives. The biggest will be the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate with the winner challenging Senator Claire McCaskill. Former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, Congressman Todd Akin, and businessman John Brunner are the announced Republican candidates. With President Obama’s poor outlook in Missouri, whoever advances will have a good chance against McCaskill. The thought of Independents voting for one, but not for the other in this case is unlikely.

While the state legislature is dominated by Republicans, four out of six statewide offices are held by Democrats. For local Democrats, these are probably some of the races that draw the most excitement in 2012 based on how races are shaping up early. Looking at the White House, President Obama is not where he’d like to be coming into 2012, but neither are his potential opponents. Despite any contrary Iowa results, Mitt Romney will be the Republican Party nominee for two reasons. He’s run a steady, smooth campaign with few mistakes and has the best chance at beating Obama. By most historical indicators, he should be the next President. On the other hand, Obama’s economic and approval numbers are trending positive. He’ll run against a Congress that passed less legislation in 2011 than even the infamous “Do-Nothing Congress” Harry Truman ran against in 1948. Could Obama lose the popular vote, but win the Electoral College? The map says it’s possible. The effect of a third-party candidate can’t be ruled out either.

Of course, this is just what appears on the 2012 horizon. Many more headlines will surface throughout the year. The Citizen will touch on various subjects throughout including the local issues, races and candidates themselves. In the meantime, here’s hoping you all have a great 2012.