While getting my feet wet here, one of the first things that pops out to me is not just the talent of the kids at the various schools we cover but the quality of the coaching.I’m not just kissing up when I say that. There are some places where the coaches just roll out the balls for practice, let the kids go at it and cash their checks at the end of the month. Here, even with some of the teams with poorer records, the coaches seem really into it.If you wanted to see some kids who were really into it, you should’ve seen the Hills-Beaver Creek vs. Ellsworth game on Saturday night. H-BC racked up 27 points in the first quarter.Those guys were going 100 miles per hour. That’s usually a good thing, unless you’re the opposing team or the guy with a manual-focus camera who is often challenged just to get good pictures at a tortoise race.It was one of those games I stumble into sometimes where I find myself watching and enjoying, forgetting I’m holding the camera. Then some kid goes flying through the air, leaps up for a dunk or dives at a ball and I finally remember: "Wow, that would’ve been a good picture if I’d been taking one!"RESCHEDULED:We haven’t had a snowflake yet, but the athletic schedule is already getting adjusted. Note these date changes:Luverne gymnastics, scheduled for Dec. 14, has been rescheduled to Dec. 21.Luverne boys hockey, scheduled for Dec. 27-29 at Worthington Tournament, has been rescheduled to Dec. 29-31.Luverne boys basketball, scheduled for Feb. 12 at Marshall, has been moved up to Feb. 8.MAKING HIS MARK:Freshman Curt Schilling of Adrian leads the Northwestern College men’s basketball team of Orange City with 15.1 points per game. The Red Raiders are ranked No. 4 in the most recent NAIA Division II poll.CROOKED REF:I saw something I hadn’t seen before at the H-BC vs. Central Lyon game last week. The referee needed three attempts to toss the opening jump ball. He had trouble getting it straight, but finally succeeded.FROM THE E-MAIL BAG:"I had to laugh at your article this week about the Vikings, but I was also a bit offended. I know a lot of people in the area love the Vikings and I know some of them don’t blame Tice for their downfall. I personally blame the players; as you said, they are getting paid big money to do their job. Just think how great our sermons on Sunday morning would be if our pastors got paid millions to work there one day a week … the whole world would be saved! Just my thoughts, keep up the good work."Not a problem, I offend myself sometimes.Feel free to email me at markh@star-herald.com. I won’t include your name, as long as you’re nice like this lady was.But if you get on my case too bad, I’m going to start naming names! Just kidding.